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By Lucy Notarantonio
Senior Reporter
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A viral video of a cat licking a lamp has resurfaced and racked up over 811,000 views on TikTok.
However it isn't any old lamp—it's a Himalayan salt lamp which is a decorative light fixture made from pink salt crystals with a bulb inside.
The video of Pocky was first shared in April 2022 and racked up 5.4 million views but his owner, who goes by the name JJ, shared the memory again last month online.
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Speaking about the first upload, JJ, from Washington State, told Newsweek: "We were not initially alarmed until we saw the TikTok comments."
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One user warned: "Don't let him! They will poison themselves licking it too much!"
At the time, JJ, who is in his twenties, didn't realize that the home décor item was a threat to his then-two-year-old cat's health. It wasn't until other social media users expressed their concerns.
He told Newsweek: "We quickly took Pocky to the vet where the vet did some blood tests and found nothing out of the ordinary, and none of the typical symptoms of salt overdose such as kidney failure."
What Does the Expert Say?
It sounds like Pocky had a lucky escape as salt ingestion in animals can be extremely dangerous and "potentially" fatal, according to veterinarian Dr. Anna Foreman.
Foreman, who works for Everypaw Pet Insurance in the U.K., told Newsweek: "It can increase the sodium levels in an animal's blood to a potentially fatal level.
"Salt toxicosis leads to seizures and gastrointestinal signs including vomiting and diarrhea.
"Treatment revolves around rehydrating them, as the excessive salt levels in the blood lead to water being drawn in from bodily tissues, leading to severe dehydration. Many animals require days of hospitalization after salt ingestion."
TikTok Reacts
On April, 8, JJ captioned the video: "#onthisday y'all literally saved my cat's life. Thank you for looking out for #cats all over the world."
The text layered over the video explains: "I just realized why our Pink Himalayan Sea Salt Night Lamp has a dent in it.
"Pocky keeps licking it as a sea salt popsicle," it read on, followed by: "I guess that's probably why our cat has been drinking so much water from his fountain lately."
One user commented: "I think salt lamps are toxic to cats actually."
"I almost said what a lot have but saw your caption before I did so. I'm so glad your kitty is safe and someone was able to tell you the dangers," said another user.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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