PDSA responds to online 'Purritos' trend

17 September 2026

Leading veterinary charity, PDSA, has issued a statement in response to the recent social media 'purritos' trend, which sees pet owners posting images of their kittens swaddled in socks.

Shauna Walsh, PDSA Veterinary Nurse, says: "We understand that, as pet owners, we want to keep our kittens happy, but placing a kitten in a sock may have the opposite effect and cause them to feel stressed, so we'd recommend people don't take part in this trend.

"Restricting a kitten's movement in any way, such as by placing them in a sock, means they’re unable to do natural things like walking away, playing, going to the toilet or grooming, and it could make them too warm.

"Instead, we recommend keeping your kitten warm and secure by providing a cosy cat bed in a quiet area of the home where they have access to food, water, a scratching post and a litter tray."