Sometimes even the most experienced cat owners get confused by certain sights or sounds. We do our best not to judge the next generation of greenhorn pet parents—but a little laughter never hurt anyone.

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Let’s dive right into the supposedly obvious things that ended up costing the following cat owners hundreds of dollars at a vet.

Sometimes Owners Completely Misread Their Pets’ Behavior

Poor, Chubby Kitty

Jillian’s wallet took a serious hit with the following incident. She noticed her cat had stopped grooming itself, and its fur had become matted and clumped. As we all know, this is never a good sign when it comes to cats, who are known for their cleanliness and meticulous grooming habits. Trusting her instincts, Jillian rushed her feline friend to the vet. The diagnosis? The culprit was the winter weight gain. The cat wasn’t lazy, depressed, or sick—just too overweight to reach most parts of its body.

We’ve Always Said They’re Smarter Than Most People Think

Another woman went through hell when her cat kept running to the litter box, scratching and kicking around the litter constantly. For many cat owners, this is a recurring nightmare, as it often signals a urinary tract issue. Except this time, it didn’t.

Turns out, the owner had previously rewarded the cat for using the litter box. And as we've mentioned, cats have excellent long-term memory—up to 10 years. Especially if the memory includes a tasty treat. So this clever kitty kept returning to the litter box in hopes of another snack.

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They Can Learn a Lot—Even On Their Own

Let the World Know: I Have to Pee!

The next owner found out at the vet’s office that some male cats love to loudly announce when they’re using the litter box. No infection, no illness, no pain—just a well-developed sense of self. And we absolutely love it.

Almost Underwent Exploratory Surgery for Happy Purring

This young man, a first-time cat owner, was a bit more anxious than average—which is understandable. His cat had been making a strange, rasping noise from the start, and he immediately feared the worst: pneumonia.

He rushed to the emergency clinic. Since the sound wasn’t audible at the moment, there was no time to waste—every minute could count. X-rays and other tests followed, and as they were preparing for possible surgery, the mysterious rasping sound finally returned. The vet simply said, “Sir, your cat is purring.”

Vets Encounter Some Truly Fascinating Cases

Depression Doesn’t Discriminate

This cat scared its family half to death. It showed nearly every sign of dying: no eating, no drinking, sleeping more than usual, hiding away from everyone. But after a visit to the vet, no one could decide whether to laugh or cry at the diagnosis.

The doctor explained that the cat was in perfect health—just a little depressed. Based on the symptoms, he believed the kitty had likely gotten into a fight it didn’t win, leaving its self-esteem in tatters.

When Uncontrollable Rage Is Unleashed on the Owner

We’ve written about this before, but stories like this are always hilarious—and it’s even better to see them happen in real life. This owner paid $500—about 200,000 forints—to learn that his cat was furious at him for going on a trip. The cat used every tactic in the book: ignored the owner upon return and refused to use the litter box altogether. Bravo—fast and effective!

Your Pet’s Reactions to Environmental Changes Can Be Intense

Not to Its Taste

This owner also left the vet’s office 500 dollars poorer—just to find out that the cat didn’t like the taste of a new food. The kitty didn’t leave anything to chance when it came to expressing its disapproval. Abandoning its normally sweet demeanor, it hissed at everyone. We warned you—these creatures have refined taste!