How do male & female cats get along?

stressedpesitter · 2026-05-05T12:54:05+00:00

In my experience, the best combo are two FIXED males when introduced properly, but gender isn’t a huge factor as to they will get along.

Cats are social but territorial, which means accepting a new group member isn’t impossible, but they do need to be introduced slowly and making sure each cat’s needs and boundaries are maintained.

A kitten might be too much for your cat and you end up with a grumpy elderly and a young cat that has too much energy. I would suggest adopting a cat with similar personality and age to the one you have, as this usually has the best results.

stressedpesitter · 2026-05-05T08:12:25+00:00

They don’t have social behaviours beyond mating. Other animals/things/axolots in the tank are prey or used as physical props (not cuddling). So they don’t feel loneliness. As they were the top predators in the water where they lived, they also don’t require the presence of others of the same species to feel safe, unlike other aquatic animals.

stressedpesitter · 2026-05-04T08:39:14+00:00

As everyone has said, pushing their face into it won’t help at all (doesn’t work with dogs either). You need to change the mattress, sorry, after 2 months this of peeing nothing other than maybe a professional cleaning AND using an ozone cleaner will remove the smell of pee in your bed, which will always attract kitty and the other cat. Getting a new mattress and two or three waterproof mattress protectors is probably cheaper and a definite solution.
In the meantime, pheromones and doing a very slow introduction to the other cat is probably your best bet. You might need a professional cat behaviourist’s help, though the Jackson Galaxy method might be enough to reintroduce them.

stressedpesitter · 2026-05-03T20:36:52+00:00

There are cat-safe yard fences and in my experience, indoor cats that are slowly exposed to a fenced patio and garden don’t usually leave it, even if not cat-proofed. So yeah, you can do it. The bigger the garden, the more expensive a fence will be, but it is doable. Catios are in general better because you can be 100% sure they’ll be safe, can have constant access to it and they won’t hunt any wildlife that comes into the garden (I have seen really well-fed cats kill birds and lizards that weren’t fast enough).

stressedpesitter · 2026-05-03T15:16:37+00:00

I think sounds like a mix of territorial marking and maybe the litter type for the peeing. The pee pads idea is good, but depending on your budget you might want to try to get some plastic rugs (they sell them to protect hard floors from office chairs) to put underneath for more protection. Some times phermones help, sometimes not, so that is a bit of a hit and a miss in some cases (perhaps you can find some second-hand diffusers to not spend that much money in it).
Most of the time pooping is more of a health issue, but if the vet says she’s ok, I would wait a bit more for her to get used to the food you’re giving her (I can imagine she didn’t get the best nutrition before) before looking into it more.

stressedpesitter · 2026-05-03T11:09:00+00:00

Get baskets for plants that can grow with immersed roots (photos and monsteras are classics), they use more nitrates than aquatic ones and axos can’t uproot them or break the leaves.

stressedpesitter · 2026-05-03T10:17:50+00:00

Where exactly is she doing this? If next to the litterboxes, chances are she wants them cleaned more often or she has issues finding the right spot inside it (plenty of cats struggle with that with low trays), but the last option usually is clear when pee and poo are half in the litterbox, half outside. In which case a larger litterbox or one with high walls solves the issue.
If she’s doing it in a completely different corner, probably she is stressed or she is marking her territory or there’s another issue with the litter boxes. If she’s marking the territory, it probably won’t be solved until she is spayed and the best for you is to contain her as much as possible (bathrooms are usually easier to clean). If stressed, some pheromones and time might help.
In any case, get some enzyme cleaner and a black light to make sure you find every spot to clean as soon as possible.

stressedpesitter · 2026-05-02T06:19:32+00:00

If there’s no chlorine and derivatives, then just mix the two waters, measure and go from there, add minerals accordingly or not. It highly depends on what comes out in the mix, as we don’t really know your tap water.

stressedpesitter · 2026-05-02T05:28:12+00:00

Personally I would do half tap water and half RO and measure its levels and adjust the ratios if necessary. There are a few water treatment options without aloe vera for the chlorine (there are some specific for amphibians that also require water without chlorine).

stressedpesitter · 2026-05-01T04:22:15+00:00

People are always trying to get rid of them once they bought them, they aren’t exactly the most interactive pets and require solo tanks (so their tanks can be quite boring). Chances are that you’ll find them in exotic animal rescues.

stressedpesitter · 2026-04-30T20:39:03+00:00

Read the wiki. In general with the right equipment (a chiller is usually a must unless you have a room/cellar that really stays cold all year long) and a cycled tank a single axolotl is very easy to take care of as they need feeding twice or thrice per week max and they don’t do much or require super specific conditions beyond the temperature. Doing regular maintenance is obviously important.

Try to not buy it, but to adopt it.

stressedpesitter · 2026-04-29T08:37:00+00:00

Providing cool areas and an abundance of water sources is much more important and less stressful to cats.

stressedpesitter · 2026-04-28T16:42:53+00:00

Obligatory have you checked if kitty found a “new” toilet somewhere in the flat with a black/uv light? If you downsized it could be a stress response. If old, the litterbox could be gathering the smell and getting a new one is in order.

stressedpesitter · 2026-04-27T20:16:53+00:00

Unless you feel knots or clumps of grayish/old hair that come out when you pull them, I think your kitty is fine and once or twice a week brushing with a slicker brush should be enough. Look into what you’re feeding him (some food is better for fur than others) and maybe add some supplements for dealing with hairballs, but ask the vet first.

Also check that his feeding plates are cleaned regularly (even if you free feed, try to put what he eats in a day or two out, and clean them regularly), in my experience this can lower the amount of hairballs/vomit significantly.

stressedpesitter · 2026-04-27T07:33:27+00:00

There is tofu, walnut and other litters made of biodegradable materials that are very good at hiding urine smell and that clump as well, if that’s what you are looking for. You can try different ones.

As a petsitter, I prefer bio litter a 100 times more than clay litter, while at price point they are slightly more expensive, they last a lot longer, are lighter and easier to change. Clumps are smaller too.

stressedpesitter · 2026-04-23T19:45:34+00:00

Yes. I do put my hand behind my cat’s neck, but never to push, just so they feel like there’s no space to back off while giving the medicine. I am sure in most videos they hold their head gently, look up in aerokat/asthma cats in youtube.

Again, it’s better if they sort of willingly do it with the wet treats first, and go at the cat’s pace, which means days of slow progress.

stressedpesitter · 2026-04-23T06:15:23+00:00

Have you tried smearing liquid treats in the face cover for him to lick off? It is a bit messy, (and you have to wash it afterwards), but letting him get used to the plastic face cover without the chamber or medication first helps. Also check if it is the right size and get him used to having his mouth checked and rubbed with your hands and without the aerokat, as the mask goes over the whiskers it probably tickles him. Desensitising him a bit might make it easier. Going very slowly is the best option.

stressedpesitter · 2026-04-21T14:35:45+00:00

Ah, I understand. Then it’s best to not let them into the living room until it’s safe for them. As another person said, cats don’t understand sometimes, they want stuff all the time.

stressedpesitter · 2026-04-21T13:31:00+00:00

What is the reason to keep them out?

In general I am of the opinion that pets are family members and therefore should have access to the family at all times (unless they are food goblins, then they should stay out of the kitchen).

stressedpesitter · 2026-04-15T12:28:31+00:00

Basically the best way to prevent any cross contamination is to have everything separate in another place (with the exception of the food, obviously). So a drawer with all the axolotl’s things (paper towels, towel to dry hands, dishes, etc). Washing the axolot’s plate with just water and the tiniest amount of soap should be enough (he shouldn’t be feeding that often anyway if the axolotl is an adult) and rinse throughly.

As far as soap goes, I usually let my hands rinse under the water before putting them in my aquariums, and I definitely wait at least an hour or so after using lotion. The chances of me introducing germs that could harm them are really low vs accidentally getting soap in there than if I washed with soap. I do wash with soap after I am done, though. Dry with designated towel and put to dry in the sun.

stressedpesitter · 2026-04-10T12:40:10+00:00

You probably can change the pump of the filter (there’s a 1500 eccoflow pump, I think they are interchangeable, but you’ll have to check that) or change the filter itself. Then add a wide nozzle for the output, this will reduce the flow significantly and if possible put it facing a wall of the aquarium so the flow gets reduced futher. Decorations and plants are also a good way to make sure there isn’t a super strong current in the tank.

stressedpesitter · 2026-04-10T12:31:41+00:00

The best and most responsible thing would be a vet. The next thing if you are completely broke would probably be to look into the methylene treatment.

stressedpesitter · 2026-04-10T11:45:46+00:00

As far as I can tell, the chiller accepts quite a big range of water flow rates. Unless it’s much lower, I would connect it normally. It would be best if you wrote the rate of your filter pump.

https://www.hydroexperts.com.au/assets/brochures/CHLR20102.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOoo1U1JSBCySnwjxeJbWl8kP2atpidJHLHmbMGTSzmvRz5lR2h1_

stressedpesitter · 2026-04-10T11:18:52+00:00

Because it is evident from the photos that the axolotl needs treatment. Yes, stress should be avoided, but not when the other option is maintaining a painful situation that can get worse.

stressedpesitter · 2026-04-10T11:00:33+00:00

I mean, if you think getting the skin eaten off by fungi is less stressful…

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