If you have 22 minutes, you really need to watch this video.

“Alexander Hammid’s intimate study of a female cat and the birth and maturation of her five kittens.” Produced by Alexander Hammid and Maya Deren, 1947. Video in public domain available at Archive.org.

It’s adorable and amazing. The way the mother cat and father cat seem to communicate is fascinating. Dad’s very involved in their early lives, and even tries to teach them to climb. One of the babies gets pretty high up, but mom doesn’t let that happen! You get down here!

There are so many touching moments, and during a few, you forget they’re just cats. It’s brilliant.