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Cats have long had a reputation for being agile creatures who are good on their feet, sticking the perfect landing even when they jump from impressive heights. But that doesn’t apply to every cat out there all the time… especially in those moments when they are truly caught off guard.

One of those times is captured perfectly in the TikTok video below, where a tabby cat named Rowan discovers his reflection in the mirror for the first time and simply can’t get over it.

Rowan’s mom, @_sam.spears on TikTok, shared the exact moment he became self-aware, and while I can’t even imagine what must have been going through his mind at the moment, it’s also pretty hilarious to see that expression on his face.

Rowan can’t handle the fact that there’s a cat looking back at him. He just keeps checking, like he’s in shock or something. Those eyes!

Oh, sweet boy. At least it’s a very pretty cat in the mirror!

Related: Tabby Maine Coon Kitten Was Born With the Sweetest Little Ghost Face

Do Cats Recognize Themselves in the Mirror?

While it’s very obvious that Rowan was having some kind of moment when he spotted his reflection, was he really becoming self aware, or could he even recognize that he was the cat staring back at him in the first place?

According to PetMD, the best way to determine this is to see if an animal can pass an MSR (or mark) test. The researcher conducting the experiment will place a sticker or other type of marker on the animal in question, and then watch to see if they try to investigate it on their own body once they see it in the mirror.

While there are species who pass this test, including dolphins and elephants, so far, cats just haven’t been one of them. Instead, they tend to believe that it’s just another cat in the mirror looking at them, which means some will become aggressive and others will be more curious than anything else.

The site adds that this doesn’t mean your cat isn’t self aware — they might be perfectly aware and still not be able to recognize themselves in the mirror. Fortunately, they don’t need to in order to enjoy happy, healthy lives.

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This story was originally published by Parade Pets on Mar 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.