Tonks Tuesday: Laundry Day

It's Tonks Tuesday, and today the calico wants to remind everyone how much of a helper she is at laundry time.

Those are towels used for kitty purposes, mostly in towel-trained Evan's toilet. They get washed with bleach and all that jazz after one use, and Tonks for some reason just loves when those come out of the dryer. I can't imagine her super kitty nose would find those appealing, but she loves those towels regardless.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today we have yet another spooky summertime doodle from a couple years ago, this one of course starring Tonks.

If you look at the top of that drawing, you'll notice there's a weird line where the tree limbs look all warped. That's because Tonks jumped on the scanner while it was scanning this drawing of hers, and I didn't even realize it caused that warping until way after I'd scanned and uploaded it. Tonks clearly wanted to have a hand in her kooky doodle, so there's that.

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Tip of the Day

We've given tips on cats and their litter boxes many times before. The litter box plays such a crucial role in not only your cat's daily life, but also their health and happiness. That's why we've decided to re-share our entire, comprehensive series of tips on that box of litter.

The first tip in this series is all about selecting the type of litter box. You wouldn't think a litter box could come in all that many varieties, but the litter box aisle at the pet store begs to differ. Litter boxes come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and configurations. That means there are a lot of considerations to make when selecting that litter box.

So, let's start with size. Is your cat of the larger variety? Especially in the case of a large cat, it is important to make sure the litter box is big enough. Out-of-box behavior, even if in the form of accidental misses, can occur if the box is too small for the cat. Sometimes, you'll even need to make sure to get a box that is not only large enough but that also has tall enough sides. Some cats are more prone to raising their rear end when urinating, for example, which would mean that a box with tall sides is a far more ideal option.

The above being said, also take into consideration if your cat is small. If you have a petite cat or a kitten, you might at least have to start with a small box. Being able to climb over the edge of the box in order to get inside is of course important. A kitten might very well outgrow their first litter box, but when they're small, they of course need to be able to comfortably climb into the litter box. In truth, though, no matter the size of your cat, stick to whatever size of box they seem to prefer and do well with. Some cats might be large, but also might prefer and do just fine with a small box. Take any such preferences your cat has into consideration.

There are also different shapes of cat litter boxes. There are rectangles, squares, circles, ovals, and even some triangular ones that can fit into corners. When selecting the shape of the litter box, you can base your decision on concepts such as how the shape might affect your furbaby's ability to get comfortable when in the box, or how the shape might affect the way it fits in your home. Then again, as mentioned above, your cat might reveal a preference for litter box shape, and if so, go with that.

Next up is an oft debated litter box detail. And that is, do you get a covered box? Or, do you get an uncovered box? Let's go right ahead and touch upon the fact that, ultimately, the cat gets to pick. Some cats prefer a box that is covered, such as for the sake of privacy. Other cats do not like covered boxes. That being said, covered boxes can harbor smells far more easily than uncovered boxes. Imagine walking into a portable toilet, one in which all of the smells just sit and fester. No one enjoys using a portable toilet, and that might be how some cats feel about a covered litter box. Again, though, the truth of the matter is that the cat should get to pick what kind of toilet they use. If your cat will not enter or use a covered box, but will willingly urinate or defecate in an uncovered box, then an uncovered box it is. If your cat urinates or defecates outside of an uncovered box, but will willingly go into a covered box and use it, then no matter what your thoughts on this topic are, your cat just gave you their answer.

So, when it comes to selecting the type of litter box your cat will use, of course take into consideration their size, whether the box will harbor smells, and other such details. That being said, though, just like us, our cats often have preferences and opinions on various matters. The litter box might very well be one of these matters. That's why, when it comes to any of the details of the litter box, if your cat shows a preference, take note of that and run with it.

Mancat Monday: Megacolon and Kooky Toys

Evan had a rough weekend with his megacolon. But, he's very recently, finally cleared everything out and is now feeling much better. To celebrate, Evan is happily playing with one of his Halloween toys.

As a fan of all things spooky and kooky, I'm always so happy when my kitties choose to play with their Halloween toys.

I'm also of course so very happy that Evan is feeling better and is back to his usual sweet and sassy self.

I'm going to use Evan's toy of choice to pretend we're enjoying autumnal weather rather than the 95°F we're actually experiencing today.

Happy Monday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

In honor of Evan's Halloween toy he shared above, let's go through another flashback series of summertime spooky doodles. We'll of course start with Evan's drawing.

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Tip of the Day

If you ask our humble opinion, having kitties and a pup in the same home can be a wonderful thing. It's even better when they all get along. Sometimes, though, the biggest trick is getting a pup to leave the kitty food alone. There are some methods to try, though, if you find yourself in such a situation.

First, you can try placing the cat food somewhere the dog cannot reach, but of course where the cat can reach it. You can try a counter, cat tree, or shelf, for example, as a cat can often climb to these heights, while a dog typically remains land-bound. Another option is to get some form of sturdy box, setting it upside down on the floor, cutting a hole in it through which a cat can fit but not a dog, and feeding your cat within. There's even a chance that some pieces of furniture would allow for this form of feeding. Of course, this technique primarily works for larger dogs, as small dogs might still be able to access cat food with this method.

A more fail-safe way to feed a cat without a dog's intervention is by feeding them in separate rooms. You can keep the cat's food in a room where the dog does not have access, even if just during feeding time. You can also keep the cat's food in a room that is permanently closed off to the dog, but where the kitty can visit by way of something such as a kitty door. If a cat is good at and willing to jump, you can also block the dog with a baby gate over which the cat can jump. One more similar option is to feed the kitty in a separate room where the door is left ajar, but is kept that way with some sort of door attachment. There are such products available on the market, that allow for a door to remain stuck ajar, so that a cat can pass through, but not a larger pup. You can even rig your own sort of setup, such as by using certain types of brackets, just as long as the setup is still safe for the furbabies. Again, though, these last couple of options will work best if the dog is larger and therefore cannot squeeze through to reach the cat food.

It is more than possible to have both cats and dogs living under the same roof. Once you get past the introductions and everyone is one big happy family, sometimes the main issue then becomes keeping the dogs out of the cat food. This is an important thing to do, though, as eating food not intended for their species can potentially result in gastrointestinal distress. So, if you have both cats and dogs and food thieves run rampant, simply think on what type of feeding method would work best for you, your furbabies, and your overall home setup. It may take some trial and error, but it is doable.

Friendly Fill-Ins, Christmas in July, and a Kooky Cat Café

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. _________ is my favorite kind of cake.

2. The best part of my week was _________.

3. I _________ in a room full of strangers.

4. If I opened a restaurant, it would be called _________ and would serve _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. Peanut butter with chocolate frosting is my favorite kind of cake.
(I've always loved anything peanut butter and chocolate, and that includes peanut butter cake with chocolate icing. It's moist and honestly just tastes amazing. In close second place is a basic yellow cake with chocolate icing, but I also love yellow cake with cherry or lemon icing. I also wouldn't turn down a double chocolate cake. That all said, I don't eat sweets very often, as I just don't feel great when I eat them. But, when I do have cake, I'd happily scarf down some peanut butter cake with chocolate icing.)

2. The best part of my week was the arrival of Friday.
(I've had a relatively uneventful week. Nothing awful happened, but nothing all that great happened either. But, I'm currently very happy it's Friday. I just have to get through work today, and then tonight and the next two days I can hang out with my kitties and do my favorite weekend hobbies of drawing and writing. So, TGIF. Oh, and it's also time for my festive movie night for Christmas in July, so I'm also looking forward to that.)

3. I tend to stay in the corner in a room full of strangers.
(I'm not a very social person, and interacting with strangers is not my strong suit. That's why, when stuck in a room full of strangers, you'll likely find me in the corner. I'm also a corner dweller because I don't really like people being behind me, which perhaps makes me sound a tad bit paranoid.)

4. If I opened a restaurant, it would be called Graveyard Dishes & Hisses and would serve creepy and kooky foods.
(As the name of the place might suggest, you would find not only food here, but also cats. It is, after all, a cat café. Or perhaps more like a cat restaurant, but I digress. I know this is such an odd yet specific answer, but that's because I actually created this very restaurant for the world that exists in the weird and wacky book I'm writing. And now, if I were to open a restaurant in the real world, it would simply be this one. Graveyard Dishes & Hisses not only serves spooky-all-year-round sorts of food, but also some feline-inspired baked goods, like the Frankenstein's Meownster. That's the cupcake that's on the restaurant's sign, which I actually drew a couple years ago. I've shared it before, but at the end of this post I'll share that doodle again in order to give a small glimpse of Graveyard Dishes & Hisses.)

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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Today is July 24th. Does that make it Christmas Eve in July? In case it does, Eddy decided to share a photo of her sitting beside her year-round Christmas tree.

Merry Christmas Eve in July! Or, you know, something like that!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

In case you missed it, see Fill-In #4 above for the explanation of today's doodle. The short story is that this is the sign for Graveyard Dishes & Hisses, my weird, fictional cat café/restaurant that serves creepy, kooky food all year long.

I want to note that you were supposed to get a new Christmas in July doodle today, but I apparently forgot to scan it. Or maybe my scan just didn't save. I'm not sure what happened, but I don't have the image to upload like I thought I did. That's okay, though, because we still have time for Christmas in July and so you'll see that doodle very soon.

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Tip of the Day

Do you want or need to monitor your furbaby, even when you aren't with them? Items such as baby monitors don't have to be used for only children of the human sort. Baby monitors, or similar products, can be used for our furbabies as well. Depending on what type of monitoring you need, you can look into monitoring devices that allow you to hear, see, or locate your furbaby. For example, there are monitors and cameras that you can place in your home that allow you to view your furbaby and what they're up to, even if you're away from home, such as by using the internet, apps, or other similar means. There are even devices on the market that can be attached to your furbaby's collar and that take video of what they've been up to. Another method of keeping track of your furbaby includes more or less putting some form of tracking device on them. For example, there are GPS or other similar devices that can go on your furbaby's collar. This is something that might come most in handy if you have a dog or cat who goes outdoors.

All in all, if you want or need to keep an especially close watch on your pup or kitty, such as when you're away from home, there are ways to do this. You might wish to keep an eye on a new puppy or kitten, a sick or geriatric furbaby, a cat or dog with separation anxiety, or something else along those lines. In such cases, determine whether monitoring, such as when you're away from home, might be beneficial, and then research the best types of monitoring systems for your particular situation.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Christmas in July

Hello and happy Thursday! As always, Thimble is happily here and ready to participate in Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is not only grateful for Christmas in July, but also for the year round Christmas tree that stays up in this here human's bedroom.

I started leaving that tree up all year because, when she was younger, Eddy loved climbing the Christmas tree so much that I felt awful taking it down. So, I left one up in my bedroom for her. Now Thimble is also thankful it's there all year long, and she often sits on the cat tree there to keep the Christmas tree company. She also loves bestowing the Christmas tree with lots of cheek rubs.

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Now, of course, 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. _________ is my favorite kind of cake.

2. The best part of my week was _________.

3. I _________ in a room full of strangers.

4. If I opened a restaurant, it would be called _________ and would serve _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Keeping with Thimble's theme of Christmas in July, here's a festive summer doodle from a few years ago.

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Tip of the Day

When there's rain rather than shine, it can often make it difficult to take our pups or outdoor kitties outside. For those furbabies who might need to go outdoors, such as for a bathroom trip or a walk, you can try to find ways to keep them as dry as possible in the rain. Did you know that there are indeed products on the market specifically designed to help keep your pups or even kitties dry? For example, there are leashes available that have umbrellas attached to them, so that your furbaby can stay dry beneath the umbrella while on their leash in the rain. In addition, there are also rain ponchos available for pets. With such products, you of course have to ensure that you get a product that matches your furbaby's size, and also that the item doesn't scare or agitate your pup or kitty.

There are also, of course, other options for helping your furbabies stay dry when they go outdoors in the rain. You can try the simple trick of holding a typical umbrella over your furbaby. Another option is to have an area of your yard that stays dry, such as beneath some sort of canopy, where your furbaby can comfortably enjoy the outdoors even in the rain. For furbabies who might refuse to go outdoors in the rain, yet who are not litter box trained, you can also train them to use pee pads in the house if plausible or if in dire straits. So, there are a variety of ways to potentially help furbabies stay dry in the rain, which is especially crucial for those who go outdoors to use the restroom yet who also don't like getting wet. Simply take into consideration what methods might be most useful for your particular situation, and then try viable options until you find a solution that works best for your furbaby and yourself.

A Nosy Woof Woof Wednesday

Today's memory of my sweet angel pup Astrid heavily stars none other than her adorable nose.

Astrid's nose was so very cute and kissable. I have many, many photos of it, and I'm so grateful for that.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's doodle is another one I scribbled up for Christmas in July many years ago. It's a bit more abstract in that festive realm, but it co-stars my angel pup Astrid, so I indeed wish to share it today.

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Tip of the Day

Many of us have furbabies who enjoy a cozy bed, and who also enjoy making a bed out of their human's clothes. That's why today's pet parenting hack of a tip is to use your old clothes to make a pet bed for your kitty or pup. You can take on old shirt, for example, and stuff it with a pillow or other type of filling. You can sew it shut, or even just safely and securely tie it shut. This could perhaps be a cheaper option than a store-bought bed, and it will also smell like you, something that many furbabies enjoy. There are a great many options for creating beds in this manner, using shirts, pants, robes, and so forth. The options are endless, and you can even find ideas and techniques online for creating a variety of such pet beds.

Tonks Tuesday: Nap, Interrupted

Poor Tonks. She's so cute that sometimes a camera gets shoved in her face even when she's trying to nap. Which results in photos like this.

At least Tonks knows she's downright adorable, even when her nap is interrupted and she looks a tad bit tired.

Happy Tuesday to all!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

It's been spider central at our house lately, so for today I pulled this spring/summer spooky doodle from a few years ago. It of course stars my calico angel Rosie.

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Tip of the Day

Today's pet parenting tip relates to the dreaded vacuum cleaner, but at the same time, it doesn't. Especially if you have a furbaby who is fearful of the vacuum, you can do them a favor by using other methods to clean carpets and rugs, when possible. For example, did you know that a squeegee can be used to remove pet hair from carpets and rugs? That being said, there are also actual rug brushes on the market, which can similarly be used to remove hair from carpets and rugs. So, especially if you have a furbaby who is fearful when you vacuum, you can use these alternative, far quieter such methods when possible. Though the vacuum cleaner may not always be avoidable, when it is, such methods as the aforementioned ones can help remove hair from carpets and rugs while causing far less fearful reactions from your kitties or pups.

Mancat Monday: Christmas in July

Evan found out about this little thing called Christmas in July. So, he wanted to get festive by sharing one of his favorite blankets that he uses all year long.

Do you see that man in red there? And we're not just talking about that handsome orange tabby. Santa Claus himself regularly keeps Evan company in this fleecy form.

Evan hopes you're all getting festive this week!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Sticking with the theme, how about a Christmas in July doodle for today?

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Tip of the Day

Today's pet parenting tip is one that relates to that dreaded vet's office. As you all certainly know, it is recommended that your furbaby be seen by a veterinarian at least once a year. But, if you're anything like me, all throughout the year you find yourself questioning this or that about your furbaby. Of course, if you notice any abnormalities that are a concern or that are in need of immediate attention, do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian. Otherwise, sometimes we find ourselves with questions that we know are not emergencies and that are not truly in need of immediate attention, but that do pique our interest. That's why today's tip is to, if needed, keep a little notebook or note sheet handy, such as on a counter or on the refrigerator, where you can write down questions to ask your veterinarian at your furbaby's next exam. In this high tech world, you can also have a note sheet going on your phone. Whether it be a general question about food, exercise, grooming, behavior, or anything else, write it down when you think of it. That way, you can take your notes with you to your furbaby's next exam and sort out any questions you have in one fell swoop.