I just wanna say -- the random comments thread

[Matata]

The struggle is real. I just got chopped to a bob because my stylist (and it seems very stylist) cannot give me the same layers twice. Right now there are just enough remaining layers so my hair doesn't have the Christmas tree shape. In a couple of months I will be dealing with that again and will......get some layers. Lol

I'll never be able to style my hair the way my stylist does. I'm thinking about spraying my hair with a can of super hold spray and not washing it until the next time I get it cut in two months

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

I don't really understand the fair weather response of media. Historic president who is old(oh no!) has an old man day. Where is the support for all that has already been done and will still be done?
Obama had a terrible first debate against Romney.
They need to stop with the Chicken Little and stop insulting the American people. This is exactly why we have no king and never will. There's a whole team writing and enacting policy.
He had a fantastic speech in NC the next day, when he was feeling a bit better.

There is only one question, Democracy or Fascism?

 

[Lookinagain]

I hate liars.

 

[Matata]

I hate liars.

Me too. There can't be trust when one lies about everything all the time. Even the "little white lie" puts someone on my side-eye list. My friends and family know that if they lie to me about significant things, we're done. I prefer the truth no matter how harsh. I acknowledge that I'm inflexible about that position. Different strokes....

 

[Lookinagain]

Me too. There can't be trust when one lies about everything all the time. Even the "little white lie" puts someone on my side-eye list. My friends and family know that if they lie to me about significant things, we're done. I prefer the truth no matter how harsh. I acknowledge that I'm inflexible about that position. Different strokes....

I'm the same. A boss once asked me why I didn't do something. My answer was "because I'm too f**ing honest" and it wouldn't be good for the business! He laughed, but acknowledged that it was true.

 

[Brigid]

I feel like having a rant;
Why is there homelessness and remiss environmental change, and yet we have 50 billionaires in Australia, 40% disgust me.
I’m so sick of disinformation, for goodness sake please educate yourself, your untruths spread unnecessary animosity and confusion, and therefore unrest.
Rant over, I’ve calmed down with my mantra “good will always prevail over evil”!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

something happier

Camilla invites Kate's 'best friend' for afternoon tea at Buckingham Palace

Queen Camilla made dreams come true last week when she invited two child fundraising heroes and their families to Buckingham Palace for a private garden party.

www.express.co.uk

the young lad had been invited to a garden party but the family got stuck in traffic and missed it
he has become the youngest person to recieve a BEM.

Queen Camila is a good old stick i reacon

 

[Brigid]

Perfect post after my menopausal (although tests indicate I’m post) rant @Daisys and Diamonds! I’m going completely off track from the article you posted, but King Charles is a respected environmentalist, I’ve visited Highgrove Castle, the gardens are amazing; I was especially taken by the sustainability methods used.

 

[missy]

I never thought we’d be in a situation where we could lose all our furry babies

 

[Slickk]

I never thought we’d be in a situation where we could lose all our furry babies

@missy I’m so sorry for what is going on. Praying and sending loads of positive vibes that your fur babies pull through. ((Hugs)) and to you and your fur babies.

 

[missy]

TYSM @Slickk for all your support and for your true friendship

 

[RMOO]

I never thought we’d be in a situation where we could lose all our furry babies

I'm so sorry you are going through this! Hopefully the vet figures out what is going on soon. Such a coincidence (or not) that both would stop eating around the same time. It leads me to ask: did you start anything new food wise? Even as benign as opening a new bag of food of the brand they always eat? Or have you started burning any new scented candles or essential oils?

 

[missy]

I'm so sorry you are going through this! Hopefully the vet figures out what is going on soon. Such a coincidence (or not) that both would stop eating around the same time. It leads me to ask: did you start anything new food wise? Even as benign as opening a new bag of food of the brand they always eat? Or have you started burning any new scented candles or essential oils?

Absolutely no changes I can think of…I’ve been wracking my brain all week. I’m worried sick. All bloodwork normal. X-rays normal. Brian who’s been a veterinarian for 60 years and who is an amazing diagnostician is lost as to the cause. I feel if he can’t figure it out no other vet will be able to. We saw two different vets and consulted with my sister who is a veterinarian too. Three great minds. No answers. I even posted in cat groups because sometimes crowd sourcing is helpful. But even the vet experts in the vet groups don’t know. Thank you @RMOO I greatly appreciate your brainstorming for my kitties

 

[Matata]

I’m worried sick. All bloodwork normal. X-rays normal.

Are they drinking water? Are they pooping/peeing? Maybe have the food tested for contamination. Have you checked recall lists for the food?

Any environmental changes that could cause them stress/anxiety? Is it possible that the presence of the strays you care for have begun to disturb them? Any changes in their relationship?

Did the vet give you an appetite stimulant for them? Have you tried giving them cooked salmon, cheese, etc.?

Fingers crossed that whatever is bothering them resolves itself.

 

[missy]

Are they drinking water? Are they pooping/peeing? Maybe have the food tested for contamination. Have you checked recall lists for the food?

Any environmental changes that could cause them stress/anxiety? Is it possible that the presence of the strays you care for have begun to disturb them? Any changes in their relationship?

Did the vet give you an appetite stimulant for them? Have you tried giving them cooked salmon, cheese, etc.?

Fingers crossed that whatever is bothering them resolves itself.

TYSM Matata. We’ve ruled all that out to the best of our abilities. We’re giving them bottled water, new food. Yes to drinking water and preing and popping (tho Tommy had no food zip zero in his tummy as evidenced by the X-rays Tuesday so he wasn’t having any BMs)

Our vet gave appetite stimulants which were working yesterday less so today. I have it on order in oral form and have the transdermal form to use til it arrives. But under strict instructions to wait til Friday as it supposedly lasts three days.

We’ve tried everything. Tuna. Salmon. Heated up. Chicken. Turkey. Baby food. Fifty different brands. Treats galore. Everything I could think of

No changes in the ferals who are getting the same food. TG. Our cats aren’t bothered by the ferals who I’ve been feeding wet food for months now but they’ve been around for years. Since we moved here in 2011 we’ve been caring for the ferals since 2011


I’m at a loss as to what’s happening
We tested for carbon monoxide. Radon. All clear.

Thanks for caring and brainstorming on our behalf and for your well wishes

 

[kenny]

Everyone declines with age. ... Everyone!
Everyone dies. ... Everyone!

But as we're seeing yet again, denial ain't just a river in Egypt.

Just because I was still fairly functional for my age, during my last 4 years, doesn't mean I'll be equally functional during my NEXT 4.
Why?
Scroll up and read the first sentence of this post.

Should record gold metal winner Simone Biles (now 27) continue to compete in gymnastics another 4 years? ... and after that another 4 years? ... and after that another 4 years? ... lather, rinse repeat till age 81? I mean, look at her accomplishments! How could you be so cruel and cold as to send Simone Biles out to pasture? I mean, look at what she has accomplished! You're such a meanie!

Maybe reality is just too much to handle for many, so they're 'frozen" in that deceptive Disney-fantasy that is promised by the multi-zillion dollar cling-pathetically-to-youth industry.

Yeah, reality and truth ain't too warm and fuzzy ........... hence, the eternal preponderance of religions, BTW.

Me, I find reality and truth to be very warm and fuzzy, but hey, that's just me.
Reality powerfully motivates me to make the short time I have here to be the best possible.
Why? Because short this time is all that we are sure we have.

 

[missy]

Everyone declines with age. ... Everyone!
Everyone dies. ... Everyone!

True. My dad always said to me "missy, no one gets out of this life alive"...truer words were never spoken.

But something is not right. This is more than aging. IMO.

Tommy and Bobby and even Oliver (who's only 5 yo) are all affected. To different degrees.
(So far, Gracie appears to be eating fine)
It's a mystery and I am working hard to figure it out before it is too late.

Photo from a couple of years ago
From R to L
Bobby, Tommy, Oliver, Gracie

 

[RMOO]

Absolutely no changes I can think of…I’ve been wracking my brain all week. I’m worried sick. All bloodwork normal. X-rays normal. Brian who’s been a veterinarian for 60 years and who is an amazing diagnostician is lost as to the cause. I feel if he can’t figure it out no other vet will be able to. We saw two different vets and consulted with my sister who is a veterinarian too. Three great minds. No answers. I even posted in cat groups because sometimes crowd sourcing is helpful. But even the vet experts in the vet groups don’t know. Thank you @RMOO I greatly appreciate your brainstorming for my kitties

Anything in the house that could be contributing to a mold issue? I ask because a friend of mine just lost her 5 year old dog to similarly mysterious symptoms. When they did the necropsy they found mold.

 

[missy]

Anything in the house that could be contributing to a mold issue? I ask because a friend of mine just lost her 5 year old dog to similarly mysterious symptoms. When they did the necropsy they found mold.

Oh my goodness. I’m so sorry about your friend’s poor dog

No mold issues as far as we know but worth checking into. Thank you

 

[OboeGal]

Anything in the house that could be contributing to a mold issue? I ask because a friend of mine just lost her 5 year old dog to similarly mysterious symptoms. When they did the necropsy they found mold.

I was thinking this as well. The house is on the coast.....and @missy, didn't you all have a really terrible storm? Is it possible that the wind pushed moisture into the house where it ordinarily wouldn't and now, with heat also, mold is quickly developing? Also - there are fungal infections that are typically seen only in cats that go outside, as the fungi live in the soil, but is it possible that some got pushed into the house by the wind? Are they showing any other symptoms at all? Fever, lethargy, sleeping more than normal, etc.?

Another thought I had is frankly just a virus or parasite or other pathogen. This has happened on a few occasions with my dogs over the years - somehow one picks up something and before I even know anything's afoot, they would ALL have it, typically with digestive symptoms and sometimes lethargy. It would typically be something that is difficult, if not impossible, to test for or find in a fecal sample, so vets would have no firm answers, and it would just be a matter of managing the symptoms until their systems were able kick it. While it's much harder for indoor animals to get exposed to something like that, and I fortunately never had that happen with my indoor kitties, it conceivably could be carried in on yours or Greg's shoes, perhaps picked up from the ferals in the yard, or frankly anywhere else that you happen to go - it would be impossible to prevent and just bad luck. Also, I know that dogs can pick up norovirus from people, although I don't know if kitties can - is it possible that a visit with your dad meant a bit of the virus somehow made it into the house, on the floor? (I'm stretching a bit with that, but just brainstorming here......)

Now, the hitch that I didn't have with the dogs that you are contending with is the tendency of kitties toward hepatic lipidosis if they lose too much weight too fast. Even if the cause is some pathogen that isn't too serious and that they can eventually kick, if hepatic lipidosis sets in in the process, that's a whole different matter. Did your sister or the other vets mention having them inpatient with direct tube feeding if this continues?

 

[missy]

I was thinking this as well. The house is on the coast.....and @missy, didn't you all have a really terrible storm? Is it possible that the wind pushed moisture into the house where it ordinarily wouldn't and now, with heat also, mold is quickly developing?

Yes we had a horrific storm a couple of weeks ago. We have a mold test kit coming Monday and Greg’s going to evaluate the situation. Thanks Oboe Gal.

 

[OboeGal]

@missy, I don't know if you saw that I edited the above comment about the mold to add a few more ideas - just alerting you to that if you didn't. Hoping that we get something figured out for the sweet babies.

 

[missy]

@missy, I don't know if you saw that I edited the above comment about the mold to add a few more ideas - just alerting you to that if you didn't. Hoping that we get something figured out for the sweet babies.

Thank you for letting me know and for your brainstorming for our babies. I really appreciate it and will evaluate each possibility you shared one by one. TYSM

 

[caf]

@missy Perhaps change out their bowls? Buy new and don’t put in dishwasher. Or try paper plates?

Crack open some fish oil?

Check-change a/c filters?

Did you change cat litter?

Did your washer detergent change?

I read somewhere that catnip could encourage appetite. Like roll it around near food?

Sorry your kitties are ailing!

 

[seafarm]

@missy I’m so sorry to read about the problems with your kitties. I recently had something similar happen to my male cat, Albert. He has recently turned six.

He vomited green three times within an hour, then I realised he hadn’t been eating or pooping, maybe for a day?…..It’s a bit hard to tell in a two cat household. I called the vet and made an appointment. They weren’t overly concerned at this stage.

He had several tests and an X-ray and was given an enema. The next three days he was back to the vet with no improvement. More tests, X-rays and another enema but still no change and nothing showing up in any of the tests.

After four days in a row at the vet, they asked us to take him to our local small animal specialist hospital where he had an ultrasound, more tests and was put on a drip. Next day there was still no change or answers, so we took him to the main specialist hospital in Sydney. More tests - you name it, they did it - and back on a drip.

All the nasties (cancer, liver, kidney problems etc) were ruled out. After two days in that hospital the specialist was worried as he was becoming very stressed - Albert, not the vet! - and thought he would do better at home, so we bought him home.

He was on anti anxiety, anti nausea, anti vomit and appetite stimulant medication for several days. To this day we do not know what was wrong. The specialist vet thinks it was a gastro intestinal problem.

We are now two months on and he’s been fine with no more problems, thankfully. He’s regained the weight he lost from not eating for more than seven days, and is back to his usual self.

We also have a female cat, but she has had no problems whatsoever. They are both indoor only cats.

My heart goes out to you, it’s very confronting and heartbreaking when our fur kids are sick and suffering. I sincerely hope your kitties are back to normal very soon. My thoughts are with you all

 

[missy]

Update as of 7/7/2024 all the kitties are eating again and have been eating somewhat for the past few days. I do not want to jinx it but greatly appreciate all the suggestions and caring comments from everyone. Fingers and toes crossed they continue eating. We are still going to test for mold tomorrow when the kit arrives but my dh feels it is very unlikely. I however do not feel that way so we shall see. But whatever caused them to stop eating is still a mystery. Truly. I know Tommy is old but he did this four years ago. Just stopped eating for two days and we brought him to my sister who did everything she could and that day he started eating again. This time it didn't go down like that. We brought him and Bobby to her clinic and the vets there did everything she did four years ago but it did not jump start their appetite til we went back two days later (when Bobby stopped eating) and they gave them the same injections (B12, Kenalog, appetite stimulants etc) and then later that day they started eating a little. But as of this morning they seem to be eating OK again but we shall see. Just wanted to update for those who have been so caring and thoughtful. THANK YOU

 

[missy]

@missy I’m so sorry to read about the problems with your kitties. I recently had something similar happen to my male cat, Albert. He has recently turned six.

He vomited green three times within an hour, then I realised he hadn’t been eating or pooping, maybe for a day?…..It’s a bit hard to tell in a two cat household. I called the vet and made an appointment. They weren’t overly concerned at this stage.

He had several tests and an X-ray and was given an enema. The next three days he was back to the vet with no improvement. More tests, X-rays and another enema but still no change and nothing showing up in any of the tests.

After four days in a row at the vet, they asked us to take him to our local small animal specialist hospital where he had an ultrasound, more tests and was put on a drip. Next day there was still no change or answers, so we took him to the main specialist hospital in Sydney. More tests - you name it, they did it - and back on a drip.

All the nasties (cancer, liver, kidney problems etc) were ruled out. After two days in that hospital the specialist was worried as he was becoming very stressed - Albert, not the vet! - and thought he would do better at home, so we bought him home.

He was on anti anxiety, anti nausea, anti vomit and appetite stimulant medication for several days. To this day we do not know what was wrong. The specialist vet thinks it was a gastro intestinal problem.

We are now two months on and he’s been fine with no more problems, thankfully. He’s regained the weight he lost from not eating for more than seven days, and is back to his usual self.

We also have a female cat, but she has had no problems whatsoever. They are both indoor only cats.

My heart goes out to you, it’s very confronting and heartbreaking when our fur kids are sick and suffering. I sincerely hope your kitties are back to normal very soon. My thoughts are with you all

Thank you so much and I am very pleased to read your cats are doing well now. It is so scary when our furry babies are unwell. Their lives are so short as it is...thank you for sharing and thank you for caring XO

Hope the kitties will get better soon They're adorable!

Thank you so much

@missy Perhaps change out their bowls? Buy new and don’t put in dishwasher. Or try paper plates?

Crack open some fish oil?

Check-change a/c filters?

Did you change cat litter?

Did your washer detergent change?

I read somewhere that catnip could encourage appetite. Like roll it around near food?

Sorry your kitties are ailing!

Thank you Caf. No changes at all. We have wracked our brains over this and there is (as far as we can figure out) no reason for their eating strike. I do give Tommy catnip because he adores it but it hasn't helped stimulate his appetite. Thankfully he is eating again. For now. TY for caring

@OboeGal thank you again for all your recommendations and I will keep you posted. XO

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

Surprised my hubby with a get away. All the bells and whistles. He’s happy the dog is happy. I plan to do this every other month unless life gets in the way. I was this many years old when I learned that he deserves what he gives to our family and friends and maybe I do as well.

 

[smitcompton]

Everyone declines with age. ... Everyone!
Everyone dies. ... Everyone!

But as we're seeing yet again, denial ain't just a river in Egypt.

Just because I was still fairly functional for my age, during my last 4 years, doesn't mean I'll be equally functional during my NEXT 4.
Why?
Scroll up and read the first sentence of this post.

Should record gold metal winner Simone Biles (now 27) continue to compete in gymnastics another 4 years? ... and after that another 4 years? ... and after that another 4 years? ... lather, rinse repeat till age 81? I mean, look at her accomplishments! How could you be so cruel and cold as to send Simone Biles out to pasture? I mean, look at what she has accomplished! You're such a meanie!

Maybe reality is just too much to handle for many, so they're 'frozen" in that deceptive Disney-fantasy that is promised by the multi-zillion dollar cling-pathetically-to-youth industry.

Yeah, reality and truth ain't too warm and fuzzy ........... hence, the eternal preponderance of religions, BTW.

Me, I find reality and truth to be very warm and fuzzy, but hey, that's just me.
Reality powerfully motivates me to make the short time I have here to be the best possible.
Why? Because short this time is all that we are sure we have.

Hi Kenny,

You said your piece so well. I agree, you have spoken truth.
This is life, we can accept losses and sorrows, when we understand there is a natural order to life and some things cannot be changed. We all age, we all die. Acceptance of the things we cannot change. (St Francis).

Annete

 

[smitcompton]

Hi Junebug,

I have been thinking about you lately. I will remember you for doing the hard stuff on pricescope, and standing up against the forces that dominated at that time. We have so many moralists on here that tire me out telling me how wonderful they think they are. Can't have discussions. You, I think are the real deal. I saw it with my own eyes. I really hope you are well. Thanks for being an example for me.

Annette