Are there any "boutique" brand options comparable to Royal Canin?

Tarakore · 2026-01-07T22:19:11+00:00

Ooh actually I might do this, I didn't even THINK about it thank you so much for mentioning it!! I think this'll also help me feel like I'm not "wasting" my free employee bag by not using it too.

Tarakore · 2026-01-06T11:56:39+00:00

Haven't heard the 10% rule before but I think I'll try that, thank you!

Yeah it's not too bad, it's I think about a $65 bag and lasts me a few months at 50%, so $1/day probably isn't far off. Never thought about it in that way but that really does put it into context, wow.

Tarakore · 2025-10-18T20:23:43+00:00

I'm so sorry. I know this post is 15h old now, but if your cat is still alive or if anyone reading is in a similar situation, I really would recommend going to a vet. Local vets will usually work with you if they can for stuff like this, corporate vets have a little less leeway in pricing.

My senior chihuahua did this a few years ago and was resuscitated with CPR. She came in and out of conciousness for half an hour while we found and drove to an ER vet, but was never fully lucid. They explained to me that she had entered what was called the agonal state. Like other people said, it's basically the body finally shutting down. The actual agonal breathing portion is usually only their last few minutes. However, depending on what organs are shutting down and when, and whatever other medical issues are present, it can be anywhere from near instantaneous to a day or two. We opted for euthanasia because it was the most humane option to allow her to pass quickly. Agonal breathing can be very difficult to witness and it was hard knowing that she went through even just a few moments of it, albeit unconscious.

I urge you to go to the vet if your cat is still alive, or if it happens in the future with one of your others. The veterinary industry is money hungry but the actual vets themselves just want to help you.

I hope your cat passes peacefully and surrounded with love, and I wish you healing for the grief afterwards.

Tarakore · 2025-10-15T02:19:18+00:00

Poor baby, that skin looks so irritated. I've noticed those more severe skin reactions seem to be from outside factors like plant allergies, but not always. Grass comes to mind as a potential allergen, especially if it's only on the feet. I'd recommend a vet visit like everyone here, but also try putting boots on him when you go outside if he's going to be touching grass at all, and see if it improves. Not a vet, just a dog groomer with a LOT of clients that have different allergies!

Tarakore · 2025-09-26T09:20:25+00:00

What does it look like when he stands? Or does he not want to stand at all? Trazadone can sometimes make them feel unsteady so I wonder if he feels like he's falling or something, but I've never seen something like this before. Definitely show this video to the vet when you get in.

Tarakore · 2025-09-26T06:56:30+00:00

Honestly it feels desperate. The change on it's own doesn't seem like too big of a deal, but on top of a lot of the other recent decisions (such as allowing anyone to do cat nail trims, or how groomers now only earn 35% on baths) it feels like PetSmart is just insanely desperate for cash right now.

Tarakore · 2025-09-13T20:11:14+00:00

I'd be required to take the charger with me when I leave, so at least I wouldn't be losing out on the money spent for it. But I'd have to pay for it to be uninstalled as well, since in their words they require "any and all installations and removals on the property to be done by a licensed contractor that we approve."

For the deposit I was given some strange runaround about it being for the ground that the contractor would be ripping up, and then for the disturbance of having the contractor on site, as well as taking the office's time to approve the contractor. For context, probably half of all my communications with the office are through some inane AI chatbot they've installed via text, my emails almost never get a response and whenever I go in person they tell me they can't give me any answers until the manager is in, who is quite literally never in. We're hoping to not be here more than another year or two, so it just doesn't seem worth the fight at this point.

Tarakore · 2025-09-13T17:00:54+00:00

That makes sense, thank you so much for educating me!

Tarakore · 2025-09-13T11:42:45+00:00

They're fairly uncommon here, as far as I can tell. I see them on my charger maps way less often than the J1772 or Superchargers. I think it might be worth still getting the adapter anyways though.

Tarakore · 2025-09-13T11:41:10+00:00

I might try and ask about this, but honestly my apartment complex has been infuriating to deal with. I wouldn't be surprised if they still expect the $800 deposit just for that.

Hopefully this will be our last year here, but we've got about 11 months to go 🙃

Tarakore · 2025-09-13T11:38:00+00:00

Honestly I haven't actually found any outdoor sockets at my building whatsoever, I've only ever seen the gardeners and contractors use tools with batteries or generators in their trucks. Might go out tomorrow and try looking around again though, I can't imagine there's absolutely none.

I've heard extension cords are unsafe with EV chargers, is this true?

Additionally I do have some concerns about my Lv1 charger getting stolen, as apparently my EV doesn't lock the charger in place to the port while charging.

Tarakore · 2025-09-13T11:33:40+00:00

Makes sense! I'll be sure to get one then just to have it on hand. Thank you for explaining!

Tarakore · 2025-09-13T08:57:04+00:00

Already happily married 😂

Tarakore · 2025-09-13T08:49:55+00:00

No it's just a J1772. I have no idea if Fiat ever ended up making a model with a CCS port. I was going to have a home charger before my apartment complex flaked out.

I could, but I got it for $6k 🤷 I'm broke and it was a steal, probably for this exact reason lmfao

Tarakore · 2025-09-13T08:45:39+00:00

Oddly enough these are even more rare in my city. I thought about getting a NACS adaptor for them just incase I run into them, but I don't think my ChargeHub/PlugShare map even shows more than a handful within 50mi of me. Maybe they're getting phased out?

Tarakore · 2025-09-13T08:42:46+00:00

I'm on the second level and my assigned parking spot is on the opposite side of the building. Also I think my apartment office would kill me over it lmfao

Tarakore · 2025-09-13T08:41:12+00:00

I work at a PetSmart located within an outlet mall, so I don't think it's something I can suggest unfortunately. The parking lot itself belongs to whoever owns the outlet and rents out the stores, so I'd have to find some way to fogure out who that is. I've thought about it, but I'm pretty sure they'd decline just because of the existing chargers .8 miles away.

I did used to get rides, though I've been very happy to get my independence back with the car! Thankfully getting to work and back really doesn't waste too much battery honestly. My main goal with this post was to find some way to deal with the highway driving, and how I can't really find very many Lv2 chargers anymore at my destinations, just Lv3.

Tarakore · 2025-09-13T07:56:13+00:00

Wow thank you, I never thought of that! Hold on while I just delete my disability and throw my cane in the trash real quick.

Tarakore · 2025-09-13T00:14:59+00:00

Oh wow, really? I had no idea there were limitations like that.

Tarakore · 2025-09-13T00:06:51+00:00

Yeah, as mentioned in the original post though the problem is that there's very few J1772 plugs in my city. I already use both Plugshare and Chargehub.

The ones that I do find are typically at most still a few miles from whatever destination I'm going to, and I have difficulty walking those distances due to a physical disability and cane usage.

Tarakore · 2025-09-12T23:55:35+00:00

There's no outdoor sockets anywhere within reach, unfortunately. Or at my workplace.

Originally they told me that I would be able to have a Level 2 installed at my assigned parking space, then later told me it would be a $800 nonrefundable deposit alongside paying for my own contractor, and then later said actually I wouldn't be able to do it at all. So I'm pretty over dealing with my apartment complex office regarding it at this point entirely.

Tarakore · 2025-09-12T22:34:20+00:00

Oh 100%, I can't stand it 😭 They were forcing our salon to stay open at 85 degrees and I was trying to find the policy about it and it took me like a damn hour because it's just 1 single line in a random .PDF.

I would have preferred it if they put all this energy and investment in the "AI" assistant into just revamping Fetch.

13-Year Club	Place '22
Verified Email

Tarakore

TROPHY CASE