Taiwan netizen’s leaf mistaken for stray cat goes viral

A viral sensation has emerged online in Taiwan, where a netizen shared a humorous experience of trying to rescue what appeared to be a stray cat on the street, only to discover it was something entirely different.

According to reports, the netizen recounted that at around 10pm, yesterday, August 12, while driving home after work, they noticed an orange stray cat lying in the middle of Qingtian Road in Da’an District, Taipei, Taiwan. Concerned that the cat might get hit by a passing vehicle, they quickly got out of the car and approached the animal.

To their surprise, upon closer inspection, it turned out to be nothing more than a dry leaf. The discovery left the individual completely bewildered, feeling as if they had been tricked by the seemingly lifelike appearance of the leaf.

Photos shared by the netizen show what appears to be an orange stray cat lying on the road, complete with ears, a head, a body, and a long tail. From a distance, it indeed looked like a cat.

However, upon closer examination, it was merely a leaf, likely shaped and shadowed in such a way by the light and angle that it resembled a cat. The netizen couldn’t help but laugh and question whether they needed new glasses, reported Khaosod.

“When I thought there was a cat in the middle of the road, I was worried it might get hit by a car, which was really disheartening.”

Since posting the story in a Facebook group, the tale has garnered numerous comments. Many users found the situation amusing and chimed in with their thoughts.

“Does it look like a cat?”

“From a distance, it really does look like a cat.”

“An optical illusion!”

“The cat turned into a leaf.”

“My life has value.”

“This leaf pet costs nothing to keep.”

“Cat by day, leaf by night.”