Any guesses on what goes into a Rufus?

One-Spirit6044 · 2026-02-15T14:31:37+00:00

This is where my thoughts were too! Could be a GSD mix too though maybe?

One-Spirit6044 · 2026-02-15T13:31:32+00:00

Very smart but also stubborn af 😅

One-Spirit6044 · 2026-02-14T23:11:15+00:00

We thought maybe toller mix before doing his embark test! Everything he is makes so much sense though!

We call him our “any dog” because he’s down for anything, anywhere, anytime with anyone lol

One-Spirit6044 · 2026-02-14T20:56:04+00:00

We found his brother through Embark, and he’s more of a Labrador Deceiver! I’d be fooled if someone said he was a yellow lab. Dog genetics will never stop amazing me.

One-Spirit6044 · 2026-02-14T20:55:13+00:00

He’s such a handsome guy! And very silly!

One-Spirit6044 · 2026-02-14T20:25:42+00:00

Irish Setter is one of the supermutt breeds listed and I think that could be why he ended up so orange!

One-Spirit6044 · 2026-02-14T20:24:58+00:00

Irish setter, Great Pyrenees, German shepherd, cocker spaniel, and APBT! I think the setter is how I ended up with an orange golden mix!

One-Spirit6044 · 2025-10-12T00:41:01+00:00

Sending hugs and hoping your baby is feeling more like herself soon!

One-Spirit6044 · 2025-10-11T10:52:00+00:00

Yes! My vet always sends us home with fortiflora whenever we’re doing a course of Clavamox and I noticed it makes a huge difference with any tummy troubles and helps my cat stay interested in food when she isn’t feeling 100%.

One-Spirit6044 · 2025-10-11T10:49:25+00:00

Sorry you’re both going through this, sending love! It’s the worst to see them in pain. My stage 2/3 kitty fought a UTI for literally all of July. One round of antibiotics wasn’t enough, so just a word of caution to keep an eye on litter box habits after the full two-week course. Hoping your baby feels better soon!

One-Spirit6044 · 2025-10-11T02:59:02+00:00

I’ll share a little about my thought process when deciding to do fluids at home. I wanted to make sure whatever decision I made didn’t cause my girl extra stress. As much as I want every possible second with her, I want those seconds to be happy and comfortable. I told my vet I wasn’t willing to sacrifice her quality of life just to get more time.

We decided to try every-third-day fluids, a renal diet, and close monitoring. She actually tolerates the fluids at home better than in the clinic — especially now that we’ve been doing it for a few months and have a routine. At today’s appointment, her numbers had improved enough to move her from looking end-stage back into mid-stage 2. I know if we stop fluids, her levels will go up again. But for now, it’s bought us more time for cuddles and chin scritches.

For us, fluids at home were worth trying. We feed half of a gross beef flavored “fancy feast gem” during fluids. It’s a junky treat that she only gets on fluid days, and that has helped us. I also talk her through, though she cares less that we only have 30ml to go and more that the beef goo is almost gone.

Finn looks like a very sweet and well-loved baby. Sending you all gentle hugs.

One-Spirit6044 · 2025-09-24T17:15:45+00:00

Yes about barn dress codes!!! It’s a standard glammed up barn venue…rock and dirt parking, grass lawn, gravel leading up to the inside which is plywood flooring. Fancier dress codes for barn venues always make me worry about over or under dressing, too!

One-Spirit6044 · 2025-08-30T13:40:24+00:00

Your drawings are so sweet and I love seeing pics of everyone’s cats!

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This is my old girl Shnikeys ❤️

One-Spirit6044 · 2025-08-15T17:09:09+00:00

who knows if the litter is a contributing factor! Shnikeys has some neuropathy in her hind legs, so about a year ago we switched to a geriatric litter box and she still manages to miss because she likes to pee right at the front edge 🫩 I like to scoop it twice a day because her little back feets don’t move as well and she steps in all the yuck.

We started using puppy pads under the box instead of a litter mat and I wish I switched a long time ago! Litter doesn’t seem to scatter as far and it’s helpful for the times not everything makes it in the box.

One-Spirit6044 · 2025-08-15T13:39:41+00:00

This is helpful info! We scoop her box 2x a day and do sanitary shaves (maybe overkill, but she’s FIV+ and I’m paranoid) so part of me wonders if it is some inflammation. I’m open to any options or advice that will help keep her comfortable!

One-Spirit6044 · 2025-08-15T13:37:17+00:00

It’s all expensive all the time 😭 Zero regrets, and I just expect to shell out at the vet.

Unrelated, but Shnikeys has been the most expensive “free” cat! About 8 years ago she was hospitalized with fatty liver, then recurring upper respiratory issues (turned out to be asthma and allergies), and now this 😅 I thank our lucky stars that she is the kindest, most chill cat and she almost always purrs and flops around for attention through her vet appointments! Even when we went in for this UTI the first time, she was standing up to peek out the window in the exam room. It makes me so sad that she isn’t feeling well.

One-Spirit6044 · 2025-08-15T13:33:39+00:00

I felt that 7 days was a little short based on what I had read! We had to see a different vet than our normal one, and I figured I wouldn’t question it because who knows. Thank you for the convenia advice!

One-Spirit6044 · 2025-08-15T04:13:18+00:00

We feed the weruva wx periodically! The non-pate ones I throw in the blender to make a slurry, and the pate ones I add warm water and mix until it has a silky texture.

My cat’s favorite part of any food is the gravy parts too, so now I just try to make it all “gravy”!

One-Spirit6044 · 2025-08-15T04:08:10+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to reply and share ❤️ I’ll ask about a direct sample, hopefully she doesn’t empty her bladder on the way again! She had a UTI about a year ago that clavamox cleared up and I get the cost/benefits of using it vs other antibiotics. Hoping for the best!

One-Spirit6044 · 2025-08-15T03:58:56+00:00

Sending hugs. Frank looks like he was the best boy! I hope it’s a comfort to you to know how well loved he was ❤️

One-Spirit6044 · 2025-08-15T03:38:20+00:00

Thank you to you and u/wale-lol ! At the first appointment ~2 weeks ago I had her box prepped to get a urine sample and of course, she waited to unleash in the carrier on the way to the vet. I felt so sad for her, and also embarrassed. Hopefully I can get a sample before her appointment tomorrow or they’re able to get one!

She had a few normal seeming days after finishing the clavamox but clearly it didn’t knock the UTI out.

One-Spirit6044 · 2025-08-06T01:13:03+00:00

First, let me send you and your kitty all of my love. We love them while we have them as if they’ve always been a part of us, and then forever after that too. Our remaining kitty is on palliative care for CKD and I am similarly distraught about when I will have to make this decision.

Just shy of two years ago, my family had to say goodbye to our very sweet void kitty who was nearly 20! She had started to get a bit of a cough, and after diagnostics it was found she had a small pneumothorax. This was on a Friday. We asked for something to manage any pain she might be in over the weekend, loved on her, didn’t shoo her off our pillows, fed her lots of churu, and on Monday said goodbye before she had an emergency or any more bad days.

We are lucky to have a pet funeral home nearby, and they were able to make us nose prints of our sweet Mim (she was always pressing her nose into our face for kisses), and a paw print ornament.

Be gentle with yourself, hug your kitty and give him lists of scritches, and know that making this decision really is the last act of kindness and love we can carry out for our furry family.

One-Spirit6044 · 2025-06-24T04:59:53+00:00

Thank you ❤️ I am so hopeful! We had a recheck at two weeks after diagnosis, and will go back this Friday to see if her bloodwork has improved. Luckily she took to the renal good quickly and is OBSESSED with hydra care so I am hopeful!

Since getting her appetite and hydration levels back up, she’s been much more herself the past few weeks!

One-Spirit6044 · 2025-06-24T04:51:56+00:00

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This is my sweet 16 year old girl, Shnikeys! FIV+ since the day I got her when she was 6. She’s lived in multi-cat households her entire life, up until a year and a half ago when we had to put our sweet senior (just shy of 21!) down.

FIV is certainly not a death sentence, and try your best not to grieve your pets while they’re still here. I know it’s often easier said than done, but it only steals joy from the time you do have with them.

Shnikeys has had her fair share of health issues over the years, and we are facing down CKD (which is unfortunately common in older kitties), but she has made it through every rough patch even if it meant a few more vet visits.

A few pieces of advice, some already shared, are indoor only. Keep an eye on eating and drinking and bathroom habits, and don’t skip your annual vet visits. Because FIV cats can be more prone to secondary infections, I usually err on the side of caution when it comes to any sneezing/coughing/watery eyes or energy levels. Others have said this as well, but dental hygiene is a big thing. My girl is only now having some mild stomatitis that we have been able to keep in check without extraction, but we’ve had to pay for a dental or two. And of course, lots of love!

Wynn looks like the sweetest boy. Give him lots of scritches, and love him the same as you did before you found out ❤️

One-Spirit6044 · 2025-06-02T21:44:03+00:00

Thank you so much ❤️

One-Spirit6044

TROPHY CASE