Cat mom brings senior feline to vet because she suspects he’s autistic, vet surprises her with the most hissterical answer: ‘He’s just deaf’

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jun 6, 2026 10:15 AM EDT

Do your cats show signs of the 'tism?

One of the best parts of being a cat owner is getting to know all of your cattos' weird quirks. They might only drink water out of leftover mugs, maybe they sleep in between the couch cushions, or purrhaps they randomly choose when to listen to you and when not to (well, that sounds about normal, to be honest). All cats are weird little guys, but that's part of their feline charm. If we wanted a pet that was more or less predictable, we would have gotten a doggo!

But we would be lying if we said that all cats were the same level of weirdo (we say that in the most loving way pawssible). Some cats are the creme de la creme of quirky, and the fluffy cat, Simba, in our cat mom's post below from Reddit's r/Cats community, is one of them. She suspected something was wrong with him for a long time, to the point of bringing Simba to the vet and saying this:

"I think he has autism, what are our next steps?"

Firstly, we think it's hilarious that this cat mom would think her cat has the 'tism, because it's just a funny thought to have. Now, on with our story…

The vet examined Simba, checking for anything physically wrong with him, and came back with the most hissterical answer he could have: Simba was just deaf.

Fully embarrassed, the cat mom, her kid, and Simba left the vet and went home with their deaf cat, and lived happily ever after.

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10634940416
    via drac_cute_la
  • 02
    This is my childhood cat, Simba. He is 17 years old and when I was little my mom (now deceased) was convinced he had au sm because in her own words "he just doesn't seem right and I am worried".
    via drac_cute_la
  • 03
    I went with her to the vet appointment and sat there and waited with her for the vet to show up. Vet shows up and asks why we are there and she word for word said "I think he has au sm, what are our next steps"
    via drac_cute_la
  • 04
    Vet did a full exam and told her "he's just deaf" We left the appointment and I won't forget how embarrassed my mom was and she de d ass turned to this cat in his carrier and said "I know you can't hear me but you embarrassed me"
    via drac_cute_la

  • For a period, we thought one of our cats had night blindness because, when it got dark, she would get really anxious. Every sound scared her, sudden movements made her run for cover, and she frequently missed the litter box at night. We got nightlights for her, tried tiring her out so she would sleep more easily, etc, but nothing worked. We brought her to the vet, and they said that she was just an anxious cat, there's nothing wrong with her eyesight. 

    Great. Very helpful! 

    In all seriousness, though, we started leaving an area of the house with small lights on and put her bed there, and she found her place to sleep and feel comfortable. It took some time, but we all made it work. And now we're all sleeping through the night, which isn't something a lot of cat pawrents can say.

  • 05
    Now he lives with me since her passing. He's a sweet boy who sometimes bites my husband, but he's a sweet boy.
    via drac_cute_la
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10634940160
    via drac_cute_la
  • 07
    Reithel1 My sweet boy... Simba, meet Simba.
    via Reithel1
  • 08
    kelfupanda Look at the giant 'No' pockets.
    via kelfupanda
  • 09
    literacolalargefarva If I was 17 in cat years I'd prob bite some husbands too
    via literacolalargefarva
  • 10
    BellerophonM Aww. And hey, if you go by human standards,
    via BellerophonM
  • 11
    ALL CATS ARE ON THE AU SM SPECTRUM KATHY HOOPMANN 100
    via BellerophonM
  • 12
    Unbuttoned Buttons "I know you can't hear me but you embarrassed me" has me absolutely rolling
    via UnbuttonedButtons
  • 13
    jeapos88 This is Bruce. He too is deaf, and of an undetermined old age.
    via jeapos88
  • 14
    Cheezburger Image 10634964224
    via jeapos88
  • 15
    Scooter87942 My cat wasn't deaf, he just ignored me!
    via Scooter87942
  • 16
    catglitter9000 I'm cackling here. Very handsome boy!!!!
    via catglitter9000
  • 17
    Azraeddit She said that boy ain't right C
    via Azraeddit
  • 18
    altbauten All cats are fueled by au sm in their own unique way. Q
    via altbauten
  • 19
    jedburghofficial I'm going to stand up for your mother here. She might have guessed wrong, but she was sharp enough to tell there's a real problem. And she cared enough to get it checked out. Good on her.
    via jedburghofficial
  • 20
    SeriousUsername1 I love this story but I also love that he bites your husband and he's still a sweet boy to you see Simba > husband
    via SeriousUsername1
  • 21

    "This is my cat Jones, he’s also deaf. I did a double-take when I saw this post!"

    carrrott
    via carrrott
  • 22
    Potential_Warthog373 undiagnosed but something ain't right
    via Potential_Warthog373

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