If you visit Israel’s Petah Tikva Train Station, you will be greeted by Shawarma, a local cat. She is a stray cat who spends most of her time welcoming passengers as they approach the turnstiles to swipe their tickets.
Shawarma is well-known among the passengers, and no one is startled to see her because she has been a regular visitor to the railway station for months and everyone is accustomed to her presence. Dan Kashani, a local, decided to video what happens at the station every day and post it on the internet.
Kashani explained, “I was returning from work.” “I saw the cat lying on the gate as soon as I got to the gate, and it was extremely cute – it made me smile.”
Shawarma enjoys nothing more than lying on the turnstiles and relaxing. Commuters who come to swipe their tickets are greeted by her cheerful face. A handful of them greet Shawarma, but the majority simply walk through the gate without pausing to pet or cuddle her.
Dan’s video of Shawarma sitting on the turnstile went viral immediately, garnering over seven million views. There were numerous Facebook comments about how few people stopped to offer Shawarma a hearty welcome. People were baffled as to how the passengers managed to avoid caressing the cute kitty.
Dan added that because Shawarma is known for being unpredictable, most people avoid petting her. And such is the issue that regular travelers at an Israeli train station face every day.
“Whether you give your hand, you may pet her and see if she’s interested,” Kashani said. “However, when she isn’t feeling it, she will let them know with a small scratch or bite. She has to be enthusiastic about it.”
Shawarma, the lovely cat, has finally found a wonderful home and work environment. We’re sure that now that Shawarma has gone viral on the internet, more people will start paying her a visit at the railway station.
In the meantime, take a look at this lovely video below:
