A TikTok clip featuring a cat owner who performs a nightly belly rub on their feline to tackle ongoing constipation has drawn a mix of fascination and doubt from people watching.

The short video,uploaded by the account gusbepoopin,captures the owner gently pressing and massaging the cat's stomach area while keeping an eye out for any,well,results.

Words on the screen explain it's a"nightly ritual to cure my cat's chronic constipation,"and the caption underneath reads:"He loves it.Follow along to see if today is a Poop Day or a No Poop Day!"

In just two days,the clip racked up 8.2 million views.Plenty of those viewers weren't entirely sold on the technique—or on whether the cat was genuinely into it.

The nearly 6,000 comments include a fair share of speculation about what's actually going through the cat's head.One person wanted to know if"the chanting clinically necessary,"poking fun at the soft,rhythmic sounds the owner made while working on the cat's belly.Another commenter mused,"I'd love to be able to read his mind right now."

A real issue behind the humor‌

Sure,the video was posted for laughs,but digestive troubles in cats—constipation included—are something vets take seriously.

Hill's Pet Nutrition points out that constipation is"another common woe for the cat digestive system."It can be triggered by dehydration,discomfort elsewhere in the body,or muscle movement problems in the colon.The same source cautions that ongoing symptoms deserve attention."Recurring constipation,however,is no laughing matter,"they note,urging owners to get a vet involved if the problem doesn't resolve.

Royal Canin echoes that concern,explaining that a cat is considered constipated when it struggles to pass stool or goes infrequently.When waste sits too long in the colon,they add,"it dehydrates and becomes hard,which causes the cat discomfort."

Worth noting:constipation isn't always just about digestion.It can tip off deeper health problems.Royal Canin emphasizes that both run-of-the-mill constipation and more severe blockages"need immediate treatment"and might stem from diet choices or physical obstructions.

The viral TikTok doesn't make it clear whether a vet has actually examined this particular cat.Some people in the comments voiced worry about leaning too heavily on DIY fixes without professional input.