A cat owner was in for a hilarious surprise when she arrived at the vet’s office, only to realize she had an unexpected stowaway.
Kylie Banister, from Erie, Pennsylvania, had taken her cat, Charlie Chaplain, for a scheduled appointment when she discovered her other cat, Mabel, had secretly tagged along for the trip.
In a now-viral TikTok video with over 280,000 views, Banister shared her shock at opening the carrier and finding not one, but two cats.
Banister told Newsweek: “I was definitely shocked because Mabel didn’t meow the entire ride—only Charlie did. I even thought Charlie felt heavier than usual but didn’t realize why until I saw another bundle of fur in the carrier.”
@kylanxx155/TikTok
While most cats avoid the vets, Mabel appeared to have done the opposite. In the video, the two cats were sitting in the vet’s office together, amusing both the veterinary staff and viewers online.
“The vet and the vet tech both laughed and said, ‘I see they’re getting along well,’ because we had just gotten Charlie, so Mabel was still getting used to him,” Banister told Newsweek.
Instead of sending Mabel back home, Banister let her stay for the appointment. “Mabel just hung out in the room with her brother and looked around,” she said.
While Banister had no problem getting Mabel along to the vet, other cats aren’t so sure. VCA Animal Hospitals has tips for any struggling owners, with their website saying: “It is best to have the carrier out at all times so it becomes a place where your cat can sleep and eat on a regular basis.
“Line the carrier with a soft towel or your cat’s favorite blanket. Offer your cat yummy treats or toys in the carrier at home regularly to help your cat become more comfortable with the carrier.”
Viewers were delighted with the video, shared last month, which was captioned: “Big surprise for the vet this morning,” while the text overlay said: “I didn’t notice until I opened the carrier that Mabel was in there.”
@kylanxx155/TikTok
In the clip Banister can be heard saying: “When you’re taking one cat to the vet, and the other one sneaks in the carrier and wants to go along with her brother. So you have an appointment for both of them I guess.
In the comments one user joked: “Bro, she came for emotional support. She smelled what you were up to.” Another added: “The other cat was afraid of missing out until they found out where they were.”
Others marveled at how both cats fit into a single carrier and didn’t make a noise. One commenter said: “I’m jealous because my chunky boys do not.”
“I shared it on TikTok because I thought it was funny and I couldn’t believe she did that,” Banister said. “I’ve also been getting tips from other cat parents about taking their pets to the vet, which is really cool.”
Some viewers even had similar experiences: “I used to have a cat that wouldn’t go without his brother. I miss them so much,” said another TikToker.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.