Posts by lexabear

CAT QUIZ:

(Raxy)

1. How old is your cat? pushing 5 years
   
2. Male or female? Male
   
3. How much does she/he weigh? 10 pounds
   
4. Is he/she overweight? No, but he has that little Lazy Neutered Male Paunch
   
5. How much do you feed them and what schedule? I feed him half a cup of dry food (morning) and half a can of wet food (evening)
   
6. Do they ask for more food? Raxy always acts like he is starving to death! Meal time is his favorite time, and he tries to insist that meal time is ALL the time.  He is very vocal about wanting to be fed, but if I fed him every time he tried to convince me that he's famished, he'd probably weigh 20 pounds. 
   
7. Brand of wet food? either Petguard or Wellness
   
8. Brand of dry food? varies (whatever high end, byproduct-free minimal grain kibble is on sale)
   
9. Cat's name? ...Raxy
   
10. Comments/thoughts?  Raxy (originially named Rascal) has really come out of his shell from when I first acquired him from a woman who was moving and chose to no longer keep him.  He used to hide under my blankets or in the closet all day and was fairly aloof to me.  He started trusting more and more and jumps up in my lap often and sleeps with me at night.  He is a bossy but very good natured cat, with a beautiful shiny black coat and huge bright green eyes.  His character really enriches my life.
    

(Moki)

1. How old is your cat? 3-4
   
2. Male or female? Male
   
3. How much does she/he weigh? probably around 10 pounds now; he was 13-14 lbs when I rescued him
   
4. Is he/she overweight? not anymore!
   
5. How much do you feed them and what schedule? (same as Raxy)
   
6. Do they ask for more food? No, Moki is quiet and easygoing; not so concerned about food and doesn't gobble his food quickly like Raxy
   
7. Brand of wet food? (same as Raxy)
   
8. Brand of dry food? (same as Raxy)
   
9. Cat's name? ...Moki
   
10. Comments/thoughts? I wanted to get a second cat for Raxy to play with.  I retrieved Moki (originally named Smokey) from an overcrowded shelter in an adjacent county that was about to euthanize him.  He was apparently a surrender due to a child's allergies, and was the cutest roly poly furry black kitty with huge feet and big amber eyes.  I could tell right away that he was more of a cuddle bug than Raxy.  When I brought him home, I was dismayed to discover that he had a pretty bad case of FLUTD.  It finally cleared up with some antibiotics, subcutaneous fluids, and switching over to watered-down wet food exclusively for awhile.  He hasn't had any problems since.  I also was able to help him bring his weight back to a healthier number pretty easily.  I'm so glad to have found him; he and Raxy are buddies.  They play together a lot, share the same windowsill in the kitchen, and both sleep on or next to me at night.  I am grateful for my two happy, healthy boys!
    

When I lived in Baltimore there was one that played "She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain" with accents of claps, honks, whistles... then the music stops for a couple of seconds and a recorded voice shouts out, "HELLO?!" and it goes all over again. I swear that ice cream truck circled the neighborhood day and night, or maybe I was just hearing it on loop in my head because I was overexposed to it.

When I moved down to Richmond, I was dismayed to hear the neighborhood ice cream truck playing the same &$%#ing song, though fortunately it doesn't make the rounds nearly as frequently as the one in Bmore.

I have my two boys Grizzel and Greedigut, black DLH and DSH respectively. I buy them canned food (a much healthier option than dry food... think about it, do cats eat greasy grain based kibble in the wild?), either PetGuard or Wellness. Fortunately I work at a natural foods store so I can buy their food by the case and get an extra 10% discount on top of my customary 20% employee discount. That immensely helps with feeding them such good food. I believe many stores give case discounts when you buy in bulk as such. So that's about $40 on their food per month for both kittehs combined. Cheaper than feeding a human dependent, that's for sure!

For litter (I keep three boxes, it is in your best interest to have one per cat plus one when you have 2 or more kitties) I use Swheat Scoop multi cat formula which has many advantages over clay litter, for your cat's health and for the environment. I scoop the boxes at least once a day, sometimes twice and usually can go 10-14 days between entirely changing out the litter. We go through 1-2 boxes or bags of Shweat Scoop each month.

I have toys and a scratching post for them, but they really go crazy over just string and sometimes feathers... and couches and carpets. They also play with each other a lot which is really entertaining to watch! I'm glad they have each other, because I work 32 hours/week, go to school 6 hours/week, and babysit 26 hours/week so I'm sadly not around nearly as much as I used to be (my partner will be here for them more, though). They both like being combed, but it is especially important that I groom my long haired one with this comb every other day.

Grizzel cost me a pretty penny with resolving a stubborn case of FLUTD, which is fairly common especially in overweight male cats. It took two vet visits, an ultrasound, a urinalysis, subcutaneous fluids, two rounds of antibiotics, and some supplements and distilled water before he was peeing normally. He was very round and sluggish (but sooo sweet) when I brought him home from the shelter in June but I have adjusted him down to a healthier weight and the difference in his condition is astounding. His coat is so much shinier and softer, eyes brighter, and his activity level and coordination has increased 100%. He is a little mischievous at times but still an unbelievable sweetheart. He is healthy but it is possible that he could "relapse" at any time if I'm not consistent in preventive measures. Greedigut has had no health problems since I've had him.

Kittens are notoriously more expensive in the beginning than cats. With some looking you can usually find affordable vets or clinics/organizations and even sometimes free spay/neuter opportunities and reduced cost vaccinations. Have you thought about rescuing a nice older cat that may have more trouble finding a home than a cute widdle kitten? With mature cats, you already can tell what their personalities are like... you don't really know what you're going to end up with as far as kittens are concerned :P  I also feel that an extra special, deep bond forms between a rescued cat and rescuer.

Also, if an unexpected emergency or tragedy pops up, you'll need to have the means to cover it. My cat Arys was hit by a car on April 15th (I did not intentionally let him out) and the extent of his injuries were so severe that I had to have him put to sleep, and then I opted to pay for an individual cremation. It really destroyed my world for a couple of months, yes I took it that hard... I lost a best friend. So please, please keep your kitty indoors.

My cats are my babies and I would not feel good about caring for them with poor quality products just to save a few dollars. There are other areas in my budget which I could tighten if need be in order not to compromise my cats' well being. I expect that they will live long and happy lives with little to no health complications. I could not confidently say the same thing if I was feeding them any old crap from the supermarket and pouring cheap, dusty clay in their boxes.

Original Post by scarter17:

Ballpark's Turkey Dogs are AWESOME! 45 calories and no fat - YUM! But for vegeterian's, they do have just fat free Ballpark's too, they're really good also.

...wow. haha! ::shakes head::

anyway, I think vegdogs are best on the grill. Tofurkey makes some good ones in addition to their sausages.  Has anyone ever had those Field Roast sausages? They're awesome on the grill, too!

Many doctors don't know anything about nutrition.  See a Registered Dietitian.  Having a healthy vegan pregnancy is very doable.

I don't really care for the egg replacer.  Usually some arrowroot, ground flax, or apple sauce can work depending on the recipe.

Here is a helpful list of egg substitutes in baking.

If only more people home brewed...

LAAAAME!!! Hate it!  I know a great place to stick those flutes...

It's perfectly fine.  Like I recommend folding a big towel and having it under y'all, or going at it in the shower!  Like cd said, it can help to ease cramps and kajikit is right- please do still be careful!

I get really excited about my moon cup! I have a heavy flow for the first 3 days, then it tapers off. I do have a couple of cloth liners that I sometimes use at the very end of my cycle. I have never had a problem with inserting or removing my cup and it has never leaked. Any problems with leaking can be attributed to improper placement/suction. I can't feel it once it's in and I never have to go to the store for tampons or empty a trash can of used tammies again! Environmental advantages aside, it is SO MUCH CHEAPER than using disposable products. One cup costs $16 - $35 (depending on where you buy it) and is said to last 10 years. The average woman menstruates 35 years and will spend an average of $3000, if not more, on disposable products. Dang! I encourage you to research information about some of the disadvantages of conventional tampons and pads, including the chemicals used in production and for bleaching. I believe that cups and cloth pads are a much healthier and more practical alternative!

12g septum (started at 14g, went to 10g, settled in the middle) and 1/2" lobes currently.  I had the right side of my lip pierced until I had to take it out for work, and the hole closed by the end of my 1st shift even though I'd had it for a year at that point.  I guess mucous membranes really do heal that quickly.  I used to have a barbell in my tongue but that was just really annoying so I took it out.  Oh, and I had my left nostril pierced foreverrr ago.

Now that I'm going back to school, depending on what part time job I get, I want to get both nostrils pierced and maybe even my lip again.  I find myself much more into tattoos than piercings these days, though.

I'm amazed that nobody has (I'd say "ridden in on their high horse" but that might spark a debate about the ethics of equestrians, haha) dropped in to express the offense taken that you're talking about meat ::gasp:: tasting good in a vegetarian forum ;) Maybe that's more of a livejournal thing. (Did I really just admit that I have an eljay?)

Right before I went vegan for the 2nd time, I had some home made spicy alligator sausage in Louisiana that was really pretty amazing. I also miss wild caught Icelandic salmon, spicy tuna with tempura sushi, oh and the broiled eel, too. Veggie sushi suffices nicely, though. And sometimes I crave a slice of white pizza!

scantin, thank you so much for your post. I was fixin' to reply about the same thing. It appears that xdarthveganx pretty much missed cornbread101's point. He just seems like one of those fashion veganedge herd-following scene flies that gets his jollies by haughtily imposing his absolute views on people as gospel, anyway, but who am I to judge? A condescending tone is not only unbecoming, but also really just turns off people who could otherwise be empathic to your cause.

I consume (only specific kinds of) honey, though I am otherwise vegan. I have a considerable representation of friends who are the same way. We get our honey from a local farm, and it is a palatable natural, minimally processed, locally produced sweetener that conveniently helps relieve allergies and inflammation (yeah, screw pharmaceuticals!). I find it more easily understood to just say that I am/we are "honeyvegan" rather than, "well, I am vegetarian and I do not consume dairy or eggs or gelatin or x y z, however I do occasionally consume honey for these various purposes and benefits". Sure, I am selfishly reaping advantages, but what about the perils, as scantin mentioned, that bees are currently facing? Would we not be helping them by encouraging them to thrive? What would happen to fruit and vegetable crops if the bee rates continue to decline? What, then, would vegans eat?! Maybe you should read The Botany of Desire for a view on how nature can manipulate humankind.

also, just curious... xdarthveganx, are you or any of your xvmilitantxveganxedgevx minions guardians of companion animals?

Somewhat related, I would love to construct and hang a bat shelter in my yard! Did you know that one bat can eat as many as 600 mosquitoes per hour?! I get eaten alive every summer!

Original Post by missechelle:

Original Post by clyde_greentree:

Pet Peave: referring to "chemicals" as somehow bad.

If you think that, then can you sign my petition to ban dihydrogen monoxide (DHMO)? It's corrosive and kills thousands of children every year. Yet it's in pretty much everything we eat and in every breath we take. Power plants spew it unregulated into the atmosphere. It is used in generating nuclear power and the manufacture of plastics and in mining.

Please stop this deadly chemical!

http://www.dhmo.org/

LOL I'm probably the only one besides you that knows DHMO is actually H20. Get it di=2 hydrogen and mono=1 oxide. Water people Water. LOL

bahahaha duh!  Most people are total dummies, though.

Nasoya makes fat free nayonaise that I have used, which is only 10 calories per tablespoon!

Have you tried Tofutti Better Than Sour Cream? Used sparingly, it's not necessarily detrimental to your diet. Check out these recipes from fatfreevegan.com for sour cream, cheese, mayo that you can make yourself. There's an ooookay recipe for vegan mini quiche cups on that site, too. I have bought unsweetened soy yogurt (my favorite is Wildwood plain) and mixed it with diced fruit or sugar free preserves, yum.

You could probably, with a bit of looking, find some healthful sorbet or a recipe and instructions to make your own. Sometimes something as simple as a bit of non dairy milk over frozen fruit really hits the spot, too!