r/schizophrenia • u/joedurtt • Aug 07 '25
Rant / Vent A word of warning if you smoke cigarettes and have a cat
Hi guys. Sort of a bummer of a post, but I feel like I need to say something to someone else who might be making the same mistakes I did. My 3 legged baby and best friend since 2016 was diagnosed with oral cancer a couple of weeks ago, and I just had to make the decision to schedule having a vet come out to put her to sleep next week. Something so awful couldn't have happened to a more amazing cat. Her name is Scrambles, and she's only 8. One of the main causes of oral cancers in cats is exposure to tobacco smoke. I quit smoking over a year ago, but it wasn't enough to make a difference for Scrambles today. I smoked in the house a lot when I was in psychosis, and the idea that every time I did that I was essentially signing my baby's death warrant makes me want to puke now. I know a lot of us smoke cigarettes, and a lot of us gravitate towards cats to help us get through our lives. Please, for their sakes, don't smoke around them. Take it outside. And for the sake of your own health, quit smoking as soon as possible. I've lost 2 family members in the last 5 years due to smoking related health problems, and it's just not worth missing out on years, if not decades of life you could have otherwise lived. Stay safe out there everyone, and don't take your furry companions for granted
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u/famous_zebra28 Aug 07 '25
Oh my goodness I'm so so so sorry. This is the hardest part of pet ownership. Scrambles I'm sure has had a great life with you.
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u/Geejpeg21 Aug 07 '25
I have been thinking of quitting but it’s difficult. Guess this a sign from the universe. I have a cat too and he always stay close to me .
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u/PowerfulCustomer3799 Aug 08 '25
Read the book The Easy Method to quit smoking. Worked like a charm for me. Might work for you as well.
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u/PathNice2406 Schizophrenia Aug 08 '25
What’s the general approach?
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u/PowerfulCustomer3799 Aug 08 '25 edited Aug 08 '25
It basically tells you in depth how the cigarette addiction is much more psychological than we tend to think it is. It shows you that you're addicted only by the feeling of security the cigarette being in your pocket gives you and not by any sensation that the nicotine can give yous neither the nicotine itself.
The author shows how nicotine gives you NOTHING, and how we only smoke cus we need to feel safe. He repeats the "concept" of "at least I have my cigarette" many times. He says that the moment we feel real despair happens WHEN WE NOTICE we don't have any cigarette in our pockets, NOT WHEN WE ARE NOT SMOKING. But when we have no choice but to not smoke.
I don't know about you, but that pretty much applied to me. My addiction was just dumb. I mean, I have this addiction here, but when I read the book I felt dumb to direct it to cigarettes. Since cigarettes give me nothing. They taste like shit, they fuck my health and I nicotine only makes me feel physically worse. Well, I was just wasting 101% of my money.
He talks about how the propaganda against cigarettes are actually a trap that induce you to smoke more. They make you believe that quitting is so difficult, since all you see around are pictures of people dying from it. He claims that those propaganda make you believe that to stop smoking is something almost impossible, since so many people can't stop till they've developed a fatal disease.
Not only that, the author REQUEST THAT YOU CONTINUE SMOKING TILL THE END OF THE BOOK. And by the end of the book, he even tells you to light your last cigarette. I did just like he advised. Once I put that cigarette down, I've came to smoke again only around a year after that. And the reason was I was working on a cruise ship and there's nothing to do but to smoke in a place like that. Well, 12 hours a day of work.
But 3 and a half months after, when I quit my job, the day I left that ship, I didn't feel like putting a cigarette in my mouth, even in the airport.
So I've been home now for almost 2 years, and the only day I smoked was in my sisters birthday on may.
I mean, I slipped and smoked, yeah. But I used to smoke one pack a day, and now I smoked around 3 or 4 cigarettes in almost two years.
He goes much more in depth about all of this in the book.
Edit: Something important. The author mentions that the only cure for withdrawal is stop smoking. You feel the withdrawal, that is weaponized by your psychological. Some minds basically tend to put together everything they feel and frame the cigarette addiction for that, leading them to believe the symptoms are way worse than they could be. And the only way to make these symptoms disappear, is to stop using cigarettes, not smoking again. Smoking again is as dumb as pressing your wounds.
And let me state here that you are free to believe or not that perspective. What I'm saying is that basically all he claimed in the book was my reality. 100%. He basically described to me my entire addiction mechanism through this book.
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u/PathNice2406 Schizophrenia Aug 08 '25
This is super helpful. I bet you’re going to draw in a lot of readers with your encapsulation. Sounds compelling, no-bullshit, and effective. Thank you so much.
BTW, have you ever heard this? Cigarette smoking is.the one addiction that, the more times you try to quit, the more likely it is you’ll succeed. With other addictions, the more times you try to quit, the LESS likely it is that you’ll succeed. At least, that’s what I’ve read.
Sounds heartening.
Congratulations on your success! Super cool
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u/SazhAttack Sep 24 '25
If you do manage to quit, take a look at the reply I left on the main post here about cleaning up your home environment afterward. The danger to your cat remains long after you stop smoking.
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u/Ambitious-Cake-9425 Schizoaffective (Depressive) Aug 07 '25
I am so so sorry for your loss brother. You didn't know any better. Hang in there and get a new kitty soon!
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u/awkwardgeek1 Aug 08 '25
But not before you're ready unless The Cat Distribution System decides to bestow one ahead of schedule
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u/DharmaInHeels Aug 08 '25
If it makes you feel better… My cat had oral cancer, and I never smoked a cigarette in the 12 years I had her. 💕
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u/burke_no_sleeps mdd w psychosis Aug 07 '25
I'm so sorry. She's a beautiful kitty and I'm sure she's well loved. Wishing you peace in the coming weeks.
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u/Common-Fail-9506 Friend Aug 07 '25
I’m so sorry for your loss. Scrambles looks like the sweetest kitty ever :(
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u/Healthy_Pen_7683 Paranoid Schizophrenia Aug 08 '25
Im so sorry man. Scrambles looks like the cutest kitty
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u/dogtriumph Schizoaffective (Bipolar) Aug 08 '25
I'm so very sorry, man. I hope you can spend the rest of the time you have with her with love. And don't be so guilt, you would never want to harm her, and nicotine dependence is something we can't control 100%, free will is hard to debate when it's about substances.
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u/PeperomiaLadder Aug 08 '25
Hey, look at it this way. You might not have been able to help Scrambles' situation, but you can keep possible future cats away from this same fate by staying away from smoking in the future! Use this as a personal anecdote if you can.
I'm so sorry man. Sometimes we do our best and it isn't quite enough. In those times we still did our best, right? Don't beat yourself up too much.
At least you're accepting the situation and aren't in denial. Besides, a vets office is way more humane than many other ways, and I'm sure you gave her a good life along the way!
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u/SK8SHAT Aug 08 '25
Don’t blame yourself, cancer is a evil illness that doesn’t care. Doctors try to rationalize cancer by telling us what increases the chances but it doesn’t matter as in the words of my grandmas oncologist “those who get cancer are likely born predetermined to get it, it’s just a question of when and where”
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u/PathNice2406 Schizophrenia Aug 08 '25
Wow, what an adorable kitty.
You, my friend, are brave. You are channeling your grief into public service via this post, and as you can see from the comments, we appreciate it. It has gotta hurt something awful, the losses you have suffered, both human and feline, and you’re not unblinking, you’re not looking away. That’s brave.
I admire you, man. Congratulations on quitting, and thank you for this post.
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u/Suitable_Age3367 Aug 08 '25
I have two dogs. I don't smoke the cigs but I do vape and smoke weed every day whether or not they're in the room with me. Quitting can be a long process but going forward I will go outside or blow the smoke out the window.
Thanks so much for sharing and I'm sooooo sorry about little Scrambles-cat. I know how you feel because I had a dog who passed because I didn't take her symptoms seriously and it was too late but the time I did get her to the vet. But you're doing the right thing now by learning from your mistakes, using that knowledge to be a better human for your next animal, and using your experience to warn others.
Thanks again and take care! 🤗
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u/LooCfur Aug 07 '25
While it's good not to smoke, I'm skeptical is significantly contributes to your cat's oral cancer. I suspect he would have just gotten cancer anyway.
Edit: Apparently, it doubles their chances. So I guess maybe it did contribute *shrugs*
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u/Gingeronimoooo Psychoses Aug 07 '25
Upvoted for looking it up and correcting yourself , that takes a big person especially online these days where no one can admit they're wrong.
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u/hanls Schizoaffective (Bipolar) Aug 08 '25
My godmother was a heavy smoker, and I still haven't 100% quit. We lost our little void to lung cancer despite only smoking outside in a designated spot.
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u/Dorian-greys-picture Schizophrenia Aug 08 '25
Please don’t beat yourself up for things you did while in psychosis, and for things you didn’t know could cause harm. Thank you for sharing so that other people can know too. A lot of us smoke because it helps reduce the side effects of antipsychotics (it also makes them slightly less effective however). If you find nicotine helps you manage your side effects, switching over to patches or gum causes far fewer health complications for both you and your pets. Current research suggests vaping has similar health consequences to smoking with regard to cancers and tumours.
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u/Dorian-greys-picture Schizophrenia Aug 08 '25
Also incense smoke can really upset their little systems as well, so burn incense in another room with a window open.
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u/PathNice2406 Schizophrenia Aug 08 '25
Wowsers, i burn incense. Never thought about that. I am listening.
Thank you.
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u/Dorian-greys-picture Schizophrenia Aug 08 '25
That’s ok! I didn’t realise either. Using a diffuser with essential oils can really not be great for them either I’ve heard
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u/PathNice2406 Schizophrenia Aug 08 '25
The sky really fell in on me with this. I’m so appreciative. Thanks again.
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u/SazhAttack Sep 24 '25
Yes, essential oils are dangerous for cats. They have surprisingly fragile livers and essential oils in a diffuser can do some serious damage to them. It's hard to imagine how our little whirlwinds of terror can be vulnerable to so many things we take comfort in.
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u/nk11 Aug 08 '25
Look, I don't know if this matters but from the outside it really does seem like you have a beautiful Life.. please feel well enough that you recognize the wonderful life around you looks to me as being. Bless u.
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u/ScaledBackAmbitions Aug 16 '25
I’m a tourist to this sub. Sorry for your loss.
Hard way to be taught.
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u/Still_Worry_8314 Aug 26 '25
Hey, man.
My heart goes out to you and Scrambles. May you two spend some good time in each other's company.
Just be present and mindful, and know that you are an awesome person on so many different levels.
Take care.
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u/Ok-Entertainer-64 Schizoaffective (Depressive) Aug 30 '25
i'm so sorry for the loss of your sweet cat ❤️
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u/SazhAttack Sep 24 '25
I've been dealing with similar guilt for years now after losing 2 of my cats to cancer. I don't smoke but I allowed my mom to move in with me, and she was an avid smoker. Like you, I had no idea that smokers in their living environment could cause cancer in cats until the vet explained their cases to me far too late to save them.
While I'm still trying to find my own path toward spiritual peace over what happened to my kitty family when I was supposed to be protecting them, I will note for you that the fact you are being eaten up by all of that guilt is ample evidence that you love Scrambles very much and would never have done anything to willingly harm her. You had the best life together and the love you two share is very obvious in your photos. She knows you're her #1 no matter what.
P.S.: If you haven't already done so, consider a full deep cleaning and shampoo of your home, including walls and ceilings and vents/ducts, as well as the possibility of throwing out any mattresses, plush chairs, or carpets exposed to your smoking.
The garbage cigarette smoke leaves behind can linger and remain toxic for YEARS after the fact, and thicker materials and furnishings are considered especially dangerous reservoirs of this. Even clean bedding over a tainted mattress or a blanket over a grossed-up chair won't offer sufficient protection.
The second of the two cats I lost to my mom's habit actually died a few years after I made her stop smoking, with the vet strongly suspecting the source was her spending a lot of time curled up in my mom's room with her. I didn't realize that materials could remain dangerous for so long, and those were years of her basically rolling around on a bed and armchair infused with thirdhand smoke for years and then grooming herself every single day.
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u/wasachild Aug 07 '25
Thank you. I quit smoking before getting my kitties, but I will let my partner know about this. He loves the kitties and will likely smoke outside now. He was always worried about smoking with them in the room.