Mancat Monday with Evan's Legs

Today's Mancat Monday post is in honor of none other than my boy Evan's extra special back legs. For anyone who doesn't know or doesn't remember, Evan is hind limb paralyzed. This has been the case since he was roughly 6 weeks old, and at 12 years old now, he's very accustomed to getting around in his own unique way. This involves dragging his back legs behind him when he walks, sitting with his legs off to the side when he's at rest, and that sort of thing.

All that said, I love my boy's legs. So, here's a view of how his back legs sometimes look when he's doing his thing around the house.

We also have a bonus shot for you, that being my boy taking a bath. He is able to lick his back legs, at least in part, and that event looks a little like this:

My amazing boy Evan and all of us here wish you a magnificent Monday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I've shared this doodle below before, as is the case when I share flashbacks. I might have even shared this one in the past few months. I can't remember, but it fits well with the photos above, so I want to share it.

I actually scribbled that up as an illustration for the story I'm writing. Not only does the human gal in that story have her very own special needs kitty, but she also likes to draw, and so she did indeed doodle her own kitty's extra special legs.

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Tip of the Day

Many Thanksgiving dinners include bread, rolls, biscuits, or other doughy goods. That being said, be cautious and aware when baking bread around dogs and cats. If a pup or kitty consumes unbaked bread dough, especially that which contains yeast, serious side effects could result. For example, unbaked break dough can expand inside the warm intestinal tract, which can in turn result in life-threatening bloat, twisted stomach, and other potential issues. Yeast in unbaked bread dough not only can result in bloat, though. It can also ferment. Such fermentation produces alcohols, which can then be absorbed into the bloodstream and result in alcohol poisoning. Needless to say, unbaked bread dough can be very dangerous, or even deadly, if consumed by a cat or dog. So, never leave unbaked bread dough unattended. Keep your kitty or pup out of the kitchen, or do whatever else you must to keep your kitty or pup from giving that dough and other dangerous Thanksgiving feast foods a taste test.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy in Her Chair

Hello, 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. My first celebrity crush was _________.

2. If I could make up a new holiday it would be called _________.

3. _________ is the last thing on my mind these days.

4. If my _________ could talk, it would probably tell me _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. My first celebrity crush was a ninja turtle.
(I've never really had a celebrity crush, at least not that I can recall. I do remember as a kid thinking that the teenage mutant ninja turtles were pretty darn cool, though. After all, they were popular in my childhood, and I did watch a lot of the movies and the cartoon from the '80s and '90s. I'm not sure I'd call that an actual crush, but it's all I can think of to put for this one.)

2. If I could make up a new holiday it would be called Creepmas.
(I most certainly did not come up with this idea or term. There are quite a few people out there who, like myself, love both Halloween and Christmas. I've seen many such people online put up trees and other decor that they refer to as a Creepmas style, as in creepy Christmas. I've seen black Christmas trees, or Christmas trees filled with ravens and other macabre ornaments. Or people who put out decor involving Krampus or some of the other spooky Christmas lore out there. While Christmastime itself is all about reds and greens and classic Christmas to me, I wouldn't mind if some of the time between Halloween and Christmas became a Creepmas holiday.)

3. Summer is the last thing on my mind these days.

(We had some gorgeous autumnal days the past couple weeks. Then we got snow this week. My mind is so far away from summer, which is why our next couple of 70-75°F days are not making me feel very festive.)

4. If my furry family could talk, it would probably tell me to stop singing.

(I sing random, often nonsensical songs all the time. I've been noticing it a lot lately, and I won't even know how long I've been doing it. It got me thinking what my poor kitties must think, and wondering whether or not it annoys them. I can't see how it wouldn't, the poor things.)

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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Who's ready for an Eddy fix? All of you? Well, you're lucky, because Eddy is here to grace you with her adorable presence. Even better, you get typical Eddy bloopers, which are blurry and which I had to brighten since Eddy's favorite place to sit is a dark corner.

That's Eddy sitting on one of her favorite blankets on a chair my sister gifted me years ago. I essentially never get to use that chair, as Eddy has claimed it as completely and totally hers.

As if that photo above wasn't blurry and grainy enough, how about this one?

I love Eddy's crooked yawn on her crooked little face. The facial nerve paralysis that stuck around even after she recovered from a kittenhood neurological disorder gives her some of the cutest expressions, including when she's yawning. Oh, and don't mind the clothes hanging behind Eddy. Her beloved chair there has found its home more or less in my closet. After all, I ended up having to push the chair out of the way since I never got to use it anyway, and Eddy has always loved sleeping in the closet, so why not just put her chair in there?

Eddy and all of us here wish you a fantastic Friday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Like yesterday, today's flashback doodle is from a few years ago. I've actually recreated this one once already, as the first rendition was something rather crude that I scribbled up many, many years ago. Even this somewhat newer version below is a tad bit outdated with regard to my preferred color palette and slight changes in my drawing style. Until I recreate it yet again, though, here you go.

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Tip of the Day

Continuing on with our Thanksgiving dinner tips, yet another common holiday dish is white potatoes, such as mashed potatoes. When it comes to feeding your furbaby white potatoes, those that are cooked and plain can be a reasonable treat in moderation. When additional ingredients are added, though, then you have to start being extra cautious about offering potatoes as a treat. For example, butter or sour cream might cause gastrointestinal distress, especially for cats and dogs who are lactose intolerant. In addition, as we've said before, added ingredients such as garlic, onion, or excess salt can potentially be dangerous if consumed by a kitty or pup. So, you  can let your furbaby try out those mashed potatoes, but first make be sure to take into account how they're prepared.

In addition to white potatoes, Thanksgiving is also often a popular time for sweet potato dishes. If plain and simple, sweet potatoes can make for a great treat for a kitty or pup. They are a great source of fiber and vitamin A, as well as vitamin C, potassium, and a variety of other beneficial nutrients. Plain steamed, baked, or mashed sweet potatoes would be a great treat to allow your kitty or pup during that Thanksgiving dinner. That all being said, though, do be cautious of dishes such as sweet potato casserole. These altered versions of sweet potato often contain added sugar, sugary marshmallows, and other potential seasonings or ingredients that could be unhealthy or lead to gastrointestinal side effects. So, sweet potatoes are a great treat to offer that furbaby in your life, but do be sure it's of the plain and healthy variety. Just as with white mashed potatoes, make sure you know how sweet potatoes are prepared prior to letting your furbaby have a taste.

Not So Grumpy on Thankful Thimble Thursday

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

Today, Thimble is again grateful for fleece blankets, and for how adorable her face is even when a bit grumpy looking.

Honestly, Thimble wasn't even grumpy when this photo was taken. This tabby girl is a ham for the camera, but sometimes, right before she shoves her face at the camera, she gets that there serious look on her face. She was quite happily purring when this photo was snapped, so don't let that cute little face fool you.

Thimble hopes that seeing her grumpy-but-not-grumpy face made your day that much brighter!

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And now we of course have 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. My first celebrity crush was _________.

2. If I could make up a new holiday it would be called _________.

3. _________ is the last thing on my mind these days.

4. If my _________ could talk, it would probably tell me _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is from quite a few years ago. I've changed some of my preferred color palette and a bit of my drawing style since then, but I still wanted to share it for its autumnal vibes. It's yet another oldie that I'd love to recreate soon.

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday we discussed whether it was safe to feed your furbaby a taste of that Thanksgiving turkey. Another food you might find on the Thanksgiving table is ham. Is this safe to feed your furbaby, though? Ham, like turkey potentially can be, is often high in fat. Ham is also often processed or treated, and can possibly contain high amounts of salt. These factors can lead to any number of issues, such as gastrointestinal distress or pancreatitis, especially if consumed in excess by your kitty or pup. And, just as we've said of other Thanksgiving foods, also be aware of other potentially concerning ingredients added to ham, such as onion and garlic. While very small amounts might not have an effect for some furbabies, do be aware of the potential side effects that fatty, processed, treated, or seasoned ham can cause.

It's also worth noting to be aware of the contents and preparation of chicken, beef, and all meats served at your Thanksgiving dinner. These can all potentially contain problematic fat, or additives such as onion, garlic, salt, and so forth. To prevent pancreatitis, gastrointestinal distress, or other issues, either refrain from giving your furbaby a taste at all, or give treats only in moderation and only when you are certain that the food contains no potentially dangerous components.

Autumnal Adventures with Angel Astrid

Around this time last year, I took my sweet angel pup Astrid on a walk where we saw this gorgeous tree. A well-placed sunray added a little extra something to the photo.

The other day, I walked that same path by myself. When I went past that tree, it looked the exact same way, half red and half green. I immediately remembered this photo of my dear pup, and I almost took a photo of the tree on this year's walk. Ultimately, though, I decided not to take the photo. I honestly didn't want the before and after shots, with the after being without my sweet girl. So, I'll just remember that there autumnal tree by way of this memory with my Astrid.

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

We still have a bit of snow on the ground. When it first snowed the other day, I still had one Halloween/autumnal decoration in my yard, that being my scarecrow. There have been multiple years that snow has covered my Halloween decorations, and one of those times was on Halloween itself. Of course, the snow got me in the mood for Christmas. All that to say, here's yet another doodle I scribbled up a couple years ago, in honor of the holidays getting a little confusing this time of year.

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Tip of the Day

Our series of tips relating to Thanksgiving food safety of course must include a little discussion on turkey. Is it safe to feed your kitty or pup some Thanksgiving turkey? Turkey bits fed in moderation can be a safe and delicious treat, but only as long as excess fat and bones are removed. Fat can lead to pancreatitis, among other potential issues. Bones are a choking hazard, and of course can also lead to perforation or obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract. Also keep in mind whether any additional ingredients, seasonings, or other additives were used when cooking the turkey. For example, onion, garlic, or excess salt on the turkey could potentially lead to gastrointestinal upset or other dangers. So, you don't have to skip giving your furbaby a taste of that Thanksgiving turkey, but do be sure you offer treats only in moderation, and that you take precautions for the health and safety of your furbaby.

Tonks Tuesday with the Cute Calico

It's Tonks Tuesday, so of course you get to enjoy seeing the cute calico herself.

Look at those majestic whiskers! And that entire adorable face! Tonks hopes seeing her cuteness helped brighten your day.

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I recently shared last year's "Happy Hallowthanksmas" doodle. Now, how about the one I scribbled up a few years ago for November sometimes confused holiday vibes? Here you go.

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip in our Thanksgiving series is about pie. As we've said on many occasions over time, plain pumpkin contains fiber and other nutrients that can have benefits for our furbabies and their health. That being said, though, not all components of Thanksgiving pies are as equally beneficial. For example, another popular Thanksgiving dessert is pecan pie, but do be cautious with this around your furbabies. Pecans are not particularly safe to feed your pup or kitty. One reason is simply that pecans can cause an upset gastrointestinal tract, and could also lead to bowel obstruction. Also take into consideration any other pies you make and what ingredients they contain. For example, chocolate pies or those containing raisins are of course dangerous to cats and dogs. What's more, when it comes to any kind of pie—whether it be pumpkin, pecan, or another—added sugars and other potential added ingredients can be less than ideal for our kitties and pups to consume. So, when you're making or eating those Thanksgiving pies, keep dangerous ingredients and the final products well out of reach of your furbaby.

Mancat Monday with Megacolon and a Nap

It's Mancat Monday, and Evan is recovering after a rough weekend with his megacolon. We finally got all of that resolved, though, and he's feeling much better now. Though, he is a bit tired.

Behind Evan there is one of our Halloween decorations that's still out, as I haven't yet parted with the spooky season inside my house. But, Mother Nature is ready to move on, as she gave us 2" of snow overnight.

Evan and all of us here send you warm wishes!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is in honor of something I'm really trying to focus on and accomplish this month. November is known as National Novel Writing Month, and so there are a variety of writing challenges going on. As someone who loves to write and always has writing projects in the works, and who would love to publish some of those some day, I always try to write more than usual in the month of November. It often doesn't go well, but I always try. It might have been last November that I scribbled up this doodle, which shows some of my personal essentials when writing.

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Tip of the Day

From now through Thanksgiving Day here in the US, we're going to give some tips on food safety. After all, Thanksgiving is a time when we humans tend to indulge in all sorts of tasty foods. That being said, though, some of those foods are not ideal or safe for our kitties or pups to eat. We've given many tips like these over time, but this seems like the perfect season to repeat some of them.

Let's start with the obvious foods that most of you likely already know to be dangerous. For example, foods in the Allium species, such as onion and garlic, can be dangerous to cats and dogs. Be careful to keep those out of reach when cooking with them, and of course keep out of your furbaby's reach any foods that contain them. What are some of the other obvious ones? Grapes and raisins, such as if you have a fruit dish set out or if you've made a dessert with raisins, should be kept away from your kitty or pup. And don't forget the toxicity that chocolate and alcohol can pose to cats and dogs. Many tasty foods find their way to the table for Thanksgiving, but some of them are dangerous to our kitties and pups. Always be aware of that, and plan your menu, food placement, and general kitchen safety protocols accordingly.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Festive Wait

Hello, 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. My November to do list includes _________ and _________.

2. I find the song _________ annoying.

3. Currently, I'm ahead on _________ but behind on _________.

4. I'm unbeatable at _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. My November to do list includes pumpkin baking and Christmas art.
(I bake lots of pumpkin goodies in November. Who doesn't? I always at the very least make pumpkin pie and pumpkin cookies, usually more than once. I also often scribble up lots of Christmas drawings this month. See more on that in #3 below.)

2. I find the song "All I Want for Christmas Is You" annoying.
(I didn't used to dislike this song, especially some of the covers I used to enjoy. But now it's just, well, everywhere. And there are so many online jokes of it being played early to kick Halloween out of the lineup, and that just makes me sad. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas and Christmas music, but I'm more into the true classics that aren't forced on you well before Halloween.)

3. Currently, I'm ahead on Christmas shopping but behind on Christmas drawings.

(I'm over halfway done with Christmas shopping and plan to be done in the next week or two. But, I haven't even started my drawing for our Christmas card, let alone any other festive doodles I want to get ahead on. I really hope to get started on those this weekend.)

4. I'm unbeatable at overthinking.

(I'm probably not actually unbeatable at this, as I know lots of people overthink and dwell. After all, it's a very human thing. But, sometimes my mind makes me feel like I'm overthinking beyond what's normal. I'm probably not, but what's overthinking for if not to make you feel like a weirdo.)

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 talked about Christmas above, and Eddy's ready for her year-round Christmas tree to finally be lit up with lights again. And for it to have that giant red ribbon on top that she likes to rip off and shred a little more each year. Right now, though, her tree is still bland and boring. See it all naked back behind Eddy in this photo?

We always try to give Thanksgiving its time in our house, but we decorate for Christmas starting on Thanksgiving night and have everything up by the end of Black Friday. So, you only have to wait a bit longer for your tree to be good and festive, Eddy.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

This time of year always feels so jumbled with holidays. I love Halloween and always celebrate it into early November, but then soon after I'm in the mood for Christmas, but you can't forget about Thanksgiving here in the USA, so then I end up scribbling up confused doodles like this:

Happy Hallowthanksmas!

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Tip of the Day

We're not finished with our Pet Cancer Awareness Month tips just yet. Today we want to remind you all that, just like us humans, it is possible for our furbabies to be affected by cigarette smoke, and cancer could potentially develop as a result. For this reason, if you smoke, avoid doing this in the home or around your kitty or pup. In addition, when out in public, do your best to keep your furbabies away from areas where smoking is common. Smoking affects more than just the smoker, so for the sake of both yourself and your furbaby, do try to avoid it.