Kitten 'Killing' Chicken Nugget Before Eating It Has Internet in Stitches

A kitten named Meatball was caught on camera trying to "kill" a chicken nugget before eating it and users on the internet can't stop laughing at the hilarious video.

The viral clip, shared on TikTok on Wednesday by his owner, under the username @knottyloops, shows the little tabby kitten holding a chicken nugget in his paws, biting it and kicking it, treating it as prey.

As his owner picks him up, he makes little angry noises while struggling to eat the small piece of meat he managed to bite off.

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Many people these days might spoil their cats like children, but it doesn't mean their pets no longer have animal instincts, and little Meatball is just the perfect example.

For cats, hunting is instinctive behavior, and even kittens are born knowing how to catch prey. It's not about how much you feed them or how many toys you provide for their enrichment, instincts will always prevail.

A Caster article medically reviewed by Dr. Luqman Javed says Meatball's behavior was actually the reason why cats were domesticated in the first place, to keep our homes safe from mice and critters.

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However, hunting cannot only hurt the local fauna, but it can also endanger your cat, exposing them to all the outdoor threats, including speeding cars and bigger animals, such as coyotes.

British animal charity Battersea, says that while it is not possible to stop your cat from hunting entirely, there are some things you can do to help minimize their need for it.

They suggest hiding small portions of dry food around the house for them to find, or using timed feeders for snacks in between meals. Feeding them a variety of high nutritional meat-based foods can also help.

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You should make sure your cats have things to do around the home, especially at dusk and dawn, when their wild instincts are most active. Encouraging them to play killing toys or food can help tame their instincts too.

The Meatball video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received more than 2 million views and 325,800 likes on the platform.

One user, Alexisyeehaw, commented: "He's killing his food before he eats it. Getting back to his roots."

Icy bubblegum wrote: "Straight up acting possessed, eyes and all."

NariFinesse added: "He's an addict now."

Newsweek reached out to @knottyloops for comment via TikTok comments. We could not verify the details of the case.

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