The First Scare — When We Realised How Fragile It All Is 🐾

A New Challenge We Didn’t Expect

After finally bringing Gogo home and helping him settle in, we thought the hardest part was behind us.

But very quickly, a new challenge emerged.

I have a long-standing sinusitis issue, and strong smells often trigger intense headaches. Between Gogo’s litter box and his wet food, the discomfort became difficult to manage — especially at night.

Like anyone trying to find a quick solution, we decided to use an automatic air freshener to neutralize the odor.

It felt like a simple fix.

Something that would help both of us coexist comfortably.

When Something Felt Off

We set it up that night.

But by the next morning, something didn’t feel right.

Gogo wasn’t as active as he had been the day before. He was quieter. Sleeping more.

At first, we tried to reason it out.

Maybe he was just tired from the move.
Maybe all the exploration had exhausted him.

But somewhere deep down, it didn’t sit right.

By evening, we knew.

Something was wrong.

The Rush to the Vet

We decided to take him to the vet immediately.

We didn’t even have a proper carrier yet, so we placed him in the same shoebox we had brought him home in.

What seemed simple… wasn’t.

He was scared.

Every honk, every sound, even our voices — everything startled him. He kept meowing, clearly uncomfortable and overwhelmed.

That car ride felt much longer than it actually was.

The Moment It Clicked

At the clinic, the doctor examined him and asked us a series of questions.

Had anything changed recently?
Was he exposed to any chemicals?
Cleaners, repellents, sprays?

And then it hit us.

The air freshener.

What we had introduced as a “solution” had actually become the problem.

A Hard Lesson

The doctor calmly explained that cats are extremely sensitive to many common household substances, including:

• Floor cleaners, phenyl, bleach
• Disinfectants
• Detergents and fabric softeners
• Insect sprays and repellents
• Essential oils like tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender
• Room sprays, diffusers, incense

What feels mild to us can be overwhelming — even harmful — for them.

The Guilt That Followed

That realization hit hard.

I couldn’t help but think…

This could have been avoided.

In trying to make things easier for myself, I had unknowingly made things difficult for him — at a time when he was already adjusting to a completely new world.

It felt like we had failed him.

But we also knew we couldn’t stay stuck in that feeling.

We had to act.

Taking Control

The doctor immediately started the treatment and he was put on an IV to help flush out the toxins, and for hours, we just sat there watching him. When it was finally done, he had a tiny bandage wrapped around his arm, leaving behind a faint yellow mark.

For days after, that little spot stayed with us — a quiet reminder of how much he had already gone through, and how strong and brave our tiny boy truly was.

We also decided to run a full check-up to ensure everything else was fine.

Thankfully, we had caught it in time.

What Changed After That Day

That incident changed the way we approached everything at home.

We made a few clear decisions:

• No chemical sprays or artificial fragrances inside the house
• Switched entirely to pet-friendly cleaning products
• Placed his litter box in a well-ventilated, separate space
• Became extra mindful about anything new we introduced into his environment

Even when moving homes later, we made sure:

• Pest control was done well in advance
• The house was thoroughly cleaned again before he entered

We weren’t taking any chances anymore.

Looking Back

That day was our first real scare as pet parents.

The moment we realized that love alone isn’t enough — awareness matters just as much.

And sometimes, the smallest decisions can have the biggest impact.

But This Was Just the Beginning…

As overwhelming as that experience was, it also made us more careful, more aware, and more responsible.

We were learning.

Slowly.

Imperfectly.

But with every step, becoming better for him.

Because raising Gogo wasn’t just about giving him a home.

It was about learning how to create a world where he could truly feel safe.

And that journey was far from over. 🐾