Sorry, I'm no help on cat pilling. I've always just nestled them between my knees and dropped it in their mouths. I've just been lucky. We had one cat who would spit them out on the first go-round, but even he would take it eventually.

For cat pilling, we use a thing with the horribly hilarious name of Pill Popper. It's a syringe -type thing, where you put the pill in the little rubber end, pry your cat's jaws open, and shoot the pill down their throat with the plunger. It's the only way we can get the daily meds down Ruthven.

Oooh, mystery box from Teppy! I love mystery boxes.

I went out holiday shopping with Dad, and you guys! He looks so happy and relaxed! Retiring and moving in with his ladylove is the best thing that's happened in YEARS.

Jilli, your dad certainly deserves some happiness. I'm glad for him and you.

I'm pretty sure I was 12 when I started pilling my cat. But Suzie was a remarkably compliant cat. Once I got the hang of it, I didn't need to use the burrito method to restrain her. And I cannot give Sammie pills without Pill Pockets... Jesse, have you tried any of the different flavors? I think there are two flavors that are labeled for cats, but the canine varieties have more flavors, and it really makes no difference. Unless your cat can read.

Yay, Dad!

Being prepared didn't prepare me.

It kind of did with Sandy (fan, not Buffista), but her hospice time was longer.

Back on the shingles thing, I had chicken pox late, at 18, and had a fairly bad case of it. Missed two weeks of school, still have scars down one side of my face, etc. When I was recovering and almost well enough to go back to school, my left arm went numb and tingly. My parents had left me home alone, since I was recovering so well, Dad had to go to work, and Mom got called in as a substitute teacher. (At my high school--and as a side note, there are few things as embarrassing when you're a self-conscious teenager as having a mother known as the mean substitute because she has an actual teacher's certificate, is strict and serious, and makes you do your work.)

So, there I am by myself, out in the country, freaking out because my arm is acting weird. I called the school, and they got Mom to come home so she could take me to the doctor. The doctor who could fit me in was the oldest doctor in our town clinic, 65 or so. He looked at the arm, checked the circulation and blood pressure, and generally confirmed nothing too drastic was going on...and then remarked that while he almost certainly wouldn't live to see it, he'd be interested to know if someday when I got shingles, they'd be focused on that arm. (His theory being that my symptoms were the virus settling into my nerves, and whether that has any scientific validity whatsoever I have no idea.)

I've had cats that were easy to pill,pocket, hide in food.(Pumpkin, many childhood cats.) I've also had horrific (Devi,Loki, MK) who are otherwise compliant..well, not Devi. I knew you was in trouble there.

I hate my mayor and police commissioner. So offended tonight.

I've had all my cats' medicine given in liquid form that I can mix with wet food. No trouble getting them to take it so far, but then they're little gluttons. Force feeding would be A Problem, as they object to being held or restrained (Jackson squirms, Molly turns into a furry buzz saw).

In happy news I got to meet my cousin's cousin's kid tonight! (She's no relation to me, technically, she's my first cousin's first cousin, but we have pictures of us from when we were two, and have hung out before--we call each other "cousin squared")). Her son is SO CUTE. Just adorable and so chill. Six months old, so he's a great age where he can sit and interact but isn't totally wiggling away to get down and crawl. Yay!

I had one case of shingles and it was enough to make me hope it never breaks out again.

The pain pills our vet prescribed for Kitkat were flavored or something because she ate them like treats. She cared not for the liquid meds I had to squirt in her tiny maw, though.

My comic book guy wants me to come work for him at the shop. GUYS: I COULD WORK AT A COMIC BOOK STORE. *breathes*

Ooh, Cash!

So good to read about your dad doing so well, Jilli!

Cousin squared is adorbs