Introducing Betty White

[tarasgirl06]

Gah! This morning she had another barf. I cannot decide whether this counts as a regurgitation or a food vomit. On the one hand, it started pouring right out of her as soon as she decided that was happening before/while she was heaving and hacking. On the other hand, it had been almost an hour since she ate. No hair in her food. Just mostly liquid and some food chunks. In any case, I picked up her breakfast plate and won't be plating another until sometime after lunch to give her tummy time to rest. I'm sad this is coming so soon after the last time. That was last Tuesday. The only common thread I can see between them is that she once again delayed her first pass on breakfast until almost an hour later than usual. Okay Betty. That was your February barf. Vet says you're okay if it's just once a month.

I wonder if our cats are telepathic (or something) on the subject. Elvis had the definite urge to regurge immediately after breakfast. I wasn't in the room then, but it was pretty much the opposite of "No deposit - no return" and right next to his mostly full breakfast bowl. So of course I cleaned and then moved his bowl upstairs onto his bed for when he decides to return to it, which he undoubtedly has by now.
Hoping Ms. Betty has had her breakfast by now and that "Put the food in the cat!" is exactly what happens this time.

 

[daftcat75]

I wonder if our cats are telepathic (or something) on the subject. Elvis had the definite urge to regurge immediately after breakfast. I wasn't in the room then, but it was pretty much the opposite of "No deposit - no return" and right next to his mostly full breakfast bowl. So of course I cleaned and then moved his bowl upstairs onto his bed for when he decides to return to it, which he undoubtedly has by now.
Hoping Ms. Betty has had her breakfast by now and that "Put the food in the cat!" is exactly what happens this time.

I picked up her breakfast plate. She's on tummy rest. She's not exactly happy about that. But I want to wait at least another hour. I'd like to wait two hours (four hours since her tummy explosion), but I'm not sure she'll let me.

 

[daftcat75]

Betty was pacing and meowing at me and unsettled. I thought she was impatient. So I decided to split the difference with her and feed her at 12:45 instead of waiting until 1 or 2 (like I really wanted to do.) Well, as the cans were sitting in their hot water bath, Betty had one more spit up. It looked like it was probably just water. Maybe some stomach acid. Certainly nothing else. I fixed her a half portion and plated it. But she's already moved on to a nap. And that's fine with me. She will take her own tummy rest and hopefully visit that half portion (with hemp oil in it which should help settle her tummy and stabilize her appetite) when she's ready.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Betty was pacing and meowing at me and unsettled. I thought she was impatient. So I decided to split the difference with her and feed her at 12:45 instead of waiting until 1 or 2 (like I really wanted to do.) Well, as the cans were sitting in their hot water bath, Betty had one more spit up. It looked like it was probably just water. Maybe some stomach acid. Certainly nothing else. I fixed her a half portion and plated it. But she's already moved on to a nap. And that's fine with me. She will take her own tummy rest and hopefully visit that half portion (with hemp oil in it which should help settle her tummy and stabilize her appetite) when she's ready.

Yeah. Our bodies are usually pretty good at letting us know when it's good to put more food in. Elvis isn't going for it, either, yet. He had a couple of bites and backed off. He was EXTREMELY interested in my lunch (bread & hummus, olives, half a banana, a cookie and a cuppa coffee. NOTHING remotely cat-appealing) but when I redirected him to his own, he basically snubbed it.
Betty and Elvis both know.

 

[daftcat75]

Betty woke from her nap and ate her 2/3 portion. It seems to be sitting well with her.

I ran out of her hemp oil yesterday breakfast. Luckily, her replacement bottle came in the mail in time for her lunch. For about two or three meals, she was getting three drops instead of four because that's all I could get out of that bottle even with the longer dropper. Glad that nonsense is over. Let's see how long this bottle lasts. I can't go by the last order date because I had the bottle for several days to weeks before I started using it. I'm not even sure I documented when I started using it here. So clock restarts from February 1.

Speaking of February, I hear everyone's favorite rodent meteorologist is predicting an early Spring. I am all for that.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Betty woke from her nap and ate her 2/3 portion. It seems to be sitting well with her.

I ran out of her hemp oil yesterday breakfast. Luckily, her replacement bottle came in the mail in time for her lunch. For about two or three meals, she was getting three drops instead of four because that's all I could get out of that bottle even with the longer dropper. Glad that nonsense is over. Let's see how long this bottle lasts. I can't go by the last order date because I had the bottle for several days to weeks before I started using it. I'm not even sure I documented when I started using it here. So clock restarts from February 1.

Speaking of February, I hear everyone's favorite rodent meteorologist is predicting an early Spring. I am all for that.

Yeah, poor little guy, I saw him there, way up in the air.
You can always improvise in an emergency by tapping the bottle very gently while turning it at the desired angle. I do this with spices all the time. It works. And in both instances, it doesn't have to be precise, right?

 

[daftcat75]

Yeah, poor little guy, I saw him there, way up in the air.
You can always improvise in an emergency by tapping the bottle very gently while turning it at the desired angle. I do this with spices all the time. It works. And in both instances, it doesn't have to be precise, right?

Because things don't happen as quickly as they used to (getting prescriptions, getting refills, getting prescriptions with the correct year on them, getting prescriptions filled, having online orders ship and arrive in a timely manner), it would be nice if I could figure out when I'm at least a week from running out. The gabapentin should be easy as I'm using 2 mL a day out of a 60 mL bottle. But the hemp oil, I'm using four drops four times a day. I don't have a concept of how much volume 16 drops is. But I am dispensing the same amount each day. So I can guess when I need to re-order while I simultaneously use this one up as completely as possible given the awkward bottles and droppers I have at my disposal.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Because things don't happen as quickly as they used to (getting prescriptions, getting refills, getting prescriptions with the correct year on them, getting prescriptions filled, having online orders ship and arrive in a timely manner), it would be nice if I could figure out when I'm at least a week from running out. The gabapentin should be easy as I'm using 2 mL a day out of a 60 mL bottle. But the hemp oil, I'm using four drops four times a day. I don't have a concept of how much volume 16 drops is. But I am dispensing the same amount each day. So I can guess when I need to re-order while I simultaneously use this one up as completely as possible given the awkward bottles and droppers I have at my disposal.

Unfortunately, and very inconveniently, "yes" on the above. Life is supposed to be easier and more convenient as the species (us) evolves. But with pandemics, supply chain challenges, and human foibles, it ain't necessarily so.

 

[artiemom]

Yeah, I swear it must be telepathy of some kind.. Geoffrey saddening got sick on Friday, Saturday-- vomiting.. and now, not feeling well--
Weird.. nothing has changed, except his stools were getting smaller.. Yup, the laxatone and miralax today... no BM yesterday and today... I try to head this off, by watching his litter box. When they look a bit hard, I give a tiny bit of miralax or start with the lasatone.

 

[tarasgirl06]

It's obviously a conspiracy, daftcat75 artiemom -- Betty, Geoffrey and Elvis know something we don't.

 

[daftcat75]

Looks like I’ve slowed the pace of weight gain. We can call this a maintain. 9.74. Last week: 9.72. That’s a poop’s difference.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Looks like I’ve slowed the pace of weight gain. We can call this a maintain. 9.74. Last week: 9.72. That’s a poop’s difference.
View attachment 469552View attachment 469554
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Ms. Betty: "That's rather PURRsonal, isn't it, Dad?"
Looking -- and weighing -- very good!

 

[daftcat75]

It's obviously a conspiracy, daftcat75 artiemom -- Betty, Geoffrey and Elvis know something we don't.

It’s a consPURRacy!

The vet told me and Betty that she could have one barf a month without concern. Betty wasted no time putting February’s in the books, er, on the carpet.

 

[tarasgirl06]

It’s a consPURRacy!

The vet told me and Betty that she could have one barf a month without concern. Betty wasted no time putting February’s in the books, er, on the carpet.

*That's all the barfaroos you get this month, Ms. Betty. Otherwise your premium will go up.*

 

[Margot Lane]

I’ve been researching this whole barf thing. Never had a cat that didn’t barf. Big wild cats only seem to do it to get rid of “extras”: bones, grass, parasites. I don’t read about leopards or ocelots struggling w/ IBS. It would interesting to know how ferals do. But lord there are so many reasons why a house cat barfs! If only they could talk! Anyway if anybody can solve this it’s Betty & Daftcat. Maybe they’ll write a book together: I’m sure they’ll think of a good title.

 

[tarasgirl06]

I’ve been researching this whole barf thing. Never had a cat that didn’t barf. Big wild cats only seem to do it to get rid of “extras”: bones, grass, parasites. I don’t read about leopards or ocelots struggling w/ IBS. It would interesting to know how ferals do. But lord there are so many reasons why a house cat barfs! If only they could talk! Anyway if anybody can solve this it’s Betty & Daftcat. Maybe they’ll write a book together: I’m sure they’ll think of a good title.

Although this is subjective, I believe it's quite normal for cats to barf from time to time, both regurgitative and true vomiting. We don't know all the reasons. It's never been a problem for me in caring for cats for my lifetime. Unless a cat is barfing very frequently, I don't worry. I feel a bit bad for them, but that's it.

 

[Margot Lane]

Although this is subjective, I believe it's quite normal for cats to barf from time to time, both regurgitative and true vomiting. We don't know all the reasons. It's never been a problem for me in caring for cats for my lifetime. Unless a cat is barfing very frequently, I don't worry. I feel a bit bad for them, but that's it.

I think you are right there (she said subjectively). Some of it seems to be a way to cleanse the system.

 

[tarasgirl06]

I think you are right there (she said subjectively). Some of it seems to be a way to cleanse the system.

Agree. Since cats are obligate carnivores, this is undoubtedly necessary from time to time. Because not everything they may eat is 100% fresh, whether natural or commerically produced.

 

[daftcat75]

Boo! We lost power and I’m seeing how woefully underprepared I am for an extended outage. I mean I got the mobile router and a couple looooong lasting battery packs. So I’m watching the Grammys. But except for my headlamp, none of my battery powered lights have enough battery power left in them. I scavenged just enough batteries from now useless remotes to power three battery powered candles. Two in the front room until Betty finished her dinner. Which she did like a champ. And one in the office.

I will be looking into more battery powered candles because these are awesome when I have fresh enough batteries. I also want to look into a generator that is compatible with my lease. Maybe a solar powered battery pack number that could run a heater or a hot plate.

i just had an untoasted bagel. At least the cream cheese was whipped because I was trying someone’s whipped cream cheese capsule trick their cat swears by. Betty wasn’t interested. But I’ll finish it. Lucky thing I just bought bagels yesterday.

Betty gets fresh cans tonight because I don’t have hot water for leftovers. I told her if I freeze or starve, she can eat my corpse. No sense in this outage taking us both.

 

[daftcat75]

Gah! Still without power. It’s cold and dark in here. And I’m starting to feel not so great. I’m working up the courage to call in sick. I have no hot water and I’m starting to feel nauseated. Betty is also not interested in eating this morning. I choked down another cold bagel. Most of it anyway. I sat next to Betty’s plate and she sniffed and snubbed it a couple times. Even offering her a carpet morsel didn’t go anywhere. I picked up her tap room treats and brought them to her. So she has two kibbles and two treats in her since second dinner.

We need our power back! I’ll be calling the cat friendly hotels later this morning if we don’t get power restored soon. I don’t want to do another night without power. And I am running out of charged battery packs.