Q: If your cat suddenly stops eating, pay attention, particularly if it lasts for more than a day. That's a sign your cat needs to go to the vet to help determine what's wrong. Not eating could be a sign your cat's digestive system is blocked by a hairball. If your cat is continually hacking but not producing anything, that could be a sign your cat has a blockage in its digestive system. Pay particular attention if your cat hacks without production several times in one day. You should also check to see if your cat is defecating. If it's not, then it definitely has a blockage and needs to be seen by a vet. Alternatively, your cat may have diarrhea because it can't get much around the blockage. Place your hand on the cat's stomach. If it feels harder than normal, that could indicate a blockage. Your cat may also seem really lethargic, like it doesn't have the energy to do much.
A: Watch for loss of appetite. Notice if your cat hacks without bringing up a hairball. Check the cat's stomach and energy levels.

Q: Some sunspots are tough to remove and don't respond well to OTC creams and other products. If you'd like to remove or lighten the sunspots for cosmetic reasons, visit a local dermatologist and ask them to inspect your sunspots. Describe to them how long you've had the sunspots and mention what other treatments you've tried. In some cases, you may need to visit your general practitioner first and get a referral to a dermatologist. Laser resurfacing can be done at a doctor's office or hospital. The procedure entails removing upper layers of your skin (which include the unwanted sunspots) with beams of light. Laser resurfacing is expensivesince it's typically not covered by insurancebut effective in removing sunspots by taking off thin layers of skin. Recovery time can take up to 3 weeks. You'll be mildly sedated during the procedure itself. It's an outpatient procedure, though, so you'll be dismissed from the doctor's office or the hospital after it's done. Before going ahead with the procedure, the doctor will ask you about your medical history and any prescription medications you're taking. This will help the doctor confirm that the patches are, in fact, sunspots and aren't caused by another skin condition. If your doctor agrees that a chemical peel will help remove your sunspots, they'll apply a mild acid to your face. This treated layer of skinwhich typically contains the unwanted sunspotswill peel off, allowing fresh new skin to grow in its place. Peels can be performed at some dermatologist offices or at hospitals. The procedure can leave the affected area red for several days. The procedure can cause some lingering pain, so your doctor may suggest you take OTC pain medication or use a cold compress for a week. If you'd rather not treat your entire face but would prefer to focus only on removing sunspots, cryotherapy may be the way to go. When performing this procedure, doctors typically use nitrous oxide to freeze the sunspots. The spots will then scab and fall off in approximately 1 week, leaving un-darkened skin behind. Microdermabrasion is a fairly aggressive way to treat sunspots, so make sure to check with your doctor before having the treatment performed. In the procedure, a doctor will use a special applicator to remove the outermost layer of your skin. This will remove sunspots and leave fresh skin behind. Some doctors will perform the procedure at their office, while others will refer you to a local hospital. Fortunately, the procedure isn't painful and can be done in 60 minutes. Your skin may feel tight or slightly stretched after the microdermabrasion. If this bothers you, take a dose of OTC pain medication.
A: Visit a dermatologist if your sunspots don't respond to OTC treatment. Ask your doctor to treat your sunspots with laser resurfacing. Get a chemical peel to remove layers of sun-spotted skin. Freeze your sunspots with cryotherapy for a spot-focused treatment. Try microdermabrasion if other medical treatments haven't worked.

Q: Before a storm, ants will build up their mounds and create steep sides. If you see raised ant beds, especially if they were lower before, then there may be a storm coming. When the air pressure falls before a storm, birds feel discomfort in their ears. This causes them to fly lower toward the ground or to perch on lower tree branches or power lines. You may also observe the birds eating ground insects. This behavior suggests that a storm is coming. If the birds are flying high in the sky, then there will likely be fair weather. If you're near the sea, look for seagulls perched on the beach, which could indicate that a storm is coming. Watch for large groups of roosting birds. Birds also become quiet before a storm. Singing and chirping birds could indicate good weather. Birds can sense air pressure and will time their migrations to good weather. If you see flocks of birds migrating in the sky, then the weather will likely be good that day. If a storm is going to be short, birds will usually wait for the rain to end before looking for food. If you see birds eating during a storm, then it will likely last for a long time. Birds can sense the pressure patterns, allowing them to predict the weather. Bees and butterflies return to their homes before a storm for safety. In the case of bees, they also work to preserve the hive. If you don't see any bees and butterflies when you would expect to - such as in a field of flowers - then there may be a storm coming. Cows usually gather together and lie down in their pasture before a rainstorm. This is likely because it cools down before a storm, and cows like to be close to the ground when the weather cools. Cows lying on the ground is an indication that it may rain. This only applies to cows, not other livestock. Snakes will leave their nests before bad weather, even if it's in the middle of wintertime. Seeing snakes in unexpected places or at a time when the snake would normally be in its nest can be a sign of bad weather. Snakes can even predict earthquakes. If you see a snake out of its nest behaving erratically, there could be an earthquake coming. Snakes usually come out of their nests in sunny weather to warm themselves. They don't like the cold because they are cold-blooded. A snake out of its nest when it's not a warm, sunny day is an indication that bad weather is coming. Tortoises will seek higher ground before a storm, so look for movement to higher locations. You may see them in the road one to two days before a rain.
A: Look for high ant mounds. Watch for low-flying or roosting birds. Look for bird migrations. Notice if birds eat during a storm. Search for bees and butterflies. Check cow pastures to see if they are lying down together. Look for snakes. Watch tortoises if they are nearby.

Q: Winters are hard on people: long nights, not much sunshine. It's not an easy task to look bright and fresh every day. Get a lot of sleep and when you're unable to do it, take advantage of the weekend and get some rest. Try to enjoy the sun when you can find some!- and fill the lack of it by taking vitamin D. Add vitamin C for energy! Cure your colds with adequate remedies and by staying warm. Healthy doesn't mean boring, protected and cloistered. Keep up with some exercise and go for walks, go downtown and hang out with your friends, try not giving up on your hobbies... Maintain a social life. Winter is a tiring season, so make compromises. For instance, having a fun going out on Saturday and staying in on Sunday will keep you both rested and happy. Enjoy the winter pleasuressnowballs fights, winter sports, Christmas shopping, etc. Try to stay in an optimistic state of mind. Don't forget: a happy person shows her beauty on her face and will glow through the coldest winters!
A:
Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Have fun with the season.