diff --git a/public/src/admin/manage/category.js b/public/src/admin/manage/category.js
index b684942ad4..7887f197c9 100644
--- a/public/src/admin/manage/category.js
+++ b/public/src/admin/manage/category.js
@@ -107,17 +107,18 @@ define('admin/manage/category', [
 									});
 								}, 1000);
 
-								socket.emit('admin.categories.purge', ajaxify.data.category.cid, function (err) {
-									if (err) {
-										return app.alertError(err.message);
-									}
-
+								$.ajax({
+									url: config.relative_path + '/api/v1/categories/' + ajaxify.data.category.cid,
+									method: 'delete',
+								}).done(function () {
 									if (intervalId) {
 										clearInterval(intervalId);
 									}
 									modal.modal('hide');
 									app.alertSuccess('[[admin/manage/categories:alert.purge-success]]');
 									ajaxify.go('admin/manage/categories');
+								}).fail(function (ev) {
+									app.alertError(ev.responseJSON.status.message);
 								});
 
 								return false;
diff --git a/src/controllers/write/categories.js b/src/controllers/write/categories.js
index 02e28b5539..7643ec027b 100644
--- a/src/controllers/write/categories.js
+++ b/src/controllers/write/categories.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 'use strict';
 
 const categories = require('../../categories');
+const events = require('../../events');
 
 const helpers = require('../helpers');
 
@@ -20,3 +21,17 @@ Categories.update = async (req, res) => {
 	const categoryObjs = await categories.getCategories([req.params.cid]);
 	helpers.formatApiResponse(200, res, categoryObjs[0]);
 };
+
+Categories.delete = async (req, res) => {
+	const name = await categories.getCategoryField(req.params.cid, 'name');
+	await Categories.purge(req.params.cid, req.user.uid);
+	await events.log({
+		type: 'category-purge',
+		uid: req.user.uid,
+		ip: req.ip,
+		cid: req.params.cid,
+		name: name,
+	});
+
+	helpers.formatApiResponse(200, res);
+};
diff --git a/src/routes/write/categories.js b/src/routes/write/categories.js
index 6607d65daf..f07cf54b8e 100644
--- a/src/routes/write/categories.js
+++ b/src/routes/write/categories.js
@@ -10,16 +10,11 @@ const setupApiRoute = routeHelpers.setupApiRoute;
 module.exports = function () {
 	const middlewares = [middleware.authenticate];
 
-	setupApiRoute(router, '/', middleware, [...middlewares, middleware.checkRequired.bind(null, ['name'])], 'post', controllers.write.categories.create);
-	setupApiRoute(router, '/:cid', middleware, [...middlewares], 'put', controllers.write.categories.update);
-
-	// app.route('/:cid')
-	// 	.delete(apiMiddleware.requireUser, apiMiddleware.requireAdmin, apiMiddleware.validateCid, function(req, res) {
-	// 		Categories.purge(req.params.cid, req.user.uid, function(err) {
-	// 			return errorHandler.handle(err, res);
-	// 		});
-	// 	});
+	setupApiRoute(router, '/', middleware, [...middlewares, middleware.checkRequired.bind(null, ['name']), middleware.isAdmin], 'post', controllers.write.categories.create);
+	setupApiRoute(router, '/:cid', middleware, [...middlewares, middleware.isAdmin], 'put', controllers.write.categories.update);
+	setupApiRoute(router, '/:cid', middleware, [...middlewares, middleware.isAdmin], 'delete', controllers.write.categories.delete);
 
+	// Category disabled state is deprecated, so this route won't be ported over
 	// app.route('/:cid/state')
 	// 	.put(apiMiddleware.requireUser, apiMiddleware.requireAdmin, apiMiddleware.validateCid, function(req, res) {
 	// 		var payload = {};
diff --git a/src/socket.io/admin/categories.js b/src/socket.io/admin/categories.js
index 31bd2ae0bf..e73d4d14ae 100644
--- a/src/socket.io/admin/categories.js
+++ b/src/socket.io/admin/categories.js
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ Categories.getNames = async function () {
 };
 
 Categories.purge = async function (socket, cid) {
+	sockets.warnDeprecated(socket, 'DELETE /api/v1/categories/:cid');
+
 	const name = await categories.getCategoryField(cid, 'name');
 	await categories.purge(cid, socket.uid);
 	await events.log({