Introducing Betty White

tarasgirl06

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I don’t think it’s a problem yet. But I also don’t know if I would recognize it transitioning into problem area. I kinda prefer a chubby cat after feeling Krista waste away under my hands. Betty is starting to zoom again at night. Things can’t be all too uncomfortable for her yet. Despite those zoom yowls. 🙉🤦🏼‍♂️ And if I helicopter in 🚁, I get a “what’s the big fuss, Dad?” chirp. “I’m just playing.” I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to zoom yowls. Over a hundred vocalizations and I have to hear that one when she’s happy playing in the middle of the night. 🤦🏼‍♂️😹

On the other paw, she sleeps entirely too much during the day. And the night. I shouldn’t be discouraging any activity no matter what the hour if I want the pork train to start pumping the brakes. 🐷🚂
Does Betty like any battery-operated and/or sensor-activated toys? Thinking that while you're working or out, maybe she'd like to work out. I'm not a fan of hard plastic battery-operated toys, but if she needs more exercise...
I like a well-padded cat as well. Not unhealthy. Just cuddly. Baby Su is "cat slats" at 17 1/2 and I encourage her to eat, eat, eat!!! Elvis is just right, to me -- a little bit prosPURRous. I know cats in their natural habitat and pursuing their own natural prey tend to be quite lean. But "house" cats can be a little bit round IMHO. Betty looks absolutely perfect to me. Do you have a standing-over-Betty pic to share?
 

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Chirp sounds like meh
Quack sounds like mao
Siren sounds like meoooooow
Betty's quack sounds like a, "noww"...."now" sound to me.
Like whatever she wants, she wants it 'immediately'. :crazy:

I don't think I've heard her 'siren sound'..."meoooow' sound,...but I'll envision it like an actually siren. :) 🚨
In case anyone missed it from earlier, Betty is sniffing more here than usual. Often she goes right in for the bunt. When I get down to her level to brush her or put her food coated pills on the carpet, I brace for the bunt first. Then she comes back for brushes and cuddles.
:blush: :crackup:The bunting and 'cheek marking' is just so adorable.:lovecat2:
I really like your, and Betty's, smile, too. 😀 😊
When Betty cheek marks you as hers,...Betty really means it. :lol: :crackup:

It also sounds like you and your Betty have invented a 'new cat sport'...called 'brace for bunting impact'...before doling out the 'food coated pills'. :lol: :flail:
We'd think you were handing out 'cat treats', if you didn't explain it first.:)
🐷🐷🐷🐷🙀
View attachment 421146

Her weight gain is accelerating even though her calories remained about the same: 183 vs 176

Now I need to figure out how to cut some calories without having a hangry Betty. And how to stop sneaking her tweeners when I feel sorry for her going too long between meals. 🤦🏼‍♂️😼

And just what is her ideal weight and ideal calories??
🤔🧐🤨
Do you have a standing-over-Betty pic to share?
Having a 'standing over photo' would be helpful, but also having photos from the sides, and other angles, too.
(in natural daylight.)...or just videos of her playing, and zooming around, helps see her energy levels.

I think it is difficult to figure out the 'ideal target weight' for our cats.
(unless it's a pound extra...depending upon the cat's frame, and body size/muscle mass, too.)

Often times, I think that our Vets want all cats to be lean, and in the 'ideal weight range'....but I too, like tarasgirl06 tarasgirl06 prefer my cats to have a bit more weight, so that when they do get ill, and seem to drop weight rapidly, then they still have that 'protective cushion of a little extra weight'.

I can't remember what age they estimated your Betty to be at?🤔
And how accurate are the Vets at determining age based on teeth? or eyes? cat's movements?

On another member's thread, we were discussing "muscle wasting"...and 'ideal weight', since her cat is 14 ish...but does have some other health issues, too.

I'll just quote from the post that I wrote there, since it's easier:
...also has to do with not only her 'body condition score'...but like you mentioned 'her cat muscle condition score', too.
A Quick and Easy Way to Determine Your Cat's Body Condition Score - The Conscious Cat

This article I find a bit more useful, because it links to another article, with a video, which is a bit dated, and really, "why do they start with a cat exam, and then switch to dogs, lol."..."come on video people, stick with one animal, not to confuse me."
You Should Check Not Just Weight But Also Muscle Mass - Tufts Catnip

These are two cat calorie calculators I've used, but they don't actually take into consideration the activity levels of cats, and how much play and exercise they get,...so I would just use them as a general idea, and ask the Vet to be sure.
Calorie Requirement Calculator
CALORIE CALCULATOR FOR CATS
Since you are seeing results for Betty gaining weight, then I would think that a weight of 10 lbs would be okay, but again, like tarasgirl06 tarasgirl06 mentioned, it might depend on how she looks from above, and if you can easily judge her muscle mass, too.

For now, I would not change a thing, in what you are doing for Betty, and how you are getting her stabilized in her eating and weight.
:thumbsup:

(If you had to cut down on calories, eventually,...and we're talking months down the road,...then you may have to find some similar ingredient foods, that have nutritional calories, but are just as filling, for weight maintenance.)

It seems like the i/d food is agreeing with Betty...and if you needed to try some other 'hairball, or indoor cat formulas'...that the Vet Specialist would recommend, or some other foods for 'sensitive stomach' or 'sensitive digestion'...then I'd only try them, if needed.
Making too many changes now, wouldn't be wise...especially since you are seeing so many positive results.

Getting Betty to exercise and play more, would also help, as tarasgirl06 said, not only to lose weight, but to build muscle, too.

This is one of the 'battery operated cat toys' that my male cat loves...but my female cat is afraid of...so I guess it all depends on the cat's preferences, in cat play toys, too.
The wand does fall off, so you may have to superglue it for Betty, since she might try to tear it off in the first go, and chew on it.
CAT'S MEOW Motorized Chaser Cat Toy - Chewy.com
(I bought it at walmart for under $17 CAD, so you might be able to find it even cheaper.)

Oh, was still curious...if Betty is still taking mirtazapine?
 
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daftcat75

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It’s funny you say her quacks sound like “now” because that’s our new favorite conversation game. Just before I begin the meal prep until I set down the plate, I ask her in meow form, “now?” And she responds, “now!” And we go back and forth like this. Of course I mess with her. “No?” “Neowwww!” “No? Not now?”

So 9.5 lbs really agrees with her. I’ve been feeling that hip joint (pelvis? Sacrum? L7?) at the base of her tail for months. I mean actually feeling the bone. And this week, there’s finally a fat pad over that bone.

Its hard to get linear walking or standing overhead pics on a cat when all she wants to do is follow, circle, or sit. 🤦🏼‍♂️😹😻
 

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tarasgirl06

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It’s funny you say her quacks sound like “now” because that’s our new favorite conversation game. Just before I begin the meal prep until I set down the plate, I ask her in meow form, “now?” And she responds, “now!” And we go back and forth like this. Of course I mess with her. “No?” “Neowwww!” “No? Not now?”

So 9.5 lbs really agrees with her. I’ve been feeling that hip joint (pelvis? Sacrum? L7?) at the base of her tail for months. I mean actually feeling the bone. And this week, there’s finally a fat pad over that bone.

Its hard to get linear walking or standing overhead pics on a cat when all she wants to do is follow, circle, or sit. 🤦🏼‍♂️😹😻
Oh, beautiful Ms. Betty Green-eyes, you're PURRfection on four legs! You have a cute little waist there, and you're looking 100% healthy and lovely! Your dad loves you very much and he's doing a suPURRb job of keeping you fit and happy! *NAOWWWW!*:goldstar::hearthrob::lovecat4::hearthrob:
 

daftcat75

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Oh, was still curious...if Betty is still taking mirtazapine?
Yes. As much as she seems like she doesn't need it anymore, I don't dare touch any of her meds (or food) until I've met with the specialist next week (yes, it's almost here!) My great hope is that we'll get an ultrasound in that afternoon and she'll tell me, "Whatever was there before is no longer there. Her intestines are no longer inflamed." 🤞 And then I wonder and worry how challenging it may be to get her off these meds having come to rely on them for so long....
 

tarasgirl06

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Yes. As much as she seems like she doesn't need it anymore, I don't dare touch any of her meds (or food) until I've met with the specialist next week (yes, it's almost here!) My great hope is that we'll get an ultrasound in that afternoon and she'll tell me, "Whatever was there before is no longer there. Her intestines are no longer inflamed." 🤞 And then I wonder and worry how challenging it may be to get her off these meds having come to rely on them for so long....
Yup, definitely of like mind there. But still, hoping and praying for that report! She's looking so well. :hearthrob: :lovecat3::hearthrob::goldstar:
 

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I got Betty's AnimalBiome report just in time to consult with the specialist next week. I'm attaching it here for anyone interested. It's a lot to "digest" so to speak.

The upshot is that there was a mild to moderate imbalance in her gut microbiome.

I will be ordering a new round of testing to complete next week with our last poop pill before the specialist can prescribe anything to alter that biome we've worked so hard to restore.

I don't know if I still have Krista's results. I cannot find them on my Google Drive. I deleted her account from the AnimalBiome website when I created Betty's profile. 🤦‍♂️ 😿

EDIT: I found Krista's report. It's too large for upload. 🤦‍♂️ 😾
 

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Margot Lane

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When you’re taking a break from all of this to um, er, ’digest,’ I was wondering if you’d checked out The Savannah Bananas website, since I know you’re a baseball fan. (At least see the video on their website, it will cheer you & anyone else up up no end). …AAAannd now back to our regular Fantastic Betty White Shew! :banana2:
 

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When you’re taking a break from all of this to um, er, ’digest,’ I was wondering if you’d checked out The Savannah Bananas website, since I know you’re a baseball fan. (At least see the video on their website, it will cheer you & anyone else up up no end). …AAAannd now back to our regular Fantastic Betty White Shew! :banana2:
Which Savannah Bananas video should I be watching here? They have quite a library.
 

daftcat75

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First pass impressions on her report:
She has (had? 🤞) all the pro-inflammatory bacteria and none of the anti-inflammatory strains. (F:B ratio is all F and no B.) Diet recommendations were more fiber and a prebiotic like inulin. Check and check. The I/D provides fiber and the Optagest provides inulin.

Next test ordered. They’re super quick on the ship and very local (one hour away.) I should get that second test by the weekend. Saturday or Sunday will be her last pill. We lost a couple pills to that one morning she was being stubborn. 🤦🏼‍♂️😾
 

tarasgirl06

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First pass impressions on her report:
She has (had? 🤞) all the pro-inflammatory bacteria and none of the anti-inflammatory strains. (F:B ratio is all F and no B.) Diet recommendations were more fiber and a prebiotic like inulin. Check and check. The I/D provides fiber and the Optagest provides inulin.

Next test ordered. They’re super quick on the ship and very local (one hour away.) I should get that second test by the weekend. Saturday or Sunday will be her last pill. We lost a couple pills to that one morning she was being stubborn. 🤦🏼‍♂️😾
All systems *go*! :hearthrob: :lovecat4: :hearthrob: :cheerleader:
 

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It’s pretty warm here tonight. Warm enough that Betty skipped the poof tonight. Although she has been sleeping in it all day. But we’re also oriented such that the big glass deck door catches all the afternoon sun. Even with protective film on the glass, this place warms up in the afternoons and retains it a long time. No cross ventilation possible. Besides that door, the only window is on the same side in the office insuring that room also gets toasty in the afternoon. 🤦🏼‍♂️

Sitting with Betty on the floor watching the game. I don’t think either of us are interested in my lap tonight.
091020C1-282F-4ECB-8842-6D7C2E4794D0.jpeg
 
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daftcat75

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Hot here too! I ice cubed my cat’s fur.
She ate less at second dinner. But she also had a bumper portion in the afternoon. She has four more hours until the overnight. And because she had a bumper portion (an extra 1/3 portion), she can certainly eat a little less during this heat wave.

She’s back in the poof. She can’t be too miserable. But she is also showing little interest in bedtime cuddles right now. This is usually her favorite time of the day: snuggling up high in armpit and nuzzling my face and chest. I imagine we’ll connect later tonight. She usually enjoys a couple of those each night and again in the morning after her breakfast and before mine. 😻👍
 

daftcat75

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She finished second dinner and had a poop and a zoom. We had a brief cuddle and she’s moved on to her cloud. It’s still 76 outside and the Dyson says it’s 81 inside. 🥵😿
 

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By closing the blinds/drapes/window coverings until sundown, I keep it as cool as possible in here. It was "warm" last night here too, but I open windows and doors at sundown and it cools overnight. And yeah, the ceiling fan is on all night so we can sleep. Elvis patrols, and Baby Su stays with me at the foot of the bed, no matter what the temperature.
 

daftcat75

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I have plenty of fans. They only do so much with the size of the room and the impossibility of air flow. It’s a lot easier to heat up this place in an afternoon than to cool it down overnight. 🥵🤦🏼‍♂️

Thankfully, in the aggregate, we only have a week or two of nights like this each year. It’s a big reason why I prefer the Bay Area to Southern California where I grew up.
 
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