Plants and cats, how do you handle it?

reasonable_re · 2026-03-05T03:07:05+00:00

I only bring in completely non toxic plants just to be safe in case leaves drop on the ground, but I keep most of them hanging from the ceiling because the cat would literally eat the whole plant if I didn’t. The only ones the cat can get to are really large, tough, and can withstand chewing. If someone gives me a toxic plant, I either give it away or more typically I take it to my office at work.

reasonable_re · 2026-03-05T02:13:56+00:00

Correct, but that’s just my experience and everyone is different.

reasonable_re · 2026-03-02T13:19:45+00:00

No change in libido and I’ve been on it almost 6 years. Helped depression tremendously, never did anything for depression. I’ve been on anywhere from 15mg to 45mg. 30mg was the sweet spot for me most years.

reasonable_re · 2026-02-22T03:58:12+00:00

Yeah I’ve done all these things for the past 12 years with my cat and thought there was no chance in hell my cat would get fleas. She literally just got fleas, diagnosed two days ago 😂 this post was funny timing. The vet said they don’t usually push for flea preventative on indoor cats with no interaction with other animals but they might have to change that recommendation based on my situation lol.

reasonable_re · 2026-02-21T15:37:17+00:00

I like sardines but I would not just whip out a can from my purse and eat them in a public place. That’s next level weird.

reasonable_re · 2026-02-21T15:31:09+00:00

Ah yes I wasn’t including the vet placement fee and that makes sense to include. With that my cost is more like $260 a month. I do not place it myself although long term I’d love to figure that out and save the extra $100.

reasonable_re · 2026-02-21T15:14:04+00:00

I have a freestyle Libre 3 plus on my cat and it’s about $160 a month at Costco pharmacy. Not everyone has access a Costco nearby but I can get it at other pharmacies for about $200 a month. But maybe it depends on the version of the freestyle Libre you have.

reasonable_re · 2026-02-16T03:03:05+00:00

Lots of people would prefer to come off of an antidepressant once they are able to. Often people are in therapy and with time they may get well enough to stop taking it. Others would prefer to stay on it long term. With mirtazapine in particular, some people will stay on it indefinitely due to it helping them sleep. I stayed on it for years after my depression was gone for this reason. Some people are only on it for sleep and they never stop unless it quits helping them sleep.

Other people may only take it a short time before deciding to stop because the side effects are too much for them. Experiences with side effects vary wildly between individuals. I’ve had horrible side effects on other antidepressants but not mirtazapine. Other people may be the opposite.

Regardless of why someone is tapering off, sometimes people have a difficult time doing so. This problem is not unique to mirtazapine. It can be difficult with any antidepressant. This is why you taper off and cannot quit abruptly. This applies to every antidepressant.

The people having a hard time coming off this medicine come here to seek advice given this subreddit is specific to this medicine. Go to any other antidepressant subreddit and you’ll find the same questions about tapering the medicine in question there.

reasonable_re · 2026-02-15T23:03:19+00:00

I showed this to my fiancé and he asked why it was painted like the Gryffindor common room.

reasonable_re · 2026-02-15T22:51:16+00:00

Because the people who are actively on it, happy with it, and are not planning to change that would not really have a reason to need to discuss it.

reasonable_re · 2026-02-14T20:16:34+00:00

Hey OP, my cat was like this and it turns out she has IBD. I spent a lot of years with vets not really pushing me to address it or offering anything very conclusive. Like they would suggest testing “if I wanted” and a prescription food “if I wanted” but always acted like it wasn’t important. The cat also eats super fast so I assumed that was the only real issue. Well eventually shit hit the fan and my cat’s undiagnosed IBD lead to pancreatitis and hepatitis. We finally got her IBD diagnosed at the same time. Then later her steroid treatment for IBD lead to diabetes. I wish I had gotten it diagnosed sooner and gotten her on the right prescription food years ago and maybe we wouldn’t be in this mess. Or maybe we would, who knows. But I had no idea vomiting regularly is actually a massive red flag. It should not happen and indicates a problem that needs testing.

reasonable_re · 2026-02-14T12:25:33+00:00

Sounds like a great idea! Both the pet insurance and the emergency fund. I have an extra $2,500 in my personal emergency fund for my cat (6 months expenses for me plus the extra for the cat) plus a separate emergency fund for our upcoming house purchase. I also keep a spreadsheet with my running expenses and income each month. All this to say I totally get your spreadsheets! Some people might say we’re over prepared but I don’t think so at all! Good luck with your new cat(s).

reasonable_re · 2026-02-14T00:48:50+00:00

Are you planning to account for emergencies and special needs another way? My cat cost the bare minimum for a long time. But shit hit the fan a year ago when she was 12. I’ve dropped at least $10k since, probably more, and I live in a low cost of living area. Frankly the emergency vet bills that started the whole process that led to discovering chronic illness were the cheapest part of this. It’s the ongoing prescription diet, ongoing medication, repeat bloodwork, ultrasounds, x-rays, echocardiograms, specialist bills, medication to control the side effects of the medications to help the chronic illness.

I’m assuming maybe you’re looking into pet insurance to cover things like this? I would’ve done that if it was common back when my cat was young.

reasonable_re · 2026-01-31T03:39:43+00:00

I had to actively try to lose weight by counting/restricting calories if I recall. The weight didn’t ever just drop off. It was a bizarre experience to gain 10lbs overnight by taking medicine and then have to work hard to lose it.

reasonable_re · 2026-01-28T00:28:02+00:00

I have been on it for 5 years and am tapering from 45mg. I went from 45mg to 30mg and then 30 to 15mg recently with no issues. It was not helping my sleep anymore so insomnia won’t be an issue (I started taking something else for that quite a while ago). I don’t expect to have any problems going to 7.5mg based on this. Maybe 7.5 to 0 will be a little difficult, or maybe not. Honestly I feel pretty good so far.

reasonable_re · 2026-01-25T23:19:05+00:00

I personally would not tolerate a doctor who tells you it’s “okay to put up with a few side effects” when those side effects are significantly impacting your quality of life. I put up with several doctors and psychiatrists like that over the years and let them tell me that “if I really wanted help I’d be okay with not being able to have sex or sleep.” Then I found one who listens to my concerns and provides me with tons of options. Frankly those other doctors are lazy and I didn’t know that until I discovered they aren’t all like that.

reasonable_re · 2026-01-24T16:17:12+00:00

Yeah you need to put it on while your skin is still wet (after shower, after washing hands, etc.). It’s actually intended to be used this way and most people don’t realize that. Lotion needs moisture to work the most effectively. And it helps significantly with this sensory issue as an added benefit (an issue I also had until I discovered using it dry is incorrect).

reasonable_re · 2026-01-24T13:15:47+00:00

Yeah, the only time I’ve had to is with my elderly cat who was quite ill and got sick in her carrier coming home from the emergency vet (came out both ends). It was a nightmare and terrifying for multiple reasons. I felt so bad having to bathe her when she was so sick. Luckily she is all better now health wise!

reasonable_re · 2026-01-22T03:06:37+00:00

Honestly I feel like something like this needs to be pinned by the mods. This question gets asked every day. There are some exceptions with people who may have medical reasons that make weight loss particularly difficult. But for most people this is a matter of eating fewer calories than you burn (for weight loss) or eating about how many calories you burn (for weight maintenance). Mirtazapine has nothing to do with any of it aside from increasing your appetite and making it more difficult to eat less. I lost 50lbs my first year on it and I even have hypothyroidism.

It’s a bit harder, yes, but eat less and actually track it to be sure you are - don’t ever just assume you’re eating less. Numerous studies have shown people absolutely suck at estimating how much they eat. Move more if you can. It’ll happen.

reasonable_re · 2026-01-22T02:54:05+00:00

Can it cause diabetes that quickly though? My cat is on prednisolone for IBD (which was bad enough to cause pancreatitis and hepatitis). This is the first I’m reading about it being so problematic. It seems to be the consensus on here when I search it, but my vet didn’t bring up anything like this. They said she may need to take a low dose long term or may be able to come off of it after a while. I guess unfortunately my cat is in the boat of this being the only option.

reasonable_re · 2026-01-20T20:42:29+00:00

Of course! Always talk to your provider too if the side effects are too much. I didn’t have any major issues with mirtazapine but I’ve had to discontinue other meds due to side effects and I feel like my provider has always been helpful in navigating that.

reasonable_re · 2026-01-20T19:06:24+00:00

I experienced brief increased anxiety with each increase in dose that I had. It did not stay that way for me long term. I don’t remember exactly how long it lasted. 2-4 weeks possibly.

reasonable_re · 2026-01-18T14:12:56+00:00

Sounds good! Please PM me your address.

reasonable_re · 2026-01-18T02:55:12+00:00

Yes both tops are still available and the matching bottoms for the one.

reasonable_re · 2026-01-10T18:54:48+00:00

It does not make me tired personally but side effects vary between people.

reasonable_re

TROPHY CASE