I already posted about this yesterday but I just really dont know what to do I really need more opinions on this because Im just so emotional about this and dont know what to do.

I recently adopted a 3 month old ragdoll kitten about 6 days ago and ever since I got him Ive just been so stressed and Im worried about him not having enough room to play or be happy. If you look at my last post you can see a further explanation but Ive just been so emotional about this all day today and last night.

My mom is also having bad allergies to him and sneezes bad whenever shes around him for short periods of time and I dont know I just really feel like he might be happier in a different home where he can free roam more and get the attention he deserves.

I have grown really attached to him already so Im just really conflicted I dont know. I feel really bad for getting a kitten and just all of a sudden wanting to get rid of him and leave him behind after he already grew attached to me as well. I dont want him to think I abandoned him or didnt want him and Im just eeall scared of what he will be like or think once I did actually leave him behind. Not only that im also just so scared of someone getting him who wont be a right fit or treat him right or give him all the love he needs but he is an expensive cat so Im sure whoever gets him plans to give him lots of attention….

I really dont know Im just so sad about this and I want to give him to best home he can have but I just dont know if I have the energy in me to take care of him and watch his every move every day. I was already struggling with depression before I got him and I thought getting a cat would some how help me or make me less lonely but instead its just made me anxious and barely able to sleep because Im worried about him getting into something or chewing on something since I can only have him in my room basically because of our puppy.

He is a really sweet little kitten and I just feel so sad at the thought of giving him away especially after just getting him like I dont know whats wrong with me I really really want to keep him I just dont think its a good idea. He’s just so sweet when he looks at me with his cute little face and eyes and I dont want him to feel abandoned. And not only that I feel like if I got rid of him I would never forgive myself for not trying harder to keep him and having to rehome him. I just cant imagine how ill feel after hes gone and ill be alone again basically worrying about wether hes happy or not with the new people or missing me. I also just feel like I could be missing out on so much by watching him grow up and raising him I dont know… please let me know your thoughts Im really struggling with this and I dont have a lot of support. He’s just such a sweet little baby i dont want him to be sad I left him :/

so recently (about a month ago) my family found out our cat has gingivitis. we're working on getting another vet appointment to get x-rays for her teeth to see if she'll need surgery or a cleaning, but we can't schedule the appointment yet due to financial and schedule issues. I've noticed my cat has lost a bit of weight. she is a big cat and you can see it when picking her up and when she's laying down with her belly up. recently, ive noticed she's been a bit lighter when picking her up and her belly has gotten a bit smaller. i don't have exact weights, but when i have time tomorrow i will weigh her. im just wondering if this is something to be concerned about like with her eating habits and if i should possibly switch over to wet food at least until we get the next vet appointment. i haven't noticed anything different in her behavior, like i don't believe she's been more active and it's hard to know if her eating habits have changed because my cats usually eat at night or im at school so i can't really tell. any information would be appreciated i just need to know if im being paranoid or if this is a real concern.

Seems to be a corgi German shepherd mix, found him on millbrea, no collar, skiddish but friendly after he calms down, message me for an image of him to confirm if he is your dog

The neighbors. The other dog. National security.

Hey all, I've got a question for those ewho may be able to help!

I have a rescue German Sheperd, previous owner gave him up for free and gave next to no information on food brand/how much, duration of walks, allergies, medical, etc. When we got him, he was clearly not properly looked after, could see his ribs, able to count vertebrae, looked unhealthy. He table surfs which I'm not suspecting to fix ever ....what I'm hoping to fix is his fascination with eating his own poo!

Tried giving him: pumpkin- causes room clearing farts, still eats poo More food- dude ate a quarter of a bag of dog food and was still hungry. You could see his stomach be swollen from how much he ate. Rice, loves rice. Pre/Probiotic Veggies (corn, peas, squash, pumpkin, rice, lettuce, banana, blueberries, strawberries, etc.)

Please help! He eats his poo and burps in our faces!

Need help with tracking the owner of an abandoned cat.

I recently moved into a new place and there is a cat that shows up everyday. My neighbors believe he was abandoned. I took him to see if he was microchipped and he is but I’m not authorized to see his owners contact info! I tried to submit a request for them to reach out to me but I haven’t heard back. Is there anyone who can help me get their details if I give provide the chip number? Thank you!

I want to make sure I can properly take care of him if he needs it

Hi All,

I’m in a bit of a dilemma right now. A little over a month ago a stray (possibly dumped) cat showed up to my door and after a couple weeks of nobody claiming him from my lost and found post I decided to keep him, and I’ve gotten his shots and neutered.

I have introduced him to my other 2 super sweet cats since he’s healed from surgery and my other 2 cats are absolutely terrified of him and I’m not sure what to do. I’ve moved him to my spare room for now but I’m not sure how to make sure he gets along with my other 2 cats.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Hey everyone,

I’m curious to know—what are some of the most unusual, or even stressful incidents you’ve encountered when leaving your pet at home alone?

I’d love to hear your stories and tips on what worked (or didn’t work) when you had to leave your pet alone at home.

Looking forward to reading your posts and learning from your experiences!

https://ibb.co/ccYmHM3H

https://ibb.co/C3vqbZNG

Hey everyone, I just noticed this small wound on my cat’s head. I’m not sure what caused it or if it bothers him, but I want to be cautious. Should I just monitor it, or is a vet visit necessary? Any advice would be really helpful!

Hi, just looking for ideas of what insurance for my cat would cost per month for a healthy almost 4 year old male. Want to know roughly what people pay, what it entails, who's the best to go to for this kinda thing company wise. Gimme alllllll the tea. the good bad and the ugly I want all the information people can give so I can make an informed decision to be responsible with my cat. I've never had to have a cat get insurance before so this is all very new and confusing. Thank you!

I’ve lived with cats my whole life but grew up with both cats and dogs thanks to relatives. Just recently I’ve gotten a girlfriend and she’s moved in with me so I decided to get a husky/german Shepard mix. I’m having a lot of trouble getting him and my cats acclimated to each other he wants to play with them but they’re understandably terrified of the big lug any advice at all for how I can get them to tolerate each other would be greatly appreciated.

My husband and myself had been travelling frequently for his work these past couple of years. After extending our family with both a 4-legged and 2-legged addition it had become a lot harder to fly. I have always had a fundamental issue putting our furry best friend in cargo and some of the prices asked for non-cargo have been outrageous (cargo aswell to be honest). Hence as of this month we have launched an alternative: petjetexpress. Please have a look and give feedback! We have a love for animals and would love to hear some constructive feedback! Ps: clearly we hope to not lose money but making it as affordable as possible will be our main goal!

Maybe I'm just too innocent, and maybe it's because I have a thing with animals (I stop to pet sad cats on the street and I'm the one who will pick up a frog or something and put them outside) but I just don't understand.

Recently my friend got a cat. Her kitty is absolutely lovely, but she's not too invested, I guess. No big deal — Cats enjoy their space. But now she's wanting a dog (cats "don't give enough love"), and a husky at that — I told her it's not a good idea, she's got a cat, her mother doesn't want a dog in her house, and we live in northeastern Brazil (tengo lengo tengo lengo), for God's sake — Well, she's not getting one, but it has me thinking.

I've seen some relatives get like four dogs (on separate occasions, not at once) and then proceed to "rehome" them, rather casually. Now, once is an honest mistake — But after the third dog you couldn't keep, haven't you once thought about how stressful it is for them to be taken into your house and then taken out just as quickly, especially after growing attached? I can sort of understand if it's a "small" pet like a hamster who doesn't care too much for human interaction, but I don't get how people can get dogs (I don't see it much with cats, but the same stands nonetheless) and not consider their existence as individuals. They communicate clearly, have likes and dislikes, form relationships with the people they are close to and love their owners. I absolutely cannot fathom overlooking this.

Some people just don't like or don't understand animals, that's valid. But they don't get pets. The ones who do this, they must be a separate type of person. It's strange. I wish they'd put some regulations on pet ownership, at least where I am. If you've had two pets and rehomed them, you're not getting another — But, of course, that is difficult to implement, especially considering strays people get and such, although I see this type of behavior primarily with expensive, breed animals. All I know is that pets deserve better. They aren't a decoration, they are an individual that lives with you and you are responsible to keep safe and happy. I don't get it.

Of course, the world will not change because I posted this on a pet-haver subreddit, but perhaps I can gain some new insight — to live is to learn.

Hi, I want to adopt a cat soon and I wanted to get an estimate of how much I should have set aside to be a responsible cat owner. For the next 4 years I will be in school but will have some money in a high yield savings account, $3k of which will be allocated for my theoretical cat. Worst case, if anything does happen that is over budget, I can dig into the rest of my savings ($15k) as back up (and if there is anything even worse, I can ask my family for financial help). I estimate $680 in interest the first year. But aside from that amount, I know I will need to pay for food, toys, vet visits (plan to get an annual wellness plan), emergency visit money, and I’m on the fence about pet insurance.

Are there any other expenses I should budget for? Do I have enough saved up? I plan to get a relatively young adult that is healthy. I’m going to be going to medical school so I won’t be able to make any more money than what I have set aside. But I want to make sure I have enough to cover realistic expenses before I take on the responsibility of adopting an animal. It is my personal take that if my pet gets sick, money shouldn’t be the barrier to getting them treatment which is why I want to be as prepared as possible. My family dog lived 10 years and I worked multiple jobs through college to pay for her cancer treatment (unfortunately unsuccessful, but I know it would have been more painful if I knew there was a treatment that could have saved her and money was a barrier), so I just want to avoid the situation of not doing the best I can financially before I commit.

Thanks!

Back in July, I got a pet insurance policy with ASPCA. I opted to add preventative coverage. It's supposed to cover $250 in preventative care per year. I paid a lump sum for the year, but I believe it worked out to $10 per month or $120 per year. Seemed like a no-brainer to me. Well, I decided to go ahead and use it this month for my dog's checkup and vaccinations. The total came out to be right at $250, and I submitted the claim. It was only then that I realized just how worthless the preventative coverage actually is. While it does cover up to $250 in preventative care per year, the money is arbitrarily capped and spread across various services. Here is the breakdown:

• Dental cleaning - $100
• Annual exam - $50
• Heartworm/flea prevention - $0
• Deworming - $20
• Canine heartworm and feline FELV - $20
• Urinalysis - $0
• Blood test - $0
• Fecal test - $20
• Canine bordetella or feline FELV - $0
• Canine DHLPP or feline FVRCP - $20
• Canine rabies and/or canine lyme, or feline FIP - $20

And that's it. Basically, the preventative coverage isn't worth it for most people unless your pet happens to need all those things every year. Of course, every service listed costs more than the money ASPCA has allotted to it. I don't know where I could get a canine dental cleaning done for $100. My dog's rabies vaccine cost $56. So, for my $250 bill for preventative care, I was reimbursed for a grand total of $90. Needless to say, I will not opt for this coverage again. But I will also be canceling my policy with ASPCA. Quite frankly, they needed to be more upfront and explicit about how the credit works.

February is National Pet Dental Health Month. I wanted to share my kitty's dental cleaning story because Reddit is full of horror/tragic stories and not enough successes.

My 7-year-old kitty had her first dental cleaning today. I put it off for over 2 years because of the stories I'd read on Reddit, but I found a doctor I trusted and decided my cat's oral health care was worth the risks.

I dropped my cat off at 7:40 a.m. before heading to work. I opted for the pre-op bloodwork to check that my cat's heart and internal organs were healthy enough for anesthesia. This was done the morning of the appointment and the results took about 20 minutes. I got a text from my vet's office confirming that my cat's bloodwork showed no signs of concern and they were starting the anesthesia process. 45 minutes later, I got a follow-up text that the cleaning was completed and my cat was waking up from the anesthesia. By 1:30 p.m., she was cleared to be discharged and I took her home.

I consider this a success story because she handled the anesthesia well and her teeth are clean. Transparently, she was not a happy camper after the cleaning (not shocking). She was so stressed out that she came home covered in dandruff, which I didn't realize was a stress response in cats. She alternated between wanting pets and crying + running away from me. I made sure to keep her within my line of sight because the drugs cause dizziness, and I worried she'd fall trying to run upstairs. She ate fine, so thankfully she wasn't in any pain, and eventually, she let me take her catheter bandage off. It's evening now, and she's calmed down. Her third eyelid is still showing and her pupils are dilated, but this is normal considering the anesthesia and pain meds are still in her system.

I live in a low-cost area and do not have pet insurance. My bill was $550 ($410 for the cleaning and medication + $140 for the optional bloodwork, with a 10% discount for February's dental health month). The bill would have been higher if they discovered more severe issues or a need for extraction, but thankfully, my cat just had calculus/tartar build-up. My vet advised that I start finger-brushing a few times a week and giving her Greenies treats.

I hope this helps other cat parents feel better about the dental cleaning procedure. I think I covered anything, but I'm happy to answer any questions about my personal experience.

For context about a year ago, we had a swat situation in our backyard while our dogs were back there. We weren't home at the time and so our dogs were out in the back as it was a nice day and I didn't know how long I was planning on being gone and didn't want them in their kennel all day. We watched back the experience on our camera system, and one of our dogs alerted the police to the person who was hiding in our backyard, which, prompted 30 cops to jump our fence and arrest this person. Now, because of this experience, the pup who altered the police has developed PTSD from it. She has no issues when going outside, but if there is any activity, outside of family being back there with her, she will start pawing at both our window in the kitchen and sliding door. Even if she hasn't used the bathroom, she immediately wants back in. The same goes if one of the other dogs start to bark, she comes right to the door wanting back in. This week the house next door is having a new septic tank put in, which means tractors and people working. She can't see the people due to the fence, but she knows they are there and freaks out. I know medications are options to help her relax, but I really don't want to go down that route. I feel bad when we leave her outside, when the weather is nice or she's gotten wet, she's a water dog, and we leave and something happens, she freaks. What are some ways to help her feel safe in the backyard with activities going on?

Hi there! Could you recommend the best dog food available at Petco? I was considering Open Farm, but it’s quite expensive, and unfortunately, Petco doesn’t carry that brand anymore.

So I'm stressed out right now I'm not asking for money or funds I just need help getting cat food it can be a bag of dry food or a couple cans I'm not picky neither is my cat my cash advance app is frozen right now so I don't have anything I would be so grateful for anything 💗

My cat ate something bad and now he’s refusing to eat and puking everywhere. When trying to get him into the carrier, he escaped and broke through the fake wall in my bedroom (old attic) and is now hiding between the floorboards and ceiling. It’s not a safe spot for him, but I can’t lure him out with food and he hasn’t gone to the bathroom yet today so I’m worried.

I waited a few hours to try and get him out on his own but he wasn’t still hissing.

Hi, trying to register my cat as an ESA. What do I need to do so in the state of MO? What documents must be provided to rental agencies as well?

We got my puppy off of Kijiji when he was only 6.5 weeks. The lady selling the puppies had told us he was almost 8 weeks, but then changes the date of birth once we got him and left. We simply couldn’t leave him there as the poor thing was living outside in the cold weather with no protection.

We let our vet know that he was actually younger than we initially thought, and they started his vaccines around 7 weeks. This was his vaccination schedule:

November 28th, 2024 - First vaccines December 20th, 2024 - Second vaccines (first booster) January 16th, 2025 - Final vaccines (second booster)

He was almost exactly 14.5 weeks at the time of his final vaccines. When you look these things up, it says that puppies should receive their final vaccines between 14-16 weeks, however, some vets also say it is way safer to wait until 16 weeks. My vet is offering to give an additional booster next week, when he will be about 17 weeks. Is this necessary? Is there any risk to him? I have spoken to several vets and they all have a different opinion on this.

Hello all,

A former friend, and asshole, has abandoned his dog with my wife and I. We have a dog that doesn't get along with other dogs, so we're unable to keep him. Is there anyone that can take him in the Houston area? He's appears to be a golden retrieve mix, about 1 year old and big.

Thanks.

Hi there. I have two adult cats, one is 4 and the other is almost 9. They were both vaccinated as kittens, however, they have not been vaccinated since as our old vet informed us that this was not necessary if they are strictly indoor cats.

We now have a puppy who will be ready to go outside in a few weeks, as he just completed his vaccination series. I called my new vet and asked if it would be a good idea to have both cats vaccinated since my puppy will be going outside and could potentially track things inside with his feet. They said it would be a good idea and quoted me for two exams and a round of shots for each. I suggested that they would probably both need a booster as they haven’t been vaccinated for several years, but the vet said that there is no need for this. Is this correct? One of the cats hasn’t received a vaccine in 4 years and the other hasn’t received any in 8+ years.

This is a hard one. A few weeks ago my 12 year old kitty started having a hard time walking and was noticeably thin. Our vet visit showed us that she has a mass on her rib (you can feel and see it) and one on her spine.

This mass on her spine is in a position where it is pressing up on her spinal cord and down on her lungs. The vet noticed she was using a lot of energy to breath. They gave her a shot and took home pain meds.

Within a matter of days she started declining. To the point the she now has no mobility of her lower half and was having accidents all the time. She is now in diapers. She can't drag herself more than three feet without having a break to lay down. my husband and I decided to cancel the exploratory procedure of the masses and instead help her ease the pain.

Are we making the right choice? The vet had no real answer on how to remove the mass, as it's connected to her bone, and we do not have the means to afford chemo (if it is cancer).

Long story short- I have to move my mother's pets cross country by car.

There will be a 50-60 pound dog, a cat, and an African grey parrot.

I've done the same drive with my own pets, and finding accommodations in flagstaff proved somewhat difficult due to dog size restrictions, number of pets, etc- we wound up staying in a really shitty motel and having to sneak our cats in. I'd really rather not stay at the same place- and sneaking a parrot in would be much harder than cats. The rest of the trip has Hilton home2suites hotels which let you bring any pets you want- but there isn't one in flagstaff (yet).

So- has anyone stayed at any of the common hotel chains with three pets- bonus points for with a bird or other exotic?

I’m 17 years old and I live with my dad, we have two cats, Chloe and Finch. My dad brought Finch home as a gift for me last summer when he was a baby, and I’ve loved him ever since. A couple months ago he started just constantly meowing and it’s driving my dad insane. I personally just ignore it and don’t mind it as it’s pretty quiet, but my dad started working from home and he threatens every day to throw him outside. I’m desperate to not have to do that so I do my best to tell him no or take him into my room so he stays quiet and entertained, but I can’t be home all the time to do that. I just need any suggestions you all may have to try and get him to stop meowing all of the time. I really don’t want to lose another cat outside.

Hi everyone, I really need some guidance and support right now. I have a three-year-old female dog (Doberman, Rottweiler, and Husky mix), and I just found out that she’s pregnant. The hardest part is that my family knew when she was in heat, and they also knew that my brother’s dog had gotten to her when I wasn’t home. No one told me until now, when she’s already starting to show.

I feel absolutely heartbroken because I didn’t know she was pregnant for about 42 days, and I worry that I haven’t been giving her the proper care she needed during this time. Now that I know, I want to do everything I can to make sure she’s okay, but I honestly don’t know what the best option is.

Would it be better for her health and lifespan if she had an abortion, or should we just carry out the pregnancy? What do you guys think is best? Also, if anyone has experience with this, how much do you think the costs will be—whether for an abortion or for delivery and caring for the puppies?

I’m feeling really overwhelmed and stressed, and I just want to do what’s best for her. Any help, guidance, or resources would mean the world to me. Thank you so much in advance!

I have always been told that weed smoke is very bad for cats, but it always feels like the same energy isn’t met for dogs. Is it actually that much worse for cats than dogs or is it about the same?

Btw this is purely out of curiosity, I don’t smoke (a lot) and I don’t plan on having pets lol.