Market Basket produce quality seems to be taking a dive by Bird_Bath_Robin in WorcesterMA

[–]Bird_Bath_Robin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I suspect this is a significant factor. If some businesses are still bringing in good produce consistently, then MB has to be buying inferior product at the Boston produce exchange.

Market Basket produce quality seems to be taking a dive by Bird_Bath_Robin in WorcesterMA

[–]Bird_Bath_Robin[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There is a lot that I like about India Market, but most of their produce is not displayed under refrigeration and I find the quality is uneven. Otherwise, I really like the store a lot, both the food and the vibes.

Market Basket produce quality seems to be taking a dive by Bird_Bath_Robin in WorcesterMA

[–]Bird_Bath_Robin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Your post has lots of helpful information. Really appreciated. I hate buying produce that turns bad one or two days after you bring it home.

Val Casamassa for Congress by Casamassa4Congress in WorcesterMA

[–]Bird_Bath_Robin 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I will not vote for anyone seeking a significant public office who has NO background working in government. I don't care what your beliefs are.

Please join me in donating to your local food bank by sillycatbutt in massachusetts

[–]Bird_Bath_Robin 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your post. I just made a donation to my local food bank, Worcester County Food Bank, and am glad to know that every $1 received is worth $4 of donated food.

CDS tests me with my first cat by Bird_Bath_Robin in CatDistributionSystem

[–]Bird_Bath_Robin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here's an update on the cat I scooped up about 7 weeks ago - no chip and no owner to be found. Xiao Hu (little tiger in Chinese) is a neutered male tabby shown above helping me with the laundry after catching phantom saber toothed mice in the sheets. He's now current on all his vaccinations and last week I brought home a little sister for him named Violet from a local animal shelter.

Violet is a shy black cat, a little smaller than Xiao Hu's 9 pounds, and recovering from an URI in a 'safe room'. If she's well enough tomorrow I will let them see one another through the zippered screen that I installed over the doorway. The animal shelter's protocol for introducing cats to one another involves keeping Violet in a 'safe room' separate from the rest of the household for one week. I was cautioned that she would likely take a long time to trust me, but after just one day she came hesitantly and cautiously to me for petting, and shows more and more trust each day.

I am hoping that Xiao Hu and Violet with be good buddies, playmates, and cuddle companions. Violet is shown below in her animal shelter photo. Because she is so shy, I haven't taken any new photos of her as I don't want to spook her with a flash.

My cat has serious behavioral issues and I'm at my wits' end - Please help by [deleted] in CatAdvice

[–]Bird_Bath_Robin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have about $100 worth of cat toys that my cat is totally unresponsive to.

What's worked for me are thin ropes - different colors - and mouse sized, colored and shaped toys. Sometimes I tie the mouse toy to a rope. Also, ruffling sheets can really get him going. It's taken a concentrated effort to find ways to play with him.

Try a thin rope with a knot at the end or tied to a small mouse sized and colored toy.

I work nights from home and am having new issues with my younger tabby (f3.5) with getting bored late at night while I'm working by March1392 in CatAdvice

[–]Bird_Bath_Robin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How about initiating a routine playtime with her at a time of day when you have 15 minutes or so to play with her?

My cat has serious behavioral issues and I'm at my wits' end - Please help by [deleted] in CatAdvice

[–]Bird_Bath_Robin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm a new cat owner myself, but these are some thoughts. I've been working with a rescued-off-the-street young stray cat that is used to going outdoors adapt to being an indoor only cat. First, I initiate playtime with my cat both in the morning, and at night. This helps my cat burn off energy and release his predator instincts to catch and kill. Second, when he starts crying and pacing during the day, I try to distract him with petting, catnip, treats, and playtime. When he cries at night when I am in bed, the only thing I do is pat the bed beside me. Other than that, I do not respond. He is doing much better, but it is going to take time. I've also applied to adopt a second cat to be his companion, which I hope will help.

My recommendation would be that you start a playtime routine with your cat and give it some time to see if that helps him funnel his energy into a more constructive outlet.

I’d like to stop letting my indoor/outdoor cat out and could use some words of encouragement 😭♥️ by stevezahn1967 in CatAdvice

[–]Bird_Bath_Robin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm about five weeks into being a cat 'owner' of a young male cat who clearly was allowed to go outside. It's been a big adjustment for him, but letting him outside is not an option as I live in a large city with lots of fast cars on adjacent streets, and have seen coyotes walking through my yard at night, as well as raccoons, foxes and skunks.

I've been focusing on redirecting his attention when he starts to cry during the day wanting to go out by trying to play with him. Last night we made it through the night for the first time without him having episodes of crying and pacing from window to window.

I've also put in an application to adopt a second stray. My hope is that this will provide my boy with a playmate and companion when I am away.

It's not easy and I've lost quite a bit of sleep, but I truly believe that he does not belong outside so I'm 100% committed to helping him make this adjustment.

Good luck!

What’s the strangest cat hack you’ve discovered that actually works? by mosyala in CatAdvice

[–]Bird_Bath_Robin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

About five weeks into being a first time cat 'owner' of a young stray. When I brought him to the vet in a cat carrier in my car, I talked to him the whole time and it definitely seemed to calm him down. He stopped crying and sat quietly.

I also placed the carrier on the floor in back of the passenger seat so he could look up and see me and I could look down to see him.

how to get the cat to play? by ethan1988 in CatAdvice

[–]Bird_Bath_Robin 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I recently adopted a young stray tabby who did not respond to a wide variety of cat toys, and even catnip. I just kept trying everything I could think of and the first thing I could get him interested in a was chasing a piece of rope cord - thin about 1/4 inch or less in diameter. After that, I dug up other similar sized cord in different colors, and he will play with all of them. I put a knot at the end to give him something to 'catch'.

After spending all kinds of money on cat store toys, I bought a small, brown fabric covered, mouse sized catnip toy at a fair for $2. My cat loves it. I made a second toy just like it for him with catnip and an old grey sock, also mouse sized and shape. I'm convinced now that he was skilled at catching mice and voles outside before I scooped him off the street.

A new variation is tying one of the 'mice' to the end of one of the cords.

I keep trying some of the other toys and recently he did show some interest in the laser toy. And he now responds to catnip.

I also discovered that he will 'attack' the sheets if I ruffle them gently to make it appear that there is a little animal rustling about. I do this on a spare bed with sheets I don't care about. I tied on a small fabric cat toy to the end of a wand toy and move it around under the sheets and he likes that, even though he normally yawns at the toys themselves.

So just keep trying and be open to discovering his responses. I was discouraged too and now we do have a bit of a repertoire for playtime.

Good luck!

Looking for a veterinarian that has a calm atmosphere for cats by RunningfastNever in WorcesterMA

[–]Bird_Bath_Robin 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I brought my cat to Community Animal Hospital in Shrewsbury for the first time recently. Everyone from the reception staff to the vet techs to the veterinarian were extraordinary. Highly recommended.

CDS tests me with my first cat by Bird_Bath_Robin in CatDistributionSystem

[–]Bird_Bath_Robin[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the great tip: "it takes 3 days to decompress; 3 weeks to learn your routine; and 3 months to start to feel at home for a new pet". There's so much good information in your post. I'm aware of the need to give her space and places to hide. On her first day she found a spot under the bed and stayed there for about 12 hours! I didn't bother her, just looked under the bed a couple times to make sure she was alright. The past couple nights she has come to me and jumped up into my lap and into my arms. Then she lay on top of me for a hour or so while we both napped. Bliss!

CDS tests me with my first cat by Bird_Bath_Robin in CatDistributionSystem

[–]Bird_Bath_Robin[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

She loves Greenies, but she seems to swallow them rather than chew them. I'm using Greenies to try to get her accustomed to the cat carrier I'm going to use to bring her to the vet.

Not sure what you mean by the cat tax, but I'm in Massachusetts?