r/cats

HERES SOME PHOTOS TO CELEBRATE!!!

Abandoned, sad, withdrawn and overlooked - and what with the only person who had expressed interest having pulled out, no time left on the clock for her.

Thankfully the CDS decided I should step-in at the very last minute, and now this lady of leisure with her very fine whiskers has been with us for five years ❤️🧡❤️

She always does this head tilt and lies down or flops on the floor. It's very cute, but I wonder what is she trying to tell me? 😆

I really got a really good photo. I just HAD to share it

When I was showed the 1st image...I KNEW he was meant for us, our house, our lives!

Our cat's name is Zuko - the lil warrior that ain't scared of ANYTHING....except loud children (but who isn't?!)

We love the hell out of him...and MORE!

This week I had to make the hardest decision I’ve ever faced, he started to take a turn for the worse. Just a little over a year ago he had a severe urine blockage, I thought that was it, he was only three years old and I was heartbroken. I thought I had waited too long, the vet gave me some time before they took him in for his emergency procedure. He stayed for around a week and almost blocked again. It was a hard recovery for him, he was a very sensitive cat he struggled with the smallest things. But I loved him and I did everything I could for him. It ended up being over a thousand dollars but I couldn’t have cared, my baby was still there and things started looking up again. About 6 ish months after he would have small episodes of him constantly being in the litter box but not have any of the other symptoms and immediately be okay. About a month ago it started to be a lot more consistent I just kept monitoring his food intake, water intake, how much he peed everytime. I constantly cleaned the litter box got another litter box in case that wasn’t enough. I took him to the vet again and fortunately he wasn’t blocked, they gave him an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory shot. He seemed to be a bit better and I was hopeful. We’ve been struggling a bit financially but I still found a way to get him everything he needed even if that meant I was spending some money I didn’t have. It happened literally over night all of the symptoms came flooding back I was hysterical, I spent almost the entire night cuddled up on the floor with him, we had the conversation on what we would do if he was blocked again. Lots of tears but it’s been so hard for me to see him struggle so badly. We had researched all of our options, I had already ordered a diffuser hoping that’d help him. Unfortunately it did not arrive until after he was put to rest. But we researched different surgeries, but they were all going to be thousands of dollars and have extensive recovery periods. I finally got a few hours of sleep, I regret deeply. He started throwing up the same white liquid as the last time this happened. I realized my other cat had been eating all of the food the days prior, I was working awkward shifts, 3p-1:30a, so I didn’t realize until it was too late he wasn’t eating. I called my vet, they were completely booked but told me to come in immediately, I had my boyfriend drive and wrapped him up in a towel and we rushed over, still about a 45 minute drive. I’m so grateful I got that time to cuddle up with my baby one last time. The vet immediately came out and took him back to be evaluated, I’m sobbing I know what’s coming. The entire waiting room was just staring at me, I couldn’t feel anything but envy watching everyone leaving with their pets because deep down I knew what was going to happen. The vet came out to tell us he was blocked, he knew we were stretched thin already, he said even with the procedure he more than likely would block again unless we went through with PU procedure. They would remove his penis and replace it with something closer to a female cat’s anatomy to prevent further blocking, but informed us that procedure alone would be over 5,000 dollars. Neither of us would’ve gotten approved for that much care credit or realistically be able to pay it back. We knew even if we surrender him that it would inevitably result in putting him to rest. I feel so guilty knowing that it could have possibly ended up differently. At that point the vet got us a room and explained the entire process, we got some time alone before the sedation shot and I just felt so terrible. I didn’t want to let him suffer anymore but at the same time I selfishly just wanted to take him home. Eventually they gave him his shot and he fell asleep very fast, I was able to hold him throughout the entire process even the euthanasia shot. I had to feel him take his final breath and it broke my heart. Having to leave without him, but I hope he was able to feel our love before he went. I was able to take the hair they shaved for the shot home with me and will be putting it in a locket. I picked up his ashes today and it just doesn’t feel fair. I just feel so lost without him, he was so silly and affectionate. He was my soul cat.

My poor guy made it through having double enucleation in April - though the initial recovery was rough and there were lots of challenges along the way, he adjusted so well to being blind. However, a week or so ago, we found out that the reason why his left eye wasn’t healing properly was because there was surgical packing left behind in the site for FOUR MONTHS. He could have had another surgery to have the leftover fibers removed, but we didn’t want to put him through another procedure and we made the incredibly difficult decision to say goodbye to him….

I was lucky enough to hold Ernie as he fell asleep for the last time on my left shoulder. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but I’m so grateful I was able to be with him in that moment. His polydactyl-ness is one of my favorite things about him, so last weekend I got a tattoo of his little paw on my left shoulder so he could continue to rest there with me.

I miss him so much 💔

We’re saying goodbye to our sweet baby tomorrow. We’ve spent the past week with her, letting her eat whatever she wants, hugging her, and crying. She had her 24th birthday on the 3rd, and things went downhill so fast after that. Personality wise, she’s her amazing self. But her arthritis is so bad. I know this is the right thing for her, but my heart is so broken. I’ve had her for over half my life. She’s been my best friend for so long. I just don’t know how to say goodbye. *I just wanted to add the junk food is from this morning. She has always had a very healthy diet.
Edited to add her name is Foosa ❤️ Thank you so much to everyone for your love and support. I’m reading all your comments and crying.
I know I didn’t go into a whole lot of detail, but her arthritis is so bad that she can’t hold herself steady to eat anymore. She falls over when walking sometimes, or gives up all together and just lays down. We tried laser treatments last month, and it helped a little bit. But she took a sudden turn right after her birthday. Since it got so bad, I have been pushing her around the house in her stroller so she can always be with us. Making this decision is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Seeing her like this, when she’s always been so active and happy, broke my heart for her. Shes so tired all the time now, and I can see how much pain she’s in.

*Second Edit I really wanted to express my gratitude to everyone that’s reached out. I’ve been reading everything, and hopefully I can slowly start responding. When I first posted, I was so sad and scared that I could hardly get my thoughts in order. Now I’m so sad that I can hardly do much of anything. But I would like to share a little bit more about my Foosy baby.
I got her when I was a teenager. I’ve had her for most of my life. Every difficult thing I’ve been through, she’s been there. When I met my husband, she instantly fell in love with him. The three of us have been a family ever since. She was always with us. She followed us around everywhere, and hated to be left out. She was so vocal, she was always meowing and purring. We talked to her like she was people, and I would always sing and dance with her. She loved attention just as much as she loved food. She always had a healthy appetite, but never had any interest in human food until she turned 20. Then it was a battle to keep her away from our plates, or to keep her from knocking food out of our hands. Even durning her last few weeks, it’s like she would get super hero strength to try and get to our food. She would get big black cartoon eyes, and we always had to give her a little bite… how could anyone resist that face??
3 years ago, she was diagnosed with stage one kidney disease. I was devastated, I had no idea what that would mean for her. Thankfully, we were able to treat it with diet and subcutaneous fluids once a week. We took her in for a senior pet check up every six months, and her kidney disease never progressed. They were actually times where her values improved. She always hovered between late stage one, and early stage two.
Earlier this year, we noticed she was losing weight, even though she was eating so much. At her senior pet check up in March, they couldn’t find any reason for it. Her labs actually came back pretty much perfect, and her kidney values had improved again at that point. Her vet joked that she should be studied for science. I was so happy, all I wanted was for her to be comfortable, happy, and healthy.
Since March, things started changing rapidly. Her weight kept dropping, and her arthritis was getting so bad. She had arthritis for about the last two years, and we had tried Solensia to see if that would help. It made her super nauseous, so we agreed to not go further with the injections. I started carrying her around the house more, to ease her joins a little. She never stopped following us around the house, even in the end. But it was harder and harder for her. So I would just carry her with me wherever I was going to be.
In July we decided to try laser therapy to see if that helped her pain. It really did help a little, but I also think it was too far progressed by then. It was all happening so fast. About two and a half weeks ago, I brought her in for her senior pet check up to get another look at labs since things had changed so much. For the first time in her life, they found quite a few concerning things. (Ironically, her kidney values were still stable) I was devastated and scared. I always swore I wouldn’t allow her to suffer. We didn’t want to put her through any further testing. And to be honest, if it was just those underlying issues, I would’ve kept her as comfortable as possible and supported her as long as it seemed right. But with her arthritis, being as bad as it was, she had no strength or energy to fight. By that weekend she mostly stopped eating. She would try, but she had such a hard time holding herself up. I did everything I could to assist her. I would hold her dish up, let her eat out of my hand, prop her dishes up with towels, sit with her while she ate…everything worked just a little bit. But it wasn’t enough. She was still really excited about food. I actually have the cutest picture of her from last weekend when I was cooking her ground beef, and she’s sitting in her stroller next to me while I was cooking, reaching up, trying to get to it. But she only had a bite or two. She was just in too much pain to eat. By Monday morning, when it was her 3rd day of not really eating, my husband and I made the decision that we would have to say goodbye Friday. We both took the week off work and spent every second with her. I also spent a lot of time cooking for her, trying to get her to eat anything. She was excited about it all, but would sway or her legs would give out if she was on her feet took long. It was so hard for her to get around, so I would bring her to her dishes and try to get her to eat. All she wanted to do was be held, and she would climb into my lap instead.
I stayed up with her all night on her last night. I held her, talked to her, cried, and we watched arrested Development. Being on the couch with us watching TV was her favorite. She was quiet and calm. We noticed on Tuesday that she had quit meowing for the most part. This was a kitty that even two weeks ago, never ran out of things to say. But she was still staring up at me, purring, and occasionally reaching up and touching my face with her little paw. I was hoping something would happen that night. That maybe she would somehow miraculously recover, and we could call everything off. I took her to her litter box and food dishes every few hours that night. She never ate or drank, and went to the bathroom once.
I knew would could probably put it off. Have a few more days with her. But she was getting too weak and skinny. You would never know, because she was so fluffy, but on her last morning she weighed 3.6. She had lost a few ounces since her blood draw two weeks ago, and at that point I was already concerned about her weight loss. We just couldn’t let her keep getting smaller.
She was so happy with us, content, felt safe….but she was also so tired. She fought as hard as she could. My husband and I also gave it our everything to make sure she was always happy and healthy.
I know 24 years is incredible. But it’s also all I’ve ever known. We were always a team, she was the thing I was most proud of. I really don’t even know what to do without her. I keep expecting her to come around the corner. I keep hearing her.
We’ve spent the last few days crying and talking about all the memories and what ifs. I’m hoping there might be some comfort in having her back with us. We ordered most of the memorial pieces they offered, along with some things we’re going to do ourselves.
Having this little kitty in my life was the best thing that ever happened to me. She was so funny, self assured, loving, and happy. If I would sing in the shower, she would be right there with me howling. She could be sleeping so heavy in her room, and if I sat down somewhere in the house, she always knew. She would be wide awake and in my lap within 30 seconds.
She definitely took a huge piece of us with her. She will always be missed.

Hi! I recently got a kitten from the animal shelter and she has all kinds of issues (respiratory infection, eye issues, etc) but today I found this big spot on her back leg. Anyone know what it is? Ringworm?

Hello everyone, I wanna give my kitty a special treat but I’m not sure what to give him. He’s had unseasoned cooked chicken many times and seems bored of it. I want to try giving him raw salmon as I saw on another post once in a blue moon it’s safe to do so. But the only place I can get it in my area is the grocery store. Would It be safe to give him a little bit of it as a treat or should I cook it first?

Meet Hannah & Montana! I adopted them from the shelter two days ago. Now they’re my world 🥹

At two weeks old, the little one's eyes were sealed shut from calicivirus, he had ringworm, and sand in his bladder. Now he's four months old — and this young gentleman has had quite a transformation.

He still has serious sleep issues and is terrified of everything, but I've never seen a cat this loving. Weird dude, but absolutely hilarious

Oh, and his front paw is also clubfooted, with three toes since birth