Ep. 94 - The Days I Don't Feel Like a Good Cat Mom 🐾🐱

Ep. 94 - The Days I Don't Feel Like a Good Cat Mom 🐾🐱

Some days, being a cat mom feels easy. Other days, migraines, stress, overwhelm, anxiety, or frustration can make even simple tasks feel difficult. On those days, I sometimes catch myself wondering if I'm doing enough for my cats. In this episode of the Diary of a Cat Mom podcast [https://diaryofacatmom.com/], I share what my cats have taught me during my hardest days, how they become my mirror when I'm stressed, and why they remind me that being present matters more than being perfect. Sometimes the lessons our cats teach us aren't about them at all. They're about learning to be kinder to ourselves. What You'll Learn in this Cat Podcast Episode * Why difficult days can make us question ourselves as cat parents * How cats notice changes in our emotions and behavior * Why cats often stay close when we're not feeling well * How our cats can become a mirror for our own stress * Why being a present cat parent matters more than being a perfect one * The lesson of self-compassion my cats continue to teach me Timestamps & Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:15 The Days I Question Myself as a Cat Mom 00:53 When My Cats Know Something Is Wrong 01:43 My Cats Become My Mirror 02:27 Why My Cats Don't Need a Perfect Mom 03:01 The Lesson of Self-Compassion 03:28 Final Thoughts This is where I’ve gathered everything that supports me and my cats: https://diaryofacatmom.com/cat-care-resources/ [https://diaryofacatmom.com/cat-care-resources/] About the Diary of a Cat Mom Podcast Diary of a Cat Mom [https://diaryofacatmom.com/] is a quiet, personal cat podcast created by Dagmar Gatell [https://diaryofacatmom.com/about-the-host/], sharing real moments, emotions, and experiences from life with cats [https://diaryofacatmom.com/about/]. This space is meant for connection, comfort, and companionship. Everything shared comes from lived experience as a cat mom and is not intended as professional veterinary advice. Every cat is unique, and for health concerns, it’s always best to consult your trusted veterinarian. Most of all, please remember:  You’re not alone on this journey. We’re learning, loving, and growing together — one paw print at a time.

Ep. 93 - Pet Blood Work for Cats – Can Blood Tests Be Made More Affordable? 🐱❤️

When my cat Snow White started losing weight and having urinary issues, I expected a simple vet visit. Instead, I was faced with hundreds of dollars in senior blood work and thyroid testing. At the time, all I saw was the additional expense. Looking back, that blood work changed Snow White's life. In this episode of the Diary of a Cat Mom podcast [https://diaryofacatmom.com/], I share Snow White's hyperthyroidism diagnosis, how her ear thyroid medication transformed her quality of life, and explore options that may help make blood testing more affordable for cat parents. What You'll Learn in this Cat Podcast Episode * Why blood work helped identify Snow White's hyperthyroidism * Typical costs of senior cat blood tests * How cat insurance works * The pros and cons of pet insurance * Alternative ways to manage veterinary costs * Why diagnostic testing can be life-changing for cats Chapters & Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:46 Snow White's Blood Work Journey 02:16 The Cost of Pet Blood Tests 03:15 Understanding Cat Insurance 04:52 Alternative Ways to Afford Blood Work 06:06 Looking Back at Snow White's Diagnosis 06:43 Final Thoughts This is where I’ve gathered everything that supports me and my cats: https://diaryofacatmom.com/cat-care-resources/ [https://diaryofacatmom.com/cat-care-resources/] About the Diary of a Cat Mom Podcast Diary of a Cat Mom [https://diaryofacatmom.com/] is a quiet, personal cat podcast created by Dagmar Gatell [https://diaryofacatmom.com/about-the-host/], sharing real moments, emotions, and experiences from life with cats [https://diaryofacatmom.com/about/]. This space is meant for connection, comfort, and companionship. Everything shared comes from lived experience as a cat mom and is not intended as professional veterinary advice. Every cat is unique, and for health concerns, it’s always best to consult your trusted veterinarian. Most of all, please remember:  You’re not alone on this journey. We’re learning, loving, and growing together — one paw print at a time.

Ep. 92 - Fake AI Dog & Cat Rescue Stories Take Away Opportunities from Real Rescues 🐾💔

AI can create beautiful things, but what happens when it creates animal rescue stories that never actually happened? In this episode of the Diary of a Cat Mom podcast [https://diaryofacatmom.com/], I share my thoughts on the growing number of AI-generated dog and cat rescue videos online and why they concern me. While these stories can be emotional and inspiring, they may also pull attention away from real shelters, rescuers, and animals who genuinely need our support. I talk about some of the signs I look for when watching rescue content and why asking a few simple questions can help us make more informed decisions about where we invest our attention, shares, and donations. What You'll Learn in this Cat Podcast Episode * Why AI rescue stories can be difficult to identify * Common signs that a rescue story may not be real * Why real rescue work is often messy and imperfect * How fake rescue content can impact real animal organizations * Questions to ask before supporting a rescue channel Timestamps & Chapters 00:00 Fake AI Dog & Cat Rescue Stories 00:35 Why We Love Rescue Content 01:15 When AI Stories Look Too Perfect 02:08 Questions I Ask When Watching Rescue Videos 03:07 How Fake Rescue Content Affects Real Animals 03:52 Support Real Rescues This is where I’ve gathered everything that supports me and my cats: https://diaryofacatmom.com/cat-care-resources/ [https://diaryofacatmom.com/cat-care-resources/] About the Diary of a Cat Mom Podcast Diary of a Cat Mom [https://diaryofacatmom.com/] is a quiet, personal cat podcast created by Dagmar Gatell [https://diaryofacatmom.com/about-the-host/], sharing real moments, emotions, and experiences from life with cats [https://diaryofacatmom.com/about/]. This space is meant for connection, comfort, and companionship. Everything shared comes from lived experience as a cat mom and is not intended as professional veterinary advice. Every cat is unique, and for health concerns, it’s always best to consult your trusted veterinarian. Most of all, please remember:  You’re not alone on this journey. We’re learning, loving, and growing together — one paw print at a time.

Ep. 91 - My Cat Doesn't Want to Be Touched ❤️🐾

Lilly was a feral kitten who didn't trust humans and wanted nothing to do with being touched. Every attempt to pet, brush, or care for her was met with hissing and swatting. In this podcast episode of Diary of a Cat Mom [https://diaryofacatmom.com/], I share Lilly's journey from a frightened feral kitten to a cat who finally felt safe, and the lesson she taught me about trust, patience, and not taking a cat's fear personally. What You'll Learn in this Cat Podcast * Why some cats don't like being touched * How fear can look like rejection * The challenges of socializing a feral cat * Why trust doesn't always look like cuddles * How patience helped Lilly become part of a multi-cat family Timestamps & Chapters 00:00 - My Cat Doesn't Want to Be Touched 00:31 - Lilly's Life in the Cat Community 01:49 - The Tree Rescue 02:50 - Bringing Lilly Inside 03:35 - Why Touch Felt Unsafe 04:47 - Learning to Socialize a Fearful Cat 05:42 - The Vet Visit That Changed Everything 06:18 - What Trust Really Looks Like 07:08 - Episode End This is where I’ve gathered everything that supports me and my cats: https://diaryofacatmom.com/cat-care-resources/ [https://diaryofacatmom.com/cat-care-resources/] About the Diary of a Cat Mom Podcast Diary of a Cat Mom [https://diaryofacatmom.com/] is a quiet, personal cat podcast created by Dagmar Gatell [https://diaryofacatmom.com/about-the-host/], sharing real moments, emotions, and experiences from life with cats [https://diaryofacatmom.com/about/]. This space is meant for connection, comfort, and companionship. Everything shared comes from lived experience as a cat mom and is not intended as professional veterinary advice. Every cat is unique, and for health concerns, it’s always best to consult your trusted veterinarian. Most of all, please remember:  You’re not alone on this journey. We’re learning, loving, and growing together — one paw print at a time.

Ep. 90 - Could a Humanoid Robot Help Cat Moms One Day? 🤖🐾

What if one day a humanoid robot could help cat moms with the physical side of caregiving? In this Diary of a Cat Mom podcast [https://diaryofacatmom.com/] episode, I share my vision for "Helga," my future humanoid robot helper. From carrying heavy litter bags and cat food to helping on migraine days when even basic tasks feel overwhelming, I explore how technology could support caregivers without replacing the love that makes caregiving special. I also reflect on another form of support that's already arriving: AI digital clones that can help creators continue sharing their stories during difficult times. Because maybe the future isn't about replacing humans. Maybe it's about helping them keep doing what they love. What You'll Learn in this Cat Podcast Episode * Why I named my future humanoid robot helper Helga * The physical challenges of caring for multiple cats * How migraines can affect pet caregiving * Why support matters more than replacement * How AI digital clones could help content creators * My vision for technology that assists caregivers Timestamps & Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:18 Meet Helga, my future humanoid robot helper 00:57 The reality of multi-cat caregiving 01:49 Migraines and caring for cats 02:33 Why I started imagining Helga 03:05 What I really want isn't replacement 03:38 AI digital clones and podcasting 04:32 Technology supporting caregivers 05:10 Closing thoughts This is where I’ve gathered everything that supports me and my cats: https://diaryofacatmom.com/cat-care-resources/ [https://diaryofacatmom.com/cat-care-resources/] About the Diary of a Cat Mom Podcast Diary of a Cat Mom [https://diaryofacatmom.com/] is a quiet, personal cat podcast created by Dagmar Gatell [https://diaryofacatmom.com/about-the-host/], sharing real moments, emotions, and experiences from life with cats [https://diaryofacatmom.com/about/]. This space is meant for connection, comfort, and companionship. Everything shared comes from lived experience as a cat mom and is not intended as professional veterinary advice. Every cat is unique, and for health concerns, it’s always best to consult your trusted veterinarian. Most of all, please remember:  You’re not alone on this journey. We’re learning, loving, and growing together — one paw print at a time.