Couple Adopts First Kitten—Can't Cope With How Huge He Becomes: 'Panther'

Newsweek

7 days ago

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The joy of adopting a new pet often comes with surprises—but one couple got a larger surprise than they expected.
For TikTok user Joanna and her husband, their first feline addition shattered all their expectations. What they thought was a standard kitten grew into a strikingly large, majestic cat now known as their "house panther"—and captivated a wide audience from a TikTok video. Joanna, 27, spoke to Newsweek about how they've adjusted to their kitty's size, and how deep their bond has grown since adopting.
"When you think you adopted a kitten...and it turns out you adopted a panther," Joanna captioned the video. "Adopted our first cat, was not expecting him to be the biggest cat we've ever seen! We love our Witcher."
Photos from Joanna's TikTok video of her cat, Witcher, as a kitten and adult.
Photos from Joanna's TikTok video of her cat, Witcher, as a kitten and adult.
@thesweetlifeofjoanna/TikTok
Joanna shared more about their journey with Witcher. Having always been drawn to the majestic appearance of black cats, her path to cat parenthood was somewhat unexpected.
Already having a goldendoodle named Teddy, they considered adopting a kitten after realizing Teddy was overwhelmed by other dogs. Seeing a photo of "kitten Witcher with his cute face and prominently big ears," Joanna's heart was set.
Witcher, originally named Toast by his foster parents, quickly lived up to his new namesake. Joanna and her husband named him Witcher, after Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher, recognizing his early traits of "stoicism, loyalty, independence, compassion and natural heroism," Joanna said.
From the moment he arrived, Witcher's bravery was evident. Despite being dwarfed by Teddy, Witcher immediately began "setting boundaries." And the kitten didn't just bring vibrant energy; he also helped Teddy come out of his shell. Their bond blossomed into a "true brotherly bond," filled with cuddles and playful bouts around the house.
The couple initially worried about the size difference during their play, constantly intervening. However, Witcher would hold his ground, and many times, even overtake Teddy. It wasn't long before they noticed the cat's remarkable growth.
"Soon, we noticed his tail begun to match the size of his big ears," Joanna said. "Then his body begun stretching longer and longer. Before we knew it, when our friends would come over, they begun commenting 'wow, he is a long boy' or, 'wow he's only a few months old?' Even when I would send update photos to his foster parents, they were blown away by his size too."
Joanna noted the significant change as their goldendoodle went from towering over Witcher, to Witcher becoming a "fair opponent" in their play.
'The Same Amount of Love'
Beyond his impressive size, Witcher's core personality traits have remained.
"My favorite trait...is his sense of bravery," Joanna shared, adding that he faces new people, pets, harness training and even long car drives with unwavering courage.
Joanna, who once wasn't sure how she'd feel as a cat parent, now emphasizes that "cats and dogs display the same amount of love towards their fur parents—just in different ways." She urges those with strong opinions against cats to consider that they are animals that simply appreciate consistency and trust. For her, Witcher's affectionate moments, like cuddling and endless purrs, are "a very active choice he is making."
She hopes that by showcasing Witcher's quirks, she can "bring a spotlight to black cats at large," advocating for their adoption given historical biases and misconceptions. She encourages anyone considering a loyal and loving companion to think about adopting a black cat, just like her magnificent "house panther."