My cat needs more than I can give and I don't know what to do

I've had my kitty skillet around last November and now he's about 11 months. He's always been a winy cat but it's gotten to the point where something needs to change. Over the past 4 months I've tried a lot from redirection, more interactive toys, auto feeder, having a screened in porch with everything he needs so he can chill. The porch works half the time but the other half he wines himself horse to come back in. The big issue is I've struggled with mental health for some time now and it's been an especially tough summer for me, that paired with my ADHD I can't motivate myself to play and give him as much attention as he needs. But cause of my mental health I really need my sleep and I didn't realize how bad it was till I went on vacation for a week and actually could get a full night's sleep. I'm now fully aware the the wining is simply because I can't give him the attention he needs and I wish so badly I could afford/ had the space to get him a sibling but right now I really don't think that's possible and that's only 50/50 on working anyway. I just wanna do what I need to do so he'll get his needs met even unfortunately if that means he can't live with me. I just feel extra guilty cause if I do need to do that I'd have to get another cat as I really need the emotional support ( I'd get a senior or adult not another teen). I get that he's going through his teen phase rn but idk how much more I can take. Im also planning on moving soon so I don't know if I should wait and see how he does in a new environment or not. I just feel like such a shitty mom. Sorry if this post is a lil jumbled I'm a lil scattered rn Edit: I know it's attention he needs cause he'll meow until I follow him. He also wants to be an outdoor cat but now and where I'm moving I'm close to the road. I try to take him on walks but it's the same deal as B4.

Posted Aug 13, 2026, 8:25 PM UTC

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