help me, internets

[dianora2]

If the power brick for my laptop says that input is 100-240V, does that mean I will be OK using it in Ireland with just a plug adapter? The guy in the store said that as long as my computer or power brick said 220V I should be okay.

More importantly: this may be hard to believe, but in the ten years I have had my cat she has never thrown up or coughed up a hairball. Until now. Help? She had an appetite up until then -- in fact, she started heaving while she was eating *facepalm* -- and it took her a while, with lots of heaving and swallowing, but eventually she threw up gross white foamy stuff, and then food. Mixed in with the food were a couple of lumps of hair. Now, does that mean that she basically coughed up a hairball? My concern of course is that she threw up because she was sick and the stomach in her hair just happened to come up. I've been doing a lot of cleaning today and I'm worried I poisoned her or something. :P I'll keep an eye on her, obviously, but if she doesn't throw up again by morning do you think she's probably okay? I took the food away when she started heaving, I figure I'll wait a little while for her stomach to settle and then see if she wants to eat. I have to go into work for a few hours tomorrow, then come home for a few hours and then leave for my flight. Obviously if this becomes a serious thing I will try to go to the vet in the morning instead of work, but, AAAAGGH. Needless to say I am FREAKING OUT that my cat decides to throw up for the first time ever the day before I'm leaving the country for a week.

Comments

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

if she doesn't throw up again by morning do you think she's probably okay?
Yes! It sounds very like a small hairball to me--they often come accompanied by other gunk. Or perhaps a very mild tummy upset. The gagging and heaving is normal for furballs--it can take them a while to get them out. :-( I think kitty will be fine! If she seems unduly lethargic or has glazed eyes or anything though, get her checked out. But if she's otherwise normal, it sounds alright to me.

[ascian3.livejournal.com]

Yup, your laptop will be fine. So long as the voltage in the place you're going is inside the range printed on the power thingy, you're good. (Furthermore, I took all my stuff to ireland and plugged it in through an adaptor and ran it without incident, so I also have anecdotal evidence for you.)

Have a great time in ireland. :-)

[hhw]

yes on the laptop -- that's what I did in London last year, and my laptop lived to tell the tale.

also probably yes that it was just a hairball and not something to worry about on your trip. while that scenario is not my cat's usual hairball MO, I have seen all of those components in the many many hairballs he's shared over the years.

[kefiraahava.livejournal.com]

No clue on the adaptor, but yeah, the kitty grossness is just about par for "I have a small hairball and therefore I don't hack up half a cat's worth of fur right where you'll step in it, but just foam and a little fur."

(Wow, you have a cat who's never thrown up? How awesome. I swear, some of the cats I've owned did it for sport.*sigh*)

Give her some time to calm down and see if she's interested in food later. If she's lethargic or glazed-eyed, as was said, or not drinking water/using the litterbox according to normal patterns, then worry. Otherwise, she's just being a cat and stressing out the human.*wry grin*

[kopernik.livejournal.com]

If that isn't just like a cat, I don't know what is. As long as it doesn't happen again, I'd say don't worry about it. Cats seem to feel it is necessary to regurgitate every once in a while. Eating too fast can do it, and stress doesn't help.

[dianora2.livejournal.com]

If that isn't just like a cat, I don't know what is.

SERIOUSLY.

Eating too fast can do it, and stress doesn't help.

Hmm, I did vacuum today, which freaks her out...

(Thank you!)

[girlunravelled.livejournal.com]

between the vacuuming and the fact that you are packing, she probably realizes something is up and just decided to add her opinion of the whole thing ;)

as was already mentioned, if any of the other habits change, then be worried, but otherwise, she was just being a kitty.

and as for never having had a hairball, count yourself lucky. cully gets one at least once a month. damn fluffball...

[returnofpiper.livejournal.com]

My Pippin does the heaving while eating thing ALL THE TIME. Because he's an idiot. And eats too fast.

But to ditto everyone else, that sounds like a normal hairball.

And also, this may sound gross, but it's entirely possible she's thrown up before and then... gotten rid of the evidence. It's gross, but well, efficient.

[chanel19.livejournal.com]

As for Ms. Parker, as long as there are no other symptoms, I don't think it sounds like a problem. Probably the vacuuming and packing freaked just freaked her out, but let your cat sitter know just in case.

As for your laptop, I'm paranoid, so I didn't take mine, but the rating on yours does imply that it will be fine.

[quaggy]

As long as she doesn't keep throwing up I think she should be okay. You might want to call the vet just to see if you should start giving her catlax. (Which reminds me, I have to give my cat Scout her dose today.) I agree with everyone else. She probably is picking up on the fact that you are leaving. Animals are smart. They know when things are up. Even if I keep my suitcase and her cat cage out of her site, Scout still knows when I'm going to be traveling.

[suehypno.livejournal.com]

The fact that this was the FIRST time your cat has ever coughed up a hairball tells me she's abnormal! Sheesh, I ripped out my carpeting and put in laminate wood floors BECAUSE mine cough them up so regularly (and that's despite special food and regular brushing). I'm sure she's fine.

[pukajen.livejournal.com]

My laptop worked over in Ireland...three times...so you should be fine. Worked in Greece, Germany, and I think Switzerland.

That said, don't forget to take plug adapter.