Woman Spends $430 On Injured Cat, Only To Realize Later It’s A Look-Alike Imposter, Not Her Pet

Having a pet is a wonderful experience that often provides a lot of comfort to both the owner and the animal. That’s why people don’t usually mind going to great lengths to look after their furry friends and would do anything to make sure they are safe, healthy, and happy.

That’s exactly what one woman did when she found her cat, Luna, had been injured after escaping outside, and she received an expensive bill after rushing her to the vet. It’s only after she took the feline home that she realized Luna was already there! 

More info: Reddit

Most pet owners would do just about anything to make sure their animal is in good health and thriving

Woman sitting on the floor with laptop and black cat nearby, illustrating stealing wrong cat while paying bills concept.

Image credits: freepik / Freepik (not the actual photo)

The poster’s indoor black cat, named Luna, seemed to be missing one day, and she became worried when she realized she had forgotten to latch the door

Person confusedly staring at two identical black cats, illustrating accidentally stealing wrong cat and paying vet bills scenario.

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Person describing stealing wrong cat and paying bills after panicking over missing pet and searching outside with flashlight.

Person describing stealing wrong cat found limping under neighbor's porch, relating story about paying bills.

Black cat emerging from a pet carrier, illustrating issues related to stealing wrong cat and paying bills.

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After hunting for the cat everywhere, she found her under the neighbor’s porch and realized that Luna seemed to be hurt, so she took her to the emergency vet

Alt text: Person rushing injured cat to emergency vet, paying high bills after stealing wrong cat caused injury and vet care.

Text excerpt describing returning home, carrying a carrier, and gently letting a cat out of the carrier.

Injured cat steps out while the real cat walks from behind sofa, yawns, and hisses at the intruder in a home setting.

Person describing accidentally stealing the wrong cat, paying expensive medical bills, and bringing it into their home.

Young woman holding a black cat outdoors, smiling and enjoying a moment, reflecting on stealing wrong cat paying bills concept.

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The woman paid the $430 vet bill without hesitation and took the cat home, only to realize that her real Luna had been there the entire time

Text about stealing wrong cat, dealing with imposter cat, and paying bills after mistaken cat theft.

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Alt text: Person explains paying bills for a cat they found and keeping the cat after not finding the owner on a neighborhood app.

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The poster decided to keep the impostor cat unless she could find its real owner by knocking on doors in the neighborhood

It seems like the OP really cared for her feline companion, Luna, and always made sure that she was safe and comfortable in the house. Since she was an indoor cat and had zero survival instincts, the lady began panicking when she realized that the kitty might be missing after she didn’t show up for dinner time.

According to experts, indoor cats can actually survive outdoors without much of an issue because they are, by nature, quite resilient. Despite that, they might face problems with finding food, being around stray animals, and the changing weather conditions, which is why they should be introduced to the outside gradually.

Since Luna had never really been outdoors, her owner was worried, and she spent a lot of time searching for her high and low. Eventually, she noticed a pair of yellow eyes looking back at her from under her neighbor’s porch, and she assumed it was her cat. Unfortunately, when she rescued the feline, she realized that it was injured. 

In situations like this, it’s important to contact your animal’s regular vet for an immediate check-up. If they are not available, professionals advise visiting the emergency vet right away so they can treat the pet as soon as possible. Luckily, the OP didn’t waste time when she noticed the cat was injured and rushed it to the clinic.

Black cat with wide eyes lying on a blanket on a blue chair, illustrating stealing wrong cat concept for paying bills.

Image credits: EyeEm / Freepik (not the actual photo)

The woman felt extremely guilty about the cat’s injuries and kept apologizing to it the whole way to the vet. She also didn’t hesitate when the bill came to $430 and paid for the entire thing immediately. The OP was probably just glad that her pet was safe and could be taken home to get some rest. 

Unfortunately, when the woman got home, she was shocked to find the “real Luna” right there. That’s when she realized she had stolen a random stray cat and paid for its very expensive vet bill. Although she probably didn’t mind the mistake, it must have come as a shock and relief to see her pet healthy and unharmed.

In situations like this, cat carers advise checking apps like Nextdoor to see if any person has posted a notice about their missing animal. It’s also a good idea to check with neighbors, shelters, or even scan the cat’s microchip, if it has one. This will help you reunite the lost animal with their human.

The poster decided to do just that, and she mentioned that she would try her best to find the cat’s owners, or keep him for herself, since she had paid his vet bills. Although for the time being, Luna and the impostor weren’t getting along, who knows, maybe in the future they’ll be the best of buddies.

Have you ever been in a situation like this and mixed up your pet with another? We’d love to hear if you have any similar stories or if you know someone who’s been through this. 

People were glad that the woman looked after the impostor cat, and many urged her to share pictures of both kitties

Comments about accidentally stealing the wrong cat, helping an injured cat, and paying bills for the stray cat.

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