MSI Press Blog

  Bear and Moo at the water trough, in a better behaved moment Some cats drink from a bowl. Moo sometimes does but usually does not. He prefers the advanced techniques . 💧 Step 1: The Paw Ladle Why lower your face into a communal bowl when you can delicately scoop water out like a tiny Victorian gentleman testing his tea Checks depth Avoids whisker fatigue Keeps an eye on the peasants Creates splashy entertainment 💦 Step 2: The Trough Transformation We once upgraded to a "water trough" for our 6–7 big, thirsty cats -- a large rectangular container where 3-4 of the little guys could enjoy a drink together and where hefty Bear and Moo at least had more space than with a traditional water bowl. Well, after enjoyed a sip with Bear, Moo looked more intently and said, “Ah. A bath prepared in my honor.” Instead of drinking, he climbed into the trough and sat there like a serene, slightly damp Buddha. Because of course he was. And when he got it, he shook himself dry,...

  I don’t sweat. Not a drop. My skin stays dry even when my heart’s pounding and my face turns cherry red. People envy it. Brittany, my trainer, does not . “No fluid exchange,” she says. “You’re heating up, not cooling down.” So hydration? It’s not optional. It’s strategy . 🧬 Why Hydration Matters More When You Don’t Sweat Sweat cools the body . Without it, heat builds up faster. Fluid exchange regulates blood pressure and heart rate —especially important with a heart murmur and LBBB. Hydration supports endurance . Muscles need water to contract efficiently. Lungs need it to stay elastic. The brain needs it to stay sharp. 🥤 Grandma Ninja’s Hydration Rituals Pre-workout : I drink 8–12 oz of water 30–60 minutes before training. It’s like priming the pump. During training : I sip every 15–20 minutes, even if I don’t feel thirsty. Brittany watches my color, and I listen to her. Post-workout : I drink slowly over the next hour. Not a chug, but a steady refill. Daily baseli...

  Today is one of those days -- sitting up with a rescued street cat, sitting side by side to provide warmth, and periodically adjusting the steam vaporizer to reach Happy Cat's nostrils. Happy Cat is not very happy today. Ten days ago, he snatched and swallowed a blood pressure pill my son had placed on the counter while getting a glass of water. Happy Cat is a street cat rescue; he eats anything and everything. Or did, until today. Ten days ago, we had to take him to the vet for that BP pill snatch. He had his stomach pumped and was given charcoal to deal with the poisoning. He was put on IV -- and because of a panic attack, was put on oxygen. It was a tough day. Two days later, life became tougher. He started sneezing. Then, his nose started running. In days, he had trouble breathing. Back he went to the vet. That was two days ago. Again, he was put on oxygen for his panic attack (in spite of pre-dosing him with gabapentin to lessen it). Again, he was poked and probed. He was hy...