One woman got a shocking surprise when she went to bed in her shared hostel dorm in Guatemala and, half asleep, felt something moving in her bed.
TikToker @izbuckley was stunned to find that a stray kitten had climbed into her bed during the night. In a 14 second video, the TikToker, who goes by Izzy online, revealed the tiny intruder curled up near her pillow.
In the video, which has more than 200,000 views on TikTok since being shared last month, the caption read: "POV: sleeping in a shared dorm in a hostel & you feel something in your bed...," the clip quickly went viral for its relatable humor and sweet twist.
"I wasn't mad about it," Izzy commented later. "I was just so confused because I was half asleep."
The footage revealed clips of the kitten cuddling up in the bed, walking around the hostel room and generally claiming its own space.
The incident took place in Flores, a popular tourist spot in Guatemala, known for its charming island town vibes and laid-back hostel scene—evidently, open to the occasional four-legged visitor.
Hostel travel is a popular choice for the budget-conscious. The global hostel market was valued at $7.21 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $11.04 billion by 2030, a Research and Markets report highlighted.
The market demand has been driven primarily by millennials and Gen Z, under 44, as travelers prioritize authentic, local experiences over conventional and luxury tourism.
According to website Hostelworld, there are hostels in over 180 countries around the world, and while 80 percent of customers are under 35 years old, hostel bookers typically go on four or more leisure trips a year, 2.4 times more than the average person.
A picture of Izzy in the hostel when she found the unexpected visitor.A picture of Izzy in the hostel when she found the unexpected visitor.@izbuckley/TikTokReactions to the viral video poured in from amused viewers, with one user joking, "Why you shocked you clearly said it's shared," while another added, "Honestly it's the best case scenario in a hostel."
Even the kitten looked just as bewildered by its new sleeping arrangement. As one user pointed out, "The kitten looks equally confused."
Other hostel-goers shared their own similar encounters with unexpected friends in hostels.
"Could have been worse to be fair... I woke up to a massive tokay gecko in mine," wrote one viewer.
While Isabella said: "I woke up to a scorpion crawling over my leg in Thailand."
Others, like Gemma, saw no issue at all: "My idea of heaven ngl."
Viewer Hollie said it was the "cat distribution system," while Meschissa wrote: "You live my dream."
TikToker Valentine joked: "You would have paid extra for this purfect service."
Newsweek reached out to @izbuckley via TikTok for comment.
