php loop error for count posts in category

I have multiple categories on my wordpress page and each of the categories has 1 to n subcategories. If a subcategory contains only 1 single post I would love to display an excerpt of this post, otherwise I’ll display a description of the category.

I already have the part with the “normal” categories, but there is kind of a stupid mistake regarding the “single post categories”. This is what I have so far:

<?php                   
  $args = array(
     'orderby' => 'slug',
     'child_of' => $cat_id,
  );

  $categories = get_categories( $args ); 


  foreach ( $categories as $category ) {
                            
      $cat_count = get_category($category->cat_ID);
        
      if($cat_count->count == 1) { ?>
           <!-- Cat has only one post, display post -->
      <?php } else {
           <!-- Cat has multiple posts, display cat description -->  
      }
  }
?>

Result of this is: I am getting the normal categories (fine!) but the first of the “single post categories” multiple times. Something might be wrong with my loop, but I don’t see it. Does someone see the mistake?

PS: yes, I am an absolute WP beginner…. 🙁

Answers:

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Method 1

I have a working solution now… finally!

<?php                   
     foreach ( $categories as $category ) {
                                
         // If there is only one post available, go directly to the post
         if($category->count == 1) {

            $all_posts = get_posts($category);
            echo '<div class="item"><h4 class="item-title">' . get_the_title($all_posts[0]->ID) . '</h4><a href="' . get_permalink($all_posts[0]->ID) . '">Read more</a></div>';

         } else {

            echo '<div class="item"><h4 class="item-title">' . $category->name . '</h4><a href="' . get_category_link( $category->term_id ) . '">Read more</a></div>';
         }
     }
?>

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