melbaboutown
@melbaboutown@aussie.zone
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🦘 Tuesday 24 February 2026 5 hours ago:
Thanks Spud. I really should stop patting him… 💔
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I was aware of the possibility of ringworm due to tiny round patches of hair loss but took measures such as wearing long clothing then removing shoes, washing hands, fully showering and changing into fresh clothing afterwards (putting the old stuff in the wash immediately). He wants affection you see, and will brush up against your arms and legs. I think this lesion happened because a single time I rushed out in shorts to get him dosed with a flea and worm spot on, he head bunted my knee, and I must have neglected to wash that area thoroughly in the shower afterwards. I slipped up. I forgot and walked in the house a few times with shoes on too.
I’ve been resisting turning him in because 1. the risk of euthanasia is likely high and the vet and pet shop manager I’ve spoken to agree. And 2. there’s a non-zero chance he may belong to a neighbour, maybe even an aggressive mentally ill neighbour who looks for reasons to take revenge.
I would very likely have to trap him myself to turn him in which could be a very complicated process. I can talk to someone who worked in cat rescue about my options but as an adult black cat with suspected ringworm and possible cat flu I’m scared of getting him killed.
But I may have to concentrate on Melbcat because she doesn’t seem in a good way.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🦘 Tuesday 24 February 2026 12 hours ago:
Welp… the anxiety energy is back even if my body is exhausted. I managed to get stuck into cleaning but after a while Melbcat started crying and howling until I lay down for a cuddle.
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She’s been settled and had her meds so I’m back to washing every piece of cloth in the house in case the spores got in and thinking how to make my furniture setup more movable for more regular vacuuming. I guess if done right this will also break the flea cycle 😟
and my bodyI’ve ordered a black light but am aware it may be low quality and also not every type of ringworm glows. I have no idea what to do about the black cat. It would be easy to just stop feeding him and patting him, let someone else help him. Especially with all the nursing care on my plate for my own cat. Especially as I can’t exactly see him regularly to apply ointment, and a medicated bath or quarantined fostering in my bathroom is out of the question. But I don’t know if anyone else is helping. Eh. One thing at a time huh.Also it’s been determined my own roof is fine - it’s the roof of my neighbour that’s allowing ingress and led to my ceiling cavity being flooded when it rains. Unfortunately these neighbours wouldn’t talk to me and may not speak English so it persisted for years. But the managers will deal with it now.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐢 Monday 23 February 2026 16 hours ago:
Oh man I wish I had the physical energy of when I was younger. I’m not even that old. But at one point in my life I had everything under control through restless energy alone.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐢 Monday 23 February 2026 17 hours ago:
Oh jeez, I’m glad it was nothing serious
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐢 Monday 23 February 2026 1 day ago:
No worries, I know how hard both nutrition and carer duties can be
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐢 Monday 23 February 2026 1 day ago:
I’m not sure if she’ll try it but cheese soufflé is quite soft and isn’t too bad to make if you don’t fuss about getting the height.
Basically it’s cheese sauce and yolks(?) folded into stiff beaten egg white and baked with the container sitting in a pan of water. It ends up like a soft moist pudding.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐢 Monday 23 February 2026 1 day ago:
Oof. I had one tooth pulled and while the pain was manageable it gave me the worst headache and made me hesitant to eat in case I would disturb the site and cause dry socket. Straws were forbidden.
NG tube is an option or even parenteral nutrition but I know it will be refused. I have a quick no temper stovetop custard using real eggs but she doesn’t sound like a fan of sweets.
I don’t know how you’re going to get through to ol’ boy but I’m hoping she manages okay. I really am. I don’t envy the position you’re in, all the responsibilities but no say. If things go sideways it won’t be your fault.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐢 Monday 23 February 2026 1 day ago:
Thanks. It would be nice if the universe stopped throwing things at me for five minutes 😵💫
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐢 Monday 23 February 2026 1 day ago:
Melbcat got seen, pain meds back up to original dose, another urine sample taken because the original results went AWOL. Blood may have been taken… Follow up tomorrow.
I also got to clean caked dog shit off the wheels of the pram and carry it over the carpeted area to the lino (because it needs to be stored inside). So that was fun. I’m so glad when people don’t pick up after their dogs on footpaths. Especially when visibility is poor.
TomorrowToday I’ll see if I can snap the wheel castors back off for a proper wash in the laundry sink.I deserve some kind of treat but can’t think what.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🥞 Sunday 22 February 2026 1 day ago:
That sounds great
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🥞 Sunday 22 February 2026 1 day ago:
Melbcat has been eating a little and peed but still seems a bit flat and sort of groans and sighs as if in discomfort. Getting her seen.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🥞 Sunday 22 February 2026 1 day ago:
Are you also finding the recent updates giving you a lot of grief?
Mine is like 6 years old but unfortunately I have updated to the crap versions and still use it for everything
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🥞 Sunday 22 February 2026 2 days ago:
God I hope so. I don’t know if I can handle any more physical labour or mental load
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🥞 Sunday 22 February 2026 2 days ago:
Saw the black cat so went out to pat him and pour some food. But yeah, due to seeing his tiny bald spots and seeing him scratch his head I showered completely with sulfur soap and Selsun Gold afterwards.
Mental health, contamination
Genuinely anxiously freaking out at the possibility of having brought ringworm into my carpeted house. Particularly right now while so busy and stressed, my own immune system is so down and Melbcat is so unwell. Particularly as disinfectant and bleach is often highly stinky and she’s asthmatic. Particularly as I remove my shoes and wash my hands when I enter the house but my guests don’t. 😬 Did I mention it’s highly infectious and can last in carpet for two years? …OCD spiral.
Also if it is - how the hell would I even be able to treat him?
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🛺 Saturday 21 February 2026 2 days ago:
Yeah I’m moving this meat to the freezer as I won’t be able to cook it today. Right now the focus is getting things back up off the floor and doing laundry including the clothes that fell in case of any flea eggs.
My BigDubya stick vac works impressively for the size and quality but I wish it was quieter. It’s such a hassle to vacuum with a thing that screams but the quieter stick vacs in my budget don’t pick up a thing.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🛺 Saturday 21 February 2026 2 days ago:
I really hope she is 😭
I’m regretting the choice of surgery and will just have to monitor with bloods to see if the acute kidney damage heals
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🛺 Saturday 21 February 2026 2 days ago:
Yeah that’s the most important thing. The cat soup pouches are expensive and not nutritious but it’s so good that she’s eating. I got a bunch of them.
I had it fairly under control and then this week hit… between a mess of pills and medical supplies, clothing that fell onto the floor when I grabbed something to head out, and the groceries just brought in… the place looks like it’s been hit by a bomb
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🛺 Saturday 21 February 2026 2 days ago:
Melbcat looked so rough this morning even after meds… but I managed to give her fluids while she was lying in bed with me and we both rested while her tank filled. The Dine melting broths got her to eat a little bit. She’s somewhat perked up again.
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Then I woke up and she’d eaten the homemade broth from last night that I forgot to take away 🤢 She’s just had another half pouch of cat soup and has now gone into her hidey hole. I’ve refilled the bowl with the rest and put it nearby in the hope she keeps on eating. She partly tipped the litter box trying to get in so I think it’s time I try to saw down the sides of larger containers to make wide shallow boxes. I have a mini hacksaw but will see if I have the energy.
Haven’t seen the black cat much. I’ve been busy and saw him lounging in the common area maybe last week but he didn’t run over. Ever since I started feeding him and gave him a parasite treatment I’ve seen a lot less of him. I can only hope that means others may also be helping and he’s okay.
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Speaking of which… there’s a round red flaking lesion on my knee 🤨 It shouldn’t be what I think it is as I usually wore long pants and often showered after patting him but… I’ve washed it with sulfur soap, applied anti fungal cream and covered it with bandaids. Please do not let me have to deal with decontaminating my house of ringworm on top of everything else. I have a small bottle of F10 disinfectant but I have zero energy to spare and half the place is carpet.
My house has slid back into kaos
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🛺 Saturday 21 February 2026 2 days ago:
Right there with you. But I guess I know why
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🛺 Saturday 21 February 2026 2 days ago:
That looks so nostalgic
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🛺 Saturday 21 February 2026 3 days ago:
Beats me
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐪 Friday 20 February 2026 3 days ago:
It’s more needing the notch that helps pull the old needle off the tube so I can change it.
It really gets stuck on there and trying to just pull it off tends to dislodge the cap instead
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐪 Friday 20 February 2026 3 days ago:
Sounds like neither of you gave two shits
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐪 Friday 20 February 2026 3 days ago:
I haven’t cooked today, that’s something that is exhausting on a good day and almost never happens now.
But I had a small reserve from last time. I let the container of frozen beef broth/puree slowly thaw in the fridge. Then scooped out a semi-frozen spoonful to mix with boiled water to make a more hydrating and comfortably warm serving. The gradual thaw helps the food stay fresh while it gets used up.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐪 Friday 20 February 2026 3 days ago:
Well it’s still awkward and a bit fraught. Stupid needle caps coming off way more easily than the part you need to remove.
But I’ve given subcutaneous fluids a couple of times now, unassisted. Definitely need to get a sharps container with a removal port as that will be much easier and safer.
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐪 Friday 20 February 2026 3 days ago:
No good :( I know there is medication to slow it and help the pain, and there are grips that make it easier to hold pencils or brushes 🤞
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐪 Friday 20 February 2026 3 days ago:
Thanks, I’m hoping to catch a break. She’s eating today
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐪 Friday 20 February 2026 3 days ago:
Back for something that thankfully turned out to be minor. But that visit really sucked and we’re both exhausted.
We’ve napped and are just resting for now. I’ll make another attempt at fluids when I get some energy. Very grateful someone has gone to grab the electrolytes and broth meat for me
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐪 Friday 20 February 2026 4 days ago:
I wish I could. Exhausted but my sleep is borked and anxiety has me wired
- Comment on Discussion Thread 🐪 Friday 20 February 2026 4 days ago:
Whoa… Meat prices are off the hook. I haven’t eaten meat in so long I only look at it when making broth for the cat. I don’t have the energy right now to get to a butcher but really should.
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How the hell is a pack of hot dogs $10? A 500g tube of Coles brand sausage mince is the same as bougie premade rissoles. A blade roast that cost $5-10 when I was a teenager is now $25? And so is chuck steak. Premium prices for ribs. Considered beef hearts but they are quite lean and also I’m not sure about brothing organ meats for someone with bad kidneys. Unfortunately she’s allergic to chicken (which is the cheapest meat and offers things well suited like wings and necks). I was going to go for soup bones but she greatly prefers the meat broth.
I’ve chosen some $10 lamb shanks because they would stew well. Perhaps I’ll broth one and freeze the other for the next batch.