A TikTok video has potentially saved a cat’s life after viewers warned the pet’s unusual behavior might signal a serious health issue.
Rebecca Gladstone, 25, from Miami, Florida, shared a clip on June 15 of her one-year-old rescue cat, Luna, appearing limp and unresponsive while lying in bed. In the video, which has since gained 7.8 million views, Gladstone is seen cuddling Luna, initially thinking the cat was jokingly “playing dead.”
Gladstone told Newsweek she believed Luna was simply in a deep sleep. “He’s a very silly cat, so I didn’t panic right away. He was still breathing, so I just thought it was strange,” she said.
However, her concern grew when Luna wouldn’t wake up despite several attempts. “As soon as I picked him up, he suddenly returned to normal—running around and playing like nothing had happened,” she explained. Online searches reassured her that deep sleep in cats can sometimes look like that.
But by morning, comments under her video suggested a medical emergency. One viewer, claiming to be a veterinary assistant, urged her to get blood work done to rule out feline diabetes or other conditions. “Cats don’t play dead,” another commenter warned.
Gladstone said she began to take the situation more seriously. “I was already considering a neurologist visit due to past shaking episodes,” she said, “but I didn’t think it was urgent until now.”
After contacting a neurologist and sending the video, she was told it wasn’t an emergency but that an appointment should be scheduled soon. In the meantime, she took Luna to their regular vet, who suspected diabetes but also noted possible neurological concerns due to abnormal reflexes in Luna’s front paws. A full blood panel was ordered.
As Luna continued experiencing episodes, Gladstone brought him to an emergency vet. There, staff performed an EKG, ultrasound, and glucose testing. Multiple failed IV attempts raised concerns about dehydration. While a cardiologist referral was suggested, another vet prioritized a neurological evaluation.
During this process, Gladstone learned Luna had previously tested positive for toxoplasmosis, a detail not disclosed earlier. She was told to resume antibiotics, but veterinarians now believe toxoplasmosis is likely not the main issue.
“Right now, he seems totally fine—playful and energetic,” Gladstone said. “But these random episodes are still happening. We’re waiting on more test results. Specialists have seen the video and said they’ve never witnessed anything like this.”
Dr. Cliff Redford, a veterinarian and director of Wellington Veterinary Hospital in Ontario, Canada, reviewed the video for Newsweek. He explained that Luna’s symptoms could be an example of syncope—a sudden loss of consciousness often caused by low blood pressure or neurological problems.
“Syncope can result from heart disease, low blood sugar, or even certain types of seizures,” said Redford. Some seizures may not cause convulsions but instead affect specific muscle groups or mental functions, leading to collapse or strange behavior.
Redford emphasized that heart arrhythmias, where the heart beats irregularly, could also lead to fainting episodes. “This is why it’s so important to evaluate both cardiac and neurological causes in these cases,” he added.
Luna is currently undergoing further evaluation as veterinarians work to identify the cause of his troubling symptoms.
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