Introducing Betty White

[tarasgirl06]

Give it a minute and all the gun laws will eventually be overturned by that horrible SCOTUS decision that literally set us back 250 years—including the law that Hunter Biden was just convicted on. This one was President Joe’s signature gun safety law, and it will almost certainly be gutted or nullified if and when Hunter’s appeal makes it all the way up to SCOTUS.

Yeah, I know. IDK about you, but I don't want to time travel back to 1791 with bump stocks. And AI.

 

[daftcat75]

Betty is having a morning!

She already had a larger than normal amount of poop waiting for me in the box at 5am when I woke for her breakfast and meds. I thought, "purrfect! it's probably got hair in it."

She ate her breakfast in normal time (a couple of passes before I got out of bed for my breakfast.)

Then about 10am, she hawked up some spit. I saw her in the position and her gut contracting, but nothing but a little spit came out. Because spits usually come in pairs, she had another unproductive spit.

A few minutes later she goes into the box. A few minutes after that I scoop out a pee ball. For those keeping score at home, that's one poop and one pee on the morning. Ten minutes later she's in the box again. "You did both businesses already. What gives?" Another poop.

A minute or two after that, more spits. Still unproductive.

She's having bonus spits and bonus sh!ts this morning!

After three more spits (even her usual paired spits had a bonus) including one preceded by the sad mrrrowing wailing, I loaded up a syringe with a couple drops of her old CBD oil (without the salmon oil) with a mL of water as best as I could (oil and water being oil and water), and shot that into her mouth. Hopefully the CBD will help settle her tummy and the little bit of water might help too.

Because she is being so bonus this morning, I think I might split her lunch in two today and put down the second half after she's shown me that she'll keep the first.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Betty is having a morning!

She already had a larger than normal amount of poop waiting for me in the box at 5am when I woke for her breakfast and meds. I thought, "purrfect! it's probably got hair in it."

She ate her breakfast in normal time (a couple of passes before I got out of bed for my breakfast.)

Then about 10am, she hawked up some spit. I saw her in the position and her gut contracting, but nothing but a little spit came out. Because spits usually come in pairs, she had another unproductive spit.

A few minutes later she goes into the box. A few minutes after that I scoop out a pee ball. For those keeping score at home, that's one poop and one pee on the morning. Ten minutes later she's in the box again. "You did both businesses already. What gives?" Another poop.

A minute or two after that, more spits. Still unproductive.

She's having bonus spits and bonus sh!ts this morning!

After three more spits (even her usual paired spits had a bonus) including one preceded by the sad mrrrowing wailing, I loaded up a syringe with a couple drops of her old CBD oil (without the salmon oil) with a mL of water as best as I could (oil and water being oil and water), and shot that into her mouth. Hopefully the CBD will help settle her tummy and the little bit of water might help too.

Because she is being so bonus this morning, I think I might split her lunch in two today and put down the second half after she's shown me that she'll keep the first.

Sounds like a careful, cautious and hopefully successful strategy.

 

[daftcat75]

Her leaning against my hand while I take the selfie with the other one.

She’s off. But recovering. Decided not to give her the remainder of her lunch despite no further spits. But her appetite was soft and it took her longer just to finish what I plated. And she stopped for a round at the taproom: something she usually only does when she’s not feeling well.

But as the picture suggests, she’s down to clown and is enjoying the extra time I’m giving her today.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Her leaning against my hand while I take the selfie with the other one. View attachment 479013
She’s off. But recovering. Decided not to give her the remainder of her lunch despite no further spits. But her appetite was soft and it took her longer just to finish what I plated. And she stopped for a round at the taproom: something she usually only does when she’s not feeling well.

But as the picture suggests, she’s down to clown and is enjoying the extra time I’m giving her today.

As a dear friend of mine said, "It's never too hot to have a cat on your lap." Mr. Fluffy believes implicitly in this. And if the hooms might be a bit uncomfy in that scenario, yes, there's always the lean-in.
Eating is not real hot on my guys' hit parade right now, either. Or on mine, come to think of it.

 

[daftcat75]

While her eating isn’t totally off, her appetite isn’t totally back either. And the gas she’s passing in my lap suggests she hasn’t finished passing whatever she needs to pass. I wonder if I can sneak some digestive enzymes into her food. Or if that’s just trying too much on something that’s going to work its way out anyway. I would like to try them. If the ones I have aren’t expired by now…

 

[tarasgirl06]

While her eating isn’t totally off, her appetite isn’t totally back either. And the gas she’s passing in my lap suggests she hasn’t finished passing whatever she needs to pass. I wonder if I can sneak some digestive enzymes into her food. Or if that’s just trying too much on something that’s going to work its way out anyway. I would like to try them. If the ones I have aren’t expired by now…

Might be worth a try but bottom line (no pun intended) whatever it is is going to need to get passed. Hopefully it has by now...

 

[daftcat75]

I understand that she needs to eat to poop and she did less of that yesterday. The eating. Not the pooping. She got pretty well cleaned out the other morning. But I think things might be moving again even if I don’t see anything in the box. I don’t think she was gassy at all at breakfast time.

No spits today. No though either.

Her claws are out of control!

She’s getting stuck in the carpet and she’s sticking herself into me. And speaking of the carpet, she’s scratched a bald spot into it. We’ll be getting an area rug for that spot. And this afternoon I sat with her a good long time. Long enough to get her relaxed enough for an only slightly squirmy mani-pedi. I got most of her nails. I left a couple because they were already ground down enough that I didn’t want to risk a quick nip. But even an imperfect mani-pedi is a huge improvement over calling her “Nails.” Or “Murder Mittens.”

And if her poop needs a little extra encouragement, she got an extra Greenie for her grooming grief. And a couple of excellent brushings to collect the stress furrzles. Still have another half day until my dinner when she can battle test those blades of glory. In my lap.

 

[tarasgirl06]

I understand that she needs to eat to poop and she did less of that yesterday. The eating. Not the pooping. She got pretty well cleaned out the other morning. But I think things might be moving again even if I don’t see anything in the box. I don’t think she was gassy at all at breakfast time.

No spits today. No though either.

Her claws are out of control!

She’s getting stuck in the carpet and she’s sticking herself into me. And speaking of the carpet, she’s scratched a bald spot into it. We’ll be getting an area rug for that spot. And this afternoon I sat with her a good long time. Long enough to get her relaxed enough for an only slightly squirmy mani-pedi. I got most of her nails. I left a couple because they were already ground down enough that I didn’t want to risk a quick nip. But even an imperfect mani-pedi is a huge improvement over calling her “Nails.” Or “Murder Mittens.”

And if her poop needs a little extra encouragement, she got an extra Greenie for her grooming grief. And a couple of excellent brushings to collect the stress furrzles. Still have another half day until my dinner when she can battle test those blades of glory. In my lap.

Scimitars of suffering.
You're so fortunate to be able to give Betty a mani/pedi. Elvis starts crying piteously whenever I come close to a paw with the scissors. Now The Boy was a completely different story right after he joined us. I clipped every one of his fronts while he lay in my lap blissfully. We'll see how he does the second time around, fairly soon. He does love one of the Smart Cat tall scratching posts I bought several years back, to augment the very well used one beside it, that no one ever used. I'm so glad he's claiming it and he loves to stretch to his full length and really go at it. The fur, though. No matter how many times a day I brush these guys, there are always blue, and black, furzles to be found, especially the latter. Like some credit cards, they're EVERYWHERE I wanna be. And then some.
How is Betty doing on her water drinking?

 

[daftcat75]

Scimitars of suffering.
You're so fortunate to be able to give Betty a mani/pedi. Elvis starts crying piteously whenever I come close to a paw with the scissors. Now The Boy was a completely different story right after he joined us. I clipped every one of his fronts while he lay in my lap blissfully. We'll see how he does the second time around, fairly soon. He does love one of the Smart Cat tall scratching posts I bought several years back, to augment the very well used one beside it, that no one ever used. I'm so glad he's claiming it and he loves to stretch to his full length and really go at it. The fur, though. No matter how many times a day I brush these guys, there are always blue, and black, furzles to be found, especially the latter. Like some credit cards, they're EVERYWHERE I wanna be. And then some.
How is Betty doing on her water drinking?

Meat Hooks!

Betty is a very difficult one to give a mani/pedi too. She's not overly dramatic. But she constantly wants to take her paw back. "No thank you! I said, no thank you!" I'm not overly concerned about the damage she's doing to the carpet. They've collected three deposits from me (one for the move-in and one pet deposit for each cat. I don't get Krista's back until I move out.) And I've lived here so long (ten years) that they shouldn't even be charging me for the carpet when I move out. But her meat hooks kept snagging on the carpet and on me. She couldn't walk from one room to the next without hearing her claws sticking in the carpet. And sometimes it would take her some extra effort to get up from the floor because one or more of her claws got caught. Or she'd be sleeping in my lap during lunch or dinner and adjust just the slightest and stab me more than the slightest. Ouch Betty! As much as I try to honor her autonomy, her unwilling mani/pedi was a mercy mission. Hopefully, she'll learn to associate these trims with the treat that follows. She's pretty smart like that. She keys in on some cooking cues to know when she's getting her dental Greenie and when I'm almost finished cooking and getting ready to sit in the chair.

We have poop! Glorious in size, shape, and aroma! It was a fair bit bigger than I was expecting given yesterday's poop volume and reduced food intake. But it was also a fair bit firmer than I was expecting given last night's gas. It was a model poop. For a cat twice her size. I'm assuming we've turned a page on this week's excitement now. Hopefully only my rude neighbors will be having unexpected explosions next week. The neighbors in the apartment community behind us have been firing off fireworks all week despite it being illegal to do so in CA. It feels like quarantine all over again. Betty is beyond chill about fireworks. Doesn't react. She might be deaf. What? Except that she comes running into the kitchen for microwave beeps and beer can openings. "That's what you key in on?"

 

[tarasgirl06]

Meat Hooks!

Betty is a very difficult one to give a mani/pedi too. She's not overly dramatic. But she constantly wants to take her paw back. "No thank you! I said, no thank you!" I'm not overly concerned about the damage she's doing to the carpet. They've collected three deposits from me (one for the move-in and one pet deposit for each cat. I don't get Krista's back until I move out.) And I've lived here so long (ten years) that they shouldn't even be charging me for the carpet when I move out. But her meat hooks kept snagging on the carpet and on me. She couldn't walk from one room to the next without hearing her claws sticking in the carpet. And sometimes it would take her some extra effort to get up from the floor because one or more of her claws got caught. Or she'd be sleeping in my lap during lunch or dinner and adjust just the slightest and stab me more than the slightest. Ouch Betty! As much as I try to honor her autonomy, her unwilling mani/pedi was a mercy mission. Hopefully, she'll learn to associate these trims with the treat that follows. She's pretty smart like that. She keys in on some cooking cues to know when she's getting her dental Greenie and when I'm almost finished cooking and getting ready to sit in the chair.

We have poop! Glorious in size, shape, and aroma! It was a fair bit bigger than I was expecting given yesterday's poop volume and reduced food intake. But it was also a fair bit firmer than I was expecting given last night's gas. It was a model poop. For a cat twice her size. I'm assuming we've turned a page on this week's excitement now. Hopefully only my rude neighbors will be having unexpected explosions next week. The neighbors in the apartment community behind us have been firing off fireworks all week despite it being illegal to do so in CA. It feels like quarantine all over again. Betty is beyond chill about fireworks. Doesn't react. She might be deaf. What? Except that she comes running into the kitchen for microwave beeps and beer can openings. "That's what you key in on?"

She is selective in her hearing -- she only hears what's most imPURRtant to her *I wish she'd let me in on her secret!* So who let the lion in, yes?
Yeah, Elvis has those claw issues, too. I wish he wasn't so scared of the scissors! It makes me reluctant to even try, because I hate causing him distress. The result? Sticky claws. My carpet is (far!) older than yours probably is, and I had it cleaned before I moved in (plus, the area occupied/used by the roomies steam cleaned, because of her propensity to spill food) and I kept it because cats. And, of course, $$$. It's ugly as homemade sin (my dad's saying -- he had one for just about every occasion and scenario) but it's better this way.There's plank oak peg and groove underneath! but I'll opt for quiet, comfortable carpet, thanks.
My awful across-the-road neighbors in the Mojave were like yours, with the fireworks. I'd just moved up there shortly before the annual idiocy, so I called the cops, because desert! Turns out the husband was a deputy...which shouldn't surprise. They also loved to do mounted shooting in their big corral. Blanks, thankfully. Or so they said.

 

[daftcat75]

Success! I have a marshmallow warrior now!

There's a great candid scene at the end of Taylor Swift's Folklore: Long Pond Studio Sessions special on D+ where she called her quarantine home studio the Kitty Committee Studio because she couldn't keep the cats out. "They have to be free-range. Cage free." I'll just let you watch it.
TikTok - Make Your Day

Thanks to the mani/pedi, all I feel is her little marshmallows on me now instead of her meat hooks.

To cut Betty's claws, I have a headlamp and human nail trimmers. The headlamp because my near sight is starting to go with age and also seeing translucent claws against white paws is quite a challenge. I find with human nail trimmers, I can usually get a quick snip in without having to position her claw inside a guillotine or some other strange and uncomfortable device. I have three different fancy clippers that are supposed to prevent snipping the quick. But the moment I try to get Betty's claw inside the cutting compartment, that really sets off her "no thank you's." But if I can swoop and snip, that works out better for her.

If Elvis likes lick treats, I've seen lots of ways hoomans distract their kitties with treats while cutting their nails including one woman who wrapped her head in plastic wrap and then put the lick treat on her saran wrapped head and let her cat go to town while she did his nails.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Success! I have a marshmallow warrior now!

There's a great candid scene at the end of Taylor Swift's Folklore: Long Pond Studio Sessions special on D+ where she called her quarantine home studio the Kitty Committee Studio because she couldn't keep the cats out. "They have to be free-range. Cage free." I'll just let you watch it.
TikTok - Make Your Day

Thanks to the mani/pedi, all I feel is her little marshmallows on me now instead of her meat hooks.

To cut Betty's claws, I have a headlamp and human nail trimmers. The headlamp because my near sight is starting to go with age and also seeing translucent claws against white paws is quite a challenge. I find with human nail trimmers, I can usually get a quick snip in without having to position her claw inside a guillotine or some other strange and uncomfortable device. I have three different fancy clippers that are supposed to prevent snipping the quick. But the moment I try to get Betty's claw inside the cutting compartment, that really sets off her "no thank you's." But if I can swoop and snip, that works out better for her.

If Elvis likes lick treats, I've seen lots of ways hoomans distract their kitties with treats while cutting their nails including one woman who wrapped her head in plastic wrap and then put the lick treat on her saran wrapped head and let her cat go to town while she did his nails.

Taylor's channeling her inner Watson there, PURRhaps? Interesting ensemble. It's weird that her cats fight, I think. Unless cats are new adoptees and there is a territory/place thing going on, there shouldn't be fighting. Hasn't she heard about Feliway? Just hope they are getting excellent care and lots of love.
Now THERE's an idea! Seriously, I've never tried those treats because I have doubts about their being good for cats. Maybe a hat with a Greenie on top? NAW, Elvis wouldn't go for it. I actually feel far better using the cat-specific scissors on cat claws. If cats would just stay still while I clip, it's not problem. Mr. Fluffy was SO chill when I clipped his! Just laying in my arms like he was at the spa.

 

[daftcat75]

Taylor's channeling her inner Watson there, PURRhaps? Interesting ensemble. It's weird that her cats fight, I think. Unless cats are new adoptees and there is a territory/place thing going on, there shouldn't be fighting. Hasn't she heard about Feliway? Just hope they are getting excellent care and lots of love.
Now THERE's an idea! Seriously, I've never tried those treats because I have doubts about their being good for cats. Maybe a hat with a Greenie on top? NAW, Elvis wouldn't go for it. I actually feel far better using the cat-specific scissors on cat claws. If cats would just stay still while I clip, it's not problem. Mr. Fluffy was SO chill when I clipped his! Just laying in my arms like he was at the spa.

Some cats play fight because it's fun. It's not animus so much as sibling love. Or boredom. As Taylor said, no-one's gonna get hurt. There's just a lot of fluffy marshmallows being tossed around. There would be a lot more hissing and Olivia would be trying to get those kicks in if they were truly fighting. That just looks like quarantine boredom to me.

Throughout the Long Pond Studios video, there's a definite sense of, "I'm just playing music with the boys in middle of nowhere upstate New York. No need for my fashion, hair, or makeup teams." And I love that! We don't see enough of that Taylor. I mean she's still gorgeous even with natural hair and no (or minimal) makeup. But it's refreshing and encouraging to see that even Taylor Swift doesn't always look like Taylor Swift.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Some cats play fight because it's fun. It's not animus so much as sibling love. Or boredom. As Taylor said, no-one's gonna get hurt. There's just a lot of fluffy marshmallows being tossed around. There would be a lot more hissing and Olivia would be trying to get those kicks in if they were truly fighting. That just looks like quarantine boredom to me.

Throughout the Long Pond Studios video, there's a definite sense of, "I'm just playing music with the boys in middle of nowhere upstate New York. No need for my fashion, hair, or makeup teams." And I love that! We don't see enough of that Taylor. I mean she's still gorgeous even with natural hair and no (or minimal) makeup. But it's refreshing and encouraging to see that even Taylor Swift doesn't always look like Taylor Swift.

Yup, and absolutely!!! I'm always cringing at how things are now with trowelled-on makeup, false eyelashes that look like spiders crawling on their faces, high heels that look awful and harm feet, legs and backs (modelled after Chinese foot binding, one of the most diabolical mutilations ever devised), horrible tight clothes that are very uncomfortable and usually unflattering, and fake hair. What do people think is under all that dreck??? and is there a heart and soul underneath it all? *usually not* Taylor seems very comfortable in her own skin and with good values and sense of who she is. It's not surprising to me that so many people love her. These days, it's SO hard to find people like her!

 

[daftcat75]

Slight decrease 9.54. She did have that early week excitement. But I didn’t think it would have made that big a difference. Her diet composition is slowly changing too. Last week she was getting 8 grams A/D to 22 grams I/D. This week she’s getting 6 grams A/D to roughly 25 to 26 grams I/D. I haven’t actually calculated the calorie difference of the different mixes. But I have been giving her just a little more total food lately to make up for how it’s shifting away from high calorie A/D.


And after a successful weigh-in, she’s beat. Nose and toes!

 

[tarasgirl06]

Slight decrease 9.54. She did have that early week excitement. But I didn’t think it would have made that big a difference. Her diet composition is slowly changing too. Last week she was getting 8 grams A/D to 22 grams I/D. This week she’s getting 6 grams A/D to roughly 25 to 26 grams I/D. I haven’t actually calculated the calorie difference of the different mixes. But I have been giving her just a little more total food lately to make up for how it’s shifting away from high calorie A/D.
View attachment 479333View attachment 479334

And after a successful weigh-in, she’s beat. Nose and toes!
View attachment 479335

It's working! What a cutie with the nose and toes
On Friday morning I woke up and came out to the kitchen. There, in all its glory, was a large furball, courtesy Elvis. So I continued on to the living room to see Mr. Fluffy. Sure enough, arrayed across the carpet was an equally sizable furball, color-coded to match.
Synchronized furballs.
They're a thing.
And no matter how many brushies and combies happen from day to day, it's a fact.

 

[daftcat75]

Hairball!

We're in day three of a six or seven day heat streak where we are expected to top 100 most of those days.

It really didn't surprise me that she would have one. I'm just grateful that she put it on the carpet and not the new area rug. And it was a no-food, no-residue number. I didn't even need the Bissell. Fantastic news considering it happened at 5am. I was just finishing fixing her breakfast and here come the yowls. Well, shoot! I guess I'll scoop some of this off the plate to be conservative. Seemed I didn't need that because after a short cuddle sesh, she went to the plate and ate most of breakfast. After another cuddle sesh, she went down and finished it. I feel bad for short-changing her on breakfast now. She'll get lunch earlier today.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Hairball!

We're in day three of a six or seven day heat streak where we are expected to top 100 most of those days.
View attachment 479570
It really didn't surprise me that she would have one. I'm just grateful that she put it on the carpet and not the new area rug. And it was a no-food, no-residue number. I didn't even need the Bissell. Fantastic news considering it happened at 5am. I was just finishing fixing her breakfast and here come the yowls. Well, shoot! I guess I'll scoop some of this off the plate to be conservative. Seemed I didn't need that because after a short cuddle sesh, she went to the plate and ate most of breakfast. After another cuddle sesh, she went down and finished it. I feel bad for short-changing her on breakfast now. She'll get lunch earlier today.

IDK why but it seems that more furballs get dropped in hot weather. Mr. Fluffy had one yesterday, too -- one like Ms. Betty's so a quick clean-up but even brushing him a lot every day, this is his second in the month he's been with us!
Hoping Betty will enjoy her lunch.

Hope the foil on the windows is helping. It stays pretty comfortable in here with everything closed up until dusk.
You got a new area rug? Can we see?
Since changing the boys' dining area from the bedroom(s) to the breakfast room, it's working out a lot better for them. Mr. Fluffy isn't used to an eating schedule yet -- as his foster fed him dry free-choice, he probably didn't ever have one before. I'm having to seek him out, pick him up, and deliver him to his food. Elvis loves having his in this location.

 

[daftcat75]

Feels too hot to turn on the light and fix the rug. Despite having a honeycomb backing, I think I still need a rug pad to keep this from moving around and bunching. I’ll get a picture later.

That’s a nice breakfast nook for the fur kids. I don’t have one of those and the kitchen is small enough that I don’t want to share it with Betty. Also I really like being able to keep track of her eating from bed. Sure I could move the camera to her new feeding area. But I like being able to either sit up and check on her progress or simply listen for the noms.

While you’re waiting for the area rug picture, here’s Betty’s new thing. I have these bags made of a tent like material that I use for workout clothes. A green one means fresh clothes. And an orange one is my dirties. I laundered (at least) one of these bags and Betty claimed one for her laundry day nest. Since then she’s been found frequently napping on it. I think the material is cooler than the bed or anywhere else she naps.