Author: IndNewsWire

Every cat owner should understand what is normal and what signals danger when it comes to litter tray habits. Questions about how long a cat can go without peeing or pooping are common, especially when a usually predictable routine suddenly changes. Bathroom behavior reflects hydration, diet, stress levels, and overall health. A delay of a few hours may not raise concern, but prolonged absence of urine or stool can point to a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. Knowing the timeline and the warning signs can make the difference between early treatment and emergency intervention.

Cats are skilled at masking discomfort. In the wild, visible weakness attracts predators. Domestic cats retain this instinct, so subtle changes often precede obvious illness. Owners who monitor litter habits closely are far more likely to detect issues early and protect long-term health.

Normal Bathroom Habits in Healthy Cats

A healthy adult cat typically urinates every four to six hours. Some cats may go slightly longer overnight, especially if they sleep through the night and eat less during that period. The total volume depends on water intake, diet type, and body weight. Cats fed wet food often urinate more frequently because canned diets contain higher moisture content. Cats eating dry kibble may produce smaller, more concentrated urine unless they drink sufficient water.

Defecation usually occurs once daily. Some healthy cats pass stool every thirty-six hours, particularly if they consume highly digestible diets. Kittens may go more often due to faster metabolism. Senior cats can be slightly less predictable but should still maintain a regular pattern.

Consistency matters as much as frequency. Urine should be pale yellow and clump normally in the litter. Stool should be firm but not hard, moist but not loose. Sudden changes in color, size, odor, or effort during elimination warrant attention.

Hydration strongly influences these patterns. Cats evolved from desert ancestors and naturally have a low thirst drive. They rely on prey moisture. Domestic environments require owners to compensate for this biology. Fresh water sources, clean bowls, and sometimes water fountains help maintain steady urine output.

Stress also plays a role. A move to a new home, introduction of another pet, or change in routine may cause a temporary delay. Short-term stress may reduce appetite and slow bowel movement for a day. However, prolonged absence is never normal.

When Is It a Medical Emergency?

If a cat has not urinated within twenty-four hours, immediate veterinary attention is advised. Waiting beyond this point increases the risk of bladder distension, toxin buildup, and kidney damage. Male cats are particularly vulnerable to urethral obstruction, where crystals or debris block the narrow urethra. This condition can become fatal within forty-eight hours if untreated.

Signs of urinary blockage include repeated trips to the litter tray with little or no output, crying while attempting to urinate, licking the genital area excessively, lethargy, and vomiting. The abdomen may feel firm or painful. This is an emergency that requires prompt medical care, often including catheterization and hospitalization.

A cat that has not passed stool for more than forty-eight hours may be constipated. Mild constipation can often be managed with veterinary guidance, but prolonged retention can progress to obstipation, where the colon becomes severely distended and unable to contract effectively. Chronic cases may lead to megacolon, a serious structural disorder.

Straining without producing stool, passing small hard pellets, loss of appetite, and discomfort are warning signs. Blood in stool or severe abdominal pain requires urgent evaluation.

Urinary tract infections can also reduce output. Infections cause inflammation and pain, leading to frequent attempts with minimal urine. Unlike obstructions, infections often produce small amounts repeatedly rather than none at all. Both require professional diagnosis.

Understanding the difference between a minor delay and an emergency is critical. A single skipped bowel movement in an otherwise bright and active cat may not demand panic. Absence of urination, especially with visible distress, always demands action.

Causes of Urinary or Digestive Issues

Dehydration is one of the most common contributors to both urinary and digestive problems. Concentrated urine promotes crystal formation. Hard, dry stool results from insufficient water in the colon. Cats that drink poorly and eat mainly dry food are at greater risk.

Diet composition matters. High mineral content in some diets can increase the likelihood of struvite or calcium oxalate crystals. Sudden dietary changes may disrupt gut balance and cause constipation or diarrhea. Fiber levels influence stool consistency. Too little fiber can slow transit, while excessive fiber may cause bulk without adequate hydration.

Stress alters hormone levels and gut motility. A stressed cat may avoid the litter tray if it feels unsafe. Multi-cat households sometimes create subtle territorial tension around shared trays. Cats require adequate tray numbers, ideally one per cat plus one extra, placed in quiet, accessible areas.

Obesity increases the risk of urinary disease and constipation. Overweight cats groom less effectively and may be less active, slowing intestinal movement. Regular exercise stimulates normal bowel function.

Underlying medical conditions can also interfere. Kidney disease changes urine output patterns. Diabetes increases urination frequency but may also mask dehydration. Neurological disorders affect bladder control. Arthritis may make litter tray access painful, leading to avoidance and retention.

Crystals and bladder stones form when urine becomes overly concentrated or when pH shifts unfavorably. These mineral deposits irritate the bladder lining and can obstruct urine flow. Veterinary analysis of urine samples helps determine the type and guide dietary management.

Parasites and inflammatory bowel disease affect stool quality. Chronic constipation in older cats may reflect reduced colon muscle strength. Identifying the root cause requires examination, medical history, and sometimes imaging such as ultrasound or radiography.

Prevention and Monitoring Tips

Preventive care begins with observation. Litter tracking allows owners to notice changes early. Clumping litter makes it easier to measure urine volume visually. Count clumps daily if concerned. Monitor stool frequency and texture. Subtle reduction over several days may precede complete absence.

Hydration should be a priority. Provide multiple water sources in different rooms. Clean bowls daily. Consider water fountains, which encourage drinking through moving water. Adding wet food to the diet significantly increases moisture intake. Some owners mix a small amount of warm water into canned food to further boost hydration.

Routine veterinary examinations help detect early urinary crystals or kidney changes before symptoms appear. Annual urinalysis for adult cats and biannual checks for seniors support early intervention.

Weight management reduces strain on the digestive system. Encourage play sessions that stimulate movement. Interactive toys and climbing structures promote activity indoors.

Environmental stability lowers stress. Maintain consistent feeding times and litter tray placement. Introduce changes gradually. In multi-cat homes, ensure each cat has private access to resources.

Technology increasingly supports preventive care. AI-based pet health awareness platforms analyze behavior patterns and flag unusual changes before they escalate. Educational resources such as AI driven pet health awareness platforms explore how digital tools enhance early detection in companion animals. While these tools do not replace veterinary care, they empower owners to recognize trends and act promptly.

Keep records of appetite, water intake, and elimination frequency if your cat has a history of urinary or digestive problems. Patterns often reveal triggers. Early veterinary advice is always safer than a delayed response.

Recognizing the warning signs associated with how long a cat can go without peeing/pooping protects your pet from avoidable suffering. Cats rely entirely on attentive owners to detect silent problems. Regular monitoring, adequate hydration, balanced nutrition, and timely veterinary care form the foundation of urinary and digestive health. When bathroom habits change, treat it as meaningful information rather than inconvenience. Prompt action preserves comfort, organ function, and quality of life for years to come.

New York, NY – Feb 13, 2026 – Mangia NYC proudly introduces its Easter Catering Menu 2026, offering a beautifully curated selection of seasonal dishes designed to elevate spring celebrations across Manhattan.

Salary still matters when people look at job offers, but it’s rarely the deciding factor anymore. Most candidates want to understand how an offer fits into their lives, not just their workload. Health insurance, time off, employee benefits, retirement options, and day-to-day usability of benefits often carry more weight than a slightly higher paycheck. For growing businesses, this shift has changed how job candidates judge offers, even if pay remains competitive.

Larger employers tend to benefit from familiarity. Their benefits usually look the way candidates expect them to look. The structure feels recognizable, which makes comparison easier when several offers are on the table. Smaller or growing organizations may offer coverage that’s just as solid, but when these employers present benefits differently or explain them in broad terms, applicants can struggle to understand what they’re actually getting.

That confusion is usually where the so-called benefits gap starts. It’s less about what employers are offering and more about how confident someone feels reading the details.

What People Are Really Reacting to When They Talk About a ‘Benefits Gap’

The benefits gap is often described as a difference in generosity. In practice, that’s rarely the full story. Large employers usually rely on standardized plans. Many candidates have seen similar setups before, which means they don’t need much explanation to understand coverage limits, costs, or trade-offs. Familiarity removes friction early.

Growing businesses often approach benefits differently. Plans may change as the company grows or adjusts based on employee needs, such as offering multiple health plan options, introducing voluntary or ancillary benefits over time, or customizing coverage based on role or location. That flexibility can work well internally, but it can also make benefits harder to explain quickly during hiring conversations. When information feels incomplete or scattered, candidates sometimes assume options are limited, even when they’re not.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that access to employer-sponsored benefits varies widely by company size. Structure, more than intent, often shapes how applicants perceive benefits.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Why Large Employers Set the Reference Point

Size affects expectations. Large organizations spread risk across bigger employee populations, which allows them to keep plan designs stable year after year. That stability creates predictability. Candidates often feel they already know what to expect before reviewing the details.

Many large employers also have teams whose sole responsibility is managing benefits. They handle enrollment, updates, and questions continuously. Over time, benefits become part of the company’s identity rather than something discussed only during hiring or open enrollment.

This does not mean large employers are the best option for every candidate. It does explain why they often become the benchmark, whether intentionally or not.

How the Gap Shows Up During Hiring

The benefits gap becomes most visible when candidates start comparing offers. When benefits are easy to understand, decisions move faster. Candidates can assess long-term value without asking multiple follow-up questions. When details feel unclear, hesitation creeps in. Some candidates delay decisions. Others lean toward offers that feel simpler, even if the role itself is not the best fit.

That uncertainty can carry into employment. Employees who understand their benefits tend to feel more secure and less frustrated. Confidence in benefits often shapes how people view the organization as a whole.

Support systems like structured employee retention services can help reduce that uncertainty by improving consistency from hiring through long-term employment.

How Growing Businesses Are Simplifying the Experience

Many growing companies start by fixing communication, not by adding more benefits. They review how benefits are discussed during interviews and how information is shared after onboarding. In many cases, the plans themselves are not the issue. The way they are explained is. Clear language and consistent timing often make a noticeable difference.

Some organizations work with broader platforms that group medical, dental, vision, and retirement options into a single system. Others tighten up summaries and enrollment materials so that employees know where to look for accurate answers. Guidance from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) consistently points to education as a key factor in how employees judge benefits value.

In other situations, businesses partner with a PEO. What is a PEO? In short, PEOs are professional employer organizations. They can support payroll, benefits administration, compliance, and workers’ compensation while allowing the business to retain control of daily operations. Across these approaches, the goal is the same: to reduce confusion.

Source: G&A Partners

Why Access Alone Is Not Enough

Having benefits available does not automatically make them valuable. Employees care about how easy benefits are to use, not just whether they exist. When enrollment feels manageable and information stays consistent, people are more likely to engage. Clear explanations help employees understand what is covered, when to use it, and how changes affect their choices.

Support matters here as well. Knowing where to go with questions builds trust. When guidance is easy to find, benefits feel helpful instead of frustrating. Organizations that focus on this experience often see stronger engagement and fewer misunderstandings. Additional insight into structuring and communicating employee benefits reinforces how clarity shapes confidence over time.

The Gap Is Often Smaller Than It Looks

In many cases, the benefits gap feels larger than it actually is. What separates employers is often not the size of the offering but how consistently it is communicated and supported. When employees understand what they have and how it fits into their lives, perception changes quickly.

Growing businesses bring real advantages. They tend to know their people better and can shape benefits with intention rather than habit. Closing the gap does not require copying every feature offered by large employers. It does require clarity, follow-through, and attention to how employees experience benefits day to day.

In a labor market where employees compare offers more carefully than ever, benefits are no longer evaluated in isolation. Clarity, consistency, and support shape how people judge value just as much as coverage details. For growing businesses, closing the benefits gap is often less about matching large employers feature for feature and more about helping employees understand what’s already available to them.

As businesses continue to adopt more cloud based software to support remote working, collaboration, finance, marketing, and operations, SaaS spending is rising at an unprecedented pace. What often begins as a handful of essential tools can quickly expand into dozens of subscriptions across departments, each with its own billing cycle, licence structure, and renewal terms.

Without central oversight, SaaS costs can escalate rapidly. Teams frequently purchase tools independently, licences remain active long after employees leave, and underused subscriptions continue to renew unnoticed. Over time, this lack of visibility creates significant financial leakage, with businesses paying for software they no longer need or use.

The challenge is not a lack of intention, but a lack of clarity. As organisations grow and adopt new technology, tracking who is using what, and whether it still delivers value, becomes increasingly complex. The result is fragmented SaaS management, rising operational costs, and reduced accountability across finance, IT, and HR teams.

It is this growing problem that SaaSi Hub has been built to solve. The new platform helps organisations identify unused licences and reduce avoidable software costs.

“I founded SaaSi Hub because I was tired of managing licenses in spreadsheets” says Michael Cook, Founder. “We discovered that most companies are wasting 20% of their software budget on ‘zombie’ accounts (users who left the company months ago but still have paid seats). We fixed that.”

SaaSi Hub, a member of the Nvidia inception program provides businesses with a clear and centralised view of every SaaS subscription in use across the organisation. By connecting directly with Google Workspace, Zoho and other used SaaS and HR platforms, SaaSi Hub instantly flags unused seats, automatically mapping users to licences, highlighting subscriptions that are inactive, underused, or no longer required.

One of the most common sources of waste occurs during employee turnover. When staff leave, their software access is not always reviewed immediately, leading to licences that continue to renew month after month. SaaSi Hub detects employee leavers in real time and flags any active subscriptions linked to them, prompting swift action before unnecessary costs accumulate.

Beyond offboarding, the platform also identifies licences with low or no usage, helping teams assess whether tools are delivering value. Clear dashboards and automated alerts make it simple to prioritise cost saving opportunities, while structured reporting allows finance and leadership teams to track savings over time.

By replacing manual tracking and disconnected spreadsheets with automated oversight, SaaSi Hub enables organisations to take control of their SaaS estate, reduce avoidable spend, and ensure software investment aligns with actual business needs.

Designed for finance, IT, and HR teams, SaaSi Hub centralises SaaS oversight in one simple dashboard. SaaSi Hub brings together the information that finance, IT, and HR teams need into a single, easy to use platform. Instead of managing SaaS subscriptions across multiple systems, spreadsheets, and email chains, stakeholders gain a shared and accurate view of software usage, costs, and risk in one place.

For finance teams, the dashboard delivers real time visibility of total SaaS spend, renewal timelines, and potential savings. Clear reporting supports budgeting, forecasting, and procurement decisions, replacing guesswork with reliable data. With a focus on simplicity, transparency, and measurable impact, it’s positioned to help modernise organisations by alerting the unnecessary SaaS spend and ensuring every subscription delivers genuine value.

Designer Mina Kim designs with systems in mind, orchestrating individual elements to function as a cohesive whole. Her work moves fluidly between digital and physical forms, demonstrating how design can organize perception across materials, scale, and context within technology, commerce, and cultural institutions.

Kim’s professional experience includes work at Motorola, where she contributed to the Moto 360 Camera Mod, part of the company’s 2018 Red Dot Award recognition. Working with emerging 360-degree imaging technology, she focused on translating complex functionality into an experience that felt intuitive and approachable. “I designed the experience so that users already familiar with Motorola products could be seamlessly introduced to 360-degree camera technology,” Kim explains. Reviewers noted that they were “pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to use,” highlighting how effectively the 360-camera functionality was integrated into the larger Moto smartphone system.

She later applied this systems-driven thinking in commercial environments at Stila Cosmetics. There, Kim worked on visual merchandising and launch campaigns, translating brand strategy into coordinated spatial and graphic systems across retail and digital touchpoints. By aligning in-store displays, packaging, and online content, she reinforced brand recognition while maintaining flexibility across products and platforms.

Parallel to this commercial work, Kim brought the same systems perspective to cultural institutions such as the RISD Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). At the RISD Museum, she designed the visual identity for Inherent Vice (Jan 29–Jul 10, 2022), an exhibition exploring the deterioration of Gilded Age gowns. The identity embodied this concept through typography and motion graphics that captured the aging and fragility of the exhibited materials. Her design extended across gallery graphics, publications, and digital screens, maintaining cohesion while supporting the exhibition’s conceptual depth.

“Because museums are experienced through multiple channels—print, screen, and physical space—design has to function as a single system,” Kim says. “The design process is about building cohesion across those channels while working with each medium’s constraints, characteristics, and audiences.”

Kim currently works at SFMOMA, where she plays a critical role in major exhibitions and collaborations, including RM × SFMOMA exhibition and Big Thinking: Oldenburg & van Bruggen. Each project requires a distinct visual strategy while remaining legible within the museum’s broader identity. Rather than treating environmental graphics, print, and digital media as separate disciplines, Kim designs them as interdependent parts of a shared visual language.

Across her work, Kim builds relationships between media, scale, and context, creating systems that shape how people read, move, and understand the world around them. She emphasizes that design is more than surface or style—it is the orchestration of connection.

The ringing of the bell to signify the end of radiation or the final infusion of chemotherapy is a momentous occasion in an oncology patient’s life. It marks the conclusion of the acute treatment phase, a period often defined by intensive schedules and aggressive interventions. However, in the modern landscape of oncology, this milestone does not signify the end of medical attention. Instead, it heralds the beginning of a new, equally critical phase known as maintenance and survivorship care. This stage is dedicated to solidifying the gains made during active treatment, monitoring for potential recurrence, and managing the long-term physiological and psychological effects of the disease.

Understanding the Maintenance Phase

The concept of maintenance therapy is distinct from the initial “induction” or “consolidation” phases of cancer treatment. While the primary goal of initial therapy is to eliminate visible disease, the objective of maintenance is to prevent the cancer from returning. Microscopic cancer cells, often undetectable by standard imaging scans, may remain in the body. Without intervention, these cells can potentially proliferate and lead to a relapse.

Maintenance therapy involves the use of medications—such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or targeted therapy—administered over an extended period. For example, in certain types of leukemia, maintenance chemotherapy may continue for years to ensure the bone marrow remains free of leukemic cells. Similarly, in hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, patients often undergo five to ten years of endocrine therapy to block hormones that could fuel tumor growth. The nuances of these protocols are complex and require the oversight of specialized institutions like Liv Hospital, where multidisciplinary teams tailor long-term strategies to individual genetic profiles and disease characteristics.

The Pillars of Survivorship Surveillance

Beyond medication, the “care” component of this phase relies heavily on rigorous surveillance. “Active surveillance” or “watchful waiting” is not a passive process; it is a highly structured schedule of monitoring designed to detect any signs of recurrence at the earliest, most treatable stage.

This surveillance typically involves:

• Physical Examinations: Regular visits to the oncologist to check for physical signs of lymph node enlargement or other abnormalities.
• Laboratory Analysis: Blood tests, including Complete Blood Counts (CBC) and specific tumor markers (such as PSA for prostate cancer or CA-125 for ovarian cancer), provide biochemical clues to the body’s status.
• Imaging Studies: CT scans, MRIs, and PET scans are utilized at specific intervals. The frequency of these scans usually decreases as the time from the initial diagnosis increases, provided the patient remains disease-free.

This rigorous monitoring schedule can sometimes induce “scanxiety”—the anxiety associated with awaiting test results. However, it is the cornerstone of CANCER Maintenance and Care, ensuring that if the disease does reappear, medical teams can pivot immediately to second-line therapies.

Managing Late and Long-Term Side Effects

A medically robust care plan must also address the “collateral damage” of cancer treatment. Chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy can leave lasting imprints on the body, known as late effects. These can manifest months or even years after treatment has concluded.

Cardiotoxicity is a primary concern, particularly for patients treated with anthracyclines or radiation to the chest area. Regular echocardiograms may be necessary to monitor heart function. Similarly, neuropathy (nerve damage) resulting in numbness or tingling in the hands and feet can persist, requiring pain management specialists and physical therapy.

Cognitive changes, often referred to colloquially as “chemo brain,” can affect memory and concentration. Rehabilitation for these cognitive deficits is becoming a standard part of post-treatment care. Furthermore, bone health is a significant focus, especially for patients on hormonal therapies that accelerate bone density loss. Proactive management involves calcium and Vitamin D supplementation, along with bisphosphonate therapy to prevent osteoporosis and fractures.

Psychosocial Support and Rehabilitation

The transition from “patient” to “survivor” is often fraught with emotional complexity. During active treatment, patients are surrounded by a support system of doctors and nurses. When visits become less frequent, patients may feel a sense of abandonment or vulnerability. Depression, anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are medically recognized complications of a cancer diagnosis.

Comprehensive maintenance care integrates psycho-oncology—a specialty focused on the psychological aspects of cancer. Support groups, individual counseling, and return-to-work programs are essential. Reintegrating into professional and social roles requires physical stamina and emotional resilience, both of which are rebuilt gradually during the maintenance phase.

Lifestyle as Medicine

While medical interventions are paramount, the patient’s lifestyle plays a decisive synergistic role in maintenance. Clinical evidence increasingly supports the link between lifestyle factors and the risk of recurrence. Maintaining a healthy body weight is crucial, as adipose tissue (body fat) can produce inflammation and hormones that may drive cancer growth.

Nutritional strategies in the maintenance phase often focus on a plant-forward diet rich in antioxidants and low in processed sugars. Physical activity is no longer just a suggestion but a prescription; regular exercise has been shown to reduce fatigue, improve immune function, and, in some cancers (such as breast and colon), potentially lower the risk of recurrence.

Moving Forward with Vitality

Ultimately, the goal of post-treatment care is to restore the patient’s quality of life to its highest possible potential. It is about shifting the focus from merely surviving the illness to thriving in the aftermath. This holistic approach ensures that the body is nurtured, the mind is supported, and the spirit is revitalized. By adopting a comprehensive wellness philosophy, survivors can reclaim their agency and embrace a future where they live and feel their best, empowered by health and resilience

Victoria, Seychelles, February 13, 2026 

 MEXC, the fastest-growing global cryptocurrency exchange redefining a user-first approach to digital assets through true zero-fee trading, marking the ninth phase of its ongoing collaboration with Ondo Finance. All 17 pairs are available to trade with zero fees for the first 30 days, extending MEXC’s industry-leading commitment to cost-free access across its growing suite of real-world assets.

The new pairs bring a further wave of tokenized U.S. equities to MEXC’s platform, including names spanning technology, healthcare, and financial markets. All tokens are ERC-20 issued on Ethereum, denominated in USDT, and supported by MEXC’s proprietary market-making technology to ensure deep liquidity and tight spreads from day one. The pairs go live across three batches between 13:00 and 14:00 UTC on February 13, with full listing details available at MEXC New Listing page.

This ninth batch builds on the momentum established since MEXC’s inaugural tokenized stock launch in September 2025, and further expands what is already one of the largest zero-fee gateways to traditional markets in crypto. Combined with previous rollouts, MEXC’s tokenized stock offering now spans an extensive range of blue-chip equities and institutional-grade assets, giving its 40 million users diversified exposure to traditional markets directly within its ecosystem.

“Tokenized stocks are no longer an experiment at the edges of crypto. They are becoming a natural extension of how users diversify their portfolios, hedge risk, and build real wealth in a digital world,” said Vugar Usi, Chief Operating Officer of MEXC. “With each new rollout alongside Ondo Finance, we are bringing familiar assets into a faster, more open financial system. The 30-day zero-fee launch reflects our direction to remove friction, expand choice, and give anyone, anywhere access to opportunities that were once reserved for a few.”

Ondo Global Markets is purpose-built to bring public securities onchain, with tokens that are freely transferable and composable within DeFi. Together with MEXC’s liquidity infrastructure and zero-fee model, the partnership continues to set the benchmark for real-world asset trading in crypto markets.

About MEXC

Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto.” Serving over 40 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, everyday airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.

MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC

For media inquiries, please contact MEXC PR team: media@mexc.com

About Ondo Finance

Ondo is a blockchain technology company. Its mission is to accelerate the transition to an open economy by building the platforms, assets, and infrastructure that bring financial markets onchain. For more information, visit https://ondo.finance

Risk Disclaimer:

This content does not constitute investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully assess market fluctuations, project fundamentals, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.