diff --git a/app/models/item.rb b/app/models/item.rb
index 5b00957395..2c861539e7 100644
--- a/app/models/item.rb
+++ b/app/models/item.rb
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 #  active                       :boolean          default(TRUE)
 #  additional_info              :text
 #  barcode_count                :integer
-#  category                     :string
 #  distribution_quantity        :integer
 #  name                         :string
 #  on_hand_minimum_quantity     :integer          default(0), not null
diff --git a/db/migrate/20250504183911_remove_short_name_from_organizations.rb b/db/migrate/20250504183911_remove_short_name_from_organizations.rb
index 9f318c86c1..3e6eef37ec 100644
--- a/db/migrate/20250504183911_remove_short_name_from_organizations.rb
+++ b/db/migrate/20250504183911_remove_short_name_from_organizations.rb
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 class RemoveShortNameFromOrganizations < ActiveRecord::Migration[8.0]
   def up
     safety_assured do
-      remove_index :organizations, :short_name
-      remove_column :organizations, :short_name
+      if index_exists?(:organizations, :short_name)
+        remove_index :organizations, :short_name
+      end
+      if column_exists?(:organizations, :short_name)
+        remove_column :organizations, :short_name
+      end
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/db/migrate/20250523203808_remove_item_category.rb b/db/migrate/20250523203808_remove_item_category.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..91d8d08acb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20250523203808_remove_item_category.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+class RemoveItemCategory < ActiveRecord::Migration[8.0]
+  def up
+    safety_assured do
+      remove_column :items, :category
+    end
+  end
+
+  def down
+    add_column :items, :category, :string
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/schema.rb b/db/schema.rb
index 25c73f88a0..a705db4f8c 100644
--- a/db/schema.rb
+++ b/db/schema.rb
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 #
 # It's strongly recommended that you check this file into your version control system.
 
-ActiveRecord::Schema[8.0].define(version: 2025_05_04_183911) do
+ActiveRecord::Schema[8.0].define(version: 2025_05_23_203808) do
   # These are extensions that must be enabled in order to support this database
   enable_extension "pg_catalog.plpgsql"
 
@@ -392,7 +392,6 @@
 
   create_table "items", id: :serial, force: :cascade do |t|
     t.string "name"
-    t.string "category"
     t.datetime "created_at", precision: nil, null: false
     t.datetime "updated_at", precision: nil, null: false
     t.integer "barcode_count"
diff --git a/spec/factories/items.rb b/spec/factories/items.rb
index b818932dc1..c482c11215 100644
--- a/spec/factories/items.rb
+++ b/spec/factories/items.rb
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 #  active                       :boolean          default(TRUE)
 #  additional_info              :text
 #  barcode_count                :integer
-#  category                     :string
 #  distribution_quantity        :integer
 #  name                         :string
 #  on_hand_minimum_quantity     :integer          default(0), not null
diff --git a/spec/models/item_spec.rb b/spec/models/item_spec.rb
index 3b30640114..e7120c32cd 100644
--- a/spec/models/item_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/item_spec.rb
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 #  active                       :boolean          default(TRUE)
 #  additional_info              :text
 #  barcode_count                :integer
-#  category                     :string
 #  distribution_quantity        :integer
 #  name                         :string
 #  on_hand_minimum_quantity     :integer          default(0), not null
diff --git a/spec/requests/items_requests_spec.rb b/spec/requests/items_requests_spec.rb
index 832ebcb836..a3cc49ae14 100644
--- a/spec/requests/items_requests_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/requests/items_requests_spec.rb
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@
         it { is_expected.to be_successful }
 
         it "highlights total quantity if it is below minimum quantity" do
-          item_pullups = create(:item, name: "the most wonderful magical pullups that truly potty train", category: "Magic Toddlers", on_hand_minimum_quantity: 100)
-          item_tampons = create(:item, name: "blackbeard's rugged tampons", category: "Menstrual Products", on_hand_minimum_quantity: 100)
+          item_pullups = create(:item, name: "the most wonderful magical pullups that truly potty train", on_hand_minimum_quantity: 100)
+          item_tampons = create(:item, name: "blackbeard's rugged tampons", on_hand_minimum_quantity: 100)
           storage_name = "the poop catcher warehouse"
           num_pullups_in_donation = 666
           num_pullups_second_donation = 15
diff --git a/spec/system/item_system_spec.rb b/spec/system/item_system_spec.rb
index 0bb156b191..552b68a110 100644
--- a/spec/system/item_system_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/system/item_system_spec.rb
@@ -112,8 +112,8 @@
   end
 
   describe "Item Table Tabs >" do
-    let(:item_pullups) { create(:item, name: "the most wonderful magical pullups that truly potty train", category: "Magic Toddlers") }
-    let(:item_tampons) { create(:item, name: "blackbeard's rugged tampons", category: "Menstrual Products") }
+    let(:item_pullups) { create(:item, name: "the most wonderful magical pullups that truly potty train") }
+    let(:item_tampons) { create(:item, name: "blackbeard's rugged tampons") }
     let(:storage_name) { "the poop catcher warehouse" }
     let(:storage) { create(:storage_location, :with_items, item: item_pullups, item_quantity: num_pullups_in_donation, name: storage_name) }
     let!(:aux_storage) { create(:storage_location, :with_items, item: item_pullups, item_quantity: num_pullups_second_donation, name: "a secret secondary location") }