‘So Cruel’: Jennifer Garner, 53, Sparks Mixed Reactions After Playing with Her ‘Poor’ Cat in Video

Jennifer Garner recently shared a lighthearted video featuring her cat, Moose, giving fans a glimpse into her family life—and sparking unexpected reactions online.

In the short clip, Garner is seen twirling around playfully with Moose in her arms. With her phone held between her teeth, she captures a cat’s-eye view of the dizzying moment. The footage, later edited, shows the same spin from Moose’s perspective.

“Oh, I don’t see him,” Garner says mid-spin, her voice muffled. She shifts the angle and calls out, “Moose!” before adding, “He doesn’t care,” followed by a laugh.

However, not everyone laughed along. The video drew a wave of comments—some amused, others concerned. Some viewers took issue with how Garner held the cat while spinning.

“Cats don’t like this… it’s not funny, please stop,” one user wrote. Another called the moment “So cruel,” adding, “That poor cat… Seriously?” Others were gentler but still critical. “Please don’t lift your cat off like that because it’s not healthy ❤️,” a comment read.

The concern centered on animal well-being, with many suggesting that cats dislike being handled this way. Despite the backlash, Garner’s video found plenty of supporters. Fans flooded the comment section with praise and laughing emojis. “This made my day! So funny!” one wrote.

Another shared, “Ahhh love this! Moose is adorable.” A third chimed in, “OMG!! Just when I thought I couldn’t love you more! ❤️” Others simply asked for more, “Moose content all day long, please.”

Long before the recent spinning video stirred debate, the gray feline had already become a familiar face on the actress’s social media, charming followers with his unexpected adventures and comical mishaps.

In July 2024, Garner shared a quirky “house tour” video—guided by Moose himself. “Moose asked for a tour. 🤷🏻‍♀️,” she joked in the caption. Holding the cat in her arms, casually dressed in a striped tee and khaki pants, Garner introduced him to “places he’s never seen before.”

Their first stop: the refrigerator. Moose peeked inside curiously. Then, with playful text overlays and a few food emojis, they headed to the microwave. The journey continued to the fish tank, where Moose gazed at the swimming fish, wide-eyed in her arms.

The tour ended on Garner’s bed, where the cat’s paw got tangled in a blanket, a moment both comical and relatable for pet owners.

Just a few months earlier, in April 2024, Garner celebrated National Pet Day in true unscripted style—with a very messy Moose moment. “Something’s gone awry,” she began in a video, holding Moose while covering his ears. “Moose pooped his pants. We can’t live like this. He’s befouled!”

Garner proceeded to give him a bath, removing his collar and offering a disclaimer. “First of all, we have an obesity problem. So, please don’t make fun.” With the camera rolling, Garner gently scrubbed her cat while coaxing him. “Oooh, is that nice?” she asked. But the calm didn’t last. “It smells even more,” she said, wrinkling her nose.

After a few words about Moose’s gentle nature, things escalated. The cat, clearly done with bath time, leapt from the sink. In the struggle that followed, Moose scratched Garner on the neck. “I deserve it,” she admitted, showing the scratch to the camera. “I don’t blame him.”

These are only a few of many instances where the actress has shared her life as a fur mom. Back in 2020, during a virtual appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” Garner offered a glimpse into how her family coped with life under lockdown. Social distancing had taken its toll, and like many families, they searched for creative ways to stay active and entertained.

“One of my kids was not into going for walks and we just had to get out of the house,” she explained to DeGeneres. When asked what might help, the child had a simple solution: take the cat. “And she said, ‘I wanna take the cat,'” Garner recalled. So they did.

The family ordered a cat stroller. With a laugh, Garner shared how the unconventional idea became part of their routine. Inspired by Jessica Seinfeld, she embraced the new activity. “All of a sudden, now I have a cat and a cat stroller and I take it for walks. And it has a leash,” she told the host.

Sadly, in November 2024, Garner faced a heartbreaking loss. She mourned the death of her cherished dog, Birdie, just a day before Thanksgiving. In an emotional Instagram post, the actress shared the news with her followers, calling Birdie “the world’s best dog.”

“It is hard to know how to write this— it seems nuts, given the world, to mourn a pet, but since we have shared Birdie with all of you, it only seems fair to let you know of her passing,” Garnerr wrote. She explained that Birdie had suddenly fallen ill on Thursday, and a visit to the vet revealed her pet was at the end of her life.

Garner expressed gratitude for the timing, noting that Birdie seemed to wait for one of her children to come home from college. This allowed the family to spend their final moments together, petting Birdie’s soft ears and thanking her for the love she brought into their lives.

For the actress, Birdie was more than a pet, she was a treasured member of the family. The golden retriever had a special love for being read to and frequently appeared in Garner’s popular Instagram series, “Pretend Cooking Show.” She was also a therapy dog who brought comfort and joy to many.

“She lived a happy dog life and is now in the role she was born to play: angel girl. It’s a gift to love and be loved by such a creature as Birdie the Doggie. 🐾🪽,” Garner shared, accompanied by photos and videos of her time with Birdie.

One clip showed the two lounging on a sofa as Garner read William Steig’s “Pete’s a Pizza,” both donning reading glasses. Another captured her tenderly singing to Birdie while cradling her, playfully using Birdie’s paws to accompany the tune.

Garner’s heartfelt post resonated deeply with her followers and drew an outpouring of condolences from friends and celebrities. “black-ish” star Tracee Ellis Ross commented, “🐾🐾🐾🐾❤️❤️❤️❤️ these furry beings bring so much goodness.” Meanwhile, “Friends” alum Jennifer Aniston added, “Oh Jen…💔I’m so sorry. Sending so much love.”

Chef Ina Garten also wrote her sympathies, “Oh Jennifer, I’m heartbroken for you!!! She was the best buddy and always up for an adventure with all of you. Sending my love to you and the kids. I’m so glad they’re home with you now. Birdie will be eating turkey in heaven.”

Amid the grief, Garner turned to her family and community to find comfort. On Thanksgiving Day, she reunited with her ex-husband, Ben Affleck, and their children to volunteer at the Midnight Mission in Los Angeles.

Together, they served 2,000 homeless and near-homeless individuals at the non-profit’s annual Thanksgiving brunch, spending three hours working side by side and sharing warm moments.

The bittersweet Thanksgiving came during a challenging time for Garner. In April, she announced the passing of her beloved father, William “Billy Jack” Garner, who died surrounded by family.

Garner took to Instagram to share a tearjerking tribute dedicated to her dad in which she showcased an array of beautiful father-daughter moments spanning decades—from her childhood memories with him to more recent family gatherings.

Amid the various photos, one could see the undeniable bond that was shared between Jennifer and her late dad, a bond echoed in the loving family photos she posted, some of which featured her mother Patricia Garner, and her siblings.

A particularly touching addition was a video from a past Capital One ad campaign showing Garner — who was joined by her father at the end of the video—narrating a story about her father’s pride in signing up for “the Jennifer Garner card.”

Accompanying the sweet pictures was the “Elektra” star’s caption which expressed a profound sense of loss tempered with gratitude for the life her father led.

“My dad passed peacefully Saturday afternoon. We were with him, singing Amazing Grace as he left us […] While there is no tragedy in the death of an 85 year old man who lived a healthy, wonderful life, I know grief is unavoidable […]Today is for gratitude,” she wrote.

She also highlighted the devoted, adoring, and patient father he was to her and her siblings and the loving husband he was to her mom, for 59 years. Additionally, Garner thanked the medical communities of Charleston Area Medical Center and City of Hope for providing her dad with the best care they could.

Growing up as one of three daughters in Charleston, West Virginia, Garner recounted her childhood as “pretty peaceful,” shaped by her mother, a schoolteacher, and her father, a Union Carbide employee.

In a past interview with “PBS’s” Kelly Corrigan in October 2020, Garner said her dad was a man of the world despite the family’s deep West Virginian roots. His adventurous spirit took him around the globe, instilling in his daughters the importance of resilience and the value of home.

Previously referred to as “Bill” by Garner when she was younger, the actress spoke about how this then changed to “Billy Jack,” highlighting his Texan roots which, she said, grew deeper the older he got. While discussing his persona, Garner fondly remarked, “My dad is—he’s so great.”

More than gushing about her dad and loved ones in interviews, Garner’s social media had long been a testament to the significant role her family played in her life. In September 2023, she shared a touching post featuring a carousel of images from a family visit to Charleston.

Among the pictures and videos she shared, she included a heartwarming photo that showed her and her dad standing next to a 1948 Studebaker Champion which she gifted to him as an early birthday present.

Garner’s tribute to her late father was a touching homage to a man who lived a full life, was adored by his family, and left behind a legacy of love, strength, and integrity.