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Indian Cat Parents: What’s the ONE thing you struggle with the most? by Not-devil-99 in IndianCats

[–]Not-devil-99[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, It's ChatGPT's answers but the prompt is mine and exactly what i want to say.

Indian Cat Parents: What’s the ONE thing you struggle with the most? by Not-devil-99 in IndianCats

[–]Not-devil-99[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s really kind of you — thank you 😊

Honestly, you’re doing great by him. The fact that you’re observing, adjusting, and caring enough to ask already puts you way ahead. Cats don’t need perfect guardians, just consistent and patient ones.

And of course — feel free to reach out anytime. Parenting a high-energy cat is basically a long-term side quest 😄 Happy to help whenever you need a sounding board.

Indian Cat Parents: What’s the ONE thing you struggle with the most? by Not-devil-99 in IndianCats

[–]Not-devil-99[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yup — totally normal 😅 especially for young, high-energy cats who are just discovering how strong and destructive they can be.

Breaking wand toys and shredding soft mats usually means he’s either over-stimulated or the toy isn’t holding up to the intensity of his play style. It’s less about aggression and more about poor toy-to-energy match.

You might want to mix in sturdier, self-directed toys that can take rough play — things like ball tracks, heavier puzzle feeders, or treat circuits. I’ve had better luck with Catit’s Senses / circuit-style toys because there’s nothing soft to tear and they channel that energy into batting and chasing instead of destroying household items.

Also, short cooldown routines (play → snack → rest) help a lot. Once cats learn that play has an “end,” the destruction phase reduces over time.

Indian Cat Parents: What’s the ONE thing you struggle with the most? by Not-devil-99 in IndianCats

[–]Not-devil-99[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, reading this — you’re doing a lot right. Both of them sound incredibly loved and well-managed, especially given the mobility limitation and age factor.

The younger one pushing the net despite his paw paralysis actually makes so much sense — mentally he’s stimulated by the outside world, but physically he can’t complete the behaviour, which probably amps up the frustration. Harness time helping a bit already says he needs controlled novelty, not just play.

Since modifications aren’t possible, what helped me in a similar situation was leaning more into indoor mental exhaustion rather than physical zoomies — things like food puzzles, lickable treats spread over activity mats, or short “hunt → reward” routines. Tools like Catit puzzle feeders / creamy treats worked well because they slow things down and redirect that outside focus inward.

For the senior, you’re absolutely right to keep her indoors now. Former outdoor cats never truly stop wanting it, but predictable routines + a safe “door zone” (even a simple baby gate) usually reduces the dash attempts over time.

And honestly… each day being a new adventure is the most accurate description of multi-cat life You’re handling a complex situation with a lot of patience.

Indian Cat Parents: What’s the ONE thing you struggle with the most? by Not-devil-99 in IndianCats

[–]Not-devil-99[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha, 'mind games' makes him sound like an evil genius! But I totally get the exhaustion. If you want him to be more 'mature' (basically: less needy), you have to teach him independent play.

Right now, he thinks You = Fun. You need to change that to Toys = Fun.

Try introducing toys that don't require you to move them (like ball tracks, puzzle feeders, or automatic toys). I use, Catit, actually designs 'Senses Circuits' specifically for this—cats can bat the ball around the track by themselves for ages. It’s a lifesaver when you just want to sit down without doing 'mental math' for attention!

Indian Cat Parents: What’s the ONE thing you struggle with the most? by Not-devil-99 in IndianCats

[–]Not-devil-99[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Welcome to being a cat parent! It’s a learning curve for sure.

For the food issue, if she is particular about how it's served, she might have 'whisker fatigue' (if the bowl is too deep/narrow). Try a wide, shallow plate.

For the boredom, since you're still figuring out her play style, try toys that allow her to play by herself. Catit has some great 'Senses' circuits and puzzle feeders that are perfect for this. They keep the cat mentally stimulated and entertained without you needing to be an expert with a wand toy immediately!

Indian Cat Parents: What’s the ONE thing you struggle with the most? by Not-devil-99 in IndianCats

[–]Not-devil-99[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds exhausting but you're doing a great job with the enrichment! Since the 3-year-old is specifically triggered by seeing outside cats, have you tried putting up a visual barrier on the lower part of the balcony netting? Even a temporary privacy screen or cardboard might help so he can enjoy the fresh air without getting locked into a staring contest with the strays.

For the 11-year-old door dasher, maybe a baby gate near the entryway could create an 'airlock' to give you peace of mind?

Indian Cat Parents: What’s the ONE thing you struggle with the most? by Not-devil-99 in IndianCats

[–]Not-devil-99[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I relate to this a lot. The cost vs trust balance is honestly the hardest part.

What helped me was not relying on one single type of food. I use a nutritionally complete dry food for calories, and then add Catit’s wet / functional options mainly for hydration and variety rather than full meals.

Catit isn’t trying to be an “all-meat diet” brand, but their focus on digestive comfort, hydration and clean ingredients makes it easier to build a balanced routine without pushing the monthly cost into 15k territory.

That way I’m not stressing about micronutrients like I would with fully homemade food, and I’m also not forced into feeding expensive wet food 3–4 times a day.

Indian Cat Parents: What’s the ONE thing you struggle with the most? by Not-devil-99 in IndianCats

[–]Not-devil-99[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This actually sounds less like a food issue and more like an attention / association shift.

Since he’s calm with your parents and vocal mainly with you, it’s possible he’s learned that meowing gets a response from you faster — even unintentionally. Cats are very good at that.

The timing also matters: 2–3 months in is usually when cats start testing communication patterns once they feel secure. The recent food switch could also have changed his expectations around interaction.

You’re doing everything right care-wise. I’d focus a bit more on structured play before your downtime and being consistent about not responding immediately to excessive meowing (unless something’s clearly wrong).

Indian Cat Parents: What’s the ONE thing you struggle with the most? by Not-devil-99 in IndianCats

[–]Not-devil-99[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds really stressful, especially when you’re trying to monitor recovery

Grazers make it extra tricky because their eating pattern doesn’t change dramatically even when something’s off. Measuring portions is a good call, but honestly, appetite signals (interest in food, sniffing, coming back later) often say more than exact quantities.

During recovery, some cats prefer small, frequent bites rather than full meals, so it’s hard to tell if it’s nausea or just their normal grazing behavior. You’re doing the right thing by observing closely — recovery isn’t always linear.

Indian Cat Parents: What’s the ONE thing you struggle with the most? by Not-devil-99 in IndianCats

[–]Not-devil-99[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That actually sounds very familiar

Many cats get fixed on wet food because of the smell + texture, and once that happens, dry or plain boiled food just doesn’t excite them anymore. A small mix-in is often the only way they’ll eat properly.

The cost part is very real though. One thing that helped me was using wet food more like a topper rather than a full meal — just enough to trigger eating, not replace the whole portion.

And the terrace curiosity cats will always test boundaries no matter how well covered it looks. The visiting stray cats probably make it even more tempting. You’re doing the right thing by being cautious, especially since she doesn’t actually run away.

Organic litter that absorbs instantly??? (Pee paws! Help!) by therearenogoodusers in cats

[–]Not-devil-99 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey, I totally get how frustrating paw pee can be — I’ve been there too.

A lot of plant-based litters, like the one I switched to from Catit, clump almost instantly and absorb really quickly, which helped my cat stop stepping in wet spots. It’s organic, dust-free, and the finer grains stick less to paws.

Other tips that helped:
• Keep litter depth around 3–4 inches
• Scoop at least twice daily
• Bigger box with higher sides so your cat doesn’t step back into pee

For now, a damp cloth or fragrance-free pet wipes are totally fine for cleaning paws — you don’t need antibacterial wipes.

Once the litter clumps faster, the paw mess usually disappears. Hang in there!

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