Festive Memories with Angel Astrid on Woof Woof Wednesday

We're now past the Twelve Days of Christmas as well as Three Kings' Day, but I'll admit that you'll still be seeing some festive stuff here on our blog for at least a couple more days. I'll likely take down my Christmas decor this weekend, as much as that pains me, but until then I'm still watching Christmas movies and all that festive jazz.

That said, it's Woof Woof Wednesday, and I felt like sharing another Christmassy memory of my sweet angel pup Astrid. Today's memory comes from 2023, when I ordered some new Christmas squeaky toys for Astrid online. They ended up being some of her favorite toys in her last couple years. I think it's because, though I didn't know it when I ordered them, these toys were made of a squishy sort of plastic rather than hard, firm plastic, and Astrid and her sensitive teeth loved that.

For whatever reason, Astrid took an especial liking to the elf toy, and she often took him outside with her.

The elf once even went for a walk with us.

As was always the case if Astrid chose to take a toy on a walk, she carried it for about 5% of the walk, and I carried it for the other 95%.

I wasn't allowed to tuck him in my pocket, either. Astrid would regularly turn around and make sure I had her little buddy in my hand, and she couldn't proceed walking unless I held him in her sight. That there elf is one of many items of Astrid's that I have in her keepsakes and will forever cherish.

Angel Astrid and all of us here wish you a wonderful Wednesday!

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Doodle of the Day

Since we're on the topic of dog toys, how about the related doodle I scribbled up for my grandma and her husband as part of their Christmas gift? I always create a magnet out of a drawing for them each year, and this time around it was inspired by their Boston terrier's penchant for ripping apart her many Lamp Chop toys.

I actually do have one more festive doodle starring my angel Astrid to share, and you were supposed to see it today. But, when I tried to get that all finished up, scanned, and uploaded last night, some sweet kitties wanted cuddles. I was happy to oblige, and so the art got put on hold. We'll share Astrid's festive doodle in the next couple of days, before we start deconstructing Christmas at our house this weekend.

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Tip of the Day

Today's discussion on shelters for outdoor ferals in the winter is to make sure you regularly check said shelters, to ensure that they are in good condition. Such checks should include looking for leaks and making sure that the shelter is dry inside. It is also, of course, important to look for broken or loose parts and pieces. These sorts of checks are especially important after storms or high winds, in order to ensure that no parts of the shelter broke loose or are posing a risk to the cats using the shelter.

In addition to regularly checking outdoor cat shelters for damage, also check to make sure that the shelters are clean and as sanitary as possible. If you are using straw as bedding in the shelter, regularly check it for dirt or excrement, and determine if it needs replaced or replenished. If cloth bedding material is being used, regularly check to make sure that it is dry and clean, and remedy it if it is not. There are many factors that go into maintaining a comfortable and clean shelter for ferals, also of course including food availability. So, if you are caring for outdoor cats, try to regularly check shelters to ensure that all is well and safe for potential inhabitants.

Happy Three Kings' Day!

Yesterday was the Twelfth Day of Christmas. We mentioned then that the festive season still wasn't quite over yet, though, as today is the Epiphany, or Three Kings' Day. To repeat what we said yesterday, this is the day when the three Magi, or the three Wise Men, visited baby Jesus and gifted him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In some cultures gifts are also exchanged on this day, and in order to extend the Christmas season a bit I do give my human and furry family a couple of small things every January 6th. Just like with Christmas itself, it's not about the gifts, but it does feel nice to continue the festive season just a bit longer.

All that said, on this Tonks Tuesday, the adorable calico of course has a festive photo to share with you all.

Though you can't see it, Tonks's favorite (actual) Christmas tree is right across from that kitty bed. She loves keeping her Christmas tree company in her Christmas tree bed. And don't worry, we did indeed snap some closeups for you to enjoy.

Happy Three Kings' Day!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

As we mentioned yesterday, today's tip regards what type of bedding to put in an outdoor cat shelter, such as for feral cats. We'll start by cutting right to the chase and saying that an ideal form of bedding for an outdoor shelter is straw. A cat can burrow down in straw in order to stay as warm as possible in the cold. Unlike blankets and towels, straw will not hold moisture, and therefore will less likely freeze or become uncomfortable in rain, snow, and so forth. This is one huge reason why straw is often a better choice over cloth bedding material, because it can repel moisture, and can therefore allow for a consistent, dry, warm form of bedding for outdoor cats. Straw can also often be more easily replaced or replenished, as opposed to cloth bedding, should it get dirty. That being said, do make sure you know the difference between straw and hay. They are not the same thing, and hay will hold onto moisture, become wet and uncomfortable for outdoor cats, and can also become moldy when wet. Go for straw, not hay.

If you do put out cloth bedding for outdoor cats, check it regularly. If it is wet or dirty, be sure to replace it, clean it, and so forth. Try to keep all cloth bedding in areas where it is least likely to get wet, so that feral or other outdoor cats can use it comfortably. Cloth bedding works best in shelters that are free of leaks and that are in some way heated, as that will help it remain dry and comfortable.

Merry Twelfth Day of Christmas!

Merry Twelfth Day of Christmas, friends!

You better believe we've still been getting festive over here. Our trees and other Christmas decor are still up, and we're still watching Christmas movies and listening to Christmas music.

Evan decided to go for a few partial shots of his handsome face, because what's more festively artsy than that?

We do still have a couple more festive posts to share this week. After all, though today is the Twelfth Day of Christmas, tomorrow is the Epiphany, or Three Kings' Day. That's the day when the three Magi, or Wise Men, visited baby Jesus and gifted him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In some cultures, little gifts are exchanged on that day as well, and I started doing that with my family a few years ago in order to extend the festive fun.

Merry Twelfth Day of Christmas to all!

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Festive Doodle of the Day

I got a couple of my new Christmas doodles finished up, scanned, and uploaded this weekend. I had a few belated Christmas gift doodles to finish up as well, and while I'm glad I got those completed, they did keep me from getting to all of the forgotten Christmas doodles I'd hoped to finish. That's okay, though, and you'll get to see those gift drawings I scribbled up very soon as well.

All that said, one of the new Christmas doodles I finally finished relates to the story I've been having fun writing. I've mentioned it a few times over the past year or two, and there are indeed some Christmas scenes in the part of the story I'm working on. This is the story I've mentioned that stars the extra special kitty named Hobo, who was heavily inspired by my own Evan. He of course gets some Christmas gifts from his human, which he finds under their makeshift Christmas tree.

The concept of their living conditions does play a role in the story, especially in the beginning. What's more, I included those details because I never want to forget where I came from. My family comes from very humble beginnings. The star on Hobo's tree in that drawing is based on the star that topped my family's early Christmas trees, and that star was a piece of cardboard wrapped in aluminum foil. I honestly love that. You might not always have something fancy or perfect, but you can always find a way to make the magic happen.

That's a lot of rambling. My apologies. I'll stop now. Yet again, Merry Twelfth Day of Christmas!

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Tip of the Day

Something that comes along with offering outdoor ferals and strays shelter, which we previously discussed, is warmth. There are a great many considerations to make when it comes to offering warmth to ferals on cold winter days. We'll start with considering the size of the space the cat will be occupying, such as the size of the shelter you have for ferals and strays, as that affects how heat is trapped. Shelters should of course be large enough to fit one or a couple cats, or even a few cats if you care for that many who get along. At the same time, though, the shelter should be small enough that cold air does not easily circulate throughout it. A shelter that is not too large will better trap and insulate heat. Another consideration to make when it comes to the shelter's construction and heat retention is the doorway. Though you don't want to block entry or exit or make ferals feel trapped inside a shelter, try your best to block drafts from entering through doorways. If possible, keep entrances faced away from the wind and drafts, such as by facing the doorways toward a wall of your house or other building, so that the shelter's entrance won't directly face open air.

In addition to the warmth that a shelter itself can offer, there are more direct heat sources that can be put out for ferals and strays. One simple option includes heating pads or beds that do not directly produce heat themselves, but that instead contain material that allows the bed to radiate heat. There are beds on the market that are said to warm to approximately the animal's body temperature when they are lying on it. There are also electric heating pads and heated beds that do indeed produce heat, allowing for immediate access to a warm place to sleep. Of course, always be cautious and aware of the dangers of burns and fires when electricity and heat comes into play, and go the safest route possible. That being said, also keep in mind that any bedding made with fabric, whether heated or not, can become and remain wet as well as dirty, and therefore can prevent a cat from wanting to use it. We'll further discuss bedding material in an outdoor shelter in tomorrow's tip.

All of the above being said, you can also go for heat lamps or some form of space heater to use inside an outdoor cat shelter. This is of course yet another option you have to research, though, to ensure that you get one that is safe for outdoor use, and that will be the most practical to prevent burns, fires, and so forth. All in all, when it comes to providing heating sources for outdoor ferals and strays, do your research and take all precautions possible. Always be aware of the dangers of burns or fires when it comes to electricity and heat, and choose and use heating sources accordingly and wisely.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Festively Fun Eddy on the Ninth Day of Christmas

Hello, friends! It's time 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 a New Year's tradition for me.

2. _________ is not the same as _________.

3. I would pick _________ as my theme song for 2026.

4. I'm a coward when it comes to _________ but brave when _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. Watching While You Were Sleeping as the clock strikes midnight is a New Year's tradition for me.
(While You Were Sleeping is a romantic comedy from 1995 starring Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman. Generally speaking, I'm not a fan of the romance genre. That said, I genuinely enjoy this movie. It's the only romcom I like, and it also takes place around Christmas and the New Year. My sister and I always go to my parents' house and we all ring in the New Year together by putting this movie on. We even sometimes manage for it to strike midnight as the characters are having their own New Year celebration.)

2. Saying is not the same as doing.
(I've known some people in my life who will say they're going to do something, and then they never do it. It drives me crazy when people act like saying something is just as good as doing it.)

3. I would pick "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen as my theme song for 2026.
(I feel like I picked this song for a similar fill-in in the past, but it's simply what immediately came to my mind. Not only is it my favorite Queen song, but it gives me a lot of energy. I also have a great deal I want to accomplish this year, so the theme of the song also just fits.)

4. I'm a coward when it comes to my own medical procedures but brave when my furry babies need medical care.
(I'm a bit of a wimp when any needles or other sharp tools approach me. I've found ways to manage my anxiety with that sort of thing, mostly that I don't look at what a needle or other tool is doing and that I have to lay down for blood draws, but I still can't keep some of that anxiety away when it comes to myself having anything like that done. When it comes to my furry babies, though, I can be present and keep a brave face. I used to work at a vet clinic and helped with lots of blood draws and surgeries there, and so it doesn't bother me when I'm helping a furry baby through a medical procedure. I'm glad that I'm far better at that sort of thing with my kitties than myself.)

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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We're making our way through the Twelve Days of Christmas, today being the ninth day, and Eddy's Christmas tree still excites her very much. So much so that she often gets quite active and blurry around it.

It's not even the official day of bloopers, but that's what my Eddy has for you all today nonetheless.

Merry Ninth Day of Christmas!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

Since I still need to scan and upload my new festive doodles for the final days of the Twelves Days of Christmas, I'm yet again sharing a flashback doodle. I always forget about this one until I go through my archive of drawings, but I'm always happy when I rediscover it. This one was inspired by A Christmas Carol and was clearly created for the New Year in 2023, though I've come to wish I hadn't put the actual year on it. So, let's just pretend it says 2026, shall we?

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip on caring for ferals and strays outdoors during the cold winter months is to, if possible, offer them some sort of shelter. Even a makeshift shelter is better than no shelter at all. For example, outdoor tables and chairs can be arranged to form a shelter under which a feral or stray can get some respite from direct inclement weather. Another cheap, makeshift option includes turning a Styrofoam cooler upside down to form a shelter, with a door cut out as an entrance. Other relatively cheap storage containers can also be used to create makeshift shelters, again simply by cutting out a door and ensuring that it is safe for use. Of course, if it is possible, you can also buy or build a sturdier, more permanent shelter, such as one constructed out of wood. Another option, although of course only if it is safe and free of dangers, is to allow ferals and strays to spend cold winter days or nights in a garage or shed. Again, only if they are free of potentially dangerous items, a garage or shed can be used as a warm place for ferals and strays to spend cold winter days or nights. All in all, if you are able to, consider setting up some form of shelter to help ferals and strays have some respite from the elements. Even a makeshift shelter formed out of materials you already have could be a great benefit to them. Our next couple of tips will discuss feral cat shelters and their components in more detail.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! We hope your 2025 ended beautifully, and that your 2026 is off to a blessed start. We're enjoying a peaceful beginning to this new year, which is a great segue into Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Thimble is of course here to share her gratitude, and she's not only thankful for a new year of new beginnings, but also for our Christmas village.

Thimble is always like Godzilla to those poor village folk. She tosses their houses around and stomps all over them, and she loves doing so.

Don't mind the fake bones on our platter and all that good stuff. On Tuesday Tonks shared a photo of our Christmas tree in which a skeleton's head could be seen peeking through the branches, so there's not much I can say other than our house is just a weird place.

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Of course we didn't forget about 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 New Year's tradition for me.

2. _________ is not the same as _________.

3. I would pick _________ as my theme song for 2026.

4. I'm a coward when it comes to _________ but brave when _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends! Happy New Year and Merry Eighth Day of Christmas!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

I worked on a couple of my in-progress festive doodles as I waited for the clock to strike midnight last night. We're still in the midst of the Twelve Days of Christmas and so the festiveness isn't over yet. That said, for today I'm actually still going to share a flashback doodle. That's because it's the sequel to the old New Year's Eve flashback doodle I shared yesterday. So, here you go.

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Tip of the Day

We've been discussing care of ferals and strays during the winter months, and over the past few days our discussions have all been about food and water. We do have yet another tip on this specific topic. When it comes to offering food to ferals and strays, try to keep the location and timing of the feedings as consistent as possible. Keeping a predictable feeding schedule and food location can help an outdoor cat know when and where they can find food. Conserving energy is a very important thing for outdoor animals in the winter, and knowing when and where they can successfully venture out for a meal can indeed help ferals and strays save much needed energy, rather than wasting their energy only to find no food present at their feeding station. Therefore, if you feed ferals and strays, keep in mind that it is very beneficial to the animals if you keep their food on a consistent schedule and in the same location.

Merry Seventh Day of Christmas and Happy New Year's Eve (With Angel Astrid)!

Today, I have a sweet memory of my sweet angel pup Astrid with some of my outdoor Christmas decor.

Those festive pieces are helping decorate my front yard again this year. We've been having lots of wind storms, though, and despite lots of tent stakes and other attempts to keep them standing, I've had to pick them up off the ground so many times lately. The poor reindeer keeps getting decapitated by the wind, but luckily his head is easy to reattach. And now that I'm looking at these photos, I'm pretty sure I put his antlers on backwards when I reinstalled his head just last night. That doesn't matter right now, though, as the best part are the memories I have of my dear Astrid.

Now, Merry Seventh Day of Christmas and Happy New Year's Eve to all! We hope the final hours of 2025 treat you well and bring you much peace and joy. What's more, we hope 2026 treats you with kindness and bestows you with many blessings.

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

I have 4 days off of work starting tomorrow, and so I hope to use that time to finally finish up some of my festive doodles that are in limbo and finally share them in the final days of the Twelve Days of Christmas. For today, though, I have a doodle I scribbled up for a New Year's Eve many, many years ago. It's yet another one I'd love to recreate in my more current style, but for now this is the original piece that I've shared on many New Year's Eves.

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip on winter feral care is to remember to put water out for ferals and strays you care for. This sounds and often feels impossible, given that water indeed freezes in cold temperatures. However, it is often possible to make water accessible to ferals or strays even in the winter months. Yesterday's tip discussed ways to successfully feed moist food to ferals in the winter, and most of those methods will also work for water. You can start by simply checking the water as often as possible, and removing ice or refreshing the water to ensure that it remains a liquid and not a frozen solid. You can also warm the water bowl, or even put out warm water, to delay its freezing. Other options include putting microwavable heat pads beneath the water bowl, using an electric heated bowl, or using another heat source in the area where the water is kept. With all such options, though, always keep safety in mind, and only choose and use heated products that best prevent burns and fires.

There are a couple of other considerations to make when putting water outside for ferals and strays in the winter months. To begin, try to keep water bowls elevated off of the cold ground as much as possible, to help keep it from freezing rapidly. In addition to this, using a deep bowl inside of a wide bowl will also help it to freeze less rapidly. Another option is to have a source of running water, such as by offering water in some sort of fountain, as moving water does not as easily freeze. And yet another way to help keep water from freezing rapidly in the winter is to put the bowl in the sun.

It also important to note that, as much as is possible, try to avoid putting water near where ferals or strays might sleep. This is because spills can indeed happen, and damp bedding material can make warmth and comfort difficult. So, there are many considerations to make when successfully offering water to ferals and strays in the winter months, but it is indeed possible, and of course also beneficial to them and their health.

Merry Sixth Day of Christmas (With Tonks, Another Tonks, and a Skeleton)!

This Tonks Tuesday brings us to the Sixth Day of Christmas. Indeed, as we've mentioned a couple of times, the Twelve Days of Christmas only begin on Christmas itself, and of course we celebrate them all the way until the end. And then some.

That said, today Tonks wanted to show off another shot of her with her favorite Christmas tree. Tonks is a bit blurry in this one, and the lighting is far from ideal, but there's one little detail in here that I just love. On the right side you'll see a figurine. I didn't realize this little character was visible when I snapped this photo, but it's quite fitting. It's a Funko Pop of a Harry Potter character, that character being Tonks, after whom my little calico is named.

If you look on the left side of that photo, through the Christmas tree you can also see the face of one of the skeletons that sits around in my house year round. I again didn't even notice this detail until after I'd taken the photo, but if suddenly noticing a skeletal face peeking through the Christmas tree doesn't sum up my house, I don't know what does.

Merry Sixth Day of Christmas, friends!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

Since I still need to scan and upload new festive doodles, as well as finish some that are sitting in limbo in my notebook, how about another doodle in the old series of houses from famous Christmas movies? This one is from Home Alone, of course with a kitty added into the mix.

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday we discussed feeding feral and stray cats outdoors in the cold winter months. As we mentioned, dry food is a good option in the winter as it will not freeze like moist food. However, moist food still has its benefits, and so today we're here to give some tips on how to feed moist food outdoors in the cold months with at least some success. To begin, you can resort to putting moist food out only when you know the cat or cats you feed are present, so that they will be able to eat it immediately, giving it little to no time to freeze. Sometimes, though, you might not know when a feral or stray cat will show up for a meal. In such cases, there are ways to potentially offer moist food to ferals and strays, without the moist food freezing rapidly.

To begin, you can simply check on the status of moist food as often as possible, and warm or replace food that has become frozen. What's more, a source of heat will obviously help keep moist food from freezing at a fast rate, although you of course have to ensure that this source of heat is safe. This could mean doing something as simple as warming the bowl in which you put the moist food, or warming the moist food itself, to a safe temperature. There are also both electric and non-electric heat sources that can work for keeping bowls and their contents warm. For example, there are microwavable or otherwise warmable heating pads that can be placed bowls to help prevent the rapid freezing of moist food that is fed to outdoor cats in the winter. There are also electric heated bowls that could keep moist food warm enough to prevent freezing. Other options of course include using a more extensive heat source within an entire feeding station or shelter, details which we will further discuss in upcoming tips. One important detail, though, as we mentioned just a few moments ago, is ensure that any heat source you use is safe and that it will not cause burns or fires. Always do your research before using any item that entails electricity and heating, and choose and use accordingly and wisely.

The last note to make here is that you should still of course make sure that moist food is not spoiling, such as if it manages to get too warm or sits out for too long. If a heated bowl or heat pad causes moist food to remain warm for long periods of time, do be sure to remove any uneaten food prior to spoilage. It might be cold outside during the winter months, but depending on the methods you use and the duration of time that outdoor cats' moist food is sitting out, it is always best to be aware of the potential for gastrointestinal or other issues that could result from the consumption of spoiled food.