Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy Gears up for Christmas

Hello, friends! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.

1. I would rather smell a skunk instead of _________.

2. I can't believe the price of _________.

3. I _________ for breakfast.

4. I always _________ before turning in for the night.


My answers are below in bold. This time I tried to keep my answers and their explanations a bit shorter. I did my best.

1. I would rather smell a skunk instead of sauerkraut.
(One of my least favorite scents in the whole world is cabbage, sauerkraut being the variety I despise the most. I'm probably being dramatic, but the smell genuinely makes me feel a bit nauseated.)

2. I can't believe the price of everything.
(I was really trying to decide what specific answer to put for this one. Gas, healthcare, the electric bill, even just ground hamburger at the store. Everything is expensive, so everything is my answer.)

3. I like overnight oats but not cooked oats for breakfast.

(I love oats and have them almost every day for breakfast. That said, I only eat oats soaked in milk overnight rather than cooked or otherwise warmed oats. I want to like cooked oatmeal, but the thick, gummy texture that sometimes results is not my thing. I don't mind the texture of aforementioned overnight oats, though, and so my go-to breakfast is chocolatey overnight oats with blueberries.)

4. I always say goodnight to all of my kitties before turning in for the night.

(I have to say goodnight to each and every one of my kitties before I go to bed. I also have to say goodbye to each of them before I leave my house. It's a necessity.)

Now it's your turn!

To add your link to the Friendly Fill-Ins Linky list, just click HERE!

You can also click on the badge below to add your link.

You are also welcome to complete the fill-ins in the comments below,

or in the comments on Ellen's blog, 15andmeowing.

***

It's a tradition for me to put up our Christmas trees on Black Friday, in order to give Thanksgiving its time to shine. I do often start putting up other Christmas decor before that, though. Not to mention, Eddy's Christmas tree in my bedroom actually stays up all year round. Soon it'll be getting its full Christmas treatment.

You can see a few of the lights on Eddy's Christmas tree behind her in these photos from a couple years ago. Don't worry, Eddy, because that tree will be fully decked out soon. This tabby girl loves when the Christmas decorations come out. Same, Eddy, same.

Also, as I've mentioned many times before, just look at her gorgeous eyes!

Though she loves to sit next to it, as she's gotten older Eddy doesn't climb her Christmas as much as she used to. That's probably why when I woke up to her happily and loudly crawling around in it the other night, I was really grateful. I didn't care that it was something like 2 o'clock in the morning. I was just glad to see her climbing her Christmas tree with such enthusiasm.

Happy Friday to all!

 

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today we have yet another Happy Hallowthanksmas doodle, because this pretty much sums up how I feel this time of the year.

***

Tip of the Day

Continuing on with our Thanksgiving dinner tips, yet another common holiday dish is white potatoes, such as mashed potatoes. When it comes to feeding your furbaby white potatoes, those that are cooked and plain can be a reasonable treat in moderation. When additional ingredients are added, though, then you have to start being extra cautious about offering potatoes as a treat. For example, butter or sour cream might cause gastrointestinal distress, especially for cats and dogs who are lactose intolerant. In addition, as we've said before, added ingredients such as garlic, onion, or excess salt can potentially be dangerous if consumed by a kitty or pup. So, you  can let your furbaby try out those mashed potatoes, but first make be sure to take into account how they're prepared.

In addition to white potatoes, Thanksgiving is also often a popular time for sweet potato dishes. If plain and simple, sweet potatoes can make for a great treat for a kitty or pup. They are a great source of fiber and vitamin A, as well as vitamin C, potassium, and a variety of other beneficial nutrients. Plain steamed, baked, or mashed sweet potatoes would be a great treat to allow your kitty or pup during that Thanksgiving dinner. That all being said, though, do be cautious of dishes such as sweet potato casserole. These altered versions of sweet potato often contain added sugar, sugary marshmallows, and other potential seasonings or ingredients that could be unhealthy or lead to gastrointestinal side effects. So, sweet potatoes are a great treat to offer that furbaby in your life, but do be sure it's of the plain and healthy variety. Just as with white mashed potatoes, make sure you know how sweet potatoes are prepared prior to letting your furbaby have a taste.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: A Blanket and Belly Rubs

It's time for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop, and Thimble is more than ready.

A couple of Thimble's Halloween photos were snapped on a certain blanket. She's shared this blanket before, but we didn't comment on it in those recent posts because the spooky aspects were the focus of those shots. Today, though, Thimble wants to go back and remind everyone how grateful she is for her favorite blanket. After all, it's almost as cute as she is.

Don't mind the blur in these photos. Thimble was so very excited to be on her pretty kitty blankie and to be getting some much-deserved attention, two of her favorite things.

As always, Thimble invites you all to give her cute little tummy a tickle! She loves belly rubs so very much.

Happy Thursday, friends!

***

Now, of course, we have the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I would rather smell a skunk instead of _________.

2. I can't believe the price of _________.

3. I _________ for breakfast.

4. I always _________ before turning in for the night.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's autumnal flashback doodle stars my angel Rosie, and some pumpkin cookies.

***

Tip of the Day

Yesterday we discussed whether it was safe to feed your furbaby a taste of that Thanksgiving turkey. Another food you might find on the Thanksgiving table is ham. Is this safe to feed your furbaby, though? Ham, like turkey potentially can be, is often high in fat. Ham is also often processed or treated, and can possibly contain high amounts of salt. These factors can lead to any number of issues, such as gastrointestinal distress or pancreatitis, especially if consumed in excess by your kitty or pup. And, just as we've said of other Thanksgiving foods, also be aware of other potentially concerning ingredients added to ham, such as onion and garlic. While very small amounts might not have an effect for some furbabies, do be aware of the potential side effects that fatty, processed, treated, or seasoned ham can cause.

It's also worth noting to be aware of the contents and preparation of chicken, beef, and all meats served at your Thanksgiving dinner. These can all potentially contain problematic fat, or additives such as onion, garlic, salt, and so forth. To prevent pancreatitis, gastrointestinal distress, or other issues, either refrain from giving your furbaby a taste at all, or give treats only in moderation and only when you are certain that the food contains no potentially dangerous components.

An Autumnal Woof Woof Wednesday with Angel Astrid

Cool autumnal temperatures were always some of my sweet angel pup Astrid's favorite weather. She loved to sit outside for hours on days like these, sometimes even turning the leaves on the ground into her own little bed.

Astrid and I had very similar tastes in weather, and I loved enjoying autumn with her outside. I'm so grateful for these memories with her.

Happy Wednesday!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

We'll be seeing temperatures around 20°F the next couple of nights. While they're not calling for snow, those temperatures still make this seasonally confused flashback doodle seem fitting enough. Like we mentioned yesterday, this time of the year, these types of doodles tend to go best with a Happy Hallowthanksmas!

***

Tip of the Day

Our series of tips relating to Thanksgiving food safety of course must include a little discussion on turkey. Is it safe to feed your kitty or pup some Thanksgiving turkey? Turkey bits fed in moderation can be a safe and delicious treat, but only as long as excess fat and bones are removed. Fat can lead to pancreatitis, among other potential issues. Bones are a choking hazard, and of course can also lead to perforation or obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract. Also keep in mind whether any additional ingredients, seasonings, or other additives were used when cooking the turkey. For example, onion, garlic, or excess salt on the turkey could potentially lead to gastrointestinal upset or other dangers. So, you don't have to skip giving your furbaby a taste of that Thanksgiving turkey, but do be sure you offer treats only in moderation, and that you take precautions for the health and safety of your furbaby.

Tuesday with Tonks and Thimble

Hello and happy Tonks Tuesday! The calico would like you all to see her enjoying some sunshine. After all, it's getting pretty chilly here, which makes that sunshine feel extra nice.

Can you see that little tongue poking out of Tonks's mouth? Ever since she had 3 of her canine teeth extracted due to resorptive lesions a couple years ago, her tongue sometimes makes little appearances like that. Pretty darn cute, huh?

Tonks will be having another dental this year, in December. We're going into it hoping she's just getting a cleaning to take care of some gingivitis and tartar. Last time around her dental radiographs showed some hidden issues that led to extractions, though, so we'll see if that happens again.

Now, let's give a little update on Thimble. She had some imaging done yesterday. Since her lab work all looked good, we wanted to make sure we weren't missing any reasons as to why she's lost a pound and is a bit of an insomniac at night lately. The good news is that, for the most part, everything looked great on Thimble's imaging.

Thimble was not thrilled about fasting overnight and then being dropped off at the vet yesterday morning, but I promised her it was for her own good. And it gave us good news, so that's another plus. She also did not need to be sedated like some kitties require, because she's such a docile and cooperative little lady.

As for the results, the vet noticed a bit of spinal spondylosis on her spine, but he said that often causes little to no issues or symptoms, and that seems to be Thimble's case, at least for now. The only other things noticed on her imaging was one single slightly enlarged lymph node around her intestines and a bit of inflammation in one small region of her stomach. With everything else looking good and no new related symptoms, Thimble's vet doesn't think any of that is a concern at this time. He believes those abnormalities are likely caused by some localized issues that could resolve themselves. Even so, he did measure both of those areas and we will recheck them in 6 months to make sure nothing has progressed.

Tonks hopes you all enjoy some sunshine, and Thimble wishes you all a vet-less day!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

We have another seasonally confused flashback doodle for today. We often accompanies ones like this with a Happy Hallowthanksmas!

***

Tip of the Day

Today's tip in our Thanksgiving series is about pie. As we've said on many occasions over time, plain pumpkin contains fiber and other nutrients that can have benefits for our furbabies and their health. That being said, though, not all components of Thanksgiving pies are as equally beneficial. For example, another popular Thanksgiving dessert is pecan pie, but do be cautious with this around your furbabies. Pecans are not particularly safe to feed your pup or kitty. One reason is simply that pecans can cause an upset gastrointestinal tract, and could also lead to bowel obstruction. Also take into consideration any other pies you make and what ingredients they contain. For example, chocolate pies or those containing raisins are of course dangerous to cats and dogs. What's more, when it comes to any kind of pie—whether it be pumpkin, pecan, or another—added sugars and other potential added ingredients can be less than ideal for our kitties and pups to consume. So, when you're making or eating those Thanksgiving pies, keep dangerous ingredients and the final products well out of the reach of your furbaby.

Mancat Monday on the Couch

Hello, friends! It's Mancat Monday, and today mancat Evan wants to show off his spot on the couch.

I typically sit in the center of the couch, and though Evan does sometimes enjoy sitting on the other side of me, he most often picks that spot there to my right. Often to my left is my little calico gal Tonks.

All of us here hope you have a cozy couch buddy like we do!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

As I've done in years past, from now through Thanksgiving Day here in the US, we're going to give some tips on food safety. After all, Thanksgiving is a time when we humans tend to indulge in all sorts of tasty foods. That being said, though, some of those foods are not ideal or safe for our kitties or pups to eat. We've given many tips like these over time, but this seems like the perfect season to repeat some of them.

Let's start with the obvious foods that most of you likely already know to be dangerous. For example, foods in the Allium species, such as onion and garlic, can be dangerous to cats and dogs. Be careful to keep those out of reach when cooking with them, and of course keep out of your furbaby's reach any foods that contain them. What are some of the other obvious ones? Grapes and raisins, such as if you have a fruit dish set out or if you've made a dessert with raisins, should be kept away from your kitty or pup. And don't forget the toxicity that chocolate and alcohol can pose to cats and dogs. Many tasty foods find their way to the table for Thanksgiving, but some of them are dangerous to our kitties and pups. Always be aware of that, and plan your menu, food placement, and general kitchen safety protocols accordingly.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Barely Blurry Eddy

Hello and happy Friday, friends! We're here and ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.

1. My November to-do list includes _________, _________, and _________.

2. _________ never disappoints.

3. If I haven't _________ by this time of the year, then I _________.

4. I'm proud of myself for _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. My November to-do list includes writing, drawing, and taking kitties to the vet.
(This is pretty boring and makes me sound like a broken record, but it's all true. While I thought I'd finish the nearly-completed book I'm writing in September, that got stalled when my parents' kitty Trapper was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The same goes with my other art endeavors. I helped my parents with sweet Trapper's hospice care and spent precious time with him, and he sadly passed on October 21st. I just this week started feeling my inspiration come back, so I've finally returned to my writing and drawing projects. Just as with all the furbabies in my life, Trapper makes an appearance in my book as well as my drawings. As for the last part of my answer, my kitties also have lots of vet visits this month, but what's new.)

2. A kitty's unconditional love never disappoints.

(This answer popped into my head, and it seemed perfect. So, that's that.)

3. If I haven't finished Christmas shopping by this time of the year, then I panic and kick it into gear.
(I know. It's still just early November. But, I'm the opposite of a procrastinator and feel a major sense of anxiety when I don't get things done early. I've always been that way, for whatever reason. And this time of the year, I especially love having my Christmas shopping done early so that I can truly enjoy the season without that shopping panic. I don't mind grabbing things like gift cards a bit closer to Christmas, but I have a few more true gifts to buy, and then I can relax.)

4. I'm proud of myself for doing my best.
(I genuinely couldn't think of anything else to put for this. That's not to say I'm not proud of myself for things here and there, but when life gets crazy, I'm usually just happy if I'm genuinely doing my best. I think I am doing that, mostly, so I'll do a little jig to that.)

Now it's your turn!

To add your link to the Friendly Fill-Ins Linky list, just click HERE!

You can also click on the badge below to add your link.

You are also welcome to complete the fill-ins in the comments below,

or in the comments on Ellen's blog, 15andmeowing.

***

In true Eddy style, today's photo is a bit blurry. But just barely. And I still love this shot of her. It shows off Eddy's adorable face, including her gorgeous eyes and that precious snaggletooth of hers.

Eddy wishes you all lots of cozy window views today!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

I'm not a fan of coffee or pumpkin spice drinks, so I'm hoping that gal is enjoying a mug of hot cocoa after her trip to the library.

***

Tip of the Day

We're not finished with our Pet Cancer Awareness Month tips just yet. Today we want to remind you all that, just like us humans, it is possible for our furbabies to be affected by cigarette smoke, and cancer could potentially develop as a result. For this reason, if you smoke, avoid doing this in the home or around your kitty or pup. In addition, when out in public, do your best to keep your furbabies away from areas where smoking is common. Smoking affects more than just the smoker, so for the sake of both yourself and your furbaby, do try to avoid it.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Vet Adventures

Hello and happy Thursday, friends! Thimble has a very particular bit of gratitude for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is thankful that she's back home after being whisked off and stabbed endlessly at the vet yesterday. She was there for her senior exam and lab work. Just—sh!—don't tell her she's going back on Monday. More on that below.

Overall, Thimble's lab work looks pretty good. Her kidneys were showing signs of very early kidney disease last year, so I started her on the renal supplement AminAvast. Her values are holding steady, and yesterday a couple of the values were actually a bit better than her last bloodwork. AminAvast worked wonders for my angel Rosie, so I'm hoping it continues to do the same for Thimble for many, many years. The vet also did a quick ultrasound of Thimble's kidneys, and he noted that the left one is smaller than the right, which at this point likely means the right one is compensating for the left one in her early stages of kidney disease. For now, overall, her kidneys are staying steady, and I'll gladly be continuing to give her AminAvast.

Also, I shared that there picture above for Thimble today because it's one of many photos I have of her choosing to stay up all night rather than sleep. I mention that because Thimble's nighttime sleeplessness is one major thing I spoke to the vet about yesterday. Thimble doesn't wander the house or seem confused at night, but instead stomps on me and pokes at me all night to keep me awake with her. I genuinely don't mind if she just wants attention, but she used to sleep way better at night, so I want to make sure she doesn't have something going on that's causing her sleepless nights. Her vet doesn't think her nighttime shenanigans sound like dementia behavior, and she's also a bit young for that even at 12 years old. Her vet and I were wondering if perhaps she has hyperthyroidism, especially since she also lost a pound. Though she's always tended to have thyroid levels in the upper end of normal, they're still hanging out there and have not inched up any more since her last bloodwork. So, her vet is fairly certain that's not the cause of her weight loss or her all-nighters.

As I mentioned above, Thimble did lose a pound. She's now 10.5 lbs. She's a small cat and that's still a healthy weight for her, but it's still a pound of weight loss that her lab work and eating habits don't explain. Since Thimble is a littermate of my parents' boys Trapper and Talon, who both passed away from rare cancers that did not show up on lab work whatsoever, her vet and I agreed that full imaging of Thimble's abdomen and chest would be a good idea. That way, we can rule out something unseen causing her weight loss or wakefulness at night. I'll be dropping her off on Monday morning for her to get a full workup of radiographs and ultrasound imaging.

All of the above said, Thimble is seemingly doing really good. Even when she stays up all night, she's always happy and purring. So, I'm hoping she's just a happy and active girl and that nothing out of sorts shows up on her imaging.

Oh, and Tonks also went in at the same time as Thimble for her own senior exam and lab work. Tonks got a clean bill of health, except she needs another dental. She has some pretty gnarly gingivitis and tartar. A couple of years ago she went in for a dental for those exact reasons, but back then the gingivitis and tartar were actually hiding some resportive lesions that led to 4 of her teeth being removed. So, she'll be getting another dental this year, and we'll see if there are any more problematic teeth hiding in there like last time. Her vet has a pretty full surgery schedule right now, so she'll be getting her dental on December 9th.

I apologize for all of that rambling above. I just can't help myself when it comes to my kitties.

***

Now, of course, we have the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. My November to-do list includes _________, _________,  and _________.

2. _________ never disappoints.

3. If I haven't _________ by this time of the year, then I _________.

4. I'm proud of myself for _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

Today's pet cancer prevention tip is to steer clear of products with potentially dangerous chemicals, such as certain lawn treatments and detergents. These types of products can be dangerous for a number of reasons, just one being that some of the chemicals in them have been found to be potentially carcinogenic. This goes for both our furbabies and our human selves. For this reason, always do your research, check ingredients, and when in doubt, simply do not use it.