Observation may tell you what’s wrong with kitty

Dear Readers: Cats are sometimes solitary creatures, so it can be hard to tell if they are not feeling well. Here are some hints to look for: Water consumption up? It could be a kidney/ thyroid problem or diabetes.

Grooming gone down? Your cat could be overweight or have teeth problems or arthritis.

Meowing more? Cats can’t tell you they are sick, but they can meow.

Breath quality down? It could be dental problems or possible heart issues.

Crankiness up? Perhaps it’s general pain or old age.

Use of the litter box down? Stress, most likely, or an infection.

These are general guidelines; always get a professional opinion from your veterinarian.—Heloise

PET PAL

Dear Readers: Cora S. in Kansas City, Mo., shared a hilarious picture of her sweet yellow Lab, Lola, who is looking longingly at the face of a sitting skeleton, which is part of Cora’s Halloween vignette!

To see Lola and our other Pet Pals, visit Heloise. com and click on “Pet of the Week.”

Do you have a humorous holiday helper? We’re now looking for holiday “fur babies.” Email a picture along with age, breed and name to Heloise@Heloise.com.—Heloise

RESTAURANT BAG

Dear Heloise: When our children were young. I kept a small “restaurant bag” packed in the car: bibs, wipes, snacks (to keep them satisfied if the food was delayed), flexible straws, a spillproof cup and crayons. Items can be adjusted depending on the child’s age.

Also, I’m not a fan of teaching children to use electronics at the table, so quiet activities were my choice. Children need to learn to sit at a restaurant (not run around). We avoided taking our little ones into a busy restaurant when the kids were tired. We often chose to eat out in the late afternoon when it was less busy. Love your column!—Susan, via email

THE GOLD STANDARD

Dear Readers: Gold is beautiful, but do you know all there is to know about it? Twenty-fourkarat gold has no alloys—it is pure gold, soft and easily malleable. But it also can scratch, so it is not suitable for use by itself for most applications.

Eighteen-karat gold is 75 percent pure gold, and 14-karat gold is 58.3 percent. What makes up the difference? Mixtures of nickel, zinc, silver and copper are added to the gold to strengthen it.—Heloise

RED, GREEN AND YELLOW

Dear Heloise: I hollow out red, yellow and green bell peppers, and use them to hold dips and sauces. Makes for a fun conversation starter, and a colorful table!—Helen M. in Ohio