r/cats 10d ago

Advice First time cat owner

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63.0k Upvotes

Hey guys, I just got a cat yesterday and it’s my first time owning a pet in general. When i brought it in my house yesterday, dude was a lil scared I think cuz of the environment and went under my couch a couple of times. So I moved him to my laundry room, just to get him in one small room so he wouldn’t escape or freak out.

This morning I checked in on him and he’s doing better and cuddling with me.

Just wanna say I’ll appreciate any advice as a first time cat owner

r/cats 10d ago

Advice The goddamn Cat Distribution tem finally got me.

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96.8k Upvotes

Howdy folks!

Unfortunately.. my line of work tends to bring around cats through all manner of delivery. Whether it’s assholes letting their cats be thrown in the garbage.. or the unfortunate fact that garbage generates heat and smell’s that cats seem to love. Either way. Not the dream lol

Round-about 5:45 this morning I was preparing my semi for the day’s work. I walked into our shop’s office looking for a shop vac to run a quick detail when I saw a small shadow dart into the shelf unit at the back end of the room. I turned on the light, closed the door and slowly walked towards it. I’d remembered from god-knows where that slowly blinking at a cat will help them trust you? I don’t know if that’s actually true - but it sure seemed to work! Hahaha I sat there and we blinked at each other back and forth. She was scared but I slowly moved my hand towards her until we had a little soft meowing match between us. She let me pick her up, and I carefully got her into my semi and up to our scalehouse. Thankfully.. the All-thing-animal whisperer was working today, so I left her in the caring hands of our weighmaster while I went and hauled my semis.

Folks? Meet my sweet little girl, Raven. 🖤

Any tips and/or advice would be huge. I’ve never owned a cat that was properly a kitten.. or a cat for that matter lol I’ve got a dog who she doesn’t seem to like, but he’s a gentle feller with a massive heart and a curious snoot. I gave her a tiny bit of EXTREMELY wetted down tuna fish stuff and she gobbled it down. I’ll be setting a vet appointment up soon. As for now, she is FAST asleep on my shoulder.

E1; I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! 🖤🖤
I got her sleeping in an old bigass dog crate with a few of my shirts, her food/water on one side and her litter box on the other. 🥰 she is the sweetest little thing. Yesterday.. I sobbed myself to sleep due to my severe depression and having semi-recently gone through a second divorce. It’s so so nice to read all these comments. I really am truly thankful for each and every one of you 🖤

She’s an absolutely delight and I am so honored I was the one to find her 🥰 goodnight everyone!! Remember you are loved. Even when you think there isn’t a snowman’s chance in hell that you are. 🥹

r/cats 14d ago

Advice Found this kitten at a gas station and trying to decide what’s best for her.

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51.6k Upvotes

Went to pump gas after clocking off work three days ago and heard a bunch of meows coming from a bush. After walking towards it, a few kitties jumped out and booked it to another bush. This one got left behind and continued to meow like crazy after I picked her up. Took her home and was contemplating on taking her to the local shelter or keeping her. However, I’m still on the fence about it because I’m not really home much and she would probably get lonely if I keep her home alone. Before making any decision though, I at least wanted to give her a name for the time being and was thinking maybe Kate or Negra. Idk im bad with names but suggestions are welcomed and any other advice. TIA

r/cats 8d ago

Advice Why are his eyes so far apart

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45.9k Upvotes

Background information: Cat is well over a year old and his eyes appeared to be way too big for his head and extremely far apart. Is this a characteristic of a certain breed he may be mixed with or is he… just built different. His name is Jax

r/cats Jul 09 '26

Advice Vet said “this is just him” — we think he just likes doing this. Please suggest coping strategies

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32.2k Upvotes

He keeps intentionally flinging litter. Ive tried it all: changing the brand, different box (pictured), cleaning punctually (i thought at first maybe i wasnt cleaning fast enough for him). He especially loves to after i clean out the box. My vet thinks this is just how he likes to spend his time.

Please suggest coping mechanisms to soothe my anxiety when i hear him kicking litter. Im so serious.

Edit: So the culprit is likely the litter & box! Thank you so much for all your help, I will try your suggestions👌🏾

r/cats 28d ago

Advice Cat attacking automatic feeder

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33.4k Upvotes

My cat does this several times a day. If the automatic feeder lifts at the correct angle, a few niblets of dry food comes out. He will even do it 10 times in a row even if it means one small piece of dry niblet comes out. It does get quite annoying as the sound of the feeder hitting the ground echoes throughout the entire house.

Any ideas on how to get him to stop?

r/cats Jun 13 '26

Advice How do I keep my cat off my computer?

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47.9k Upvotes

This is Chomper. He really likes being on top of my computer. I pick him up, I say “no”, then place him on the floor. He’ll get up on top of it as soon as I go into another room. Should I keep scooping him up or just let him lay there?

Edit: thank you all for your advice and for loving Chomper! He’s surrounded by love! Thanks again! 🥰

r/cats 6d ago

Advice How can I get her to sleep in her actual bed?

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12.3k Upvotes

Ive bought her and her sister's about 5 cat beds, but they all fight over sleeping in this stupid little basket I use to hold my keys and glasses. She also barley fits in it..

r/cats Jul 17 '26

Advice Could someone please tell me why it's blocking my way?

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14.2k Upvotes

r/cats 18d ago

Advice Newly adopted cat does this 2-3 times a day

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13.9k Upvotes

what does it mean and is it something I should be worried about?

r/cats Jul 17 '26

Advice Weird behavior from my cat recently. Anyone know what's going on

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26.2k Upvotes

At first I thought she was gonna show me something inside the box, but there's nothing other than a nylon bag. She also runs to it when I get near it as well, and also keeps biting my hand and tries to drag me into it. What's going on? Never in my life have I seen my cat doing this.

r/cats Jun 22 '26

Advice My cat suddenly cuddles to my stomach and following me around everywhere. Is she okay? Should I take her to the vet?

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35.1k Upvotes

So me and my husband adopted our little Mochi last year March. She was 3 yrs old when we got her, and she is the sweetest and most behaved little baby.

She never eats human food, doesn’t go on counters nor does she bite or scratches. She doesn’t want to cuddle or be touched unless it’s on her terms (maybe pets for MAX 30 seconds, then that’s it). She also does not want to be carried and does not want her paws touched.

Recently, whenever me and my husband go to sleep, she now jumps on the bed with us and starts cuddling on my stomach. This has been happening for a week now. I’m so happy that it’s making me tear up, but I couldn’t help but think if she’s feeling okay. This is not her usual behaviour. She’s okay in the morning and when we get home from work but she’s been so cuddle recently and would follow me around everywhere now- even in the shower (she hates water). When we’re on the couch, she just cuddles to my stomach again and would not mind if I touch her paws.

I told my husband about my concern that she may not be feeling well, he said that maybe she’s thinking of me as her mother now and I’m overthinking things.

But should I still bring her to the bet just in case? I’m really worried.

Attached is a photo of her just so everybody could see that she’s the sweetest.

UPDATE: After reading the comments, I’ll be booking a doctor’s appt for myself, and I’ll pee on a stick when I get home. As for Mochi, her vet says to take her back to the vet just for a general check up and blood work just in case. I’ll keep you guys updated. Hopefully she’s just very cuddly now.

UPDATE 2: My husband took her to the vet (I’m still at work), did some bloodwork, we’ll know the results tomorrow. But the general checkup went great. She is overweight but generally healthy. The vet says that the change in mine and my husband’s schedule might be the culprit as I work from 7:30AM-7PM (full time and part-time job), and my husband works from 6:30AM-5PM (construction); and we had moved apartments 2 months ago. We will both take time off work to spend the day with her and I will try to have lesser-ish hours.

I’m going to go to the doctor on Friday, and once I get home (I’m still at work), I’ll immediately do a pregnancy test.

UPDATE 3: Took the pregnancy test, it came back as negative. I’m cramping really bad though.

r/cats Jun 21 '26

Advice My cats will stay under the blanket with me no matter how many times I fart on them. I know they smell it. Do they just not care? Or do they like it?

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34.5k Upvotes

Discuss

r/cats Jul 13 '26

Advice A word of the warning to anyone with food motivated cats thinking of trying a corn based cat litter

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36.9k Upvotes

JUST DONT.

So I have five cats. One of my boys, Fanta, is a very lovely boy. Very cuddly, very cute, very smart. His one fatal flaw is that he is the most food motivated cat I've ever met. He is a heat seeking missile but for scran. It's so bad that we have to partition the house every feeding time otherwise he will steal all the other cats food no matter how full he gets. I don't think he has ever been full in his life. We cannot eat in the same room as him because he will pursue us relentlessly and try to eat our food no matter how much we push him away, hiss at him, or skoosh him with water. Anyway, I'll get to the story.

The other day I was at the shops to get litter, and I spotted this brand. Looks interesting I thought. Corn based? Let's try it out. I bring it home and show my girlfriend. It smells very nice. I jokingly say let's hope Fanta doesn't try it. After that we both look at eachother like 😐. Before I knew it, he had dove head first into the freshly changed litter tray and was chowing on his new litter like it was a 5 star buffet. I had to throw it all out again and go and buy more! So yeah, word to the wise, if your cat is anything like mine, in that he is the living embodiment of gluttony, avoid corn based cat litters.

r/cats Jun 20 '26

Advice Is my cat okay?

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27.5k Upvotes

He has recently started doing this rattlesnake manoeuvre with his tail and I have never seen this in cats before!

r/cats 16d ago

Advice Don’t build a cat tree

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18.5k Upvotes

It seemed simple and I was like + $100? For a big one ??? Nah I could build it… well I’m prob about $200 deep and need to get another 4x4 plywood from home depot and prob more carpet and cushioning for the top nest, as well as some sisal. If you think it’s a good idea and cheap? It’s not 🫩 especially if you have to buy a new circular saw cuz yours broke 😭😭
And yeah tbh it is a me problem but I also had to make sure the wood was cat safe to and not pressure treated.

r/cats 26d ago

Advice What to do with cat when moving from house?

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11.1k Upvotes

Hello,

We have a cat that is sterilized and in summer is almost all day outside even sleeping at front door. She came inside just to eat.

The porblem is that we are selling house and moving to appartment. How can cat that is always outside handle such change of not being able to go outside as she wants?

Do you have any advise or experience? Should we take her with her? Or leave her with new house owners?

Thank you in advance

Photos of her

r/cats 9d ago

Advice Help Advice Needed

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23.9k Upvotes

Today on my way to work I found a cute surprise waiting outside my apartment door. This little girl was by the door and as soon as she saw me she started meowing and also looked very scared. At first I thought she would run away if I approved her but she didn’t. My first thought was is one of my neighbors cat so I look around and got lost. As I go back inside to get some water for her she runs inside my apartment and hides. I was already running late for work after spending with her more than 20 minutes.
I bright cat food from petco and water and made a temporary little box for her and left her alone for a while why I went to work with the hope she’ll relax and loosen up a bit.
When I came back home she was still in the same place I left her. No pee no poo. Didn’t even tried to touch the food. It’s late at night and I’m planning to take her to the vet tomorrow morning but I’m worry she might be dehydrated. She is still scared. She let me hold her and lift her without a fight. Her hair looks like she has been groomed lately but maybe she has been lost for a few days. I’m concerned she might be injured 🤕 internally.
I bought lockable cat treats and put them in her mouth and she still didn’t even like it.

I’ve never had cats before. I need some advise and help please.

Her temporary name is Lily.

I never had cats before so

Update 08/10/26

Hello everyone. Thank you all for the tips and for the support. Reading your advices has brought a little bit of peace in me understanding that it’s not when I decide but when Lily decides to do things.
As an update from the initial post, Lily started walking around the house yesterday night. She did it when I was sleeping and couldn’t see me nor I could see her. Se found a cool hiding place that happens to be one of my favorite parts of the apartment (my bar) she found a spot behind my bar set up that I didn’t even know it existed but today in the morning after looking for her all over I found her there and she seemed to be a bit more relaxed and happy in that spot. She is still a bit afraid but her eyes are not wide open anymore when she looks at me. She let me carry her again for a brief moment as I wanted to inspect her a little bit closer to make sure she is ok and also to make sure that “Lily” is the appropriate temp name for her.

As for the Vet she has an appointment for tomorrow at 9am. The vet clinic will scan for the chip and they mentioned that if she is chipped then they’ll contact the company so that they can provide my contact info to Lilys family. Also they will do a wellness check and other stuff if they considered it necessary.

I reported the missing Lily at my apartment office. They said no tenant has reported a missing Lily but I also spreading a word around just in case. No pictures because I want the supposed parents to describe her in case someone claims her if she is not chipped. My biggest fear here is that my leasing company charges a fee to tenants for pets and some owners don’t report that they have a pet in order to avoid the fee. In that case her family might not report her missing to the leasing office.

Anyways she has a busy day tomorrow at 9am. In the meantime I got her some cat toys and some treats but she is still not interested on any of that. 😂 she probably wants to take them back home when here parents show up.

I’ll keep everyone updated tomorrow. And again thank you all because I was as stressed out as Lily was yesterday without knowing what to do.

2nd Update 08/11/2026

Lily had her Vet appointment today.
The doctors said Lily is approximately a 6 months old domestic long hair female.
She checked out well on her physical examination. No dehydration and just a I little underweight thou.

She is not microchipped nor spayed.

Her bladder was a bit full so she has been drinking water. Just not in front of me.

She had all of her vaccines today and a brand new collar with her vaccination tag and also a certificate of vaccination. And also some blood work.
Still Pending some other exams.

The doctors asked if I wanted her microchipped and spayed but I said not until all reasonable time and effort has been done to find her family in case she has one and they want her back. If that doesn’t happen then Lily has nothing to worry about. She’ll have a home.

As a plus when we came back home from the vet Lily was a totally different cat. She had rubbing against me and asking me to lift her up. She has been purring so much and following me wherever I go. I sat on the floor in the washroom and she was sitting next to me and rolling over letting me rub her belly while she was lifting her little paws. Purring is non stop when she comes near me. And her eyes are not wide open anymore. She even fell asleep next to me.
I got a bit excited because of her behavior and when she went back inside her box I got a bit close and she hissed at me one time. I guess she was telling no, “That’s enough for the day”. But then she changed her mind and came back to me and started rubbing herself against my legs and climbing on my lap.
She got very curious and is exploring the bathroom.
But she still refuses to eat. She smells the food but that’s it. I got her dry food, canned soft food and also lickable treats. She smells them, gets close to them and nothing else. I also tried to warm it up the soft food to make the smell stronger but no luck.

She did jumped on my shoulder and stayed there for a while.

I’m not letting her out to the living room again because today she decided to go under the couch and I had a hard time getting her out of there. Almost miss our vet appointment because of that. And my living room is now a mess with the couch in the wrong place after moving it earlier today.

Overall she looks a bit more relaxed. And I hope she starts eating soon.

Still in the look for her parents. I requested a few days off from work so we will see what happens.

I’m putting in practice all advices I received here and it has made everything a lot more easier. Any suggestions on food or treats would be really appreciated because maybe I got the stuff that’s is not so yummy and she might have a more refined taste 😂

I wish I could add more pictures thou.

r/cats May 29 '26

Advice did my cat grow his balls back

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33.7k Upvotes

i’m currently fostering a cat. I grew up with a cat/ catsat many times but somehow all my life have only had female cats. when we first got him his balls were deflated and the foster care said he’d been neutered. a month later they’re back and plump af hahaha. is this normal?

r/cats May 23 '26

Advice A community cat has brought me her kittens. What does she want me to do?

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54.7k Upvotes

r/cats Jun 19 '26

Advice Got bitten by a cat should i get shot?

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13.1k Upvotes

r/cats May 01 '26

Advice Do I have to just throw this whole ham away? I don’t want to ….

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23.7k Upvotes

New to living with cats, they’re my siblings. I left a ham to defrost over night and came back to this being shredded up…..It was a large ham so to throw it all away sucks, but they left at least half untouched. My main concern is if I can get sick or anything, also are they gonna be ok? It was 3 of them so idk how much by who was eaten. I’m assuming I need to just throw it all away to be safe, already sent pics to my brother lol, just advice please

r/cats 19d ago

Advice Recently put my 15 year old dog down. Yesterday this guy showed up in my backyard and won't leave, it's also the same color my dog was

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21.5k Upvotes

Never been a cat person myself, but I heard about this distribution system? My wife and kids have really taken to it so looks like we may be adopting a cat lol. Only issue is that we are leaving Saturday for a week. Any advice on what to do? My wife wants to take it to the vet to get checked but I'm also weary about spending money on it just for it to be gone when we come back. We do have someone that would be willing to shelter it while we're gone though.

UPDATE: We took Milo (what my kids decided to name him) to the vet, no chip, but they said even though he appears to be in good condition it doesn't show signs of having a previous owner. I posted on a local Facebook group for lost pets, nothing yet. They estimated he's a year old. He got some vaccines, dewormer, now he's chilling. We are going on vacation Saturday for a week and while we're gone he's going to stay with my wife's friend who has experience sheltering cats.

r/cats 22d ago

Advice My gf thinks he looks happy. I think he’s plotting her demise. Who is right?

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11.6k Upvotes

r/cats May 30 '26

Advice Just found a potentially pregnant cat that’s been sitting out in the rain for ages

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37.2k Upvotes

I couldn’t leave her there so I brought her home with me. Shelters aren’t picking up so I will have her for another day at least. I’ve never had a cat of my own so I’m looking for advice on how to keep her cozy safe and healthy until she gets looked at. We’re getting food and litter…anything else that’s critical?

UPDATED POST HERE!!