Ben Madilynn
A Siberian cat’s spontaneous response to the strict pet rules at an Airbnb property has delighted viewers online.
Freyja’s owner, Sia Sekishima, had booked a short stay at the Airbnb while vacationing in Costa Rica. Sekishima found that most animal-friendly properties in the area prohibited cats from roaming free on the beds and furniture and went ahead with an apartment that laid out similar rules.
To the amusement of Sekishima, and viewers online, 2-year-old Freyja took to walking on the floor and on top of the kitchen cabinets to avoid the host’s surfaces and soft furnishings. Sekishima shared a short clip of Freyja abiding by the rules to Instagram on July 13 under @freyja_siberian, which has since led to laughter among viewers online.
“Freyja didn’t jump on the chairs, sofas, or bed but instead climbed on the kitchen cabinets and fridge, which weren’t part of the rules,” Sekishima told Newsweek. “We found it amusing, as it seemed like she understood the ‘assignment’ of how to behave in the Airbnb. She even gave the top surfaces a light sweep, places where the hosts likely couldn’t reach to clean.”
Viewers were able to see Freyja patrolling the kitchen, while the video’s text overlay read, “The Airbnb host said that pets off from the couch, beds and chairs so my cat followed the house rules.”
“Out of respect for the hosts, we brought a cat tent for the nights and when we were out, leaving Freyja at the Airbnb,” Sekishima said. “We also covered the bed, chairs, and sofas to keep them clean, and used a lint roller before check-out.”
Traveling with Freyja and Sekishima was Sekishima’s husband. The owners say that their feline is well accustomed to adventure and travel, and as a result knows how to behave on buses, trains and ferries.
“She has flown 15 times, both domestically and internationally,” Sekishima said. “Freyja is a very curious cat who loves exploring new places, whether it’s nature, hotel rooms, or Airbnbs.”
@freyja_siberian
Instagram Users React
The clip, which has been liked more than 97,000 times, has led to an outpouring of amused comments from viewers online. Several have applauded Freyja’s instincts which turned out to match the host’s rules.
“Good job! Honestly if the host has many rules about pets, they shouldn’t even list ‘pets are welcome’,” Instagram user @odencatnyc wrote.
@claricethesiberian added: “So clever! I love jumping everywhere too, but never destructive!”
“Such a rule abiding kitty, she’s also helping dust up there with her floof,” a third user, @big_bongo_theory, posted.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
