The Letter A and Adventures with Angel Astrid

I am indeed doing my best to partake in this year's April A to Z Challenge.

I admittedly did not officially sign up for the alphabetical challenge this year, only because life has been chaotic lately and I didn't want to risk making it official and then having to shift things around. All that said, I'm going to do my best to share something on all 26 days of the challenge.

My theme for this A to Z month is a bookish one. I'll be creating my own covers for some of my favorite books, but with cats. Because of course. Actually, there will be a day or two when it'll be a pup instead of a kitty on the cover, but all in all it'll be an animal book cover sort of month.

I've mentioned far too many times how there's a new, still in-progress, absolutely insane series of fantasy books that I've been enjoying the past couple of years. What's more, this series will be taking up 8 book cover slots this month, most of them being in the first few letters. Thankfully, though, one of the main characters is a Persian tortie cat who can talk, so putting a kitty on the covers is quite easy.

The books in this series won't be in order during this challenge, because the alphabet wouldn't allow for that. I'll also note that I'll be taking some liberties this month to get a book I want for each letter. Rather than always basing it on the book title itself, I'll sometimes be using the author's name, a character name, or a concept in the book as the reason why it falls under that letter. In fact, I had to do just that for the very first letter, A. In truth, I tend to call this book The Anarchist's Cookbook, but it's actually called The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook. But, since something called none other than the Anarchist's Cookbook plays a big role in this book, I let it be the contribution for the letter A.

So, here's my unofficial, artistic recreation of the cover for The (Dungeon) Anarchist's Cookbook by Matt Dinniman.

[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 I am not the author of this book. I'm just someone who likes books and cats and so drew this unofficial feline version of this book cover.]

This is the third book in this wild and crazy Dungeon Crawler Carl series that I enjoy so much. Some would say the main character of the books is Carl in his magical heart boxers, but I would debate the true star is Persian tortie Princess Donut. The particular book above involves lots of trains, the aforementioned Anarchist's Cookbook, and of course Donut in her tiara and sunglasses and other magical gear.

You'll be getting another cover with that their kitty Princess Donut yet again tomorrow. And the day after that. And I think the day after that as well. I promise there will be far more variety in books coming up later in the month. I've really been enjoying drawing Princess Donut, though, so I'm not complaining about the current streak of books starring her.

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Of course we now have a photo of sweet angel pup Astrid to share on this Woof Woof Wednesday. Or maybe it's actually an Adventures with Astrid sort of post, as I liked the look of this photo of my smiling pup on a sunny walk a couple years ago.

Happy Wednesday to all!

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Tip of the Day

April is Heartworm Awareness Month. For the next couple of days, therefore, we're going to repeat some heartworm tips we've given before. So, these tips may sound familiar, but we've decided to share them again for this significant month.

We'll start simple and remind you all that heartworms come from mosquitoes, and a dog or cat can become infected if they are bit by a mosquito carrying larvae. This can occur in either indoor or outdoor furbabies. For indoor animals, you can try to keep all windows and doors closed, in hopes to prevent mosquito entry into the house. However, they can enter through cracks, or simply when you open the door to enter or exit. What's more, it is possible for mosquitoes to be out and about year round, even in the winter. For this reason, our first, very significant tip is to simply consider keeping your dogs and cats on preventatives that include heartworm coverage, and that you do this year round.

Happy Birthday, Angel Homer, Kipper, Josie, and Iris!

I know Tuesdays are usually Tonks's day to post, but she's willing to step aside today for some birthday kitties. My parents' rescued a litter of 4 kittens almost 9 years ago. Sadly, one of the kitties passed away just under two weeks ago. His name was Homer, and we shared a post about him the day after he passed. We miss this sweet and handsome boy so much, but we'll never forget him. We hope you're having the best birthday ever up there, Homer!

Homer also loved showing off his belly. He was one of the rare kitties who loved tummy rubs without it being a trap.

We love you, Homer, always and forever!

Homer seemingly passed away from a sudden, undetected cardiac event, and since he left behind 3 full litter mates that could possibly be affected by anything genetic, a necropsy was done. The results indicated that he did indeed pass away from the cardiac condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This is one of the leading causes of death in cats Homer's age, and in many cases there are no symptoms until the kitty suddenly passes away.

My parents took all 3 of Homer's litter mates to our vet for cardiac bloodwork as well as cardiac ultrasounds. As a side note, Homer was the only calm and collected kitty of this litter. His sisters are especially a bit, well, wild. So, taking all of the others was quite an ordeal. That said, thankfully, none of them are showing any signs of suffering from HCM. They had full exams and fresh bloodwork of all types that day, and they're all doing incredible. While me miss Homer terribly, we are thankful that he's looking out for his siblings and that they're all in good health.

Are you ready to see the other 3 birthday babies? We'll start with handsome Homer's equally handsome brother, that being Kipper.

Kipper is a very talkative little guy. Except he's not little. Aside from some Maine Coons I've known, Kipper is easily the tallest cat I've ever met. He is a very sweet boy and will gladly follow you around serenading you. Unfortunately, though, he does not like being held. That's okay, though. He's allowed to set boundaries.

Next up is one of Homer's sisters, and this one is Josie.

Josie can be pretty darn sassy, but she's cute and so that's permitted. What's more, Josie is 100% my dad's cat. While she tolerates my mom and my sister and myself and will let us pet her and all that, she loves her dad so much. And when she needs to go into a carrier or anything like that, the only person she'll let handle her in that way is my dad. She just loves him so much, and she often displays that love by getting on his lap and screaming in his face. They both seem to enjoy that so very much.

And last is Homer's other sister, that being Iris.

Iris is easily the most wild and skittish of this litter, but she's also my little buddy. When I visit my parents and watch TV at their house, she'll often come sit with me. When she's relaxed, she'll let you rest an arm on her and all that adorableness. If she's not relaxed, good luck touching her. Unlike her brothers, Iris is a tiny gal, but she packs a lot of personality and sass into that little body of hers. And I love that about her.

Homer, Kipper, Josie, and Iris were the born to a feral cat that would help herself into my uncle's house. He named her Scamp, and she had this litter of kittens inside of his house. We often refer to these 4 kitties as none other than the Scamps. They were around humans from day 1, and they came to live with my parents when they were only a few weeks old, none of which you would know by how hard they can be to handle. Well, except for sweet angel Homer, as he was incredibly laidback and easy to hold and do whatever you needed to do with him. I'm not sure why the other 3 can be so skittish, but they sure make it look like a feral, wild nature can be genetic, as their mama cat was just that. Josie looks just like their mom Scamp, in case you were curious.

Happy 9th Birthday, Homer, Kipper, Josie, and Iris! We love all of you, always and forever!

I unfortunately failed to get a birthday doodle completed for these cuties, so I pulled one I created years ago for my mom. It stars Homer, Kipper, Josie, and Iris, as well as my parents' kitties Trapper and Talon. Sadly, sweet Talon passed away last April, also about 2 weeks before his birthday, just like sweet Homer.

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Tip of the Day

Today is the last day of National Pet Poison Prevention Month. Since Easter is just around the corner, we're going to give you a summary of what Easter items to keep away from your furbaby, so that they do not end up at the emergency clinic around this springtime holiday.

First, keep those Easter lilies away from your kitties and pups! There are a number of lily types that are toxic to furbabies, Easter lilies being one of the most dangerous. Any part of the Easter lily can be toxic, even the pollen. Lily toxicity can lead to any number of life-threatening side effects, one of them being acute kidney failure. As you surely already know or can guess, it is simply safest to keep any and all lilies out of the home, well out of reach of your kitty or pup.

Other Easter goodies to keep away from your furbaby include chocolate, which is also toxic, as you all certainly already know. Don't forget the danger that other candies can pose as well, such as the sugar-free sort containing toxic xylitol. If you are giving or receiving Easter baskets that contain candies such as these, keep them well hidden away, so that hungry or curious furbabies cannot help themselves to a toxic snack.

It is also worth it to note the danger of Easter grass. This stringy, grass-like material often used as a filler in Easter baskets can be dangerous if ingested by a kitty or pup. It can lead to emergencies such as intestinal blockage, perforation, or laceration. Try not to use any such materials in Easter baskets. If you receive a basket with this dangerous fake grass material, keep it well out of your furbaby's reach and dispose of it safely.

Mancat Monday: Drawing with My Cuddle Bug

I did my best to work on my April A to Z Challenge doodles this weekend. I did make some progress, but I was combatting a very adorable saboteur most of the time.

Evan loves being wherever I am, and that includes him giving me lots of cuddles when I sit down to do draw.

I'll see how much my adorable little guy lets me get done tonight as well. I'm sure there will be lots of cuddles involved, and I'm not complaining about that one bit.

Happy Monday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

We're of course here today with another National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip. It's time to give a reminder of the dirty details of keeping your kitty or pup safe. What we mean is, don't forget to keep your garbage can, recycling bin, dirty dishwasher, compost, and other similar areas safe against curious furbabies. Garbage cans or recycling bins, for example, might contain empty containers for potentially poisonous substances, such as detergents. The garbage can, dishwasher, or even compost might also contain the remnants of food that is toxic to a cat or dog. When it comes to the compost, or perhaps even the garbage can, moldy foods especially might be found within, and moldy food can contain mycotoxins, which are indeed toxic to our furbabies.

All in all, what we're trying to say is to never forget all of the details, no matter how dirty, for ensuring that your kitty or pup is free from any form of poisoning or other injury. Use garbage cans that are securely lidded or pet-proof in another way. You could even hide your garbage can in a cabinet, drawer, or room to which your furbaby cannot gain access. Also ensure that your dirty dishwasher remains securely closed, and that any compost you have is kept somewhere that your furbaby cannot reach. Even if a precaution seems like overkill, it's probably not. After all, when it comes to the health and safety of your furbaby, it is of course best to take no risks.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Blurry Eddy

Hello and happy Friday, 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 plans for this weekend include _________ and _________.

2. I meant it when I said _________.

3. I should probably _________ more often so that _________.

4. I will never jump on the _________ trend.

My answers are below in bold.

1. My plans for this weekend include working on my April A to Z Challenge drawings and writing.
(I have lots of my usual chores and other such weekend things I'll be doing, but I also really want to make significant progress on two creative endeavors I want to pursue in April. One is the annual A to Z Challenge, for which I need to make a lot more progress on the drawings I'll be creating for it. Second, I have some experimental plans for my main writing project in April, and to achieve that goal I need to get ahead and write a lot this weekend.)

2. I meant it when I said my cats come first.
(I had a long explanation typed out for this, but I decided to delete it all and let this answer speak for itself. The short of it is that while there are lots of "it's just a cat" sort of people out there, that's not my way of thinking or life. This also goes for any pups I'm blessed to share my life with.)

3. I should probably get out more often so that I'm less awkward around people.

(That said, will I go out and about and learn to be more "normal" in social settings? No. The likely answer is simply no. And as a major homebody who loves being with her kitties, I'm fine with that.)

4. I will never jump on the "scarcity" commercialism trend.
(I wasn't sure how to write this answer, so I'll give an explanation that I'll try to keep short. My answer here refers to all of those items that are "limited edition" or "seasonal" or fall under any form of the "scarcity" mentality that commercialism tries to rope us in with. The online algorithms have recently been showing me videos of hordes of people flocking to various stores to fight over limited edition items. I'm talking about some of the recent limited Starbucks cups, limited releases of Hello Kitty and other franchise items at home goods stores, and even basic but still limited edition Trader Joe's tote bags that people are apparently obsessed with. I didn't realize how crazy and at times violent this trend had become until I was shown all of these recent examples. I can't believe where commercialism has led us.)

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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And 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.

I had a particular, gorgeous photo of Eddy picked out for today, and then I realized it's blooper day! Since Eddy prefers to give more bloopers than non-bloopers, though, it was easy to find something blurry to share. And it's from the same photo shoot as the original shot I was going to post today.

Eddy isn't the only bloopery kitty in this shot. The original photo I was going to share, which you'll see next week, included a little Thimble in the background. She's in the background of this one as well, but she's a tad bit decapitated.

Have a fantastic day!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Just as we did for the past couple of days, today we're sharing a flashback doodle inspired by my newest favorite series of fantasy books. Among other crazy things, this series of books involves a talking, decapitated head (of a certain sort that we won't go into detail on because we're a PG-rated blog) that is particularly sassy and a tad bit feral. That sounded a lot like my girl Eddy, and so I let her hang out with the decapitated head. It's weird, I know, but this chaotic series of books makes me so happy and inspired, and out of that comes drawings like this.

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Tip of the Day

Today's National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip is an add-on to our tip from yesterday, when we reminded you to keep doors closed and other obstacles in place to keep your furbaby safe from substances and areas with poison. Taking that one step further, if needed, child-proofing products can be your your best friend even for those furry children in your life. For example, do you have a curious kitty or puppy who has found ways to open cabinets and drawers? This can put a furbaby at risk, such as if those cabinets and drawers contain human medications, cleaners, or other toxic items, or even sharp or other dangerous objects. To prevent prying paws from opening cabinets and drawers, you can get child-proof, or pet-proof, locks that make cabinets and drawers difficult or impossible to open without dexterity, or opposable thumbs. There are also child-proof locks to keep main doors securely closed. This can come in handy if you have a kitty or pup who knows how to manipulate certain door handles.

We've mentioned this on here before, but also don't forget the usefulness of baby gates. They also make gates that are more specifically pet-proof, such as tall ones over which dogs and cats cannot easily jump. These can be used to block access to certain areas of the house to ensure your kitty or pup's safety. For example, you can use baby or pet gates to block access to the kitchen, especially if potentially toxic foods are being prepared. These gates can also be used to block off garbage cans, laundry areas, or other areas of the home where potential poisoning might occur.

Just as with a human child, our kitties and pups can get themselves into trouble. Consider all areas of the home where danger might arise, and then do your research on what you can do to best prevent emergencies from dangers such as accidental poisoning. Try to always be one step ahead of your kitty or pup, as difficult as that may be.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Sunshine and Lights

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

Today, Thimble is so very grateful for sunshine. This is nothing new, but it is indeed one of her favorite things.

Thimble also loves when the wonderful sunshine hits this here human's phone and creates lights on the walls and ceiling. That's what she's staring at in this photo. Thimble loves her lights.

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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 this weekend include _________ and _________.

2. I meant it when I said _________.

3. I should probably _________ more often so that _________.

4. I will never jump on the _________ trend.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Just like sweet angel pup Astrid's flashback doodle yesterday, today's is another based off of some of my favorite books. In these books there's a talking kitty who has a tiara and a butterfly collar charm, among lots of other magical goodies. Since Thimble is a little princess, I decided she would get to be just that in her doodle based off of these books.

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Tip of the Day

In these last few days of National Pet Poison Awareness Month, we're going to summarize some tips on how to help keep your furbaby safe from potential poisons. First, as obvious as it is, we're here today to remind you to use doors or other obstacles to properly block your kitty or pup's access to potentially dangerous products or areas of the house. For example, if your bathroom, laundry room, or utility closet contain dangerous chemicals, such as detergents, then keep their doors securely closed to bar your furbaby's entrance. Similarly, keep the door to your garage shut, in order to keep your furbaby away from gasoline, antifreeze, and other dangers that might be found in the garage. If you have a shed and your furbaby goes outdoors, keep the shed's door securely closed, especially if it houses fertilizers, pesticides, or other potentially toxic products. And don't forget to consider your garden, where toxic plants might grow, or where dangerous chemicals might be used. In such cases, monitor your furbaby while outdoors, and block your kitty or pup's access to the garden, such as with a secure fence. In short, consider all areas of the house and yard where poisoning or danger might arise, and ensure proper safety against said dangers.

Woof Woof Wednesday: Sunshine and a Tongue

Since my sweet angel pup Astrid loved her favorite window seat, I simply have to share memories of her enjoying it. She especially loved when the sun was shining through the window. In this particular photo, Astrid also decided to show off her adorable tongue.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I've been working on my drawings for this year's April A to Z Challenge. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I'm worried I might fall behind on the drawings and not have one to share every day in April. I'm still trying my best, though life is really lifing lately.

My doodles for this year's April A to Z Challenge will be bookish in nature. That said, a couple years ago I scribbled up some drawings starring my furry babies as characters from a new books series I've been enjoying. Astrid got to star as a two-headed puppy that showed up in one of the books, so here's that one for you all to see again.

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Tip of the Day

As part of National Pet Poison Awareness Month, we're now talking about the risk of poisonous bites your kitty or pup might receive from other critters. Depending on where you live, or where you might be visiting with your furbaby, you might find it necessary to be on the lookout for critters such as snakes and spiders whose bites can have toxic effects. When it comes to snakes, some of the dangerous ones include certain coral snakes and rattlesnakes. As for spiders, as most of you certainly know, black widows and brown recluses are among the most dangerous. Bites from such critters can result in any number of dangerous or life-threatening side effects, including cardiovascular shock, respiratory distress, neurological damage, and tissue damage, among others.

When outdoors, especially in areas where snakes, spiders, or other venomous critters are a known possibility, always monitor your furbaby and keep an eye out for danger. As needed, research the wildlife of areas you will be, so that you know what snakes, spiders, and other critters of which to be cautious. Of course, if your kitty or pup is bitten by a spider or snake, especially a known venomous one, do not hesitate to seek veterinary care. In many such cases, counteracting the venom in a timely manner is crucial.

Tonks Tuesday in the Sun

Just like any kitty, Tonks loves herself some sunshine. Though, I'm not sure why she wants to stare at the bright orb in the sky.

Tonks and her littermate Winky, who owns my sister and currently lives with us, have an odd habit of staring at lights. Whether it be a lightbulb or the sun itself, they stare at it. I can't imagine that's good for their eyes, so I always try to distract them from doing so.

Tonks hopes you all have lots of sunshine today! (But maybe don't, you know, stare right at it.)

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip is about the toxic gas known as carbon monoxide (CO). CO is not only dangerous to us humans, but also incredibly dangerous to our kitties, pups, and other animals. CO most often results from car exhaust, fire/smoke, and when generator systems fail. When a large amount of CO is inhaled, this can lead to cells in the body becoming deprived of oxygen. CO poisoning can thereby result in life-threatening effects on the cardiovascular system, neurological system, and other important systems of the body.

Needless to say, do all that you can to prevent both your furbaby's and your own exposure to CO. Set up CO monitors in your home, and ensure that they are always properly functioning. Of course also ensure that you have functioning fire and smoke alarms. There are all-in-one alarms on the market that detect fire, smoke, and CO. In addition to this, properly maintain any generators that you have, and do not use them if they are in any way malfunctioning. Also, of course, do not let your kitty or pup into a closed, unventilated garage where a car or other motor vehicle is running. CO can be a silent killer, so do all that you can to protect your furbaby, as well as yourself, from it and its deadly effects.