Sparky, thanks! I'll probably reply from home tonight.

2008 keeps on giving. I got (rightfully) called out for something I totally forgot to do before I left for vacation. Now, given what that week was like, even if I remembered, I probably wouldn't have gotten it done (there was a lot of stuff in a similar vein that got jettisoned that week.) But ahrg. I hate stupid mistakes like that.

The current trend in cat food is lower-carb, even in the dry food, which makes sense to me logically, but I am semi-unconvinced it matters that much for a house cat.

My cats are thriving on Science Diet, fwiw, but they're eating the expensive CD (for Chumley's kidney stones) that I get at the vet's for like $32/10lbs. You can get cheaper SD at any pet store.

I'm the one who's been pimping Snapea Crisps that I get at TJ's for $1.49/bag ($1.99 at Whole Food$ !!!) They are really quite wonderful and I'm going to see if there are any TJs in this area of PA that I could cruise by while I'm down here.

Mom is up, but feeling weak as ever, so it's time to make like the Medical Hulk.

Where are you, Theodosia? I know there's a TJ's near the King of Prussia Mall. I need to hit it up next time I'm at my parents'.

are there any hivemind recs. on cat food?

Ours pretty much enjoy whatever is put in front of them. Though what's put in front of them is usually Science Diet. The only tip I can give is, cats tend to prefer the familiar. So if you're going to change its diet from what it's used to, go gradually for a while with half old and half new.

In the "file away for the future" category, NCSU has a major vet hospital. One of the few places in the country that does feline kidney transplants.

Thanks, y'all. It sounds like there are several good options out there. And Fred, thanks for letting me know about NCSU's vet hospital. They did a hip replacement on my roommate's dog about 10 years ago, and they were very nice and easy to work with. Good people.

We ended up going to Philadelphia for Teddy's transplant (it's closer to DC), so I can't vouch for NCSU's treatment. And they were just starting transplants when we had Teddy's done a little over a year ago. But so few hospitals do kidney transplants at all that just doing the operation means they're major.

I googled, and the nearest TJ's is in Jenkintown, which is about 8.3 miles from here as the google flies.

I found out recently that King of Prussia is named after an inn that used to be there. I like it when things have a reasonable explanation.

I found out recently that King of Prussia is named after an inn that used to be there.

Huh. It is not an exaggeration to say that I've wondered about that name for as long as I can remember. I mean, not every day or anything, but still...

It's the same story for Bird-in-Hand PA, too.