Q&A: Questions and Answers

[Fuzzbucket]

Why does my cat keep on pulling out his hair?

There are two other cats in the house, both girls, one his age and one nine years older than him. He is almost 8 months old right now.

When one of ours did that as an adult it turned out to be a hormone deficiency. Has he been fixed ?

 

We've also had one with eczema, and one who was allergic to fleas... (and let's face it, we all KNOW our OWN pets don't have fleas - but they almost always do )

[Nectaris]

Why does my cat keep on pulling out his hair?

There are two other cats in the house, both girls, one his age and one nine years older than him. He is almost 8 months old right now.

One of our cats simply had dry skin, and the itchiness caused her to get rid of her fur in spots. We simply gave her a diet with more oil in it and it cleared up.

[TikindiDragon]

Re: the two posts above me - hence suggesting getting him checked out by a vet first. Medical causes should always be check out first.

[CynicalGamer]

Mind if I ask for some advice? I'd enjoy getting outside opinions c:

[TikindiDragon]

Ask away You'll usually get at least one response. Some of us even know what we're talking about.

Edited April 21, 2013 by TikindiDragon

[7Deadly$ins]

About the cat -- a vet should be consulted, but a lot of vets are also fairly unknowledgeable about diet and nutrition. It could be food related allergies, and putting him on a prescription diet might not help either.

[St. Jimmy]

Mineral oil in that ear two to three times per day for a week, if it doesn't work go to the doctor and request an ear irrigation. You can try to irrigate your ears yourself but I find it easier to just have the doctor do it. Don't use Q-Tips either.

Late but thanks, I've been trying this but it doesn't seem to be working at all. Looks like it's time for a trip to the doctor...

[7Deadly$ins]

Late but thanks, I've been trying this but it doesn't seem to be working at all. Looks like it's time for a trip to the doctor...

The good news is, the mineral oil did likely still help. I had my ears irrigated once and it was already so compacted it didn't help, but after a week of mineral oil it cleared up.

[TikindiDragon]

About the cat -- a vet should be consulted, but a lot of vets are also fairly unknowledgeable about diet and nutrition. It could be food related allergies, and putting him on a prescription diet might not help either.

Stress is actually far more likely than allergies.

[7Deadly$ins]

Stress is actually far more likely than allergies.

I'm just throwing it out there. I forgot that this is a multi-cat household. Since he's getting older he could be feeling more stressed out about his environment. What is his relationship like with the rest of the cats?

[Ruins]

When people are asked to 'suck it up', what are they being asked to suck up? I always imagined someone being forced to drink some horrible liquid, which kinda distracts from whatever the point of that saying is.

 

(Blahblah, I'm Aspie and this stuff is confusing. Deal with it, like cards or something? Come to terms, like terms and conditions in a contract? I could go on.)

[azaria]

"Suck it up" means to accept the issue without complaining about it. It is similar to the expression "deal with it."

 

Luckily for us, it doesn't actually involve forcible intake of liquid.

Wouldn't that be horrible?

[Obscure_Trash]

When people are asked to 'suck it up', what are they being asked to suck up? I always imagined someone being forced to drink some horrible liquid, which kinda distracts from whatever the point of that saying is.

 

(Blahblah, I'm Aspie and this stuff is confusing. Deal with it, like cards or something? Come to terms, like terms and conditions in a contract? I could go on.)

Their feelings, which are too rich in flavor for other people to handle.

 

/I didn't help, did I? D:

[TikindiDragon]

"Suck it up" means to accept the issue without complaining about it. It is similar to the expression "deal with it."

 

Luckily for us, it doesn't actually involve forcible intake of liquid.

Wouldn't that be horrible?

I think it may come from the idea of 'sucking one's stomach in' to fill your lungs wit air, and fortify yourself for difficult times ahead.

 

Although I never did understand where people got the idea that the stomach goes *in* when you breath, but it seems to be a fair common one - as people will say "Suck your stomach in" when they want you to make your waist slim for a fitting.

[catstaff]

I think it may come from the idea of 'sucking one's stomach in' to fill your lungs wit air, and fortify yourself for difficult times ahead.

 

Although I never did understand where people got the idea that the stomach goes *in* when you breath, but it seems to be a fair common one - as people will say "Suck your stomach in" when they want you to make your waist slim for a fitting.

I think it's because your chest expands but your actual belly area doesn't, so it gives the illusion that your stomach is going in a little when you inhale deeply. Also, quite a few people habitually straighten up slightly when they take a deep breath, which will also contribute to the illusion, as the stomach will stick out more if they normally slouch.

[TikindiDragon]

I think it's because your chest expands but your actual belly area doesn't, so it gives the illusion that your stomach is going in a little when you inhale deeply. Also, quite a few people habitually straighten up slightly when they take a deep breath, which will also contribute to the illusion, as the stomach will stick out more if they normally slouch.

No, if you're breating properly from you Diaphragm your stomach also expands when you breathe. I do this naturally, which according to the Nurse Specialist I was seeing is quite unusual in adults, who normally breathe from the shoulders. Breating from the shoulders does, indeed, cause the belly to go iin when you breathe in. It's just not natural to me.

[catstaff]

No, if you're breating properly from you Diaphragm your stomach also expands when you breathe. I do this naturally, which according to the Nurse Specialist I was seeing is quite unusual in adults, who normally breathe from the shoulders. Breating from the shoulders does, indeed, cause the belly to go iin when you breathe in. It's just not natural to me.

Interesting. Guess I was wrong then... or I've just been breathing from the shoulders all this time. About the only time I notice what my stomach is or isn't doing when I'm breathing is when I'm getting helped into a corset for the Ren Faire anyway, so I'll have both hands clinging to something solid and heavy while my husband has his knee in the small of my back while tightening the laces and I'm definitely not in my usual stance at that point.

[Red2111]

okay, heres a question for all you polite people.

 

i work in an office. we get a lot of members comming and going from the offic. there is this one member that 100% urks my ever loving nerves.

 

i've nicknamed him PITA.

 

among the top of my list is

 

- takes candy fromt eh dish but doesnt donate to replinish the list. not just takes candy from the dish but will root around the dish like a pig and take multiple pieces.

 

- will complain about the selection of candy in the dish. and multiple "well its on donation only maybe you should put some cash in if you want a better selection" falls suprisingly on deaf ears.

 

- does not put back things that he gets down. what am i your mother?! i dont even pick up after my fiancee! ... but i digress

 

these i can ignore and let roll off. they urk me, but not enough to get me to say soemthing. after all, membership dews are what pays my paycheck and some peopel are just ignorant pigs. you cant fix stupid.

 

 

all of this is to bring you to the point i need help with, that i'm litterally at my wits end with.

 

every time PITA comes in, he chews with his mouth open. i can never catch him before he comes it, to hide the candy dish, so thats not an option.

 

he normally sits about 10 feet from my desk, but sometimes he uses the cpu thats within slapping distance of my arm from where my desk is.

 

as i said, membership is important, so saying "hey dip wad, mind to chew with your mouth closed so i dont hear what your digesting like a cow?" or a similar comment is out of the question.

 

i've mentioned it to my boss numerous times, upon which she just shrugs.

 

i've tried turing up my music to drown him out, i swear he chews louder.

 

i've tried headphones, but these dont work that well because i have to answer phones and quesitons.

 

i'm about to go all out argo over this. it makes me cringe, and twitch and every time it happens my fuse gets shorter (the short fuse might have soemthign to do with wedding and college stress as well)

 

i'm about to go passive agressive on this and start slurping drinks and chewing obsenly loudly with my mouth open. which will get me no where.

 

 

so tell me people. how can i get this ape to stop chewing with his mouth full without going 3 shades fo Red Headed Bridezilla on him?

Edited April 23, 2013 by Red2111

[Kestra15]

How about politely asking him to chew quietly, not insulting him?

[Alpha Gryph]

Is going vegetarian something that is supposed to be a gradual process? I love meat, but I've seen enough about factory farming. I don't want to want to support this kind of business anymore. I just have icky health so I want the switch to not be too difficult on my system.

[7Deadly$ins]

Is going vegetarian something that is supposed to be a gradual process? I love meat, but I've seen enough about factory farming. I don't want to want to support this kind of business anymore. I just have icky health so I want the switch to not be too difficult on my system.

You could always buy better meat.

[Alpha Gryph]

You could always buy better meat.

I don't have much of a choice, I have to eat what I'm provided with here at my school. Don't have the money to buy my own food, nor any means of cooking in a dorm.

[Obscure_Trash]

Is going vegetarian something that is supposed to be a gradual process? I love meat, but I've seen enough about factory farming. I don't want to want to support this kind of business anymore. I just have icky health so I want the switch to not be too difficult on my system.

I've known people who go gradual or just jump all in at once and both do fine. Just make sure to watch what you eat and to make sure you're getting enough of what you need. I believe people should learn about what they're eating anyway, but it's especially important when you're making a rather big dietary change. In the end, you know your body best. I would just do some research on good vegetarian meals and do what feels right. If you jump right in and you aren't feeling well, then cut back a little and go in more gradually. Or, if you go gradually, pay attention to your body to see how slow or fast it can handle. If you're eating healthy food it's usually not too much of a shock (unless perhaps you eat really, really bad?). If it is something you're worried about, it's not a bad idea to talk to your doctor about it some. :3

[Riverwillows]

I have some dietary issues, and have had to introduce some vegitarian items into my mealtimes. I don't have a lot of money so shopping at health supermarkets like Whole Foods and Mother's Market are just not sensible.

 

I have found at my local supermarket a line of vegitarian items that that taste really good, and it's hard to tell I'm not eating meat. It's also priced reasonably. They are Morning Star Farms brand items. You can try starting with those maybe.

 

They have burgers, breakfasts, desserts, etc, lots of things. Even a ground beef substitute that is pretty good that you can use for sloppy joes, tacos, etc.

[kiyye]

When you realize your stomach is about to growl and you move around and make noise to try and make it sound less obvious, does that make it more or less awkward?