Use this thread to discuss anything related to cats that doesn't otherwise fit the subreddit! Also feel free to ask questions that you believe are too short for a standalone post.

To get this off my chest I've been living with my grandparents for about 2 years. My grandfather has a bunch of stray cats that I'm not allowed to touch because they'll scratch. But 4-5 cats were docile. He treats them like nuisances and will occasionally yell at them. I can't tell if he cares for them or wants them for show. But I will sit outside and occasionally one of the docile cats despite me just sitting there will nuzzle against my legs. To skip to the point one cat named Lilith was a cat that used to scratch but eventually poured and nuzzles against me Everytime I stopped outside

I would secretly pet her and feed her and she was always a calm but there for you kind of cat. Today while making a sandwich my uncle calls me with a trash bag in hand saying I need to take care of something. I step outside and we'll, it's Lilith, but her leg is bloodied up, her fur looks slightly wetened in one area and her eyes, lifeless. I took a knee next to her and realized she was dead. Most likely one of the neighborhood stray dogs had killed her. I know because I've had to bury 2 stray cats before hand but this was one I've been with for 2 years and now, it's just painful, having the nonchalantly just throw her away because my grandfather won't give her a proper burial.

I'm not allowed to show I've had affection for these cats because of him but it's sad and I have a strong fear that another one of my cats will end up the same fate. An orange one, one white one, 2 multifurred and another one that looked just like Lilith but male and chubbier.

If you're reading I only ask, You give Lilith a simpl goodbye, and Lilith, please rest well 💔

When I first brought my kitten home, I thought I had a general idea of how much it would cost—food, a litter box, maybe a toy or two. But no one really talks about the emotional budget you start spending the moment that tiny ball of fur curls up in your lap and purrs like you’re its whole world.

Yes, I’ve spent money—probably more than I expected. A high-quality scratching post instead of the cheaper wobbly one. Grain-free, vet-recommended food instead of bargain-brand kibble. A water fountain because I read somewhere that cats are more likely to stay hydrated when the water’s flowing. I even bought a heating pad for winter naps because she tends to get cold easily.

And the vet visits… oh, the vet visits. Vaccinations, deworming, spaying, and one emergency visit when she swallowed a piece of string. That one nearly broke my wallet—but leaving her in pain was never even an option.

But here’s the thing: I do all of this not because I have to, but because I want to. I love her. I love the way she blinks slowly at me when I talk to her. I love how she waits by the door when she hears my keys, and how she insists on sleeping pressed up against my chest like I’m her personal radiator.

Sometimes I sit on the floor beside her while she eats, just to make sure she feels safe. I clean her litter twice a day because I know she hates it when it gets too full. I even changed my apartment layout to make room for a cat tree by the window, so she can sit in the sunlight and watch the world go by.

So how much does it cost to raise a kitten?

It costs a portion of your paycheck, sure—but more than that, it costs space in your heart, your time, your energy, your attention. And in return, you get a love so pure it makes every dollar feel like it was never really yours to begin with—it belonged to her the moment you looked into those eyes and said, “You’re home now.”

Would I do it all again? A thousand times yes.

I take oral minoxidil and just a little bit ago when I went to take my daily dose the uncoated tablet fell out of my hand and onto the carpet. As many of you know minoxidil is highly toxic to cats. So I’m wondering what I need to do to make the carpet in the area safe for my cat to walk around on again. Is vacuuming and/or wiping the area with a wet rag enough? If just vacuuming is the call is it an issue if I wait a while? I live in an apartment and there are noise rules in effect currently that will keep me from being able to for an hour or two. I’m keeping the door to the room closed in the meantime.

Okay so Nellie joined our family just yesterday. She’s an adult who was an owner surrender, and is adjusting well. There’s a baby gate up in the hallway to give her a safe space away from Pepper, our dog, since we weren’t sure if she had been around dogs before. Pepper isn’t very interested in Nellie but Nels is understandably a bit nervous in a new environment. She’s spent most of the last 24 hours exploring hiding spots.

Which brings me to my question: at six am I woke up to Nellie licking my arm. And then she started licking and gently biting my fingers? I’ve read that this can be affection or overstimulation but I have no idea how to tell which. I’m fairly new to indoor/pet cats and want to make sure I’m understanding her.

Hi all! I am going to be a first time cat owner to an orange cutie on Monday! He is originally from Kuwait and was abused from people on the streets. They used to throw stuff at him and a part of his ear is missing through unknown means :(

He is a sweet boy for the most part, but can be shy and skittish. He has given me a couple warning bites during our meetings, but has not broken the skin. He also flinches every time I move my hand, even if I do so slowly. I am equally excited and worried about him adjusting to his new home.

I would love to know any tips that anyone has in order for me to give him the best life possible. I bought him plenty of toys, a cat bed, multiple scratching posts and a cat tree for enrichment. I will also be home for most hours of the day allowing him to get used to me.

I really want the best for my boy and I apologize if there is anything wrong with my post!

My cat is home alone when my spouse and I go to work, and we thought about giving her a companion.. but I don’t want her to be upset/dislike this change into her routine. She’s an older cat, we’ve had her for 13 years and the shelter said she was 6, when we adopted her. So she maybe ~18 yo. What do y’all suggest?

I adopted a sweet boy Iggy from the shelter in January of this year and have been trying my best to care for him and care for myself at the same time. I have a diagnosis of depression and I didn't realize how hard it would it would be to look after a kitten and myself. I know every kitten is different and Iggy was so fun but also at times just whiny and uncomfortable.

I know I did the right thing deep down inside by giving him up for adoption because he is going to have 2 cat sisters and a couple caring for him. I am just worried about him because there are still some changes that will be hard for him to adjust to - like not being able to go outside (he might be able to on a harness) and feeling unsettled to not have me around. I will get to go visit him sometime so I know that will show him that I do care, I just am worried about him and love him.

Why is my cat so skinny i give him proper food 3 times a day still he doesn't eat much and now look at him

So like, every so often I'll see a post on here like, oh no! I took my cat outside on a leash and now they're just freaking out at the door and want to go outside

I'm just here to tell you... they don't really want to just be let outside like free, wild beasts. I have THREE cats that go outside on a leash, and they have all started absolutely SOBBING at the door right away as soon as they come inside, but it's not because they now want to go outside on their own! They loooove going outside on the leash.

They all get excited to see the leash now. One of them super patiently waits for it to be put on. Another rolls around like a big dummy and makes it difficult, but she's just super excited and is fine with you finagling it on her despite her alligator rolls

One of them screams and screams and screams and as soon as you start putting the harness on her is quiet and happy and excited

Don't freak out. Don't give up on them. You have a dog now! They need their consistent walkies! The oldest of the three that go out has his stroll around the yard and goes to the back door on his own to go back inside. He is a truly domesticated beast. He's also a cat who probably meowed three times his entire life and screamed incessantly at the back door and jumped at the window for HOURS after the first time he went outside. He's normal again, I assure you. The freak out behavior will subside once they realize this is going to happen every day and you are not a continual disappointment!

Edit: Forgot to mention one important thing--the cats are NEVER allowed to walk outside on their own. They are always picked up and dropped outside, so they never get the idea that they can just walk out there. They can walk back in on their own, but never out on their own.

I have 3 cats, a male and 2 females (mother and daughter). We had the male first and it took some adjustment when we got Mom and Daughter but for the most part, the 3 get along ok.

This morning Daughter cat was seriously scared of her Mom for some reason. I'm talking back arched, poofed up, "talking". Mom cat was just in the basement looking around like "uhh what did I do?" I think something just spooked her and she "blamed" her mom. When Male cat saw Daughter cat poofy it caused something in him to chase her which started an all out cat brawl between all 3. Claws and fur flying, someone released their anal glands, cats yowling and screaming. It only lasted a minute but it was so scary. We put Daughter cat in a bedroom alone to chill out. Mama cat is fine and is just confused. However Male cat is beside himself. I now am with him in a spare room because every time he sees the other 2, he starts yowling, hissing, poofing. I gave them all Fluoxetine to chill out (prescribed by vet and recommended if anxiety gets out of control) will my male cat get over himself? Do I just need to give it time? He is perfectly fine with me in the bedroom but as soon as he sees another cat he flips. This happened about an hour and a half ago.

My boyfriend's cats are both super friendly and loving but the one I've committed a cardinal sin against is the older, grumpier one. She's on the bed with me now but I'm more of a by-product.

I made the foolish decision to pet her the way my boyfriend does with the assumption that this would be acceptable but she didn't like me going a bit too close (but not on) to her stomach. She swatted at me which is completely valid. I tried to pet her normally but she sort of opened her jaw and half-hissed, which is a clear no sign.

I feel like I've betrayed her trust and I'd like to earn it back. Any tips?

Update: we are friends again. Took a tiny bit of bribery but she's fine with me carefully and briefly patting her head

Hello! I’m a first time cat owner and adopted my 8 month old cat about 4 months ago. She’s pretty hyper and very playful, which is adorable except she’s a biter. In the mornings she wakes me up by biting my toes through the blankets, she cuddles with my dog (super cute) and will bite her face, she bites my arms and fingers when I pet her, she bites at hair and plastic and paper. I’ve read they could just be love bites, but it’s honestly really annoying and hurts the more she grows…

Does anyone have any advice on how to correct this behavior? Or is it just instinctual? Is it just kitten behavior she will grow out of or should I be intervening?

I've been an animal lover all my life, and I especially love cats. I don't own one at the moment due to living with someone who's allergic, but I'm planning on moving and adopting a cat once I do. While I would make sure to give any cat(s) I own the best possible life, there is one thing I'm concerned about:

I really, REALLY dislike dealing with crap. Mainly a sensory thing, the strong smells and the associated sounds make me genuinely nauseous, and even just seeing it makes me extremely grossed out.

For this reason, I'm not sure if me owning a cat would be a good idea. I know they usually cover it up when using a litterbox, (or at least can be trained to, for obvious reasons I haven't looked into cat defecation stuff,) but I just thought I would make sure with you guys. I want to be able to give animals the best life I can, so if I wouldn't be able to provide that, I would like to know for certain before I adopt a cat.

Edit: I should probably clarify something. It's not that I'm completely against ever dealing with it, I understand that it's just part of having an animal, and I would absolutely be willing to put up with it if I get a cat. I was more wondering if there are ways to somewhat mitigate it, or if I should just avoid having a pet.

I have two 4-year-old littermates (male and female) who have always been incredibly close. They cuddle, play, and never fight—I’ve never even heard them hiss at each other. I always thought I was lucky to have such sweet cats.

But last night, everything changed.

I woke up to terrifying sounds—hissing, growling, screaming. I ran out of bed thinking someone had broken in. I was so panicked I screamed, waking up my husband. When I turned on the light, I saw my cats in the middle of a violent fight. My male was attacking the female, who was clearly terrified. They went to the bathroom on the floor in different places, probably the female cat.

I separated them immediately. She hid and growled for a while, but then came out, tail up, and cuddled with me like normal. He also acted totally fine afterward, like nothing had happened.

This morning, I thought it was over—but they still hate each other. When they sniff each other, they’re okay for a few minutes, but if they see each other from a few feet away, they both act scared. Now she’s the one attacking him and starting the fights.

I’ve separated them again. What could’ve caused this? And is there any hope of getting them back to normal?

i'm preparing for a 5 hour flight with my ladypurr, vet gave her a 100mg gaba capsule. he said to give it to her 30 minutes before boarding, but i will be leaving the house and travelling four hours before my flight to get there. should i just give her the full dose before we leave for transit? the vet said it's only good for 8 hours, which means if i gave it to her right before i left it would wear off during flight. the vet had said to give her half before i leave and half at the gate- but it's not a cuttable tablet so i'm not too sure how to split it.

on the other hand, this looks like a pretty big pill! so if anyone has any tips or suggestions for either getting it down her throat or if it's alright to mix a food solution before hand and just keep it cold. thanks in advance!

My old girl is 17. She’s always been around other cats- I currently have two boy cats who are 4 and 5. She doesn’t mind sharing a space with them but when they try to play with her, chase her, lay with her, etc she is noticeably bothered by it.

There’s a 16yo cat at my local humane society and I have a really soft spot for old cats. I want to get her… I’m just worried about stressing out my girl.

Would another senior be more likely to just chill and leave her alone? My boy cats are pretty active and like to chase, play, etc. and she doesn’t not like that.

Hey y’all, My two cats and I moved last weekend, I’ve since taken my 5yr old to the vet and as shes sooo anxious, they have me meds for her but she will not take them!!

So far; tried cheese, hiding in a tube, hiding in wet food, they advised me against putting it in her regular food as it might turn her off it. But she will not eat her wet food with it in. What do you guys do?

(bit of a long post, I really don't know when to stop talking haha. TL;DR: at the end. Appreciate any advice.) Hey all,

I've had my kitten (estimated at about 6/7 months old - he was found as a stray by the people I adopted him from) for coming up on 2 months now, and recently he's developed a habit of tipping or flinging the water out of his bowl.

They told me he loves water, and it was quite warm when I adopted him, so I gave him access to a large mixing bowl full of water. No issues, and he seemed to love it! He's dip his paws in before and after using the litter box, dip his paws in and rinse his face, etc. He still had a seperate water bowl for drinking, and he at least seemed to understand one was for play and the other for drinking.

Then about a week ago, he realised he has free will, I guess, and tipped over the mixing bowl full of water. I thought it would E been too heavy for him to tip, but never underestimate the will of a mischievous kitten, I guess. I put a towel down, filled up up (but only to half way) and let it be. No issues for a couple of days until he tipped it over again.

This was a major issue, as due to a poorly laid out flat, I have no choice but for his water bowls (both play and mixing) to be in a carpeted area. I know, it's weird, and definitely risky, but there really isn't another option. So I took the large water bowl away, just leaving him with his small water bowl.

Then the next day he started tipping over his water bowl, too! Its a somewhat hefty metal bowl with a rubberised base, and is partially sunken into an outer shell so it has a very low centre of mass making it harder to tip. Being carpet the rubber base didn't stick to the floor so I guess he worked out how to tip it, too.

I briefly switched him to a gigantic glass basting dish (the very thick and heavy once designed for roasting meat and potatoes in an oven) ON TOP of a metal baking tray, which I then put on top of cardboard. I also only filled it with a fairly shallow amount of water. But it was fruitless - he certainly couldn't tip it, but he did work out how to slide the baking tray about and then fling the water out onto the carpet with his paws

But I ordered a large waterproof, rubber mat off of Amazon specifically designed to catch water. It arrived this morning (about 12 hours ago), so I laid it down, put a cat scratcher on one side to stop him lifting it up, and put his old small metal water bowl with the base on. At least for now, it seems to be working (early days though, hope I'm not jinxing it).

However, it's presented a new issue - he hasn't actually stopped flinging his water everywhere. He's still doing it. The mat is stopping it from getting on the carpet, but he's flinging the water out until he legitimately has nothing left in his water bowl (or just a few drops).

He does this whether it's full or only has a shallow amount in it (I've tried both today). He also does it nearly immediately after I leave the room after filling it up - to the point where I'll fill it up, stay for a few minutes to watch, leave the room, walk down the hallway, and come back 30 seconds later and his water bowl will be nearly empty. It's getting really ridiculous, and annoying.

Does anyone have any insight on this or what to do? I guess my main question are - 1. Is this normal kitten behaviour? 2. How do I stop it? 3. If I can't stop it, what can I do to make sure he still has access to drinking water without giving him so much he makes the carpet go moldy, or using anything easily tipped over? 3.1. I have heard about those water fountain things, but he's an absolute gremlin with cords and WILL chew them, which seems quite risky 4. Will he grows out of it at least? 5. What can I do to make sure he has safe access to drinking water in the meantime (I won't be able to purchase any new water bowls or aids for a couple of days)? 6. Worst case, the water on the mat is still c lean I guess, and it doesn't sink into the carpet due to being a rubber mat, so maybe it's not all bad? I still really want to make sure he has safe and practical drinking water, even if he should get most of his water from the wet food he's fed.

For context: - none of the usual behavioural advice seems relevant. He is well played with, 1-3 hours of play per day (usually on the higher end - but sometimes closer to one on busy days. He's had 2.5 today). This is split across multiple play sessions, I play until he gets bored or I need to go do something - usually about 10-15 minutes. - he also has solo/self paced toys, changed weekly to prevent boredom - he has high places to perch, including a cat scratcher - no major environmental changes aside from moving in 52 days ago and counting - he has a whole flat to run around in - he is a solo kitten for now, unfortunately. But I try to enrich him as much as possible. I study online, so am usually home and can provide cuddles etc when he wants them. In any case, today is a Sunday so I have been home all day without any classes to sidetrack me.

Sorry again for the long post. I would really really appreciate any advice anybody can offer.

TL;DR: my well played with and properly socialised 6/7 month old kitten has been tipping his water bowl over, and when he can't do that, flicking all of his water out until he has none left. He does this whether he has a completely filled to the brim bowl, it's only shallowly filled, or its halfway full. This is causing me annoyance and him the safety issue of not having any water to drink. Suggestions on how to stop it would be much appreciated

Thanks all

(Obligatory sorry for typos, this was a long post and I'm on mobile)

Hi there, so me and my partner adopted a 9 month old cat yesterday through an adoption system through Pet Smart. Well, we live in a one bedroom apartment, and didn't really take the introduction instructions very seriously. The people who helped us through the adoption seemed uneducated and didn't really answer our questions confidently. Anyways, we took her home, and she immediately went under the couch which we sorta expected. But come to find out you should close off hard-to-reach or hiding spots. first mistake. and we put her in our living room, which isn't huge but the largest part of our house being connected to our dining room/kitchen. second error. And we've been petting her as she shows no sign of aggression or fear besides hiding but not running. third. also, living room is super high in traffic and obviously with me and my partner being in it. after reading upon it further I freaked out and put all her stuff in our walk-in closet (litter box, scratcher, food/water, bed) and turned the light off just based off what ive been reading is best for her. Did i ruin the interaction? is she gonna hate me and my partner or have issues? can i salvage this? I want to cry, we love her so much we just didn't do enough research and i feel so stupid. please provide any tips or similar experiences because im so scared i ruined my little baby.

Hi! I've been planning on getting a cat next year and I'm very fond of Ragdoll Cats. Any ragdoll cat owners tell me about their experience and what to expect?

I'm familiar with the tapeworm segments that look like rice..however, last night my cat seemed to be shedding these small yellow coil-shaped segments. Unsure what they are as I've never seen tapeworm segments look like this. I guess it could be something she rolled in (I have a large backyard with a huge fence) but I can't figure out what it would be.

Is anyone familiar with something like this? Is it simply a tapeworm? Google has not helped me. I can send photos!

It’s been about two days since the loss of our older cat. She was about 12.5 years old and had a tumor in her chest. Our younger cat is 2 years old and they’ve lived together for about a year and a half. My boyfriend was home with her while she started having trouble breathing. She started stumbling around our apartment while choking and struggling and our younger cat was following her curious about what was going on. My boyfriend rushed her to the hospital but she sadly passed on the way there.

Our younger cat is usually an amazing eater. She will lick her bowl clean and then would try to steal our older cats food as she ate slower. Ever since our older cat passed, our younger cat is having a hard time eating. She will eat a bit of dry food here and there but will not touch her wet food which is extremely unusual for her. She will still get very excited and purr loudly for treats and will eat the treats. She has the same reaction when we are preparing her wet food but doesn’t end up eating it.

We’ve tried sitting with her while she eats and putting some treats in her wet food but she will just eat the treats and leave everything else. Is this just grief? Has this happened to anyone else? How long did it take for your baby to eat again? We have noticed she has been a bit more clingy and cuddly since her passing. Any advice to help her feel better?

Hi I’m unsure if this is the right tag. My husband and I adopted a cat last year (had him less than a year) & he has been the most relaxed cat ever. Hes about 8 years old, never swatted at anyone, hissed or anything aggressive. However, recently he peed on our babies things instead of his litter box (I clean daily) and started howling at our baby. As in I’ll be holding our baby and he’ll start howling super loud, he has clean water and access to food 24/7. This literally came out of nowhere, my husband is gone so I’m a bit nervous to handle him alone. He’s a really really big cat (over 20 pounds) so if he were to attack I’d definitely get beat up. Hes scared of his cat carrier, so much to the point when we moved a while ago my husband had to physically drag him into it. Should I call the shelter we adopted him from? Should I reach out to a vet instead? I’ve never had animals before.

Help… my male cat is 8yo. He recently started peeing/spraying outside his litter box. He’s been to the vet and nothing is wrong. Just anxiety.

This started I’m sure because the litter box wasn’t being cleaned often enough. Note, I’ve trained him onto another box that is pet safe auto litter cleaner. 2 boxes in my house. He still uses the litter also, both pee and poop.

Rehousing isn’t an option. I love my cat to much. How do I get him to keep it to the box