First, since this is primarily the place where I keep track of my critter adventures, a quick update. Klondike is still with me, though his pain killer dose steadily increases. I had a spell a couple weeks ago where I thought 3/4 of a Tramadol twice daily was his maximum dose, and it was no longer working. I talked to the vet about it being time to euthanize, and she said "no way!" In short, it's an opiate drug, and as such the body can build a tolerance. Also, it's only real side effect worth noting in this particular case is simple, flat-out druggedness. So he's up to 1-1/4 pill twice a day now, plus a baby aspirin once or twice a day depending on how he's feeling. He sleeps a lot, but is eating well and getting around good, and still very cheerful.
Siouxsie is now up front on the adoption floor. Her eyes are fully healed, and she is now getting steroid eye drops to help shrink the scarring. She joined us at a local sporting event/charity drive last weekend, and did great. She did a fantastic job interacting and flirting with anyone who would pay attention to her. Unfortunately, it did not result in her adoption.
My Beanie-Weenie boy got adopted a couple weeks ago. I made them promise to keep in touch. I haven't heard from them. :,(
Kitten season has not started yet. In fact, it is snowing again today. We do have a pregnant momma at the shelter, but it will be several more weeks before kittens are born. However, it is definitely time to get that two-keyboard organ sold to make room in the Hello Kitty room to make it my new nursery. And to get the screen or half door built.
Now. Activity monitors. I've been looking at these for a while. I finally decided to geek out and make a quick chart of all the ones I know about, to help me decide which one is best. Things I look for are: wrist form factor, for comfortable, continual wear; compatibility with my older Android phone, or at least PC connectivity; heart rate monitor, preferably built-in; sleep monitor; usable as a watch, since that's what people will assume it is; vibrating sleep alarm would be nifty but not necessary; and finally actually available for purchase now.
For overall usefulness, the Basis wins hands down. Fitbit Flex comes in close behind. Unfortunately, neither of these devices are available now. Amiigo and Jawbone Up would rate near the top, but I cannot use them unless I get a new phone, which is not an option available to me for several reasons. (cost, not due for a replacement on current contract, and my carrier doesn't even have a phone that meets the requirements!) So that leaves me with either the clip-on Fitbit One at moderate expense, or any ol' exercise watch that seems like a good idea, likely paired with a separate chest strap. Or the clunky and out-of-my-price-range MOTOACTV. Or Nike Fuelband. I'm kinda up in the air about this one. Might be useful, might just be a gimmick.
Anyway, here's the chart for anyone for whom it might be useful.
| Activity Monitors |
form factor |
PC/Android/ Bluetooth compatibility |
Heart Rate |
Sleep |
Watch/ Clock |
Silent Alarm/ Nap Alarm |
availability |
Price |
Notes |
| Basis |
Wrist |
PC, Bluetooth 2.1, future mobile |
yes |
yes |
yes |
no? |
Soon? |
$200.00 |
|
| Fitbit Flex |
Wrist |
PC, select Android |
no |
yes |
no |
yes |
Spring 2013 |
$100.00 |
|
| Fitbit One |
Clip |
PC, select Android |
no |
With opt. wrist band |
No? |
yes |
now |
$100.00 |
|
| Motorola MOTOACTV |
Clip, armband OR clunky wrist |
PC, Bluetooth, most Android |
With Strap |
no |
yes |
no |
now |
$300.00 |
MP3 player, GPS, smartwatch |
| Nike Fuelband |
Wrist |
PC |
With Strap |
no? |
No? |
no |
now |
$149.00 |
Only tracks “Nike Fuel Points” |
| Amiigo |
Wrist |
4/BLE |
yes |
no? |
no |
no |
now |
$99-119 |
|
| Jawbone Up |
Wrist |
4 |
no |
yes |
no |
yes |
now |
$130.00 |
|
| Fitbit Zip |
Clip |
PC, select Android |
no |
no |
No? |
no |
now |
$60.00 |
|
| Pick any heart rate monitor/ watch combo |
Wrist |
no |
Some With Strap, some without |
no |
yes |
traditional alarm |
now |
$60-120 |
Not a daily activity monitor. |
| WW ActiveLink |
Clip? |
no |
no? |
no |
no |
no |
now |
$40 + 5/mo |
|
|
|
|
"Select Android" means most likely 4.0, and/or Bluetooth 4/BLE. For the Apple crowd, assume that translates into whatever the latest & greatest ithing is. PC also most likely includes Mac.
The first litter has been dubbed the "Legend of Zelda" litter. I woke up the morning of the 23rd to the cream and white female dying. She was too far gone to reverse her condition, she died maybe 20 minutes after I found her. That night Zelda, the one who was nearly dead when they arrived, crashed again. I was up most of the night with her, but pulled her through with Nutrical and fluids. She purred almost non-stop the whole time I held her. Then a couple days after that the little runty calico, Fi, crashed. I pulled her through too. She's still so skinny and won't have anything to do with a bowl. And she never quite figured out how to nurse either. So she's still being dribble-fed, a time-consuming and inefficient method of feeding to say the least. Otherwise, the kittens are doing mostly well. Eating out of a bowl, nursing, and staying plump. They're really, really bad about the litter box though. Hit and miss; mostly miss.
