Couch 222: Create, Cooperate, Harmonize

Are the bowls clean or washed with a different detergent? Maybe the city messed with the water and didnt announce it.

Cats will sometimes inexplicably just stop eating whatever food they have been eating for months, years, etc. I do think it is odd that all of yours decided at once to boycott their food. Try a new package of their usual food. If that doesn't work, try another brand. If that doesn't work, get them to the vet ASAP. Cats can go into kidney failure quick. Not to scare you, just so you know that it can happen in just a few days.

Any stress in their environment?

Thanks. Well, we DID buy the newest cans of food from a different store (same brand, etc) so it's possible there's something funky with this particular lot like maybe the manufacturer changed the formulation. We used to buy it at Costco but they don't have it anymore there. AND the box does look a little different - so I bet they DID change the formulation, I hadn't thought of that.

thanks. Nope to the detergent, same as always. I did try using a people-plate with a fresh can instead of their cat bowls, and Penny ate a bite or two but then walked away. The other 2 ignored it.

thanks Kit. the oddest thing of all is that they won't eat their treats! they usually scarf those like there's no tomorrow. i'm starting to wonder if it's something to do with the christmas tree. it's got a stronger smell than the ones we usually get for some reason. i need to research that.

no new stress, anyway. i mean there's been some stress of course because of covid but nothing new.


I'm really starting to wonder about the christmas tree now.

Aha - I'll bet the tree IS the culprit!! Just did a little research and found out that the tree oil can irritate their stomachs if they drink the water - and they always get in there and drink the water. I never knew this before and it was never a problem in the past. But this particular species of tree we got this year has a very strong scent, so I guess the oil is stronger?? I think it's time that we buy an artificial tree going forward.

Oh, that could make sense if it's the Christmas tree oil. Is there a way to block them from drinking it? It's also possible the smell of the tree could be affecting them, where their food seems to taste different because of the strong smell.

Hope they're all OK!

Yeah... I can crawl under the tree and put some aluminum foil over the water, that will probably work. And maybe I'll move the whole thing into son's old room, then at least the smell won't be as strong out here where they eat. Maybe. Either that or maybe I should just move it outside to the table that's near the livingroom window - we'll still be able to see it but the smell won't bother them. Hmm.


Thanks!

Finally plucked up the courage to ask a journalist I follow on Twitter about an article of theirs to which I contributed, and because it had to be cut significantly, my contribution wasn't used. The piece took a lot of emotional energy, and now it's...idle. Of course, it's a minefield, because it deals with my experience with a prior therapist, who is still practicing, as far as I know...but...

I'm depressed. The Christmas Holiday depression has hit me like bricks today. I was doing okay but now not so much.

Hugs, Kit... Feel free to post more about what you're feeling if you think it might help.

Other than that, I just woke up today with the blues. I had been doing okay with the holiday but like usual, it has turned around to bite me. I had yesterday off of work and I'm kind of kicking myself for not taking today off of work too. I did take tomorrow off of work. I'm hoping that not having any pressure and not having anything I have to do might help re-stabilize me. I'm working today and sometimes routine helps but today it is not helping.


The depression is triggering me so I wrapped my arm up in an ace bandage which kind of helps to take the pressure off. I didn't need to wrap my arm, it's not hurt, just that the act of wrapping it is soothing and seems to help. My T thought this was a good coping skill and to utilize it whenever I need. I feel like it holds my arm together, and holds the bones in place which T says is a delusion, but I don't care as long as it helps.


I always get depressed at the holiday. My sister and family are not coming because of Covid. It's just not safe for them to come. My sister is disappointed. The children probably are too. No one in my family is disappointed that my brother-in-law isn't coming. We all don't get along. I talked to my sister yesterday but I had to force the conversation so we didn't talk as long as usual. Usually she is chatty Cathy but yesterday she was being pretty quiet so I was the one dragging the conversation. Eventually I just gave up. I don't know if she is holding a grudge because my parents said she couldn't come but that's no reason to be sulky on the phone. It is the first Christmas that we won't be spending time with my sister. That feels weird.



Up until today I was in a more grateful sort of mood. Now I'm just in a big black hole that I have been pushed down. I don't really want to reach out to T because she said she would be spending time with her son and grandkids, Covid or no Covid. So I don't really want to disturb her. My coworker said, it sounds like you anticipated feeling depressed because you always get depressed at the holidays so mind over matter you got depressed. Well that sucks. Not so much that she said it, but if it is indeed true and I am suffering for nothing.


Had an appointment yesterday with my GP. She asked me if I was having any bad thoughts and yesterday I wasn't so I was able to honestly tell her no. But today I couldn't say that but today is not my appointment day. It doesn't help that the hospitals are so crowded, many where I live are at 150% capacity or higher. So I don't really have a backup plan of going to the hospital if things get worse in my head. I have friends to talk to and I have you all here on My Support Forums (MSF). And I could possibly talk to my parents about how I am suffering now. I don't know what triggered it. I just woke up depressed. Like flipping the page on the calendar. 2 days to Christmas so Kit is depressed. Bleh.


I'm not too busy at work today so I am watching parts of Home Alone from Amazon Prime. At least that is distracting.

big safe hugs, Kit.

So artie what kind of tree is it that the smell overwhelms the kitties? Im wondering if it is a variety of juniper. The nuns had a lot of juniper in their garden at the elementary school and that smell just takes me back! Its a somewhat common planting around here - i will be going to the grocery store and all of a sudden i'm 8 years old in a green plaid school jumper! I love juniper, i found hand cream, spice - i might have essential oil, not sure!

I'm sorry that you're struggling, Kit. I've talked to several people today that I don't talk to on a regular basis and if it helps, you're not alone in struggling. You're right, though. We're here for you.

Kit, sorry for the bad news. Good new/bad news - i dont think the holidays are going to have much effect on the hospitals, one way or the other.

Like the Beatles song from the sixties, "You have to admit its getting better - it cant get any worse!"

I don't recall actually - it was a different kind than we usually get though. We usually get a noble fir which has never bothered them. but we got this one because it was so pretty and fragrant. And it was called something else.

Hubby remembered - it is a Fraser Fir.

Hugs, Kit...I hope everyone that you're concerned about is OK.

Gin,.....

Googled it - The noble fir is local to you guys, the fraser is from the east.

Your kitties are like, "youre not from around here, are ya?!" theyre so smart!

Thats what i have you for.

update on the kitties and the tree: I took the tree outside earlier. 2 of them just ate a little and the other one was digging around his plate trying to bury it like he wants to eat it later. I am now pretty sure it was the tree!

eta: make that, all 3 are now eating. the big cat decided to eat after all. who knew??

Glad they're eating, Artie!

We get a Frasier fir every year because they are so pretty and smell nice. Our cat doesn't seem to mind, but she is the uptight, non-adventurous sort who would never deign to climb on or drink from the tree. And anyway, she spends most of her day hanging out in the bedroom, avoiding the toddler.

I received an order of this brand of pimiento cheese called Palmetto Cheese that I can't get where I live. Even though I had to buy 4 tubs of it in order to get it shipped, I'm kind of happy about having it again after 7 years. I have like 3 months to eat it all.

Artie, they just knew they aint never smelled anything like that before! Uppity tree from back East! I am dying!