It may have started off like any other morning for metro commuters in Milan. But it turned out to be far from normal, when an elderly lady was spotted swinging a cat onto her shoulder before boarding the train.
The video, which was shared by Luca Abete on Instagram, reached 5 million views in a matter of days.
How did she do it?
"What an extraordinary pair", reads the caption.
The cat certainly seems used to travelling this way, but many viewers were left feeling worried for the cat's safety.
"Poor cat", exclaimed one viewer, while others questioned whether the video is even real.
Alarming information
It turns out this is not the first time this elderly lady has been seen with her cat in public.
"I know the lady and the cat often seems unhappy to be travelling around Milan with a harness", explained a follower. "He is treated like a fur scarf. There is a limit to everything".
In other Facebook groups, witnesses also tell stories of having seen the cat "terrified", and that after speaking to the lady, she explained she is training it to travel on a lead, so her neighbours can photograph and share their story publicly.
The lady's identity remains unknown, and accounts seem to vary. Some seem to say the cat is in good health, while others believe it's frightened, urging neighbours to contact animal welfare officers.
We just hope the cat is in good health and happy in his home. Perhaps one day his mystery owner will come forward and to tell her side of the story.
