u/fossacecak

Thanks in advance.

9dpo today, and this was with first morning urine. Yesterday, had an even fainter line in the morning that almost looked like a shadow. Took another test in the evening which was stark negative. Due for my period this upcoming Saturday.

Have been having light period-like cramps for days with only clear discharge, this is very different compared to how my body normally works and it’s what made me suspect pregnancy.

Thoughts?

This is half venting and half cautionary tale.

Cat tax photo is my beloved Carl, I’ve had him since 2021 and he was rescued from a junk yard in Buffalo, NY covered in fleas and skin issues.

At my last apartment, I had a neighbor I thought I could trust. She was a dog owner, had cats previously, and always said cats are less/low maintenance. Carl is my first ever cat. She watched him a few times and always acted like I was being a helicopter cat parent when I would ask for updates on how he was doing. That should’ve been red flag #1.

In 2024, I visited my family out of state for the holidays. I was only gone for 4 days and my neighbor was watching Carl. I had his food and water out, and I just asked for her to come over and check up on him, play with him, refill his food and water, do the litter box etc.

When I came home, his food and water dishes were all completely empty and bone dry. His litter box was completely full of poop and he was making these crazy meowing sounds when he saw me. He seemed obviously very scared. I gave him food and water and he started guzzling it down immediately.

I texted my neighbor to get her ass over right now. She comes over and I asked her what happened. She said she had just been there and he must’ve eaten all of his food and drank all this water since then. I told her that was absolute bullshit, I know how much he eats and drinks in a regular day. She went on about how she didn’t show up as much as she wanted to, because she has stuff going on and she thought he would be fine.

I was livid. She didn’t get paid and she also didn’t get her Christmas gift that I got for her. I never asked her to watch Carl again and my friendship with her deteriorated until I left that apartment. She’s reached out a few times but I just feel like I would want to punch her annoying face.

Now, I only have my trusted friend watch him and I know that she is very good with cats. She has her own cat, that she treats like a prince. I also invested in a cat cam and if I’m ever away even just for a few days I will point it at his food and water dishes.

I still feel horrible for what Carl went through. That was the first time I’ve ever seen him genuinely scared, and after that event he has started kneading on blankets. Sometimes I wonder if it’s because of that :-/

Respectfully, fuck people who think cats need 0 maintenance or care.