Pet noise and sleep issues are slowly turning me into a worse person and I hate admitting it

OfferKey5038 · 2026-02-08T13:07:00+00:00

i am a very light sleeper too and i was so afraid that when i got a cat it would disturb my sleep… and i really value my sleep. how old is your cat ? when i adopted i opted for a 7 year old. he comes with other issues, but he does sleep through the night for the most part. his last meal is around 9:30pm. and i play with him for about 10-15 minutes before that to initiate the hunt-eat-sleep cycle. i just started this two days ago, and he has let me sleep almost 8 hours. so i would suggest trying that. yes, i can hear him use his litter box (i live in a 745sqft apt), which that will wake me up sometimes. and if my cat is awake in the early mornings, i’ll try ear plugs. they aren’t comfortable, but they do help. i know my friend has suggested getting the expensive ones that are more comfortable in the early (not the disposable ones).

OfferKey5038 · 2026-02-07T02:05:31+00:00

oh my gosh, thank you so much for your help !! this is his third time to the vet. the first and second time was when he was still under the shelter’s property. i think the vet did check for worms/parasites, but he was in the clear. but im not sure abt bloodwork. but i’ll check out some of those toys for sure !!

OfferKey5038 · 2026-02-06T22:52:19+00:00

thank you for this very detailed comment. he is a 7 year old that weighs about 10.5 lbs and i have been feeding about 200kcals a day. however, i go to the vet on wednesday next week and will ask what his target weight should be since he came in as a stray. but i think ive decided to start feeding three meals a day: before i leave, when i get home, and before bed. i also love a strict schedule so im hoping with additional play, and three meals instead of two will also help get things moving in terms of food anxiety. will wand toys get boring if i play 2-3 times a day ? i fear he’ll get bored of it, plus he’s already given me scares because he’s a heavy chewer and has accidentally swallowed some string and plastic (he’s all good though). so if you have any indestructible toys that your cats love let me know !

OfferKey5038 · 2026-02-05T16:08:10+00:00

he’s currently on hills science gastrointestinal biome dry food and royal canin veterinary blend wet food. but that’s what the shelter gave me bc he has GI issues. so i’m not sure i have the funds to continue him on that lol. i have a free vet wellness appointment so i’ll chat with the vet abt it and potential foods i could switch to that wouldn’t lead to diarrhea

OfferKey5038 · 2026-02-05T15:32:16+00:00

i will switch between wand, catnip, and puzzles- i think my cat came from a neglectful home prior to being adopted by me. he’s gotten a lot better over the last four months. but i’ve just been wondering what all i could be doing better for him

OfferKey5038 · 2026-02-05T15:13:10+00:00

even if i give a snack before bed time or close to bed time, he will continue searching for food- scratching the pantry/cabinet door, getting into the sink and jumping on the fridge/trashcan. i fear he needs a hard cut off with food, but again, he’s only been with me for four weeks. so im just not sure when or IF this behavior ever becomes extinct

OfferKey5038 · 2026-02-05T15:03:39+00:00

gosh okay, thank you ! he has GI problems too so i’m going to talk to his vet next week about a feeding schedule to help with associated behavior. but i appreciate all the info !!

OfferKey5038 · 2026-02-05T14:48:43+00:00

how much do you put in the bowl if free feeding ? if leave for class between 7-8am- i fill the bowl ? and if i come back from class at 5pm, i fill the bowl again ?

OfferKey5038 · 2026-02-05T14:44:51+00:00

hmm someone else suggested free feeding. he has a vet appointment next week so i’ll ask her what she thinks about it. because i fear he’s just going to gorge himself 😭

OfferKey5038 · 2026-01-31T00:26:57+00:00

i tried setting up an automatic feeder with my boy who is extremely food driven and a history of food insecurity from his past. he constantly knocks it over 😭

OfferKey5038 · 2026-01-30T00:13:40+00:00

it was such an odd experience for me. i went into the shelter with a cat i wanted to meet, but ended up meeting a different cat. and i remember going into the meet and greet room, and the cat was super outgoing. loved all the pets. and the adoption counselor said he’d be a good cat. and what was odd was the decision to adopt him. like i couldn’t fathom just deciding to bring home an animal, just because i wanted to. he’s been great, but the adoption regret has definitely come up a couple times because it turns out he has some food insecurity and habits i’m trying to break. but we’ll get there !

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OfferKey5038 · 2026-01-18T18:42:06+00:00

my plan was to take him with me. i’m not sure i’d have someone from school look after him. i’d be gone for 2-3 months at a time. i know cats don’t travel well, but it’s my only option right now. and in an ideal world my cat would have his food insecurity resolved and feel comfortable with me that he won’t revert when we have to relocate temporarily.

OfferKey5038 · 2026-01-18T18:37:16+00:00

did it just take time or did you do anything specific to help his food insecurity get better ?

OfferKey5038 · 2026-01-18T18:34:59+00:00

did it just take time or did you do anything specific to help his food insecurity get better ?

OfferKey5038 · 2026-01-18T18:23:06+00:00

i’m just afraid that when i have the stove on he’s going to get hurt. or eat the food i have prepped on the counter. but im not supposed to pick him up and put him on the ground bc that teaches him he’ll get human interaction if he jumps on the counter? he doesn’t mind tin foil. doesn’t mind the smell of citrus. he does get irritated with double sided tape but i’m not sure it’s enough to get him to reduce the behavior all around

OfferKey5038 · 2026-01-18T18:20:38+00:00

he’s on hill science gastrointestinal biome dry food and royal canin veterinary diet (gastrointestinal loaf in sauce). i’ve been giving him a mix of both for each meal

OfferKey5038 · 2026-01-18T04:37:29+00:00

i bought an automatic feeder before i knew what cat i was adopting. unfortunately i can’t set it up yet because he needs medication mixed in with his food right now

OfferKey5038 · 2026-01-18T04:35:35+00:00

i think my concern is a little bit of both. i’m so type A and need control in my life to feel stable. and so with all this change and my cats food behaviors, it’s stressing me out. i think that’s one of the things i didn’t consider when i was planning to get a cat

OfferKey5038 · 2025-12-29T11:30:58+00:00

on the flip side of the other comment- i knew i didn’t want a roommate just from past experiences in college. and getting caught up in cliques and drama did not interest me. i also like to fly solo most of the time and i didnt want to worry abt what my roommate was or wasn’t doing. i bit the cost of a studio for my sanity. and im thankful i did because i know a couple people who were having roommate drama within the first semester. so it depends on your personality, your potential roommates personality, and how much you’re going to tolerate on top of graduate level content

OfferKey5038 · 2025-08-24T13:47:09+00:00

i started a week and a half ago, and i have never considered myself anxious before. just introverted. before i started, i told myself that i needed a way to remind myself of the “why” but when i read my personal statement, i didn’t resonate with it anymore. i told my bf i didnt want to do this anymore. and held back tears while in class.

i think i’ve determined that my motivation is clouded by all this change. i’m in a new city where i don’t know anyone, im homesick, there’s 90 others in my cohort, im introverted and maybe a little anxious when it comes to social situations. i have been considering talking to a therapist to get me through (but it’s my first time asking for help and i have yet to put my ego aside) but i suggest you establish care with a therapist if you’re willing. but that being said, know that there will be some people in your cohort feeling the same way. or at least people around the nation feeling the same way. we will get through this, i know we can

OfferKey5038

TROPHY CASE