Garaint's booster shots went fine, but we must change Opal's food.
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Geraint has blotted his copybook and no mistake. He scratched ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
aunty_marion. I think she quite liked him until then. He is quite an unpredictable cat. He’s due at the vets to get his booster shots tomorrow.
Opal has a big area on her back where she’s bitten all her fur off. She looks a mess and I’m going to try to get her to the vet as soon as I’m paid again, because I have no idea what to do for her.
aunty_marion. I think she quite liked him until then. He is quite an unpredictable cat. He’s due at the vets to get his booster shots tomorrow. Opal has a big area on her back where she’s bitten all her fur off. She looks a mess and I’m going to try to get her to the vet as soon as I’m paid again, because I have no idea what to do for her.
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I had a Tesco delivery last Friday. No problem.
I forgot that I’d booked one for yesterday by mistake and then forgot to cancel it. So we got a load more food. I’m sureaunty_marion and I will manage to eat most of it. At least, we can hope.
Cat news
Geraint is beginning to settle in, he hasn’t yet bitten Marion. And we’re managing to train him to be a bit less hit-and-miss with his litter tray. He’s also beginning to get on with Opal. So, progress.
Edited to add: we have discovered that Geraint is deaf.
I forgot that I’d booked one for yesterday by mistake and then forgot to cancel it. So we got a load more food. I’m sure
aunty_marion and I will manage to eat most of it. At least, we can hope.Cat news
Geraint is beginning to settle in, he hasn’t yet bitten Marion. And we’re managing to train him to be a bit less hit-and-miss with his litter tray. He’s also beginning to get on with Opal. So, progress.
Edited to add: we have discovered that Geraint is deaf.
Today Carys (my cleaner) and I discovered that Geraint has become exceptionally protective of me despite being with me for less than a week. And he bites. He really can bite hard.
We did seem to resolve the issue after Carys fed him a few handfuls of his kibble. He appeared to accept her then, though he stuck close to find out what she was doing. He didn’t, however, react badly to the vacuum cleaner or the spot cleaner I have.
In other news, I have bought a bin for my living room that he shouldn’t be able to get into. I grew very weary of putting the rubbish back in the living room bin after he’d dug it all out again.
I told her that if he bites poor Opal and there is blood, I’m going to have to tell the ASDFR people that we’re not a good fit. So far, I have been holding off introducing them.
We did seem to resolve the issue after Carys fed him a few handfuls of his kibble. He appeared to accept her then, though he stuck close to find out what she was doing. He didn’t, however, react badly to the vacuum cleaner or the spot cleaner I have.
In other news, I have bought a bin for my living room that he shouldn’t be able to get into. I grew very weary of putting the rubbish back in the living room bin after he’d dug it all out again.
I told her that if he bites poor Opal and there is blood, I’m going to have to tell the ASDFR people that we’re not a good fit. So far, I have been holding off introducing them.
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Geraint continues with his weirdness.
I actually caught him trying to steal fudge this afternoon. He has learned nothing from being sick four times on my living room carpet - fudge is not a suitable food for cats. I really think that he and Opal have a brain cell between them, and currently Opal has it.
I actually caught him trying to steal fudge this afternoon. He has learned nothing from being sick four times on my living room carpet - fudge is not a suitable food for cats. I really think that he and Opal have a brain cell between them, and currently Opal has it.
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Picture of Geraint stealing treats
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Geraint, my new kitty, has arrived. I’ll post a picture when he stops hiding underneath the table. He has not yet encountered Opal.
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With poor Smokey having gone (and I do miss her dreadfully), I contacted the Anglesey Feline whatsit thingy because I wanted a second cat, and it can take a rescue service months to find a cat which must be kept indoors.
I am thereby caught, because they already had one they were looking for a good home for. His current name is Quata, and he’s a medium haired tabby.
The reason he’s an indoor-only cat is because he has cerebellar hypoplasia, also known as “wobbly cat syndrome”. He’s a sweetheart and not as wobbly as some cats I’ve seen with that condition, but is definitely best kept indoors.
He arrives at my place on Saturday afternoon. I am going to change his name to Geraint, which is a solid Welsh name.
Opal
Opal is over grooming, and I’m not sure why. The area in her middle back is devoid of fur, but she won’t let me put ointment on her, even though it would help. It’s a worry.
I can’t take her to the vet this week as I’m not paid again until Friday, and had a lot of expenses this month, what with cremating Smokey and having to pay the man for repairs on my fence. Fences, as I discovered, are not covered by buildings insurance.
I am thereby caught, because they already had one they were looking for a good home for. His current name is Quata, and he’s a medium haired tabby.
The reason he’s an indoor-only cat is because he has cerebellar hypoplasia, also known as “wobbly cat syndrome”. He’s a sweetheart and not as wobbly as some cats I’ve seen with that condition, but is definitely best kept indoors.
He arrives at my place on Saturday afternoon. I am going to change his name to Geraint, which is a solid Welsh name.
Opal
Opal is over grooming, and I’m not sure why. The area in her middle back is devoid of fur, but she won’t let me put ointment on her, even though it would help. It’s a worry.
I can’t take her to the vet this week as I’m not paid again until Friday, and had a lot of expenses this month, what with cremating Smokey and having to pay the man for repairs on my fence. Fences, as I discovered, are not covered by buildings insurance.
I had Smokey PTS today. I am heartbroken. All the way home from the vets I wanted to scream “give me my cat back”.
Smokey came to live with me when I was living in London and shortly after my mum died. I had wanted a cat for some time, but given that I visited mum every three weeks it didn’t seem fair to have someone have to come in and feed it while I trotted off.
She came from the RSPCA cat shelter in (I think) Finsbury Park, with all the palaver that entails around being inspected and providing reliable references.
I chose her rather than her sister because Smokey was lively and the sister wasn’t. And because I knew that as a black cat she might struggle more to find a home.
Why now? Smokey had been struggling more and more each day. She had a hard little cough that I didn’t like the sound of. She was struggling to jump onto my bed. Her coat was “staring”, meaning it stood up rather than lying down and being glossy, and, as I became aware on Saturday night, her purr had changed. In fact she didn’t seem to be able to purr properly. Worst of all, she just sat in a corner all day and looked mournful. In short, it was time.
I wish I could believe in things like the “rainbow bridge” but I can’t.
She was the best cat, and I will miss her always.
Smokey came to live with me when I was living in London and shortly after my mum died. I had wanted a cat for some time, but given that I visited mum every three weeks it didn’t seem fair to have someone have to come in and feed it while I trotted off.
She came from the RSPCA cat shelter in (I think) Finsbury Park, with all the palaver that entails around being inspected and providing reliable references.
I chose her rather than her sister because Smokey was lively and the sister wasn’t. And because I knew that as a black cat she might struggle more to find a home.
Why now? Smokey had been struggling more and more each day. She had a hard little cough that I didn’t like the sound of. She was struggling to jump onto my bed. Her coat was “staring”, meaning it stood up rather than lying down and being glossy, and, as I became aware on Saturday night, her purr had changed. In fact she didn’t seem to be able to purr properly. Worst of all, she just sat in a corner all day and looked mournful. In short, it was time.
I wish I could believe in things like the “rainbow bridge” but I can’t.
She was the best cat, and I will miss her always.
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I had a really rough night - yet another stomach upset, which may (or may not) be a bug that’s going round. It came on in the night, but at least this time I got out of bed and my sheets survived without being pooed. So there was that. I am not playing DnD today as I just can’t manage to think that much.
Cats
I took Opal to the vet on Tuesday because she’s chewing the fur in front of her tail and on her left back paw. They have prescribed Metacam, some more Gabapentin and a capsule called Cystaid. I told her she was a very expensive hobby - it cost over £150, not including the taxi fare there and back.
Teeth
I’m going to have to cancel tomorrow’s dentist appointment because I don’t know the cause of this bug, and I don’t want to give it to the dentist.
Cats
I took Opal to the vet on Tuesday because she’s chewing the fur in front of her tail and on her left back paw. They have prescribed Metacam, some more Gabapentin and a capsule called Cystaid. I told her she was a very expensive hobby - it cost over £150, not including the taxi fare there and back.
Teeth
I’m going to have to cancel tomorrow’s dentist appointment because I don’t know the cause of this bug, and I don’t want to give it to the dentist.
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I am home from being away for the weekend. A weekend away was just what I needed, it was lovely to see some old friends.
My journey back, however, was rather horrible, I had just left the place I was staying when I started to get stomach pains. I managed until I got to Birmingham when I started to get diarrhoea.
For the rest of the journey I was in the train loo every half an hour. Even today I am still not quite well - I think it is a 48 hour bug. I feel a bit dizzy and not quite the ticket.
The cats seem vaguely happy to see me back, but have retreated to my bedroom. For the very first time last night they were both on my bed without handbags at dawn breaking out. Perhaps they felt sorry for me.
Edited to add: while I was away, Storm Amy brought my back fence down. This is the second time my fence has come down in North Wales winds. My insurance does not cover fences, hedges or gates, so I have to find funds to put the fence back up. I have no idea where that is going to come from.
My journey back, however, was rather horrible, I had just left the place I was staying when I started to get stomach pains. I managed until I got to Birmingham when I started to get diarrhoea.
For the rest of the journey I was in the train loo every half an hour. Even today I am still not quite well - I think it is a 48 hour bug. I feel a bit dizzy and not quite the ticket.
The cats seem vaguely happy to see me back, but have retreated to my bedroom. For the very first time last night they were both on my bed without handbags at dawn breaking out. Perhaps they felt sorry for me.
Edited to add: while I was away, Storm Amy brought my back fence down. This is the second time my fence has come down in North Wales winds. My insurance does not cover fences, hedges or gates, so I have to find funds to put the fence back up. I have no idea where that is going to come from.
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I have no real news.
I did have a leaky leg for which I had to take antibiotics. It’s all cleared up now, though I have a review of my medications tomorrow. So that will be fun, for some measure of fun.
In other news
I’m still playing the remastered version of Oblivion. My current character is level 34 and has a million gold pieces. He has done this by killing bandits and selling their armour, and making potions and selling them. The actual quests don’t pay that well, not even the Arena.
Cats
Opal has finally started to use the expensive water fountain I bought her. Smokey used hers almost as soon as I put it down, but Opal has taken a couple of months to use hers. I’m pleased, I want to be sure both cats are getting the water they should.
I did have a leaky leg for which I had to take antibiotics. It’s all cleared up now, though I have a review of my medications tomorrow. So that will be fun, for some measure of fun.
In other news
I’m still playing the remastered version of Oblivion. My current character is level 34 and has a million gold pieces. He has done this by killing bandits and selling their armour, and making potions and selling them. The actual quests don’t pay that well, not even the Arena.
Cats
Opal has finally started to use the expensive water fountain I bought her. Smokey used hers almost as soon as I put it down, but Opal has taken a couple of months to use hers. I’m pleased, I want to be sure both cats are getting the water they should.
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- cats,
- gaming,
- me,
- me: health
I am unpopular with Smokey.
I took her to the vet today for an x-ray - the appointment was for 09:00, meaning I had to get up at a sparrow’s fart. She didn’t like being put in the carrier.
They were very careful to explain to me that it involved a general anaesthetic and they could not guarantee that Smokey would survive. I said I understood and that at her age (she’s 19) I wouldn’t expect a heroic revival if anything happened.
As you can imagine, I have been on tenterhooks all day.
I got a call at quarter to four to tell me that she was ready to be picked up.
It turned out that the only thing the x-ray showed was swollen lymph nodes. So we are giving her at least a month’s rest from being dragged to the vet, and may then repeat her bloods. Someone on FB asked me if they have checked for pancreatitis, and yes, they have. They are as sure as they can be that it’s not that.
When I got her home, I opened her carrier and she ran up the stairs as if the hounds of hell were at her little furry heels. Poor cat!
Poor me, too. The doors to the poor house gape ever wider. X-raying a cat is not a cheap hobby. Neither are taxi fares x four. I may have to live on cheap biscuits and porridge.
I took her to the vet today for an x-ray - the appointment was for 09:00, meaning I had to get up at a sparrow’s fart. She didn’t like being put in the carrier.
They were very careful to explain to me that it involved a general anaesthetic and they could not guarantee that Smokey would survive. I said I understood and that at her age (she’s 19) I wouldn’t expect a heroic revival if anything happened.
As you can imagine, I have been on tenterhooks all day.
I got a call at quarter to four to tell me that she was ready to be picked up.
It turned out that the only thing the x-ray showed was swollen lymph nodes. So we are giving her at least a month’s rest from being dragged to the vet, and may then repeat her bloods. Someone on FB asked me if they have checked for pancreatitis, and yes, they have. They are as sure as they can be that it’s not that.
When I got her home, I opened her carrier and she ran up the stairs as if the hounds of hell were at her little furry heels. Poor cat!
Poor me, too. The doors to the poor house gape ever wider. X-raying a cat is not a cheap hobby. Neither are taxi fares x four. I may have to live on cheap biscuits and porridge.
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Life somewhat sucks.
I had an appointment with my doctor today. He wanted to talk about my kidneys. It seems they are not behaving as they should, my kidney function is still well below normal.
I’m being taken off my pills for my hemicrania as these damage my kidney function. And he wants urine samples, one tomorrow (looking for blood) and one next week looking for who knows what.
I have to increase my fluid intake. Which isn’t a real hardship, I can do that.
I am concerned about coming off my hemicrania drug as the debilitating pain may (probably will) recur. That was horrible and I ended up being sent to a neurologist.
In other news…
Opal is driving me crazy. I don’t think she has used her litter box at all this week and my hall is decorated with little piles of💩 I can live without that. She’s a real sweetheart, but I don’t need her 💩 everywhere.
I have called the vet to see if they can prescribe her Gabapentin again, as that seemed to help. I have tried various versions of cat attractant for litter trays but none of them have seemed to be effective.
Honestly, FML.
I had an appointment with my doctor today. He wanted to talk about my kidneys. It seems they are not behaving as they should, my kidney function is still well below normal.
I’m being taken off my pills for my hemicrania as these damage my kidney function. And he wants urine samples, one tomorrow (looking for blood) and one next week looking for who knows what.
I have to increase my fluid intake. Which isn’t a real hardship, I can do that.
I am concerned about coming off my hemicrania drug as the debilitating pain may (probably will) recur. That was horrible and I ended up being sent to a neurologist.
In other news…
Opal is driving me crazy. I don’t think she has used her litter box at all this week and my hall is decorated with little piles of💩 I can live without that. She’s a real sweetheart, but I don’t need her 💩 everywhere.
I have called the vet to see if they can prescribe her Gabapentin again, as that seemed to help. I have tried various versions of cat attractant for litter trays but none of them have seemed to be effective.
Honestly, FML.
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The vet rang me yesterday with an update on Smokey.
Whatever is up with her isn’t her thyroid, liver or kidneys. Nor is it anaemia. She doesn’t have diabetes.
Her intestines are “thickened” and that could be a bad sign. He said they may want me to get her to their premises in Mona as they have other equipment there to do more detailed investigations.
However, Mona is quite a way from Bangor, doubling (at least) the taxi fare. Usefully, my friend Stewart has offered to give us a lift, so it may be possible.
She is now eating much better, which is good, but she is still lethargic and drinking a lot of water.
I have sent my first claim to her insurance company.
Whatever is up with her isn’t her thyroid, liver or kidneys. Nor is it anaemia. She doesn’t have diabetes.
Her intestines are “thickened” and that could be a bad sign. He said they may want me to get her to their premises in Mona as they have other equipment there to do more detailed investigations.
However, Mona is quite a way from Bangor, doubling (at least) the taxi fare. Usefully, my friend Stewart has offered to give us a lift, so it may be possible.
She is now eating much better, which is good, but she is still lethargic and drinking a lot of water.
I have sent my first claim to her insurance company.
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I took Smokey back to the vet yesterday, and the vet gave her an ultrasound, scaled her teeth and took urine and bloods. The vet said that when he examined her he thought he could feel a “mass” but when he used the ultrasound he couldn’t find it. That's Smokey all over - never straightforward.
So far, whatever is wrong with her isn’t thought to be her thyroid. They were a bit puzzled by how dilute her urine is, but I explained how much in love with her water fountain she is.
They are sending one of her bloods to an external lab to see what they can suggest at further cost to me.
She didn’t eat much when she got home, but slept off the sedation. On the other hand, when I took up her tea, she dived on it straight away. So hopefully she will finish it.
Cost so far, £400+. Ker-ching! This time I am really going to have to ask the insurers to cover some of it, though there is a £99 excess and a 20% co-pay.
So far, whatever is wrong with her isn’t thought to be her thyroid. They were a bit puzzled by how dilute her urine is, but I explained how much in love with her water fountain she is.
They are sending one of her bloods to an external lab to see what they can suggest at further cost to me.
She didn’t eat much when she got home, but slept off the sedation. On the other hand, when I took up her tea, she dived on it straight away. So hopefully she will finish it.
Cost so far, £400+. Ker-ching! This time I am really going to have to ask the insurers to cover some of it, though there is a £99 excess and a 20% co-pay.
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Smokey has not been eating - she last had a decent meal on Thursday. I decided to give her the weekend to buck her ideas up, but on Saturday and Sunday nights she didn't want treats (not at all like her) and she didn't want pets. Also not at all like her.
So I took her to the vet this afternoon. She hated it as she always does, and showed it by hissing and spitting at the vet when she tried to take a blood sample.
The vet thought then that the problem may be something to do with her kidneys, but they ran the sample and it's not that.
Next thought is that it's something to do with her thyroid, so I have to take her back tomorrow when they're going to give her something to calm her, do a scan (just in case it's something nasty) and take more bloods. She'll hate it, but I don't see that we have any alternative.
I'm so worried about her that I'm shaking even more than usual.
So I took her to the vet this afternoon. She hated it as she always does, and showed it by hissing and spitting at the vet when she tried to take a blood sample.
The vet thought then that the problem may be something to do with her kidneys, but they ran the sample and it's not that.
Next thought is that it's something to do with her thyroid, so I have to take her back tomorrow when they're going to give her something to calm her, do a scan (just in case it's something nasty) and take more bloods. She'll hate it, but I don't see that we have any alternative.
I'm so worried about her that I'm shaking even more than usual.
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I didn’t update with the outcome of Opal’s trip to the vet.
She’s been prescribed Gabapentin for three months, and she’s been taking it for a little over a week. It seems to work well, she’s not creating bald patches on her haunches. A move forward. It seems that the cause is pain from the injury she had when she came to me.
She’s been prescribed Gabapentin for three months, and she’s been taking it for a little over a week. It seems to work well, she’s not creating bald patches on her haunches. A move forward. It seems that the cause is pain from the injury she had when she came to me.
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Opal (the tabby cat) is worrying me.
She has scabs on her rump, and on her leg, and more rough bits on her tummy. A footle through the internet makes me think it’s allergy to fleas, though there are other things it could be, some of them nasty.
I tried to get her a vet appointment today, but they are busy and offered me one tomorrow. So she’s going to the vet at Llandygai tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, I will give her cuddles. Poor kitty, being itchy is horrible, as I know only too well.
Me
My injuries from the scalds are mostly healed except for the one on my tummy. That one is lingering like an unwanted guest.
She has scabs on her rump, and on her leg, and more rough bits on her tummy. A footle through the internet makes me think it’s allergy to fleas, though there are other things it could be, some of them nasty.
I tried to get her a vet appointment today, but they are busy and offered me one tomorrow. So she’s going to the vet at Llandygai tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, I will give her cuddles. Poor kitty, being itchy is horrible, as I know only too well.
Me
My injuries from the scalds are mostly healed except for the one on my tummy. That one is lingering like an unwanted guest.
It is my birthday. I’m 63.
I would have liked to go to Eastercon, which is in Belfast, but I couldn’t afford it. Spit.
My plan for today, therefore, is to play Baldur’s Gate 3 on my PlayStation.
I’ve reached the Grymforge. In the Grymforge I have discovered an automaton called Grym. And, boy, does he live down to his name.
He only takes damage when he’s been standing in lava, and takes more bludgeoning damage than any other kind. In particular, magic attacks do not appear to have much success unless they are cold based. Which, of course, means that the heat from the lava is reduced that much quicker. I spent all yesterday evening on Grym and got nowhere.
My cunning plan, which I came up with overnight, is to load a previous save and go back to the Emerald Grove. There is a reliable vendor there and I will buy a bludgeoning weapon for my whole party. With those, we might make some progress.
On the Wiki for the game there’s a method of killing Grym with one blow but it involves more hand/eye coordination than I’m capable of.
Cats
I took Smokey (my black cat) to the vet for her annual check up. She’s in good condition, but had lost 800g, meaning she’s a bit skinny, and she has a small hernia. Nobody in their right mind would give a general anaesthetic to a 19 year old cat. So we keep a careful eye on her.
The same week, I had to take Opal (the tabby) to the vet because she was walking funny. You may recall that she came to me with a broken pelvis. Her walk was reminiscent of then. She was prescribed Gabapentin and Loxicom. She does seem much better when on the medication. Which is good, because the vet said that if the problem continued we might have to x-ray her, and perhaps refer her to a specialist vet in either Liverpool or Chester.
Opal hates being in her carrier and both Liverpool and Chester are a long way from here. Carrying her in her basket on a train would suck like a vacuum cleaner.
I would have liked to go to Eastercon, which is in Belfast, but I couldn’t afford it. Spit.
My plan for today, therefore, is to play Baldur’s Gate 3 on my PlayStation.
I’ve reached the Grymforge. In the Grymforge I have discovered an automaton called Grym. And, boy, does he live down to his name.
He only takes damage when he’s been standing in lava, and takes more bludgeoning damage than any other kind. In particular, magic attacks do not appear to have much success unless they are cold based. Which, of course, means that the heat from the lava is reduced that much quicker. I spent all yesterday evening on Grym and got nowhere.
My cunning plan, which I came up with overnight, is to load a previous save and go back to the Emerald Grove. There is a reliable vendor there and I will buy a bludgeoning weapon for my whole party. With those, we might make some progress.
On the Wiki for the game there’s a method of killing Grym with one blow but it involves more hand/eye coordination than I’m capable of.
Cats
I took Smokey (my black cat) to the vet for her annual check up. She’s in good condition, but had lost 800g, meaning she’s a bit skinny, and she has a small hernia. Nobody in their right mind would give a general anaesthetic to a 19 year old cat. So we keep a careful eye on her.
The same week, I had to take Opal (the tabby) to the vet because she was walking funny. You may recall that she came to me with a broken pelvis. Her walk was reminiscent of then. She was prescribed Gabapentin and Loxicom. She does seem much better when on the medication. Which is good, because the vet said that if the problem continued we might have to x-ray her, and perhaps refer her to a specialist vet in either Liverpool or Chester.
Opal hates being in her carrier and both Liverpool and Chester are a long way from here. Carrying her in her basket on a train would suck like a vacuum cleaner.