About my Charlie

@NJChicaa (123853)
United States
July 25, 2025 9:33am CST
He is a 6 year old orange tabby cat. I must have been out at the former usual hangout with a friend when the bartender asked me if I wanted a cat. Me--being me--couldn't say no. I already had a cat and a parrot here at the apartment so I couldn't technically have another pet. So of course I said yes. Charlie was 8 months old when I took him in. He was already neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, etc. He is a big boy. He isn't fat at all. I feed my cats a premium high-protein and grain-free food. He just has a big frame. He is an escape artist as if he gets tortured here. He is like a ninja. I have to always look to see where he is when I open up the door. Sometimes he just sits and sometimes he bolts out as if he is about to be killed. I'm on the 3rd floor so he bolts down to the bottom. He doesn't know where he is going but I'll tell you he gets there really fast. He just hides in the bushes. That's always fun to try to extract him from. I'm lucky he hasn't ventured into the parking lot or the woods thus far. Charlie is extremely friendly. He is always out and wanting to be pet by me and by visitors. He LOVES the cleaning lady. She is his girlfriend. He can always be counted on to greet visitors and is often obnoxious when he is wanting attention. I call him my "transgender cat" which MAGA bigots will think is some terrible thing. After like 2 years with me he blocked which means he had urinary crystals that wouldn't allow him to pee. He tried and tried and then I was like "here we go to the ER vet". They unblocked him and kept him on pain meds and fluids for 3 days. They discharged him without seeing if he could pee on his own. ($3000) Next morning. . . blocked. I had to take him to a different ER hospital and they said "he's blocked". I was like "no $hit". The vet said that it would keep happening so suggested a PU surgery (perineal urethtrostomy) which I agreed to. They removed his penis and basically gave him a vagina so he would have a larger opening for crystals to go through. That was another $3000. Charlie urinates inappropriately. When he first came here it was in the bathroom sink. It has gotten worse since his surgery. Half of the time he pees on the tile in the bathroom or by the door. I'd rather he does that than pee on carpet or my bed. I still have to keep up with cleaning the carpet. He is petrified of actual vacuums. I can run the Roomba all day long and he doesn't care but when the cleaning lady busts out the vacuum he is OUT. He will hide in a cabinet, under the comforter, on top of the laundry machine, etc. Charlie is funny because he doesn't want to be given treats. He wants to CHASE them! He won't just eat one he is given. You have to throw it down the hall. Nut. He isn't into human food. He is also a wimp. My other cat Adso is a bully and smaller than him but he submits to his crap. He could destroy Adso but doesn't. I come home to tufts of Charlie's fur everywhere. Not sure what his issue is. He's much larger than Adso. If something happens to me he will be the most difficult cat to rehome due to the peeing issues. But he is my $6000 cat so I hope that someone finds a good place for him.
9 people like this
7 responses
@FourWalls (77070)
• United States
25 Jul
He wouldn’t know what to do if he got away. He’s just torturing you. Like all cats do.
2 people like this
@NJChicaa (123853)
• United States
26 Jul
one time he got out and I had no clue. I opened up the door like an hour or 2 later to get a package and the jackass was sitting by the door. Hey at least he knows where he lives.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (100859)
• United States
26 Jul
He’s such a pretty cat, and he sounds like such a sweetheart. I didn’t know essentially changing his gender was an option for that problem, but thank goodness it was.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (100859)
• United States
26 Jul
@NJChicaa Oh, of course! When it comes to a fur baby you do whatever you have to.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (123853)
• United States
26 Jul
@AmbiePam You'd love him if you ever met him. He is the sweetest cat ever.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (123853)
• United States
26 Jul
I wasn't trying to change his gender but trying to save his life. He's still a male cat. He just doesn't have his junk any longer.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (164959)
• United States
26 Jul
I know that neutered cats have that problem sometimes. I never knew the solution was a surgery.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (123853)
• United States
26 Jul
It isn't uncommon in male cats--neutered or not. The surgery saved his life.
@RasmaSandra (87338)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
25 Jul
He is so beautiful I love orange cats, What would happen if you put a cat treat on the Roomba? Would Charlie chase it?
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (123853)
• United States
26 Jul
Nah Charlie wants me to throw it so he can chase/catch it. He and Adso are actually very good at catching things thrown toward them.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (359577)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul
So nice to hear about each of your cats. Charlie's peeing is a bit of an issue though.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (123853)
• United States
26 Jul
Yes it is. I'm glad he does it mostly on the tile.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (195872)
• United States
26 Jul
He is a gorgeous cat. I'm glad they were able to help him with his peeing issues.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (65385)
• Centralia, Washington
25 Jul
Charlie is a handsome guy. My Fred cat is on a "pee" prescription diet. My other guy, Beau Teak, neutered, yes, he gets mad at me, he wets the door or wall or whatever. None of my cats have gone the cheap route when it comes to medical bills.
1 person likes this