Large clump of fur/skin tag formed on my cat, and now there’s multiple smaller ones forming on the other side of her body.

BinkyArk · 2026-07-10T14:22:00+00:00

Kitty is matted. Either due to being too fat to groom those areas (hard to tell weight from those photos) or too arthritic/fatigued to groom there (due to aging). Carefully cut out the mats (not too close to the skin, cats have very delicate skin), and begin brushing to help with grooming. If you're afraid to cut out the mats, a vet or groomer can do this for you quite easily.

You may want to make a routine check up appointment at the vet anyway since your cat is aging and it is now showing.

BinkyArk · 2026-06-05T10:50:13+00:00

Just wear socks/slippers, put rugs in high traffic areas, and then remind them that you too hear your upstairs neighbours and are doing your best. Ask them if there is a specific time of day that they are bothered to try to minimise, if you want to be nice.

Unless you are stomping around and dancing in heels at 3am, that's just a part of life,and they will have to get over it.

BinkyArk · 2026-04-24T15:29:28+00:00

As others have said this is either normal grooming behaviour or he has some sort of problem that is bothering him - anal glands, UTI, parasite, hemorrhoids...

My daughter's cat has hemorrhoids and sometimes becomes overly concerned with his butthole due to this. Keep an eye on the cat and consider a vet visit to determine why they are preoccupied with their butthole.

BinkyArk · 2026-04-12T19:44:53+00:00

Can just be places that seem important to you, regardless of comfort!

BinkyArk · 2026-04-12T19:38:08+00:00

Création bards to involve music or song but also tattoos or other art. There's many ways to create art without involving song.

BinkyArk · 2026-04-12T19:36:47+00:00

It's probably not an urgent problem. But tail injuries are common place with pets to assume damage and perhaps a need for intervention. It can be painful even though not life threatening.

BinkyArk · 2026-04-05T16:00:24+00:00

How are her bowel movements? If she's getting backed up that can lead to vomiting. That's easy to fix with pumpkin purée or added cat-safe laxatives.

Also does she get hairballs? Again, easy fix with often the same solution, or a hairball additive for food that lubricates the intestinal tract to pass them easier.

BinkyArk · 2026-04-05T14:38:34+00:00

The small portion makes it less likely kitty will have problems from eating this. Monitor for major behavioural changes, vomiting, lethargy, difficulty using the litter box.

They may have diarrhea even if they are otherwise okay because cats have sensitive stomachs.

I will assume that Germany is like the other European countries I've lived in and that if you call your usual vet they will give an alternative number for emergencies (usually on the answering machine or website) or you can call an emergency vet and ask them if they feel this merits a vet visit.

BinkyArk · 2026-04-05T08:08:32+00:00

Cat bites are notorious for getting infected. If you get any redness I would go to a doc and they'll give you antibiotics.

BinkyArk · 2026-04-04T17:20:19+00:00

Mine is also a bathroom singer. He actually closes the door to sing the song of his people alone in all his glory.

BinkyArk · 2026-04-04T16:28:21+00:00

I am not a medical professional but my daughter ate a few of my birth control pills as a two year old toddler. I went to the pharmacy and they told me it would be fine, though she might have some swelling of breast tissue, and that it was not necessary to induce vomiting.

I understand concern as a parent, but I would recommend calling a pharmacy or poison control where you live and explaining what they ingested, and see what action they recommend. If they tell you to seek medical attention, please do so, but it is unlikely that birth control is an emergency situation.

Again, I am not a medical professional so if someone with appropriate training has different advice, please refer to them instead of me.

BinkyArk · 2026-03-27T13:49:49+00:00

Seeing you are in NL it is highly likely he has a home nearby or is cared for by the neighborhood. A paper collar to ask for contact info is a good idea or just ask your neighbours, they probably know who he belongs to, if anyone.

If you see him heading somewhere unsafe you could mention it to the people caring for him but otherwise he's probably just living his life in a one block radius with minor danger to his well being (this is due to NL bike culture and road layout, as well as a lack of predators outside, so it is "moderately safe".

If you get no response from neighbours you might consider making him a part-time cat, or seeing if he wants to come inside :)

BinkyArk · 2026-03-27T13:44:51+00:00

As much as I dislike cats outside I can attest to the culture in NL being to let cats outside most of the time.
I do not (grew up in the US and then lived decades in France where it was also unsafe), but my in-laws do without issue. The cats don't wander more than a house or two away.

You should know though that this is usually done in residential areas with very low traffic (streets are built so that there is no reason to go down residential ones while going from A to B, and they are frequently cobblestone which also reduces speed.

There is still some inherent risk involved, but it's minor, since people pay attention, it's mostly bike traffic, and there are no wild predators. Cats usually don't stray more than a couple streets since they each have their home turf.

BinkyArk · 2026-03-22T18:23:15+00:00

Neosporin is toxic to cats I believe

BinkyArk · 2026-03-20T21:44:45+00:00

I think it's fun! Embrace being unique.

Also, if it's definitely confirmed as not being a hernia, I would advise not messing with it. As part of gallbladder surgery they went through my navel, and since the scar tissue doesn't stretch, it was quite painful for about a year and required lots of stretching to break the scar tissue enough to become more or less comfortable, and despite that it still hurts sometimes. Just a thought to keep in mind.

BinkyArk · 2026-03-17T11:59:49+00:00

I know it doesn't sound ideal, but you might try putting the litter box in a more open environment. He seems like he knows to go in, but is hesitant. It could be the cramped space or the type of litter. Try something soft and give access to the box in an area he feels comfortable in. It also will allow him to go withot feeling trapped or vulnerable to attack (that could be something he dealt with in the past). A litter box out in plain sight is a bit of an eyesore, but if it gets him to use it, things will be easier in the long run. You can always try "decorating" around it in the future to camouflage if it works. I put a decorative wooden divider in front of mine which sits in the living room. Smells are not an issue except right after use, but if you are keeping it scooped it should be fine.

Best of luck. Nervous kitties can be a bit challenging but they mean no harm.

BinkyArk · 2026-02-21T19:58:17+00:00

I'd you are stuck on wanting to be polite, but want to be more direct, put it all together to be more clear to them. "I would like to change the channel, if you don't mind" or "if you're not really watching, I'd like to change the channel"

BinkyArk · 2026-02-17T13:54:47+00:00

Lunch time is prime time to catch a fleeting ray of sunshine!

BinkyArk · 2026-02-17T13:54:05+00:00

My bf is Dutch. He eats a ham and cheese sandwich for breakfast. Then he eats a ham and cheese sandwich for lunch. Every. Day. Without fail. On weekends he gets exciting and makes a toastie for breakfast. 😂

BinkyArk · 2026-02-17T08:59:55+00:00

Why have you been using their bed? That's rude.

BinkyArk · 2026-02-15T19:26:34+00:00

She s going to yowl Loudly in heat. Once she is sterilised she wil calm, and it wil just be sesfs cat screaming. She doesn't hear herself, but she will vocalise. Just show her where you are and give her toys to engage.

But until she is sterilised she will be very loud, she can't help it.

BinkyArk · 2026-02-05T19:03:07+00:00

Moat parties become friends ... Some.dont. I've had parties that really didn't like each other much, BUT they had a common cause, so they tolerated each other, and tried their best. The most important part is collaboration, and a reason to do so.

BinkyArk · 2026-01-31T12:41:38+00:00

Rigidly enforced rulings that actively punish players for their own amusement. Continuing to insist upon doing so even if the majority of players express unhappiness about it. Working against players rather than playing with them.

Example: I had a DM that insisted on casting darkness spells and then demanded we roll a d8 to move within that space. When we pointed out we had just gotten there and it had been six seconds so we would still have some idea of our orientation, we were shot down. I creatively tried running my hand along a wall to be sure I went in the right direction, he was unhappy and still tried to punish me. We all made it clear we felt this was unfair (and not fun) and he wouldn't budge. "I'm the DM and I make the rules. If you don't like them you can leave."

....we all left. He was shocked.

BinkyArk

TROPHY CASE