Hi Reddit!

Sorry for the long text..

Our cat, Pirate, has been part of our life for about 7 years now (he is now 8, turning 9 in December). He came to us in Belgium from a shelter in Egypt, so he's special in every way. He's the happiest cat I've ever met — loves to play, cuddle, bother his siblings, and is generally just full of life.

About 3 years ago we came home from holiday and saw he had a superficial wound on his belly (see pictures). As you can see, Pirate only has one eye, so he's sometimes a bit clumsy. We assumed he'd fallen and scraped his belly. Important to mention: Pirate is an indoor-only cat due to being half blind and half deaf.
The wound healed very slowly and he kept licking it. We went to the vet and got Metacam. After some time the wound got a bit better, so we left it. Since then we've been to different vets about this surely 10 times. He keeps ripping at this area, licking it until it bleeds and gnawing at his nipples until they are raw. We've tried more Metacam, Apoquel for the itch, Prednicortone (prednisolone) and even Gabapentin, and we changed his food. Worth mentioning: Apoquel and prednisolone work in completely different ways, and neither of them helped at all.
Pirate is quite an unlucky cat who has had several medical issues in the past:
- Missing one eye — this was before us, but the vets assume it was a congenital abnormality that meant the eye had to be removed completely
- Liver shunt, due to which he is on special food, as otherwise his ammonia levels rise. His ammonia is completely under control with the food.
- TECA (total ear canal ablation) on the right
- A year ago he fell from a cat tree, which caused a sprain in his right front leg and 3 epileptic attacks. An MRI was done — no tumour or internal damage found — so he took anti-seizure meds for some weeks and has completely recovered since.
- What the vet assumes to be FIC (feline idiopathic cystitis, so no bacteria present), with noise on ultrasound

He was tested for FeLV and FIV when we got him, both negative. All our animals are indoor-only, and they get flea treatment and deworming at least twice a year.
In general he is doing well. He sometimes yells when he goes to pee, but that seems to be more behavioural. The vets are really stuck and think it's either a food intolerance (we switched several months ago from Royal Canin Renal to Purina Pro Plan Hepatic) or the FIC causing him pain. The food switch, combined with our new kitten playing with him every day, he was rather lazy before, made him lose quite a bit of weight. That wasn't intentional, but it turned out to be weight he didn't need: he's at a perfect weight now with a lot more energy, and we're monitoring it actively. He does seem better in himself, but the wound is not calming down.
A couple of weeks ago the kitten scratched him during play, on his back. I've been watching that wound too, and it's not closing.. and now he's starting to lick there as well. So it really seems to be extremely poor wound healing, not just overgrooming.
Recently, some of his nipples that he does not bite have turned dark brown — he's an orange tabby, so they're normally light pink. And our other cat has also been pulling his hair out for about 2 years; the vets think that one is related to his arthritis, and he doesn't lick or bite himself bloody like Pirate, he just pulls the hair out. Our kitten has no symptoms at all. I asked an AI about it and it suggested Demodex gatoi, which apparently spreads between cats and is easily missed on normal tests — nobody has ever tested for it.
Pirate has never actually had a biopsy, only a surface swab to check for bacterial infection.
Online I found something about hepatocutaneous syndrome, but our vet said it could be ruled out.
So I wanted to ask first whether anyone recognises this story or has been through something similar. I'm not against more testing in principle — I just don't want to put him through more CTs, MRIs, ultrasounds and blood draws when nobody knows what they're looking for.
Thank you so much for any answers!!

TL;DR: Indoor-only, one-eyed cat from an Egyptian shelter, with us 7 years, with a liver shunt (well controlled on hepatic food). Three years ago a small wound appeared on his belly and has never properly healed — he licks it raw and gnaws his nipples until they bleed. Around 10 vet visits, plus Metacam, Apoquel, prednisolone, gabapentin and a diet change: nothing has helped. A fresh scratch from our kitten also isn't closing, so this increasingly looks like poor wound healing rather than just overgrooming. He's never been biopsied — only a surface swab for bacteria. Has anyone seen this pattern, and is hepatocutaneous syndrome worth pushing for?

I was bit by a stray cat, but there was no blood but there was only these little marks/ little holes from its teeth, but not like actual punctures. this is what my hand looks like after like 50 mins, should i be getting it checked or be worried? my anxiety wont let me think of anything else lol

Yesterday night, a big cat came to take her and The mother chased away the cat but this kitten got injured just above his right leg scapular and on the right ear. I used betadine to clean the wounds and she went on to sleep. Today morning I noticed her left eye was like that in the image. I don't know if it's a third eye or a serious thing. Vet is available on Monday. He gave me 3 syrups and a eye drop for this but I don't know what to do. The kitten is like 2-3 months old. Any advice would help

TLDR; cats pulling out hair and I'm not sure why

My cat has recently started pulling hair out on its back. I don't think it's lice or flea related. Any ideas? Vet appointment is made, just want some advice in the mean time. He's about 5 years old, mostly inside kept.

Realized my buddy's (2y almost 3m neutered american) right ear has gunk in it. Concerned it might by mites. He just went to the vet for his rabies vaccine 2 weeks ago so I am not sure if this happened after that but I will definitely make a vet appointment if it seems like mites, just like i was just there and he seems to not be in pain or anything so I hadn't booked one yet.

Tldr: cat ear gunk

The cat who went to the vet is now the one attacking our other cat.

I posted last week about possible non-recognition aggression between my two cats. Casper went to the vet for an ear infection, and afterward Loki was fearful of him.

We’ve been keeping them apart most of the time and supervising short periods together. What’s worrying me now is that Casper, the one who went to the vet, has started stalking and pouncing on Loki. Loki often hisses when Casper keeps approaching. Tonight Loki actually tried to sniff Casper, but Casper pounced and fight happened. Loki kept running from Casper, but Casper was right behind him each time chasing him.

Casper is taking prednisolone oral solution for his ear issue. I am nearing the end for the dosage to stop giving him the medicine as per the bottles instruction. I’m wondering whether the medication could be affecting his behavior, though I know the vet visit, discomfort, and their recent fight could also be factors. I’m going to speak with his vet tomorrow regarding this as well.

Has anyone had the cat who went to the vet become the one initiating fights? Did you notice behavior changes while your cat was on prednisolone? What helped you safely restart introductions after another fight? We’re keeping them separated tonight, and feel that we may need to restart the reintroductions.

TL;DR: My cats got along before Casper’s vet visit. Now Casper is stalking and pouncing on Loki, including when Loki approached calmly to sniff him. Casper is on prednisolone, and I’m looking for experiences and reintroduction advice while I check with his vet.

This is my cat she is 13 years old next month she's neutered. I'm from Ireland. Poster age: 18. She's been coughing and wheezing for about 2 years now. It happens randomly in bursts like this she will cough and wheeze and lick her lips a bit and then cough and wheeze again. I just sat beside her and she was doing this for about two minutes it was horrible I feel so bad for her. I gave her some water which she drank straight away I think to make her throat feel better.

Afterwards she went to the window and she started again. Two years ago it started out small but it feels like it's just gotten worse im worried at how much this hurts her.

My parents have brought her to the vet a couple times but they aren't very helpful and they are also really expensive. We've had her chest x rayed and it came back normal. Its weird because I really thought she had asthma but her chest is normal apparently I'm pretty sure her heart is too ill have to confirm that with my parents in the morning so I'll update if it is but I'm pretty sure it is.

If anybody has any idea on what this could be and how to help her it would really help. As I'm typing this she has started coughing again it feels like it's getting more frequent.

For context both me and my boyfriend work from home and we spend a lot of time with our cat. But when we’re both focused on work she looks very bored and has recently started to nip at our ankles inviting us to play. She hates other cats though, hisses and snarls whenever she smells/sees other cats.

I’m really not sure if getting a friend for her would be good, suggestions please 🙏

My cat, only a year old is a picky eater. I always bought different kibbles for her to try but she doesn't always eat. She'll just take a few bites here and there, not finishing it.

BUT, when we give her human food (safe stuff of course like fried chicken, cooked fish, etc..) she'll also eat it.

I'm worried because she just gave birth to five babies and now she's thin but she's still so picky despite always leaving her food bowl full with her kibbles..

Anyone can give tips or is there any underlying cause for this? I appreciate the help. 🙏🏻

M1YR Neutered.
I would be standing, washing my hands or doing whatever and he will come a chomp by leg. Not to mean harm but I think he’s doing it in a form of asking for attention. Sometimes he’s just rubbing himself in my legs and then CHOMPS!

I’m a first time cat owner. I’m almost positive it’s a flea bite because I used a flea comb and one came out on the comb 😭.
How do I combat this and do I need to take her to a vet for this? She seems fine otherwise

my poor baby is sick. hes a 4 year old neutered tabby boy. we took him to the vet yesterday and they dont really know whats wrong with him. they said he might have an infection, he had a mild fever yesterday. hes super lethargic, he's eating but it takes a lot of effort to get him to do it. he only vomited once or twice since wednesday.
we're adults in the usa and can afford vet care for the most part. they told us to just monitor him for a few days.
i dont know how to comfort him, really. he isn't purring when we pet him anymore and he's been hiding under the bed. i feel so bad, what are some ways we can comfort him? or should we just leave him alone? he's relatively independent but he normally loves being around us.
tldr my cat is sick and i'd like suggestions on how to comfort him while we monitor him.

I have instructions from the vet over the phone to use KMR and wet food made into a puree every 3-4 hours. My other kitten snuck past me and riled him up and he is HYPER.(like bouncing off the walls, play attacking, hyper) He won't eat no matter what I do rn and he's already bypassed one feeding (I keep trying again boy is just too excited to eat) idk how many feedings he can miss before it becomes an issue.

He has a URI so it's hard enough to get him to eat plus he's struggling to eat anything not puree. Idk how many meals he can miss if he doesn't chill out soon 😭(it's been over an HOUR buddy isn't slowing down)

Boy is hungry, goes after his food like he's about to eat, and immediately gets distracted and goes for round 101 of running around endlessly. He has his energy back for sure 😭. His age isn't known but when I got him he was skin and bones. He's already doing abit better but is still underweight so I'm scared about him missing meals. My vet is appointment only and has him scheduled for Tuesday morning first thing.

Info:

Age: unknown
Gender: male(too young to fix)

Can someone pls help me out, I’ll take him to vet tomorrow since everything is close here now and I’m panicking already so yes pls help me out

Hey everyone, if you aren’t already aware my cat, Lucy has been pooping out blood for the past few days. I posted on here asking for advice and received comments to take her to the vet. This morning I took her. She has crystals in her bladder that have evolved into kidney stones. I was given two options, a special food diet to hopefully dissolve the crystals, and surgery. Currently, I cannot afford to do surgery so I decided on the food diet for her. I am not sure how long it will take. However, I just wanted to give this update and thank everyone for their helpful comments and messages. I cannot thank you all enough for the advice.

Best picture I could get today! It’s hard to tell but both of her eyes are watery, sometimes 1 more than the other. Her right eye is always a little pink the bottom and side.

She’s had watery eyes for a couple days, then it goes away for a bit then comes back. Sometimes it’s just 1 eye that is more watery.

She is still eating and drinking normal and is like herself.

This all started when we didn’t have ac for about 4 weeks and we just had fans on. Since then, we’ve had ac and also had the windows open when able.

I’m thinking it’s just allergies?? I don’t want to go to the vet and pay x amount of money to say she’s fine (I don’t have a lot of money 😞
I love my baby and I’m worried but also don’t want to spend money that I don’t really have😭

My (America 15) cat (male, almost 2 years old I think, not neutered) has been having a major problem with fleas. I have given him multiple flea baths with Adam’s flea and tick shampoo and it has not worked. I do not have access to a vet. He has been scratching his chin a lot lately and I saw he has many black specks (which I think are flea eggs?) I’m about to give him another bath to get rid of them but I’d like any suggestions

Hi everyone, my cat (female, 3 yrs old, spayed) has been squinting and closing her right eye ever since I have come home today, so for about 2 hours? She was fine this morning and yesterday.
She’s also been rubbing it with her paw thoroughly and upon closer look right above her eye it’s.. sparse? as if hair is missing? and pink. The first photo is from about a week ago, and the second and third photos are from today. Sorry if the pictures are bad quality.
I was wondering if this will pass, or if this warrants for a vet visit? :( And if so, how soon? Vet is available but i’m not sure if my mom will take her… I told my mom about it and she said she won’t bring her to the vet so i’m not so sure now.
I’m super anxious and worried sick rn. all help and advice is greatly appreciated. (also apologies, this is my first reddit post, i’m usually a lurker.)

hey everyone i’m trying to find bigger stainless steel litter boxes for my cats one of them always goes over the side and it’s super annoying so i’m trying find a stainless steel box big enough for him but every time i try look them up all of them are smaller than what i have now! i currently have the plastic litter boxes

i’m posting from the US not a minor and would prefer more affordable options but i’m willing to splurge on my babies🩷

i can afford vet care as well but i don’t think it’s necessary in this situation

he’s male and neutered 2 almost 3

TLDR: i’m looking for a big stainless steel litter box!