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  1. stephanie42

    End of life care: help with signs

    I'm going to call Piglet's vet when they open. If they can't see her today, I'll likely head to the local animal hospital. Piglet's left eye is still weepy and that odd color. She yowled me awake at 6:15am and ate her kibble, so that's good. Piglet has almost always had her appetite - the only...
  2. stephanie42

    End of life care: help with signs

    Piglet is 16.5, chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, FORL. Also feline herpes that causes her eyes to weep, the left much more than the right (this has been going on since she was around a year old and has gotten better/worse multiple times). We suspect Piglet lost almost (if not...
  3. stephanie42

    Insight on dental issues

    I know there has already been a lot of information shared, but I wanted to share my experience too. The three cats I currently have are 16.5, 15, and 10. Only the 16.5 year old, Piglet, has had any dental stuff. Around 9 years old, Piglet seemed to lose interest in eating and I started poking at...
  4. stephanie42

    Kidney disease diet

    My 16.5 year old Piglet has had chronic kidney disease for about 6 years, congestive heart failure for 4. She is my second cat with chronic kidney disease. Tanya's CKD is the bible for kidney cats. Read as much as you can on her site, it will really help you understand some things. I recommend...
  5. stephanie42

    Ckf Cat With Other Health Issues - How Much Is Too Much?

    I'll try to make the background short: Piglet will be 14 this September. She was diagnosed with CKF about five years ago, FORL about four years ago (has had all teeth except the tiny front ones removed), early congestive heard failure, very mild asthma, and feline herpes. Whew. Piglet's kidney...
  6. stephanie42

    Kidney Cat With Aggression Issues

    Piglet is my CKF/FORL cat. She'll be 12 next month. Over the last year, Piglet's kidney numbers have been stable (I've been very careful with her diet). Last summer she had most of the rest of her teeth extracted - she only has the teensy tiny ones in the front left, everything from canines back...
  7. stephanie42

    Worried... tooth/small mass in mouth

    When my Piglet had her four canine teeth extracted (FORL) she was on bupe. When she first came home she had a voracious appetite! I don't know if it was the anesthesia, bupe, or because her mouth was less painful without the teeth. For the first few days, I just fed Piglet whenever she wanted...
  8. stephanie42

    freaking out - CKF kitty with cardiac issue and FORL

    piglet has early/mild heart disease; the veterinarian says that she has no limitations or anything. her kidneys will have to be carefully managed during any potential surgery. the vet still wants to take her teeth from the canines back out. my husband and i are now considering our options. i...
  9. stephanie42

    freaking out - CKF kitty with cardiac issue and FORL

    well piglet had her echocardiogram this morning but we still haven't heard back from the doctor. i'm wondering if i should call him or just keep waiting. piglet smells funny from all the goop on her chest and one of my other cats won't stop hissing at her. i tried to wipe her down with...
  10. stephanie42

    freaking out - CKF kitty with cardiac issue and FORL

    we discovered piglet was in mid-stage kidney failure about a year and a half ago - she needed dental work done and her blood work showed horrible kidney levels. during a consult for dental surgery, it was discovered she had feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions and all four canines needed to...
  11. stephanie42

    piglet peed on the kitchen table....

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  12. stephanie42

    piglet peed on the kitchen table....

    we're still working on the new puppy and the cats being friends. it's a slow process.  i'm very protective of piglet, my CKF cat, because she's my oldest and the sickest cat. when the puppy, ali, chases piglet, piglet runs and of course ali thinks she's playing. tonight piglet jumped off the...
  13. stephanie42

    Any less expensive grinders for cooked meat? Or raw boneless meat that would be cooked after? Like t

    second vote for kitchen aid stand mixer attachment, of course you have to have a stand mixer for it to work. i got mine for about $50 and use it to grind partially cooked/mostly raw chicken thighs. if you're cooking the meat and have a trusted local butcher, you could always purchase some...
  14. stephanie42

    stella & chewy's on backorder everywhere

    since s&c has been back in stock places, i've noticed the little nuggets are a bit different than the used to be in shape and texture. i feel like they rehydrate a bit faster. my cats don't seem to enjoy it any less. i've fed the chick chick chicken, duck duck goose, and tummy ticklin' turkey...
  15. stephanie42

    I thought raw was supposed to be cheaper than canned?

    i was eating mainly vegetarian when i decided to start making my cats' food.  it wasn't fun but once i got the system down and realized how much money i was saving feeding my three beasties, it was a lot better.  i feed about 50/50 homemade partially cooked and commercial freeze dried raw.
  16. stephanie42

    advice for feeding 3 cats, trying to find good dry kibble to balance with wet

    i transitioned my three former free-feeders to raw pretty easily.  i started by feeding kibble only before bedtime, and we fed high quality canned food in the morning and at dinner.  of course they're starving in the morning so they ate the wet food.  we kept feeding kibble for the convenience...
  17. stephanie42

    Homemade Diets -- meats question

    i think it's great that you're considering your cats' diets even though you're a vegan.  cats are obligate carnivores and they require meat for health.  i think the recipe you linked to is a great starting point.  do you have a grinder that you'll be grinding all of your own meat/bones?  ...
  18. stephanie42

    question about meowing

    melody is beautiful :) i think you've gotten some great ideas.  i, too, refuse to get up before a certain time because i won't let the cats (or puppy) dictate when i get up.  it sounds like melody may just be lonely and want some time with you.  i think i'd try some of the interactive toy ideas...
  19. stephanie42

    How much does raw food cost?

    i buy stewart freeze dried liver treats and send them through the grinder with the chicken.  i supplement with taurine and do not feed other organs because i don't have good sources for them AND hearts make my samantha vomit.  i also feed freeze dried commercial raw for about 25% of their diet -...
  20. stephanie42

    How much does raw food cost?

    i have three cats.  switching from feeding high-quality, grain free canned food to home cooked food saves me a significant amount of money.  i spent about $40 to get all of the supplements, which all last for numerous batches of food.  weekly i spend about $12-17 on chicken, depending on sale...
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