Introducing Betty White

[tarasgirl06]

Mystery spit this morning. Shortly after meds and before third sleep, she yakked a large amount of water and her post-meds treat. No food. No hair. Didn't seem to affect her breakfast. It looks like she's going to run the clock out on lunch. If she yakked up her meds, that would track. She skimmed some off so she shouldn't be in a sour tummy situation. I'm okay if she skips the remainder if it helps a hairball squeeze on out of her tummy.

Otherwise, she's been doing well and we're finally getting some cooler days and cooler nights.

Sounds like you're on track for better!
We're still pretty warm here, but the five-day is promising.
Fluff is finishing his 5.5 oz and I've promised him a fish dinner if he does a good job on his BB Wilderness Red Meat Feast.

 

[Margot Lane]

I wonder if kitties in the wild have tummy issues…or does something in their wild diet prevent that.

 

[tarasgirl06]

I wonder if kitties in the wild have tummy issues…or does something in their wild diet prevent that.

I'm sure they do. That's one reason why cats will graze on grass -- it's an emetic for them.

 

[daftcat75]

I wonder if kitties in the wild have tummy issues…or does something in their wild diet prevent that.

Probably not so much because millions of years of evolution. But their guts haven't caught up in the hundred or so years that we've been feeding them. For thousands of years, cats were employed in granaries because they would eat the mice and spare the grain. Now that we're feeding them, we've spared the mouse and feed them the grain. So yeah. It makes sense that cat guts don't do well with diets they weren't meant to eat.


I wish Betty would eat raw food like Krista did. Or even better food. But she's hooked on the junk. But there's also the wildcard of her oral health. Sometimes, usually at the end of her meds shift, she'll brush her face into me and immediately shake her head like we hit a nerve that was previously quiet for most of the day thanks to the gabapentin. I still have to make her dentist appointment. But she's been eating well lately and I'm not eager to spend that money. Even without any procedures, the consultation is likely to be $2000 because of sedation and imaging. Often the pulling of teeth was the least of the expenses on Krista's bills. But it's going to be about that much if I do it through her regular vet except that if she finds something that's beyond her skill level, expertise, or comfort-level, I'm still in it for the same bill plus another to take her to the dentist to have the actual work done.

 

[Margot Lane]

Probably not so much because millions of years of evolution. But their guts haven't caught up in the hundred or so years that we've been feeding them. For thousands of years, cats were employed in granaries because they would eat the mice and spare the grain. Now that we're feeding them, we've spared the mouse and feed them the grain. So yeah. It makes sense that cat guts don't do well with diets they weren't meant to eat.


I wish Betty would eat raw food like Krista did. Or even better food. But she's hooked on the junk. But there's also the wildcard of her oral health. Sometimes, usually at the end of her meds shift, she'll brush her face into me and immediately shake her head like we hit a nerve that was previously quiet for most of the day thanks to the gabapentin. I still have to make her dentist appointment. But she's been eating well lately and I'm not eager to spend that money. Even without any procedures, the consultation is likely to be $2000 because of sedation and imaging. Often the pulling of teeth was the least of the expenses on Krista's bills. But it's going to be about that much if I do it through her regular vet except that if she finds something that's beyond her skill level, expertise, or comfort-level, I'm still in it for the same bill plus another to take her to the dentist to have the actual work done.

Good lord! Even with insurance, that’s a pretty penny. This reminds me I used to put off my own dental due to Zorro’s health bills, not exactly the wisest tack. But, at least it kept & keeps me focused w/ brushing & flossing. Here’s hoping Betty’s visit when it comes is smooooth sailing.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Good on ya, Margot Lane -- oral hygiene and health is #1 priority here, too, and it's the first and most important step in maintaining overall health. Keep your mouth clean and general health should be good.
daftcat75 Have you tried that mouse-based food on Betty? It's beyond ridiculous that, in order to cater to human preference, mouse is not offered as the primary feline diet when, of course, mouse is the #1 diet of cats in their natural habitat. IDK why people would be squeamish about that if it's in a tin...or raw, in a form that people would not recognize as being "a mouse"

 

[daftcat75]

Maintain/small loss: 9.14


Small loss. She did leave a few remainders this week. All in all though, she feels alright.

Betty liked Mouser. But not as much as Hills. I don’t think she eats a sustainable amount. Just like every other food I’ve tried with her. She likes the new food while it’s new. Then she falls back on her Hills junk again.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Maintain/small loss: 9.14
View attachment 486459View attachment 486460

Small loss. She did leave a few remainders this week. All in all though, she feels alright.

Betty liked Mouser. But not as much as Hills. I don’t think she eats a sustainable amount. Just like every other food I’ve tried with her. She likes the new food while it’s new. Then she falls back on her Hills junk again.

Typical kid She looks great! and hopefully she'll gain it back during the coming week.
Fluff is EATING. I'm really happy with his intake.

 

[daftcat75]

The apartment may burn up because it sounds like I left the stove on. But she’s comfortable. And cute.

That’s one blind spot in my home automation I haven’t solved. The oven/stove uses a different kind of plug. I can’t just slap a smart plug between it and the wall and shut off the stove from my phone in forgetful cases like this. At least there isn’t anything on that burner. But yeah. It’s still another 25 minutes until shift change. Let’s move her and check.

It was still on. She wasn’t happy being moved. But I came back, she climbed up my belly to give me her usual face bump and then settled into a belly hug over a lap lay.

 

[Margot Lane]

You CAN’T move! She’s too comfy. I just got an induction stove you can turn off with an app. It looks like something out of Star Trek, but, it does help stop climate change & is connected to solar. Poco a poco. Maybe a “clap on, clap off” stove? It’s either that or train Betty to turn the knob, or automate the sofa you’re on to move you both to the kitchen.

 

[tarasgirl06]

The apartment may burn up because it sounds like I left the stove on. But she’s comfortable. And cute.
View attachment 486523View attachment 486524
That’s one blind spot in my home automation I haven’t solved. The oven/stove uses a different kind of plug. I can’t just slap a smart plug between it and the wall and shut off the stove from my phone in forgetful cases like this. At least there isn’t anything on that burner. But yeah. It’s still another 25 minutes until shift change. Let’s move her and check.

It was still on. She wasn’t happy being moved. But I came back, she climbed up my belly to give me her usual face bump and then settled into a belly hug over a lap lay.

I did that once. Thanks god! my roomies turned it off. Since then, I've always been extremely careful to make sure it's off even when I go outside to the trash and come right back. And just for extra measure, I take keys with me if I do that. Because I have double locks on my doors and one of them is not a deadbolt so it could potentially be locked when I close the door. Better safe than sorry!I never rely on anything but ME to deal with these things. Machines can malfunction. Blackouts and brownouts happen. So it's just easier and more effective to deal with it myself.
Of course that is one adorable

 

[daftcat75]

You CAN’T move! She’s too comfy. I just got an induction stove you can turn off with an app. It looks like something out of Star Trek, but, it does help stop climate change & is connected to solar. Poco a poco. Maybe a “clap on, clap off” stove? It’s either that or train Betty to turn the knob, or automate the sofa you’re on to move you both to the kitchen.

I rent. So the appliances the unit came with are the ones I'm stuck with. Until they break. I got a sink upgrade the other year when it was leaking and I was informed they have newer faucets. I went from a one-piece to one with a hose and spray option. Kinda makes me want to break another appliance to see what upgrades may be available.

 

[daftcat75]

I did that once. Thanks god! my roomies turned it off. Since then, I've always been extremely careful to make sure it's off even when I go outside to the trash and come right back. And just for extra measure, I take keys with me if I do that. Because I have double locks on my doors and one of them is not a deadbolt so it could potentially be locked when I close the door. Better safe than sorry!I never rely on anything but ME to deal with these things. Machines can malfunction. Blackouts and brownouts happen. So it's just easier and more effective to deal with it myself.
Of course that is one adorable

A smart plug between the oven and the wall would be a backup. Not a primary system. It wouldn't be anything I would automate. But for those very rare moments when I cannot remember if I turned off the stove, I can check how much current that plug is pulling. If it's anything more than a clock's worth, I can shut it off at the wall until I can get over to the unit to physically turn the knob to the off position. I can probably find an adapter. But the question then becomes should I? The adapter then becomes a point of failure as well as whether the smart plug was ever rated for that kind of output. Something to look into...

I have tried very hard to teach myself an obsessive habit of turning the knob off. It hasn't worked yet. But at least the stove makes a clicking sound when it's cycling on and off (electric stove.) My stove meals are also my Betty meals. I am sitting in the chair within earshot of that stove cycling sound. It was that sound this morning that tipped me off.

 

[Margot Lane]

A smart plug between the oven and the wall would be a backup. Not a primary system. It wouldn't be anything I would automate. But for those very rare moments when I cannot remember if I turned off the stove, I can check how much current that plug is pulling. If it's anything more than a clock's worth, I can shut it off at the wall until I can get over to the unit to physically turn the knob to the off position. I can probably find an adapter. But the question then becomes should I? The adapter then becomes a point of failure as well as whether the smart plug was ever rated for that kind of output. Something to look into...

I have tried very hard to teach myself an obsessive habit of turning the knob off. It hasn't worked yet. But at least the stove makes a clicking sound when it's cycling on and off (electric stove.) My stove meals are also my Betty meals. I am sitting in the chair within earshot of that stove cycling sound. It was that sound this morning that tipped me off.

You could tie a rope from the stove to your bed-with-wheels and pull yourself along it. That way, Betty isn’t too disturbed

 

[tarasgirl06]

A smart plug between the oven and the wall would be a backup. Not a primary system. It wouldn't be anything I would automate. But for those very rare moments when I cannot remember if I turned off the stove, I can check how much current that plug is pulling. If it's anything more than a clock's worth, I can shut it off at the wall until I can get over to the unit to physically turn the knob to the off position. I can probably find an adapter. But the question then becomes should I? The adapter then becomes a point of failure as well as whether the smart plug was ever rated for that kind of output. Something to look into...

I have tried very hard to teach myself an obsessive habit of turning the knob off. It hasn't worked yet. But at least the stove makes a clicking sound when it's cycling on and off (electric stove.) My stove meals are also my Betty meals. I am sitting in the chair within earshot of that stove cycling sound. It was that sound this morning that tipped me off.

Just like with those cordless $$$ vacuums and everything else "convenient" (and usually $$$), the planned obsolence factor is huge, and I also like to keep things as simple and next to me as possible. Hence, my answer would be "NOPE!" Especially whenever someone I love and care for is involved, I do my best to keep all risk factors as low as possible. And since our home is not only our castle but our only shelter, that has to be protected, too.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Hoping all is well, daftcat75 and Ms. Betty. CATurday is coming! *spot the cat.*

 

[daftcat75]

Spot the cat.

“Betty? You still with me?”
*grumpy chirp*

Her vocabulary, the different noises she makes and when she makes them, is one of her more endearing features.

My gray Garfield chose sleeping over eating this afternoon. Sure enough, she had a sour stomach spit at some point in the afternoon. Stepped in it. But didn’t find the second spit. That’s a bonus surprise for another nocturnal barefoot adventure. She ate about 1/3 of lunch pretty late. And that was it. No second pass. Not sure yet how she’ll do on dinner. She’s done one pass. I can tell it’s something between half and a third. But I haven’t checked on it yet. Not helicoptering her yet.

After completing my 5K this morning, I’m having another FATurday. Chips and salsa and postseason baseball.


Negotiated a “we’re not doing Thanksgiving this year” brunch at the folks with brother, SIL, and nephew the Sunday before the election. Because if the bloodbath starts, if the second American Revolution isn’t bloodless, if they fight or we’re not going to have a country anymore happens again, I want to be home with my cat. Not thinking about how my holiday travel might be disrupted. I’m flying down that Sunday before in the morning. And flying back in the evening. And all Betty’s vet bills went on my Southwest Airlines credit card over the years. This trip is on her.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Spot the cat.
View attachment 486898
“Betty? You still with me?”
*grumpy chirp*

Her vocabulary, the different noises she makes and when she makes them, is one of her more endearing features.

My gray Garfield chose sleeping over eating this afternoon. Sure enough, she had a sour stomach spit at some point in the afternoon. Stepped in it. But didn’t find the second spit. That’s a bonus surprise for another nocturnal barefoot adventure. She ate about 1/3 of lunch pretty late. And that was it. No second pass. Not sure yet how she’ll do on dinner. She’s done one pass. I can tell it’s something between half and a third. But I haven’t checked on it yet. Not helicoptering her yet.

After completing my 5K this morning, I’m having another FATurday. Chips and salsa and postseason baseball.


Negotiated a “we’re not doing Thanksgiving this year” brunch at the folks with brother, SIL, and nephew the Sunday before the election. Because if the bloodbath starts, if the second American Revolution isn’t bloodless, if they fight or we’re not going to have a country anymore happens again, I want to be home with my cat. Not thinking about how my holiday travel might be disrupted. I’m flying down that Sunday before in the morning. And flying back in the evening. And all Betty’s vet bills went on my Southwest Airlines credit card over the years. This trip is on her.

*TYSM, Ms. Betty!* Hope that goes well and that's a good plan for doing your duty to your parental units while avoiding the second (un)Civil War. *But does this mean no turkey and dressing???*
Speaking of spits and passes and turkey, Fluff made quite a few passes on yesterday's offerings, which were BB Wilderness Turkey. Not his fave, though he has bravely gone where no Fluff has gone before, presumably, in the past, once or twice, and actually polished off a whole tin in one day. There was no fish dinner last night
Weirdly coincidental, or not, I opened a bag of tortilla chips last night and had those and salsa, too. I guess FATurday on CATurday evening must be a thing, in my case, with Brit mysteries on PBS and an archaeological show about Petra. *Of COURSE I love archaeology. Because, you know.*

 

[daftcat75]

Stable/slight gain: 9.18

If she’s happy and healthy, then I guess I’m good with her new normal.

 

[daftcat75]

*But does this mean no turkey and dressing???*

Recovering vegan. While it's been likely almost a decade since I was vegan, it's been over two since the last time I ate turkey. And I was never a fan of tofurkey. I eat eggs, dairy, and fish now. As I tell my folks to help them sort out what I can eat, "If it swims, I'll eat it. If it's land or air meat, no thank you." For several Thanksgivings, when I could still leave my cat alone for a few days or under the care of a sitter, I would have Mom pick up a salmon filet and marinate it in pickle juice overnight. I'd pan fry that up for my Thanksgiving dinner. Now that we're down to same day commuting, we'll just have a brunch. And I'm totally fine with that. Maybe next year, Betty and I will road trip it for the weekend. We still need to do a practice staycation and maybe a practice vacation with an hour's drive. As a single, childless, Jewish cat dad, I used to check myself into a hotel for Christmas Eve to stave off the blues. I haven't done that since Covid. Maybe we'll look into that this year for our staycation. Krista certainly enjoyed hers that one year we did that.