Thanks Teppy, I feel better now. i mean, practically, it wouldn't have worked, but the idea of abusing a book that way makes me shudder. (says the woman who couldn't even bring herself to throw out the copy of The Rules that she received as a gift from her mother)

You might look for a cat groomer or check with your vet's office. Either will trim your cat's claws. Not sure how much it costs, but then you don't have to do it and you know it's done right.

Definitely call around for rates - groomers are far less spendy than I imagined before I got so overwhelmed by Sammie's shedding.

Andi, how do you make sure your cats get enough water? I put out two bowls, because I have two cats and that way, however picky they are they have options. One of them also likes to hop up on the counter and lap at the leaky water faucet in the kitchen. So, I don't worry about lack of water, but how do I know if they're getting enough?

Well, it's pretty hit or miss. I mean, the amount of liquid Harvey was getting from just the plain canned food and whatever he drinks out of the water dish was enough to keep his litter box from being the capitol city of the kingdom of Ammonia, yet not enough to keep him from having a repeat UTI/struvite crystal episode, after a few years of adding water to the wet food. The reason I mentioned high ammonia reek indicating possible insufficient hydration is not specific cat knowledge. It's more like - I know if one of the residents at the group homes had really strongly smelling (or dark colored) pee, we would immediately start pushing (i.e. encouraging) fluids, and call the nurse. So since I know that my cats' with their better-than-average-hydration pee is far less powerful than it used to be, I made an inference. There are times when I think I need a sandwich board sign and a soapbox, because I want to preach long and hard about cat hydration.

I hate that I can't give you a better answer, here. I know by years of trial and error how to get into Harvey what Harvey needs. And I can get really enthusiastic about wanting every one to do the same for their cats that I do for mine - but the truth is I don't know what is best for your cats. I think that most cats whose main diet is canned food are in the clear on this, and only some who just happen to be predisposed to urinary tract issues need the extra water that I push on Harvey. Also IMO a cat who eats mostly kibble is at a considerable disadvantage when it comes to getting enough water. Cats developed as a desert species. Small desert predators often obtain the majority of their water requirements through the bodies of their prey animals. And cats for one have been shown to not have a strong thirst instinct. The one nutrient that even the highest quality kibbles such as Innova EVO are completely lacking is water. So how do we get a cat to drink enough not only to support the digestion of kibble, but also to keep the body going, when the cat doesn't get the thirst cues that would cause it to want to drink enough?

Sorry, I'm not sure that was at all helpful for you.

I took my first not-at-my-desk lunchbreak in... Months? To get a haircut. Used some local revs to find a new place because the person who cuts my hair in baltmore is ill and also I'm not in Baltimore. New place has moved since the revs I found but I'm hoping it turns out ok & I don't need to shave my head. Cross your fingers.

Second-round~ma hil! Dog~ma shir.

The Rules that she received as a gift from her mother

Bwah! As in The Rules that we have mocked soundly here? I can't imagine anything funnier than Vortex abiding by those Rules. Oh my!

I can't imagine anything funnier than Vortex abiding by those Rules. Oh my!

My brain is at near-'splodey levels at the thought.

Yeah, she'd definitely bring a whole new take on the Creature Like No Other thing.

I'm hoping it turns out ok & I don't need to shave my head. Cross your fingers.

::crosses fingers, but not telling what I wish for, signed, evil cousin::

Thank you, guys.

He's on some-sort-of-dipyrone now, and he seems a bit more lively. I softened his food with some water today, and he devoured it. It was wonderful to see, after the past few days. But now, that we kindda know what it is... it kills me to look at his eye and imagine how big that tumor must be to make it look like this distorted. We'll also try to find (since it's hard to get it in Israel) Calcium D-glucarate to help with it (the parental unit is a big believer in homeopathy).

Damn you, first vet who made us believe it was an eye infection for two weeks. Damn, damn you for missing something that supposed to be that obvious.

Bwah! As in The Rules that we have mocked soundly here? I can't imagine anything funnier than Vortex abiding by those Rules. Oh my!

oh, yes. It was a gift for Christmas a few years ago. I tried to leave it at the house "by accident", but she found it and gave it to me. We both knew what was up, but she was determined.

Best vibes for dog-of-Shir, and for Shir herself.

Do good in NO, smonster!

Nice piece on the billowy coat of eviltude, Daisy.

With cats, there's a rough test for adequate hydration. Grab the scruff of the neck (well, except for Xuza, apparently), hold for about ten seconds and release. The skin should relax completely in ten to fifteen seconds. If it takes longer, the cat is inadequately hydrated.