Cat Owner Spends $400 at Vets, Diagnosis Leaves Internet in Hysterics

After spending $400 dollars at the veterinarian, a dog owner finally learned what was wrong with their cat, and internet users can't cope with it.

In a viralReddit post shared earlier in December under the username u/LilaFowler88, the poster shared a picture of their orange cat on the veterinarian's table, lying right by the wall as if trying to hide.

"$400 vet visit later, turns out this big doofus has separation anxiety," the caption explained.

According to Cats Protection, while cats are generally more independent than dogs, they can still experience separation-related stress or anxiety if their routine changes suddenly or if they have not been left alone before.

Signs your cat might be struggling include restlessness or an inability to settle; excessive meowing; being easily startled; a loss of appetite; hiding; toileting outside the litter tray; destructive scratching; and, in extreme cases, vomiting or diarrhoea.

If you notice behaviour changes, rule out medical causes with your vet first.

To help your cat cope, keep a consistent routine for feeding and play-and provide toys, puzzle feeders, boxes or climbing spaces so that they can stay entertained when alone.

Play with your cat before you leave and gradually build up the time they spend by themselves.

Giving access to safe outdoor space, leaving low-volume background noise and using pheromone diffusers may also help.

Try to keep departures calm and make changes gradually, especially if your schedule is changing after a period of being at home more.

The post quickly went viral on social media and it has so far received over 16,000 upvotes and 256 comments on the platform.

One user, Other-Cantaloupe4765, commented: "He looks just as surprised as you are."

SeekAr said: "He's only got one brain cell left, naturally he's nervous about losing it."

Froegerer added: "Vet bills are f****** absurd."

Another user, doodlenoodle70, wrote: "Our orange George has faked a limp thanks to separation anxiety. Every time his Dad leaves for a trip, he gets sick. If I don’t work from home that day, he throws up for days. So many tests later, he’s just anxious!! So now I work from home always lol."

Newsweek reached out to u/LilaFowler88 for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.

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Newsweek

This story was originally published December 26, 2025 at 7:06 AM.