In Colorado Springs, locals are used to the occasional wildlife sighting. Elk in the streets, bears in the dumpsters—it comes with living close to the mountains. But nothing could have prepared the staff of one downtown pet store for the “customer” who showed up before opening hours.
When employees arrived one morning to prepare for the day’s rush, they were greeted by a sight straight out of a viral video. A full-grown mountain lion was sprawled out in the cat toy aisle, surrounded by shredded bags of catnip.
Security footage revealed the story. The lion had slipped in overnight, padding silently through the automatic doors like it owned the place. It strolled past the dog food, ignored the bird seed, and didn’t so much as glance at the fish tanks. Instead, it headed straight for the cat section with uncanny precision.
After pawing down a bag of catnip, the wild cat tore it open and began rolling on the floor like a kitten. On video, you can see it rubbing its massive paws and face into the loose leaves, flopping from side to side, completely intoxicated by its discovery.
By the time employees unlocked the doors, the mountain lion looked less like a predator and more like someone who had crashed on a friend’s couch after a long night out.
Wildlife officers were quickly called to the scene. With patience—and a very careful plan—they coaxed the lion out of the store and back into the nearby hills where it belonged.
Experts later explained that mountain lions don’t typically respond to catnip the way housecats do. But the potent scent may have sparked curiosity or even a temporary playful reaction.
As for the store owner? He couldn’t help but find humor in it all:
“Colorado’s known for its plants making folks feel good,” he joked. “Guess now we know the animals are into it too.”
The story quickly went viral, with people around the world laughing at the idea of a mountain lion “shopping” for catnip. For locals, it was a reminder that in Colorado, you never quite know what you’ll find waiting for you in the morning—sometimes it’s customers, and sometimes it’s a 150-pound feline with a new favorite toy.
#cat #animals #wholesome
