A routine vet visit turned into an unexpected ordeal for a cat named Ellie after she chose a rather unfortunate hiding spot.
In a now-viral TikTok video shared by user @ellielunaandcoal, Ellie, a fluffy long-haired tabby, is seen sitting directly under a hand sanitizer dispenser in the corner of the exam room. The clip, posted Thursday, shows the cat trying to remain unnoticed—only to trigger the dispenser repeatedly.
“We took Ellie to the vet and she thought it would be a great idea to sit right under a sanitizer dispenser,” read the text over the video.
Each time the motion sensor detected movement, the dispenser squirted sanitizer onto her fur. Despite the unexpected shower, Ellie refused to budge. Eventually, veterinary staff had to gently move her from the spot.
In the caption, her owner reassured viewers that Ellie was safely cleaned afterward: “Don’t worry guys, we and the vets got her all rinsed and cleaned up.”
Ellie’s reaction is not unusual. Many cats become nervous during vet visits due to the unfamiliar smells, sounds, and being handled by strangers. Hiding is a common stress response.
According to VCA Animal Hospitals, pet owners can help reduce this stress by bringing familiar items, like a favorite towel, and scheduling appointments during quieter hours. Waiting in the car instead of the lobby can also help minimize exposure to other animals.
Ellie’s sanitizer mishap resonated with TikTok users. The video has racked up over 1.4 million views and 229,000 likes.
Commenters found humor in the cat’s bad luck. User Smolcatz4eva wrote, “Cat: ‘Wow, that was weird. Hope it doesn’t happen again! Wow, it happened again, crazy.’” Another joked, “Looked at my dumbest cat and admired her intelligence after seeing this.”
One viewer summed it up with: “I love how she looks at the dispenser like it offended her.”
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