Woof Woof Wednesday: Angel Astrid's Kooky Cookies

Around this time every year, our local pet store puts out their stock of Halloween cookies for dogs. They always sell out fast, but luckily the store indicates the cookies have a 6-month shelf life. For those reasons, I'd always go there at the end of August and stock up on spooky, kooky goodies for cookie-loving Astrid.

That photo is from August 2024. I did get Astrid a similar stock of cookies last year, and I snapped a photo of them. However, her health was already declining by that point and she didn't come into the room while I photographed the cookies like was our annual tradition. She also never got to eat any of them, as she passed away on September 9th last year. Everything about that time was nightmarish, but I remember at moments specifically feeling guilty for not giving her even one of her Halloween cookies before she passed. She didn't have much of an appetite at the end, but she would still eat here beloved cookies, as well as peanut butter and chicken.

I held onto angel Astrid's uneaten Halloween cookies for months. I kept them in a sealed container, not wanting to part with them, and at one point I made a passing comment to my mom about how I wished I could preserve them forever. And so, my amazing mom ended up putting them in resin for me. I have plans to display those in Astrid's honor, and so once I get them all set up I'll photograph the kooky memorial and share it with you all this autumn. I know that probably sounds silly, but I can't express how thankful I am to my mom for preserving Astrid's final Halloween cookies for me.

Angel Astrid wishes you all lots of sweet treats!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Since today's post for my angel pup Astrid was about Halloween and sweet treats, here's this old but apt enough spooky summer doodle starring my calico angel Rosie.

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Tip of the Day

We hope you're not getting bored with our tips on feline vet visits, because we still have some more for you. Today's tip is to, if needed, take precautions for the safety of both yourself and your kitty, namely when it comes time to load a kitty up. We're primarily referring to how to safely get an anxious or aggressive kitty into a carrier. We've already given tips on using methods such as leaving the carrier out, putting treats or toys in it, using Feliway, and even using sedating medications if needed. That all being said, for some cats, some or all of the aforementioned methods simply won't work. Even sedatives can be overridden if a cat becomes agitated enough. In such cases, it is important to take precautions to keep you and your cat safe when it comes time to get said kitty in a carrier.

When getting an anxious or aggressive cat into a carrier, a simple towel or blanket could potentially be your best friend. Wrapping your cat in a towel, and putting them in the carrier when they are thus confined, can potentially keep those claws and teeth in check. At the same time, make sure that you have the sufficiently sized carrier placed in a way that loading the cat is as easy as possible. This may mean using a top-loading carrier, or placing a front-loading carrier on its back side so that the door faces up. If a towel or blanket is not enough protection, then you can also look into using thick gloves specifically designed to keep kitty teeth and claws from penetrating, thereby keeping your hands and arms safe.

Some cats are simply less willing to visit the vet and are overall less amenable than others. Differences in personality are part of what make kitties so unique, after all. That being said, if your cat is one who is anxious, aggressive, or otherwise difficult to handle, always take precautions to keep everyone involved safe when vet appointments roll around. When in doubt, of course discuss with your veterinarian the best options for handling your cat.

Nose Boops on Tonks Tuesday

It's Tonks Tuesday, and the little calico hopes you're not getting tired of seeing her adorable nose. She shows it off pretty regularly, but since it's so cute I told her that you all would surely be happy to see it again. So, here you go.

Feel free to give that little nose a boop. Tonks actually loves that. She and I have a routine where if I stick my finger out toward her, she'll press her nose to it and I'll say "boop!" or "pop!" She loves it. I love it. It's a great nose-booping time.

Have a terrific Tuesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I watched a Halloween movie last night. It was the goofy one on Netflix called Hubie Halloween. It stars Adam Sandler, if that tells you anything about it. I simply wanted to watch a Halloween movie, but I'm waiting until September to start watching the classics and my other favorites. All that to say, I'm ready for autumn and spooky season and so here's an old and very Halloweeny spring/summer doodle starring my calico angel Rosie.

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Tip of the Day

We still have some tips all about taking that kitty to the vet. Today's tip is to, if needed, discuss with your veterinarian medications that might help calm a cat who becomes especially anxious, or even aggressive, when it comes time to visit the vet. Some cats are calm and collected, even at the vet. Other cats, however, simply become reactive when they see a carrier, when they get into a car, when they visit a veterinary office, or when they meet strangers. If you have tried the usual tricks—which of course include leaving the carrier out at all times, using Feliway, using treats to coax and distract, and so forth—yet your kitty still becomes anxious or difficult to handle, then there are some potential sedating medications that could be given when it comes time to visit the vet. Your veterinarian would be able to determine if or which sedatives might work best for your particular kitty, given said kitty's behavior as well as health. So, be upfront and honest with your veterinarian regarding the ease and safety of getting your cat in a carrier and to the vet. Your vet can of course also witness how your cat acts when visiting the clinic, and with all of those facts, the two of you can discuss potential options for making vet visits as easy and safe as possible for you, your cat, and the veterinary staff.

Mancat Monday with Adorable Evan

It's Mancat Monday, so here's my adorable, cute, sweet, best boy Evan. You're welcome.

Evan and all of us here wish you a wonderful day!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Saturday was my grandma's 80th birthday, and so we had a little bit of a shindig. She's my paternal grandmother, and she's my only surviving grandparent. My mom is the youngest of 5 kids and so both of her parents were much older and have passed. My dad is the oldest of 5 kids, and both he and his parents had children in their early 20s, so I have an 80-year-young grandma who has always been a pretty big part of my life.

All that to say, in honor of my grandma, here's a doodle I scribbled up for her a few years ago. She loves her Boston terrier dogs, her tabby cat named (Mr.) Bean, and her camera. So, here's this.

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Tip of the Day

We're still in the midst of our series of tips on taking that kitty of yours to the vet. Today's tip on this topic is a plain and simple one, and that is to take with you to the vet your kitty's favorite toy(s) or treats. This might not work for all cats, but in some cases, toys or treats can make for great distractions or positive reinforcement during your cat's exam or vaccinations. That being said, though, do try to choose wisely when it comes to what you take as a distraction. For example, does your cat get hyperactive or even aggressive when under the influence of catnip? If so, try to avoid toys laced with catnip, and avoid taking anything else that might cause a problem rather than assist during the vet visit. So, all in all, consider whether a simple toy or some treats might help your cat make it through a vet visit. If so, pack those so that they can go along.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Window Woes

Hello and happy Friday, 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. _________ sparks my creativity.

2. _________ zaps my energy.

3. My dream _________ would have _________.

4. _________ is the silliest way I've injured myself.


My answers are below in bold.

1. Cats and books spark my creativity.
(As is the case for many people, a lot of things spark my creativity. Cats, dogs, and all animals. Books, movies, TV. Nature. My favorite holidays, namely Halloween and Christmas. But, when it comes to my creative outlets of drawing and writing, cats and books are two of my biggest inspirations.)

2. Socializing zaps my energy.
(Need I say more?)

3. My dream home would have a huge library.
(I'm not really interested in having a big house, as I like feeling more cozy. But, in my normal-sized home, I would love for the biggest room to be a library for my hefty collection of books. For a variety of reasons, I'll very soon be reorganizing and relocating certain things in my home, and as a result I'm going to be turning one of the bigger rooms of the house into my library. I'm really looking forward to that. Oh, and don't worry, there will still be plenty of toys and beds in there for the kitties.)

4. Reaching for a roll of toilet paper is the silliest way I've injured myself.

(I won't go into detail on a story related to the bathroom, but I once dropped and therefore had to reach for a roll of toilet paper. I ended pulling a neck muscle, and that injury has since flared up many, many times over the years. Early last year I aggravated the old injury badly enough that it ended up spreading into shoulder pain for which my doctor had to prescribe me extra-strength anti-inflammatory pain meds. And now that shoulder pain also flares up every few months. All because I dropped a roll of toilet paper something like 20 years ago.)

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.

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Are you ready for an Eddy fix? We know you are. Today, Eddy wanted to share one of her attempts to watch out the window. The problem is that this window's blinds don't always work well, which means we can't always raise them very far. Which leads to annoying blinds in Eddy's face while she's trying to spy on wildlife and neighbors.

Just look at those rude blinds. They need to stay in their lane, the darn things.

Eddy hopes you all have an unobstructed, unbothered view out the window today!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback summertime spooky doodle is a bit more in-your-face than some of the previous ones we've shared recently. But vampires exist all year long, right?

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip for taking your cat to the vet is to consider using a pheromone spray, such as Feliway. A synthetic pheromone such as this can potentially have a calming effect for your cat. One idea is to spray the pheromone into your cat's carrier, or onto a blanket placed in your cat's carrier. This could potentially help make the experience of getting into the carrier more calm for your cat, as well as potentially make the car ride and time at the vet a calmer experience. Also consider taking the pheromone spray with you to the vet, where you can spray it in the air in the exam room, or again spray it on a blanket or toy you might have brought along to the vet for your cat. Of course a pheromone spray isn't always guaranteed to work, and it might not work the same for every cat, but it definitely wouldn't hurt to try it in case it might help your kitty feel calm and soothed.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Window View

Hello and happy Thursday, friends! Thimble is here and ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is grateful for window views.

Here, Thimble is gazing out our back door. When I first moved into my house over a decade ago, I was so glad that door had windows all the way down to the floor. Both my front and back screen doors also have windows all the way down to the floor. I was mainly thankful for this because it allows my hind limb paralyzed Evan to easily have views of the outdoors. Though my other kitties can all far more easily get onto their cat trees and the furniture that's situated by higher windows, they also enjoy sitting on the floor and watching out the door. And I love that.

Thimble wishes you all a good window view today!

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And now we'll of course share 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. _________ sparks my creativity.

2. _________ zaps my energy.

3. My dream _________ would have _________.

4. _________ is the silliest way I've injured myself.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

As always, I'm in a spooky mood. So, we're sharing yet another flashback doodle from a past spring/summer series of kooky drawings.

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip on taking that kitty of yours to the vet is about selecting the best kind of carrier for your cat. There are a number of considerations to make when it comes to carrier type. The size of your cat, the size of the carrier, how willing your kitty is to enter a carrier, your cat's behavior while in a carrier, and the material out of which a carrier is made can all play a role in the kind of carrier you might want to use.

To go into a bit more detail, let's start with the size of your kitty. For example, take into consideration the comfort of a large cat when selecting a carrier. A small carrier will of course be less than cozy for a large cat, not to mention that it might not be easy to get a large cat into a small carrier in the first place. At the same time, though, it is important to make sure that you can carry your cat's carrier with relative ease. This is especially crucial for emergency cases, when you might need to move quickly and therefore won't want to have difficulty transporting a cat-filled carrier.

Another consideration to make is how easy it is to get your cat into the carrier. Yesterday, we mentioned some tips on getting your cat used to the carrier. Those all being said, some cats may simply not be the easiest to coax into a carrier. With this in mind, consider what type of carrier will be easiest for you, your kitty, and your particular situation. If your cat is difficult to get into a carrier, for example, a top-loading one might be easier than a front-loading one. Then again, if it's possible and safe, you could set a front-loading carrier on its back end in order to load your kitty in through the door while it's standing up in that manner. Also keep in mind how sturdy a carrier is and how easily this might make it to load a kitty inside. Mesh or other flimsy carriers, for example, could collapse as you try to load a difficult cat inside, making the task even more challenging.

Yet another consideration to make is how your cat acts inside a carrier, and how details such as carrier material might be affected. For example, is your cat a digger while in their carrier? If so, a mesh carrier may not be the best option for them, especially if they are an insistent digger who might tear a hole in the mesh or dig at the zipper and escape. Also take into consideration if your kitty has a nervous bladder or nervous bowels. If your cat is known to urinate or defecate in the carrier, consider what type of carrier might be best able to withstand this and be cleaned afterwards. A plastic carrier might be a good option in this case.

There can be a great many considerations to make when selecting a carrier for your kitty. Those we mentioned above are just some considerations you might need to make. It all depends on your particular furbaby, their personality and behavior, as well as on you and your capabilities or preferences.

Down by the Creek with Angel Astrid

I've mentioned many times over the years how our neighborhood has a creek that runs through it, and that offers some nice scenery on walks. As I've also mentioned many times, I'm so grateful I have photos of walks with Astrid, including many times when we visited the creek.

This girl was always so intrigued by the water and the critters we'd see in or around it.

Astrid actually preferred when we saw ducks or other birds, as winged friends were some of her favorite to observe. But, she also always checked the water for little fishies and such, which we on occasion would see. When we did see things moving around in the creek, Astrid would tilt her cute little head from side to side as she watched them. I loved it so much.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

A while back I scribbled up some pencil outlines for drawings that were going to be this year's summertime spooky doodles. I ended up liking them better as actual Halloween doodles, though, and so I adjusted them and am already getting those ready for September and October. That means I never got any new spooky drawings done for this summer, though. But, luckily, I scribbled up so many lengthy series of such doodles in the past that I still have a ton of flashbacks to share in that vein. Like this kooky spring or summer one starring my calico angel Rosie and none other than some zombies rising from their graves.

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip on taking your kitty to the vet is one that we're sure all of you have heard, and that is to get your kitty used to the carrier. The first and foremost way to do this is to keep the carrier out, in sight, and accessible all the time. If the carrier is tucked away, then it very well may simply become a source of fear when it comes out once a year. Keeping it out at all times can help combat this.

What's more, try to make the carrier a place of comfort or fun. For example, place a cozy blanket in the carrier, so that it can perhaps be seen as a place to nap. You can also place toys in the carrier, as well as treats. Or, you can try to use the carrier as a feeding station, such as by putting one of your kitty's bowls of food in there. The carrier could also be where your cat is given treats. These methods can help your cat associate the carrier with things that are cozy, fun, or commonplace, in turn helping it to be seen as less of a threat. All in all, help your kitty get used to the carrier by turning it into a place where good things happen, rather than simply a place in which once a year they're locked up and taken somewhere unfamiliar. Associating the carrier with happy experiences can potentially make vet visits a bit less scary for the kitty in your life.

Tonks Tuesday: Pre-Spooky Season

It's Tonks Tuesday, and the calico found out that we'll soon be decorating our house for Halloween. In honor of that festive fun, Tonks wanted to re-share a couple flashback photos of her hanging out with some of our year-round spooky decor.

Tonks is a big fan of Halloween, in no small part because she loves hanging out with and playing with some of the kitty-safe decor that gets put in her reach. Some of what was supposed to be my decor has even just outright become kitty toys, such as smaller stuffies and such that I used to put out for Halloween. I'm not in charge. I just work here.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is another somewhat spooky one. It's also yet another that was technically scribbled up as concept art for the story I'm writing (and actually getting very close to finishing). This weird and wacky book involves a cat café sort of restaurant that serves spooky baked goods, such as this here. I call it the Moonshine Muffin.

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Tip of the Day

Since National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day is this week, we figured we'd go right on ahead and do a series of tips on how to get that kitty of yours to the vet. We'll start this series with the simple tip to socialize and get your kitty used to interaction at an early age, if possible. Getting your cat used to people is ideal for helping them cope with future outings to the vet. This of course may not always be possible, depending on a particular cat's age and personality at the time of adoption or rescue. However, when possible and safe, start socializing your cat around people, even simply visitors to your home, when they are young.

What's more, try to get your cat used to hands-on checks. If it's safe for both you and your cat, you can get in the habit of looking in your cat's ears, having a look at their mouth and teeth, and so forth. This of course can help them get used to all that goes on when they're at the vet's office, while at the same time also helping you check for abnormalities that might need to be addressed. All in all, starting early with socializing and hands-on interaction, when it's a safe option, can possibly help your kitty feel more comfortable about getting examined during their trips to the vet.