Ginger British Longhair Cat Looks Like Real Life 'Puss in Boots'

“This is Teddy,” says the pet groomer in the introduction to this video of a tiny orange cat getting dolled up, “and he is so real.”

The viewer’s possible skepticism is understandable, as Teddy looks less like an actual live animal and more like a cartoon figure—specifically, like the adorable orange cat with the impossibly large eyes and swashbuckling Spanish flair made famous in the Shrek and Puss in Boots movie franchises. But Teddy is very much a real kitty—a British longhaired cat. And he’s in a real mess, too.

Teddy seems nervous in the groomer’s sterile environment, but luckily, she has all the tools to make him comfortable. She starts out by giving him liquid treats out of a tube to put him at ease and make him realize that this space is a safe, happy one—with delicious goodies.

Related: Cat's Refusal to Get Out of the Relaxing Bathtub Is Totally Relatable

Next, she shaves off some of the mats that have collected in his fluffy fur, and clips his nails. Poor Teddy doesn’t love this activity, but he’s remarkably chill about it (my vocal cats would definitely be expressing their disapproval and probably even hissing at me at this point).

The groomer says that Teddy has a lot of litter stuck in his paws, and even smells like urine, so he has not been taking care of his toilette, the way most cats do.

Next, she puts him in the bath and scrubs him down. Though he tries to hide from her, the groomer is a pro, and patiently and calmly coaxes him back so she can finish the job.

Finally, she places a protective covering over his ears and blow dries him into a sweet orange fluff ball. A bit of combing and some final shaving to keep him from getting messy on his backside again, and Teddy is good to go.

“Most cats clean themselves,” the groomer admits, before saying that Teddy must be “lazy” and is probably fated to visit many groomers throughout his life.

British Longhaired Cats

British longhaired cats are a breed created by crossing the round-eyed, chubby-cheeked British shorthair with the fluffy Persian cat breed. The result looks more like a cartoon character than a living animal, and can have a sweet, open disposition that also makes it a popular pick with families.

Unfortunately, since the long hair gene is a mutation in cats, many cats with long hair are not as good at grooming themselves as their short-haired cousins. I have two long-haired cats—one is a bathing fiend, the other is an embarrassment to her species. Even the first cat often despairs of allogrooming the lazy one, and it’s up to me and a judicious pair of clippers to step in.

The Actual Puss in Boots

Though the Puss in Boots made famous by the animated films is a debonair swordsman, the one from the original fairy tale is less like one of the three Musketeers and more like a trickster character. He doesn’t have a sword, but rather uses his wits and a series of clever tricks to help his young master—a penniless orphan—move up in the world, gain property and riches, and finally, the hand of a princess.

Best of luck to stinky Teddy.

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