Hello there
Due to a growing number of cat crises and a surprising number of people who cannot read a sidebar, we’re now regularly posting this rules reminder. This is here to prevent both:
- repeat offenses, and
- the inevitable “I didn’t know!” mod mail we get after your post/comment disappears into the void.
If you're new (hi, welcome, pet your cat for us), or returning and rusty, please take a sec to read this. It’ll save you—and us—a lot of headache.
STRIKE POLICY: Break the rules once? We warn you. Break twice? Temp ban. 3 strikes is a perma-ban (unless you're a mega troll).
1. BE NICE
No, really. Be nice. You are talking to someone who is probably stressed, worried about their pet/a stray, and sleep-deprived. Reddit is not your venting space to shame people who are already anxious. Educate, don’t humiliate.
This includes a zero-tolerance policy for berating or shaming OPs. If you can't say it kindly, don't say it here.
In addition to this, know that we get posts from all over the world. Sometimes it's people who live in a village, 500km from any formal vet care. Often it's a minor who cannot make a unilateral decision for the cat in question. Be compassionate! Bullying them won't help the cat.
2. NO SOAPBOXING OR OFF-TOPIC DEBATE
(Definition of 'SOAPBOXING' here.) Yes, letting your cats outdoors isn't great for the environment. But this isn’t a debate club, and PLENTY of things harm the environment besides cats. People come here from all over the world, with different cultures around how cats are cared for. People come here about strays. No preaching!! Take your cat care bible elsewhere! Either give OP helpful advice about their issue or move along.
Don’t derail threads with politics, don’t pick fights across multiple comments, and definitely don’t start fights with the mod team. We don’t get paid enough.
3. VET FIRST, REDDIT SECOND
If your cat is injured, bleeding, gasping, or pooping blood—call a vet.
Reddit is great for guidance, second opinions, and shared experience. It is not a substitute for veterinary care.
If you haven't called a vet yet, our advice might be limited.
Can’t afford one? Look into:
• Payment plans or CareCredit
• Local rescues and shelters for assistance
• Low-cost clinics in your area
Still post if you need to—but know that our first advice will probably be: call your vet.
Additional note to commenters: no 'Vet. Now.' comments will be allowed without context. If you think they need immediate care, explain why. Otherwise it's just creating panic and those comments will be removed.
4. NO FUNDRAISERS
Sorry, but GoFundMes, Venmos, PayPals, and “please help save Coco” links are not allowed, even in comments. Too many scams, and too hard to moderate. Try subs like r/Assistance or r/GoFundMe instead.
5. NO BULLYING POOR PEOPLE
We get it. Vet care is expensive. It's frustrating to see cats suffering. But complaining about people who can’t afford a vet is not allowed. Full stop.
Suggest rehoming? Fine. But if you’re here to shame people for being broke, please find another sub.
If someone is struggling financially, ER visits are not really something they can just save up for, nor is it realistic to expect them to just get rid of their pets they have emotionally attachments to. All we can hope for is people really think long and hard about how a pet will fit into their finances before they decide to adopt or take in an animal from street. You simply can’t help them all, there are too many cats for that.
6. TAG YOUR GORE NSFW
Bloody wound? Surgery pics? Graphic medical stuff? Weird rash? GAPING FUCKING WOUND?! Mark it NSFW.
That includes genitalia (gender ID posts) and poop/vom. You know who you are.
7. ON-TOPIC POSTS ONLY
This is not r/aww or r/cats. This is r/CATHELP. We are here for:
- Requesting anecdotal experience with medical issues •
- Behavior issues
- General advice
- First-time cat owner questions (yes, 'noob' questions are welcome!)
That means:
- No “What should I name my cat?”
- No “Look at my cat in a hat!”
- No memes, no fluff.
Posts that don’t have a clear help-related question will be removed.
8. NO BREED QUESTIONS
Unless your cat came with pedigree paperwork from a breeder, they’re a domestic short/medium/long hair. That’s it.
We don't do breed speculation. Why? Because it’s almost always wrong, and it clogs up the sub.
Want to know more? Here's a guide to fur patterns, and here's a general answer to 'what breed is my cat'
9. NO SHITPOSTING, NO KARMA FARMING
If your post is clearly made up, AI-generated, or you’re just farming karma with a low-effort fake, we will yeet it. And probably you, too.
10. NO BRIGADING
If you don’t like someone’s post, do not go hunt them down on other subreddits to insult them. It’s petty, it’s bannable, and Reddit takes it seriously.
11. NO PET SALES OR BREEDING
We do not support the cat trade or backyard breeders. Period.
Don’t try to sell or give away pets here. Don’t ask about breeding. Don’t promote purebred aesthetics. Shelter cats are just as cute.
BONUS REMINDERS
• If your posts or comments are disappearing, check your karma. If it's low, Automod probably ate it. Message us for manual approval.
• If you see rule-breaking behavior, REPORT IT. Automod can’t catch everything.
• If you’re confused or unsure, check the [wiki] or send us a modmail.
• Read the stickied comment on your post. It’s there for a reason.
TL;DR: Help cats. Be nice. No scams. No BS. Read the rules.
Now go pet your cat. They probably knocked something off the counter while you were reading this.
