One fascinated feline found this out the hard way. Curious about her owner’s cooking, a tabby named Gigi decided to investigate, but the situation literally ended in tears.
Posted to TikTok by user @333chrissy on August 2, at the time of writing Gigi’s onion adventure has received over 2.4 million likes and was shared more than 35,000 times.
Why Do Onions Make Us Cry?
If onions make you cry, try not to take it personally—it’s all down to biochemistry. While in the ground, onion bulbs absorb sunlight and minerals from the soil. But onions are also especially skilled at absorbing sulfur, which is utilized in several amino acids.
When slicing up an onion, you’re breaking open its cells, leading to the amino acids merging with enzymes—proteins that speed up processes. They then form unstable sulfenic acids that reposition themselves as syn-propanethial-S-oxide. This chemical vaporizes and is responsible for causing the burning sensation you feel when it reaches your eyes.
Not every onion leaves you bawling. One theory posits that an onion’s ability to create and release syn-propanethial-S-oxide depends on how much sulfur it has absorbed while growing. This is also why one onion could be a real tearjerker, while another leaves you completely dry-eyed.
Unfortunately, onions can do more than make your cat’s eyes water. Known as “onion poisoning,” if ingested onions can affect a feline’s red blood cells, breaking them down and causing anemia. Although the odd nibble shouldn’t cause any harm, it’s best to try and keep your cat away from the vengeful vegetable.
‘Mother Why’
In the video, Gigi can be seen crouched on the top of a kitchen fridge staring down at her owner’s meal prep. That is, until her eyes start squinting and dripping with tears.
Captioned “was cutting onions & gigi came & suffered the consequences,” the tabby appears both confused and disgruntled by the vile vegetable.
“Why is the air SPICY,” commented user Nathan.
“She has no idea it’s the onions,” said britneygracekelly, along with several crying face emojis.
“The lil tear dropping,” wrote Urchin.
“She’s like mother why,” added galactic.
Fortunately, Chrissy assured fellow TikTokers that Gigi is fine. “I washed my hands and took her out of the kitchen,” she wrote. “She’s ok I promise.
“I couldn’t believe i got it on camera i felt so bad for her.”
Gigi isn’t the only feline to be bested by an onion. Earlier this year, a cat called Lola also endured the effects after getting too close their owner during meal prep. Dubbing the cat “nosy,” TikTokers viewed the video over 10 million times.
In more onion-related news, TikTok users were shocked to discover how McDonald’s onions are made, with the clip causing an outcry on social media.
Newsweek has reached out to @333chrissy for comment.
