This Singapore cat has one demand: Walkies, please这只新加坡猫只有一个要求：请带它出去散步！
Most cats demand treats. Merlot demands walks.The five-year-old ragdoll has gone viral after a video showing him eagerly waiting to be taken for a walk racked up more than 501,000 views, 35,700 likes, 6,321 shares and 528 reposts on Instagram as of Thursday evening (Oct 22).The video initially shows him patiently waiting while his owners bring out his carrier. But...
Most cats demand treats. Merlot demands walks.
The five-year-old ragdoll has gone viral after a video showing him eagerly waiting to be taken for a walk racked up more than 501,000 views, 35,700 likes, 6,321 shares and 528 reposts on Instagram as of Thursday evening (Oct 22).
The video initially shows him patiently waiting while his owners bring out his carrier. But perhaps it's what happens next that has won over viewers. As soon as his owners approach the front door, Merlot hops out of the carrier and trots over, seemingly ready for his outing.
Yes, Merlot prefers walking outdoors to sitting in his pet-stroller, as seen in other videos on his Instagram account.
Speaking to AsiaOne, Merlot's owner, Shayne Yeo, 30, said that Merlot had originally been adopted from NParks' Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS).
She also has two other cats, Sav short for Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot, the youngest of the lot.
While most people assume that Shayne enjoys the occasional drink, based on her fur-babies' names — she actually has an alcohol allergy that forces her away from drinks.
The account was created by Shayne and her younger sister, Fion, in August this year and has since achieved 2 videos surpassing 100,000 views.
Merlot going viral was no surprise to the sisters, they had always known his lovable nature would bring in positive attention from cat and animal lovers.
From corridor strolls to daily walks
Shayne and her husband first noticed Merlot running out of the house to walk along the corridor about a year ago.
They subsequently recognised a pattern. Merlot would wait in front of their main door and wag his tail, eagerly anticipating his next walk.
Soon after, Shayne, who works in the field of animal care, decided to put him on a leash. To her surprise, Merlot took to it almost immediately, unlike most cats.
"I put a leash on (him) to try to walk him like a dog and he loved it," said Shayne.
When asked how members of public respond, she said most people find it cute or amusing, mainly because they hardly ever see cats being walked like dogs.
The unusual sight has helped Merlot win plenty of fans online, with many amused by how thoroughly the feline appears to have his household wrapped around his paws.
Singapore becoming more pet-friendly
Pets travelling in strollers and accompanying their owners on outings have become increasingly common sights in Singapore.
Shayne said she has noticed more pet-friendly spaces opening up in recent years, particularly in malls and cafes.
"One Holland is a pet-friendly mall we've brought Merlot to, I also know of Woodleigh mall," she added.
"Most spaces still require pets with families to be seated outdoors which can get hot and uncomfortable but it's still a step further towards becoming an inclusive society."
Shayne did caution that Merlot was almost bitten by a dog once, after its owner misread his aggression for excitement.
“Every pet is different, (you) should understand your pet and gradually expose them (to walking) if they show an interest,” says Shayne.
She reminds pet owners that ultimately, being a responsible owner who prioritises their pet’s interests, is important.
When asked if Merlot has a favourite walking route, Shayne laughed and said his preferred destinations all have one thing in common: air-conditioning.
In true Singapore fashion, it seems Merlot enjoys escaping the heat just as much as his humans do.
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swetha.sundararajan@asiaone.com
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大多数猫都想要零食，而梅洛猫却想要散步。
这只五岁的布偶猫在一段它渴望被带出去散步的视频走红网络后，截至周四晚上（10 月 22 日），在 Instagram 上获得了超过 501,000 次观看、35,700 个赞、6,321 次分享和 528 次转发。
视频一开始，梅洛耐心地等待主人拿出他的笼子。但或许接下来发生的事情更打动了观众。主人刚走到前门，梅洛就从笼子里跳出来，小跑过来，似乎已经准备好出门了。
是的，从他 Instagram 账号上的其他视频可以看出，梅洛更喜欢在户外散步，而不是坐在宠物推车里。
Merlot 的主人 Shayne Yeo（30 岁）在接受 AsiaOne 采访时表示，Merlot 最初是从国家公园局动物和兽医服务处 (AVS) 领养的。
她还有两只猫，一只叫 Sav，是 Sauvignon Blanc 的缩写；另一只叫 Pinot，是三只猫中最年轻的一只。
虽然大多数人根据谢恩的宠物们的名字认为她偶尔会小酌几杯，但实际上她对酒精过敏，这迫使她远离酒精。
该账号由 Shayne 和她的妹妹 Fion 于今年 8 月创建，至今已有 2 个视频的观看次数超过 10 万次。
梅洛走红网络并没有让姐妹俩感到意外，她们一直都知道他讨人喜欢的性格会吸引猫咪爱好者和动物爱好者的关注。
从走廊漫步到日常散步
大约一年前，谢恩和她的丈夫第一次注意到梅洛从房子里跑出来，沿着走廊走。
他们随后发现了一种规律。梅洛会等在他们家大门前，摇着尾巴，热切地期待着下一次散步。
不久之后，从事动物护理工作的谢恩决定给它拴上牵引绳。令她惊讶的是，梅洛几乎立刻就适应了，这与大多数猫不同。
“我给他系上牵引绳，想把他当狗一样遛，他很喜欢，”谢恩说。
当被问及公众对此有何反应时，她说大多数人觉得这很可爱或很有趣，主要是因为他们很少看到像遛狗一样遛猫。
这一不寻常的景象帮助梅洛在网上赢得了众多粉丝，许多人都觉得这只猫把全家人都牢牢掌控在自己手中很有趣。
新加坡越来越欢迎宠物
在新加坡，宠物坐在婴儿车里陪伴主人外出已经变得越来越常见。
Shayne表示，她注意到近年来出现了更多允许携带宠物的场所，尤其是在购物中心和咖啡馆。
她补充道：“One Holland 是一家允许携带宠物入驻的购物中心，我们已经把 Merlot 带到了那里，我还知道 Woodleigh 购物中心。”
“大多数场所仍然要求携带宠物的家庭只能坐在户外，这可能会很热很不舒服，但这仍然是朝着包容性社会迈出的一步。”
Shayne 提醒说，Merlot 曾差点被狗咬伤，因为狗主人误以为他的攻击性是兴奋的表现。
“每只宠物都不一样，（你应该）了解你的宠物，如果它们表现出兴趣，就逐渐让它们接触（散步）。”谢恩说。
她提醒宠物主人，归根结底，做一个负责任的主人，把宠物的利益放在首位，才是最重要的。
当被问及梅洛是否有最喜欢的步行路线时，谢恩笑着说，他喜欢去的地方都有一个共同点：有空调。
很像新加坡人的风格，梅洛似乎和它的主人一样喜欢避暑。
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swetha.sundararajan@asiaone.com
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