It is amazing how much cats manage to communicate without making a sound. One moment, they are sitting calmly on an exam table, and the next, a tiny detail gives away just how overwhelmed they truly feel. That is exactly what happened when a couple took their cat, Momo, for a simple veterinary checkup and noticed something on the table that made their hearts ache.
Momo’s story began years earlier on the island of Rhodes in Greece. As a young kitten only a few weeks old, she was found on the side of a highway, surviving on whatever scraps she could find. Samar and Raymond, who were travelling there at the time, spotted her and immediately knew they could not walk away. With the help of the local rescue group Kalithea Cats, they arranged her adoption and eventually brought her home to central Europe.
Since then, Momo has lived a safe, comfortable life with a family who adores her. Samar shared that the little cat has completely changed their lives for the better, and despite her rough start, she has grown into a loving and expressive companion. Still, like many felines, she has one major fear: going to the vet.
Recently, Momo needed a visit to check for possible gum inflammation. Samar described the appointment as stressful for the cat, but it was not until she looked down at the exam table that she realised just how anxious Momo felt. On the smooth surface, faint but unmistakable, were tiny damp pawprints.
In a TikTok video posted on July 2 to her account @luluonthegoo, Samar showed Momo sitting tensely on the table before revealing one of the small wet marks she left behind. She explained that her cat’s paws had begun to sweat from nerves.
Although most people associate sweating with heat, cats can sweat in very small amounts through specific areas including their paw pads, lips, and chin. A vet reviewed report from PetMD notes that these glands play only a minor role in cooling. Instead, cats rely mostly on grooming to regulate their temperature. Sweat on the paws often appears during moments of stress or anxiety rather than from heat alone.
Samar told Newsweek that while she knew cats could sweat through their paws, she had never seen it happen firsthand. Spotting those little prints created a moment that was both sad and strangely sweet. They took a photo, shared it online, and were surprised to see how quickly it spread.
Within days, the video reached more than 1.4 million views. Viewers reacted with compassion and curiosity. Some admitted they never realised cats could sweat. Others shared their own experiences of nervous felines at the vet, including one person who said they initially thought their cat had peed on the table before learning it was just anxious paw sweat.
One commenter added a relatable note: “I get sweaty hands at the doctor’s too, kitty.” Another offered simple reassurance: “Not to be dramatic but I would die for her.”
For Samar, the response has been deeply touching. She said it has been heartwarming to see so many people connect with Momo’s small moment of worry and to share that love of animals with such a positive community.
What started as a routine vet visit turned into a reminder of how sensitive cats truly are and how even the smallest signs can reveal what they are feeling.
