A family cat isn’t just a pet — it’s part of the family, and it should always be treated with care, patience, and kindness, never intentionally hurt or put in harm’s way. According to a viral video, a Texas mother accused her son of “abusing” their four-year-old orange tabby cat called Garfield “multiple times,” leading to a dramatic punishment in which she filmed him dropping his PS5 in a way she said mirrored his treatment of the pet. The video is circulating online right now and has sparked debate in the comments.
The video opens outside in what appears to be the family’s garden, showing the young boy holding his PS5 as his mother reprimands him. Sporting turquoise crocs, a black t-shirt, and blue shorts, the child looks mournful and dejected, as his mom instructs him, “With your PlayStation 5, how you picked my cat up and slammed it on the ground multiple times. Do it.” The young boy drops the PS5 to the ground and it smashes into several pieces.
The mother then tells him to pick up the PS5 and do it again, and through tears, the young boy follows her instructions. “Since you’ve got anger issues, we’re going to fix them today,” she says. After the eighth time of smashing the console, she adds, “This is your punishment. Now pick up all that [expletive] and put it in the trash,” as the video comes to a close.
In a Facebook post, the Texas mother — who goes by the name Sunshine Burton online — posted a follow-up that confirmed the family cat’s health, writing: “Good morning!!! Garfield is doing great this morning!!! Despite his injuries (that happened Friday)…he has a slight limp but he is improving“.
Social Media Erupts Over Viral Punishment Video
Due to the nature of the clip, the video has sparked a range of reactions online, with some users praising the mother’s harsh punishment as effective. On Reddit, one user simply remarked, “How many times did he slam that poor cat down 😳?” while another chimed in with, “Jesus. I hope she is also getting him therapy. That’s extremely concerning behaviour. I’d destroy the PS5 too so I can’t blame her for that one. Poor kitten“. A third penned, “Role models right here. All parents should strive to be like her.” while another added, “That kid learned consequences that day.”
However, some users questioned why the mother chose to post the clip online, with others viewing it as a red flag. One commenter wrote, “Except for the posting on social media part.” while another expressed, “Posting this online is a huge red flag, I simply cannot believe any good parent would think that’s a good idea.”
Fortunately, the family cat is reportedly safe but was left with a limp following the alleged incidents, and the child is unlikely to forget the consequences of the punishment.
