Friendly Fill-Ins, the Letter U, and Eddy's Eye Roll

Hello, friends! We're here and 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. This week we're doing question-style fill-ins. We thought this fun version would not only allow you to turn these thoughts into your own questions, but would also allow others to answer your personalized questions in your comments.

1. Have you ever noticed _________?

2. Would you choose _________ or _________?

3. Do you think it's possible to _________?

4. What _________ would you recommend for _________?

My answers are below in bold. I'm editing this here after the fact in order to say that, yes, I of course still managed to ramble even when I'm the one asking you all questions. I just couldn't help but overexplain myself and answer some of these myself.

1. Have you ever noticed how bad people are at driving?
(I'm sure you have. Obviously not everyone is a bad driver. I bet some of you are great drivers, but I'm thinking you all have noticed that a lot of people aren't. I feel like I'm noticing this more and more these days. I don't know if it's impatience or just inability behind the wheel, but the roads are a scary place these days.)

2. Would you choose sweet or savory?

(More often than not, I have a sweet tooth. That's not to say I never want or eat savory foods, as some of my favorite meals I eat nearly every day are of course just that. But, when I'm feeling snacky or otherwise hungry in between meals, I more often than not am craving something sweet. I can't think of the last time I craved chips when peckish, yet I'm always craving chocolate and caramel.) 

3. Do you think it's possible to love your job?

(I think about this a lot. I'm certain there are people out there who at least mostly enjoy what they do for a living. Like many people out there, though, I don't currently love my job. I'd love to have a more creative job, something relating to my art and/or writing. I know that's not an uncommon thought, as a lot of us would love to turn our hobbies into even a bit of income. I always hope that I'd actually love my job if I were able to make income off of my creative passions.)

4. What brand and/or flavor of canned cat food would you recommend for a picky cat?
(Obviously this will vary based on the cat and his or her tastes, but in general, what is a wet food that your picky, or even not picky, kitty absolutely loves? I've never had a cat before that makes it difficult to keep weight on then, but now I have myself a Tonks. She's happy, active, and all of her exams and bloodwork have pointed to her being a healthy cat. But, she's so picky with food and because of it sometimes loses weight she can't afford to lose. She won't eat dry food, yet she also always tries to find fault with most canned food I offer her. Every time I find a food she loves, she gets bored of it within with a few days or weeks. So, feel free to throw any and every recommendation you have. Maybe there are some brands or flavors I haven't yet stumbled upon that I could find and give Tonks to try.)

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 we have today's edition of the April A to Challenge.

I'll yet again say that for this year's alphabetical challenge, I'm creating my own artistic covers for some of my favorite books. And my covers will all star cats, or sometimes other animals.

Today we've reached the letter U. While I actually had a couple of options for titles starting with U, I ended up going with letting U stand for the name Ursula K. Le Guin. She is another older fantasy author that my dad introduced to me in my youth. She wrote many books in the 1960s and 70s, and some beyond that as well. The first book my dad recommended I read of hers was A Wizard of Earthsea, which is more or less about a powerful but arrogant young wizard who has to battle his own sort of demons and travel the sea and such in order to learn some life lessons. I enjoyed this book immensely and read the rest of the series as well.

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

That's yet another cover I created using an older doodle, this one scribbled up quite a few years ago. It's certainly not a perfect rendition of the happenings of the book, but I do like how it played into the young wizard attending a magical school and traveling the sea. I wish I'd been able to create a brand new drawing for this one, but I've working on my writing project a lot these past couple of days instead. I've finally started getting a lot more done with that, so it's all about balance, I guess.

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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.

Today our blooper queen Eddy of course has a blurry shot to share with you all. In this one, she was not interested in me snapping her photo. As a result, it looks like she's quite literally rolling her eyes in annoyance.

Wishing you all a happy Friday!

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Tip of the Day

Today's spring safety tip is another one we've very recently mentioned, but that we'll repeat again. It is to always be aware and cautious of the potential dangers of various fertilizers, pesticides, and other such chemicals that are often used this time of the year. If you plan to use any such products, do your research and try to avoid using potentially toxic variations. No matter what kind you use, though, to be safe, keep any such products stashed safely away from your furbaby's reach.

But, this tip also goes beyond what you might be using in your own personal environment. For pups or kitties who go outdoors, you should take into consideration that unfamiliar yards, parks, and other such areas may use products that could have toxic effects if walked through, ingested, and so forth. When out and about with your furbaby, or even just yourself, try to avoid areas where you know or think any unsafe chemicals are used. When you arrive back at home after a walk or other excursion, wipe off paws and shoes, so that you can do your best to remove any traces of fertilizers, pesticides, or other chemicals. There is no such thing as being too careful when it comes to the health and safety of our furbabies, so do all that you can to keep your kitties and pups protected from potentially dangerous chemicals this time of year, and all year round.

The Letter T and Thimble's Sunny Doors

Hello and hi! We're here for another day of the April A to Z Challenge.

I'm still sharing fan art covers for books this month, with most of those covers starring cats. It would probably be pretty easy to find a book starting with today's letter, that being T. That said, just as was the case with S yesterday, when I was rigging my list of books in order to include all the ones I wanted this month, I had to shift and fudge things a bit. So, T doesn't stand for a book title, but instead for T-Rex. As in, Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton.

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

Now, I'm going to tattle on myself. I haven't read this book. It is high on my list of books to read, though. My dad has read it, and he's discussed with me how it's more so the story told in the second movie of the franchise by the same name. I in part included this book this month because I stumbled upon this old doodle of a T-Rex cat that I'm not sure I ever shared here. What's more, though, Jurassic Park is probably in my top 3 favorite movies of all time. I've loved the concept of dinosaurs since I was a kid, and my parents did indeed let me watch this when I was young. I've never been very easy to scare, and so rather than be terrified by a movie portraying big scary dinosaurs tearing apart people who are far too bold, I was enamored and immensely enjoyed it from my very first viewing of it. So, thank you, Michael Crichton.

 

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Now, Thimble is indeed here and ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is grateful that it's sunny door season. Well, it's technically rain and thunderstorm season, of which we've had plenty. But, on those sunny days, it's gorgeous and still cool enough to let the kitties enjoy the view from the screen doors.

Above is Thimble enjoying the front door, and below is Thimble enjoying the back door.

Like most cats, Thimble absolutely loves basking in the sun. She's a pro at hunting down those sun puddles. She knows which rooms to be in at certain times of the day in order to soak in all the sunshine possible.

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And, 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. This week, we decided to go for question-style fill-ins. Ellen had this fun idea, which will not only give you the opportunity to ask some questions you might have, but will also allow others to answer those questions of yours in your comment section. So, here are tomorrow's fun question fill-in statements.

1. Have you ever noticed _________?

2. Would you choose _________ or _________?

3. Do you think it's possible to _________?

4. What _________ would you recommend for _________?

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Tip of the Day

We're here with another spring pet safety tip today. This one is another tip we've repeated many, many times, but it's also one we think is worth saying again in this springtime series. And that is, to consider keeping up with those preventatives. As the weather warms and the grass grows green, pests such as fleas, mosquitoes, and ticks will be out and about in full force. We very recently gave a series of tips on buggers such as these, what parasites they can harbor, and what diseases they can pass on to our furbabies. Tapeworms, heartworms, and Lyme disease, for example, can result if your furbaby falls victim to such pests. This can of course affect their health and happiness, and nobody wants that.

So, in short, do consider keeping up with preventatives for your kitties and pups. Discuss the best options with your veterinarian. And, of course, only give your furbaby a preventative that is formulated for their species, as well as their age and weight. Proper prevention indeed plays a part in keeping our furbabies as healthy as possible.

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.

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.