The Viral “Stop, You’re Scaring Me Cat” TikTok Trend, Explained

If you’ve been on TikTok lately, chances are you’ve seen the hilarious “Stop, you’re scaring me cat” videos. This viral trend features pet owners startling their cats in silly ways, capturing the cats’ startled and scared reactions. The videos are simple, yet endlessly entertaining. In this article, we’ll break down the origins of this trend, explain why it took off, and highlight some of the funniest “Stop, you’re scaring me cat” TikToks.

The Origin Story

The “Stop, you’re scaring me cat” trend appears to have started with TikTok user @taystapam in June 2022. In the initial viral video that kicked off the trend, @taystapam startles her gray tabby cat named Stella by yelling “Stop!” at her. Stella’s eyes go wide, her ears go flat, and she scrambles away looking frightened. The video is captioned “When mommy scares u…” and uses the song “Oh No” by Capone as the backing track. This 12-second video has amassed over 7.1 million views and over 1 million likes on TikTok so far.

Clearly @taystapam struck a chord with this simple yet hilarious cat reaction video. The unique scared expression on Stella’s face seemed to delight TikTok users who found it endlessly funny to see cats looking so startled. The viral video inspired other TikTokers to recreate the trend with their own cats.

Why “Stop, You’re Scaring Me Cat” Blew Up

There are a few key reasons why the “Stop you’re scaring me cat” videos have become such a sensation on TikTok

• Hilarious cat reactions: Watching cats go from calm to frightened in a split second is comedy gold. Their wide eyes, flattened ears, and scrambling motions appeal to our love of silly animal videos.

• Relatable content Pet owners can relate to startling their furry companions accidentally Capturing the cat’s startled reaction on camera makes for engaging content

• Simple and repeatable: The trend is easy to replicate – simply yell “Stop!” to scare your cat. No complex setup is required.

• Cuteness overload: From tiny kittens to chonky cats, the trend works for felines of all shapes and sizes. And we can never get enough adorable cat content.

• Meme potential: The most exaggerated and dramatic cat reactions are highly meme-able. TikTokers are getting creative with edits and effects to maximize the humor.

Essentially, the “Stop, you’re scaring me cat” trend is a perfect storm of funny animal reactions, relatability, and meme culture. We can’t get enough of cats being frightened out of their wits – it’s weirdly heartwarming as well as hilarious.

Notable Examples

Now let’s look at some of the most popular “Stop, you’re scaring me cat” videos:

• The slow zoom: TikToker @aus_singles uses a slow zoom on her cat’s face as she startles it with a yell. The comedic timing of the zoom paired with the cat’s dramatic reaction makes this video incredibly hilarious and satisfying to watch. With 5.2 million views, this is one of the top videos under the trending sound.

• The double scare: @ellee._.bee scares both her cats at the same time by shouting “Stop!” twice in a row. Seeing both cats jump and scramble is double the fun. The video has 3.5 million views and counting.

• The stealth scare: @charlottelooks stealthily sneaks up behind her cat and yells “Stop!” when she’s just inches away. The cat leaps about 3 feet into the air in sheer panic. Commenters can’t get enough of the comedic timing here.

• The product demo: TikToker @logansmeech took the trend in a more commercial direction by using it to demonstrate a cat water fountain product. But the cat’s epic reaction when he shouts still steals the show. This outside-the-box take has over 4.4 million views.

• The cartoon reaction: Multiple creators have used edits to make their cat’s reactions even more dramatic and exaggerated. This cartoon-like effect heightens the absurdity even further. For example, TikToker @aussieirishstray added cartoon sound effects and zoom effects to her already shocked cat.

Breaking Down the Trend

Now that we’ve looked at some of the most viral examples, let’s break down exactly what goes into a good “Stop, you’re scaring me cat” TikTok:

• The element of surprise: Catching your cat totally off guard is key for the most dramatic reactions. Time your yell perfectly.

• Great camerawork: Get a tight shot of your cat’s face as you yell for optimal scaredy cat impact. Stabilize your footage if needed.

• Pick the right cat: Ideally, choose a cat that startles easily and has very animated reactions. But any cat can work!

• Maximize the reaction: Use effects, zooms, slo-mo, or edits to highlight your cat’s jumpiest moments.

• Add the trending sound: Use the viral “Oh No” song and caption the video with a line like “When I scare my cat…”

• Relatable humor: Add text, effects, or edits that poke fun at your cat’s dramatics. We’ve all been there!

Recreating the Trend

Want to try the “Stop, you’re scaring me cat” trend with your own feline? Here are some top tips:

• Do no harm! Make sure not to excessively scare your cat for the sake of views.

• Try startling your cat with a loud “Hey!” or clap if they don’t react to “Stop!”

• Film them in a relaxed state first, then yell suddenly without moving closer.

• Catch the moment of realization on camera – that priceless shocked cat face!

• Add zoom effects or captions in post to enhance your cat’s reaction.

• Use treats afterward to reward your cat for being a viral video star!

• Share your video using the trending song and hashtag #stopyourescaringmecat.

Why We Love Watching Cats Get Scared

At the end of the day, why can’t we get enough of a good “Stop, you’re scaring me cat” reaction? Here are a few reasons why cats being scared is so entertaining:

• We love seeing their silly freaked out expressions and body language. The dramatic scrambles and jumps bring us joy.

• It’s a change of pace from their usual graceful, aloof manner. Seeing dignified cats lose their cool is hilarious.

• The scaredy cat thing reminds us they’re just small scaredy cats deep down, which is endearing.

• Watching them get frightened by something harmless makes us laugh because we can relate. Everyone startles easily sometimes!

• Seeing their relaxed state turned upside down in an instant is unexpected, ironic, and funny.

• Let’s be real – we sometimes like revenging all the times they’ve woken us up zooming around at night!