In Türkiye, a cat that comes every day to hug the shop owner who cared for it is drawing attention. Found as a kitten in front of the shop, the cat is said to come by every day even after regaining health and wrap its front paws around the owner's neck.
A related video that the shop owner, Hayat, posted on TikTok has surpassed 2.7 million views as of the 2nd.
According to animal media The Dodo and others, Hayat, who runs a glass and kitchenware shop in Ardeşen, Rize Province in northern Türkiye, found a kitten in front of the shop about a year ago. Hayat said the cat had just opened its eyes at the time, and the mother was nowhere to be seen. Hayat brought the cat into the shop, fed it, and arranged hospital treatment and vaccinations. Hayat named the cat "Şakir."
Şakir then began coming to the shop every day. Hayat told Turkish outlet DHA, "The cat appears from somewhere at the same time every day and comes to the front of the shop," adding, "It opens the shop with us and closes it with us." Şakir is said to spend about 12–13 hours a day at the shop.
The story of Hayat and Şakir began drawing attention online as a video of the "hugging scene" spread. Hayat said that after making eye contact with Şakir on the counter and opening the arms, Şakir suddenly leaped in and hugged the neck. After that, whenever Hayat opened the arms, Şakir would come over and wrap the neck.
Hayat said that at first the store closed-circuit (CC) TV footage of the scene was saved and posted on social media to show the family. As the video spread, Şakir drew interest not only locally but also overseas.
Hayat said some people who watched the video mistook the shop for a grocery store, but explained it sells glass and kitchenware. There are many fragile items inside, but Şakir has not yet broken anything.