June 10, 2026

The Smart One and the Chaos One

Michelle on Jasper, The Orange, and the gate.

"Cats are much like you and me." - T.S. Eliot

Michelle has two cats: Jasper and Fofinho, whom she lovingly calls The Orange. Jasper is a thoughtful, observant type and very much a mama's boy, while The Orange is all about chaos. We all have friends like these, and just like us, each cat has its own unique personality. The videos of these two have reached millions of viewers, and for Michelle, it all revolves around a gate. Jasper has an incredible talent for figuring out how to open it, and The Orange just jumps over it like it's no big deal.

Beyond their popularity, what truly amazed Michelle was the genuine connection that viewers have formed with her cats. We spoke with her about how she ended up adopting two such different cats, the accidental discovery of a viral video format, and why people are so invested in what happens on either side of the gate.

Jasper and Fofinho

I've had Jasper for 7 years and knew he always wanted a little brother. Jasper is very smart and well-behaved (and a big mamma's boy). I didn't want to get another "Jasper," so I actually was looking for a silly little orange cat. I found Fofinho on Facebook 3 years ago and knew he'd be the perfect addition to our family. From the very beginning, he was full of chaos and destruction while Jasper remained calm and observant.

Accidentally discovering a format

I never thought that specific format would take off. I actually thought people would be more impressed by Fofinho jumping over than Jasper opening it. We have 2 cats and 2 dogs, and they have such a funny dynamic. I thought those videos would take off rather than the gate ones.

The first gate video I posted hit 2 million views overnight when we only had 200 followers and kept climbing to 9.5 million. I was really surprised, but didn't think people would still want to keep seeing the gate videos, so I posted normal content again. It took a few weeks for me to realize people were mainly interested in this format that showcased their 2 distinct personalities.

” It took a few weeks for me to realize people were mainly interested in this format that showcased their 2 distinct personalities.

Jasper's famous look back

Like I said, Jasper is a big mamma's boy and always seeking my approval. He'll even yowl when his brother is getting into trouble sometimes to tell on him and alert me! So I think him looking back before going through the gate is his way of making sure I saw him acting smart, or making sure I'm following close behind.

When the camera isn't rolling

Jasper loves to cuddle and sleep, so he's usually by my side or on top of me. I work remotely, so there's plenty of time for cuddles throughout the day. Fofinho often gets the zoomies and runs around the house, but he does still love cuddling up next to his big brother Jasper. They have a great relationship and snuggle together, bathe each other, and play fight. Fofinho keeps Jasper active!

Two cats, two personalities

It's been so sweet to see other people recognize their unique personalities and become so invested in them. People remember past videos where maybe Fofinho went through the door instead of jumping, or people get disappointed when Jasper doesn't look back every time, which is always funny.

I love that people are rooting for Fofinho to "get smarter" and that they're suggesting fun challenges for them. I joke that this has to be the most viral account with 0 hate comments!

Documenting the everyday

I work remotely in content marketing, but I'm always on the writing side of things. It's been fun to edit the videos and try to come up with fresh angles and ideas of how they can keep going through/over the gate. Being able to work from home means I'm able to capture these moments a lot, and I love that I have a space on the internet now to document all their adventures.

Thanks to Michelle for sharing Jasper and Fofinho's story with us. One detail she also shared with us: Jasper was adopted in Seattle in 2019 and has since traveled to more than eight countries with Michelle before eventually settling in Barcelona, where he now lives with Fofinho, two dogs Kingston and Kenya, and the humans who document their adventures. In retrospect, this may help explain why he's always the first one to figure out the gate.

You can catch Jasper and Fofinho's videos on TikTok.

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