[Sunshinesworld]

I got my first cat in april. His name is sunshine. He's 6. I got my 2nd cat in november. His name is Boots. He's 9. I'm getting a 3rd cat next month. The max number of cats you can have in my city is 3 so I won't be able to get more. The problem is I'm obsessed with them. I'm on disability so I'm home all day. I don't go out. I missed Christmas. I quit my day program. All so I could spend more time with them. I have dresser drawers filled with cat treats, toys, cat vitamins, etc. It's depressing because they are the only thing that helps with my ptsd. It was so bad before I got sunshine. But when I got boots my obsession got much worse. That's when I started ordering tons of cat supplies off amazon. They're food costs me 100 a month for both of them. I buy expensive food even though I don't have the money. Every time they sneeze I worry they have a disease. I have read 4 books in the last month just on cats and cat care. Sunshine is sitting on my lap right now. It's so so depressing just thinking about it. What will I do when they die? These thoughts keep me awake at night. My hypomania made the obsession worse but that's gone now. My family is concerned. My therapist is concerned. My therapist believes I have OCD but I don't think so because my place is very messy and very cluttered. I just don't know what to do. The main reason I wanted to do the day program was because of this issue. But when I'm with them the ptsd, anxiety especially, and depression go away. When I'm away from them, the anxiety is terrible. I just don't know what to do.

[Sunshinesworld]

I should also add I wake up at night and feel anxious and wonder where they are, If they're okay, if they're drinking enough water, If they like me, If someone is going to break in and kill them. I need help.

[Sunshinesworld]

I'm only in my mid twenties and already a crazy cat person.

[Wild Coyote]

Hi!

It's great to have you posting!

You have mentioned that your anxiety gets worse when you are away from your cats. Might your pdoc/therapist help you to manage (treat) your anxiety so you are more comfortable (less anxiety) during time away from them?

Cats, if healthy, are pretty self-sufficient and do okay alone better than some animals, especially when you have more than one.

My sister has 7 cats! She works every day, goes out some evenings and even comes to visit me for a couple of days, 450 miles away from her home/cats. Her cats do just fine! They have excellent lives and are very well taken care of. Of course she cares about her cats and mentions them; yet, she can get time out of the house.

Maybe you can start by leaving the cats in small increments of time and eventually build up the amount of time you are away from them? Maybe start with 15 minutes, then 30 minutes, then 1 hour, etc.? I think you'd find the cats are doing just fine.

I am glad you have your cats and know they are very special to you.

I hope you can find a way to love your cats AND have a full life by having a more balanced life.

Best wishes to you and to your cats!

WC

[~Christina]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

Hi!


It's great to have you posting!


You have mentioned that your anxiety gets worse when you are away from your cats. Might your pdoc/therapist help you to manage (treat) your anxiety so you are more comfortable (less anxiety) during time away from them?


Cats, if healthy, are pretty self-sufficient and do okay alone better than some animals, especially when you have more than one.


My sister has 7 cats! She works every day, goes out some evenings and even comes to visit me for a couple of days, 450 miles away from her home/cats. Her cats do just fine! They have excellent lives and are very well taken care of. Of course she cares about her cats and mentions them; yet, she can get time out of the house.


Maybe you can start by leaving the cats in small increments of time and eventually build up the amount of time you are away from them? Maybe start with 15 minutes, then 30 minutes, then 1 hour, etc.? I think you'd find the cats are doing just fine.


I am glad you have your cats and know they are very special to you.


I hope you can find a way to love your cats AND have a full life by having a more balanced life.


Best wishes to you and to your cats!



WC

Originally Posted by Sunshinesworld

I should also add I wake up at night and feel anxious and wonder where they are, If they're okay, if they're drinking enough water, If they like me, If someone is going to break in and kill them. I need help.

that is not going to happen. I promise.
why would anyone want to break in to someone's house just so they could kill their cat. it's not even something you hear on the news

I know you're safe. you say you're home all the time anyway. just make sure the doors and windows are closed and you'll be fine. if it helps keep the cats at a close distance

as for when the cats die, well, I know it will be tough on you- but a cat lives for a long time. I'm sure that closer to the time, we can discuss something

OCD just being all about being super-neat is a popular misconception. It's not. (It's also thought to be related to hoarding behavior, so there ya go.) But it's mainly about thought processes and sometimes resulting behaviors.

[Sunshinesworld]

Thanks for the input. I needed to vent. I slept good without crazy obsessive thoughts last night.

[Gabyunbound]

I adore cats as well!!

What I hope for you is that you can love and enjoy them without feeling guilty or humiliated for doing so. They are helping enormously with your PTSD and anxiety --that's huge!!

One thing that has helped me so much is having found a cat sitter I trust and who loves my cat as well (I think most cat sitters would naturally at least really like cats). When I'm away, she sends me photos of my cat, and updates, which really helps. I hope you can find your way to getting one, so you can travel.

As far as your daily life, WC gives excellent advice (all around). I would also seek the advice of your T -I can't think of anything wise to suggest on this front.

Again, enjoy your furbabies, don't worry about them (they will be fine with a sitter if you go away) and enjoy their company fully and entirely without guilt. You are lucky to have such wonderful kitties to accompany you in your daily life. Enjoy their love and care.

[Sunshinesworld]

I do think I do have OCD. My therapist, family think I do. I probably do.

I'm another cat lover and have two

You are a wonderful pet "parent" but they will be fine for a few hours each day, myself I work so have to go out and leave my furbabies but they stay inside when I'm at work where I know they're safe

[Sunshinesworld]

I know I shouldn't worry about them so much but they are compulsive thoughts. I forgot my therapist apt today but I'm sure I can reschedule anytime this wk. I love all the cat lovers on this post!