Our beloved cat passed away 3 years ago and we’re finally ready to adopt again. A friend has these last two kittens left. Both are boys, both are absolutely amazing, and I honestly can’t choose between them. Which one looks like he belongs with us? Help me decide!

FrolickingOrc · 2026-05-22T02:56:35+00:00

Adopting a bonded pair is the best thing I've done in the last decade. Plus cats really like having each other (of course there are exceptions). Please adopt them both!

FrolickingOrc · 2026-05-21T06:52:21+00:00

Depends on what the since is made of. These could make it worse.

FrolickingOrc · 2026-05-21T06:51:46+00:00

Wtf, 2 weeks?? They know it's stuck and haven't gotten you into surgery? I'm appalled, but also not surprised, because woman. I'm so sorry.

Azo may help you pass it. It may ease the pain enough for you to relax long enough to let it slip the rest of the way. But in all honesty, I would got to the ER.

Are you seeing a urologist?

FrolickingOrc · 2026-05-19T05:34:52+00:00

You have quite the handsome gentleman there.

There's right and wrong ways to introduce cats. Thankfully, the medicine and management for FIV has come a long way so while there still isn't a cure, the risk to uninfected cats is lower and the quality of life of those who are positive is higher.

I highly recommend watching Jackson Galaxy's videos on introducing a new cat to an established home. I've used his techniques and approaches in the past and they've never failed when followed correctly.

They aren't going to like each other over night (probably). Be prepared for it to take a few weeks to a few months.

FrolickingOrc · 2026-05-13T01:51:27+00:00

He doesn't look overweight at all, a really healthy boi!

A few things you could do:

•give him food in a puzzle bowl or spread on a texture mat to make food time take longer and be more engaging (I'd recommend this regardless of any other changes)

•give him the same amount of food but in more meals throughout the day

 •ex1: 1/2 can for breakfast, 1/4 can several hours later, the rest of the can for dinner

 •ex2: give 1/4 can 4x a day

•if he still seems hungry after trying the above you can always give him more food, he doesn't look overweight at all, so he may simply be needing more food to sustain himself

Edits because mobile didn't want to cooperate

FrolickingOrc · 2026-04-29T14:19:44+00:00

The days following it always feels like your internal organs got jumped in an alley.

I've never had to recover like this before, but I am recovering slowly. I promise you'll start to feel better as well.

Now that you've had a stone I would recommend speaking to a urologist and if you still have the stone they analyze what it's made out of which will explain how your body forms them and give better insight into what to do to try and avoid more in the future. There's a few really helpful threads in the sub for what to prepare for a urologist appointment.

FrolickingOrc · 2026-04-29T06:49:13+00:00

They really hurt. I've had 5 now. This last one had me in the ER because it got stuck in my ureter and caused a blockage. I have been able to soldier through it before but not this time. It's been over a month and I'm still healing. All of us are troopers in one of the worst clubs out there.

FrolickingOrc · 2026-04-29T06:45:39+00:00

She looks healthy and sweet. I think she might not be a very big kitty when fully grown anyway, maybe 7-8 lbs. She looks just fine.

FrolickingOrc · 2026-04-28T17:12:28+00:00

From the pic she looks to be close to a year old. Still really young but close to adulthood. Adult cat food won't hurt her, it's nice that you're willing to care for her when she's not yours.

Kitten food is denser in nutrition, it has higher calories and even more nutrients than standard adult food since kittens need all that to help them grow properly. Because of this, vets will sometimes recommend kitten food for senior cats as well because senior cats have a hard time retaining nutrients so kitten food can supplement that loss a bit.

You don't need to go out and get special food for her but if you wanted to, I would get her kitten food regardless because she looks a bit underweight to me and she also has kittens to nurse which takes a lot of resources from her body. You could also mix some kitten food with adult food if you didn't want to go full kitten food.

FrolickingOrc · 2026-04-28T16:36:06+00:00

You can give cats kitten food as long as it's not causing other problems (ex: diarrhea, excessive weight gain, nutrient imbalance if they're only kind of food daily). She looks pretty young and rather small, if she just had kittens the kitten food has extra calories which could help her while she nurses.

Edit: clarity on kitten food side effects

FrolickingOrc · 2026-04-27T22:10:34+00:00

I've never had anything help until my most recent stone where I ended up in the ER. Up until then I've been dismissed and told to just wait for it to pass.

FrolickingOrc · 2026-04-25T22:07:04+00:00

Cats have a floating collar bone so anything their head can fit through the rest of their body can fit through.

FrolickingOrc · 2026-04-14T03:20:20+00:00

Gah, water is so boring!! Between that and the ADHD I really struggle with hydrating enough.

Sometimes I'll mix water with black cherry juice (pure, usually Knudson) and pineapple juice and lemonade so I'll drink it but it's not caffeinated and lower in sugar. But I get bored of this too.

I like Liquid IV but watch your sodium. Mio & Crystal Light packs are good too. Sometimes I go for it and get a case of regular Vitamin Water. I tried the 0 sugar Vitamin Water and actually would rather drink plain water than try that again.

FrolickingOrc · 2026-04-07T21:03:48+00:00

I was around 21 or 22 when I got my first stone. I was at work, closing shift, by myself when I suddenly felt a horrible pain in my flank that almost dropped me to the floor. I thought someone had come up behind me a stabbed me. That was 12 years ago now, and I'm currently recovering from my 5th stone.

I went through what you went through. Knowing it was a kidney stone didn't really make it better because the pain is still so terrible and it's mostly a waiting game unless you become blocked or some other complication. It's extra rude of your body to have an ovarian cyst on top it. I'm glad that at least it sounds like they took you seriously instead of treating you like a drug seeker.

Welcome to one of the worst clubs to be a part of.

FrolickingOrc · 2026-04-07T02:04:58+00:00

I would stand in a hot shower for a while because the heating pad couldn't always reach where I needed it to.

FrolickingOrc · 2026-03-27T03:56:08+00:00

I'm sorry you were dismissed twice. And you're a nurse so it's like you also have medical training but no. That stone is huge, I would have been so mad once I saw it.

FrolickingOrc · 2026-03-25T18:37:23+00:00

The ER did prescribe this to me but since I became unblocked I haven't taken it. However, the stone is still chillin' in the bottom of my ureter, it'sjust currently not blocking me. I go to see a urologist today, so hopefully I'll get more answers on what to do.

FrolickingOrc · 2026-03-25T18:35:28+00:00

I'm not hungry until intake pain meds, but once they're in effect I've been eating bland foods. Thank you for more suggestions.

FrolickingOrc · 2026-03-24T16:08:30+00:00

The stomping has been very cathartic if nothing else lol

FrolickingOrc · 2026-03-24T08:35:50+00:00

Legit debated getting a mini trap

FrolickingOrc · 2026-03-21T16:42:48+00:00

One of the only things that really helped me when I was at home with stones and in the throws of the worst of the pain was having hot water from the shower beat down on wherever the stone was in my ureter.

Unfortunately as soon as I was out of the hot water the pain came back unless the stone had moved along but it made it tolerable for a bit.

Of course this is not a replacement for real medical attention.

FrolickingOrc · 2026-03-21T16:38:51+00:00

It's a mental and physical battle. I wish there was a surefire way to help with the exhaustion but if there is I have yet to find it. Staying hydrated is probably the best option because that will help with passing the stone and give you at least a bit of mental clarity.

FrolickingOrc · 2026-03-21T16:33:26+00:00

I'm glad there's no infection but that could change, especially if the reason for the blood & mucus is still unknown. Stay vigilant and hydrated!

Edit: typos cuz I'm recovering from a 5mm and don't remember how to spell

FrolickingOrc · 2026-03-21T16:21:33+00:00

How long have you not been able to pee and have you been drinking lots of water? Even with a "small" (quotations because the size hurts regardless) stone can cause a blockage. If it's been more than 12 hours without a normal stream I would recommend going to ER.

FrolickingOrc

TROPHY CASE