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My cat. My teacher. The reason FelisFold exists.
Lotus came home in June 2021, about two and a half months old. A veterinarian later described him as a Scottish Fold–Siamese mix, but his parents and pedigree are unknown.
Lotus — our why
Same curious eyes. Still completely himself.
Lotus at a glance
He loves safe sleeping spots, supervising meals and taking what he considers enormous trips just outside the apartment door.
How we met
My then-girlfriend and I were walking when she suggested looking inside a random pet shop. Many cats were meowing, but Lotus was quiet and frightened in his own cage.
She noticed him first and wanted to get him out of there. We took him home that day. I remember paying about $150 in total for Lotus, a carrier, food, litter supplies and a few basics.
He was already clean and vaccinated. We do not have pedigree records. Later, a veterinarian said he appeared to be a Scottish Fold–Siamese mix.
As a kitten, I remember Lotus running, jumping high, chasing things and exploring without obvious hesitation. The old photos support the story of that period; they do not prove that his joints were medically normal.
Only June 2021 is a firm date. The later stages use approximate ages and sequence because I do not want to invent dates I cannot verify.
From the beginning to today
Scroll through the chapters
June 2021
He was about two and a half months old. This is the one firm date in the early timeline.
It started with an unplanned stop at a pet shop. While other cats were meowing, Lotus was quiet and frightened in his own cage. My then-girlfriend noticed him first; we took him home that same day.
Kittenhood
I remember running, high jumps, chasing and exploring without obvious hesitation. That is an owner memory, not a joint assessment.
He chased things, explored and jumped high. I also remember him being more comfortable in my arms. Those memories matter to our story, but old photos cannot tell us whether his joints were medically normal.
Around age 2
His movement and tolerance of handling began to look different to me. The timing is approximate.
The changes became part of ordinary moments: pausing near an edge before jumping, finding jumping down harder, and allowing less handling of his paws and legs. I noticed them at home; they are observations rather than a pain score.
Around age 2
I remember veterinary imaging, but the type, date and report are not available. FelisFold does not turn that memory into a diagnosis.
I remember the vet showing me images where his limbs looked unusually shaped, almost zig-zagged. Without the original report, I cannot verify what the images showed or turn that recollection into a confirmed diagnosis.
Later
The exact date is not documented here. I did not notice a clear improvement in the movement concerns afterward.
A veterinarian had suggested neutering around age two and feeding the cats separately. We followed the neutering advice. The date remains unknown, and the absence of an obvious change to me does not tell us what caused his movement difficulties.
Later
Lotus seemed deeply affected by sharing his home and attention. A vet visit and more deliberate one-to-one attention followed.
His physical problems had already begun before Kinder arrived. I deliberately gave Lotus more one-to-one attention and took him to the vet. I do not remember the exact treatment, so that part of the record stays open.
With time
Lotus and Kinder became close. They rest together, play-fight and he still runs after her.
Sharing a home became something gentler. Their shared naps and playful chases are part of his life too. A playful moment is real, but it does not prove that nothing hurts.
Around age 3
Recurrent episodes became another concern to track separately from movement. The timing is approximate and the cause is not established.
There are still quieter periods. The food often looks relatively undigested, which is why I do not assume every episode is true vomiting rather than regurgitation. The pattern needs veterinary interpretation, not a guess from a photograph.
More recently
Smaller, more frequent meals and simpler food combinations appeared to help. That observation does not identify the cause.
Large portions and mixing different foods close together seemed harder for him. During a period of plain cooked chicken, I noticed much less vomiting. That experience is not a complete diet recommendation for another cat.
Today
He weighs about 3.2–3.3 kg. Movement varies, jumping down is harder and his tail seems partly stiff—yet he still runs, plays and grooms.
He still sleeps beside me while I work, finds quiet resting places, scratches, grooms and uses his litter box. Some days are harder than others. The curious cat I brought home is still here, and we are still learning together.
Our story is still being written.
Then → now
During kittenhood, movement problems were not obvious to me.
Every day is different, and jumping down is especially hard.
Life beyond symptoms
He hides in quiet places, sleeps beside me while I work, scratches, grooms, uses the litter box and still has bursts of energy. A difficult day does not erase the good ones—and a playful moment does not prove that nothing hurts.
Kinder is our black cat; Biscuit is the orange cat. Kinder joined after Lotus’s physical problems had begun. His behaviour changed noticeably and he seemed deeply affected by sharing his home and attention. I took him to the vet and deliberately gave him more attention. The exact treatment is not remembered. Over time, Lotus and Kinder became close; they play-fight and he still runs after her.
My care notebook
These are honest owner notes, not a treatment plan for another cat. Medical decisions and medicine doses belong with a veterinarian who has examined the individual cat.
Real moments
I chose a small set of photos that adds something different: family, grooming, eating, rest and personality. Videos will be added only when the real Lotus files are supplied, reviewed and captioned.
Why FelisFold exists
Lotus’s health questions pushed me to research more carefully. FelisFold keeps three things separate: what I observed, what veterinary evidence says, and what only a veterinarian can decide for an individual cat.
Other homes, other cats
A couple of stories from people making room for their cats. These are their experiences, with links to read them in full.
Marc-André & Iain · Katzenworld
Her people introduce Nubia as a noisy, determined member of the family. Their everyday account leaves room for her character alongside her disability.
Read their storyMary Tan & Kate Benjamin · Hauspanther
Mary and Kate made a foster room with places to play, rest and watch the window. It's an example of adapting a home around the cats who live there; Lotus would need easier routes than climbing kittens.
Read their story