EDIT: I made a typo in the title. She had a litter of one, just a single kitten. A stray pregnant cat adopted us about a month back, and finally had her one baby this past Friday (about five days ago). We think he may have been a bit premature, but he’s finally starting to look sturdier thank god. More the way we expected a newborn kitten would look (pictured). But mama suddenly started bringing her baby into our bed at night. The first time it happened yesterday morning my wife woke up to check on them and just couldn’t find him anywhere until she realized he was hiding in the covers of our bed. A terrifying scare. Ever since then she keeps trying to bring him in our bed. We couldn’t sleep last night because we were so scared to roll over and squash him. Unsure what to do? Every time we find him there we move him back to mamas nest, but she is DETERMINED to move him back.

I’ve read it’s a sign of trust which is very sweet, but I’ve also read it can be a sign something is wrong? I’m a little worried, but baby seems so much healthier than he did… So I’m hoping she just feels safe with us and baby is fine.

EDIT/UPDATE: Just to be clear y’all, we love that she trusts us so much and it’s possibly the cutest thing that’s ever happened to me in my entire life. During the day we love having baby in bed with us. We’re just terrified to crush him while we’re sleeping, and need more than a couple hours of sleep at night hahahaha. Will definitely be keeping the post updated as he continues to grow. We’ve been calling mama cat Ripley and baby boy Newt.

Not to mention the insurance is now $1200/year combined.

He is super small, i assume the runt. And he appears to have ring worm pretty bad but other than the ring worm, is there..something…wrong?? Just adding these kittens do not belong to anyone, they are friendly but very wild. However, I have an appointment next week to take him to be treated for the ringworm if he will let me catch him, hopefully.

My 9 year old soul cat, Zinder (pronounced Sin-duh), passed away in my arms around 11AM.

In March, she threw a Saddle Thrombus, which is a blood clot that lodges at the base of a cat's aorta, blocking blood flow to the hind legs. It paralyzed her, but she survived and seemed determined to fight. I hand fed her back to health, cleaned her and changed her leg bandages twice per day, and massaged her hind area several times per day. She regained her quality of life.

She learned how to climb with her forearms and was able to get herself onto the couch or onto my bed to sleep next to me. She was my shadow even when she was handicapped.

This, I woke to a shriek of pain in the living room. I found Zinder, and she had clearly thrown another blood clot and wasn’t able to move a forearm. I quickly administered blood thinner, but the clot must have been too large. She started seizing and thrashing as her motor functions were leaving her. I wrapped her up tightly in her favorite blanket and held onto her while I tried to reach the emergency vet. But, she was fading too quickly. She would force out these nearly silent groans between seizing. I could tell she was trying to meow for help, but her body was failing and wouldn’t let her communicate.

I gave her an oral dose of cat opiate that I had from her previous blood clot, then I hugged her and repeated that I loved her over and over until she took her last breath. I’m often haunted by the gruesome nature of this tragedy, but I’m grateful I was there to love her and hold her.

People who adored her brought me assortments of flowers, and I made a funeral box for her. The vet spent a lot of time with her and already hand delivered to me a lovely card with notes from all the people who worked with her about how much they loved her, too.

I’ve never had a creature love me and understand me in the way that she did. I might chase that feeling forever without being able to find it again.

I’m so grateful for the time I had the privilege of being her best friend. Somehow, I can still smell her, hear her, feel her presence somewhere close but out of reach…I wish I could hold her forever.

In another life he’s rice getting stir-fried in a wok.

Stray cat had a bunch of kittens and I’m going to take one. I’m just worried that this guy is too small to start eating regular cat food. Can I take it or should i wait a little longer

This is Molly. She’s 14 years old and has called my veterinary clinic home for the past several years. From the very beginning of my time here, she’s been my constant companion—curling up on my desk, begging for snacks, and asking for her beloved “Molly walks.”

A few months ago, she was diagnosed with cancer and has been enjoying all the love and comfort we could give her through palliative care. Tomorrow, we’ll be helping her earn her angel wings.

My heart is heavy, especially with it happening right before my birthday, but I’m also incredibly grateful. Somehow, it feels like she waited for me. What a gift it has been to know and love her, and to be loved by her in return.

Until we meet again my friend, I love you Molly.

I used to think cats are aloof. And all the ones I met generally were. They just want to watch birds, play with you occasionally, cuddle in the morning and night, nap in the afternoon sun

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But this one. Oh my god.

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She is a tortoiseshell with the opposite of tortitude.

She will scream for hours and bang at the door if I want to sleep in alone. She only sits on me or my used clothes. She loves being carried and used like a rifle or stretched. She begs me to stretch her body by holding out her arms to me.

Cat bed? No. Cat tower? No. Cat brother? No.

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The image is of her sitting on my freshly used headwrap. Do you see the zero thoughts and crazy in her eyes?

Edit- i had no idea that receiving the photos of other cats would be so healing to me.

Last summer, we shared Mapo's story: We were driving down a Texas highway in the summer heat when, out of the corner of my eye, we spotted a tiny orange dot stranded in the median. Little did we know that it would end up completely changing our lives!

He was covered in hundreds of fleas, underfed, and terrified. This was our first experience with a cat, and we had zero idea what to do next, but we knew that we were meant to find him. The vet estimated him to be around five weeks old and informed us that he likely wouldn't have survived much longer on his own.

His energy shifted completely over the next few weeks. We can only guess what he went through before we found him, but it was clear that he was relieved to finally rest comfortably. He became attached to us 24/7 and quickly gained confidence! A few months in, we were also surprised to see his secret mustache grow in!

We are so grateful to have him in our family. He's grown into such an affectionate, curious, and silly cat. The love and support for him on our original post meant so much to us. We'd be incomplete without him! We're hoping to rescue a sibling for Mapo sometime in the near future once we move into a larger space. Any advice for that future endeavor would be greatly appreciated!

Dyssy’s 18th Adoption Day

18 years ago I woke up alone in a little apartment depressed, broke, and late for work. I dragged myself out of bed and drove to work. On the way, I was stopped for a longer time than usual at an intersection and when I finally made my way to the front of the traffic, I could see why things were backed up: in the middle of the road was a tiny little orange fluff. I quickly realized it was a kitten and it was clearly moving. I slapped my car in park and got out to grab the little fluff before anything could happen to it. As I walked up to it, it crawled between my feet for shelter. I had no idea how much my life would change that day. I drove straightaway to the first vet I could find and they checked him out immediately. They said he was uninjured, other than a few bruises and scratches, but nothing broken. I put him in a box and took him to my office. He was a feisty little thing at first but we quickly grew attached. I named him Odysseus, “Dyssy” for short. He and I have been through everything together. Jobs, moves, relationships. I have had cats all my life but Dyssy was the first cat I was ever solely responsible for. He used to travel with me for work; in all, Dyssy has been to 7 states. He has lived in 2 states and bounced around between 8 different residences. He was with me when I went to law school and struggled through the bar exam. I have now been happily married for over 13 years and my husband, Dyssy, his sister Savannah, and I are a happy family.

Dyssy is slowing down and I honestly don’t know how much longer we have with him. He has diabetes and receives insulin injections twice a day, he has high blood pressure and hyperthyroidism for which he takes pills. He has lost his hearing and most of his sight. But he keeps going and doesn’t really seem interested in stopping. He eats well, he uses the litter box (almost all the time - sometimes he misses the box), and he is affectionate and seeks out our company. Lately, he has had some mobility issues with arthritis and diabetic neuropathy and we are doing what we can to accommodate him and make him happy and comfortable.

Life changed so much 18 years ago today but I am so grateful that we found each other. Dyssy has changed me as a person. I cherish the times we have had together (even when he drove me absolutely bonkers; he is orange, after all) and we will both be ready for whatever comes next.

Photos:
Dyssy in his splendor today
Glamor shot of Dyssy in his youth
Dyssy with his sister, Savannah
Dyssy enjoying the sunlight
Dyssy on the couch with his mobility stairs
Dyssy as a kitten drinking water at my desk

I was walking to the store before my work when I noticed a little girl shouting to her mom that there was a "poor kitten" on the street and people were just standing there looking at him crawling in pain. Her mom wanted to keep walking, but the little girl wanted to stay and she was very loud. I dropped everything and went over to the kitten to picked him up. He looked terrible, was covered in dirt (so I knew his mom isn’t around), barely moving, and clearly had an URI. His eyes were in bad condition. His belly was bloated with worms, and he was extremely thin (but his fur is fluffy) and probably dehydrated, cold. I asked the mom and the little girl if they knew anything about the kitten, but they didn't. This happened near the French Embassy, so I approached a security guard and asked if he knew whether the kitten's mother ever came around, because the kitten looked like he was in the early stages of dying, hungry and dirty. He told me he didn't care and that he had seen the kitten wandering around the street for few or so, but it just a cat, so why do I even care? What a fucking asshole.

Anyway I took off my sweater and wrapped the kitten in it. Then I looked up the nearest veterinarian and had to order an Uber. While we were waiting, the little girl kept asking me questions: Will the kitten survive? What's going to happen to him? What can I do? 😭 I told her that I would do everything I could to help him grow into a big, beautiful, healthy and phat cat. And I told her how amazing her reaction had been and I was proud of her, and that this kitten would be grateful to her for the rest of his life, because the truth is, she was the one who saved him. If she hadn't been so upset about his condition and hadn't been calling attention to him so loudly, I probably would never have noticed him, because I was in rush. I also explained how important it is to take cats to the kitty doctor so they can make sure homeless cats don't keep having more kittens. I told her that kittens are adorable, but many of them are sick, living on the streets, unhappy, and exposed to constant danger. They are like little children and deserve a safe home. She was deeply concerned and seemed to understand everything I was saying. A while later, she started explaining it all to her mom and said that when she grows up, she wants to take little kittens to the doctor too. 🥹 The mom gave me her number and asked me for updates and photos before I left.

The veterinarian confirmed my fears. The kitten had most likely been abandoned by his mother and would not have survived another day on his own. He received medication and deworming treatment. The total cost of the examination, medications, milk for kittens (I bought a supply of kitten formula) and emergency care was high, but I didn't regret it for a single second. In the meantime, I texted my boss and told him I would be late and that I was bringing a special guest. I ran to a pharmacy, bought a hot water bottle, and asked the pharmacy lady for a box and cotton wool, and a toothbrush to massage his poor belly to remind him his mom’s tongue. Went back to the vet, the vet and I made him a little bed with the warm hot water bottle inside. The kitten fell asleep. Then I started calling animal rescues I know, asking if anyone had room for a kitten who would need bottle feeding and formula. A friend of mine from whom I adopted my two cats, agreed to take him. She has extensive experience caring for neonatal kittens. She came to my workplace to pick him up.

The little guy felt so comfortable hanging out in my office and he was yelling like crazy at everyone, so i named him Dwight Schrute.

If everything goes well, once he recovers and reaches the appropriate age, he will be ready for adoption into a responsible indoor-only home. And it was all possible because one little girl refused to ignore suffering. 🥹 And something extra from the bottom of my heart: I will never be a mother but I want to say something to every parent reading this: teach your children empathy and show it to them through your own actions. Theory alone is not enough. Kids pay attention to how we treat the weak, the vulnerable, the sick, and those who cannot help themselves. That little girl stopped because her heart told her that she couldn't walk past a suffering animal. I hope she never loses that kindness, and I hope many other children grow up carrying the same compassion with them into adulthood. ❤️

I have a male cat. This cat has decided, completely unprovoked, that his life's mission is to lick the privates of every male(animals) in this house. The other male cat? Victim. My male dog? Also a victim. The dog just sits there with a look that says I don't understand what's happening but I've accepted it.

The cat is unbothered. Confident even. Zero shame. He operates with the energy of someone who has fully found himself.

So I'm asking the important questions science refuses to answer: Is my cat gay? Has he been radicalised?

Please advise. This is urgent.

Our outdoor cat (Waffles) has been getting attacked by these birds for weeks now. We constantly run outside, throw shoes, and yell at them to scare them away. But, the birds don’t care. They do this all day long, and they’re RELENTLESS. Even if Waffles hides under a car, the birds will dive under the car.

Waffles even got a little cut on her face a couple weeks ago, yet she doesn’t want to come inside for shelter. I tried to bring her in, but she likes the outside. Why does this keep happening? I think they’re blue jays? Why doesn’t Waffles fight back? Has anyone experienced this before? How do I make it stop?

EDIT: Thank you everyone for all the advice and suggestions. I know the obvious answer is to put her inside, but it’s not that easy. Waffles used to be an indoor cat until she started peeing everywhere and scratching things up. She also does not get along with the other cat. For context, This is my boyfriend’s mom’s house, and I just moved in. I’ve never had a cat before… nonetheless, cared and loved one - so before you call me stupid and ignorant just know that with being a cat mom, I actually am 🥲 Also… I did ask bf’s mom if we can bring her inside. I’m still waiting for her response, as it’s not my place to make those kind of decisions around here.

my cat just had her first litter and i’m honestly obsessed with the first kitten 🥺

i’ve seen people say that the first kitten is always the prettiest, and now i’m starting to believe it because she’s so ridiculously cute. maybe i’m just being a biased cat parent lol.

one thing i’m curious about though, her fur looks pretty long and fluffy right now. is that normal for kittens? does it usually stay that way, or can it get shorter as they grow up?

i have no idea who the dad is, so i’m not sure if she’ll end up looking like a persian mix or something else entirely. would love to hear your thoughts!

Daphne was a "foster fail" that we adopted about a year ago. She came to us as a foster at just about 4-5 weeks old and has been with us ever since!
Prior to fostering I was not well versed in cats or cat breeds and know very little still beyond basic foster kitten care.
I'm including photos of her as a baby until now.
She seems to be much longer than the is tall!
Her little ear tufts are my absolute favorite thing ❤️
I'm not sure if she would be considered a medium or long hair?
Thanks!

Hi friends!
I've posted my cat Stinky here before. Stinky has diffused pulmonary carcinoma. It's been a blessing and a curse, as his eye has been the only thing causing issues, and he has been doing wonderfully with chemotherapy.

He presented with a lesion on his eye on 5/14. Emergency vet visit caught the lung cancer on routine xrays. Prescribed steroid and inflammatory drops for his eye, and off to oncology specialists we went. As it turns out, the lesion on his eye was a metastatic tumor. He had it removed on 6/9.

Since his enucleation he has had a much better appetite! And that makes me so happy to see. The eye at the time of surgery had a pressure reading of 60 mmHg, so I'm sure he feels so much better without that massive headache it must've caused.

This is my first time going through anything like this with my cats. I feel so bad because he keeps bumping into everything and freezing up like he doesn't know what to do about it. I know cats tend to bounce back pretty quick after enucleation, so I wanted to reach out here to see if anyone would be open to sharing their story and what their kitty's recovery looked like! How can I make this easier on him?? How can I help him adapt?

In January I got my first cat, ever, a beautiful Siberian Forest Cat. For someone who never wanted a cat, I fell in love immediately. Well… I decided to get him tattoos on my leg in the “sick ass panther” style. And it came out amazing.

Someone in the sick ass panther subreddit told me to post it here.

So this is my Siberian and my SAP tattoo. 😹

My baby has left me with little whiskers and fangs throughout his growth🥰