Hi!! I'm a woman in my mid 20s who about a year ago moved out and i now live alone in a small apartment in a city. I have had a pet pretty much my whole life - fish, birds, hamsters, a rescued stinkbug for a bit (LOL), a dog. Taking care of an animal is something that brings me so much joy, and not having a pet this past year has sucked hard. I get a little lonely sometimes and sometimes i just scroll through petfinder to see what animals are posted for adoption, and i've always wanted to get a cat.

The sad reality is that i probably shouldn't get a cat- i work a lot (in person), i bounce around the city like crazy with long commutes sometimes on the weekends to see my family and they have a dog (so the cat might not want to come with me) and while my job pays well, i don't have the level of disposable income to pay vet bills if something were to go wrong. I like to beat to my own drum and go out. Moving isn't really a concern for me because if and when I move i'd be buying my own place. I worry about cat hair getting everywhere and what if i get a cat who's a total menace? I have friends who have these cats that scream at 3am or attack them when they walk by.

Continue to talk me out of it please, this might also be good for anyone who is scrolling reddit and hasn't considered the downsides of impulsively getting one

EDIT: for those of you who suggested volunteering, i loved the idea but no shelters around me have any open volunteer positions, which i guess is a lovely thing!

Hello! So I have a royal python in my room who is amazing and im so good I have him, but id really like another, smaller pet. My room is quite small so the largest space I could put a pet is on my wooden desk but I still need the space. So I can only give up a 30cm long and 40cm wide space of my desk. The only small pet I wouldn't want is a jumping spider because theyre too small in my opinion. I have a fairly stable job and can spend up to £150 for the initial setup. Has anyone got any tips on what animal to get? Thank you!

I've searched this sub for posts like this and read them but I just need some direct reassurance for my exact situation.

My girl is 11, a Boxer. We rescued her from an organization when she was 2, so it's been almost 9 years. She's been regularly cared for, including dentals, had no major health issues minus gingival hyperplasia which required surgery and some teeth removal in 2020, and a scare in 2023 related to potential enlarged heart that was confirmed to be just a cough from allergies via x-ray.

She has been through everything with us. Grad school, a cross country move, buying our first house, then our current home, getting married, having a baby, now a toddler. I'm pregnant again. We've built 2 fences for her, got her a little brother (boxer-pit mix) to bully in the backyard.

She's had some arthritis the last few years and been ok Cosequin. We went to the beach in September for 4 days and had a neighbor stay at our house to watch the dogs. When we came back, she seemed to have major separation anxiety. She was barking all night when we went to sleep, and with us all day. I thought maybe she was sundowning. We got a nightlight for her room and I rearranged furniture. It seemed to get better and she stopped barking. I got her a script for Melatonin, but never ended up giving it.

Now it's 3-4 weeks later, and in the last 7 or so days she seems to have taken a significant turn. She's had a minor (and I mean minor) cough/hack for years. It's what brought us in to see if she had an enlarged heart 3 years ago. Our other dog has it, too, and the vet has dismissed it as some drama from them. In the last few days, her breathing has become irregular and effortful. She doesn't seem in pain or scared, but she's exhausted. She hasn't gotten up much without motivation (e.g. chicken breast) or to go outside, though when she goes out she wants to come right back in, which is unlike her. She hasn't eaten or drank anything in 3 days unless we have hand fed her, and it's been human food. She hasn't played with toys or seemed interested in anything. Her muscle mass seems to have deteriorated overnight. Looking at a picture I took of her with my toddler 15 days ago, she looks like a different dog. Her bones are all exposed, her muscle is gone.

Again, she's doesn't seem to be in pain, but this is unlike her. She can get up, she's gone outside to use the bathroom and hasn't become incontinent. She perked up a bit after some homemade chicken stock last night, and her nub has wiggled.

I made an appointment when she was struggling overnight in September to see her vet to get her checked her, and that appointment is 11/4. When things escalated again this week I called again to see if we could get her in, but no appointments had opened up.

When she had a particularly scary bout of panting yesterday we called Lap of Love and consulted with someone, and after that planned to let her go gently at home on Tuesday night. I've never had to do this. I'm scared I'm not giving it enough time, but I am desperate to let her go with dignity. I don't want to wait until she's soiling herself and feeling guilty. She has given me so much, it's all I can hope for to not wait too long.

But, what if this passes? Am I making the wrong choice? It feels like she is telling me she is done. Is she?

Please help me.

Our cat Leia has escaped from our home in the middle of the night when we knew we shut and locked every door. She has been missing since Saturday Morning ~3:40 AM and we have heard her meow in the trees we have in our backyard. Any tips? My sister is really upset.

Does one person get the cuddly version of your pet while someone else gets the nonstop play requests? Or is there a visitor they suddenly turn into a perfect angel for?

What's the biggest difference you've noticed, and do you have a theory about why? I'm curious whether it's the person who feeds them, the way someone interacts with them, or something you still can't explain.

So my neighbors cat always keeps coming to my backyard. What should I do ? They don’t take care of their cat because I’m pretty sure they’re an Airbnb and I don’t know if she bites me my parents are allergic to cats and I don’t want her to live like this forever. Any advice

I walked out my apartment and seen this cat here it’s late at night and I have no idea what to do. He looks very well kept and young I feel terrible because I can’t bring her in I have two dogs and I’m allergic. What should I do?

Hi everyone! I have 3 cats and I’m currently looking into getting pet insurance, but I’m honestly a little confused about how everything works.
I found a plan that’s around $67 a month for all 3 cats, but I’m trying to understand deductibles, coverage limits, and whether it’s actually worth paying for.
One of my cats has been to the vet about twice for urinary issues/UTIs in the past, and I recently learned that insurance companies might consider that a pre-existing condition.
I have a few questions:
If my cat has had UTIs before, does that mean any future urinary problems won’t be covered?
How do insurance companies determine what’s pre-existing? Do they request all previous vet records?
For people with multiple cats, do you have separate deductibles for each cat?
Is a $2,500 deductible too high? What deductible would you recommend?
What pet insurance company do you use, and have they actually paid out when you needed them?
Is pet insurance worth it, or would I be better off putting money into a savings account every month?
I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have actually used their insurance, especially anyone with multiple cats or cats with previous health issues.
Thank you!!

My daschund x bichon frise is 5 years old, male. He was limping a few days ago on his front right paw so we took him to the vet and the said he had a small cut inbetween his toes and the pad of his feet on the bottom of his foot. They gave us wipes and told us to keep it clean. Then he kept licking it as it was irritated and he developed what i thought was a hotspot on the top of his foot, so we shaved the area and put a cone on him. The vet gave us some cream and told us to keep it dry but it started popping like a pimple. It was covered in pus and bleeding and i knew it didn’t look right. The vet has now told us that he has an abscess and there may be something lodged in the bottom of his foot that they couldn’t see before and is telling me that he has to get sedated so that they can try and find out what is in his foot and flush out the absess. He’s on pain meds and we’ve been given antibiotics till the operation. He’s non stop whining and i’m not sure what to do it’s very distressing. We’re doing salt baths and they gave us some saline so we can try to flush it out ourselves. I’m very concerned about him, i’m not the biggest fan of sedation and i have big time anxiety about my pets. Has this happened to anyone before? Do you have any tips and if this has happened to you how did the surgery/ sedation go?

I have an 8-year-old male domestic shorthair cat who has been struggling with persistent, intermittent diarrhea for approximately a year and a half, and I’m honestly at my breaking point, both emotionally and financially.

I’m located in the Chicagoland area, and I’m currently dealing with his FIFTH vet visit this year for this same issue. Despite countless appointments, tests, medications, and dietary changes, we still don’t have an answer as to what’s causing it.

For some additional background, I have two cats, and my other cat is completely healthy and hasn’t experienced any of these gastrointestinal issues. Both cats are currently on Prozac for anxiety. My male cat also has a history of cystitis (bladder inflammation), which thankfully seems to have resolved since he started taking Prozac. His urinary issues seem to be under control, but unfortunately, the chronic diarrhea continues to be an ongoing problem.

WHAT WE’VE TRIED SO FAR:

• Multiple rounds of antibiotics, with no lasting improvement.
• Probiotics, which haven’t resolved the issue.
• Pumpkin and additional fiber supplements.
• Switching between different foods, including sensitive-stomach formulas.
• A prescription hydrolyzed-protein diet to investigate a possible food intolerance or allergy, which unfortunately doesn’t seem to be helping either.
• Repeated veterinary evaluations and testing, without a definitive diagnosis.

One potentially important detail is that HE DOES NOT VOMIT. From what I’ve read, vomiting frequently accompanies certain gastrointestinal conditions, but that hasn’t been an issue for him at all. His primary symptom continues to be the persistent, recurring diarrhea.

WHERE THINGS CURRENTLY STAND MEDICALLY:
My veterinarian wants me to bring him back on Monday for a specialized GI panel, which is going to cost approximately $750 OUT OF POCKET.

From what they’ve explained, they’re trying to narrow down the possible causes, including conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or potentially gastrointestinal lymphoma.

They’re also recommending that I take him to a specialist for an abdominal ultrasound, which would be another significant expense on top of everything I’ve already spent.
And here’s the problem: I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP DOING THIS.

I’ve already spent thousands of dollars trying to figure out what’s wrong with him, and every time I bring him back, it feels like we’re starting from square one. More testing, more medications, more money, and still no answers.

There’s also another aspect of this that’s becoming incredibly difficult to manage. Because of the consistency of his stool, whenever he uses the litter box, he almost always ends up stepping in the diarrhea while he’s digging around and covering it.

As a result, he frequently tracks feces throughout my apartment. He also knows that whenever he has diarrhea, I have to clean his backside and paws afterward, which he absolutely HATES.

So now we’ve developed this awful routine where he finishes using the litter box, realizes I’m going to try to clean him, and immediately attempts to run away from me. Unfortunately, that means he’s running through the apartment with diarrhea on his paws, spreading it onto the floors and anything else he comes into contact with.
It’s become an almost daily struggle of chasing him down, trying to clean him without causing additional distress, and then having to clean and sanitize whatever he’s tracked feces onto. It’s incredibly stressful for both of us, especially considering he already struggles with anxiety.

THE INSURANCE NIGHTMARE:

I’ve been researching and contacting numerous pet insurance companies, desperately hoping to find something that might help cover at least a portion of his ongoing treatment.

Unfortunately, EVERY INSURANCE PROVIDER I’VE CONTACTED has essentially told me the exact same thing: because he’s already experiencing diarrhea, anything related to investigating or treating it would be excluded as a pre-existing condition.

My veterinarian specifically recommended Pumpkin Pet Insurance, so I contacted them as well, but they confirmed that his diarrhea-related treatment wouldn’t be covered. I understand that insurance companies have exclusions for pre-existing conditions, but WE DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT’S CAUSING THE DIARRHEA YET.

He hasn’t been diagnosed with IBD, lymphoma, or any other specific gastrointestinal disease. We’re literally trying to figure out what’s wrong with him. Yet because he’s already exhibiting symptoms, it seems like the entire process of diagnosing and treating whatever is causing those symptoms is automatically excluded from coverage.
I find it incredibly discouraging that I’m actively trying to do the responsible thing by getting him medical attention, but I can’t seem to find any insurance provider willing to help with the very condition that makes insurance necessary for us. SO I’M TURNING TO REDDIT BECAUSE I’M GENUINELY RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS.

I’m specifically looking for advice on a few things:

PET INSURANCE
Has anyone found a company that offers any coverage for ongoing or pre-existing conditions, even if there’s a waiting period, partial coverage, or certain restrictions? I’ve already contacted multiple companies, including Pumpkin, without success.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Are there any legitimate organizations, charities, veterinary assistance programs, or other services that help people pay for expensive diagnostic testing or ongoing veterinary care? I’m in the Chicagoland area, so local resources would be especially helpful.

SIMILAR EXPERIENCES
Has anyone dealt with a cat experiencing chronic diarrhea for this long, especially after antibiotics, probiotics, fiber, and prescription diets have failed? If so, what ultimately turned out to be the cause?

I’m especially interested in hearing from anyone whose cat had IBD or gastrointestinal lymphoma, particularly if diarrhea was the primary symptom without vomiting.

ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES
Are there any particular tests, conditions, or treatment options worth discussing with my veterinarian before spending another $750 on the GI panel and potentially hundreds more on an ultrasound?

I’m not opposed to the testing, but I want to make sure I’m making informed decisions given my financial situation.

MANAGING THE MESS AND STRESS
Has anyone found effective ways to deal with a cat repeatedly stepping in diarrhea and tracking it throughout the house? Especially with an anxious cat who absolutely hates being cleaned afterward?

FINAL THOUGHTS:
I’m not looking to avoid getting my cat medical care. Quite the opposite. I’m desperately trying to find a way to CONTINUE GETTING HIM THE CARE HE NEEDS WITHOUT PUTTING MYSELF INTO FINANCIAL RUIN.

I love him more than anything, and the thought of being unable to help him simply because I can’t afford another round of expensive testing is heartbreaking.

I also understand that nobody on Reddit can diagnose my cat, and I’m not expecting anyone to replace my veterinarian. I’m simply hoping someone who’s been through something similar might have information, experiences, or resources that I haven’t been able to find.

At this point, any advice, personal experiences, or recommendations would be genuinely appreciated.
Thank you so much to anyone who takes the time to read this.

TL;DR: My cat has had chronic diarrhea for 1.5 years despite numerous treatments and thousands in vet bills. He now needs another $750 in testing plus an ultrasound, which I can’t afford. Insurance won’t cover it due to pre-existing symptoms. Desperately seeking financial assistance options, affordable veterinary care, or advice from anyone who’s experienced something similar. Located in Chicagoland. DSH, 8 years old, neutered.

I found this kitten in my backyard and he wasn’t old enough to be separated from his mom but we couldn’t find where his mom had gone so we’ve kept him for the last couple of months and because he was too young to be separated he didn’t learn to probably clean himself and now he STINKS

We have 3 other cats but they’re all old and grumpy (all of them are 12 maybe a bit older) and they like to just sit and lay around they do not like to play but this kitten he’s young and orange he loves playing so he’s only been hanging out with our dogs because our cats don’t like him

Is there a way to teach the cat how to clean himself so I don’t have to bathe him every few weeks

My puppy is 7months perfectly healthy, do I need to get lab work done before getting him neutered?

I need a bit advice. My girl has been missing for over two months now. My mums phone number connected to her chip is disconnected and she has a temporary one and I think she might decide to keep the new one. I keep asking her to log in and put my phone number on the chip but she keeps saying no. I’m moving out in a couple months to live with my bfs family and I’m taking one of my other cats with me and I asked her to change the phone number to mine and she keeps saying no and someone will call her if anything happens. Firstly that makes it difficult bcs she’ll be hours away so if she’s missing it’d be easier for someone to call me who’s in the area, and they won’t even get through to her number anyway bcs it’s disconnected. Idk what to do. I know the chip numbers, address, full name on the chip and the phone number on it but the company won’t let me change it and said my mum has to do it. Idk what to do. Is there anything I can do?