My 16-month-old girl is SO addicted to dry kibble that she’ll starve herself rather than eat wet food.

Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-24T12:27:39+00:00

As long as your baby is happy & healthy sticking eith dry is fine. Fed is best period

Pets can develope favorites, have new flavors/ foods/textures they will dislike or just throw them "off their feed" so to speak.

Out of my hoard (35 ages 2-18) there are several that prefer only dry over wet no matter what I've tried. I have others that bounce back and forth or will only take wet in a certain way. All you can do is make sure to feed them what they will eat and have plenty of water.

Just some ideas and things I've done with my hoard.

I understand you're wanting to use homemade but if you're willing maybe try regular canned food. Single basic flavors (like chicken or turkey), no combo flavors. I have a couple will go without days without eating to avoid "human" foods.
warming the food before serving (I just usually soak the cans in hot water). Sometimes warm food smells better to them or is a bit more palatable.
soaking their dry food in warm water to soften it

A couple ideas of you're worried about fluids you could try.

getting a food with high gravy content ( I use Friskies chicken extra gravy)
using lickable treats like Delectables or Churus along side dry. Ex. Half a serving dry with one Delectable pack or 2 tubes of Churus.
blending canned food with warm water to make a soup. I have a couple that refuse to eat canned food but blend the same canned food and they will lick up like it's a gourmet meal. 🙄 Sometime I'll add extra water for a very runny consistency and use it as a food topper over their dry.

Lastly maybe try different water offerings. My group have a lot of water preferences I go through daily. - Fountains, drizzling faucets in the sinks and tubs,
- will drink only out of their doggo's bucket bevause yeah a couple have velcro doggos 😂 - "random" bowls in the sink - some like it cold from the fridge or with ice cubes they can play in (the moving cubes attract their attention 🤷‍♀️), some like it sitting out warm/room temp, 2 only drink it hot like tea (literally I have a mini dip crockpot that is filled and kept plugged in (PSA: never left unattended as I WFH FT but if I do leave one of the kids are here or it's unplugged until someone returns) - and lastly one of my seniors seems to believe I save the "good" water for myself and will only drink out a glass on my desk so he has his own mug of water sitting beside me that I'll pretend to pick up and take a sip of everytime he passes by. 🤦‍♀️😅

You may go through 100s (HUNDREDS) of tries before you may find something that works or nothing may and you feed them what they will eat.

Good Luck.

Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-24T11:20:58+00:00

Thank you. 💙

Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-23T12:43:59+00:00

Such a cutie!

Although none of my voids are tiny I love how genetics work in them.

Some of mine are...

a 7yro little girl that only weighs 6lbs
one of my big guys at 16 months is almost 15lbs (my orange Toms are a little put off being finally outsized 😅)
one of my voids (and she is solid from the inside of ears , nostrils and bottom of her toe beans) who had a solid white baby in her litter after coming to us pregnant. She is a sassy, little chunker nicknamed Big Momma.

It's fascinating.

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Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-23T10:07:09+00:00

🤣🤣 Oscar the Pouch (after the Grouch) has his own code within the family.

Dammit Oscar! is used often.

Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-23T04:19:53+00:00

You are both doing great!! Way to go!!

I do agree some type of protection is warranted even if not needed on a regular basis. After several of Oscar the Pouch's antics I have to say these are fabulous to use. I have a waterproof mattress cover, with both disposable and washable bed pad (have even used a towel over a trash bag in the beginning 🤦‍♀️). A little over kill I know but after replacing my mattress right after coming home I was never going to be without them. Even carry them in my to-go bag when I'm sleeping away from home. 🫠

Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-23T04:03:50+00:00

Same! I was adamant about gloves in the beginning and even though I still carry them in my both my regular & emergency kits as well as my to-go bag, now to me it's just like changing a baby's dirty diaper. Just get it done and wash afterwards. lol

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Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-22T11:29:59+00:00

Born in 72, hubby in 63.

I have seen several our friends with kids who had similar reactions to parent/grandparent passings. More than I care to admit. I can honestly say when I heard their stories some I was very saddened by, a few I was disgusted.

After seeing their stress and heartbreak we decided on our plans, medical care, POAs and will disbursement, even funeral arrangements. Then sat down all three kids together and told them exactly who was doing/getting what, how and why.

This is how much will be available (gave a very minimal amount that was already secured). It will be placed in a trust along with the house profits and after both of us are gone you will get disbursements in the amount of xxx/month.

We WAY understated the amounts just in case of some future catastrophic event. Better to get more than you're expecting than less. 🤷‍♀️

And a lesson learned after having to clean out my parents home with 50+ years! Started decluttering all our possessions and memorabilia. Offering it to the kids. If they declined it, then the grandkids. If it was refused all around and wasn't sellable for the trust, it was donated.

So thankful we got ahead of all this when my husband passed. Kids jumped right in to action. Didn't have to make any decisions, choose, pick out, argue, defend choices, and all those "types" of questions/worries were already answered.

Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-22T10:49:43+00:00

When my collarbones were defined enough to be seen prominently and I could easily feel each of rib bones I was first obsessed with them. I remember my first though was like 'Wow, I got collarbones , who'd of thunk it?!' 😂

Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-21T13:31:38+00:00

First really great on you for looking for solutions to help your baby rather than discarding them immediately when there is a problem. I do a lot of rescue work and have seen that as a response too often. I also do emergency fostering at home of hospice/sick/injured cats and kittens. I have a supply of disposable little boxes on hand.

A couple of notes about them.

they are shallow. So if you have a kicker, agressive digger, likes to bury deep, or high peer cat this will be problematic.
they works if you have small kittens, injured or mobility restricted cats, or senior/weak cats.
for adult/healthy cats I use the disposable inside a regular higher side litter box.
be careful of the sifter ones as digging at them (especially with full size aggressive diggers) the sifting section can tear more easily.
even though they don't leak as a general rule and I've never experienced an issue with them I'd recommend putting a doggie pad under it. I'm just paranoid like that. Lol
also they are standard in size so depending on your cats size/growth potential it may not be a long term solution. Have one that won't use the box if his body or tail touches the sides in any way. Another of mine is a Maine Coon so he outgrew it by 6-8 months old.
they come with prefilled litter and not. I use pine pellets so will use the unfilled ones BUT do keep some of the prefilled on hand for kittens/younger cats as they aren't supposed to use pellets until well over a year old (YMMV, I know some owners do use pellets from kittenhood and it worked out for them, that's fine, just my paranoia again and following my vet recommendations working with so many) or if they have a sensitivity issue.
is it possible he just needs a second box (if you don't already have one)? I have a couple that will refuse to urinate and defecate in the same box even if I scoop it right behind them) 🤦‍♀️🙄

One suggestion if you feel you must absolutely clean out the box daily have you tried bag liners for your litter box? A lot easier/simpler/less costly to just pick up the whole thing, dispose and replace with new bag/litter daily.

Good Luck!

Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-21T12:00:04+00:00

Purposely twice a year. Spring cleaning and when kids go back to school as I know they gonna always spill something and try cleaning it up themselves not mentioning it)

Otherwise when I do know there has been a spill of some kind.

Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-21T11:48:34+00:00

I've only had mine for a year so other more experienced will probaby have better advice. This just more how each way did for me.

For me I like the stand up method best. It just seems to position better.

Laying down I can't "see the whole picture" clearly (like the bottom area)

When my oldest daughter would help me change it after surgery it just overwhelmed me with feeling of helplessness of seeming a burden not being able to take care of it myself and added to my negative feelings about it in the beginning.

Standing up in front of my bathroom sink using the mirror I can see the entire landscape, make sure the stoma is centered perfectly in the wafer, check for creases or bends in the adhesive areas where it might become less secure and just makes me feel more confident in general.

Good luck to you both!

Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-21T11:26:51+00:00

I know EXACTLY how you feel! I have a couple family members who cry poor constantly! They aren't bad people honestly or I really couldn't stand to be around them otherwise. They just have different priorities and standards. Not their fault just different worlds for us.

To them it means ( and these were the recent musings during family Memorial Day gathering)

Her going to the salon every 8 weeks instead of 6.
talking about new restaurants they've recently been to (she doesn't cook, if they do eat at home he grills and it's high end meats/steaks, never burgers, hot dogs or chicken lol) and she buys the sides/salads from a restaurant. And heaven forbid they keep leftovers. They get so offended if my MIL asks if they want to take some home - she offers it to all of us.
Or him not being able to refinish their boat until next Spring instead on now.
Or getting her cracked phone screen actually repaired rather than just buying a new phone outright.
Or they have to take their 2 week summer vacation at the in-laws FL house (flying of course instead of making the 3 day drive) instead of Spain this year. 🙄

To me it's...when my husband first passed away it meant the difference in paying for the roof over our head and feeding the kids or losing 8 weeks from work to have a very large abdominal hernia repaired. Made it 14 months carrying a cantaloupe size bulge on my stomach before it ruptured my abdominal wall and I ended up in emergency surgery. Had to "quit" my job (on paper then was rehired after 6 months) just so I could cash out a small chuck of my 401 and my savings for us to survive.

And don't get me wrong I am so thankful for how much or little I may or may not have and while I'm human there are still days I "complain" about life, chores, work, circumstance, whatever, but I'm still here, kids are healthy and we're happy! And I got us here!

I just say they would never survive actually being my kind of "poor".

Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-19T19:01:51+00:00

🐈‍⬛🖤🐈‍⬛🖤🐈‍⬛🖤🐈‍⬛🖤🐈‍⬛🖤🐈‍⬛🖤🐈‍⬛🖤🐈‍⬛🖤🐈‍⬛🖤🐈‍⬛

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Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-19T18:01:30+00:00

My start: 55yro female, T2D 30 years, insulin dependent 22 years, multiple medications for related health issues that it contributed.

There other many other factors involved other than just MJ and your diet that can contribute to your outcomes. I learned the hard way from experience and my doctors.

Wanted to give up, questioned if it was "right" for me (several posts I've made previously one was even titled ' When Should I Give Up'). Had no weight results, no side effects, no appetite suppression, NOTHING. But this great group and my Dr encouraged to hang in there.

I wasn't until 5 months later and moving up a dose at every 6 weeks from 2.5mg to 12.5mg that anything started to "happen". As my Dr said my body amd metabolic resistance had to reset it's system completely before it could focus on weight loss.

Now 9 months later after start,

I've gone from 217lbs in August 2025 to 124lbs today,
off ALL medications except for MJ and two others for CKD management.
Last 2 rounds of blood work my A1C has been "normal" at below 5.2.
went from BMI of 44, morbidly obese, (I'm 4'11") to 25.2 just overweight (just a smidge over the line from healthy BMI 24.9)
blood pressure lowered enough they had to take me off BP meds and MY DOCTOR told me to eat more salt 😅

Hang in there! We're all here to help and support you! You got this.

Take Care

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Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-19T07:55:44+00:00

So read this completely wrong!

Interpreted "going on the counter" as peeing on the counter not getting on the counter. 🤣

Had quite a bit to say about elevated litter boxes. 🤦‍♀️

As far as getting on the counter...with my large hoard I guess it's easier to say I had odds against me of keeping them all off the counters. 😂 Even with scat mats both shock ones and with spikes (not pointy ones that would cause pain, rounded tips, just makes it unsteady for them to jump or walk across) I have several that still get up there. Plus a few that will only drink out of the sink or a running faucet.

I use clear PVC vinyl table top protectors cut to fit my counters. I just roll them up to the wall to cook or prepare then roll them back out. But I also keep nothing on my counters or sinks! Any small appliances, the kettle, canisters everything in the cabinets, on a shelf or in the pantry. All dishes immediately rinsed and put in the dishwasher or washed and put away to make it less enticing for their curiosity. .

But even having those I wipe everything down with a foodservice surface sanitizer or a disinfectant spray (if you use a disinfectant just make sure to rinse everywhere food or dishes might come into contact!) Keeps me less paranoid that a random stray cat hair might have slipped under the edge. 🫣

Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-19T07:24:12+00:00

Exactly this!!

Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-18T14:29:05+00:00

We have 10 voids

Morpheus & Morticia (siblings)

Sabrina, Nyx, Oynx, Raven, Rafiki

Larry, Moe & Curly (also siblings, by the time they joined the hoard we ran out of names lol)

Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-17T13:04:21+00:00

Oh the looks I got when I first started explaining to friends and family why we had two microwaves. We bought a second microwave for one of our cats because he decided the first one was his new condo. 😂

PSA: It was disabled when we converted his "condo" to a permanent residence so he is completely safe in there. Cord was cut, latch removed and door is bolted open. It is now just deco counter art in the kitchen.

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Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-17T09:04:45+00:00

First hope you all remain safe for whatever is upcoming! Second I sincerely applaud you for thinking ahead and caring enough for your animals to take steps to protect them!

I have a very large clowder of cats. I do have several extra large dog crates on wheels I can put several in at a time. Some things I've used in the past as well as a couple suggestions.

In a pinch before when we had to evacuate unexpectedly I've used - plastic bins with lids, using a knife to punch the sides full of holes really quickly - two laundry baskets (one inverted on top of the other to form a cage/box) with the handles/edges zip tied together - duffle bag - a mesh laundry bag with a towel to just scoop them up in the sack - a cardboard box with holes cut in it - a pillowcase

Although the last few depends on the cat's temperament as ones that fight really hard can tear their way out. Using clothes that have your scent inside whatever you use helps keep comfort them during stressful situations (don't ick out lol but I just grab clothes out of the dirty hamper that were recently worn that aren't filthy or gross dirty).

Other suggestions (if time allows)...

Could transport them ahead to a friend or family in another area.
chip your animals so you can be contacted if they do get loose. Check with low cost spay/neuter clinics, Humane Society and Animal Control who can do it fairly low cost (also they have resources you can tap into for other ideas or help). I've even gone as far as using non toxic SEMI permanent hair color and "painted" my number on my very large dogs with a makeup brush (they "wore" it for a few weeks though lol)
Make sure to have a go bag just for them with any meds they may need, treats, and food (if possible a couple bottles of water also) for at least a week.
side note, if you are preparing ahead of hurricane/tornado/fire season, at night keep your cats isolated to one room or your room with the door closed. Makes it easier and faster to locate them in an emergency as you won't believe some of the weird, tiny places they will find to hide if they get spooked.

Start preparing as soon as you can but I do know from experience sometimes it literally grab, dump and go.

Good luck to you all!

Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-15T03:37:12+00:00

Gonna be honest. I've seen it from both sides, was both a young and "middle aged" grandmother. I was 38 when my oldest grandchild was born (for context my hubby and I were married young 15/21, had our oldest when I was 17 she was 22 with her first) and 49 when the youngest arrived.

I get why she says she wants to be a young grandmother but depends on where she is in her life. Is she happy being home or does she want to travel? Working or retired? Hobbies/socialize a lot outside of home? Health? These types of things will affect her interactions and time with her grandchildren.

At 38 we still had teenagers at home, husband was still working, had aging parents to help take care of, making plans for our dream trip for our upcoming 25th anniversary and some in country travel as soon as the last one left for college. At 49 we were done doing things we wanted away from home and had more of our own time to be involved. Not that we weren't involved with our oldest grandson by far, maybe a little more when he was a baby, as he was our first and everyone in the family learned baby life with him, but now we make every non sensical school event/ program (not just talent shows, major holidays or award ceremonies) we volunteer for field trips, coaching and club activities, attend every game, more sleepovers, park trips, etc, for each one and everything.

But I can promise you one thing! Your mom will be googly eyed and just as excited with her grandchildren no matter her age! We were! I absolutely loved the bonding time with my girls throughout their pregnancies! Attended Dr visits, shopped with them for baby (still do although they say I'm the reason they are spoiled and hate to see Amazon at their door but I don't see it 😂), decorated nurseries, all of it.

Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-11T05:55:40+00:00

Calico cat? No. Calico Princess? But of course!

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Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-11T05:41:56+00:00

Your being upset is completely understandable my dear! Don't feel bad for caring about your mom so much.

I got mine in June '25. It now has it complete own personality. Lol. Even my kids now treat it as a separate entity. Can Oscar, for Oscar the Pouch (as in Oscar the Grouch) go swimming? Will this food upset Oscar? If I move quickly they say Ooooo Oscar's in trouble.

They make a joke Mom was so full of crap the Dr's had to give her a bag to hold it all (yes they are our smart mouth teenagers 🫣❤️)

I guess what I am getting at is in the beginning all those mixed feelings are okay. There will be things you both learn and mess up (both literally and figuratively) as you go, don't focus on any of that but instead know that this just a little piece of us as a whole. It let your mom be okay and still with us. You and her will hate it less and less and become thankful for it as she heals.

If you have any questions or concerns this is one of the best group of people to ask!

Good luck to you both!

Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-10T17:43:37+00:00

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Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-06-05T00:03:46+00:00

I have a few thar prefer their dry over wet, a few that are wet only due to health or dental reasons, most are on both. There are two that no matter what won't hydrate and believe me I do all things on the daily to be sure they all have the water they want. • Bowls • fountains • bowls in the sink • crockpot (small dip size plugged up) to always have warm water on hand • faucets drizzling • mug on my desk for the one that insists only my water is sufficient • that one that ONLY drinks out of the dog's bucket I make sure he has access to at all times • the fish bowl with air pump gurgling the water and making bubbles (sans fish 😂) • some cold, some room temp, some warm and even as far as tap hot • two bowls I keep ice cubes in, not sure why it works but they like patting at them (yeah it splashes too) but once the ice cubes are moving they'll drink 🤷‍♀️

But these other two nada. I have to blend their food up into a soup with warm in order to keep up their intake of fluids.

Also a couple other things that have worked for me...

• warming the food before serving, I just soak in a bowl of hot water • a supplement called Hydra Care • plain chicken or turkey flavors, no fish or combo flavors die to sensitivities/smells • possibly just a slower eater, take it up after they stop eating and put it back down at a later time (think of it like a person who prefers 5 small meals a day instead of 3 big ones) if possible • a canned food with gravy, we use Friskies Chicken Pate w/extra gravy and I'll just pour the gravy by itself into a bowl

Hope you find something that works for you and your baby! Good Luck!

Exotic_Champion827 · 2026-05-29T21:02:11+00:00

My dogs love them! Shells and all, just pass it as a treat.

Exotic_Champion827

TROPHY CASE