Copyright Newsweek
An owner received a sympathy card from the veterinary office, but there was just one problem: his cat was very much still alive. TikTok user @retr0joe shared a video on October 29, showing the lovely card he received from the veterinary office. The front of the card read: "Thinking of you - from all of us at Vets Now." The team left handwritten messages inside, expressing their condolences for the owner's cat, Bruce. The owner called the card "heartwarming" in the caption, thinking about how sad it was for Bruce. But then he set the jokes aside and revealed Bruce, his black cat, to be alive and well. He panned the camera over to show Bruce sitting in his cat tree. When the owner asked if he was dead, Bruce gave a big side-eye, acting annoyed that a human dared to talk to him. It's as if he tried faking his own death to avoid another vet visit, but the card gave away his plan. Newsweek reached out to @retr0joe via TikTok on Friday for additional comment. Vets Now declined to comment. Sending Sympathies for Pets Veterinary offices often send owners personalized notes following the passing of a pet. People go through the grieving process differently, but sending a card almost always makes them feel loved and appreciated. It lets them know others are thinking about them during this difficult time. Pet Loss At Home, an organization of mobile veterinarians providing end-of-life care in the comfort of home, suggested that people supporting a grieving friend can send memorial gifts and flowers, or print photos of the pet to send along with a personalized card. Some might offer to donate in the pet's name to an animal shelter. Viewer Reactions The unexpected card left social media shocked users, but Bruce's reaction left them crying tears of joy. As of Tuesday, the TikTok video reached over 283,800 views, 16,600 likes and 160 comments. "He's like, 'Yeah... dead tired, leave me alone,'" joked a viewer, while a second commented: "Are you sure the 'Bruce' you brought home is actually Bruce and not an imposter?" Another added: "They were talking about one of his lives. He has 8 left." Some wondered if the mix-up happened because of a microchip not being up-to-date. Someone else asked if this could have occurred with a stop in health insurance, to which the owner replied that he did cancel Bruce's plan that same month.
