Introducing Betty White

daftcat75

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Last night went better with respect to the pace of eating. I think we just had a miserably warm night the night before. I have also started transitioning her overnight meal to Mouser. I look forward to both sparing that overnight can of I/D which I end up dumping half of it, as well as possibly getting some sleep back. I plan to reduce the amount of I/D that I plate while simultaneously increasing her feeder portion (or portions spread across two feeders) until she's eating enough of the Mouser on the overnight to eliminate that odd can out overnight portion of I/D. I call it the odd can out because breakfast and lunch are one can and both dinners are the second can. So this odd can, I remove a portion and dump the rest. 🤦‍♂️ If I can spare this can, my I/D should last 50% longer. I won't have to buy a case a week just to keep up. Lately I've been buying a couple of cases a week to build my stash. I will have to start buying cases of Mouser. I took a trip to one of the local stores and they carry Mouser in the rabbit and mouse flavor. It's just about time for lunch. She will get a slightly smaller lunch as I will keep giving her an afternoon Mouser portion that she's probably come to look forward to (since she's terrible at pacing her daytime portion now with the steroids.) She's pushing 200 calories a day this week. I don't care what the specialist says. I think she can use just a little more padding on her bones. Her shoulders and hips/thighs should not be so concave. We'll see what the scale says about this level of calorie input on Sunday.
 

tarasgirl06

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Last night went better with respect to the pace of eating. I think we just had a miserably warm night the night before. I have also started transitioning her overnight meal to Mouser. I look forward to both sparing that overnight can of I/D which I end up dumping half of it, as well as possibly getting some sleep back. I plan to reduce the amount of I/D that I plate while simultaneously increasing her feeder portion (or portions spread across two feeders) until she's eating enough of the Mouser on the overnight to eliminate that odd can out overnight portion of I/D. I call it the odd can out because breakfast and lunch are one can and both dinners are the second can. So this odd can, I remove a portion and dump the rest. 🤦‍♂️ If I can spare this can, my I/D should last 50% longer. I won't have to buy a case a week just to keep up. Lately I've been buying a couple of cases a week to build my stash. I will have to start buying cases of Mouser. I took a trip to one of the local stores and they carry Mouser in the rabbit and mouse flavor. It's just about time for lunch. She will get a slightly smaller lunch as I will keep giving her an afternoon Mouser portion that she's probably come to look forward to (since she's terrible at pacing her daytime portion now with the steroids.) She's pushing 200 calories a day this week. I don't care what the specialist says. I think she can use just a little more padding on her bones. Her shoulders and hips/thighs should not be so concave. We'll see what the scale says about this level of calorie input on Sunday.
Sounds good so far! Case of 12 or 24 of I/D? Agree 100% with you. "Experts" say cats should be lean. I say people should be lean too, but they're not always. Bone structure, muscle mass, etc. are different from individual to individual, whether feline or human. Not everyone has the same build. I've always felt more comfortable when cats have adequate padding.
 

daftcat75

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What makes it difficult assessing Betty’s body condition is her primordial pouch aka her “decoy belly.” I wish mine was a decoy belly. 🤦🏼‍♂️😹 As I regularly assessed Krista wasting away underneath my fingers, it was the knobby pelvis and concave shoulders and thighs that I found worrisome. Same as what I find worrisome on Betty. I don’t want a fat cat. Just one with a little padding on her bones.
 

tarasgirl06

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What makes it difficult assessing Betty’s body condition is her primordial pouch aka her “decoy belly.” I wish mine was a decoy belly. 🤦🏼‍♂️😹 As I regularly assessed Krista wasting away underneath my fingers, it was the knobby pelvis and concave shoulders and thighs that I found worrisome. Same as what I find worrisome on Betty. I don’t want a fat cat. Just one with a little padding on her bones.
*Exactamente* on all. And nope. Primates don't have primordial pouches. Sorry 'bout that. Gorillas are pretty round 'round the waist, though--who knew all that wild celery was so calorically rich? :insertevillaugh: Anyway, that's a sign of being "prosperous" in most of the world. If Betty loves you anyway, I wouldn't worry. :hearthrob::lovecat4::hearthrob:🐁🐁🐁🐁🐁🐁🐁
 

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What makes it difficult assessing Betty’s body condition is her primordial pouch aka her “decoy belly.” I wish mine was a decoy belly. 🤦🏼‍♂️😹 As I regularly assessed Krista wasting away underneath my fingers, it was the knobby pelvis and concave shoulders and thighs that I found worrisome. Same as what I find worrisome on Betty. I don’t want a fat cat. Just one with a little padding on her bones.
🙀
I completely agree with you. I feel that cats need a little extra 'meat on the bone' than what the Vets want. That way, they have a bit if they get sick.. I like a long lanky cat.. not a skinny Minnie..

I have a habit of going for big kitties.. 13-14 lbs... on average.. not overweight. I do not think I hav ever had a tiny kitty; except for a kitten.

When I can easily feel ribs, and the individual vertebrae; I automatically think--- too thin, needs more weight--starving kitty..

😆. I have a Decoy belly also.. except it is not quite a 'decoy'.... 🙀
 

tarasgirl06

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🙀
I completely agree with you. I feel that cats need a little extra 'meat on the bone' than what the Vets want. That way, they have a bit if they get sick.. I like a long lanky cat.. not a skinny Minnie..

I have a habit of going for big kitties.. 13-14 lbs... on average.. not overweight. I do not think I hav ever had a tiny kitty; except for a kitten.

When I can easily feel ribs, and the individual vertebrae; I automatically think--- too thin, needs more weight--starving kitty..

😆. I have a Decoy belly also.. except it is not quite a 'decoy'.... 🙀
We've always grown 'em big in my family, too (cats, not bellehs). Our beloved angel King Nicolas I topped the scales at 22 lbs. in his prime. Yeah, he was overweight. But he was also magnificent, and a lot of that was FUR. He had the thickest white cottony undercoat! and his yellow striped overcoat was lush, as well. Elvis weighed 12.3 lbs. according to the vet, when he joined us; I would venture to guess he's gained a bit since then. The Cat Weight Chart is a good guideline; but I don't worry at all if they're a little more prosPURRous than the "ideal."
 

daftcat75

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Because I seem to get the ones that want to climb my chest and ride by belly, I like ‘‘em a little smaller. But I like them to be a fluffy small, not bone thin. I thought Krista was a good weight at 9 lbs. I honestly don’t know what she was most of her life. She didn’t go to the vet much before her thirteenth birthday. I think she was just under 9 lbs when all her IBD troubles began and I started keeping track of her weight. Cabbie was bigger. She was probably 11 lbs. I’m still trying to figure out what a good weight for Betty is. If she was 9.6 on Sunday, let’s see how 9.8 or 10 looks on her.

I think first dinner might be her favorite meal. She hasn’t left a remainder on first dinner in a long time. That also means I get to hear her hunger rally cries for at least an hour before second dinner. 🤦🏼‍♂️🐷
8A105187-C4D9-4D11-A68B-FBD1538554C6.jpeg C7C2F03C-4CA7-4182-AFBA-561A1F838FC4.jpeg
 

tarasgirl06

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Because I seem to get the ones that want to climb my chest and ride by belly, I like ‘‘em a little smaller. But I like them to be a fluffy small, not bone thin. I thought Krista was a good weight at 9 lbs. I honestly don’t know what she was most of her life. She didn’t go to the vet much before her thirteenth birthday. I think she was just under 9 lbs when all her IBD troubles began and I started keeping track of her weight. Cabbie was bigger. She was probably 11 lbs. I’m still trying to figure out what a good weight for Betty is. If she was 9.6 on Sunday, let’s see how 9.8 or 10 looks on her.

I think first dinner might be her favorite meal. She hasn’t left a remainder on first dinner in a long time. That also means I get to hear her hunger rally cries for at least an hour before second dinner. 🤦🏼‍♂️🐷
View attachment 429575View attachment 429576
:angrycat:Betty: "Dad. FOOD. FOOD NOW. DO NOT HESITATE. Get thee to the kitchen and put that opposable thumb to good use!"
Since our beloved angel Baby Su is not here, I have several kinds of food that she would eat and Elvis would not eat. I've decided to try him on them, and so far, it's been surprising. This morning I tried him on the one I think is the best, that she would snork right up and he always turned his nose up at. Sure enough. NOM NOM NOM. Slowly, but hopefully he will finish quite a bit of it, if not all of it.
With big cats, it's good to be a side sleeper, I've found. ;)
 

daftcat75

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:angrycat:Betty: "Dad. FOOD. FOOD NOW. DO NOT HESITATE. Get thee to the kitchen and put that opposable thumb to good use!"
Since our beloved angel Baby Su is not here, I have several kinds of food that she would eat and Elvis would not eat. I've decided to try him on them, and so far, it's been surprising. This morning I tried him on the one I think is the best, that she would snork right up and he always turned his nose up at. Sure enough. NOM NOM NOM. Slowly, but hopefully he will finish quite a bit of it, if not all of it.
With big cats, it's good to be a side sleeper, I've found. ;)
I’m already a side sleeper. And luckily, I found a respectful cat who enjoys cuddles and snuggles when I’m laying on my back. But if I‘m on my side, she may grumble squeak at me. But she’ll move on and take her sleep somewhere else.

Caught this one last night as she slept with her face against mine. I’ve known affectionate cats before. But not like this.😽😍😻
6012C0FB-17F5-47A8-BFA8-E90F15ED1CE7.jpeg
 

daftcat75

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Since our beloved angel Baby Su is not here, I have several kinds of food that she would eat and Elvis would not eat.
When did Baby Su pass? Am I getting confused on your cats? I thought it was Elvis and Baby Su left after Tarifa passed. Are you down to to just Elvis now, or am I confused about your furmily?
 

tarasgirl06

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When did Baby Su pass? Am I getting confused on your cats? I thought it was Elvis and Baby Su left after Tarifa passed. Are you down to to just Elvis now, or am I confused about your furmily?
Yeah. I didn't see any response from you when I posted in the Bridge thread so assumed you'd missed this. Baby Su a/k/a Suha left us on June 26th of this year. She would have been 18 at the end of this month. So yes, Elvis is now an "only cat" and I yearn to adopt! but since I don't have my "welcome room" any more due to my roomies being here, I know it would not be fair to Elvis or to a prospective adopteee to just bring a new cat in and let them deal. I think Elvis would be much happier with at least one more cat in the family, too. But I don't have another room that would be appropriate. My office would be okay if not for all the IT equipment and wiring. The living room would work, but it does not have a door or any way to close it off from the rest of the house. And I would not shut Elvis in one room even though he spends most of his time either in the master bedroom or in the office with me. It just isn't workable. I wish it was.
 

daftcat75

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Yeah. I didn't see any response from you when I posted in the Bridge thread so assumed you'd missed this. Baby Su a/k/a Suha left us on June 26th of this year. She would have been 18 at the end of this month. So yes, Elvis is now an "only cat" and I yearn to adopt! but since I don't have my "welcome room" any more due to my roomies being here, I know it would not be fair to Elvis or to a prospective adopteee to just bring a new cat in and let them deal. I think Elvis would be much happier with at least one more cat in the family, too. But I don't have another room that would be appropriate. My office would be okay if not for all the IT equipment and wiring. The living room would work, but it does not have a door or any way to close it off from the rest of the house. And I would not shut Elvis in one room even though he spends most of his time either in the master bedroom or in the office with me. It just isn't workable. I wish it was.
I’m so sorry for your loss. May her memory be a blessing.

After some time, I stopped reading the Bridge threads. I barely acknowledged to myself the second anniversary of Krista’s passing (last Friday.) It’s kind of a day I’d like to forget than memorialize each year.

I don’t know if this would be too stressful for the captive kitty, but what about a playpen like I had for Krista during her ear surgery recovery? Otherwise I know there are cable guards and other ways to kitten/cat proof the IT room. I had one of those at one time and managed to keep both Cabbie and Krista from biting through cables/electrocuting themselves. When the desire becomes strong enough, you’ll find a way. 😽👍
 

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I’m so sorry for your loss. May her memory be a blessing.

After some time, I stopped reading the Bridge threads. I barely acknowledged to myself the second anniversary of Krista’s passing (last Friday.) It’s kind of a day I’d like to forget than memorialize each year.

I don’t know if this would be too stressful for the captive kitty, but what about a playpen like I had for Krista during her ear surgery recovery? Otherwise I know there are cable guards and other ways to kitten/cat proof the IT room. I had one of those at one time and managed to keep both Cabbie and Krista from biting through cables/electrocuting themselves. When the desire becomes strong enough, you’ll find a way. 😽👍
Much gratitude for your kind thoughts. I'm the same -- I don't like to commemorate passing dates, though I do remember many. I would much rather enjoy fond memories of sharing life and love with my many, many loved ones! I miss your posts about Krista but understand why they tapered off. Life, they say, is for the living; and though my beliefs are that the soul is eternal and that we will all reunite with our loved ones in due time, the grief at our own losses is hard to bear and there is no "closure" for me at least. I know my loved ones are in a much better place and free of pain. But I MISS them. Elvis misses Suha, Tarifa, Sahra, and Maryam, all of whom passed after he joined us.
My problem is financial. I literally have to count every penny, so buying anything except essentials is out for me. Life doesn't remain static, though, so of course I will always hope for positive change.
 

daftcat75

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Much gratitude for your kind thoughts. I'm the same -- I don't like to commemorate passing dates, though I do remember many. I would much rather enjoy fond memories of sharing life and love with my many, many loved ones! I miss your posts about Krista but understand why they tapered off. Life, they say, is for the living; and though my beliefs are that the soul is eternal and that we will all reunite with our loved ones in due time, the grief at our own losses is hard to bear and there is no "closure" for me at least. I know my loved ones are in a much better place and free of pain. But I MISS them. Elvis misses Suha, Tarifa, Sahra, and Maryam, all of whom passed after he joined us.
My problem is financial. I literally have to count every penny, so buying anything except essentials is out for me. Life doesn't remain static, though, so of course I will always hope for positive change.
I saved empty TP rolls until I filled a shoebox with them. I thought I might have figured out a use or a project for them by the time I had the box full. I wonder if they could be cut down the middle and used as an affordable cable guard solution.

But yeah. If you’re pinching pennies right now, maybe hold off on NC. New cats can be expensive. Especially if you don’t know their history. 😔
 

tarasgirl06

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I saved empty TP rolls until I filled a shoebox with them. I thought I might have figured out a use or a project for them by the time I had the box full. I wonder if they could be cut down the middle and used as an affordable cable guard solution.

But yeah. If you’re pinching pennies right now, maybe hold off on NC. New cats can be expensive. Especially if you don’t know their history. 😔
Unfortunately. Almost every cat in my life has been adopted from "the streets" though, and most have been long-lived, from 16-21 years with healthy lives. The main problem for me is that intro room.
This office is the Wire Forest. And ATTs FiOS is so delicate the tech told me DO NOT TOUCH. So it wouldn't really work. Other providers encase theirs fairly well. Not ATT.:hmmm: Quite a few peripherals and the SFF tower is upright--no space for other -- so of course if anyone messed with it it might be a catastrophe. No, the office is off limits.
Aspy me has considered every angle up, down, and sideways. The best I can come up with is that Elvis is 15 and when he leaves, which I hope is a long way in the future, I may adopt a pair or a trio of siblings or bondmates. I believe, based on a lifetime of experience more than anything else, that cats are very social and that most LOVE the company of their own kind. I know Elvis is still moping and missing Baby Su very much. But any other cat would not be her. Or Tarifa. Or Sahra. Or Maryam.
 

daftcat75

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Betty had a slightly smooshy poop. Just one piece. I wonder if she simply stepped on it while building her motocross course. It's that, or she is getting more and more of the Mouser each day. I hope we haven't found an issue here. We'll hold the amount steady for another night to see if things firm up tomorrow. I think she noticed that her lunch got smaller because she wouldn't leave me alone this afternoon until her snack feeder opened. And then, you could see it in her ears and her eyes, the moment the feeder popped: the plastic dinner "bell."

Okay bye! I guess I'll see you when you're hungry again. In an hour.

Guessing I won't get that doc call back until the end of his day, e.g. during my dinner.

I love that she's off of the mirtz. I haven't tried to take away the ondansetron yet. Sometimes she has the burps after meals and I can't tell if that's just satisfaction or something else. But then she'll go back to grooming herself and I feel a little easier in a perhaps mistaken belief that nauseated cats don't groom themselves while they are actively nauseated. I wish we were further into food transition. Perhaps we can get that overnight converted to Mouser in the next several nights.

We are six or seven more capsules left in current AnimalBiome bottle. I ordered a new bottle and a new test. They are cheaper together. And it will have been almost two bottles since the last test. I don't know. I might just hang on to the test for a bit longer to give the Rx Clay a month and also convert her overnight to Mouser so that we achieve a net loss of I/D. Right now it's just a few grams here and there as we still work the feeder portion up. Eventually I want to put out two feeder portions of Mouser at second dinner time that open at staggered times overnight.

I found an interesting article on human home gut biome testing. I will look at each of these and see if I want to send one or all of them a piece of my 💩.
Which microbes live in your gut? A microbiologist tries at-home test kits to see what they reveal about the microbiome
 

tarasgirl06

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Betty had a slightly smooshy poop. Just one piece. I wonder if she simply stepped on it while building her motocross course. It's that, or she is getting more and more of the Mouser each day. I hope we haven't found an issue here. We'll hold the amount steady for another night to see if things firm up tomorrow. I think she noticed that her lunch got smaller because she wouldn't leave me alone this afternoon until her snack feeder opened. And then, you could see it in her ears and her eyes, the moment the feeder popped: the plastic dinner "bell."

Okay bye! I guess I'll see you when you're hungry again. In an hour.

Guessing I won't get that doc call back until the end of his day, e.g. during my dinner.

I love that she's off of the mirtz. I haven't tried to take away the ondansetron yet. Sometimes she has the burps after meals and I can't tell if that's just satisfaction or something else. But then she'll go back to grooming herself and I feel a little easier in a perhaps mistaken belief that nauseated cats don't groom themselves while they are actively nauseated. I wish we were further into food transition. Perhaps we can get that overnight converted to Mouser in the next several nights.

We are six or seven more capsules left in current AnimalBiome bottle. I ordered a new bottle and a new test. They are cheaper together. And it will have been almost two bottles since the last test. I don't know. I might just hang on to the test for a bit longer to give the Rx Clay a month and also convert her overnight to Mouser so that we achieve a net loss of I/D. Right now it's just a few grams here and there as we still work the feeder portion up. Eventually I want to put out two feeder portions of Mouser at second dinner time that open at staggered times overnight.

I found an interesting article on human home gut biome testing. I will look at each of these and see if I want to send one or all of them a piece of my 💩.
Which microbes live in your gut? A microbiologist tries at-home test kits to see what they reveal about the microbiome
Well, maybe Betty is reasoning it this way: "If I can't get to some cat grass to help me feel better, maybe some cat fur will help it pass!" *or not*
It'll be interesting to see the results if you wait. *or even if you don't.*
And the rest? *Well, there might be deserving recipients. Most of us, I'm thinking, could probably think of quite a few.* *or not*:insertevillaugh:
 

daftcat75

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Was secretly hoping you’d do this! A human guinea pig for all of us! Plus you and Betty will tag team!
I wonder what AB would think if I created a new pet profile for myself and sent in a sample. Nah. But I will ask my contact about the human biome testing companies.
 

daftcat75

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I’m always nervous about starting a new case. Because we’ve had to scuttle a case or two that didn’t pass Betty’s sniff test.

But. I think this new case is a hit.
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