konekosama: a Q_J caption of Dragon I had a good laugh seeing that again, since last night I gave him a can of generic (store brand) Chef Boyardee and he must have spent at least an hour getting every drop out of the bottom of the can with his paw (which was completely orange when he got done). Although he really seemed to like the generic brand, the later part of the evening was unpleasant. At least for me :o)



/ it's too late to upload the pics, so I'll save them for next week
// i'm indulging him since it is his birfday on wednesday

This is a quick flyby post to wish everyone a good week. Good luck to all the sick kids out there. Sending (and receiving) healing thoughts.

/...until Purrsday :o)

Derkins: Sickapie, AllMyKidsHaveFur, OMG just saw this on the sevenkittens stream, same picture, different angle:

[farm9.staticflickr.com image 640x427]

I want them all!
/Although Runty is my favorite.

Well we're back from the vet, and we have a diagnosis. The news could be worse, but it sure isn't good. It turns out Sarah has a heart murmur which has led to a very enlarged heart. It's so enlarged, in fact, that it's pressing on her windpipe. I just about fainted when he showed me the x-rays. :( I'm getting tears even just thinking about it now.

So the doctor gave her a 2-week supply of benazepril and furosemide to try. That should help lower her blood pressure and make her heart not have to work so hard. He said this should greatly improve her quality of life and feeling of well-being. If she's improved after 2 weeks, we'll keep her on the medication indefinitely, and just carry on as normal. If she's still not doing so well by then, he said we might want to consider... (you know)... because there's really not much else they can do, and it's only going to get worse. :(

So hopefully the meds help. In the meantime, she's not allowed to do any strenuous exercise or heavy lifting! :) And she can eat as much as she wants!

Glad she's at least got a proper diagnosis now and there's an easy treatment we can try that should help her stay happy and comfortable for a while longer. Knowing there's such a problem sucks, but not knowing, and feeling helpless and racked with worry, is even worse. I'm glad we went today.

Thanks for your love and support, Caturdayers. You guys really understand what it's like to love a pet so much. I'm honoured to know all of you. I don't know what we'd do without you.

spinach gunk: Well we're back from the vet, and we have a diagnosis. The news could be worse, but it sure isn't good. It turns out Sarah has a heart murmur which has led to a very enlarged heart. It's so enlarged, in fact, that it's pressing on her windpipe. I just about fainted when he showed me the x-rays. :( I'm getting tears even just thinking about it now.

So the doctor gave her a 2-week supply of benazepril and furosemide to try. That should help lower her blood pressure and make her heart not have to work so hard. He said this should greatly improve her quality of life and feeling of well-being. If she's improved after 2 weeks, we'll keep her on the medication indefinitely, and just carry on as normal. If she's still not doing so well by then, he said we might want to consider... (you know)... because there's really not much else they can do, and it's only going to get worse. :(

So hopefully the meds help. In the meantime, she's not allowed to do any strenuous exercise or heavy lifting! :) And she can eat as much as she wants!

Glad she's at least got a proper diagnosis now and there's an easy treatment we can try that should help her stay happy and comfortable for a while longer. Knowing there's such a problem sucks, but not knowing, and feeling helpless and racked with worry, is even worse. I'm glad we went today.

Thanks for your love and support, Caturdayers. You guys really understand what it's like to love a pet so much. I'm honoured to know all of you. I don't know what we'd do without you.

[i870.photobucket.com image 451x357]

Fingers crossed, sending good vibes to you and Sarah

quantum_jellyroll: predle: ThePuceGuardian: predle:

[i.imgur.com image 350x263]

Thanks, I love it.

I'm sorry for your loss - not really sure what it is but it looks like it's probably really expensive

It's the corrector plate on a Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope (SCT).
Probably about the worst thing that could happen to it.
It made me terribly sad to see that.
So sorry PG. :-(

I may be wrong, but I think the mirror on the bottom would be worse.. and it's a machine...of a sort... I googled several different diagrams.. the corrector plate,which I read wrong. is fastened to a fixed point.. most likely has a gasket or shim between itself and the frame to take up any torque from expansion and contraction of the glass. the center mirror is fastened to the corrector and is in a fixed position, with a three point adjustment for centering the image... If the corrector lens can be gotten separately, it's no big deal to install it.. from experience, as long as the focus distance is not disturbed, there are no big issues. Personally speaking, it's fun fixing things.. and I learn everytime I fix something.. and the owner learns too.... when I work on something, it,s mine. When I'm finished, it,s theirs again. slow and careful and methodical.. works for me.... and I hate spending big bucks if I don't have to... If I can get the info on it, I will see what I can find.. lots of resources....

spinach gunk: Thanks for your love and support, Caturdayers. You guys really understand what it's like to love a pet so much. I'm honoured to know all of you. I don't know what we'd do without you.

Greetings, All... We are on day 11, the kittens are opening their eyes.. I pick them up often.. mama allows it.. almost time to move them to a larger area.. at what point do they start with the litter box? I presume that the kittens will need to be able to get into it easily.... I think I will have to put a screen door inside the new room, to be able to locate mamma before she can slip out.. don't need war....
I have a theory that when I start putting food for the kittens out, and they are eating it, maybe mamma will try it out.... no luck so far.. but once the kittens are not dependent on mom for food, I will be tapering off the people food. so she will have to eat the cat food.. if she,s hungry enough, she'll eat. Having a supply on hand might change her mind, also... beats raiding trash cans.... to me !

Evening, all!

Sending out...

healing thoughts to Sarah, Alice and all others who are feeling under the weather

hugs to those who need them

sympathies to TPG for his damaged scope

the best possible good wishes to our dear Alien. If I can help in any way, feel free to EIP.

and......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!



to the patron saint of Caturday - the one and only, Dragon!

OlderGuy:
I may be wrong, but I think the mirror on the bottom would be worse..

It's probably like the old question when you were a kid..."Would you rather drown or die in a fire?"
Neither is good.

With the correcter plate, it is actually an optical element in addition to a structural element..
It also holds the secondary mirror, so there are two optical elements (and associated collimations) involved.
The primary mirror is held by a clamp around the edge, so it's not as likely to experience the same
sort of insult that damaged the corrector plate.

Either way, it sucks and makes me sad.

spinach gunk: Well we're back from the vet, and we have a diagnosis. The news could be worse, but it sure isn't good. It turns out Sarah has a heart murmur which has led to a very enlarged heart. It's so enlarged, in fact, that it's pressing on her windpipe. I just about fainted when he showed me the x-rays. :( I'm getting tears even just thinking about it now.

So the doctor gave her a 2-week supply of benazepril and furosemide to try. That should help lower her blood pressure and make her heart not have to work so hard. He said this should greatly improve her quality of life and feeling of well-being. If she's improved after 2 weeks, we'll keep her on the medication indefinitely, and just carry on as normal. If she's still not doing so well by then, he said we might want to consider... (you know)... because there's really not much else they can do, and it's only going to get worse. :(

So hopefully the meds help. In the meantime, she's not allowed to do any strenuous exercise or heavy lifting! :) And she can eat as much as she wants!

Glad she's at least got a proper diagnosis now and there's an easy treatment we can try that should help her stay happy and comfortable for a while longer. Knowing there's such a problem sucks, but not knowing, and feeling helpless and racked with worry, is even worse. I'm glad we went today.

Thanks for your love and support, Caturdayers. You guys really understand what it's like to love a pet so much. I'm honoured to know all of you. I don't know what we'd do without you.

[i870.photobucket.com image 451x357]

This is rewarding news.. you have some options. Hope everything works out... a lot of folks have had a rough time.. may things get better soonest.... I am blessed..my crew are all doing well.. the medications have worked, Little Miss has stopped going into heat ( thank God )... she doesn' start yowling at 2:30 am anymore... Our Family looks out for us, as we do for them.. Lots of great people here.. I look for Purrsday eve, as I get to go home again... bbl

quantum_jellyroll: OlderGuy:
I may be wrong, but I think the mirror on the bottom would be worse..

It's probably like the old question when you were a kid..."Would you rather drown or die in a fire?"
Neither is good.

With the correcter plate, it is actually an optical element in addition to a structural element..
It also holds the secondary mirror, so there are two optical elements (and associated collimations) involved.
The primary mirror is held by a clamp around the edge, so it's not as likely to experience the same
sort of insult that damaged the corrector plate.

Either way, it sucks and makes me sad.

I agree wholeheartedly.. and the 'fixer' in me wants to help.. instinctual....

spinach gunk:
So the doctor gave her a 2-week supply of benazepril and furosemide to try. That should help lower her blood pressure and make her heart not have to work so hard. He said this should greatly improve her quality of life and feeling of well-being.

Hopefully, Sarah will feel better with the medicines.
You realize, don't you, that furosemide is a diuretic?
She'll probably be pee'ing like a champ for the first few days.

You may need to pick up some of the Sham-Meows someone mentioned earlier in the thread.
Give Sarah some pats and skritches for me, would you?

Riktor and Raven gonna go see Sainted Vet...a week from tomorrow, that's how busy they are.

Raven is all grown-up enough to get her 3 year rabies shot...and my sweet Riktor Pye has lost weight.
Usually his compact little body hangs out at between 9-10 lbs...but he's looking thin and his ribs are more palpable than they used to be.
Hope it's just 'skinny-summer' syndrome...Riktor is 10 years old and I'm worried about health issues that affect 'older' cats.

I love that little black cat so much...

OlderGuy:
I agree wholeheartedly.. and the 'fixer' in me wants to help.. instinctual....

I know the feeling.
On another note...
I used to have a Celestron C-8 SCT with a Super Polaris mount and a collection of magnificent
eyepieces. For those that don't know telescopes, the magnification of a telescope is in the eyepiece.

I sold it to a friend about 5 years ago because he had always wanted a "big boy telescope" and I needed money.
I've missed that telescope, but I knew it was in good hands,

My friend called me the other night and said he was thinking about getting rid of it since he's only
used it once since he bought it. He recently retired and he and his wife are looking to clear out
their extra "stuff".

I asked him how much he wanted, and he offered to *give* it back to me.

My tiny heart grew 5 sizes that night!

spinach gunk: Well we're back from the vet, and we have a diagnosis. The news could be worse, but it sure isn't good. It turns out Sarah has a heart murmur which has led to a very enlarged heart. It's so enlarged, in fact, that it's pressing on her windpipe. I just about fainted when he showed me the x-rays. :( I'm getting tears even just thinking about it now.

So the doctor gave her a 2-week supply of benazepril and furosemide to try. That should help lower her blood pressure and make her heart not have to work so hard. He said this should greatly improve her quality of life and feeling of well-being. If she's improved after 2 weeks, we'll keep her on the medication indefinitely, and just carry on as normal. If she's still not doing so well by then, he said we might want to consider... (you know)... because there's really not much else they can do, and it's only going to get worse. :(

So hopefully the meds help. In the meantime, she's not allowed to do any strenuous exercise or heavy lifting! :) And she can eat as much as she wants!

Glad she's at least got a proper diagnosis now and there's an easy treatment we can try that should help her stay happy and comfortable for a while longer. Knowing there's such a problem sucks, but not knowing, and feeling helpless and racked with worry, is even worse. I'm glad we went today.

Thanks for your love and support, Caturdayers. You guys really understand what it's like to love a pet so much. I'm honoured to know all of you. I don't know what we'd do without you.

[i870.photobucket.com image 451x357]

{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}

OlderGuy: ThePuceGuardian: Just a few tonight. I'm in shock over a loss of my own.

[i.imgur.com image 640x480]

Not my SCT, but just like it.
Was tightening the -last- screw, a delicate job finally done. Then *CRACK*.
Thought I was being careful, but the glass had the last word.
F*ck.

Googled, found out that the 'glass' is the collector plate.. still, see what that by itself goes for..

Corrector plates are part of the optical path - they're matched to a pair of mirrors. The likely scenario is that primary, secondary, and corrector will all have to be replaced.

They're never sold as OEM parts. And it's hard to find a secondhand scope this age (that someone's willing to sell) in which the plate's intact.

spinach gunk: Well we're back from the vet, and we have a diagnosis. The news could be worse, but it sure isn't good. It turns out Sarah has a heart murmur which has led to a very enlarged heart. It's so enlarged, in fact, that it's pressing on her windpipe. I just about fainted when he showed me the x-rays. :( I'm getting tears even just thinking about it now.

So the doctor gave her a 2-week supply of benazepril and furosemide to try. That should help lower her blood pressure and make her heart not have to work so hard. He said this should greatly improve her quality of life and feeling of well-being. If she's improved after 2 weeks, we'll keep her on the medication indefinitely, and just carry on as normal. If she's still not doing so well by then, he said we might want to consider... (you know)... because there's really not much else they can do, and it's only going to get worse. :(

So hopefully the meds help. In the meantime, she's not allowed to do any strenuous exercise or heavy lifting! :) And she can eat as much as she wants!

Glad she's at least got a proper diagnosis now and there's an easy treatment we can try that should help her stay happy and comfortable for a while longer. Knowing there's such a problem sucks, but not knowing, and feeling helpless and racked with worry, is even worse. I'm glad we went today.

Thanks for your love and support, Caturdayers. You guys really understand what it's like to love a pet so much. I'm honoured to know all of you. I don't know what we'd do without you.

Don't be too discouraged...Dragon has always has a heart murmur and due to the high blood pressure caused by his hyperthyroidism also has an enlarged heart. The medication should help a lot.

/ (and i am speaking from experience, since i was born with a heart murmur, and also have an enlarged heart as a result of hbp, but i am still here almost 20 years later thanks to the meds)

Our best wishes that Sarah feels better soon.

OlderGuy: Greetings, All... We are on day 11, the kittens are opening their eyes.. I pick them up often.. mama allows it.. almost time to move them to a larger area.. at what point do they start with the litter box? I presume that the kittens will need to be able to get into it easily.... I think I will have to put a screen door inside the new room, to be able to locate mamma before she can slip out.. don't need war....
I have a theory that when I start putting food for the kittens out, and they are eating it, maybe mamma will try it out.... no luck so far.. but once the kittens are not dependent on mom for food, I will be tapering off the people food. so she will have to eat the cat food.. if she,s hungry enough, she'll eat. Having a supply on hand might change her mind, also... beats raiding trash cans.... to me !

I rescued 4 kittens and their mama when they were 4 weeks old. At that point, they had teeth and could eat solid food. They got kitten kibble moistened with warm water and/or kitten wet food. Mama cat can and should eat kitten food until she weans them, at about 8 weeks. These guys also took to the litter box right away at that age. I had some that my vet tech daughter got for me; they are disposable, & look like small gift boxes such as you'd use for a shirt. I used just a thin layer of the non-clumping clay litter & they just seemed to know what to do. Their feral mama took right to the box I set up for her, too!

Good luck with your foster family.

Also, good wishes & healing energy to all the sick kitties & puppies out there, especially Sarah & Alice.

Have a great week!



Sweet dreams!

Time for me to go to sleep, as well. See you guys on Purrsday!

Argh, sorry I have to run before the thread closes, so unfortunately I can't thank everyone personally for all the hugs and well-wishes and reassurances. But I still want to thank you! So,

THANK YOU!!!

Hugs to all! And kisses from Sarah and Bud. :) Have a great week and see everyone again soon.

Thank you everyone for your kind wishes through the heatwave in IN.
Hopefully, it will be cooler by Thursday and I'll feel more mischievous by then.

Best wishes to the sickly (both people and critters).

Extra special lovin' for my friend once-removed, Sarah.
You get to feeling better, y'hear?

Really late home from chorus!.
Will say Good Night & Good Night FM, & salsa later this AM.

credit to Snarf Bader, in the Ago. Don't know when I'll make it in next Caturday with all the World Choir Games events to be attended & sung at.