u/Past_Classroom_3521

My child will turn 5 on September 19, 2028. Under California law, a child needs to be 5 by September 1 to start kindergarten that year. That means she would skip an entire year and be almost 6 by the time she starts. I’d prefer for her to start kindergarten when she is just a few weeks shy of turning 5.

I’ve read that some private schools are an exception to this rule and may allow children to start kindergarten at 4. Ideally, I’d love for her to continue attending private school throughout the rest of her academic years, but as you may know, private school is pretty expensive.

It may not be a big deal to many that I want her to be a year "early" vs a year "late" in the school year. Anyone has any advice? Private schools they recommend?

We live in the east bay.

I often find myself in the children aisle at book stores flipping through children books. I don't have children, unfortunately but I do have an almost 3 year old niece and most of the books I end up buying I tell myself are for her.

I enjoy the illustrations and silly plots of children books, often with a message.

Outside children books, I read haunting/paranormal genres.

I've been taking care of two outdoor cats for a while (although I think one was truly feral). Unfortunately, my feral girl has disappeared. It's been a week since I've seen her, and she had never missed dinner since early 2024. I know she's spayed because of her clipped ear, which honestly makes me fear the worst.

The other cat is a friendly stray, and ever since my other cat disappeared, he's become much more vocal and for the very first time keeps jumping into my backyard trying to come inside. I'd really like to take him in, but first I'd need to get him a full vet exam and vaccinated since I already have two cats at home.

I've called several places, including my local SPCA, multiple times, left voicemails, and sent emails, but I haven't gotten any response. I also called my city's Animal Care Services, and they told me to contact my own veterinarian.

The cat is very friendly with me but skittish around other people. I have no idea how he'll react to being put in a carrier or at the vet. I was under the impression there were organizations or facilities that help stray cats, but now I'm feeling a bit lost.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? How did you safely get a friendly stray to the vet, and are there organizations that typically help with this, or is working through my own veterinarian really the best route?

I have an almost 4 month old kitten that has single kitten syndrome. He is playing way too aggressive with me and it looks like his toys are becoming less interesting.

I don't visit Petco often but have seen they work directly with shelters for cat adoption. I would like a kitten about the same age or maybe a bit older.

What is the process like?

I live in the East Bay , CA

I understand that non-native eucalyptus trees and other vegetation are being removed for fire safety, but I can't help feeling a bit sad that some of my favorite hiking trails feel so much barer now.

Tilden Park is my escape from the city close to home. I went today for a short hike at Grizzly Peak trail, the first mile is almost completely treelesss and shrubless. I was honestly quite shocked. I was able to see cars driving by and notice a lot of wildlife scat on the trails, something I had never seen before.

I know many people are happy that the Grizzly Peak project is moving forward, but having lived in Berkeley my entire life and spent so much of my young adulthood exploring these parks, it's hard to watch such a familiar landscape change so dramatically.

It's a little sad to think that I probably won't see a tall, closed canopy of trees return to some of these trails in my lifetime. And even when the trees do grow, which I've read most likely be lower density, Tilden may never look as densely forested as it did before.

I am pet sitting my sister's kitten and somehow he managed to squeeze out to my backyard where my friendly neighborhood cat hangs out. Per cameras they played around 15 minutes. The stray cat has a clipped ear so I am sure is part of the TNR program. However the kitten is only on 2 round of vaccinations and due for the 3rd soon. Is it recommended to get additional shots now?

I need to cross off my bucket list that I *finally* made it up to Logan's Pass, it's a goal of mine. The very first time I visited the park a few years ago I was about 3 miles from Logan's Pass but my legs could no more and it was getting late. Over the next few years I visit every end of May or early June and come to find out road ends up at The Loop section. Does anyone know if the road is open up to Logan's Pass on weekdays or weekends or at all?

My kitten is 8 weeks old and discovered a few days ago that he is able to go under the screen door to my front patio and if that is not enough he has found an opening behind some bushes that directs him into my driveway which eventually leads to the street. It all started when he met my neighborhood cat through the screendoor. My kitten makes a run for the door as soon as he sees me or anyone else opens it and slides right under. I found it cute at first but now it keeps me worried that he will escape. This is my first kitten and didn't realize kittens are pretty active (imo a bit harder than puppies). This little guy keeps me on my toes. I am hoping he will grow out of this? Any advice for first time cat owner?

He was given to my sister at 5 weeks old after his mother was killed by his previous people family dog. I suspect the kitten feels alone bc he was taken too early from his litter.

I stopped giving my dog Credelio after reading about the product and also because it was such a hassle for him to take. I tried every trick under the sun and he'd always manage spit more than half of it out. He is a strong dog and opening his mouth and pushing in the medication wasn't easy.

I take care of a couple of stray cats and one of them has become very sociable and hangs in my front yard. This poor cat has fleas and has passed them down to my dog. So now I have to treat the yard, my house, and my dog. I haven't seen a flea on my dog but he has been scratching. I am still figuring out how to treat the cat since I don't think he will agree to go inside a carrier for me to take to the vet for a prescription med. Any advice?