Introducing Betty White

[daftcat75]

It looks and sounds like I interrupted a courtship.

 

[tarasgirl06]

It looks and sounds like I interrupted a courtship.
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Absolutely adorable!!! *Wishing for audio*

 

[daftcat75]

She was cleaning plates on pace for a multi-piggy day last night. No remainder left behind. She finished first and second dinner. But then she skipped the feeder and came in at a purrfect 150 calories. Maybe we phase the feeder out. I’m not really sure where else to trim the calories. After the dental, we can try some other foods. Some of those foods are lower in calories because they are lower in carbs. We can try those with her if we’re still having trouble reducing her intake.

Finally after four days, she no longer smells like a dryer sheet. I can huff this cat all day long!

 

[tarasgirl06]

She was cleaning plates on pace for a multi-piggy day last night. No remainder left behind. She finished first and second dinner. But then she skipped the feeder and came in at a purrfect 150 calories. Maybe we phase the feeder out. I’m not really sure where else to trim the calories. After the dental, we can try some other foods. Some of those foods are lower in calories because they are lower in carbs. We can try those with her if we’re still having trouble reducing her intake.

Finally after four days, she no longer smells like a dryer sheet. I can huff this cat all day long!

Diet report is good. Smaller portions? Just a tiny bit?
Cat-huffing is one of life's greatest joys IMHO as to me, a fresh, clean cat smells (especially behind the ears) like a field of flowers or new-mown hay. Glad the fake smell is gone -- can't abide that! My roomie loves fake "perfumey" detergent and shampoo. They almost gag me. Trying to be strong and get used to them, but it isn't easy as all of my senses seem to be other than neurotypical.

 

[daftcat75]

In the first chart, we have my 401k performance for the year. And in the second chart, we have inflation.

Actually, these are Betty's calories and weight, respectively.

Two conclusions I can draw from this:

1. When she dipped below 160 calories a week, she lost weight.
2. Last week aside, she only dipped below 160 calories before she was on pred.

In other words, even if she drops to 150 like she did last week, she may still gain weight because that's how pred rolls. (Pred rolls? Are those anything like cinnamon rolls? Yes, they both make you fat!)

She's pacing for 160 calories this week. Doc says 150 is a target to aim for but that we don't have to reach it overnight. Because cats being cats, they can get all hangry when a couple of calories are missing from their routine. This week, I have reduced how much I've been offering. But it's not quite down to 150. I'm still counting on remainders but not sure where they may remain. So I feed her more and hope she'll eat less. We'll get there. At least we finally have a calories and weight target to aim for.

Also, I have sparrow visitors to my Bird Buddy. Except the camera battery has been dead for most of the week because the solar roof doesn't work like it should. Or the battery is draining faster than it can charge. I will see if I can run it off a battery pack instead of the roof. If that works, then I'll have to work out a system where the roof charges the battery pack and the battery pack charges the feeder.

tldr; I have birds and no camera to prove it.

 

[tarasgirl06]

In the first chart, we have my 401k performance for the year. And in the second chart, we have inflation.
View attachment 435977
Actually, these are Betty's calories and weight, respectively.

Two conclusions I can draw from this:

1. When she dipped below 160 calories a week, she lost weight.
2. Last week aside, she only dipped below 160 calories before she was on pred.

In other words, even if she drops to 150 like she did last week, she may still gain weight because that's how pred rolls. (Pred rolls? Are those anything like cinnamon rolls? Yes, they both make you fat!)

She's pacing for 160 calories this week. Doc says 150 is a target to aim for but that we don't have to reach it overnight. Because cats being cats, they can get all hangry when a couple of calories are missing from their routine. This week, I have reduced how much I've been offering. But it's not quite down to 150. I'm still counting on remainders but not sure where they may remain. So I feed her more and hope she'll eat less. We'll get there. At least we finally have a calories and weight target to aim for.

Also, I have sparrow visitors to my Bird Buddy. Except the camera battery has been dead for most of the week because the solar roof doesn't work like it should. Or the battery is draining faster than it can charge. I will see if I can run it off a battery pack instead of the roof. If that works, then I'll have to work out a system where the roof charges the battery pack and the battery pack charges the feeder.

tldr; I have birds and no camera to prove it.

Well, given a choice, I'd opt for the cinnamon rolls. Can't remember the last time I had one. I think it was at a mall where there was a Cinnabon.
Yeah, feeding more so you'll eat less with some people (of whatever species: I use the term loosely and inclusively). My roomie used to leave food when we'd go to restaurants. I cringed. I always ate half and took half home. Her husband does that, too. He's good that way.
Awww, sparrows! I love sparrows. Hope you can get your Bird Buddy working well.

 

[daftcat75]

Oops! I talked about phasing out the feeder. Then last night I forgot to put it out. I slept pretty hard last night. By the time I realized the feeder wasn’t out it was already one hour to breakfast. And Betty was being far more polite than Krista or just about any other cat would have been. That does solve our dilemma if she’s okay with it. Final score yesterday: 145 calories.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Oops! I talked about phasing out the feeder. Then last night I forgot to put it out. I slept pretty hard last night. By the time I realized the feeder wasn’t out it was already one hour to breakfast. And Betty was being far more polite than Krista or just about any other cat would have been. That does solve our dilemma if she’s okay with it. Final score yesterday: 145 calories.

Maybe a treat or two left where she'll find it overnight?

 

[daftcat75]

Maybe a treat or two left where she'll find it overnight?

She’s such a chill and polite cat on the overnight. Krista would have let me know it had I skipped the feeder or put too little in it. Even when Betty is hungry, she sits quietly by the plates. Who taught this cat? Any other cat and I would have a paw in the face. Instead of removing the feeder overnight just like that, I plan to reduce how much I offer in it until I’m certain we’re hitting calories without the feeder. In other words, if I simply just remove it like I did last night, she may end up under calories like she did last night if she leaves a remainder anywhere else in the day (breakfast.)

 

[daftcat75]

Well that’s disappointing. She came in at 153 average daily calories for the week and still gained weight. 10.54. Last week 10.46. I owe the IM specialist an update. Maybe he can reassure me that this is pred and nothing more sinister.

 

[daftcat75]

BirdBuddy finally captured a visit and created a postcard for me.

 

[daftcat75]

Got another one.

 

[daftcat75]

Got another one.
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If they are getting these identifications wrong, let me know. There is a way to submit a correction.

 

[tarasgirl06]

IDK about those but I do like the postcards, photos and info!
Oh, Ms. Betty, what's going on with your weight, girl? Is it just being less active in the Autumn coolness? Hoping so and hoping you are thriving and healthy--you look like you are!

 

[daftcat75]

This cat!

She's just not ready to give up the feeder. After cleaning plates all day, she left a remainder on both dinners to finish at 136 calories.

You would think she would wake up hungry. But she ate an anemic first pass of 14 grams and I'm still waiting on second pass.

I wonder if there is a magic calories zone for weight loss and below that level metabolic functions shift towards energy preservation (e.g. fat storage.) Just a guess from thin air.

I also wonder what would happen if I stopped tracking calories for a week or two and simply let her leave remainders as she saw fit. She apparently won't simply waste away. But it makes me wonder if she knows better than I do how much she should be eating.

 

[Margot Lane]

Got another one.
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I think #1 and #2 are both chickadees…slightly hard to tell b/c something about the camera extends the bill out much longer than they actually are. If it were a scrub Jay you ought to see that definitive white eyebrow. But what fun!I I am glad they are native species.

 

[daftcat75]

I think #1 and #2 are both chickadees…slightly hard to tell b/c something about the camera extends the bill out much longer than they actually are. If it were a scrub Jay you ought to see that definitive white eyebrow. But what fun!I I am glad they are native species.

Yeah. I think #2 is the same bird (maybe not the SAME bird) as the first. I got another postcard from another chickadee strengthening this theory. Sadly, the camera only lasted three days on this most current charge. And the battery pack I ordered to daisy chain in between the solar roof and the camera is much larger and heavier than I was expecting. It looks like a great pack for the desk though.

 

[tarasgirl06]

This cat!

She's just not ready to give up the feeder. After cleaning plates all day, she left a remainder on both dinners to finish at 136 calories.

You would think she would wake up hungry. But she ate an anemic first pass of 14 grams and I'm still waiting on second pass.

I wonder if there is a magic calories zone for weight loss and below that level metabolic functions shift towards energy preservation (e.g. fat storage.) Just a guess from thin air.

I also wonder what would happen if I stopped tracking calories for a week or two and simply let her leave remainders as she saw fit. She apparently won't simply waste away. But it makes me wonder if she knows better than I do how much she should be eating.

So, are you going to give her her head (or in this case, her mouth) and try that?

 

[daftcat75]

So, are you going to give her her head (or in this case, her mouth) and try that?

You know and I know I should. You know and I know I probably won't. It's so hard when some days she cleans plates like a pro and I'm worried she'll finish too soon and others it seems like she's intent on leaving remainders. Today is a remainder day. While she did finally wake for a second pass after a very weak first pass on lunch, it seems like she's still 15 grams behind. I bet I can coax a third pass out of her if I simply put off her dinner a little. But I'm thinking that will mess with the dinners. And then I think well, if she skips a portion or a half portion, she should be that much hungrier at her next scheduled meal. And it doesn't seem to work out that way. So if for no other reason than to reassure myself, I am going to try to cut her more slack but still record the data.

EDIT: Her cute little ears must have been burning. She finished her remainder and came in giving me the satisfied licky lips just after I submitted this.

You rang?

 

[tarasgirl06]

You know and I know I should. You know and I know I probably won't. It's so hard when some days she cleans plates like a pro and I'm worried she'll finish too soon and others it seems like she's intent on leaving remainders. Today is a remainder day. While she did finally wake for a second pass after a very weak first pass on lunch, it seems like she's still 15 grams behind. I bet I can coax a third pass out of her if I simply put off her dinner a little. But I'm thinking that will mess with the dinners. And then I think well, if she skips a portion or a half portion, she should be that much hungrier at her next scheduled meal. And it doesn't seem to work out that way. So if for no other reason than to reassure myself, I am going to try to cut her more slack but still record the data.

EDIT: Her cute little ears must have been burning. She finished her remainder and came in giving me the satisfied licky lips just after I submitted this.

You rang?

Yup, and yup, and good!!!
I ask Elvis when he joins me, "Do you smell like cat food?" and I sniff, and if he does, I'm very happy. *I love the smell of cat food in the morning. And at all other times, actually.*