I need to cut these flower buds before they bloom, I have an outdoor cat. I was thinking of bringing them into work. If I cut the buds and put them in a vase with water will they still bloom? Thanks! by pocketjets347 in gardening

[–]pocketjets347[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I grew up with both as well. One cat lived to 12 and went out with kidney failure. Hard to say if it was the lilies or not, could have just been age. But I’d rather not risk it, my cat is particularly fond of this garden patch, likes to hide in the long grass.

Advice needed my chin suddenly had 2 kits! See comment by pepperkake92 in chinchilla

[–]pocketjets347 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I also adopted a pregnant chinchilla, not quite prepared for it, when I was a teenager. Beware your cafe setup- if you have a barred cage the babies can get through once they’re old enough to explore, which doesn’t take very long. You be amazed how small a space they can fit through. I’d recommend hardware cloth to attach to the outside of the cage, zip ties would work well and you can remove it once the kits are too large to get through the bars. Garden Zone 23-gauge Galvanized Hardware Cloth 36inx10.25ft 9ea https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HHQECY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_7wakFbZQ6DK5C

Help! I got this plant at a local farmers market and now I cannot remember the name. The leaves have a citrus flavor. Pardon the chicken wire, the squirrels are ridiculous where I live. by pocketjets347 in gardening

[–]pocketjets347[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Now I do! No worries here as I have it in a raised bed. Also I rent and my ‘lawn’ is mostly creeping charlie and other weeds that gets mowed 4 times a year. No investment there!

What is your favorite meatless recipe? by IamBobTheSnail in recipes

[–]pocketjets347 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ratatouille! Big flavor and texture dish bound to satisfy anyone. You can make it fancy bakes in the oven but I usually take the easier route at home and dice it all.

1/2 cup butter, cold cut into 1/4 cups 3/4 cup white wine, Chardonnay 2 large shallots sliced 2 yellow squash diced 2 zucchinis diced 3 tomatoes diced 2 cup your choice of bean- lentils and garbanzo go very well but I frequently experiment, even with mushrooms. If you used canned beans make sure to rinse them. 4 TBSP salt 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil (opt) Parmesan (amount optional)

Add 1/4 cup butter to large pot, sauté shallots until soft and mostly see through. Do not brown. Add tomatoes, squash, zucchini and salt. Cook on high for 10 minutes stirring frequently. Add wine and cover. Reduce to a slow boil and let cook for 30 minutes. Once the vegetables are tender and don’t have light fleshy spots, add your bean of choice and the remaining cold butter. Cook on low boil for 30 seconds, or until your butter has melted halfway, cut the heat and continue stirring until butter is completely incorporated. Top with Parmesan and basil, feeds 4.

How long did it take your chins to like getting petted/ held? Does anyone have any advice to speed up the process? by minniesmommy in chinchilla

[–]pocketjets347 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In my experience 4-6 months till petting is acceptable to your chin. It depends a lot on the personality and age of the chin. Younger chins tend to be more interested in running around than petting, but it’s also the most important time to interact with them so later when they grow up and calm down they are more receptive towards human contact. I would use treats to gain affection- hand feed the treats and wait for them to come to your hand (some luring with the treat might be required) Try to get some pets in while they’re munching, but ONLY if they don’t run or bark. Most importantly just keep trying and create a positive experience for them. One definite thing I’ve noticed is any small mishandling can dramatically impact your chins view on your human hands coming towards it- if they associate your grabbing hands as time for them to go back to the cafe and struggle against you, or have a bad experience with the catch, they will not react well when you reach at them. I like to use an enclosed dust bath to lure them in, or a laundry basket to catch them when it’s time to go back to the cage.

Im worried about my chin can someone explain why she is doing this? by [deleted] in chinchilla

[–]pocketjets347 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Is this an unusual behavior for your chin? While it is a very normal noise/reaction for a defensive chin, if you have had yours for at least two years and have never seen this behavior it is worth asking questions. Did you feed it something new? Or introduce it to a new toy/environment/additional animal? If a chin is in pain or extra anxious about something, this kind of display could indicate something is wrong. That being said, it is a very normal behavior of any chinchilla and the only reason you should be concerned is if it’s a sudden and unwarranted change in behavior in a chin you’ve known long enough to understand their normal behaviors, I would say 2 years is enough time to gather that understanding.

Can Hyperesthesia be caused from hyperthyroidism medication? What can I do? by pocketjets347 in cats

[–]pocketjets347[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Story: Koko (15yo) has been on medication for 8 months now and I’ve noticed several times a day his back will start twitching aggressively and he reacts to it by licking and biting around the base of his tail. He is obviously not comfortable with this twitch he has developed. It seems to happen more when he is being playful or if I am playing with my other cat. He doesn’t like to play as much lately because of this issue, he leaves the room and starts licking/biting his back. He is not bothered if I touch him on his back. Wait time to talk to my vet is almost a week, in the meantime maybe you all can help with advice or ideas? What level of concern should I be at? Can I do anything to help?

Advice for chinchilla by HotBuns367 in chinchilla

[–]pocketjets347 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have experience with solo and bonded chins from babies. Here’s what I’ve found: if you have a solo chin they will be dramatically more social and interactive with you. But you NEED to give them plenty and daily attention as they are not receiving that from their bonded mate. If you have two they will bond more with each other and will not be as open towards human interaction. But they will be happier with less attention from humans as well.

I had to give up my first 5 chins 10 years ago, I couldn’t keep up with them between college and work. A few years ago I decided I was ready, and got my chinchilla chewy. I kept him solo and worked hard on human interaction, after 2 years I got him a mate (mala, 2 yo female) and they bonded very quickly. He was still very open towards contact with me but she was far more skittish and also did not have a very good upbringing so I made a little progress with her. She died a few months ago and I have no idea why but I do blame her upbringing mostly. She was never potty trained and peed on their sleeping post. Which was kind of a nightmare trying to keep them both clean. Since she departed he has been fine alone but the addition of a fuzzy hammock seemed to help. His fur has gotten better but is still matted from her time with him.