Wordless Wet Nose Wednesday

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Art of the Day:

Ready for another installment of the art that Ann of Zoolatry and I created for each other? That being said, certainly many of you know of Ann's grand-doggy Chewy. You know, the adorably fluffy pup?

That there is the magnet Ann asked me to create of handsome Chewy. I really, really, really enjoyed pouring through photos of this fuzzy cutie. Let me tell you, his smile is contagious!

Now, we've shared with you the spring and summer images Ann created for me using a photo I sent her of my Angel Rosie and myself. We're going to hold off on showing you the autumn and winter ones until a little closer to those seasons. So, today, we're in a red mood, and red means love, and that leads us to this lovely image Ann created for me.

I adore this one, and I cannot wait to plaster it all over the place for Valentine's Day. Thank you, Ann, as always!

Tuesday Taste Test (#ChewyInfluencer)

It's that time, when we review some goodies as part of Chewy.com's Blogger Outreach Program. This time around the kitties are first up.

To be honest, this month I chose a product primarily for Evan.

And why did I choose to try out VetriScience­­® Vetri Lysine Plus treats for my boy? Because when I first met Evan, he had some of the most severe ocular and nasal discharge I've ever seen in a kitten of 6 weeks. He was sneezing and was all shades of congested. Ever since then, Evan occasionally has mini flareups of these symptoms, which leads to the conclusion that he had and therefore still has feline herpesvirus (see our tip at the end of this post for more on feline herpesvirus).

Though this concept is sometimes debated and contested, lysine has been said to potentially aid in the resolution of respiratory issues and overall boost the immune system. For this reason, it is often used for cats who develop herpesvirus. Therefore, I decided to see if Evan would enjoy some treats that might help him during his respiratory flareups.

Aren't these VetriScience® Vetri Lysine Plus treats pretty darn cute? Though they may look like cute little fish, these treats are actually chicken-flavored. Since I typically choose to avoid feeding my cats fish, and since my cats most enjoy food of the chicken variety, this made me very happy.

But, did they make Evan happy?

The boy sure did lick at the treats, especially when I broke them into pieces. He licked and licked and licked at them, but he would not eat them. I found that strange, to be honest, as Evan is usually all in or all out when it comes to treats. He either loves them or hates them. Yet, for these, he sort of fell in the middle. He didn't like them enough to actually eat them, but he enjoyed them enough to lick them to a gooey mess.

I also offered them to our housemate Toby, the other primary kitty treat eater in the house. His reaction? He completely ignored them. Thimble batted them around (fly, fishies, fly!), but, unsurprisingly, she would not eat them. Also unsurprisingly, Eddy ignored them. The only one who ate them was pup Astrid.

So, Evan might give these treats one paw up or so, but I guess that's about it. If you think your kitty would like or might benefit from the VetriScience Vetri Lysine Plus treats, though, do be sure to give them a try, as the felines here are pretty darn finicky and therefore can't be considered all that great of a source when it comes to rating food.


(Disclaimer: As members of the Chewy.com Blogger Outreach Program, we received VetriScience® Vetri Lysine Plus cat treats in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are our own. We only review products that we believe will be of interest to our readers, and we never recommend a product that we do not believe in.)


Happy Tuesday to all!

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Art of the Day:

We're back again today to share some more of the art that Ann of Zoolatry and myself recently created for each today. Yesterday you got to see the magnet Ann asked me to create of her handsome feline furiend TK, and today you get to see the one I crafted up for TK's equally handsome buddy Pip.

I won't lie, I often get nervous when doodling up anything for any of our real life furiends. I always worry that I won't properly capture them, and that is something with which the perfectionist in me always struggles. Nevertheless, creating TK and Pip (and all of the furiends I've doodled!) still always brings me such great joy. Besides, who wouldn't want to gaze and admire and ooh and aww over photos of cuties like these?

I am of course also now sharing another of the gorgeous images Ann created for me. In case you missed it or forgot, I sent Ann one of my favorite photos of my Angel Rosie and myself. The original had a busy and not all that pretty of a background, and so I asked ever so talented Ann to work her magic on it. Below is the summery piece she created using that photo.

I was speechless when Ann sent me the images she had created. They are all beautiful beyond words (as are all of Ann's masterpieces, as I'm sure you all already know!), and I will always treasure them.

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Our Tuesday Tip of the Week:

Cats can develop what is called feline herpesvirus. This is not to be confused with the form of herpes that humans contract, and cats and human cannot contract herpes from the other species. In cats, herpes often manifests with symptoms such as sneezing, ocular and/or nasal discharge, congestion, fever, loss of appetite, and a variety of others. It can be transferred by way of the discharge of an infected cat, such as their nasal or ocular discharge, or their saliva. Though it can potentially arise in any cat, herpes most commonly develops in cats living in more stressful conditions, such as a shelter environment, or those with a compromised immune system. It can also occur due to other stressful events, such as moving to a new home. When adopting a cat from a shelter, when moving, or when going through any other stressful event, always monitor your cat for signs of stress-induced ailments such as herpesvirus. What's more, once a cat is infected with herpesvirus, they typically have it for life, and will sometimes have flareups throughout their life, something which you would also have to monitor.

If a cat develops herpesvirus or has a flareup, always be sure to consult a veterinarian as needed, as symptoms can sometimes be severe, especially in cats with other respiratory issues, in cats who are geriatric, or in cats who are in any way immunocompromised. Depending on the severity and progression of the virus, some cats will require antibiotics to clear infection. For congestion, cats can be given children's nasal decongestant drops, but of course this should first be discussed with a veterinarian. Another way to relieve congestion is through the use of humidity, such as from a humidifier, or by spending time in a steamy bathroom. Other potential treatments might include eye drops, lysine, and finding ways to reduce stress for the affected cat. If you have a cat with herpesvirus, do be sure to discuss with your veterinarian the proper treatment, and also recommendations for helping prevent future flareups.

Special Mancat Monday

Every once in a while, I like our Mancat Monday post to focus on why my mancat Evan is my hero. For those who might not know or remember, Evan is hind limb paralyzed. This is the result of a coyote attack that Evan survived just days before I met him, when he was roughly 6 weeks old. Obviously, Evan does not have typical use of his hind legs. But, that doesn't stop Evan one bit.

This boy walks in his own way, runs in his own way, plays and plays and plays in his own way, and even jumps in his own way.

Can you see why Evan's my hero? He's what you might call different, yes. But, Evan is also why I have come to adore the term specially abled. Evan is perfectly able to do whatever he pleases, just in a very special way. Nothing gets him down.

I know a lot of people often wonder why I don't hook Evan up with a set of wheels or something similar. That's a perfectly good question. The answer as to why Evan does not ever use anything along the lines of a wheelchair is that Evan does not enjoy having things strapped to him. I have tried, but he very much so does not like it, and he lets me know that. So, I just let him do as he pleases. Since he is more than happy with that, so am I.

Evan and all of us here wish you a marvelous Monday!

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Art of the Day:

As we mentioned yesterday, over the next week or so we will be sharing some art that Ann of Zoolatry and myself created for each other. Ann asked me to create some magnets portraying some of the furbabies in her life. One of those furbabies is a handsome mancat named TK.

Drawing TK allowed me to try something new. In his many wise years, TK has developed cataracts. I honestly had never drawn eyes in this way before, but thanks to TK, I now know how. Moreover, TK is one handsome boy, and I found great joy in doodling this piece for him.

We also mentioned yesterday how Ann created for me some beautiful images using one of my favorite photos of my Angel Rosie and myself. (To see the original photo, visit this post here.) Just some of the images she created were ones for each season. The following is the lovely Spring image Ann created.

As always, Ann's work is beyond beautiful. We'll be sharing more of this art tomorrow!

Sunday Selfies

We are of course all ready for the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by the furry cuties over at The Cat on My Head.

Last week, Thimble stepped up to snap some selfies. Evan didn't want to go without a turn, so he decided to be our star today.

Oops, Evan snapped that one just a bit too soon.

Hmm, not quite lined up right, huh?

Any better? No?

That's a bit better, isn't it? Well, it will have to do. Selfies aren't easy business, you know. They require a great deal of skill.

We're wishing all of our furiends a stupendous Sunday!

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Art of the Day:

We mentioned recently how Ann of Zoolatry and myself created some art for each other. Ann asked me to craft some magnets with portraits of some of the furbabies in her life. For today, we will share with you the magnet I created for none other than pup Dougie.

I really enjoy creating pieces such as magnets out of upcycled cardboard, and even doodling my drawings on spare bits of scrap paper. That's how I created Dougie's magnet, as well as the others that I'll be sharing with you over the next few days. It sure can be fun to be green.

What's more, Ann created a number of beautiful pieces for me. Most of you surely already know that Ann is the wonderful woman who creates the memorial badges for furbabies who gain their wings, as well as the badges for various events, holidays, and so much more. Knowing that Ann has this tremendous talent, I asked her if she could create some special images using one of my favorite photographs of my angel Rosie and myself.

The original of this photograph of Rosie and myself is one I have shared once before, but I'll share it again now.

Do you see why I wanted some special images created from this photograph? I loved cuddle time with Rosie and this photograph, snapped candidly by my mom, is one of the only bits of evidence I have of this. But, moreover, this original photo here is, well, not all that pretty. Rosie was traveling with my family and me, and in this photo she was sitting on my sister's lap in the car. No offense to my sis, but her torso isn't all that great of a backdrop. So, I asked Ann if she could create some images that would make this photo as special as the memory it portrays.

Ann, indeed, did just that for me.

This is just one of the beautiful images Ann created. I am in love with this one, and you might have noticed that it is the image I now use for my Blogger profile.

Stay tuned over the next few days, as I will continue sharing the magnets I created for Ann, and of course more of the beautiful images she created for my angel Rosie and myself.

Caturday in the Classroom

The Caturday Art blog hop, hosted by lovely Athena, is back on this week!

This week, our doodle is brought to you by the back-to-school frenzy. Kids are heading back to the classroom, and teachers are gearing up for their arrival. So, for today, we scribbled up a simple little teaching lesson.

As you can tell, this here human is still enjoying perusing Pinterest's endless selection of quotes. Words sure can be so very inspirational sometimes.

To go with our doodle, we decided to share some kind words. We want to tell each and every one of you that we appreciate you so very much! We enjoy it so much when you visit us, and we just as much enjoy visiting all of you. You are all friends to us, and great ones at that.

Happy Caturday to all!

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Thimble Update

If you visited us on Thursday, you might remember that when Thimble went in for her annual exam earlier this week, her right ear was discovered to be impacted with ear wax. We were sent home with an ear cleanser with which to flush her ear for a week, in hopes it would break up the wax. Instead, Thimble seems to be some semblance of allergic to the cleanser. After just two days of use, the poor girl's entire right ear, as well as behind it and in front of it, became extremely pink, irritated, and warm to the touch. The poor girl is rubbing her ear and head on anything and everything she can find to help soothe the itchy irritation. 

After consulting with the veterinarian, we are obviously no longer flushing Thimble's ear with the solution. If a few days off of it results in her ear going back to normal, we are going to try a new ear cleaning solution, one that will hopefully not stir up any reactions in this sensitive little lady cat. If all else fails and the wax ball remains, Thimble will have to be sedated for safe removal of the impacted wax. 

If you can spare them, Thimble and her momma here would appreciate a few purr and prayers! Thank you, everybuddy!

Fun Friday

We're ready for the weekend over here in our corner of the world. Even more so, we're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by the wonderful 15andmeowing and McGuffy's Reader.

This week's fill-ins are as clever as ever.

1. If someone were visiting my area, I would recommend a visit to _________.
2. My favorite room in my home is _________.
3. Back-to-school time makes me think of _________.
4. My favorite year of school was _________, because _________.

I put my thinking cap on, which resulted in these:

1. If someone were visiting my area, I would recommend a visit to the university campus.
(I live in a college town, with both a community college and a university. I attended the university and always quite enjoyed walking around campus. The heart of campus has a great many old buildings that are mesmerizing to explore. There's also an old yet functioning bell tower, right next to the locally famous Alma Mater statue.)

2. My favorite room in my home is the library.
(I love reading and hanging out in this part of my house, and my kitties always keep me company in there as well. It's a popular room. My little library room is very simple right now, but I have future plans to liven it up a bit and make it a charming little place to read and relax. I think I've mentioned on here before how I ultimately intend to fashion it to resemble the village library in the original Beauty and the Beast, with a wooden ladder and all.)

3. Back-to-school time makes me think of my childhood.
(This is probably a pretty obvious answer, but it is so true. When I see kids picking out their new school supplies at the store, and when I see kids filing into the local schools on that first day, it really takes me back. I remember those days, when you were sort of excited, yet also a bit disappointed that summer was over. I even remember how my grade school and high school smelled on those first days back, after being vacant for months and then prepared for our wild return.)

4. My favorite year of school was freshman year of college, because that's when I really felt like I was on my way to my future.
(I never really disliked any years of school. Sure, homework was kind of a drag, and studying for test after test could really make your brain hurt, but I've always enjoyed learning. When I got to my first year of college, though, that's when I really got to focus on taking courses that I chose and that really, truly interested me.)


Now, who's ready for Eddy? Lately, this girl has been giving you all some lovely, non-blurry shots of her. Today, though, she didn't want any of you to forget that she is still a fun-loving lady.

So, there's a bit of a blurry shot for you.

Eddy sure does love to roll about on top of the new fish aquarium. That's pretty much her favorite thing to do these days.

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

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Our Doodle of the Day:

Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

We've been looking forward to today, as we are having lots of fun with the Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge, which is hosted by the handsome Angel Sammy and Teddy.

We are continuing with our usual occupational furbaby poems, but the star of our poem this week is just a tad bit different than the usual. If you're into spoilers, you can scroll right on down to our illustration and see why. Otherwise, you can read our poem and then see for yourself.

Joe the Jester

They say laughter is the best medicine,

And that’s why Joe the Jester is such a fine specimen.

He’s the best of the best,

And that is not a jest.

All the way down from his toes,

Up to that squeaky red nose,

And of course with jingling hat,

Joe will make your day just like that.

Joe the Jester’s jokes will leave you in stitches,

And his acrobatics are better than any old riches.

Joe’s jests will make you smile,

And for more than just a while.

His tricks will make you giggle,

And more than just a little.

So, are you in need of the best kind of medicine?

If so, Joe the Jester knows just the regimen.

He’ll make that perfect jest

To make you feel your best.

He’ll pinwheel and he’ll cartwheel,

Until it’s nothing but joy that you feel.

So don’t be afraid to hahaha.

Go on, let out that great guffaw.

After all, Joe the Jester thrives on laughter,

And you’ll surely be his fan from here on after.

There's a certain Joe that we know who inspired this poem. To visit him, just click on his name there! Oh, and of course here's Joe the Jester's little doodle.

Now, what's no jest is what happened to poor Thimble earlier this week. This poor girl had her turn for her annual exam at the, well, you know...V-E-T. Though she doesn't enjoy it per se, Thimble is always a little angel for her date with the doctor.

This time at the V-E-T, an impacted ball of wax was found in Thimble's ear. The fantastic doctor tried to flush it out, but it wouldn't budge. So, this here momma has to flush out Thimble's ear at home every day for a week. Then, poor little Thimble will have to go back to the V-E-T for a recheck (on none other than National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day!). If the ball of ear wax hasn't budged, Thimble will have to be sedated to have it safely removed. Needless to say, Thimble and I are both rooting for those pesky ear flushes to do the trick.


Just because we had to visit the V-E-T, have to continue with those nasty ear flushes, and then go back to the V-E-T next week, doesn't mean we're not thankful. So, of course, we're partaking in Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!

Though it may be a scary place, we are nevertheless very grateful for our wonderful doctors at the V-E-T, as they take such good care of the kitties and pup here. Of course, we are also thankful for a great many other things, including all of you furiends of ours!

P.S. Speaking of furiends, pup Astrid is excited to say that adorable Dougie over at Zoolatry is sharing a post co-starring her over on his blog today. Dougie's human Ann used her magnificent talent to create some goodies using photos of both Dougie and Astrid. If you want to see for yourself, do give Dougie a visit! And of course we want to thank Ann and Dougie for doing this! We are so grateful to have such wonderful pals!

P.P.S. This here human and Ann each created some art for each other in the not too distant past. Starting next week, we'll be sharing those with you here on our blog!