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By Lucy Notarantonio
Senior Reporter
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A grandmother’s endearing mistake has gone viral on TikTok, after her granddaughter shared a text message revealing a hilarious mishap that occurred in the middle of the night.
The slide show shared by Chloe Ellis (@chloeannellis4) shows a selfie with the text saying: "Sometimes you have to ignore your nana's texts and get on with your day."
Followed by a screenshot of the message from Norma, 79, racking up more than 870,000 views and over 100,000 likes.
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The 26-year-old from England told Newsweek: "We were in stitches!"
The photo shows a black slipper with small biscuits over it, and the text explaining how she thought she had fed her cat—only to discover the next morning that she had actually poured dry food and petted her black, fluffy slipper.
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The post quickly drew over 350 comments, with many users in fits of laughter.
“Black furry slippers need loving as well,” one user joked.
Another wrote, “This is so precious. No one’s going hungry in that house.”
Others admitted to similar experiences, with one viewer confessing, “I’ve done this as well with a towel.”
While the incident is funny, experts note that age-related vision changes can sometimes contribute to such mix-ups.
The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) explains that many adults begin experiencing any sight problems and struggle to see clearly at close distances, especially when reading and working on the computer in their mid-40s to 60s.
This is known as presbyopia. It is a common condition that often requiring people to hold reading materials farther away or struggle with blurred print in dim lighting. Though harmless, it can occasionally lead to moments like mistaking a slipper for a beloved pet.
The story also highlights the special bond between seniors and their cats. According to the American Humane Society, cats make excellent companions for older adults, offering both emotional and physical benefits. They help ease loneliness and depression by providing affection and a sense of purpose, while their care routines encourage light physical activity and mental stimulation.
Unlike dogs, which often require more demanding exercise and training, cats are low-maintenance pets that thrive indoors, need only short play sessions, and are content to curl up on a lap or bed.
For this grandmother, the mix-up may have been a case of mistaken identity, but it also underscored the affection she has for her pet—and even her slipper. Judging by the viral response, TikTok users were more than happy to share in the laughter, proving that sometimes the most ordinary moments can spark extraordinary joy.
Update 12/15/25 07:52 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to add a comment from Chloe Ellis and a photo of Norma's cat.
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