| How to Keep an Old Cat Young at Heart Posted: 27 May 2017 05:00 PM PDT Just like people, many cats start to slow down as they get older. By making a few simple accommodations, you can help keep your senior cat happy, comfortable, and young at heart. By encouraging activity and stimulation, making age-appropriate accommodations, and remaining diligent about your cat's health, you can help your feline enjoy their golden years. EditEncouraging Activity and Stimulation - Play with your cat. One of the best ways to keep your older cat young at heart is to encourage ability-appropriate play. Playtime helps keep your cat's body and mind active.[1]
- Dangle a toy for your cat to swat at while they're lying down.
- Drag a ribbon across the floor.
- Purchase motorized toys for your cat to chase (look for items with slower settings).
- Keep a regular routine. Cats thrive on routine. Making playtime a regular, scheduled part of your day helps to keep your cat happy and healthy, while helping them to feel calm and secure.
- Aim to spend 30 minutes playing 1-2 times per day.
- Schedule play time for before you head out for work each day.
- Schedule a second play time for when you return.
- Introduce a cat companion. Cats are very territorial, and may not be initially open to sharing their space with a new cat. Nevertheless, the introduction of a new animal can help to stimulate your cat.[2] The ideal companion will be:
- Younger (ideally a kitten)
- Smaller.
- The opposite gender.
- Fixed.
EditMaking Age-Appropriate Accommodations - Announce your presence. Older cats can be hard of hearing or otherwise easily startled. You can prevent a nervous reaction in your cat by calling ahead into a room before you enter.[3]
- You might say, "Alfie, are you in here?"
- You might place a bell on door handles in your home.
- Make your home safe and cozy. If your cat is having trouble getting around, stop to make sure they can access everything they need. Also, providing your cat with a nice, warm place to sleep is a great way to keep them feeling good.[4]
- Provide a stool that helps your cat access a favorite sleeping spot
- Provide a cozy cat bed
- Set up a heating pad to help keep your cat warm
- Keep the temperature in your house at a comfortable level
- Make resources accessible. If your cat is experiencing mobility issues, it may be time to reevaluate your litter box (or boxes). Additionally, if your house is large or multi-leveled, it is important to place cat resources—food/water and litter boxes—in more than one location.[5]
- Choose a litter box with low sides.
- Place litter boxes and food resources in multiple locations.
- Shower your cat with love! Cats are most happy when they receive genuine attention. Continue to show love to your senior cats in the same ways you always have.[6] You can show your cat love by:
- Petting.
- Taking naps together.
- Brushing your cat's fur.
- Providing treats.
EditKeeping Your Senior Cat Healthy - Choose a senior-specific diet. Talk to your vet about moving your cat onto a senior specific diet. Additionally, older cats may prefer to eat smaller amounts more often.[7]
- Look for special cat food blends that aim to help with joint pain, urinary tract problems, and other common issues for older cats.
- If your cat has grown picky, try warming up the food.
- Schedule more frequent visits to the vet. Just like humans, older cats are prone to more ailments. As such, frequent vet appointments can help detect problems early on.[8]
- Consult your vet to determine how often to bring your cat in.
- As a general rule, take your cat to see the vet about every six months.
- Watch for changes. Medical issues can develop quickly in an older cat, even despite frequent vet check-ups. So be sure to watch for any sudden changes to your cat's body or behavior.[9] Look for things like:
- Weight loss.
- Loss of appetite.
- Changes in activity level.
- Changes in litter box behavior.
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Choose the Healthiest Sushi Dishes Posted: 27 May 2017 09:00 AM PDT Sushi can be a healthy option when eating out, as it can be low in calories and high in things like omega 3 fatty acids. However, not all sushi rolls are equally healthy. Make sure you choose ingredients that are low calorie and prepared in a healthy fashion. You should also watch portion size. Stay away from specialty rolls, which tend to be larger, and limit yourself to two rolls when eating out. EditChoosing Your Proteins - Go for salmon and tuna. When choosing healthy proteins, salmon and tuna are your best options. These are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, which are great for heart health, as well as high in protein and vitamin D. When choosing rolls, look for rolls that contain salmon and tuna.[1]
- However, just because a roll has salmon or tuna does not necessarily mean it's healthy. Watch out for high calorie ingredients, like cream cheese, for optimal health.
- Limit your intake of eel. Eel is a healthy source of omega 3 acids as well, but is often prepared in brown, sugary sauces. It's best to limit yourself to one eel roll when eating at a sushi restaurant. This will help you avoid extra sugar and calories.[2]
- Opt for fish without added ingredients. The little additives, the better. The fish found in sushi is very healthy, but additives can add unnecessary calories. Look for rolls that mostly fish, rice, and seaweed. Stay away from rolls with additives like cream cheese, tempura, and mayonnaise. Stick to mixtures that mostly use fish and vegetables.[3]
- Look for meats that are steamed, grilled, or raw. How meat is prepared can affect its health. When choosing meats, look for steamed, grilled, and raw options. These meats have not been tampered with as much, which means they will have less added calories from things like sauces, sugars, and oils.[4]
EditSelecting Other Ingredients - Choose veggie rolls. Try ordering one veggie roll in addition to a fish roll. Veggie rolls are lower in calories and help you get needed vitamins and minerals from vegetables.[5]
- Go for veggie rolls without a lot of extra seasonings, sauces, or other ingredients.
- Opt for healthy veggies like cucumbers, carrots, and sea vegetables.
- Order avocado in moderation. Avocados are very healthy. Adding a avocado roll at a sushi restaurant can be a healthy choice. However, they are high in calories. Go for only one roll containing avocado when eating at a sushi restaurant.[6]
- Ask for brown rice or rice-free wraps. Rice can be a healthy carb, but brown rice is generally better than white rice. See if you can substitute white rice for brown rice in a wrap. If this is not permitted, see if there are any rice-free wraps available.[7]
- See if the restaurant offers cucumber wraps or wraps made with seaweed.[8]
- Add wasabi. Wasabi is often served on the side with sushi. You can dip your sushi in wasabi to add flavor and a little spiciness. If you enjoy the taste of wasabi, add it freely to your sushi as it has health benefits as it's packed with antioxidants.[9]
- You only need to dab a small amount of wasabi on your sushi for added flavor and health benefits.
- Garnish your food with ginger. Pickled ginger can be placed on your sushi before you eat it. Ginger is a good source of potassium and magnesium and may help boost the immune system. Try garnishing your sushi with ginger or eating the ginger raw.[10]
EditAvoiding Unhealthy Options - Request low sodium soy sauce. Soy sauce is high in salt. Low sodium soy sauce has about 25% less sodium than regular soy sauce, so request that whenever possible.[11]
- Soy sauce is never low in sodium, however. Even low sodium soy sauce is very salty, so avoid adding high amounts of soy sauce to your sushi.
- Skip tempura rolls and crunchy sushi. Tempura rolls are often served as an appetizer. These are vegetables coated in breading and deep fried. Some sushi rolls may also be crunchy and contain tempura. In general, skip tempura when eating at a sushi restaurant if you want to eat healthy.[12]
- Avoid fancier rolls. Specialty rolls include things like rainbow rolls, dynamite rolls, Philadelphia rolls, and spider rolls. These rolls are packed with extra ingredients, such as cream cheese, and tend to be larger. This makes them much higher in calories than regular rolls.[13]
- If you really want to try a specialty roll, offer to split one friends. They can be good for a group setting, as everyone can try a small amount without going overboard.
- Stick to two rolls. In general, two rolls should provide enough calories for a healthy dinner. Limit yourself to only two rolls when eating at a sushi restaurant.[14]
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Use a Colander As a Planter Posted: 27 May 2017 01:00 AM PDT A colander can make a great planter. You can make one as a gift for a friend or for your own home. You will need some landscape fabric, scissors, and chains to alter a colander. With a just a few tweaks, you can easily keep plants healthy in a colander. EditPainting Your Colander - Clean your colander. To start, clean your colander. Use white vinegar as this will wipe down the colander and remove any great or residue. Add a small amount of vinegar to a paper towel and gently wipe the colander down.[1]
- If the colander is a little wet after cleaning, set it aside until it's dry. You can also dry patting it dry with paper towels.
- Add primer. You want to start with spray paint primer. This will help your paint stay on better.[2] Spray paint outside with a large drop cloth underneath your colander. It's best to set the colander on top of something high up, to avoid slouching while spray painting. For example, set it on a work bench outside.[3]
- To spray paint, make horizontal swiping motions. This will help the paint be distributed evenly. Keep going back and forth, making horizontal stripes, until the colander is completely coated with primer.
- Make sure to read the instructions on any primer or spray paint you use. You want to make sure you follow any specific instructions.
- Paint your colander after the primer dries. Primer take about two hours to dry. After the primer dries, spray paint your colander in your chosen color.[4] Remember to use horizontal swiping motions while you spray paint and read the instructions on your spray paint can.[5]
- Depending on your type of spray paint, you may be able to get away with a single coat. If your paint looks thin, however, add a second coat of paint after the first one dries.
- Allow your colander to dry. You want to be completely certain your colander is completely dry before proceeding. Let your colander sit overnight to dry. Put it in a safe place, such as an outdoor shed with a door that closes, to prevent damage.[6]
EditLining the Colander - Cut out a circle of landscape fabric. Use more fabric than you think you will need. You will trim it down later. Use a pair of scissors to trim your landscape fabric into a circle.[7]
- Set your colander upside on the landscape fabric. Draw a circle an inch or two bigger than the colander to cut out. The circle does not have to be perfectly round.
- If you can't find landscape fabric, set coffee filters inside the colander instead. Set down as many as you need to cover the inside of the colander completely.
- Fit the fabric inside the colander. Place the landscape fabric in your colander. Flatten it against the bottom and sides of the colander so it's covering most of the colander's interior.[8]
- Trim as needed. If you have any extra fabric pouring over the sides of the colander, trim it. When you're done, the landscape fabric should fit neatly into the colander. You shouldn't have any excess fabric spilling out.[9]
- Again, the circle does not have to perfectly round. You will be filling the colander with soil and then plants, so the fabric will not be highly visible.
EditAdding Your Plant - Add a small amount of potting soil. Get potting soil at a greenhouse and most department stores. Add a small amount of potting soil at first, just enough to secure the landscape fabric.[10]
- Place your plant or seeds in the soil. If you're transporting a plant into the colander, make sure to remove it with a spade at the roots. Then, insert the roots into the new soil. If you're planting seeds, consult their label. This should tell you how deep to plant them.[11]
- Add extra dirt as necessary. You want to make sure you cover the roots of a plant you transported to the colander. You also may need to add more soil to assure a seed is planted deep enough. Add extra soil as necessary to your colander.[12]
EditHanging Your Colander - Cut your chains. Use wire cutters to cut your chains. Cut them to the length you want. For example, cut them around a foot in length if you're going to hang your plant from a ceiling in your kitchen. Cut out three chains of equal length.[13]
- It's important the chain's lengths be equal, so use a ruler.
- Attach three chains to your colander. Attach hooks on one end of each chain. Feed the hooks through the slots in the colander. You should have three hooks that essentially surround the colander, keeping it balanced. Keep the hooks roughly equal distances from one another. This should keep the colander steady when it's hanging.[14]
- Bring the chains together using an S-hook. An S-hook is a larger hook shaped like an "S." You can get one at a local department store. Hook all three chains together using the S-hook.[15]
- Hang the colander where you want it. You can hang the colander off of a mantel or ceiling hook in your kitchen. You can also hang it outdoors, using hooks around your porch or railing.[16]
EditThings You'll Need - Primer
- Spray paint
- S-hook
- Chains
- Colander
- Wire cutters
- Landscape fabric
- Scissors
- Potting soil
- A plant or seeds
EditSources and Citations
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