Tonks Tuesday with a Cat-o'-Lantern and Pennywise the Clown

Just like Evan did yesterday, Tonks is here today to show off how much she enjoys the kitties' beloved cat-o'-lantern basket toy. Also just like Evan, Tonksy's photos all ended up as blurry bloopers. Not only was she moving around a lot, but I also didn't realize until afterwards that the lens of my camera was smudged. Even so, here's blurry Tonks and her favorite Halloween toy.

I did put catnip in the cat-o'-lantern before snapping these photos, which Tonks greatly enjoyed.

Tonks and all of us here wish you lots of festive fun today!

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Spooky Flashback Doodle of the Day

Since I'm still working on my new Halloween doodles for this year, this week I'm sharing flashback doodles starring my parents' kitties in costumes. Their kitty Talon passed away last April, but I of course still included him. For reasons that probably only make sense to me, Talon got to be Pennywise the clown from Stephen King's It.

Talon was the littermate of my parents' kitty Trapper, as well as littermate to my own Thimble and my sister's kitty Toby. As we've mentioned many times over the past couple of weeks, Trapper was recently diagnosed with an aggressive, terminal cancer. My parents have been keeping him comfortable with lots of medications, and I've been going over every day to help them give Trapper fluids. Even so, the sweet boy has started to decline more and more, and my mom told me a bit ago that today is the first time in all of this that he's starting to turn down food. We know our time with him is very limited, and the only consolation we have for when the time comes is that he'll be free of this awful disease and will be reunited with his brother Talon.

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Tip of the Day

We know we don't have to tell you wonderful folk that all of those superstitions about unlucky black cats simply aren't true. That being said, there are unfortunately those out there who do believe such things. There are also, sadly, people out there who might even think to play unjust tricks on black cats on or around Halloween. This is why today we are here to remind you to ensure that your sweet and innocent black cats, and all of your furbabies, are safe indoors on and around Halloween. Even if you live in what is believed to be a safe neighborhood, please do keep your black cats, and all of your furbabies, inside and under close observation during the Halloween season. This will help ensure that they don't fall victim to the tricks and pranks of any callous or superstitious people out there. As always, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Mancat Monday: Evan and the Cat-o'-Lantern

This week I'm sharing photos of all my kitties enjoying their used and abused well-loved cat-o'-lantern basket toy. I didn't realize until now that all of Evan's shots ended up blurry. It probably didn't help that I put catnip in the cat-o'-lantern toy before the photoshoot, and Evan was indeed accordingly active for the camera. All that said, here's Evan and the cat-o'-lantern. Believe it or not, this toy used to be so bright and clean.

I almost pulled all the hair and such off of the poor cat-o'-lantern before taking these photos, but I decided against it so that you all could see it in its far more accurate state. This toy gets played with so often, and it's regularly tossed under couches and into every nook and cranny of the house. Tonks once even threw this thing so high in the air that it landed in the tall kitchen trash can.

I know it doesn't look like it, but the cat-o'-lantern has actually been laundered many times. For some reason, Evan tends to target this toy when he rage pees as I prepare his medications and such. I can never believe how dirty this poor old toy can look despite the number of times it's seen the inside of the washer.

Evan hopes you all enjoyed seeing the blurry side of him!

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Spooky Flashback Doodle of the Day

This weekend ended up far more chaotic than I expected, and so I'm still working on completing this year's new Halloween doodles. That's okay, though, because I have a ton of flashback ones to share in the meantime, such as the series I scribbled up last year. All of those starred my parents' kitties in Halloween costumes.

Though his aggressive, terminal cancer is unfortunately yet unavoidably progressing, my parents' sweet kitty Trapper is still with us. His medications are so far keeping him comfortable enough to slowly and quietly enjoy some of his favorite things. Last year I drew Trapper in a T-Rex costume, in part because of an inside joke in our family. So, here's sweet Trapper as a T-Rex.

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Tip of the Day

Today's Halloween tip is about bats. Bats may be a staple in Halloween lore and decor, but the reality is that they are one of the primary carriers of rabies. What's more, bats leave very small bites that might go unnoticed, especially on kitties or pups with fur that can hide such minuscule bite marks. For such reasons, do be aware and cautious of the presence of bats, such as if you and your furbaby are walking through a park with trees near nightfall.

Bats are not always found outside, though. Bats can sometimes find their way into buildings, including attics or other areas of homes. If you live in a house or apartment where bats are discovered, keep your furbaby away (and also, of course, try to keep yourself safe), and certainly do not allow your furbaby to chase or play with any bats. A bat can bite quickly and without notice, and rabies could potentially be transferred that quickly if the bat at hand is infected with it. If a bat is unable to be safely escorted out through a window, or in another safe means that does not mean direct handling, then contact animal control or another relevant organization for the safe removal of bats.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy Gets Haunted

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, and I came up with the second two.

1. _________ is a useful skill that I have.

2. I recharge by _________.

3. My job as a _________ taught me _________.

4. I wouldn't mind visiting a house haunted by _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. Speed cleaning is a useful skill that I have.
(I'm not perfect at this, and my skillset is mostly in reference to my ability to clean up feline messes very quickly. Having shared my life with many animals—namely having shared my life with my sweet Evan and his urinary incontinence and messy megacolon—I've learned ways to clean and sanitize such messes rather quickly. I need to expand my speed cleaning skills to other areas, such as cleaning kitchen cabinets and the oven and such. But, I can at least speed clean my kitties' messes.)

2. I recharge by staying home with my cats.
(I'm a broken record and have mentioned many times before how I'm an asocial homebody. I want nothing more than to be home alone with my kitties. When I do have required events that involve socializing and the like, including simply going to work for the day, I can never wait to get back home to recover in the company of my cats.)

3. My job as a veterinary assistant taught me customer service.
(When I worked as a veterinary assistant, I was the only employee for a veterinarian who had a very abrasive personality. She had trouble getting along with others, including clients. Because of that, and because I was the person who greeted everyone and tried keep the clients coming back, I was forced to learn some intense customer service skills while working that job. Though I don't work that job anymore, I'm still able to turn on that customer service version of me. I once heard someone comment on how they don't even recognize the customer service version of themselves, and I honestly relate to that so much. I'm not a very social or talkative person, and yet when I bring out my customer service side, I can be exactly those things. It's like acting in a fictional role. My mom and sister have seen it in action and said I'm a completely different person in a customer-centric setting, and they're right.)

4. I wouldn't mind visiting a house haunted by my furry angels.
(I've been debating with myself if this is really the answer I want to put. I'm not sure if this sort of visit with my kitties and pups who have passed would be too heartbreaking or not, but the reality is that if I were given the chance to see them all again, I would absolutely take it.)

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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Eddy was not spared from being haunted by the festive little friend the other kitties have introduced you to this week. This tabby girl already tends to get suspicious of the camera, and she gets even more suspicious when it shows up alongside a ghostly fiend. Her suspicions made for some cute photos, though. See?

Believe it or not, our blooper queen Eddy provided a number of blurry shots during this photo shoot. They're pretty darn cute, and we'll be sharing them for the Pet Photo Fails Blog Hop the day before Halloween.

Have a wonderful day, friends!

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Spooky Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today, Eddy is sharing her Halloween costume from a series of doodles I scribbled up a couple years ago. She got to dress up as Michael Myers. Why? Because Eddy has a couple things in common with this Halloween menace. You know, like antisocial tendencies and a penchant for using sharp objects.

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Tip of the Day

We talked about sparing unwilling furbabies from dressing up for Halloween, and about selecting safe costumes for those furbabies who do enjoy dressing up. Today, we're here to remind you that, if you yourself are planning to don a costume for Halloween, to again take your furbaby into consideration. Any costume worn by yourself, or anyone else in the house, should be safe around your kitty or pup, such as by being free of parts and pieces that a kitty or pup might chew or ingest and thereby put themselves in danger. Earlier in the month we also talked about the toxicity of items such as fake blood, so of course it's safest to refrain from including that in any costume you wear.

Aside from costume dangers, also keep your furbaby's comfort and happiness in mind if you have any sort of costume for yourself. Wigs and masks, for example, might scare some cats or dogs, especially those who are already skittish. It's not only important to ensure that any costume you wear is safe around your furbaby, but that it also does not scare them.

A Haunted Thankful Thimble Thursday with an Update on Trapper

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

Today, Thimble is grateful that she recently found one of her festive ghost toys that had been lost for who knows how long, possibly since last Halloween. I don't know where she found it, but she ended up with it on my bed the other day.

Prior to these photos Thimble was actively playing with that there little ghost, but as soon as I pulled the camera out she instead opted to pose like the model she is.

Today, Thimble and all of us are also grateful that my parents' kitty Trapper is still hanging in there. As I've mentioned, Trapper is Thimble's littermate who was recently diagnosed with an aggressive, terminal cancer. He's exceeded the median prognosis for his diagnosis, and while he's certainly lost weight and is nowhere near as active as he used to be, he's still showing interest in certain meals, getting drinks from his beloved bathtub, and going on some of his strolls around the house, as well as some of his other usual things. My parents are giving him pain meds as well as a variety of other medications to keep him comfortable while he's still showing interest in such stuff. I go to my parents' house every day to not only visit Trapper, but to also help give him subcutaneous fluids to combat the dehydration caused by the cancer. I also give him a vitamin B12 injection every couple or few days, as his vet sent a bottle of that home since it seems to perk Trapper up a bit.

Trapper took a little trip to his usual vet yesterday for an antibiotic injection, as the poor boy's cancer is causing paraneoplastic dermatitis, and a couple lesions on his skin were starting to look aggravated. His wonderful vet gave him said antibiotic injection, and he also did another recheck ultrasound. Trapper's tumor still appears to be roughly the same size it was when discovered a couple weeks ago. The oncologist did say that it's very likely the cancer has microscopically spread into nearby organs or other regions of his body, but so far the main tumor is remaining about the same, and no other big tumors have been seen on imaging.

My parents and myself are grateful for any days we get to spend with sweet Trapper.

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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. _________ is a useful skill that I have.

2. I recharge by _________.

3. My job as a _________ taught me _________.

4. I wouldn't mind visiting a house haunted by _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Spooky Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today we have the flashback doodle starring Thimble in her Halloween costume. Her costume was rather easy to pick. After all, this tabby girl loves nighttime cuddles, so much so that she constantly wakes up this human mom of hers at all hours of the night in order to request said cuddles. Since she doesn't believe in sleeping, here we have Freddy Thimble Krueger.

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip is an extension of yesterday's tip, when we reminded you to only put Halloween costumes on furbabies who tolerate or enjoy it. Now we're here to mention the importance of choosing safe and secure costumes for those kitties and pups who do enjoy wearing them. There are a number of considerations to make in order to ensure that a Halloween costume, or other item of clothing, is safe for your furbaby. For example, you of course have to make sure that there are no embellishments or other decorations on the costume that could be chewed off and ingested, as this could indeed be dangerous. You also want to make sure that no strings or other similar parts and pieces could lead to a furbaby getting tangled in the costume. What's more, make sure the costume is the correct size and fit. A costume with too small of a neck hole or with too small of leg holes could be not only uncomfortable, but also dangerous for circulation. Dressing up our furbabies can indeed help you and them get into the Halloween spirit, but it is far more important to ensure their comfort and safety.

Woof Woof Wednesday with Chucky and Astrid Voorhees

On Monday we re-shared an older doodle of Evan dressed as none other than the evil doll Chucky. While I do have a Chucky costume for the kitties, none of them like it. Evan especially hates it. So, I don't have any real photos of him in it because I try not to torture my furry family.

The above being said, my sweet angel pup Astrid was always such a good sport. She wasn't huge on wearing costumes, but she'd humor me for a few minutes if I asked her to. So, I also got her a Chucky costume a few years ago, and she was downright adorable in it.

Astrid really wasn't a fan of the wig, so I only made her take that one photo in it.

Wasn't Astrid the cutest killer doll ever? While she was an ornery girl, she was far from evil, but she at least made the idea of Chucky look adorable.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Spooky Flashback Doodle of the Day

While I continue to work on completing this year's new Halloween doodles, I'm re-sharing our spooky drawings form the past couple of years. These all star my furry family members in Halloween costumes. Though the real Astrid dressed as Chucky, in my sketchbook she got to be none other than Jason Astrid Voorhees.

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Tip of the Day

Today seems like the perfect day to give a tip about none other than costumes. As you might see upon visiting a pet store this time of year, Halloween costumes are sometimes just as popular for kitties and pups as they are for children of the human variety. That being said, though, it is best to only put and keep a costume on a furbaby who tolerates and enjoys it. Some cats and dogs simply do not like wearing costumes or other clothing items, and it's of course kindest not to force such furbabies to wear a costume for Halloween, or any time of the year. If you do try a costume on your kitty or pup, watch for signs of stress, such as trying to remove the costume or restlessness. If you do notice any signs that your furbaby is not enjoying a costume you've chosen for them, remove it and simply let them don their birthday suit this Halloween.

Tonks Tuesday with a Frightfully Festive Friend

Yesterday Evan shared some photos of him hanging out with a ghosty friend the kitties have. Well, Evan actually napped through the whole thing, but Tonks is here with the same ghost today, and she's wide awake.

That poor little ghost has been getting slapped around by all the kitties lately. Thimble recently found it who knows where, and now that he's back out in active toy territory, he's getting thoroughly abused. At least his misfortune is spookily festive, the poor little fella.

Tonks hopes you also have a frightfully festive friend today!

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Spooky Flashback Doodle of the Day

Like I mentioned yesterday, I hope to be able to start sharing this year's new Halloween doodles next week, if everything goes according to plan. For now, I'm re-sharing the Halloween doodles I scribbled up over the past two years, those being the ones in which I drew my kitties, my parents' kitties, and my sister's kitties in costumes. Every spooky season my dad and I watch the Halloween horror movie Trick 'r Treat. That movie's character known as Sam wears burlap over his head as well as carries around a burlap sack, and since Tonks enjoys going in bags and under things like blankets, I decided she would get to be Sam for Halloween. So, here you go.

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday's Halloween tip was about the benefits of feeding pumpkin to your furbabies. Today's tip is related to this, but is about a part of the pumpkin that isn't as often discussed with regard to a furbaby's diet. We're talking about those pumpkin seeds. If fed in a manner that is safe, pumpkin seeds can have health benefits for our furbabies, just as they can for humans. For example, pumpkin seeds contain valuable nutrients, and they can have anti-inflammatory properties. It is also believed by some that pumpkin seeds have some deworming properties as well.

All of the above being said, if you decide to offer pumpkin seeds to your kitty or pup, of course do so safely. First, feed them only as an occasional treat or food topper. In addition, if the seeds are a potential choking hazard, you can cut them into small pieces. Also, of course, ensure that the pumpkin seeds are plain, and that they do not contain any added ingredients, such as onion, garlic, or even salt or sugar. We'll again also add that, should your furbaby have any health concerns, of course first discuss adding anything such as pumpkin seeds to your furbaby's diet with your veterinarian.

Mancat Monday: The Haunted Nap

This weekend I did some last-minute Halloween photo shoots with my sweet little kitties. It all started when Thimble started playing with one of her ghost toys, and I then chased down all of my kitties to participate. Some of the kitties weren't quite as excited about the festive fun as I was, but they still humored me enough to get some photos.

You'll see how it all started with Thimble in her Thursday post, but for today you get Evan and his ghostly photo shoot. Not that he was aware he was being haunted, though, since he slept right through it.

I've shared photos like this of Evan before. For some reason, this boy loves sleeping in ways that look more than a little bit suffocating. But, whatever floats his boat, I guess. The ghost looks just as concerned as I do every time I find Evan sleeping like this. At least it's a friendly enough ghost to be worried for Evan.

I think that ghost came in a pack of toys I got the kitties for Halloween either 1 or 2 years ago. I hadn't even seen this toy around the house in months, but Thimble found it recently and has been enjoying slapping it around. I was so proud of her for being festive.

Happy Monday to all!

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Spooky Flashback Doodle of the Day

I hope to start sharing our new Halloween doodles next week, if anything at all goes to plan. It never does, but I'll still try my best. This week, I'm going to start re-sharing the Halloween doodles I created last year and the year before. The particular flashback doodles I'm referring to star my kitties as well as my parents' and sister's kitties in costumes. For today we of course have Evan. I remember racking my brain to think of what costume would be good for a kitty with paralyzed back legs, and I decided on a doll that could more or less be sprawled out on the floor. That led me to thinking of the infamous doll known as Chucky. And so, here's Evan as Chucky.

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Tip of the Day

We simply couldn't go this entire Halloween month without mentioning none other than pumpkins. As most of you likely already know, pumpkin can make for a healthy treat for a kitty or pup. Plain, cooked pumpkin can be an excellent source of fiber. This can help to keep the bowels regular, and so could be something to keep in mind for those furbabies with irregular bowel movements. Pumpkin and the fiber it provides can also help move hairballs more easily through those kitty intestinal tracts. Fiber, such as that from pumpkin, can also help a kitty or pup feel full for longer, which means that it can also potentially aid in weight loss. All of these benefits are on top of the fact that pumpkin is also high in a variety of beneficial nutrients, such as vitamin A and vitamin C.

That all being said, do of course ensure that you only feed your furbaby cooked pumpkin of the plain variety. You can feed your furbaby pumpkin puree from a can, of course ensuring that it contains no spices or other added ingredients. You can also cook up your own pumpkin and feed it to your kitty or pup as a treat. What's more, these days, there are many types of dry and moist foods, as well as treats, that contain pumpkin as an ingredient. These such foods might assist certain furbabies with bowel regularity or weight loss. Of course, if you have any questions or concerns regarding your furbaby's diet and digestion, discuss options such as pumpkin with your veterinarian.