For those who have never been owned by a cat, you might assume things about them. Common myths are that they aren’t affectionate and don’t bond with you like a dog. But of course, we know that couldn’t be further from the truth. Cats often have their favorite human and fully trust them to return the unconditional love. But here’s something we don’t often see: Cats that so completely trust their humans that they will literally fall over backward for them. At some point, people started calling it “trust falls,” and you just have to see it to believe it.
Cat Does ‘Trust Falls’ for Whole Family
Oliver, an orange cat (you just knew it would be orange), has gone viral on social media for this delightfully silly behavior. For Oliver, it’s a regular part of his day. Meanwhile, his fluffy orange brother Edgar, the dominant of the two, just watches.
Edgar in the back left with Oliver as he braces for his trademark trust falls. Images and media via TikTok/edgardian_leviosa
Whenever Dad or others in the family approach, Oliver dramatically leaps up to meet their hand. As soon as the hand touches the back of his head, he falls backward. Or at least, that’s how it usually goes!
In effect, it’s as if Oliver is testing the family’s reflexes. Sometimes, they have to move extra fast to prevent a fall. In that way, they’re actually the ones being tested and trained by their cat.
“Definitely have pulled a muscle before trying to keep him from trust falling down the steps…” commented Dad on TikTok.
Images and media via TikTok/edgardian_leviosa
When Trust Falls Become Trust Fails
Although there have been occasional trust fails, Oliver still trusts Dad to catch him. But, as you see at the end of the video below, this cat is prepared to catch his balance himself if needed. But of course! Cats are masters of quick reflexes and superb balance.
With a quick course adjustment, Oliver avoids an embarrassing thud on the floor. But given more fails, will Oliver decide this fun game is over? So far, he’s not deterred by an occasional bounce.
“We almost always catch him, but he’s had a few rollovers, and he brushes it off. 😹,” shared Edgardian_Leviosa on TikTok.
“Anyone else have a cat that does trust falls? Like, actually just yeets their entire body backwards FULLY delusional in thinking we will catch them with 100% accuracy?” shared Edgarian_Leviosa.
Video via TikTok/edgardian_leviosa
High-Velocity Backwards Yeets
Here’s another compilation of Oliver’s daily falls, or “yeets,” as they also call it.
“Just high-velocity backwards yeets. Testing our reflexes.”
You can see more of Oliver, his brother Edgar, and fam on TikTok.
Dogs Do Trust Falls Too!
Several years ago, another cat went viral on Reddit for doing the same thing. And last year, a Golden Retriever named Nala made national news for falling backward on her dad, Chris Lindamood.
“After she started doing it, her owner, Chris Lindamood, knew he had to get it on camera. Especially because he tried to teach her to do it years before but wasn’t successful. ‘I watched it, and I still watch it so many times,’ Chris told Inside Edition. ‘Just her little tail wagging and everything. It’s just so perfect.'”
Video by Inside Edition:
