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Posts Tagged ‘cat herding’

A Chewie Check-In

Posted in Science!, tagged , , , , , on March 26, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chewbacca, Prince of Cats, continues to be lovely. He also continues to weigh almost exactly what he did when we got him, despite a year of weight loss efforts. (To be fair, he lost almost a kilo. Then he gained it back.)

Now, his weight would not be a particular issue except that the vet insists on regaling us with a long (long) list of health-related problems that extra weight will bring, so we’re doing our best.

Which brings me to today’s charming bit of ephemera, a handy chart of weights in outer space.

via Messy Nessy

Bad news: the cat weighs over 16 pounds on Earth.

Good news: That’s not nearly as much as he would weigh on Jupiter, where he’d clock in around 42 pounds.

And the Lunar economy must be swimming in Moonzempic because Chewie would weigh a sparse two and a half pounds there. (Kidding! It’s a gravity thing, not a weight-loss tourism thing.)

Sadly, until we pack up and decamp for the Moon, our kitty weight odyssey continues!

* * *

Not our cat, who is too busy sleeping off lunch to pose for a picture.
Photo by Lina Angelov on Unsplash

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How to Weigh a Cat

Posted in Other, tagged , , , , on November 5, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Perhaps you, like me, have found yourself trying to corral a recalcitrant cat (or dog, ferret, bunny or lizard, I don’t judge!) onto a scale. Perhaps that device frightens or just generally annoys your cat for whatever reason, and that cat refuses to stay on the scale for the requisite time required for weighing.

Perhaps you have also been watching a Lot of shows about veterinarians, and you come up with an idea.

That idea might look something like this.

* * *

Stand at one end of your makeshift chute with a treat and the cat will come to you. All that’s left is to wonder how on earth the cat Still hasn’t reached his target weight.

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A Good Year

Posted in Likes, tagged , , , , , , on July 27, 2023| Leave a Comment »

A year ago we adopted the cat who would later (much later, fine, it took quite a while) be named Chewbacca. He is the sweetest cat I’ve ever had, and I’m more than glad we kept looking until we found the right fit. Kittens are cute and all, but adopting this older cat from our local rescue was the best thing we could have done.

Recommend.

* * *

This is what treadmills are for, right?

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Typical View

Posted in Other, tagged , , , , , on July 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

A typical view from my desk (especially around lunchtime):

Say hello to the nice people, Chewbacca. No, you can’t eat anyone.

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Poultry Power Activate!

Posted in Other, tagged , , , , on April 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Gave the cat some chicken bits this morning and he is now certifiably insane.

Calm your crazy, kitty!

* * *

Photo by Girl with red hat on Unsplash

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Feeling Better Now

Posted in Likes, Writing, tagged , , , , , on August 12, 2022| 1 Comment »

A friend asked for an update on the cat naming conundrum, and I had to report that it is still under discussion.

“I don’t know why this is so hard but it is. All we know is that Argyle doesn’t feel quite right, but nothing else does either. I think it’s a matter of getting to know him better.”

You’d think that a writer would have an easier time with this sort of thing, but I’ve been focused on the importance of finding the right name.

In an effort to make us feel better, our friend sent this:

xkcd: Words for Pets

And I do:)

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What’s My Name?

Posted in Other, tagged , , , on August 10, 2022| 2 Comments »

We’re still discussing whether to change the new cat’s name. Nothing seems quite right yet. His current name, Argyle, has a certain dignified cachet but doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue (or lend itself to endearments; Argie? Ugh; unless he becomes a pirate… which could be cool).

Here are just some of the many possible alternatives (and thanks to fellow cat-owned friends for helping with this list):

  • Bear
  • Dyson, Vacuumer of Food
  • Fezzik
  • Furrdinand
  • Gandalf
  • Hagrid
  • Nanook
  • Orion
  • Purrcules
  • Thunder Cat “Raiden,” Lord of Cuddles and Electrostatic Shocks
  • Tigger

* * *

Photo by Bogdan Farca on Unsplash

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Cat Tale

Posted in Other, tagged , , , , on August 4, 2022| Leave a Comment »

This is a story about the cat. Also other things.

Lord Argyle suffered through his first trip (with us) to the vet today.

Like so many other vets these days, ours is extremely busy. Between pandemic restrictions, new pet owners, reduced hours and practitioners, vets are having to deal with a lot lately.

Why It’s So Hard to Find a Veterinarian These Days – The Atlantic

Our original meet and greet appointment was scheduled for mid-October, but when we noticed that our fellow was having some issues, they got us in right away. Our vet really is great. 

And yes, I made her brownies.

The final report was not bad. Not 100%, as he is having some allergic reactions, has a weird hole in his gums and oh yes, weighs sixteen pounds.

Sixteen! Big is fine, but we want to make sure he’s healthy too.

So while we think most of these issues will be relatively easy to resolve, we have a bit of work to do.

* * *

Heading home, cat loudly protesting the recent indignities, I watched a thought fly by.

“I was hoping this time would be a little easier. What if he’s not ok?”

To which the rest of me responded, “Are you kidding? One, you are not bleeding, so this cat is definitely easier than Neko.”

Truth.

“Two, if our three-year old cat were instead a newly-rescued kitten, he would have other issues. Fun stuff like conjunctivitis, bad digestion, ticks, fleas and worms.”

Also true. Ew.

“And three, if you went for a check-up today you would have issues too. Are your teeth perfect, your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar ideal, your heart rate and joints and eyesight all functioning at peak levels? Do you exercise enough? Do you eat only what you should and not what you shouldn’t?”

Wellll… You may have a point.*

“And yet, your life is good. Not perfect, but good. Do your best and his will be too.”

Ok. You’re right. 

Here’s to a good life. 

Not perfect, but good.

* * *

* Erm. See the previously mentioned brownies.

* * *

Photo by Jonas Vincent on Unsplash

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Working Working

Posted in Funny, tagged , , , , , on August 3, 2022| Leave a Comment »

My version of that one (super true) cat meme:

Super super true.

Also, kitty needs a new bed.

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In Progress

Posted in Other, tagged , , , , on July 31, 2022| Leave a Comment »

The new cat is settling in. Despite the initial freak out and subsequent hiding marathon, today he came out from under his chair and decided that we would be allowed to pet him. We spent an hour demonstrating our kitty servant bonafides, and he graciously decided to give us a chance.

Progress, hooray!

* * *

Photo by Jonathan Cooper on Unsplash

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