An Unfortunate Update on Thimble's Brother Trapper

Hello, friends. I mentioned yesterday how my parents' kitty Trapper, who is my girl Thimble's littermate, was going to the vet for I believe the third or fourth time this month because of some health issues he's having.

That up there is sweet and handsome Trapper. Though the below photo of Thimble doesn't really show it well, these two look a lot alike.

Now, back to Trapper's vet visit. My mom took her sweet Trapper in yesterday, and the short story is that we didn't get the news we wanted. Though we're awaiting pathology results to know more, Trapper almost certainly has cancer.

Trapper's noticeable symptoms all started with skin issues on his head as well as ear infections. Despite treatment, the skin issues continued, and they spread and got worse. Then he began rapidly losing weight and muscle, and his fur became very unkempt. He also became more tired and subdued, though with moments of him trying to do his usual thing. Though his bloodwork overall looked good about a month ago, he did have some mild anemia.

We were hoping we were dealing with a treatable autoimmune issue, given Trapper's odd array of symptoms. The skin issues were the primary reason we thought that, but we now know those are likely hormonally-induced or otherwise secondary to the main problem. That's because Trapper has a 3 cm mass in the right side of his abdomen. His vet believes it is a malignant, aggressive neuroendocrine cancer, and that it's possibly on his pancreas or adrenal gland. Trapper's vet was able to get a fine needle aspirate, and our local university veterinary hospital will be looking at those slides and giving more info on it likely this afternoon.

At this point, until my mom hears back from Trapper's vet with more information following the pathology, we are not yet sure what the treatment or management of symptoms will be. The vet did do further imaging yesterday, and it does not appear that the cancer has spread anywhere else at this time. It's still likely an aggressive form, though, as Trapper lost 2 lbs in less than a month. He had plenty to lose and is still 17 lbs, but it's still not good.

Until we hear more, we don't know if surgical removal of the tumor is even an option or beneficial. If it's not, we at least hope that there are medications that could perhaps help slow things down, or at least treat the symptoms and give us some more time with sweet Trapper. He did get some pep in his step after getting subcutaneous fluids and a vitamin B12 injection at his appointment yesterday, so that's another option that can be done regularly.

Trapper is such a sweet boy, and this seems so unfair. Of course, that's always the case. Like all the kitties in my family, Trapper is considered a senior. He's 12 years old, but that still seems far too young. His and Thimble's littermate Talon passed away early last year, at the age of 10, from a rare lung cancer. The type of cancer Trapper's vet believes he has is also considered rare.

I'm sorry this is such a morose and also rambling post. I find it very cathartic to share this sort of stuff here, with fellow animal lovers. I love all of the animals in my life, of course including my parents' kitties, and I can only hope we still have plenty of good days left with Trapper. We shall see. For now, my parents and of course my sister and myself will be giving him lots and lots of love.

If you have purrs and prayers to spare for Trapper, my family would greatly appreciate it!

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We're of course still sharing 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 plan to _________ and _________ in October.

2. _________ was the highlight of my week.

3. 'Tis the season for _________.

4. Though a lot of people like _________, I can't stand it.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Spooky Flashback Doodle of the Day

Happy October! Which pretty much means, well, Happy Halloween! We'll be sharing nothing but spooky and kooky doodles for the next 31+ days. I'm still working on my new doodles for this Halloween season, so for today I'll share this flashback of a feline version of my favorite nostalgic Halloween movie.

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Tip of the Day

Given how much we love Halloween here, we're going to make a series of tips on Halloween last all the way through October. We're going to start today with none other than the festive decorations. Most people might be more cognizant of their decorations and how they might affect the resident furbabies around Christmastime. However, also keep pet-safety in mind if you put up Halloween decorations. Halloween decorations can come in all shapes and sizes, such as wreaths, garland, and all sorts of trinkets and goodies in between. If you're anything like us, you have all sorts of black cats and pumpkins out on display this time of year. No matter what kind of decorations you put out, make sure that anything your furbaby might chew on is out of their reach. Small pieces of Halloween decor, or parts and pieces of off larger pieces of decor, could lead to choking, obstruction, or perforation of the bowel if ingested. So, while you don't have to refrain from being festive and decorating for Halloween (or any holiday), you simply need to take your kitty or pup's safety into consideration when placing all decor.

Woof Woof Wednesday with Astrid and Trapper

It's Woof Woof Wednesday, and today sweet angel pup Astrid allowed herself to take a bit of a backseat for the sake of her kitty pal Trapper.

Trapper is my girl Thimble's littermate, and he owns my parents. He loved Astrid, but he also trolled her. He was in charge, and Astrid knew it. They had a very special relationship.

That said, Trapper is headed to the vet today because he's been having some health issues. It started a little over a month ago with a bald, sore patch on his head beside his left ear, and he was treated for an ear infection as well as a skin infection. At the time, he also had bloodwork done that showed a bit of anemia, and he was a bit dehydrated. He's been seen twice since then, with what seemed like a stubborn ear infection, with hair loss around his ears.

Trapper's symptoms have now all gotten much worse. He seems to be having some oozing sores on his head, and now his paw pads are even cracking and flaking. The poor boy's anus even has an oozing sore as of last night. And he's itchy. Like, really, really, really itchy. While his vet will of course be the one to give any final diagnoses, if you look up pemphigus foliaceus, Trapper's symptoms look a lot like that. I saw this condition once at the vet clinic where I used to work, and it's an autoimmune skin disease that causes a lot of the exact issues Trapper is having, both dermatologic and systemic.

Again, Trapper's vet will examine him, do testing, and make any necessary diagnoses. But, though we of course don't want Trapper to have an autoimmune disease, this could be a better outcome than certain other illnesses. Trapper was diagnosed with diabetes 3 years ago, and he's on the pill Bexacat for treatment of that. I mention this because the main treatment for many autoimmune issues is steroids, a fact that doesn't really mix well with diabetes. Trapper's vet has already said that if Trapper does have an autoimmune disorder, steroids might be necessary, even if a low dose for a short time. There are also non-steroidal immunosuppressant options, though, so there's hope. Assuming that's what Trapper is suffering from, of course.

I will also note that Trapper has noticeably lost weight, as well as muscle, and his coat has gotten increasingly unkempt. That has me, and of course my parents as well as my sister, very worried. He clearly has something going on with his skin, but it could be a secondary thing because of something else going on. I want to be hopeful, but I also want to be realistic.

Is that enough rambling? I do indeed ramble when I'm worried about any of my furry family members, so my apologies. All that said, if you have some purrs and prayers to spare for Trapper, we'd really appreciate it. Tomorrow Thimble will give an update on how Trapper's vet appointment went. After all, Trapper is her twin brother.

Happy Wednesday to all!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Trapper and Astrid's relationship always reminded me a bit of Garfield and his canine pal Odie. For that reason, how about we share this here old doodle on the eve of Halloween month?

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Tip of the Day

Since September is Animal Pain Awareness Month, we'll be finishing out the month on this topic. Today's tip relates to how our furbabies might let us know they are in pain. This can be a bit difficult sometimes, as cats and even dogs can be very good at hiding pain. This is why we must be very observant of our furbabies on a regular basis, in order to know when they aren't acting themselves.

The symptoms of pain in our furbabies can vary greatly, depending on the source of the pain, as well as the individual animal. You might see decreased activity level, or even a decrease in your cat or dog's appetite. Another potential sign is an altered gait, or an unwillingness or inability to move or jump. A cat in pain might avoid or miss the litter box, and a dog in pain might have accidents inside the house. Aggression and hiding are yet more potential signs that your kitty or pup is in pain. The list of signs and symptoms of pain in animals could go on and on. This is why it's imperative that you know your kitty or pup's norm, and that you make frequent observations of their activities and behavior in order to catch when anything is out of the norm. Altered activity or behavior could mean any number of things, pain being one possibility.

What's more, if your furbaby does indeed have difficulty jumping due to an injury or arthritis, for example, you can put pet stairs or a pet ramp beside chairs, couches, or beds in the home. This can help your kitty or pup better reach elevated areas without having to jump, which could otherwise exacerbate pain associated with an injury or arthritis. For a cat, another way to help them combat pain and discomfort is to give them litter boxes with low sides, so that they can easily walk right in. Or, you can also give them a ramp or stairs leading up to the entrance of the litter box, if needed. If it helps reduce pain associated with certain injuries, arthritis, or other ailments, you can also elevate your kitty or pup's food and water bowls.

Another simple way to help a pained furbaby feel some relief and comfort is by way of their beds and blankets. You can offer extra soft and thick beds, and in easy to reach locations. Some forms of pain are also alleviated by heat, which means that safe, pet-friendly heated blankets or heated beds could also be of use. Of course, you would need to take all necessary safety precautions when using any heated or electric products.

In more extreme cases, your furbaby might be in need of direct assistance with their mobility. If need be, you can use various forms of slings to help your kitty or pup ambulate. You can use a towel or blanket to create a makeshift sling, for example. Another option is to purchase a sling, or a harness with handles, which are indeed available on the market.

It is not easy to see our furbabies in pain. At the same time, it is not easy for them to feel such pain. That's why it is important to do what you can to alleviate your kitty or pup's pain, even if that means a bit of redecorating within your home.

Tonks Tuesday with the Headless Horseman

I've been enjoying some Halloween horror books. After all, 'tis the season. For that reason, Tonks wanted to share an old photo from a few years back, when she posed with none other than The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving.

I still need to reread that there spooky tale this season. Before I read it for the first time ever a few years ago, I was afraid it would be boring. Sure, it's not like reading a modern book, but I honestly really enjoyed it. That's why I try to reread The Legend of Sleepy Hollow at least every couple of Halloweens, and I'm indeed due for that reread.

Tonks and all of us here wish you a happy Tuesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

This here doodle seems apt enough to share today. After all, it stars my angelic calico Rosie and none other than the Headless Horseman. Oh, and a cat-o'-lantern, of course.

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Tip of the Day

I very much so failed to create a Remember Me Thursday post last week, so today's tip is going to be to remember the importance of adopting shelter animals, so that they can indeed know the love of a forever home. Even if you are not looking to adopt, you can still spread the word to others about adopting a cat, dog, or other companion animal from a shelter. You can also help by volunteering time and resources to a shelter, as any little bit of assistance can help them adopt out more animals. Lastly, when adopting or spreading the word about animal adoption, please don't forget those animals who are special needs, geriatric, or in any other way often considered less likely to be adopted. Every single cat, dog, and other companion animal deserves the chance to feel comfort and love in a home of their own.

A Ghostly Mancat Monday

This weekend, Evan supervised me through the door as I mowed. While he watched me, he felt like someone was watching him as well. Weird, huh?

Remember that ghostly little fella? He makes an appearance, or two or a dozen, here on our blog every Halloween season. I actually haven't done our full annual photo shoot with him for each kitty this year, so I should really get to that. For now, though, the ghosty at least helped Evan spy on his mom and the neighbors outside.

Happy Monday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Given some of the above commentary, how about this old doodle from a few years ago?

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Tip of the Day

Today is the last tip in our disaster preparedness series, and it is one that we have repeated many times, on many different occasions. This tip is to always ensure that your furbaby has some form of identification. We've mentioned this tip many, many times before, we'll gladly say it again. In the unfortunate event that your furbaby becomes separated from you in any form of disaster or emergency, some form of identification could more easily bring them back to you. A collar with an ID tag as well as a microchip are the most common forms of ID for our kitties or pups. In addition to ensuring this identification is on your cat or dog, also make sure that the information is up-to-date. If you have moved addresses or changed phone numbers, for example, make sure this is reflected on your furbaby's identification. No one ever wants to consider being separated from their kitty or pup, but should this happen in an emergency or any event, your furbaby is more likely to find their way back to you if they are wearing some form of identification.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Cat-o'-Lantern Photo Fails

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. I am glad I live near _________.

2. I am glad I don't live near _________.

3. I didn't _________ until I was _________. 

4. _________ made me truly laugh.


My answers are below in bold.

1. I am glad I live near our regular vet as well as a 24/7 emergency vet.
(I can get to my kitties' regular vet in about 5 minutes, and in only about 10 minutes I can get to our local emergency vet. Said emergency vet is at the veterinary teaching hospital at our local university. I'll admit the emergency vet is not my favorite clinic, for a variety of reasons, but my family has indeed had to use it multiple times over the years, and I am grateful it's there in the event of true emergencies.)

2. I am glad I don't live near a river.

(There's a lovely little creek that runs through my neighborhood, which offers some lovely scenery around the area. I know rivers can offer lovely scenery as well, but I know some people in a neighboring town who live near a river, and because of their proximity to said river, quite a few of them had flooding in their homes after a recent rainstorm. One of my co-workers was affected by this, and even just an inch of water getting into his basement has cost weeks and thousands of dollars of repairs. Rivers are a wonderful thing, but I'll stick to just living near my neighborhood creek, as it's never flooded enough to affect anyone's home.)

3. I didn't move out of my parents' house until I was 26 years old.

(I lived with my parents all through college, as I went to the university in my hometown. Living with my parents rather than on campus saved me tons of money, and then my parents allowed me to continue living with them for a few more years as I worked my first jobs out of college. While I paid toward some of the resources and food I was using at their house, I was largely able to save up some money, which allowed me to buy a house 3 days before my 26th birthday. I moved into it a month later, as right after I bought it my angel Rosie started doing poorly, and so I didn't officially move into my new house until after she had passed.)

4. Tonks recently hunting a moth made me truly laugh.

(My front porchlight is like the beacon for all moths on our street. There are sometimes dozens of moths there, and it's impossible to get into my house when it's nighttime without a moth getting in, or sometimes 5 or 6 getting in. I try to catch them and put them back outside, as I don't really want them to fall victim to my kitties. And by kitties I mean Tonks, who is my tuny but mighty hunter. The other night, Tonks and I were battling over who could reach a particular moth first. I couldn't help but laugh out loud at her antics, because she was parkouring and doing all sorts of crazy moves to get to this moth before I did. Sadly for the moth, Tonks won.)

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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Now, it's time for the Pet Photo Fails Blog Hop, hosted by none other than Melissa and Mudpie of Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries, & Meows.

Eddy found out that yesterday Thimble shared some flashbacks of her hanging out with their beloved cat-o'-lantern. Eddy wanted to the do the same, but, she also wanted to share some photo fails. So, here are some outtakes from a few years ago, when Eddy decided to do anything but properly pose with the cat-o'-lantern.

Just like the first photo Thimble shared yesterday, these were taken when the cat-o'-lantern was new and bright and had sustained little to no abuse. Those days are long gone.

Wishing you all a wonderful day!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's disaster preparedness tip is actually instead related to what might occur after a disaster. Just as with humans, cats and dog might show signs of anxiety or other behavioral changes after going through something frightening or tragic. Especially if they are taken away from their home, separated from family even briefly, or in any other way experience a change in their familiar routine, a cat or dog might start displaying behavioral changes. After a disaster or emergency, even after you find yourself safe, always keep a close eye on your furbaby. They may begin showing signs of separation anxiety, or even uncharacteristic aggression. If you do notice any such signs, do not hesitate to discuss the issue with a veterinarian. Products such as calming synthetic pheromones might help an anxious furbaby, but sometimes more potent medications or treatments might be required to help them cope with their post-traumatic stress. Therefore, always keep a close eye on your kitty or pup, especially after they experience any emergency situation, and do not hesitate to seek professional assistance if they begin displaying any concerning behavioral or health issues.

Thankful Thimble Thursday with the Cat-o'-Lantern

We've reached Thursday, which means Thimble is here and ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is grateful for the cat-o'-lantern basket toy she and the other kitties love so much. Back in the day, this toy was so bright and clean. See?

These days, that there cat-o'-lantern is so used and abused well-loved that it's looking a little faded and rough.

Sorry, cat-o'-lantern, the kitties just love you so much. And it shows. One of the kitties' favorite things is for me to put catnip in the cat-o'-lantern, and then it gets kicked and licked and all that jazz.

Thimble hopes you all have some festive fun, just like she is!

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And now let's 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. I am glad I live near _________.

2. I am glad I don't live near _________.

3. I didn't _________ until I was _________. 

4. _________ made me truly laugh.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Since Thimble shared a certain cat-o'-lantern today, how about we share this other big kitty pumpkin?

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Tip of the Day

Our current series of tips is about disaster and emergency preparedness for both yourself and your furbaby. Today's tip on this topic is to contemplate and decide on a proper caregiver for your furbaby, should an emergency render you incapable of caring for them. Thinking on such unfortunate hypothetical situations is never something anyone looks forward to, but it is nonetheless something important to consider. You will want to ensure that someone you trust might be prepared to care for your kitty or pup in an emergency. It is of course important to discuss this with the person in question, and to ensure that they are truly able and willing to take on the care of your furbaby, should the need arise. In some cases, this might mean including in your will that this person would become your furbaby's caregiver. Overall, though not an ideal topic with which to occupy your mind, it is indeed significant to have a safe and secure plan for your furbaby's care should something render you incapable of caring for them. Think of family or friends whom you trust, whom your furbaby knows, and whom have displayed an ability and willingness to take on the care of your kitty or pup.

Autumnal Adventures with Angel Astrid

Yesterday was the first day of autumn. We haven't seen a single leaf turning pretty colors yet, but hopefully we will soon. That said, today's memory of my sweet angel pup Astrid does indeed have some trees looking beautiful.

Astrid and I both loved going for loves in the autumn. Crisp, cool weather and gorgeous leaves? Yes, please.

Angel Astrid and all of us here wish you a wonderful Wednesday! Preferably with some lovely fall weather!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I've already started reading Halloween books for the season, so this doodle from a few years ago is very fitting.

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Tip of the Day

Today's disaster preparedness tip is a rather specific one, and it is to consider using a pet rescue alert decal or sticker at your house. These decals or stickers are meant to alert rescue response teams as to how many and what kinds of animals are in the home. They can be placed on a screen door, on a window near a door, or somewhere similar where rescuers can easily see it. This type of information on what animals are in the home can help in the case of a house fire or any emergency evacuation, especially in cases when you are in any way unable to inform response teams as to how many and what kinds of animals are in the home and in need of rescuing. There are a variety of these decals or stickers available online, but one easy way to get them is through the ASPCA, as you can visit their website and order free pet emergency alert decals for your home.

Alerting emergency personnel of the animals in your home can help them to more quickly rescue your companion animals in the event of a fire or other emergency. This being said, though, please do ensure that any such decals or stickers are kept up-to-date. Not only is this important for ensuring that all animals in the house are properly accounted for, but it's also important for the safety of emergency personnel. For example, if one of your furbabies has passed away but it is still included on any displayed pet emergency alert at your home, then emergency crews might put their lives at risk looking for an animal who is not even present. So, while these pet emergency alert bulletins can indeed benefit your pets' safety, also ensure that you use them properly in order to keep emergency personnel equally safe.