Woman dismissed her cat’s desperate calls for help when he kept pressing the ‘medicine’ button — then came a life-threatening emergency
A cat’s repeated attempts to alert its owner went ignored for a short time, until the situation became urgent. The unusual behavior began at home, with the cat pressing a button labeled 'medicine' on its communication system, but the owner, Robin Deans, assumed it was just for routine treats and supplements. The story, later posted on Instagram on March 13, 2025, drew attention for showing how pets can signal distress in ways humans might initially misunderstand. What seemed like small, repetitive actions soon became clear when the vet's diagnosis revealed a life-threatening emergency.
Shared under the Instagram handle @bertandernie_bestfriends, Deans described the first signs of trouble. The pet cat, Ernie, pressed “medicine,” and when she replied “later,” he pressed “no” repeatedly. Deans recalled, “Ernie knew something was wrong before I did… At first, I didn’t think much of it. But as the day went on, his behavior changed—restless, straining, and clearly uncomfortable.” The Instagram video shows Ernie pressing the medicine button and looking at the owner for a response.
The owner revealed that after this incident, "Ernie hid in the closet all day and then didn’t come out at his normal time to start asking to eat." She fed her other pet, Bert, but even then, Ernie hadn’t come out of the closet, signaling that she needed to take immediate action. The owner then rushed the feline to the emergency room, where the diagnosis revealed a urinary obstruction, a condition the owner called a “life-threatening emergency.” She noted that Ernie had been advocating for himself through his talking buttons, and because she listened, she was able to respond promptly and catch “it in time.”
The video then shows Deans having a heartfelt conversation with her pet dog. Reassuring him about his feline buddy's condition, she says, “Ernie stay at doctor tonight and tomorrow and… tomorrow and maybe tomorrow. Ernie has ouch, but Ernie will be okay. So don’t be concerned,” while Bert hugs her in the driving seat, capturing the relief and comfort following the ordeal. The post highlights the value of paying attention to pets’ communication, not just for play. The pet parent stressed, “This is why pet communication matters. It’s not just for fun—it can be lifesaving." She noted that for pet owners using communication buttons, paying close attention to patterns and changes in how their animals signal needs can be crucial in spotting problems early. She also suggested that using automated tracking for the button presses could alert owners to sudden or unusual changes that might otherwise go unnoticed.
The video caught the attention of numerous internet users, with many commenting on their own experiences and praising the little feline. @ariell_the_axolotl recalled, "A urinary obstruction killed my sweet little black kitty when I was in college. I'm glad you guys were able to get Ernie help." @relativeis exclaimed, "Poor Ernie. Feel better soon!" While @maryrobinettekowal mentioned, "I'm so glad you gave him the tools to advocate for himself." @hollispwhipsnade wrote, "So very glad you caught it in time."
For more interesting cat content, follow @bertandernie_bestfriends on Instagram.