Mancat in Motion

Sometimes I forget that the sights provided by my mancat Evan are not all that typical. After all, the average cat is not hind limb paralyzed like my Evan. That's why, for both myself and for all of you, when I catch Evan doing something that is unique to him, I try to grab my camera to capture him in action.

That there is simply Evan dismounting from a box. He loves boxes. He loves to sit on boxes, in boxes, with boxes, and all that jazz. Of course, though, his methods of getting onto and off of boxes are a bit unique, as he does have to work around his paralyzed hind legs. As you can see, though, Evan always manages!

When I first brought Evan home as a kitten, if I'd see him trying to jump off of something, I'd run over, pick him up, and place him safely on the floor. After getting to know Evan much better, though, I came to realize that he not only wants to manage on his own, but also can and will. So, I no longer run to his aid when he wants on or off of something. In fact, 99.9% of the time, he simply doesn't need my aid. He's an independent mancat, after all.

Have a marvelous Monday, friends!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

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Our Tip of the Day:

We've previously mentioned sweet potatoes and green beans, and how these vegetables are safe when fed plain, but are best left out of your furbaby's diet if prepared in a casserole or with other added ingredients. Today, we're here to remind you of some of the other vegetables that could make for nice Thanksgiving treats for your pup or kitty, of course as long as they are fed plain. One common and nutritious vegetable is carrots. This orange vegetable can provide a large variety of beneficial nutrients, such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, and others. Other veggies that are generally safe as a snack for a kitty or pup include broccoli, celery, cucumbers, spinach, and peas. So, if you're pup or kitty wants to be included in the Thanksgiving feast, go for a safe and healthy option, such as a plain vegetables. Of course, though, even when it comes to veggies, it is still best to feed them to your kitty or pup in moderation. And, as you've heard us say many times now, always be aware of any ingredients that are added to foods prior to feeding them to your furbaby. If a veggie dish has been topped with onion, garlic, excess salt, or other similar seasonings, then it is no longer an ideal or safe treat for your kitty or pup.

Guest Selfie Sneak Peek

My sister (who just so happens to be the human mom to our housemates Toby and Winky) has been on a fun little vacation for the past week. While on vacation, she met some new friends. Next Sunday we'll be sharing lots of selfies and some information on these new friends she made. For today, though, we're going to leave you with a little sneak peek.

Isn't this such a fun new friend to have? If you'd like to see and know more about the likes of this little critter, stay tuned for next week's Sunday Selfies here on our blog! You'll be seeing lots more where this came from then.

Now, don't forget to visit the Kitties Blue over at The Cat on My Head in order to see lots more selfies!

Have a spectacular Sunday, friends!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

Here in the US, Thanksgiving is coming up on Thursday. Obviously, that means you'll be seeing some turkey doodles over the next couple of days. After all, 'tis the season.

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Our Tip of the Day:

Surely I'm not the only one who always feasts on some green bean casserole for the holidays? If green bean casserole is on your Thanksgiving table, keep in mind what all ingredients are used to make it before you let your furbaby try some. A lot of green bean casseroles involve potentially dangerous ingredients, especially after you add the classic mushroom soup and onions on top. The onions themselves are of course a hazard, as are added sodium and other ingredients that sneak their way in there. For this reason, it is likely best to hold off on sharing green bean casserole with your kitty or pup. That being said, though, if you have plain green beans to serve, those can make a great and nutritious treat for that furbaby in your life!

Caturday at the Autumn Cabin

I feel like the title of this post is nothing if not cheesy. At the same time, it pretty much sums up our doodle for today.

We'll keep this one short and sweet and will go right on ahead and wish you all a cozy Caturday!

Of course, our doodle here is our contribution to Athena's Caturday Art Blog Hop. Don't forget to visit Athena to see the masterpieces created by all of our friends!

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Our Tip of the Day:

We've been discussing the safety of our furbabies when it comes to common Thanksgiving foods. This topic would feel incomplete without a mention of none other than stuffing. Is this Thanksgiving staple safe for your furbaby? More than likely, it is best that you simply avoid feeding any of that stuffing to your kitty or pup. Why? Because many stuffings include ingredients such as onion, garlic, salt, butter (which could especially be a problem for furbabies with lactose intolerance), and other components that could have uncomfortable or dangerous side effects. If the stuffing is plain, without any potentially dangerous ingredients, then a small taste might be fine for your furbaby. But, more than likely, that Thanksgiving stuffing will contain some ingredients that are best avoided in your cat or dog's diet.

Friendly Fill-Ins

It's Friday already? Woohoo! You know what Friday means? It means we have some fill-ins to fill in. In case you missed the fill-in statements for today's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, we'll share them again here. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I can't wait to have _________ on Thanksgiving. (If not in the USA, substitute your next holiday.)

2. I am thankful for _________.

3. When it comes to pie, _________. 

4. A feast is not a feast without _________.


My furbabies and I are indeed in the USA, so we're gearing up for Thanksgiving next week. That made filling in this week's fill-ins all sort of festive for us.

1. I can't wait to have sweet potato casserole on Thanksgiving.
(I eat sweet potatoes on the regular, but it's only during the holiday season that I eat them lathered in sugar and topped with a mountain of marshmallows. Bring on the sweet potato casserole!)

2. I am thankful for my family.
(This of course includes the furry, four-legged sort just as much as the humanoid peeps.)

3. When it comes to pie, you can never have too much whipped cream on top.
(Pup Astrid and mancat Evan completely agree with me on this. Those two are whipped cream fiends, even more so than any humans I know.)

4. A feast is not a feast without a nap for dessert.
(What with the turkey and pies and anything and everything I eat in between, I tend to end a good ol' feast with a good ol' nap. It's actually more like a coma, but that's just semantics.)

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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Eddy's a bit perturbed that we're not having many of those window whiffies these days. There's good reason for that, though. For example, window whiffies get canceled when you wake up to this:

Is it Christmas? Because it looks and feels like Christmas over here. Now, excuse us while we spend our weekend curled up on the couch beneath some warm blankets.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

Our yard is covered in leaves, and now those leaves are covered in snow. Do you think we'll be raking anytime soon? We'll keep you posted on that.

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Our Tip of the Day:

Many Thanksgiving dinners include bread, rolls, biscuits, or other doughy goods. That being said, be cautious and aware when cooking bread around dogs and cats. If a pup or kitty consumes unbaked bread dough, especially that which contains yeast, serious side effects could result. For example, unbaked break dough can expand inside the warm intestinal tract, which can in turn result in life-threatening bloat, twisted stomach, and other potential issues. Yeast in unbaked bread dough not only can result in bloat, though, but also fermentation. Such fermentation produces alcohols, which can then be absorbed into the bloodstream and result in alcohol poisoning. Needless to say, unbaked bread dough can be very dangerous, or deadly, if consumed by a cat or dog. So, never leave unbaked bread dough unattended. Keep your kitty or pup out of the kitchen, or do whatever else you must to keep your kitty or pup from giving that dough and other dangerous Thanksgiving feast foods a taste test.

Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

Hello and happy Thursday, friends! We have some hopping to do today, and as usual, we'll start with our rhyme.

We always enjoy participating in Angel Sammy and Teddy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge. Each week, our wonderful hosts share a photo prompt to guide our poetic endeavors. This week's image is this unique and fun one here:

This image immediately made me think of the movie A Bug's Life. Has anyone seen that animated film? I remember going to see it in theaters as a kid. Though I haven't seen it in some time now, I did always enjoy that movie. But I digress.

Long story short, my mind wandered just a tad bit away from A Bug's Life and twisted it instead into a silly little tale about a dog. Not just any dog, though, but a Pug. Of course, there is also an ant thrown into the poetic mix, too.

That all being said, I'll be completely honest and admit that I'm not a fan of this poem I wrote. It seems to have just moseyed its lazy way out of my brain, and I feel like it landed on the page in a boring pile of words. Nevertheless, here it is:

A Pug's Life

His name was Doug,

And he was a Pug.

He had the cutest and flattest mug.

Oh, and his best friend was a bug.

Doug loved to sit out in his yard,

Watching and barking at every passing car.

In his yard there were hundreds and hundreds of tenants.

After all, a family of ants had built their hill of a home over by the fence.

One such ant was Doug's very best friend.

He was tiny and went by the name of Ed.

Doug and Ed loved to go on grand adventures,

So long as out of the yard they did not venture.

It was on one bright and brisk autumn day,

When something in the yard seemed quite out of place.

"What is that over there?" Doug did ask.

Ed climbed up Doug's back to see the facts.

Ed scrunched up his tiny little eyes,

But he did not have an answer, to his surprise.

He thought he knew all about this great big world,

Yet just over yonder something quite unknown unfurled.

It rose above the grass, this thing so strange to see.

Actually, these strange things numbered a total of three,
All rising from the grass beneath that old oak tree.

They were red on top,
With white polka dots.

And on top of that one there—was that a frog?

Doug and Ed squinted their eyes,
But that did not make them any more wise.
So then they tilted their heads,
But that brought an answer to neither Doug nor Ed.

Their only option was to see for themselves,
Which made them glad the strange things numbered three and not twelve.
Unsure if danger awaited,
They tiptoed, breath bated.

They drew near enough to the strange things to whisper,
"Pssst! Hey, frog! Hey, mister!"
The critter resting on the white and red things glanced over.
It said, "First of all, my name is Rover.
Second of all, I'm a toad, not a frog.
Imagine if I called you a cat instead of a dog!"

After apologizing for his great error,
Doug the Pug asked, with a tad bit of fear and terror,
"Could you tell us what these things are?
We've never seen anything like them in our lives thus far."

"I'm a toad," the amphibious fellow again said.
Then he added, "These are toadstools, obviously, ahem."
"Oh?" Doug asked, giving the red and white toadstools a good look.
"Wait, aren't these those things people sometimes cook?"
"Wait, what?" the toad asked in horror.
"They better not be, or I'll get a lawyer!"

Ed shrugged and climbed aboard a vacant toadstool.
"Oh!" he shouted. "This is quite cozy and cool!"
"That seat's taken," the toad did say.
"My family will arrive soon, and here we will say."

"Oh, what fun!" Doug said with a wide smile.
"I love getting new neighbors every once in a while!"
"We're the type who keep to ourselves,"
Was what the toad said with a ribbit and a grumbling belch.

Doug shook his head and said, "Don't be silly!
Neighbors are always friends, or my name is Billy."
Doug invited Ed and the toad over for dinner,
But the toad said he best focus on prepping his new home for winter.

"No worries!" Doug happily replied.
"Tomorrow I'll pop in with a housewarming surprise."
"No, really, that's not necessary," the toad did stutter and cry.
"I'll be quite busy, and that's no lie."

Doug waved off the toad's silly words.
Then he said, "I'll even invite this old oak tree's family of birds!
Yes, Ed and I will throw you a grand party, Mr. Toad.
Such fun and games you are most certainly owed."
With a wave, Doug and Ed then turned and away they strode,
As a ribbit, grumble, and sigh emitted from the antisocial toad.

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What else does Thursday mean around here?

Thimble! This little lady cat is always happy to give you all a good ol' dose of her adorable self on Thursdays. What's more, Thimble's also always eager to participate in Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is thankful for the sun (she could do without this here human's lack of proper photography skills, but at least she has the sun). Today, we're getting us a few inches of snow. The ground is already covered in the stuff, and more just keeps falling. That's why when we see the sun, we're all so very grateful for it.

Of course, as always, we're also so very thankful for all of you. Thank you for being our friends, friends!

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And now we have for you the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. Ellen of 15andmeowing is the mastermind behind the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I can't wait to have _________ on Thanksgiving. (If not in the USA, substitute your next holiday.)

2. I am thankful for _________.

3. When it comes to pie, _________. 

4. A feast is not a feast without _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Our Tip of the Day:

A discussion on Thanksgiving dinner foods would not be complete without noodles, would it? If noodles are part of your holiday meal, it could likely be considered safe to feed your furbaby a small amount of plain noodles. Noodles can be a good source of energy in the form of carbohydrates, but of course they are best enjoyed in moderation for your furbaby. That being said, as always, also do consider any ingredients added the noodles. Refrain from feeding your pup or kitty noodles that include garlic or onion, for example, or that include any fatty or other sauces that might lead to gastrointestinal upset, pancreatitis, or other issues. So, if your furbaby fancies a taste of pasta, as long as it's plain, they can enjoy that little taste.

Nearly Wordless Woof Woof Wednesday

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Our Doodle of the Day:

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Our Tip of the Day:

Continuing on with our Thanksgiving dinner tips, yet another common holiday dish is white potatoes, such as mashed potatoes. When it comes to feeding your furbaby white potatoes, those that are cooked and plain can be a reasonable treat in moderation. When additional ingredients are added, though, then you have to start being extra cautious about offering potatoes as a treat. For example, butter or sour cream might cause gastrointestinal distress, especially for cats and dogs who are lactose intolerant. In addition, as we've said before, added ingredients such as garlic, onion, or excess salt can potentially be dangerous if consumed by a kitty or pup. So, you  can let your furbaby try out those mashed potatoes, but first make be sure to take into account how they're prepared.

In addition to white potatoes, Thanksgiving is also often a popular time for sweet potato dishes. If plain and simple, sweet potatoes can make for a great treat for a kitty or pup. They are a great source of fiber and vitamin A, as well as vitamin C, potassium, and a variety of other beneficial nutrients. Plain steamed, baked, or mashed sweet potatoes would be a great treat to allow your kitty or pup during that Thanksgiving dinner. That all being said, though, do be cautious of dishes such as sweet potato casserole. These altered versions of sweet potato often contain added sugar, sugary marshmallows, and other potential seasonings or ingredients that could be unhealthy or lead to gastrointestinal side effects. So, sweet potatoes are a great treat to offer that furbaby in your life, but do be sure it's of the plain and healthy variety. Just as with white mashed potatoes, make sure you know how sweet potatoes are prepared prior to letting your furbaby have a taste.

Tabby Tuesday

You might be thinking, Now wait just a minute. You're calling this post Tabby Tuesday, and then show us a calico? Well, this little calico has herself some tabby stripes, and she's proud of them.

Can you see those stripes on her caramel shoulder? This here human failed to help Tonks get a good, evidential shot, but this calico girl's caramel patches are pretty heavily adorned with tabby markings.

And do you see those toesies there? They're an added bonus. We hope you enjoy!

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

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Our Tip of the Day:

Yesterday we discussed whether it was safe to feed your furbaby a taste of that Thanksgiving turkey. Another food you might find on the Thanksgiving table is ham. Is this safe to feed your furbaby, though? Ham, like turkey potentially can be, is often high in fat. Ham is also often processed or treated, and can possibly contain high amounts of salt. These factors can lead to any number of issues, such as gastrointestinal distress or pancreatitis, if consumed in excess by your kitty or pup. And, just as we've said of other Thanksgiving foods, also be aware of other potentially concerning ingredients added to ham, such as onion and garlic. While very small amounts might not have an effect for some furbabies, do be aware of the potential side effects that fatty, processed, treated, or seasoned ham can cause.

It's also worth noting to be aware of the contents and preparation of chicken, beef, and all meats served at your Thanksgiving dinner. These can all potentially contain problematic fat, or additives such as onion, garlic, salt, and so forth. To prevent pancreatitis, gastrointestinal distress, or other issues, either refrain from giving your furbaby a taste at all, or give treats only in moderation and only when you are certain that the food contains no potentially dangerous components.