The Letter S and Stunning Angel Astrid

Hello and welcome to another day of the April A to Z Challenge!

I'm still sharing fan art covers for some of my favorite books as my contribution to the alphabetical challenge. My covers all star mostly cats, but also sometimes other animals.

Today we've reached the letter S. You'd think this letter would be easy to find a title to match. When I was rigging the alphabet in order to squeeze in all the books I wanted to share this month, though, I ended up making S stand for Scrooge. And so, today we have A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

[Reminder/Disclaimer/whatever you want to call it: This is not a real, true cover of this book. Believe it or not, my name is also not Charles Dickens, and so I am admittedly not the author of this book. I'm just someone who likes books and animals and so drew this unofficial furry version of this book's cover.]

As I mentioned yesterday, in order to accomplish my neglected writing goals for this month, I'll now likely be sharing book covers mostly created from older doodles I completed over the past couple or few years. Today's cover uses part of my Christmas card image from 2024. It stars my now angel pup Astrid as Scrooge, and my extra special orange boy Evan as Tiny Tim. Our housemate Toby also made it onto this cover, while the other kitties unfortunately got (mostly) cropped out to make this image a book cover.

Also, I'll admit that I do find certain literary classics to be slow and boring reads. I worried that would be the case when I first read A Christmas Carol many years ago, but it wasn't. This story involves Christmas and spooky things, both of which I'm a big fan. I really enjoy reading this frightfully festive tale.

***

And, of course, it's time to share a memory of my sweet angel pup Astrid. This one is from a beautiful walk a few years ago. I remember scrambling to get my phone out to snap this shot when Astrid stopped to stand in this stunning scene.

Wishing you all lots of sunshine of your own today!

***

Tip of the Day

 

We've gotten into the habit of repeating series of tips from the past, but some topics are worth it. And so, just as we've done the past few years, we're now sharing a series of tips on pet safety in the spring. Today's springtime tip is one that we've shared far more than once before, and that is to always be aware and cautious of the plants you have both in your garden and in your house. Some of the springtime plants that can be highly toxic to our furbabies include certain lilies, daffodils, and tulips. The list most certainly does not end there, though.

All of the above is why, before you bring any plants anywhere near your kitty or pup, always do your research and understand any potential toxicity. One good resource for finding out the potential toxicity of plant types is by perusing the ASPCA's extensive information on plants, which you can find by clicking here. In short, to keep your furbaby safe this spring, of course be aware of any and all plants with which they come in contact. And, of course, if you have any concern that your furbaby may have gained access to a toxic plant, seek veterinary assistance as soon as possible.

The Letter R and Tonks in a Box

Hello and welcome to another edition of the April A to Z Challenge!

I'll go ahead and repeat myself by saying that this month I'm creating fan art covers for some of my favorite books. Most of these covers also star cats. Today we've reached the letter R, which I've made stand for raven. As in, well, "The Raven". I've been a fan of Edgar Allan Poe's macabre stories and poems for a very long time. One of my favorite is indeed "The Raven", but today I created a cover for all of Poe's works. I have a number of books with this exact sort of title, including an antique omnibus from the 1800s that my sister got for me. But, here's my version, starring not only a raven but also Poe's beloved tortie, Cattarina.

[Reminder/Disclaimer/whatever you want to call it: This is not a real, true book cover, and I am also most certainly not Edgar Allan Poe. I'm just someone who likes books and animals and so drew this unofficial version of this cover.]

That cover is indeed created with an old doodle from many years ago. Truth be told, while I got a ton of new doodles done for the beginning of the alphabet's covers, I've now fallen behind on this month's art. What's more, I not only wanted to create these book covers for the April A to Z Challenge, but I hoped to partake in a writing challenge also going on this month. My writing has really fallen on the back burner as I've worked on my alphabetical drawings. So, in order to give my writing project some attention this month as well, most or possibly all of my remaining book covers might be made using old doodles that I've created over the past few months or years. There will indeed still be a book cover for every remaining day of April, but I'm not sure how many, if any at all, will include the brand new doodles I had planned. I'm grateful that I do have hundreds of doodles from over the years that I can use if needed.

***

Now, you better believe we have adorable Tonks for you all to see today. This calico has really been into boxes lately. Well, she's always into boxes, but these days she loves taking her naps in them.

At least one box in the house now has a blanket in it for Tonks. I should get a photo of her snoozing in that one, as it's currently her favorite.

Happy Tuesday to all!

***

Tip of the Day

In case you forgot, April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. And, in case you forgot, we're doing a short series of tips on this topic. Today, we have a simple tip on how you can help prevent cruelty and neglect of animals. And that is simply to adopt your furbabies from shelters or rescues. Though there are indeed reputable and responsible breeders out there, there are also, unfortunately, a vast number of backyard breeders and puppy and kitty mills where animals are inhumanely treated as nothing but tools for the sake of human profit. By purchasing from such breeders or from pet shops, you are supporting the cruel treatment of the animals used by these breeders. So, please always consider adopting from shelters and rescues.

Also, as we're certain you already know, please also have your kitties and pups spayed or neutered. In addition, if you are able to do, consider assisting with trap-neuter-release (TNR) programs, which help reduce overpopulation both in the wild and in the shelter system. Strays, ferals, and even intact house pets can contribute to a large number of kittens and puppies being born in the wild. Sadly, these outdoor animals can make accessible and easy targets for cruel treatment from humans who wish them harm. We have all heard the terrible stories of animal cruelty inflicted on innocent creatures living outdoors. So, for more reasons than one, please also spay and neuter your pets, and consider assisting in TNR programs.

The Letter Q and Evan's Breakfast in Bed

We're two-thirds of the way through the April A to Z Challenge. Look at us go.

For this year's alphabetical challenge, I'm creating my own version of certain books' covers. And for today's letter, I took some major liberties. I've mostly been sharing covers for some of my favorite books, with my covers starring mostly cats. We're at the letter Q, and the title I'm sharing doesn't have that letter in it even once, nor does the author's name. What's more, I haven't actually read this text in full. My Q stands for the Questing Beast, a creature from Arthurian legend that has always highly intrigued me. While I haven't read any texts on King Arthur in full, in various English and literature courses I did enjoy reading various excerpts, including some from the this here text that includes the Questing Beast.

[Ready for me to repeat myself yet again? Well, here you go...Reminder/Disclaimer/whatever you want to call it: This is not a real, true cover of this book. My name is also not Thomas Malory, and so I am admittedly not the author of this tale. I'm just someone who likes books and fantastical creatures and so drew this unofficial version of this cover.]

That there doodle is one I actually scribbled up a few years ago. The Questing Beast has been described in various ways, depending on the source material. For my version, I went with the serpentine head and neck, the body of a deer, and the lion's tail. It's a weird looking thing, but I've been interested in the concept of the Questing Beast, in addition to King Arthur and Merlin, since I was a kid.

***

Now, it is indeed Mancat Monday. So, are you ready for none other than handsome Evan? Today, he's sharing how he enjoys breakfast in bed.

If I fail to bring Evan his bowl when he's snuggled up in a bed or on a blanket, he'll remind me. Loudly. I know my place.

Wishing you all a magnificent Monday!

***

Tip of the Day

As part of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, we are continuing our series of tips regarding this topic. Yesterday we mentioned some of the unfortunate forms of cruelty and neglect, and mentioned the importance of recognizing animal cruelty when you witness it. Today, we are giving some brief tips on what to do if you do witness animal cruelty.

First and foremost, if you witness animal cruelty, report it as soon as possible. You can report it to the police, including calling 911 if you believe it is an emergency at hand. You can also call your local animal control, humane society, or other organization that can offer help in the face of animal cruelty. If your local area does not offer help for animal cruelty, then call the Humane Society of the United States or other similar organization to see what can possibly be done.

What's more, if you do have animal cruelty to report, make sure that you have all the details and any evidence possible. Knowing the location, date, time, and of course the nature of the witnessed cruelty can be important for expediting the report and actions taken by police or other organizations. Try to tell them what types of animals and how many are involved, as well as details on any perpetrators you've seen. If possible, use that cell phone of yours to grab photos or video of any cruelty you are witnessing. Evidence in this form can really help to expedite the resolution of the issue.

When it comes to reporting animal cruelty, be persistent. Animals do not have the voice with which to speak up for themselves, so we must do it for them. If you are witnessing cruelty, be persistent in contacting those who can help, and follow up to ensure that there is resolution. Give the police, animal control, the humane society, or whoever is helping your contact information, so that they can contact you if needed. All in all, we must be the voice for the voiceless, so if you witness any form of animal cruelty or neglect, do all that you can to safely seek aid for the victim(s).

The Letter P

We've made it past the halfway mark of April, but we still have plenty of days left in the A to Z Challenge.

I'll again repeat myself and say that for this year's alphabetical challenge, I'm sharing my own far art covers for some of my favorite books. Even better, almost all of my covers star cats, because obviously.

Today, for the letter P, I have one final cover in that wild and chaotic series I mentioned many times early in the alphabet. That series is Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman. You know, that new fantasy series I've been enjoying over the past couple of years. It may be named after the titular character Carl, but I consider the real star of the show to be his talking Persian tortie cat, Princess Donut. For the letter P, this series has to offer A Parade of Horribles.

[Reminder/Disclaimer/whatever you want to call it: This is not a real, true cover of this book. My name is also not Matt Dinniman, and so I am admittedly not the author of this book. I'm just someone who likes books and cats and so drew this unofficial feline version of the book's cover.]

Truth be told, that there book isn't even out yet. It comes out in May. I'm very excited to read it, but as of right now all I know is the basic synopsis of the book. I know that the characters are partaking in races, but that's about it. It's therefore probably a wildly inaccurate cover, but I wanted to draw tortie Princess Donut one more time.

Happy Caturday to all!

***

Tip of the Day

 

April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. For this reason, we're going to have a bit of a series of tips on how to recognize potential cases of cruelty, as well as what we can do to help. Today, we're going to start by giving a simple overview of what cruelty can look like. First, of course physical abuse toward an animal is cruelty. Neglect is another form of cruelty, and can include situations such as when an animal is left outdoors in extreme or unlivable conditions with no shelter, food, or water. In a similar line of thought is hoarding, which can include too large of an animal population for the space provided, extremely unsanitary conditions, and lack of nutritional, medical, and other basic care for the animals. Another example of neglect and cruelty to animals is abandoning an animal, such as in a vacated home or outdoors. Other examples of cruelty to animals include leaving an animal alone in a hot, or even cold, car, as well as any form of dog fighting.

There are, sadly, a great many examples of animal cruelty and neglect. Since animals can't speak for themselves, it is of course important that we all be aware of what cruelty is, and what forms it can take. Our vigilance and diligence may be the only way for some innocent, helpless animals out there to receive the help and care they need. So, do make sure that you are aware of the sad yet true facts of animal cruelty and neglect. This way, you can know it when you see it, and can thereby seek help for the afflicted animal or animals.

Friendly Fill-Ins, the Letter O, and Adorable Eddy

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. If I had to choose a fictional world to live in it would be _________.

2. _________ is a book or movie that changed my life.

3. As a kid, I gave _________ the name _________.

4. If I had a parrot, I would teach it to say _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. If I had to choose a fictional world to live in it would be Hogwarts and its magical surroundings.

(For me, this would actually be a tie between the aforementioned world from Harry Potter and Middle-earth from J.R.R. Tolkien's works. But, I let Harry Potter have this one since Tolkien gets #2 below. The magical worlds of Harry Potter and Middle-earth were both introduced to me as a kid, and they brought me so much joy. They still do. I'd truly visit them if I could.)

2. The Hobbit is a book that changed my life.

(It might be odd to have a fiction book as an answer to this sort of question, especially one in the fantasy genre. But, here we are. I've mentioned before the sentimental value Tolkien's The Hobbit has for me, as I remember my dad reading it to me as a bedtime story when I was a toddler. My dad also hand-drew a map of Middle-earth in his youth, and it hung in my playroom and fascinated me for my entire childhood. The Hobbit is what really got me into the world of stories and sparked my desire to consume as well as create them myself.)

3. As a kid, I gave my budgie bird the name Robin.

(My family had a budgie named Pippin when I was young. Linking this to my answers above, Pippin was named after a character from Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, as were my first kitties Rosie and Sammy. But I digress. Budgie Pippin was my first real companion animal, before I even had kitties or pups in my life. I remember sweet Pippin and his big personality, even though he passed when I was only 4 or so years old. Soon after that, my parents got my sister and I each our own budgie bird. I've always loved robins, even when I was a small child, and I remember thinking it would be so funny to name my decidedly non-robin budgie bird after, well, a robin. And so that's what I did.)

4. If I had a parrot, I would teach it to say the lyrics to (Don't Fear) The Reaper.
(I was really trying to think of something different and more clever to put for this, but I'm coming up empty. That said, I wouldn't mind if a parrot wanted to sing me my favorite song. In addition, if anyone ever tried to break into my house, maybe hearing Blue Ӧyster Cult's (Don't Fear) The Reaper in a parrot's squawking voice would scare them away.)

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.

***

Now it's time for another day of the April A to Z Challenge.

I'm of course still sharing fan art covers for some of my favorite books, but of course my book covers all star cats or other animals. Today we've reached the letter O, and for this one I let myself use an older doodle that matched the book I wanted to share. And that is the whimsical fantasy book Od Magic by Patricia McKillip, which is more or less about a magical gardener who attends a magical school.

[Reminder/Disclaimer/whatever you want to call it: This is not a real, true cover of this book. My name is also not Patricia McKillip, and so I am admittedly not the author of this book. I'm just someone who likes books and cats and so drew this unofficial feline version of the book's cover.]

I have a few other covers coming up for which I'll be using old doodles, just like I did for this one here. It's a bit of a crazy month, and so I told myself I was allowed to use old doodles for these book covers if I wasn't able to complete all of my new drawings in time. I'm determined to complete the full April A to Z Challenge because I'm really enjoying making these book covers, so I'd rather recycle and spruce up old drawings than have nothing to offer at all.

***

And now we're of course here to give you your Eddy fix. Are you ready for the adorable lady and her gorgeous eyes? Here you go!

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

***

Tip of the Day

The last parasite we'll be discussing in this parasitic series of tips is Toxoplasma gondii, which causes the disease known as toxoplasmosis. Though different animals can be affected, including cats, dogs, and humans, cats are the most prevalent. A cat can get toxoplasmosis from eating the infected muscle or organs of an animal, such as by eating a mouse or uncooked meat. The parasite can thereafter be passed through the cat's feces, and then other cats, dogs, or humans can acquire the disease after coming into contact with and ingesting such fecal matter.

Some cats with toxoplasmosis will display symptoms such as fever, lethargy, respiratory distress, or neurological disturbances. Symptoms are most often seen in cats who are immunocompromised, such as young kittens or the geriatric and sick. In most cases, though, especially in grown, healthy cats, no symptoms are noticed. It is even possible for a cat to indeed have toxoplasmosis for years, but to simply never display symptoms. This can also be the case in other animals, including humans. That being said, developing babies in utero can be at high risk for toxoplasmosis. This is why it is often recommended that women refrain from scooping their cat's litter box when pregnant.

To help prevent the transmission of toxoplasmosis, you can keep your kitty indoors, where they are less likely to come into contact with the feces of an infected animal or to ingest infected tissue from prey. Also ensure that any meat you feed your cat is cooked. Also keep all litter boxes scooped and cleaned. To protect yourself, always wash your hands well after scooping the litter box. Accidental transmission can occur simply from a person scooping the litter, not thoroughly washing their hands, and then touching their mouths or food. Dogs can also acquire toxoplasmosis by ingesting fecal matter, so keep your dogs away the litter box and fecal material they might find outdoors.

We're sure you all know this by now, but if you notice any concerning symptoms in your kitty, of course always have them examined by a veterinarian. Any questions or concerns regarding your cat's risk for diseases such as toxoplasmosis can of course be discussed with your vet as well. Even diseases such as toxoplasmosis, which often give off no symptoms at all, can be lethal in a compromised, untreated furbaby. So, as always, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

The Letter N and Thimble's Thanks

It's time for another letter of the alphabet. After all, we're now just past halfway through the April A to Z Challenge.

I'm still alphabetically sharing fan art covers for some of my favorite books, but of course they all star cats or occasionally other animals. Today we've reached the letter N. I haven't read anywhere near all of Stephen King's books, but I have read quite a few of them. One of my favorites is one that I don't see mentioned terribly often, and that is Needful Things.

[Reminder/Disclaimer/whatever you want to call it: This is not a real, true cover of this book. I am also most certainly not Stephen King, and so I am admittedly not the author of this book. I'm just someone who likes books and cats and so drew this unofficial feline version of the book's cover.]

Needful Things involves a sketchy antique shop and its even sketchier owner who uses his transactions to wreak havoc on a small town. In order to keep up with the A to Z book covers in the midst of a busy month, I told myself that I was allowed to use old doodles when needed. And that's what I did for this one, as I remembered scribbling up that there kitty in a storefront, and it seemed fitting enough for my feline version of this book cover.

***

Now, you better believe Thimble is here to participate in Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Thimble's gratitude is a bit of a repeat, but she can't help herself. After all, she's always so very thankful for sunshine, as well as for her adorably big ears that help her hear the opening of her beloved baby food jars.

Of course, both Thimble and myself are also just generally grateful for how adorable that face is. Honestly, look at it. Just look it. You better believe it always gets Thimble her way.

***

And now, of course, we 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. If I had to choose a fictional world to live in it would be _________.

2. _________ is a book or movie that changed my life.

3. As a kid, I gave _________ the name _________.

4. If I had a parrot, I would teach it to say _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

 

We're back to our tips on parasites that can affect our furbabies. Two days ago we gave a tip on Giardia, and the parasite of today is very similar to this. Today's parasite is coccidia, which is another single-celled protozoa that can infect the intestinal tract. Coccidia is similar to Giardia in more than just that regard, though. Just like Giardia, coccidia most commonly causes diarrhea, and is passed in the feces. It is also possible for a furbaby to become infected with coccidia if they ingest an infected rodent.

Also just like with Giardia, sometimes a cat or dog will show no signs of infection even if they have coccidia in their intestinal tract. Young kittens or puppies, geriatric furbabies, and those otherwise medically compromised are at the highest risk. In compromised cats and dogs, diarrhea caused by coccidia infection can lead to dehydration and other complications, which can be life-threatening.

Like the broken record that we are, we're of course reminding you again to keep an eye on your furbaby when outdoors, and to keep their environment as sanitary as possible. As we said earlier, ingesting the feces of another animal infected with coccidia can lead to infection. Also ingesting debris or water near where such animal defecated could lead to an infection with coccidia.

And, again, if your furbaby has diarrhea, seek veterinary care as soon as possible. Take a fecal sample to the appointment, so that your veterinarian can do a test for coccidia and other parasites. When a diagnosis is made, discuss with the veterinarian the treatment options. Give prescribed medications, which may include antibiotics, probiotics, or another, and do so for as long as the veterinarian prescribes. Stopping medications early, even if symptoms subside, can result in a recurrence. Then again, if a treatment plan is not working, discuss that with your veterinarian as well. Diarrhea, among any number of symptoms, is not to be taken lightly, so do your best to stay on top of it.

Happy Birthday, Evan! (...and the Letter M)

We're going to start today with something very special...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EVAN!

It is indeed my sweet orange boy's birthday. He's 13 years old. I genuinely cannot believe that number. I'm so grateful for every single one of those 13 years I've spent with him, and I hope to have many, many more years with my baby boy.

Evan has come a long way in these past 13 years. When I first met him, I worked at a vet clinic and someone had left him in a carrier at the front door. He was just 6 weeks old, barely even 1 lb, and he was a mess. Not only did he have a nasty upper respiratory infection and diarrhea caused by coccidiosis, but he was dragging his back legs behind him.

I'm sorry these photos of very young Evan are so low quality. I regret that I failed to ever take photos of him myself while he was at the clinic. We weren't allowed to have our phones on us while on the clock at the clinic, and I should have just ignored that rule. But, years ago I did download these grainy photos the veterinarian had uploaded to the clinic's Facebook page. I'm glad I grabbed those photos back then, because that clinic is now out of business and none of these photos are otherwise available to me. That's all beside the point, though.

The person who left Evan at the clinic's front door left a note with him. It said that Evan had been a barn cat along with his mama kitty and his littermates. Unfortunately, a coyote had gotten into the barn, and Evan was the only survivor. Whatever happened in that barn, Evan survived, but he was left paralyzed in his back legs.

At the clinic we did try various treatments on Evan's hind legs, but none of them regained his ability to use them. Evan had a lot of life and spunk in him, though, and he didn't let those defunct legs get him down.

That there is the first photo I have of me with my sweet boy. That was before I ever officially adopted him. I feel terrible that Evan went through what he did as a tiny little guy, but I'm so grateful he came into my life.

Rest assured, Evan has never let his hind limb paralysis get him down. He runs and plays, in his own special way, and I love seeing his tenacity in everything he does.

Evan will be getting some new toys and lots of treats today, and of course lots of cuddles. A couple years ago I got him this here "I'm kind of a big dill" pickle toy for his birthday, and he still loves it to this day. It also pretty much sums up how awesome he is.

Last year I scribbled up Harry Potter-esque birthday doodles for all of my furry babies, and I'm going to share Evan's again now.

Yet again...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EVAN!

I love you so much, Evan. I hope your day and year and everything in between is the best of the best.

***

Now, we do have today's April A to Z Challenge contribution.

As I've mentioned many times now, this year for the alphabetical challenge I'm drawing my own covers for some of my favorite books. No matter the subject matter of the story, all of my book covers will star cats, or occasionally other animals.

Today we've reached the letter M. I was in my early 20s when I started looking into reading more modern fantasy books, but I was in the mood for some sort of urban fantasy with lots of fantastical creatures in a more current setting. In that vein, the bookish site known as Goodreads recommended to me a book called Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia. I know that sounds pretty wild, and it was, and I enjoyed it immensely. It was one of my main introductions to the modern, urban fantasy reads that I now enjoy reading. All that rambling aside, here's my feline cover for Monster Hunter International.

[Reminder/Disclaimer/whatever you want to call it: This is not a real, true cover of this book. My name is also not Larry Correia, and so I am admittedly not the author of this book. I'm just someone who likes books and cats and so drew this unofficial feline version of the book's cover.]

We'll be back with more wacky weirdness tomorrow!

***

Tip of the Day

For today's tip, of course in Evan's honor, we'd just like to remind you all that special needs animals—or specially abled, a term that I find far more accurate—can still live happy, healthy lives in which they thrive. Specially abled animals can include those of all wonderful types, such as those with physically special attributes, like Evan. In addition, special abled animals can include those with known medical diseases or anomalies, such as diabetes, kidney disease, disorders of the thyroid, deafness, blindness, and cerebellar hypoplasia, just to name a few.

That all being said, if you are ever thinking of adopting, fostering, or even sponsoring an animal, don't forget those who are specially abled. Many of these animals are passed over at shelters, or even, sadly, euthanized. They are often deemed "imperfect" or "unadoptable", when the exact opposite is the truth. These animals may be different, yes, and they are indeed special. That being said, they also have so much much life, love, and lessons to offer.

Of course, though, we also have to note that when it comes to adopting a specially abled animal, always do your research, take all factors into consideration, and decide whether it is wise or possible for you to bring home a specially abled furbaby. Especially depending on their condition, these special furbabies can often of course live happy, healthy, long lives. But, again depending on their condition, their care may take additional effort, resources, and financing.

So, all in all, don't forgot those specially abled furbabies out there. They have so much to offer, and they can teach us all so much.