Saturday, December 31, 2016

The Swan Song

Christmas Eve was just one week ago, which means today is New Year's Eve, the last day of the year. I'm sure you already knew that, but in case not, consider that reminder yours for the taking.

With so many fun holidays in a row, we are still feeling quite festive around here. One way we continue to celebrate is by watching Christmas movies each night. We all enjoy this practice, all the furbabies and myself. I of course love the magic of festive films, and the furbabies of course love the sights and sounds made by that weird flashing box against the wall.

That all may or may not have a little to do with how, on this Seventh Day of Christmas, the one all about those swans a-swimming, we ended up with this drawing of the day:


This TV time doodle is our contribution to the always fun and fantastic Caturday Art blog hop, hosted by Athena.


Now, this being New Year's Eve, we want to thank all of our friends out there, both the furry and human kind, for being such great pals for yet another year! This has been a tough year for many, and we are always grateful for the endless kindness and support this wonderful community of bloggers has to offer. Thank you, dear friends!

Happy New Year's Eve! And while we will be back tomorrow with wishes for a Happy New Year, we want to get a head start today in wishing you all a blessed 2017!



***
Our Tip of the Day:
Today, it seems fitting to give another reminder about the safety of our furbabies during yet another festive holiday. New Year's Eve is a time for celebration, but keep in mind that your furbaby may not appreciate or cope with this sentiment as much as you do. If you are filling this holiday with festivities that may involve visitors and lots of noise and fun and games, do not forget to consider your furbaby's comfort and safety. As we've mentioned on numerous occasions before, especially if you are hosting a party at your home, it may be best to have a designated room or area of the house where your cat or pup can spend the evening in safety. But still don't forget other basic safety considerations you should take, should your furbaby mingle with you or guests during the festivities. Avoid dangerous food and drinks, including chocolate and alcohol. If snacks and appetizers are floating around during the New Year's festivities, don't forget the toxicity to our kitties and pups of ingredients such as onion and garlic, or even the powdered version of those, which are often found in party mixes and chips. And don't forget to keep out of reach those potentially dangerous decorations, such as garland and confetti. This festive time of year is great fun, but remember to keep safety first!

Friday, December 30, 2016

Fill-Ins and Flying

Hello, Friday! It's the last one of the year. Isn't that strange to consider? No mind, though. We have important matters to get to today.

First up is, of course, the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by our friends over at 15andmeowing and McGuffy's Reader.


Our fill-ins for this week are still festive and perfectly timely. Here they are:

1. The highlight of my Christmas was _________.

2. My New Year's resolution is _________.

3. This year, 2016, _________.

4. Next year, 2017, _________.

I'll admit that my answers to these are perhaps a bit common and generic, but I feel like these are the kinds of fill-ins that are best answered honestly. So, here are my honest answers:

1. The highlight of my Christmas was having downtime with my family.
(Christmas is such a fun and festive and magical time of year, but one of my favorite parts is being able to just sit down with my family, have some hot cocoa and a candy cane or two, watch a Christmas movie marathon, and of course cuddle the furbabies. I think it really is the simple things that matter most.)

2. My New Year's resolution is to eat healthier.
(I know, who doesn't say this every time the New Year rolls around? But, this one is true for me this time around. First and foremost, I have a longtime habit of shoving sugar down my gullet like it's going out of style. Considering that diabetes runs in my family, and that a little self-control never killed anyone, I'm thinking that 2017 should be the year that I rein myself in.)

3. This year, 2016, was a rocky one.
(I think this year was a tough one for a lot of people. My family didn't get off to a great start, with the unexpected passing of my grandfather in early January. In March, my grandmother had a massive stroke, but she's tough and surprised her doctors by proving that she will not be given an expiration date. Of course, there are also all of the other losses we've been hearing about this year, even all the way through this last week.)

4. Next year, 2017, I am praying for blessings aplenty for one and all.
(After this year of 2016, me and mine are sending well wishes to everyone for 2017!)


Now, in case you hadn't noticed yet this week, we are still in the hearty Christmas spirit around here. Our tree is of course still up, and will be until at least January 6th. Needless to say, Eddy is one happy girl. She's loving the extra time to get to know the tree even better. So far this season, she has mastered removing its branches, spinning it around like a ballerina (forget that it weighs a solid ton, this girl is the Hulk), and making a mountainous collection of ornaments at its base. Having mastered those skills, Eddy has recently moved on to a new endeavor, and that is flying. Into the tree. From the desk nearby.




Eddy is still working on this one, and she refused to give me a preview of her progress during this photo shoot. Up until now, Eddy always just traveled from the table, to the desk, to the window sill, and then into the tree. Now, though, she is determined to make that leap into the tree from that there desk. And who am I to crush a girl's dreams?

Moving on, our next bit of festive business is today's drawing. It is the Sixth Day of Christmas, which of course means geese a-laying.


Nothing says Christmas like Eddy and a goose and half a dozen merry red eggs in a nest of tinsel.

So, with that, a very merry Sixth Day of Christmas to you all!



***
Our Tip of the Day:
Please always remember that, despite popular belief, cats are not guaranteed to be proficient jumpers or to land on all four feet. Such skill will always depend on individual physicality, health, age, and any other number of circumstances. For this reason, when decorating or arranging your home, such as in terms of cat tree and other furniture placement, please do take into consideration your individual kitty's jumping and other habits, in order to minimize the areas in the home where they could potentially harm themselves in failed attempts to jump. 

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Gobbles and Gold Rings

After two days of reviews, Thimble wanted her post today to be festive and fun. So, she decided to give a demonstration of what kinds of Christmas gifts she and the other family furbabies received from Santa himself this year.


A certain human went turkey crazy when the CatLadyBox online shop had a turkey toy sale on none other than Turkey Day itself. I promptly bought one for each of the kitties in the family. As fun as they look, though, none of those turkeys was the first victim gift doled out this Christmas.


Although I thought I had discreetly snuck away to snap some shots of the goodies before they were scattered all over the house, I was wrong. Thimble strutted right on in, fully aware of what her mommy was up to.


These blurry photos are evidence that you simply can't hide a nip nanner from a raging nip fiend Thimble.


Do you want to know something? The kitties in this house had never enjoyed a nip nanner before this Christmas. I know, I know, what is wrong with this human of theirs?!? To be honest, though, my angel Rosie had a nip nanner, and I did not have the heart to pass hers on to these furbabies, but instead stashed it away in her special box that sits on a shelf in my room. But, neither did I have the heart to bring another nip nanner into the house. I changed that this Christmas, though. I figured Rosie would have wanted her rookie successors to enjoy a nip nanner like she once did (after all, 'tis the season, even if Rosie did loathe Thimble and pretty much every other kitty on this planet).

Want to know something else? It's a tradition in my family, for both the humans and the furbabies, to open some gifts on Christmas Eve night and the rest on Christmas morning. I took the above photos early on Christmas Eve, but I didn't have the heart to make Thimble wait until that night to keep her newfound paraphernalia joy. So, the nip nanner was a bit of an early gift. The rest of the toys were gifted that night and on Christmas morning.

Continuing on with the festivities, Thimble was happy to star in today's drawing for the Fifth Day of Christmas. So far we've found ourselves with one partridge in a pear tree, two turtle doves, three French hens, and four calling birds, and now we've reached those five gold rings (or five gold lug nuts, by the looks of the drawing below). Always the helper elf, Thimble was happy to lend a hand paw with this one.


A very merry Fifth Day of Christmas to all of our furiends!



***
Our Tip of the Day:
There are times when I realize that my posts and pictures have some supreme examples of what not to do in order to ensure your furbaby's safety. This is one of those times. Today's tip is to always be aware and cautious of the locations in which you play with your cat or dog. To prevent potential falls and injuries, never place toys or initiate play on top of tables, counters, stairs, or balconies. Also always be sure that the area near the front door is not considered a place of fun and games, especially if your furbaby is a door bolter. And, especially in the case of furbabies not accustomed to swimming, never play near a bathtub full of water, or any bodies of water. Of course fire is always another hazard, so do not initiate play near lit candles, fireplaces, or campfires or bonfires. And, if playing with your furbaby outside, be careful of open fences or other escape routes, and of course streets and the cars traveling them. Although you should indeed enjoy playtime with your furbaby, don't forget to always be aware of your surroundings before starting any games.

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Calling Birds and Chewies (#ChewyInfluencer)

I'll admit, I don't like posting reviews two days in a row. So, I really do apologize for doing just that. But, I failed to promptly request our items from Chewy.com this month, as part of their Blogger Outreach Program. That means, by no one's fault but my own, our items arrived a bit late. And since we want to get them both done by the New Year, and Wednesday is typically pup Astrid's turn to post, here we are again with her review.

Astrid's reviews are, generally, easier than that of the finicky kitties around here. Don't get me wrong, Astrid is one picky pup herself. I've mentioned before how we have yet to find a fruit or veggie, in any form, that she'll actually accept as worthy. Honestly, the girl won't even eat a potato chip. Who doesn't like potato chips?!? She also refuses pasta, bread, you know, pretty much everything that makes our mouths water. But, I digress.

Luckily, though, unlike with the kitties around here, Astrid has a not so picky love of treats. That is, as long as they are soft and chewy treats. Those are just about her favorite thing. That, and cat food. Anyway, that all being said, I knew I had found a sure winner with Nutro™ Moist-n-Chewy Bites in hickory smoke BBQ.


These treats are 100% natural, with genuine chicken being the first ingredient. What's more, these seriously soft treats looked like they were made just for chewy-loving Astrid.


As if I wasn't already pretty darn sure that Astrid would love these, she let me know her early vote by breathing down my neck during the above photo shoot.


Talk about puppy dog eyes. Who could say no to that face? I sure couldn't. Astrid got that very treat (and plenty more) immediately after I snapped this shot.

And what does Astrid have to say about these hickory smoked BBQ Nutro™ Moist-n-Chewy Bites? She thinks they're just about the best thing since sliced bread. Except, she won't eat bread. So, I guess it's more accurate to say that she would rank these delectable chewies right up there with cat food.


(Disclaimer: As members of the Chewy.com Blogger Outreach Program, we received Nutro™ Moist-n-Chewy Bites in hickory smoked BBQ in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are our own. We only review products that we believe will be of interest to our readers, and we never recommend a product that we do not believe in.)


Though Astrid loved her delicious chicken BBQ treats, she's not so sure about today's bit of art. It's the Fourth Day of Christmas, which brings us to the calling birds. After mulling over what on earth to do with this one, I settled on the following, and neither Astrid nor I really know what to make of it.


Well, tin can callers or not, we wish you a very merry Fourth Day of Christmas!
 


***
Our Tip of the Day:
Although healthy birds often pose little to no threat, always be aware of your furbaby's activity around unknown birds and their feces. Bird droppings can potentially be a source of a variety of fungi or bacteria, which can most commonly pose a threat if inhaled. For this reason, always be especially cautious when you come across bird droppings on walks or other outdoor excursions with your furbaby, or even when around unknown pet birds. Of course, such diligence should be employed when around any animal unfamiliar to you.

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

French Hens and Food Snobs (#ChewyInfluencer)

This month, because this here human was a bit slow on the uptake, the furbabies' Chewy.com goodies for review more or less served as supplementary Christmas gifts. As part of this Blogger Outreach Program, the kitties got to try out a new moist food this month. Knowing that chicken with a little side of carrot has been one of the very few accepted flavors of moist food for the kitties around these parts, we went for none other than that flavor of Muse® by Purina®.


I always wonder if my kitties are ever even a fraction as excited as I am about trying out a new moist food. Finding a moist food that passes the refined taste test of these kitties of mine is a challenge, to put it mildly, and who doesn't love a good challenge? Perhaps that's why I always feel like a gold medal Olympian when a food is actually eaten by the felines around here.

I was especially excited to try this Purina® Muse® food because of its promising formulation. Chicken is indeed the first ingredient, with no chicken by-product meal. It also contains no grain, corn, wheat, or soy. And, it has added vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. That all sure sounded great to me, but, I wasn't the one to be eating it.

So, eager to have the kitties test it out, I started divvying it out. As you can see below, I chose the paté food, as my kitties consider chunks in moist food to be the root of all evil, or something like that.


To me, the food seemed promising at this point. It was indeed a soft sort of food, and just moist enough that I did not even have to add water to make it into the usual consistency of my furry felines' requirements. Even better was that food finicky Thimble came jaunting into the room, as if she had smelled it and was enticed.

The question, though, is did Thimble eat it?


She did lick it a few times, which is always a good sign for her. But, that was it. That's not to say this food is a total fail in Thimble's book, though. Thimble has been known to give a new food only a passing consideration one day, only to scarf it down the next.

On a good note, somebody else loves the food, and that would be my boy Evan!


I would honestly consider this a major plus for this food. Evan tends to ignore most moist foods these days, yet he swooped in and started gobbling this one right up.

Eddy, as always, paid no mind to the moist food whatsoever. Housemate Toby was too busy slapping around one of his new Christmas toys (which you'll see later this week!) to partake in this review, so he doesn't get a vote.

If we tally it up, Evan gives Purina® Muse® chicken and carrot moist food four paws up, and Thimble gives it something along the lines of two. At our house, that is not a bad rating at all. After all, we are a home of food snobs, and any paws up at all is a win.


(Disclaimer: As members of the Chewy.com Blogger Outreach Program, we received Purina® Muse® chicken and carrot moist food in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are our own. We only review products that we believe will be of interest to our readers, and we never recommend a product that we do not believe in.)


It's opportune that we tested this food out for today. After all, it's the Third Day of Christmas, that of the three French hens, and festive poultry goes with this review quite perfectly.


Merry Third Day of Christmas!


***
Our Tip of the Day:
Whether it be a primary portion of their diet or even just a treat, always be aware of the differences between types of meat when feeding your furbaby. When it comes to white versus dark meat, keep in mind that white meat is leaner and would likely therefore be ideal if weight control is an issue, or even in the case of stool consistency. In other words, dark meat tends to have a higher fat content, which could potentially lead to weight gain or symptoms such as diarrhea. Always be cognizant, therefore, of which type of meat you might be offering to your furbaby. Of course, should you have any questions or concerns regarding your furbaby's diet and health, please do consult your veterinarian.

Monday, December 26, 2016

A Merry Mancat Monday

We hope everybuddy's Christmas Day was very merry and bright!

Now, though, do you know what makes Christmas even better than it already is? The fact that it is not confined to just one day! Christmas is a season, an entire season to be merry and happy and grateful for that with which we are blessed in life.

Evan, for one, sure loves that Christmas isn't just a one-day event. He loves the days and days of extra baking that come with this holiday (because, well, butter!), and he loves having all sorts of wrapping paper to roll on and eat, and don't forget those gift boxes (because, well, boxes!). And, of course, that tree is a real hit.



What I'm getting at even more so right now, though, is a little something known as the Twelve Days of Christmas. Do any of our longtime readers remember our posts from last year regarding the Twelve Days of Christmas? Well, in case you don't, we'll give a little refresher on this topic.

So, who all already knows that Christmas Day itself is only just the First Day of Christmas? That means that on December 25th, we're only just starting the merry celebration known as Christmas. Isn't that fantastic!

We love Christmas, and twelve days of it is more than fine with us. That being said, just as with last year, we will be celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas with a piece of art each day. Unlike last year, though, we're actually going to try and make all of the Christmasy pieces reflect on the very jingle known as "The Twelve Days of Christmas". Our Christmas Day post yesterday had a bit of art starring a partridge and, yes, a pear tree. Now, today, on the Second Day of Christmas, we have those two turtle doves.


So, you see, we're only just beginning Christmas!

On another note, since we first posted it on the busy day of Christmas, we wanted to take quick moment today to repeat our announcement that the winner of our festive cat toy and surprise art giveaway is Suzanne of P.S. Annie. The cat toys are all ready for their new home, and Suzanne's surprise art is already in the works. We hope to do another giveaway soon, and in fact hope to make a regular habit of this, so stay tuned for more!

Merry Second Day of Christmas!



***
Our Tip of the Day:
Remember that our furbabies enjoy a little variety and novelty in their life. Nobody likes a repeat of the same ol' same ol' every day, and our furbabies are no exception to this. Toys, for example, can get boring if it's always the same ones sitting around day after day. That's not to say, though, that you have to constantly go out and buy brand new toys. Rather, rotate the toys your furbaby already has, by putting some out for a while, and then picking them up and putting out other ones that have been in temporary hiding. Even an old toy can be like new and a complete blast if it suddenly reappears after an absence. That being said, Christmas is a perfect time to do a fun little rotation of your furbaby's toys. If your furbaby got themselves some new toys from Santa Paws, take that opportunity to give them those fun and festive new ones, while at the same time picking up some of the older ones to hide away for resurfaced fun at a later date. 


Sunday, December 25, 2016

Merry Christmas!

First and foremost, we are here to wish all of you dear friends the most merry and blessed Christmas! If you don't celebrate Christmas, then we wish you the happiest of holidays! We are so grateful for each and every one of you, for this wonderful community of bloggers.

Now, on this day of merriment, we have a festive selfie to share for the Sunday Selfie blog hop, hosted by our pals over at The Cat on My Head.


Believe it or not, the kitty who offered the selfie for this wondrous Christmas Day is none other than elusive Eddy. Not only does she have a selfie, though, but also a little jingle to go with it. So, are you ready for a special little Christmas carol?

♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫
Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree,
I see you have met Eddy.
♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫


♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫
I apologize
for your demise.
Branch by branch,
it's an avalanche!
She shakes you to your very core.
No, seriously, there goes Eeyore.
♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫


♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫
Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree,
I see you have met Eddy.
♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫
 
Oh, Eddy, you and the tree sure have gotten to know each other quite well this Christmas season. And the ornaments, well, you're certainly well acquainted with them as well. Speaking of which, where'd I put the glue after I fixed the last casualty ornament?
 
And, before I forget, the winner of Friday's giveaway, the winnings being a set of festive cat toys and a surprise piece of art, is Suzanne of P.S. Annie!
 
Now, we're off to spend time with family, to enjoy some festivities, and to stuff our faces full of food. We know we're not the only ones. Right?
 
Before we go, though, we would yet again like to wish all of you dear pals a wonderful Christmas! We hope your day is filled with family, friends, fun, and good food. And maybe a partridge in a pear tree?
 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
 
***
Our Tip of the Day:
Our Christmas Day tip is, well, to have yourself a merry little Christmas! Take today to give extra special thanks for all of the blessings in your life. Cherish and spend time with your family, friends, and of course those furbabies! Count those blessings, for they are many!

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Dashing Through the Snow

We've finally reached that wonderful day known as Christmas Eve! That means Christmas itself is officially just around the corner, and we hope all of our furiends are having the merriest of seasons!

We ourselves have been keeping busy wrapping and cleaning and baking and wrapping some more (in other words, this here human has been trudging her way through all of the tasks that she's been putting off, with the furbabies doing lots of snoopervising). Even so, we always make time for one of our favorite blog hops, and that's Athena's Caturday Art blog hop.


This week, it being Christmas Eve and all, it seemed only right that we create something extra timely and festive. So, we channeled our inner Santa Paws and doodled our way to this:


Is anybuddy out there making dashes through the snow these days? Or, are you just dashing in general?

Also, don't forget to leave a comment on yesterday's post to be entered into our very first ever official giveaway! You have until 11:59 pm CST tonight to enter to win some festive kitty toys and a little bit of art created just for you.

That all being said, we'll be here tomorrow with a Merry Christmas post. What's more, it will indeed involve a festive selfie. Can you guess which kitty snapped the Christmas selfie that we'll be sharing tomorrow? Here's a hint: It may or may not be the last kitty you'd guess.

Merry Christmas Eve!



***
Our Tip of the Day:
Today's tip is a simple one. Christmas is a busy time when we're so often dashing from here to there. But, please don't forget to take a moment every once in a while to relax and, of course, snuggle on those furry babies of yours. Especially at crazy and chaotic times like this, they need and crave that attention, and us humans need and crave that therapeutic love our kitties and pups have to offer. So, do be sure to take a breather and get those cuddles on!

Friday, December 23, 2016

The Magic of Christmas

Today is the last day in our series of Secret Santa Paws posts. It's Eddy's turn to show off that last bit of fun and festive loot we received from fantastic Jean and furbabies.

Those of you who know us well are aware that getting a viable shot of Eddy is like catching yourself a sighting of Sasquatch. More than likely, it's just not going to happen. That doesn't mean Eddy didn't receive any goodies to show off, though.

Just one of the fun gifts Eddy received (and which I barely managed to snap a shot of before Thimble swooped in) were these lovelies:


Although Eddy, always the elusive adventurer, was off scaling the Christmas tree while the rest of us opened presents, she indeed loves these! Like Thimble, she's a whapper and slapper, and these balls get lots of that. Eddy of course loves everything she received, including that wonderful duck wand toy she and Thimble were gifted!

The pawesome Santa Paws they are, Jean and her furbabies even sent something for this human here! Right on top of our box of goodies was a pretty white box with a lovely "L" sticker atop it.


Since L stands for Lorianne, I got perfectly excited. Honestly, the box itself was all I needed. For whatever reason, I've always been a fiend for stickers and pretty little trinket type things, which is probably why I sat there oohing and awing over this box for roughly an eternity.


See how pretty?!?


And then I actually managed to open the box.


Since I love me some owl, this lovely ornament was the icing on the cake. It was immediately hung, although not actually on the tree, because, well, Eddy.

Oh, and I failed to show you our adorable card from Jean and her furbabies.



Jean and her furry crew sure knew what they were doing. I love chickadees, so even down to this cute card our Santa Paws picked the most perfect gifts for us!


From Eddy and all of us, thank you, Jean and furbabies!


Now, don't worry, we didn't forget the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by our pals at 15andmeowing and McGuffy's Reader. (And be sure to visit 15andmeowing today to join in on their Festivus party!)


Our hosts created some more festive fill-ins for us this week, and that makes us very happy! Here they are:

1. I still need to _________ before Christmas.
2. My favorite episode of Seinfield is _________.
3. What I would really like for Christmas is _________.
4. My favorite part of Christmastime is _________.

And here is what this here human managed with those:

1. I still need to finish up my baked goods before Christmas.
(I have happily been in charge of bringing the pies to holiday gatherings for the past couple of years. I will be making 4 pies for our family Christmas gathering this year, and I plan on finishing them up tonight. I will also be making gingerbread men and the Nutter Butter Santas I mentioned last week. Don't worry, though, the fudge is already done!)

2. My favorite episode of Seinfield is the one with the soup Nazi.
(I'll admit that I don't watch a whole lot of Seinfield. My parents used to watch it, though, and I would sometimes watch it with them. Although I don't remember a whole lot of the episodes all that well, I do remember enjoying the one with the soup Nazi. I have no idea what the title of that episode is, or even what season it's from, but I do remember that soup Nazi.)

3. What I would really like for Christmas is to see all homeless furbabies in forever homes.
(Especially this time of year, when I see or hear of homeless furbabies out in the cold fending for themselves, I just wish there was something I could do to land them all in the forever homes they so very much deserve. Of course, this wish also extends to those furry babies in shelters awaiting their homes.)

4. My favorite part of Christmastime is the magic in the air.
(This is probably a strange answer to some, but to me there really is a feeling of magic and whimsy in the air this time of year. Everywhere you go, there are lights and festive decorations and so many fun things to see and do. Have you ever been outside at night on a street where nearly all of the houses are decorated and lit up for Christmas? That is pure magic to me.)


The festivities don't end there! We have something else festive going on today. In light of this wonderful season of giving, we are doing our first genuine giveaway. Included in this giveaway is a bundle of festive crinkle toys that my mother (the furbabies' beloved Gammy) created out of some leftover Christmas cloth.


I'll admit, Thimble discovered the hiding place of these giveaway toys (honestly, I can't win with that girl) and tested them out. She says they're great fun.

In addition to those festive toys, the winner of this giveaway will also receive a surprise piece of art from me. I'll be creating and personalizing this piece to suit the individual winner, which means I don't have a picture to show you, as I haven't created it yet. But, there will be a colorful doodle of a prize included in this giveaway!

To be entered into this giveaway, all you have to do is comment on this blog post sometime before 11:59 pm CST tomorrow, Christmas Eve. I will announce the winner in our Christmas Day post. (Don't worry, though. I know that Christmas is a busy day and should be filled with family and fun, so if you're the winner yet don't make it to our blog on Christmas Day, you will still get the goods! I will announce the winner again on Monday, December 26th, as well as contact the winner directly.)

And, as for our art of the day, here's a frosty little fox for you.


Merry eve of Christmas Eve to all!


***
Our Tip of the Day:
We have another repeat holiday tip for you today. When your furbaby shows up at Christmas dinner, don't forget that while it's of course unhealthy for your furbaby to indulge in too much human food, there are also foods that are downright dangerous for them to consume. When it comes to your kitty or pup, steer clear of foods such as chocolate, onions, garlic, grapes, and raisins, and of course alcoholic beverages. Due to the fatty content and potential risk of pancreatitis, it also perhaps wise to avoid feeding your furbaby turkey and even nuts, such as almonds and pecans. Instead, as long as if given within reason and as long not seasoned with potentially dangerous ingredients, give your furbaby a little taste of carrot, corn, or sweet potato. Of course you can give your furbaby the gift of a taste of Christmas dinner, so long as you keep it healthy!

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Thimble loves Santa!

Here we are with our fourth day of sharing the amazing loot sent to us by our fabulous Secret Santa Paws (none other than Jean and her furry ones!). Today is Thimble's turn, and let me tell you, she has a lot in store for you.

Thimble is, to put it very simply, a playful little kity. She loves to bat, whap, slap, knock stuff over, run, and then repeat. That being said, Thimble knew something good was going on the second I popped open the wondrous box of goodies from Santa Paws. (Who am I kidding. Thimble knew something was going on the second that box showed up at our doorstep in early December. She hunted that thing down relentlessly, and she is indeed the reason why this human finally gave up the fight and let the furbabies indulge in their gifts early.)


For fear that Thimble would start claiming each and every gift for herself, I immediately started doling hers out to her.


Look how cute!


Thimble thought it was cute as well, but she also thought I was taking far too long opening it. A girl only has so much patience! So, what was inside that goodie bag?


Mousies! With a little help from Toby, Thimble started showing those mousies who's the boss around here..


That there purple mousie is one of this human's favorite things from all of this loot. It's just so fuzzy and cute, not to mention that it's purple! Oh, and it's so very whappable, too!


That certainly wasn't all, though. Thimble, the nip fiend that she is, also got some niptastic feather toys that she fell in love with immediately.



Still, though, Thimble wasn't through with these goodies. There was a special gift (seen in the blurry shot below) that was for both Thimble and Eddy.


Since Eddy refused to get out of the Christmas tree to participate at this time (kids these days), Thimble was happy to open the gift all on her own. What was inside made all of the kitties (and this human) so very excited.


It's a duck wand toy! How cool is that! And it was love at first sight whap for Thimble, that's for sure.


Honestly, this girl wouldn't even let me hold the end of the wand. She wanted it all to herself, thank you very much.


Thimble even took that little duck into her lair. You know, to give it a proper welcome into the family.


Thank you, Santa Paws!

And, of course, this is Thimble's entry into Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!


Stay tuned for Eddy to finish up our Secret Santa Paws posts tomorrow. Until then, we are sending all of our furiends the warmest of wishes!





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Our Tip of the Day:
This is the time of year that mice most commonly find their way into homes. It's cold outside and warm inside, and to get to that warmth mice can fit through even the smallest points of entry. That being said, if you find yourself with mice, please be aware that they are a potentially hazardous animal to both your furbabies and yourself. Your kitty is a hunter and may want to catch that mouse, but don't forget that mice often carry fleas and other parasites, not to mention they are hosts for bacteria and disease. When in your home, mice leave behind feces, urine, and any number of health risks. Not just that, but if your kitty catches a mouse, there is always the potential risk that an attempt to eat it could lead to a blockage, such as if said kitty tries to eat the mouse whole. So, if you suspect or know of mice in your house, it would be wise to pursue a solution to this problem. In such a case, though, be careful not to use chemicals that could poison your furbaby, or traps that could injure them. Research the best options for your situation and home. You can even do live traps, and release the mice out into the wild (far away from your home, though, so that they don't return). Mice may be a natural part of the environment, but be aware that they aren't as innocent as they look!