Our ancient kitty (almost 18 years) has lost more weight -- she's now 4 pounds and change. She's always been a small cat, but that's way too thin. The vet gave us Hill's critical care formulation canned food to get her to eat more, so she had that for a week. She loved it, of course, but now she's not super thrilled at transitioning back to their regular canned food (which is Friskies canned).

However, in the past month or so, Tim has been giving the cats a little bit of Sheba canned food as a treat (everyone gets a treat at bedtime), which they love. So since Andi and Zenkitty have spoken fairly highly of Sheba, we may switch them over to that as their regular food, which I think Slinky (the ancient kitty) will happily eat. I know she won't live forever, but other than being old, she's in decent health for an 18-year-old cat. So I don't want her to keep losing weight if it can be prevented. Ideally, I'd like her to gain back a pound or two.

t edit My only problem is that I can't find calorie information for Sheba. I want to make sure the kitty will be getting enough.

There is absolutely no cringing going on.

I am a bad pet parent. Mr Peabody has a raw stripe on one leg. I was debating going to the vet, but it would look like it was getting better and then get worse, and I was traumatized by the last vet visit. I finally realized that he has some kind of anal irritation and is "scooting" on a rough surface outside. I didn't realize how irritated it was until he happened to do a "downward dog" stretch right in front of me, and he hasn't been scooting inside. He's not particularly licking the area. Now I'm afraid the vet is going to turn me over to the pet police.

I'm having a similar debate about myself. I seem to have the symptoms of an outer ear infection, which is new to me.

No cringing, askye, at all. And I am sorry that I haven't responded to your email, but I haven't been on the computer much for the last several days because of house staging, showings and 8000 phone calls and texts with the realtor, the ex, me and Dan. I really apologize.

There is absolutely NOTHING that could possibly be oversharing, and people actually WANT to listen to your thoughts, and offer help, or an ear or validation or whatever you need.

So, I am thinking of sending the following text to my landlord: I found a dog along the road today. I posted to CL, and I was planning to take her to the shelter as soon as it opens tomorrow (was closed today), but I was wondering, if she doesn't have a family, if it maybe might be possible for me to keep her if she's in a crate when I'm away.

Thoughts?

She's about a year and a half [link] Hil has been a very good sport about the whole thing. I'm sure it helps that it was too rainy to go to the beach anyway.

Maybe mention that your are an experienced dog owner - including adopting other foundlings. This isn't JUST "Awww.... Cute. Let's bring it home."

Strix no worries. I realized when I didn't see you around here that you were probably busy with life stuff.

Thank you everyone. This is just really painful and hard. I'm kinda glad I had all the cold virus cough stuff otherwise I never would have felt coomftable asking for a leave of absence. Kristen talked about easing into thinges but I don't think that's going to happen.

I didn't do so well in my homework well parts of it but I think there's progress. At least I hope all this painears there's progress.

askye, the fact that you are at least trying with your homework means a lot. I totally forgot to read the second of two assigned chapters in my workbook when I visited my therapist last time. She was cool about it because we were still able to discuss the first chapter in more depth than planned, which I actually found more affirming than trying to rush through two chapters when i didn't feel ready for it. You'll do the work at the pace that feels comfortable for you, not what's comfortable for the therapist.

Thanks for understanding, askye. And yeah, progress if good, even i it feels tiny and you are like "But I'm not as much as I should!" You guys know I've been dealing (sometimes very, very badly) with chronic, crippling depression, insomnia and anxiety for YEARS, and it's taken me YEARS to get it to a point where there are more good weeks than bad weeks.

And hey, I backslid this February, which is the month that Bad Things always happen with my depression, and I started to get down on myself, but then I was all...so what? This was a really stressful February, and sure, you slipped a little into depression, but you were still functional and not even nearly as bad as you've been in Februarys for the last 7 years. So...progress. Teeny progress -- and I'll take it!

All progress is good! "Small" progress to some is "big" progress to others, anyway; let's not think in terms of "enough" progress. That just gives us another reason to beat ourselves up, right?

I just saw the first stinkbug of the year, and my cat is wailing pathetically to go outside, so I guess it's really Spring.

My only problem is that I can't find calorie information for Sheba.

From the Feline Diabetes board: Calories per can of Sheba pate is 113, with the exception of the beef, which is 114 ( all have the same as-fed values, according to the company). The lady apparently got info for the Premium Cuts, but for some reason didn't post it.

My only problem is that I can't find calorie information for Sheba.

From the Feline Diabetes board: Calories per can of Sheba pate is 113, with the exception of the beef, which is 114 ( all have the same as-fed values, according to the company).

Excellent! Thank you.