Memes, Alexander, sick cat

[pauraque_bk]

I RELENT. NO MORE COLOR BARS PLZ.

No, actually, that's not what I was going to say. I've noticed some musings around town on what exactly a meme is, where the concept comes from, and how you say it (it's meem, btw).

-Cecil Adams of The Straight Dope gives the basics: What is a meme?

-And zompist discusses the nonsensical results when the concept is abused: The new pseudo-science of memes.

I don't know how or when the word acquired its secondary sense: a usually simple activity, exercise, or decoration spread via online journals, especially a quiz, survey, slogan, or Mad Lib-style randomly generated amusement. If anyone has any knowledge of how this sense developed, I would really appreciate hearing about it. (If I had the free time, I would love to compile a fandom dictionary with primary sources for its etymological information, and discussions of the range and evolution of the senses of each term. A boy can dream.)

---

I have not seen Alexander, but everyone on my flist has. So, for absolutely no reason, here are my favorite Alexander posts from recent days:

-cruisedirector talks about how the movie was really gay, and also terrible, which is a position taken by quite a few... what do you call people on your flist? Not your friends, surely... Flistees? Well, in any case, Our Cruise Director also gives us a cool and topical poem, as she frequently does.

-noblerot talks about how the movie was terrible, but scandalously un-gay. Snails and oysters are mentioned, and if you don't know what that means, go back and watch The Celluloid Closet again.

-dailyplanet writes an open letter to Alex. The phrase "vainglorious mullet" appears.

---

So, I've got this cat, and she's been throwing up a lot. She's always been prone to tossing her cookies, but in recent weeks it's become intolerable. Hardly a day goes by now when she doesn't vomit. Aside from the obvious carpet damage, paper towel expense, and personal trauma, I'm worried for her health. She doesn't seem ill, but she can't be getting much nutrition (it just comes back up undigested), and is constantly begging for food.

By way of background, she's a 7-year-old spayed female medium-hair. I brush her and give her hairball-preventing goo daily. I haven't changed her food. She was really my mom's cat, and my mom always used to feed her... but she couldn't really be vomiting because of that, could she?

Do any of you have any suggestions? I'm extremely reluctant to take her to the vet, because she's very aggressive. No, I mean very aggressive. No vet has ever been able to examine her while she's conscious.

Comments

[exbentley]

Flistians?

Wah, I've always said mem-ay. Though I suspected that since it was supposed to be a variation of "me! me!" I was saying it wrong anyway.

Non-marriage-is-love, non-gay-rights colour bars make me cry.

[pauraque]

malograntum reports that she recently observed an LJ denizen asking whether there were any pro-gay marriage color bars.

Though I suspected that since it was supposed to be a variation of "me! me!" I was saying it wrong anyway.

Hee, folk etymology.

[alchemia.livejournal.com]

it is possible the vomitting is behavioural, but i'd rules out medical issues first. It could be an organ problem, she's a bit on the young side, but getting close, so quite possible; my first cat got serious kidney problems at 9 yrs. I'd talk to the vet, explain the symptoms and concerns. To test for major medical problems, they'd take a blood sample, and they can put her out for that. many such problems can then be treated dietarily, but by the symptom of vomittign alone you don't know if its cause A, B or C and each has a different treatment whcih could be bad for the other.

Another thought- anythign new int he house/enviroment? A new plant she might be nibbling the leaves off of? A new carpet cleaner that was used etc..? Things that we wouldn't think about ingesting but she might be eating/licking.

[pauraque]

There isn't anything new in the house I can think of (she's an indoor cat, I should have mentioned that). I figured any answer would probably be to take her to the vet, I was just hoping that there was some obvious explanation I was overlooking that would spare her (and me) the agony. She hates going out. Sigh.

[alchemia.livejournal.com]

Any chance a vet in your area does house calls so they treat her in your home instead of havign to take her out? We have a couple vets here who do it.

[pauraque]

Not that I know of, but I'll ask when I call the vet's office.

[couchemal.livejournal.com]

She might have a blockage somewhere from swallowing something she can't digest. Does she ever eat weird things around the house? Unfortunately, it's hard to say what exactly is wrong because those symptoms could be just about anything.

I will also warn you that if she isn't eating, and she starts to lose weight rapidly it's not good, because cats can't really metabolize their own fat. It collects in the liver and will shut it down, and kill them in a fairly short period of time, especially if the cat was overweight to begin with. So you might have to break down and take her to the vet.

[pauraque]

She does eat weird things, actually, like rubber bands and pieces of string. But usually she just pukes them up and that's the end of it, so I don't know.

And she is overweight. I think I will make a vet appointment for her.

[couchemal.livejournal.com]

Oh good. I hope you will let us know how she does.

[iibnf.livejournal.com]

Food allergies? Onslo hwarfs when he eats beef, milk (even lactose free), chicken, tinned food, dried food, or lizards. That limits him to raw roo or the occasional bit of kidney. Maybe try her on different foods now and then?

Also, warm the food a little for her, like 5 seconds in the microwave so it's not cold her tum?

[gmth.livejournal.com]

That's interesting. I always assumed the meme was an LJ-specific thing. You taught me something new.

My cat was the same way during the brief time I had her. It turned out she had worms. They got so bad after a while that we could actually see them in her vomit. And ergh, I just grossed myself out. Anyway, it's worth looking in to.

[pauraque]

She's drinking as I type, and doesn't seem to have any problem with that. I don't give her milk, but on the occasions when she's managed to get into dairy products, it's never made her sick (she once ate a whole bowl of chocolate ice cream with no effect), so I might try milk if this carries on much longer.

[julia-fractal.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for the fascinating links on memes! I found the definition of memes as self-propagating ideas very interesting and convincing, but I'm quite disturbed by the urge to use it to explain away free will. Can't you also argue that the individual has the capacity to choose which memes to believe in and transmit, or that competing memes will ensure diversity and prevent any one set of ideas from totally dominating? Why is it that biological determinism seems to be a staple belief of modern science ("genetics is destiny"), and nobody remembers that there's always an interplay between biology, individuals, and society?

Working in science has made me a lot more skeptical of scientific theories and claims. It's not that I don't believe in the scientific data, it's just that too often bad science is used to prop up social mores, because the biases of the researchers are making them ask the wrong questions and skew the results. The assumption that there must be something abnormal to make people gay and the consequent search for the gay gene would be a classic example.

Sorry for the long rant in your journal, and thanks again for the links!

I love your idea of a fandom dictionary with all the etymological roots (and I don't even like semiotics that much).

Sorry to hear about your cat. I hope that she gets better soon.

[deslea.livejournal.com]

I have similar problems with the Ratty Icky Smelly Rescue Cat (or Tithonius to the more generous people among us). I've managed to get his tolerance, nutrition, and general condition up with - wait for it - baby food. He gets one serving of baby food aimed at the 6-12 month age group, usually at least partly meat or meat substitute (chicken, beef, and lentils are his favourite three) and then a half-serving of his usual kibble, and I've been able to keep him stable on that. If I increase the kibble, he pukes. If I increase the baby food, runny poo (ewwww). But half-and-half works. I don't question it, I just keep paying the food bill. ;-)

[noblerot.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear. Cats throw up for so many reasons. It could be anything from kidney damage (my cat) to a bug that lingers for two months before mysteriously vanishing (my friend's cat) to stress to whatever. To get some nutrition into her, try tuna water (and the tuna, of course, if she can keep it down).

As for medical options, I'd second the house-vet suggestion -- either that, or have a vet give you a mild tranquilizer to adminster before you take her in. Less traumatic for all involved, including kitty.

About memes... *cough* Last Sunday some fool wrote a column on memes in the Chronicle *coughcoughcoughcough*. I imagine she wishes she'd seen the Cecil Adams piece first.

I think I'm in the minority on Alexander in that I took a political stance vis-a-vis gay representation, whereas most people are just enjoying the pretty. Considering the quality of the film, theirs is probably the best course.

[pauraque]

Um... would this be a good time to admit that I don't remember your name, and was hoping someone else would say it so I wouldn't have to feel dumb?

:)

[noblerot.livejournal.com]

noblerot?

[pauraque]

Alas for Fantasia. Winning American Idol is a terrible thing to happen to a promising young singer.

[noblerot.livejournal.com]

Great name, though, Fantasia.

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

Heads over to sfgate, scours through columnists.

Da-yum.

Should have known that That Columnist would be in fandom.

[noblerot.livejournal.com]

....

[dphearson.livejournal.com]

Not terribly surprising- indie types are into allsorts of things!

[jadziahp.livejournal.com]

Hi, here via friendsfriends list.
I have a lot of cats, and in my experience, a cat eating and then systematically vomiting undigested food, is tracheitis (hope this is the right translation). Even if they don't have a cough. Based on the fact your cat seems healthy and doesn't show any other symptom, plus her being constantly hungry (which is normal since she can't keep her food down), I'd say it shouldn't be anything serious. Tracheitis practically makes her throat really sensitive, since she is hungry she probably wolfs her food down, this makes her trachea itch and causes the vomit. Try to make her eat slowly, say, a spoonful of her food. Then wait 10-15 minutes and another spoonful. This should keep the itch down and allow her to eat. As for permanently solving the problem, I'm sorry to say that a vet is necessary. Giving her a little food at a time and all, could help her get nutrition while you wait for the vet appointment, but tracheitis needs antibiotics and antiinflammatories.
Hope she gets better,
Jadzia

[lolaraincoat.livejournal.com]

Just agreeing with everyone else here: cat should go to vet (or vet should come to cat, if you can arrange it), because of dehydration issues if nothing else. Tuna water is a great idea in the meanwhile.

OTOH, one of our cats pukes regularly, and it's just an expression of kitty dissatisfaction with the state of things -- usually with the flavor of food he's getting. So, cat pukes every few days for a week or so, Fishwhistle gets him a different kind of food, cat eats happily for a month or six weeks, and then the whole cycle begins anew. It's like a Disney movie, but smellier.

[clemencederoch.livejournal.com]

Go read this review (http://www.livejournal.com/users/shezan/39247.html) of Alexander...

[http://users.livejournal.com/_hannelore/]

I'm having the same exact problem with one of my cats (vet appt on Wednesday), but the last time she was throwing everything up, it was fleas. I know that sounds strange for this time of year, but the vet's explanation was that the cat's skin was aggravating her enough (even though we never *saw* any fleas, I have to admit) to make her clean herself aggressively. Hence the vomitage.

If she's been prone to cookie-tossing, she might be more sensitive to whatever's bothering her. Her sibling has no similar problems. Hope you find some answers... cats, unlike dogs, can unfortunately find all the worst places to puke.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_hannelore/]

_{And I finally emailed you the Peter/Arthur ficlet. It's, er, much darker than I anticipated.}

[wikdsushi.livejournal.com]

Baby (the Twelve Pound Behemoth of Lovin') has always been prone to vomiting, probably due to a parasitic infection she had when we found her. A round of antibiotics and a diet of sensitive stomach food has quelled most of it.

I'm in the "take her to the vet" camp. Tracheitis, organ failure, infection, could be anything. Chances are, it's not going to go away on its own.

*pets the kitty*offers juice from the tuna can*

[chresimos.livejournal.com]

argues that with memes there doesn't need to be. Free will and the sense of self are illusions. I'm not an independent actor, just an assemblage of memes

When I read this, I oddly began thinking re: that conversation we had about Data the other day. Perhaps Data's struggle to transcend the sum of his parts resonates us because we are afraid that we too are composed of programs which react in a certain way to stimuli and will need to someday overcome this with a higher sense of self or attempts to progress further ethically? /overanalysis

Flistees!

hedda62 linked to this very amusing review of Alexander as well. (you need to register though. *hugs bugmenot.com*

snails! oysters! snails!

[(Anonymous)]

theglossary

[cruisedirector]

I would definitely at least call the vet. Could be a blockage or could be an allergy. I don't know what you look for in the vomit to figure it out.

As for Alexander -- this is the first fictional version of his story I have ever seen that acknowledged his bisexuality even if it was chicken to portray it much. That alone was the sole saving grace of a really bad film!

[asphodeline.livejournal.com]

ok, so you've probably done it by now, I hope so, take her to the vet.....
I've had seriously aggressive cats but most vets can deal with them and in fact they now have a spray thing which you put in the basket/carrier to calm them down!

vomiting is not good and could be anything. The last cat of mine that did similar things turned out to be very ill indeed so do have her checked out
Weasel and I have our paws and fingers crossd it's something very routine!
xx

[pauraque]

Her appointment is tomorrow morning. :)

[asphodeline.livejournal.com]

*hugs* brilliant