Friendly Fill-Ins and Glamorous 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. _________ was money well spent.

2. _________ was a big waste of money.

3. If I became famous, it would most likely be because _________.

4. _________ was the worst hairstyle I've ever had.


My answers are below in bold.

1. Getting gutter guards was money well spent.

(This is such a random answer, and one that proves I'm getting old. That said, my mom and I were talking about it recently, and so here we are. When I had my roof replaced after hail damage a few years ago, I almost didn't get the gutter guards that they roofers recommended. Home insurance covered a good chunk of my roof repair, but I ended up having to fork out a hefty sum for lumber. For that reason, I considered saving money by foregoing the gutter guards, which weren't all that cheap either. I ended up getting them, though, and I am so glad I did. My gutters stay completely clear of leaves and other debris, never clog up, I never have to climb up there to clean them out, and here I am singing the praises of none other than gutter guards.)

2. The warranty on my laptop was a big waste of money.
(Here's the thing—if I'd actually used the warranty, maybe it would have been worth it. However, my computer started having issues quite literally one week after my warranty expired. So, I'd paid for the warranty, but because my computer broke 7 days too late, I spent money on said unused warranty and then also the repairs. Warranties in some cases can be great. For instance, my aforementioned new roof needed a repair recently, and its warranty completely covered it. But, in the case of my laptop, I just wasted my money.)

3. If I became famous, it would most likely be because of Evan.
(I follow a lot of kitties online who have become their own version of famous because of how extra special they are. I sometimes wonder what would happen if I created actual social media pages for Evan, and if I had any skills in said social media. Would my extra special boy be "famous"? The reality is that it doesn't matter, because no matter what the world thinks, my boy will always be the best, most special, amazing kitty to me.)

4. My childhood perm was the worst hairstyle I've ever had.
(I was born in 1989, and my Mom had a couple perms in the 80s and I'd see photos of her like that and all that jazz. I think because of that, even growing up in the 90s, I ended up with at least one if not two perms as a preteen. I guess it wasn't the most awful hairstyle ever, but when I see the photos I just think, why did I want that?)

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.

***

Who's ready for an Eddy fix? We know you all are. And today the pretty girl has a glamour shot, albeit at an odd angle. Even better, it gives you a glimpse of her adorable snaggletooth.

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

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

Today we have the last tip in our litter box series. This tip is to consider using some sort of litter mat or tray, in order to keep your home environment free of as much rogue litter as possible. Litter often comes out of the box when our kitties dig and dig in the litter, or on our kitties' paws when they leave the box. This can ultimately result in litter not only outside of the box, but also throughout the house. To combat this, try placing a litter mat or tray under or outside of the litter box. There are such mats and trays available on the market, which are specifically designed to catch stray pieces of litter so that it can't as easily travel throughout the rest of the house. For a cheaper option, though, you can also use a rug to catch litter, or you can even try something such as a boot tray. Another option is to place the litter box within a larger container, such as a giant storage container or a kiddie pool. This would allow for rogue litter to remain in that outer container, rather than spreading throughout the house.

All of the above being said, litter mats and trays may not always be able to trap every piece of litter. So, to further help keep litter at bay and your house clean, do be sure to sweep up stray litter as often as possible. It's not a bad idea to make a habit of sweeping up rogue litter each time you scoop the box.

There are a number of options for helping keep stray litter from spreading throughout the house. You can buy specifically designed litter mats or trays, you can try a similar makeshift option, and you can of course keep a broom at the ready in the litter area. Of course, do make sure that any mats, trays, or other methods you use do not deter your kitty from using the litter box in the first place.

Thankful Thimble Thursday Cuteness

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

Today, Thimble is again grateful for her adorable nose, and mouth, and just really her whole adorable face.

Need a close-up of that cuteness? Of course you do.

Thimble hopes seeing her downright adorable self helped brighten your day!

***

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. _________ was money well spent.

2. _________ was a big waste of money.

3. If I became famous, it would most likely be because _________.

4. _________ was the worst hairstyle I've ever had.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

I've been looking into recipes and techniques for making homemade cake donuts, so this old doodle starring my angel Rosie seemed perfect.

***

Tip of the Day

Believe it or not, we still have a couple tips left in our litter box series. Today's tip is to consider regularly replacing litter boxes as they grow old and overused. Some cat care professionals recommend brand new litter boxes on a yearly basis. At the very least, do take note of how old your cat's litter box is and what shape it's in, and replace it as needed.

There are a couple of considerations to make when deciding whether or when to replace a litter box. First, keep in mind that plastic litter boxes can become adorned with scrapes and scratches from cat claws, and those scratches on plastic litter boxes can ultimately harbor a variety of microbes. This can, of course, ultimately lead to potentially unsanitary conditions within the litter box. In addition to that, ammonia and other components of excrement can potentially leach into the plastic of litter boxes over time. This can make lingering odors, such as that of urine, more or less permanent, which could very well be unpleasant to those sharp noises of our kitties. The aforementioned are just two reasons why regularly replacing old litter boxes may indeed be a good idea. As we've said before, maintaining a fresh, clean litter box can be crucial to sharing your home with a happy, healthy feline.

Woof Woof Wednesday: Nose Art in the Window

I think we're way past due for a memory of angel pup Astrid gazing out her favorite window.

Astrid always painted that window with her nose art. Truth be told, though my sweet girl passed away nearly a year ago now, I still haven't cleaned her final nose art from that window. I don't know when I'll have it in me to do so. So, for now, her nose art lives on in that window.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is quite the random one. After all, I scribbled it up a few years ago when I felt like recreating Tigger and Eeyore. I wanted Tigger to be even more cat-like and Eeyore to be more dog-like, and so here we are.

***

Tip of the Day

We're still making our way through our tips on litter boxes. Today's tip is a quick and simple one, and it's to use the times you scoop and clean the litter box wisely. In other words, use your litter scooping time to be observant of your kitty's urine and feces. Are there any changes to the urine or stool volume or frequency? Is it a different color? Is there blood or mucus in it? Is the stool especially hard, or especially soft or runny? What about the odor? Excrement never smells particularly nice, but is there any new change in its smell? Try to always be observant of these types of things when you're scooping your cat's litter box. After all, some diseases will have symptoms that show up in the litter box, and so it is indeed important to make sure you are regularly checking to make sure all is well in that box. Of course, if you do notice anything concerning while scooping the litter box, do not hesitate to make a call to your veterinarian.

Tonks Tuesday: Silvervine Stick Fun

It's Tonks Tuesday, and today the calico wants to remind you all how much she loves silvervine sticks.

This particular silvervine stick has raffia on each end, and it was once upon a time wrapped in twine or some kind of sisal rope. Said rope was removed by the kitties, and you can see it dangling off to the side in these photos.

Tonks and all of us here wish you a terrific Tuesday!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Quite a few years ago I did a series of doodles set in a log cabin sort of home. One of the rooms was an attic bedroom that ended up a bit kooky, but in a scientific sort of way. Though it's a bit odd, I've still always kind of liked this drawing. Of course, there is a kitty.

***

Tip of the Day

Today's tip in our litter box series is all about cleaning that litter box. A clean litter box is very important for keeping your cat healthy and happy. Cats are very clean and particular creatures, and so a dirty box might drive them away from using it. That is why an unclean litter box is one of the primary reasons why some cats begin urinating or defecating outside of the box.

So, as you all certainly know, be sure to scoop the litter box, or boxes, regularly. Scooping at least once a day is recommended, but of course, if possible, more often is even better. Twice or three times a day helps keep the litter box odors at a minimum, and of course helps your kitty stay healthy, happy, and with somewhere clean to use the restroom. You may also need to alter the number of times per day you scoop based on the bathroom habits of your particular cat, or cats. Some cats only go once a day, and so once a day scooping would likely suffice. For cats who go more frequently, though, more frequent scooping is of course a better option.

Cleaning a litter box doesn't just stop at scooping it, though. Doing a full clean of the box, which involves disposing of the old, dirty litter and scrubbing the box down, is also recommended on a regular basis. The frequency of a full litter box clean might vary, depending on your particular cat's bathroom habits, and even depending on which professional you might ask about this topic. If possible, try doing a full clean of the litter box once every one to two weeks in order to keep the box squeaky clean and your kitty healthy and happy. If that's not possible, then try for at least once a month. After disposing of the old litter in the box, you can scrub it down with a safe cleaner. This might be warm water with dish soap, vinegar and water, baking soda and water, or another pet-friendly cleaner that you are certain will not leave behind any harsh or hazardous chemicals. Once the litter box is dried, you can add fresh litter, and even a bit of baking soda or other pet-safe deodorizer.

Litter box cleaning may not be a desirable chore, but it's a crucial one. To prevent your kitty from avoiding the litter box, or from simply having to suffer the discomfort of using a smelly bathroom, be sure to keep the box nice and clean. So, do at least daily scooping, and regular full cleans, and your kitty will likely be very happy with you.

A Kooky Mancat Monday

It's Mancat Monday, and Evan is having to put up with all sorts of Halloween nonsense even though it's only August. I have not yet decorated my house for the spooky occasion, though I likely will by or on September 1st. That said, we do have some Halloween bits and bobs that stay out year round, and Evan ended up posing with a kooky little pillow in the background of this here photo.

Though I try to save the more classic Halloween movies for September and beyond, I did watch Sleepy Hollow this weekend. Evan is my little shadow, which makes me so very happy, and so he cuddled me on the couch for the spooky movie night.

Have a magnificent (and perhaps slightly kooky) Monday!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

I'm still working on finishing this year's summertime spooky doodles, which I'm hoping to start sharing soon. For now, though, I went searching in my archive of old drawings, and I found this one that I forgot I'd scribbled up quite a few years ago. The background especially is in my older style and color palette, but it was still a nice surprise to be reminded of this old doodle.

***

Tip of the Day

We're still in the midst of our series of tips on the topic of litter boxes. Today's tip in this realm of things is one that we might not always think on too much, and that's the litter scoop. You'd think a scoop is a scoop, but sometimes one scoop simply might work better than another. Depending on the type of litter you use, your particular furbaby's litter box habits, and other such factors, be sure to select a litter scoop that removes as much of the piles of urine, feces, and affected litter as possible. If too much of these bits of debris are left behind when you scoop, that can lead to lingering smells and less sanitary conditions. This could in turn mean that the litter box will need to be cleaned more frequently than might be expected. For the above reasons, when selecting a litter scoop, consider factors such as the number and spacing of the grates on the scoop.

In addition, you also might want to consider the material out of which the scoop is made. If there's a chance your litter scoop might get bunged up, for example, perhaps go for a metal scoop. This is because plastic scoops are far more likely to end up with scratches on their surface, and such scratches could harbor microbes, especially when used in an environment such as that of a litter box. So, don't forget to give even that scoop a bit of extra consideration and attention. Every little detail could potentially affect our kitties and their health and happiness, and that even includes the litter scoop, which helps keep that litter box as clean and sanitary as possible.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Blooper Queen Eddy

Hello and happy Friday, 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. My plans for August include _________ and _________.

2. I am a type _________ personality.

3. If _________ were a currency, I would be rich.

4. I can do a good impersonation of _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. My plans for August include getting a head start on spooky reading and finishing my own novel.

(I've been reading a lot of fantasy late, which I've been greatly enjoying since that's my all-time favorite genre. That said, as autumn and Halloween approach, I always find myself in the mood to read horror. I have a long list of such books that I want to read this spooky season, so I'll be getting a head start in August. As for the second part of this, I'm beyond excited that I can finally say that I'll be able to finish my current writing work-in-progress rather than just continue working on it. I've been making so much headway in this weird and wacky fantasy novel I'm writing that I should truly, finally be able to finish it in August. This is a life goal and dream of mine, and I'm so excited to finish this one. Of course, after that I'll immediately be starting on the second installment of this story, but I'm more than happy with that fact.)

2. I am a type C personality.
(I admittedly did a quick, easy, who-knows-how-accurate online test for this one. Beyond knowing that I'm decidedly not type A, I'd never really thought about this much. After doing a little research on each type, I figured I was probably a type B or type C. The quick quiz I took online informed me I'm type C, and I don't really disagree with that, so I guess I'll accept that as the answer.)

3. If cat pee were a currency, I would be rich.

(Honestly, Evan would keep me rich with this one. He seems to have a bottomless bladder. He's also not only urinary incontinent, but he'll also use his pee as a weapon against me when I'm coming at him with his bath time supplies or medications. So, yeah, I'd be rich if I could just waltz into a bank with his urine and cash it in.)

4. I can do a good impersonation of a chimpanzee.

(The way I can do it probably sounds more like the caricaturized sounds you hear for chimps or monkeys in cartoons or other forms of entertainment. But, even so, I one day many years ago discovered that I was pretty good at doing this impersonation, and the few people who have heard it were actually impressed. The only problem is that for me to do it well, I have to do it loud, so I rarely ever do it. My sister asked me to do it once recently, and I ended up scaring the poor kitties and I felt awful.)

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 the Pet Photo Fails Blog Hop, hosted by none other than Melissa and Mudpie of Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries, & Meows.

Today, our blooper queen Eddy indeed has some outtakes from a recent photo shoot. A couple weeks ago she shared a shockingly poised photo from this shoot, but today she's sharing her true favorites.

Eddy and all of us here wish you a wonderful day!

***

Flashback Doodles of the Day

For fans of Harry Potter, like myself, July 31st is a fun day. After all, it's the titular character's birthday, as well as that of the author. So, today I'll share a couple of doodles I scribbled up a few years ago for the occasion.

That first one there is a more generic Harry Potter drawing, while the second one stars all 4 of my kitties with scarfs that indicate their Hogwarts house, for anyone who knows what that means.

***

Tip of the Day

Today's (overly lengthy) tip in our litter box series is about selecting the type of litter. There are many, many kinds of litter out there. There's clay litter, corn litter, wheat litter, pine litter, litter made out of recycled paper, and even litter crystals, just to name a few. There are even choices such as scented versus non-scented litter, litter for single-cat versus multicat homes, and clumping versus non-clumping litter. The options for litter seem to be endless, which can make the task of choosing one a tad bit of daunting.

So, let's go over some of the factors that will help you select a litter. To begin, first and foremost, let's go ahead and repeat ourselves like the broken record that we are—ultimately, your kitty will have the final say on what type of litter you buy. Cats can be very picky, particular creatures. Some have texture preferences, some have scent preferences, and some have any number of other preferences. If your cat doesn't like the litter you choose, they might avoid the litter box, which is in large part why they ultimately get to choose their litter.

The above being said, what are some of the main factors that might go into choosing the right litter for your kitty? Consider, of course, the type of material out of which a litter is made. For example, clay litter is often one of the dustiest, which may not be ideal for a cat or person with asthma. Also consider whether your cat has any other sensitivities or allergies. To give you an example, I once tried my angel cat Rosie on pine litter. Little did I know, pine was not a substrate Rosie's body tolerated well, and she ended up with hot spots that required steroid and antibiotic treatment. So, especially if you are trying a new type of litter, always keep an eye on your kitty to make sure they do not have an adverse reaction, and also that they do not start avoiding the litter box.

There are plenty of other random yet important factors to take into consideration when choosing litter, though. Do you have multiple cats? If so, perhaps look for a litter that is formulated for multicat homes. Does your kitty leave quite the stinkers in the litter box, and so you've chosen a scented litter? If this is the case and your cat uses the litter with no issues, then that's great. But, do keep in mind that cats' noses are far better than ours, and some cats might not like fragrance in their litter. Your cat might very well let you know if they do not like scented litter by avoiding the box, in which case you'll get the hint.

We're not done with this discourse quite yet. As we touched upon earlier, some cats have texture preferences. Since litter touches their paws, such texture preferences can of course play a large role in what type of litter your cat might use. For example, some cats prefer fine litter, and will not touch litter that is more coarse. I will also add here that I have some family members with cats who do not like litter at all, and so they use pee pads in litter boxes, which works great for those particular cats. Then again, my own Evan, in large part due to his hind limb paralysis, is towel trained rather than litter trained. So, litter texture can be a significant consideration for some cats, and in such cases there may indeed be some trial and error required. In such cases, just be patient, and you and your cat will find a litter, or even a litter alternative, that suits everyone involved.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Late Night Cuddles

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

Today, Thimble is grateful for late night cuddles. And sometimes early morning cuddles. After all, this tabby girl sure loves to wake her mom up at all hours of the night and morning for none other than cuddles.

These photos were taken on one of the nights that I woke up and decided to turn on a light so as to get some shots of Thimble's adorable face during our late night cuddle sessions.

For a few years now Thimble's thyroid levels have been inching up. Her vet has said that while she's still in the normal range, she's now at the high end of normal and neither he nor I will be shocked if she ends up as an official hyperthyroid cat in the not too distant future.

Hyperthyroidism can cause things like hyperactivity, including at night, so I sometimes wonder if we're inching that way. That said, so far Thimble has not lost weight, has her typical appetite, and otherwise is not showing any other signs of thyroid issues or anything else. Except for being up at all hours of the night, she's her usual happy self. She'll be getting her next bloodwork check in October or thereabouts, so we'll see how her thyroid levels are then. It could very well just be that she simply likes late night cuddles, and she'll continue to get them.

I will note that one of my parents' cats, the sweet girl named Freya, was recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. She's been easily and happily taking her medication (methimazole) in food, and her thyroid values are already back in the normal range. Freya is the sister of Gemma, my parents' kitty who was also this year diagnosed with a new ailment, though hers is diabetes. She's also doing great on her new medication (Bexacat). Freya and Gemma are just making sure my parents don't get bored, I guess.

All of these busy kitties wish you a wonderful day!

***

And now 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. My plans for August include _________ and _________.

2. I am a type _________ personality.

3. If _________ were a currency, I would be rich.

4. I can do a good impersonation of _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today we have Thimble's spooky summertime doodle from a couple years ago. Maybe this is all Thimble's asking for when she wakes me up in the middle of the night. You know, just a spooky story or two.

***

Tip of the Day

We're continuing on with our litter box tips today by discussing location. When deciding where to put litter boxes in your home, there are a variety of considerations to make. For example, you cat likely won't want to do their business in a high traffic area, where there are many distractions and little to no privacy. At the same time, though, many cats will also likely not want to be hidden away in an small, enclosed area, such as a small closet. Placing a litter box in a small, enclosed area such as a small closet will likely trap the smell, which some cats are averse to. What's more, using the litter box is one way in which cats often instinctively believe they are making a territorial display, and so hiding away the litter box, where no one can see them do their business, might lead to out-of-box behavior for territorial reasons.

All of the above being said, consider where in your home might work best for a box to be both away from heavy traffic, yet close enough to the goings-on for your kitty to still feel included. Dedicated litter box rooms, corners of bedrooms or living rooms, bathrooms, laundry rooms, or even large closets with their doors kept open, can all make for good litter box areas. It really depends on how your home is set up, and where your kitty might feel most comfortable. Just as we've mentioned before, though, it also might simply come down to your cat's preference. Perhaps your cat enjoys using the restroom right in front of you, or perhaps your cat actually prefers to go in a closed closet. In the end, if your cat displays a preference for litter box placement, try your best to stick with that.

We'll also now mention that, when selecting litter box location, also take into consideration how many cats you have. In homes with many cats, it is often ideal to spread litter boxes throughout the house, at least as best as possible. This is especially the case if there is any bullying amongst your cats. If all of the boxes are in one room, a bullied or timid cat might prefer to steer clear of using the restroom with other cats nearby, and therefore might begin out-of-box behavior elsewhere in the house. They even might simply hold their urine, which can lead to a variety of medical issues. So, especially in multicat homes, do consider the number of and comfort of all cats when deciding how few and far between to place the litter boxes. Then again, this consideration also might be important for even a single cat who is geriatric or has issues with mobility. For such a kitty, having multiple litter box options, in areas of the house where they most often hang out, can help them more easily urinate and defecate when and where needed.

There certainly are a lot of considerations to make when it comes to that litter box. You of course have to choose a type of box, as well as how many. Once you have that settled, it's all about deciding where to place the litter boxes in your home. Fear not, though, as you and your kitty, or kitties, will figure it out. If nothing else, trial and error will often lead your kitty to letting you know what he or she prefers.