An anti-smoking group is using cat videos to persuade people not to smoke

Smoking = no cats = no cat videos.

A new ad released by an anti-smoking group warns internet users and viral video lovers that cats exposed to second-hand smoke are twice as likely to get cancer as those whose owners do not smoke.

The Truth Initiative’s ad has been views more than 2 million times on YouTube.

The campaign uses the fact that pets are two times as likely to get cancer if their owner smokes as a way to gain attention for the number one cause of preventable death — tobacco.

"#CATmageddon uses some of the internet's most popular cats to show the impact of tobacco use on teens and pets alike," said Truth Initiative CEO and President Robin Koval. "Pets are two times as likely to get cancer if their owner smokes."

The ad is the latest extension of truth's Finish It campaign, which launched in August 2014 and aims to empower smokers and nonsmokers alike to make this the generation that ends tobacco use for good.

Truth is working with Petco to promote the campaign and educate the public about the damage smoking can do to pets.