Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy with Her Mancat Evan

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. A Ted Talk that I found helpful was done by _________.

2. If I could make my own candy heart it would say _________.

3. I _________ early in the morning, but I _________ late at night.

4. _________ is what I love most about myself.


My answers are below in bold.

1. A Ted Talk that I found helpful was done by someone yet to be determined.
(I've actually never seen or listened to a single TED Talk. I've always meant to look into finding some that might be up my alley, as I do enjoy listening to podcasts and videos on topics that interest or inspire me. I listen to a lot of podcasts and videos from or about my favorite authors, for example, as reading and writing have a lot of meaning to me. I should look for some TED Talks in that vein.)

2. If I could make my own candy heart it would say, My true love has 4 paws.

(I was really trying to think of something clever for this one, but all I could come up with is that true statement right there.)

3. I am inspired and productive early in the morning, but I am slow and sleepy late at night.

(Especially as I've gotten older, I've really become an early bird. I just love getting up to a silent world, when it's just me and the birds. And my kitties demanding I fill their food bowls. I love seeing the sunrise, and that time of day really makes me feel inspired and productive. When it comes to evening and especially late at night, though, I've usually lost most of my steam by then and often end up asleep on the couch in front of the TV despite telling myself to at least try to get some art or writing done before bed. There's a chance I'll get something done on a Saturday or Sunday night, when I haven't been at work all day, but even those evenings often end up with me prematurely falling asleep.)

4. My compassion for animals is what I love most about myself.

(I love all animals, and I have an extra soft spot for special needs furry babies. When I see stories about animal abusers, or even just hear that someone doesn't like animals, I genuinely thank God that he provided me with compassion for the innocent creatures of the world. The kitties and pups in my life bring me more happiness than I can even express.)

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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Are you ready for your Eddy fix? Today you actually get to see Eddy along with her beloved mancat Evan. After all, tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and the only other cat Eddy truly likes is Evan, and she absolutely adores him.

That photo is actually a couple years old, and it was snapped when Eddy and Evan were helping me do laundry one day. I picked it, though, as there's lots of pink going on with their blankets, and Valentine's Day is all shades of pink.

Eddy and Evan wish everyone a fantastic Friday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Also in honor of Valentine's Day, how about this macabre doodle of love I scribbled up a couple years ago?

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Tip of the Day

We're continuing on with our tips for National Cat Health Month, today's tip being all about diet. As you all certainly know, not all foods are created equal. Always be sure to do your research and read labels, ensuring that you are feeding your kitty food that is as high-quality as possible. Also remember that cats are obligate carnivores, so make sure that their diet largely reflects this. In addition, when it comes to feeding your cat, it is of course important to take a number of other factors into consideration, such as their age and health status. For example, kittens do best on foods formulated for kittens, as these diets will include higher protein and fat content, which helps aid in their growth and development. As your cat ages, consider how their health will affect their dietary needs. For example, does your cat have kidney disease or diabetes? Cats with kidney disease should be on a diet lower in protein, in order to help their kidneys function as well as possible. On the other hand, cats with diabetes are often better regulated when on a diet higher in protein. Other factors that could affect diet include of course food allergies, dermatitis, arthritis, dental disease, and weight, just to name a few. The most important thing is to understand your cat's dietary needs based on their overall health status. Of course, as needed, discuss your kitty's dietary needs with their veterinarian, and make sure you understand what type of food would be best for them.

Thankful Thimble Thursday from the Blanket Fort

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

A few weeks ago, Thimble shared her gratitude for her newly discovered ability to crawl under blankets. Today, she's thankful for the same thing.

Thimble's newfound ability to enjoy blanket forts is bringing her much happiness pretty much every day now. I don't know that she'll keep this up in the hot summer months, but on these chilly days, she's quite pleased to have learned that she has the skills required to sneak and snooze under a cozy blanket.

Thimble hopes her kitty friends also enjoy blanket forts!

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Now, 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.

1. A Ted Talk that I found helpful was done by _________.

2. If I could make my own candy heart it would say _________.

3. I _________ early in the morning, but I _________ late at night.

4. _________ is what I love most about myself.

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today we have yet another old doodle I scribbled up for Valentine's Day years ago. This particular holiday is far from my favorite, and I don't always feel inspired to scribble up new doodles for it. That was the case this year, so we're sharing some old ones.

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday, our first tip for National Cat Health Month was to make sure your kitty is examined by a veterinarian at least once a year. Today, our tip is to also remember to be diligent of your kitty's health in between vet visits. You know your kitty best, and you spend lots of time by his or her side. So, be sure to do frequent observations and checks of their actions, behaviors, and overall health and happiness. For example, keep an eye on how much your kitty is eating and drinking, and make note of any changes in their food or water intake. In addition, check that litter box and take note of any changes there, such as the amount of urine or feces, or even the odor. Or, has your kitty become less active, or more active? What about the way they walk? Are they walking abnormally, such as favoring a foot? Do they still jump as often and as well as they used to? What about their vocalizations? Is your kitty more vocal than he or she used to be? Less vocal? Has the sound of their voice changed? Is your kitty hiding more often? Has he or she become more aggressive, or less tolerant of being petted or held? These are all just examples of things that you, as your kitty's companion, should keep an eye on regularly. Any such changes, even subtle ones, could be indicative of disease, injury, or any number of issues. So, be sure to make observations such as these, and report any concerns, no matter how big or how small, to your veterinarian.

Woof Woof Wednesday: Angel Astrid's Valentine Ribbon

Since Valentine's Day is coming up, I decided to look through old photos of my sweet angel pup Astrid from this time of the year. In doing so, I found photos of her wearing one of her Valentine collar ribbons. I loved seeing these memories of my pup, so I'll of course share them with you all as well.

Not only do we get to see Astrid's cute little ribbon, but we also get to see her enjoying her favorite window view.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

And for today's doodle, we have a Valentine's Day flashback starring angel Astrid and my sister's cat Toby, who was always so very fond of his puppy pal.

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Tip of the Day

February is not only Spay/Neuter Awareness Month and Pet Dental Health Care Month, but also National Cat Health Month. We've already given tips on the first two, so now we're of course moving on to some tips for keeping those kitties healthy. Our first such tip is to take your cat to the veterinarian for a checkup on an annual basis at the least. In general, a health check is recommended at least every 6 to 12 months. More regular vet visits are of course recommended for any cats with known illnesses, such as kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and cancer, among others.

Visits with the veterinarian do not always just simply mean a quick exam, though. Depending on your furbaby's health, lifestyle, and any other important factors, you will of course have to take into consideration vaccinations, blood work, urinalyses, fecal exams, and so forth. Your veterinarian will be able to discuss and offer recommendations on how and when to proceed with these. For example, discuss with your veterinarian your cat's risk for certain illnesses, and discuss any related vaccinations. When it comes to blood work and urinalyses, these are often recommended at least yearly for seniors cats, such as those who have reached 7 or so years of age. This could allow for early detection of certain diseases. More frequent blood work is of course recommended for those with known kidney disease, diabetes, and a variety of other diseases.

The long and short of this tip is that your cat should be seen by a veterinarian at least once a year, or more frequently if needed. A veterinarian's exam, as well as blood work and other tests, can help reveal any issues that might be arising, whether or not your kitty is showing any signs of illness. Cats are professionals at hiding disease, so exams and tests could, quite literally, be lifesavers.

Tonks Tuesday: The Rude Awakening

It's Tonks Tuesday. For the occasion, I woke the calico up from a nap, which resulted in the photo below.

As you can see from her expression, Tonks thought this was a rather rude awakening. In my defense, I didn't mean to wake her up. I was trying to get a photo of her napping, as she's quite the adorable snoozer. I bumped her, though, which earned me the look you see on her face there. Even a bit disgruntled, Tonks is still clearly so very cute. And don't worry, because Tonks got her requested belly rubs and cuddles after this photo, and then her nap resumed.

Have a terrific Tuesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday we discussed symptoms you might notice if your furbaby is suffering from any number of dental issues or diseases. Our tip for today is a bit of a long one, and it will wrap up our dental tips. We'll start with the recommendation of, of course, taking your furbaby to be seen by a veterinarian if you notice any dental concerns. Your veterinarian can take a look in your cat or dog's mouth to get a basic idea of what might be going on. They might be able to see a broken tooth, an abscess or infected tooth, gingivitis or other gum disease, or masses growing within the mouth. Of course, a simple exam may not reveal everything, and when dental disease is noted or suspected, it might very well be recommended that the animal go under anesthesia for a more thorough dental exam, dental x-rays, dental cleaning, or extractions.

If a dental procedure is recommended, of course discuss the necessary details, options, and plans with the veterinarian. Make sure that both you and your veterinarian are on the same page. If your furbaby has other existing diseases, such as those of the kidney or heart and lungs, of course discuss with your veterinarian if or how it is best to safely proceed with a procedure.

If a dental procedure is scheduled, make sure that you understand all preparations for it. Give your kitty or pup any prescribed pre-op medications, such as antibiotics, if applicable. Just as we recently discussed in one of our spay/neuter tips, also be sure to pull your furbaby's food at 10 pm or so the night before the surgery, or whenever you are instructed to do so, in order to reduce the risk of aspiration while under anesthesia.

Also make sure you understand all post-op care. For example, give antibiotics, pain killers, or other medications as instructed. Some dental work, such as tooth extractions, requires that your furbaby go off of dry food and exclusively eat moist food for at least a couple or a few days after the procedure. Be sure that you understand if this is required, so that your furbaby can recover and heal as quickly and efficiently as possible. After dental work is performed, also make sure that you understand if your veterinarian recommends at-home care from then on out, such as brushing your cat or dog's teeth or applying certain oral medications on a regular basis to help prevent future concerns.

Mancat Monday with Evan and His Adorably Weird Ear

I've mentioned multiple times over the past few weeks how, 2 years ago, my boy Evan developed an ear hematoma. At the time he had an upper respiratory infection, and so the hematoma likely resulted from excess sneezing or shaking and rubbing his ear. Google Photos keeps giving me notifications with memories from that time. As in, it keeps reminding me of sad photos like this:

That was when Evan's hematoma was fresh and at its biggest. He was miserable, and his vet and I were trying to make a game plan. Of all the myriad health issues Evan has had over the years, I think this ear hematoma somehow made him the most miserable. This was the only time I ever witnessed him genuinely hiding. I remember one day he went under my bed and didn't come out for over 12 hours. I wanted to cry for him. In fact, I probably did just that.

Thanks, Google Photos. It's so nice of you to remind me how sad that hematoma made my poor little guy.

Given the number of health issues he already has, at the time we were trying to keep Evan comfortable with meds while giving his ear time to heal on its own rather than jump right to surgery. I would certainly have gone the surgery route if absolutely necessary, but his vet and I were trying to avoid an anesthetic event for the poor little guy. After all, most ear hematomas will shrink and heal on their own over a few weeks. Evan's kind of shrunk, but for whatever reason it never fully healed. Instead, his ear was left permanently deformed. His vet doesn't know why that was the case for Evan, but my boy has always been an extra special medical case.

I genuinely do not care what Evan's ear looks like. My only concern was the slew of ear infections he was getting as a result of the deformed part of his ear blocking airflow to the ear canal. The ear infections were making him just as miserable as the hematoma itself had. As I mentioned a couple times over these past few weeks of re-sharing the history of Evan's ear, we finally found a solution to his infections with an ear cleaner our clinic's founding veterinarian invented. As soon as I started cleaning Evan's ear with that twice a day, the ear infections stopped and Evan was back to his happy self.

I still clean his ear twice daily with that ear cleaner. As long as I do that, Evan's weird little ear causes him no issues at all. He doesn't notice or care that it's different, and neither do I as long as it's not giving him any grief.

Warm wishes from Evan and his adorably weird little ear!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

As part of our series of tips for National Pet Dental Health Month, today we'll be discussing some of the symptoms to look out for related to dental disease. First up, of course, is halitosis, or bad breath. This can signify any number of issues, including an infected tooth or gum disease. Of course, bad breath can also come with certain diseases, such as oral cancer or even kidney disease. For these reasons and more, never ignore abnormally rank breath in your cat or dog. Moving on from bad breath, though, if your kitty or pup is suffering from certain dental issues, they may also of course have a decreased appetite, or seem pained or have difficulties when eating. In some dental cases, you also might notice blood or excess drool coming from their mouth. There is also the chance you might visibly notice broken teeth, loose teeth, discolored teeth, or even tartar buildup. Also don't forget that the teeth are in close proximity to and therefore often linked to the eyes and nasal cavity, and so discharge from either of these can also potentially signify an oral concern. All in all, if you smell, see, or in any way notice concerns relating to your furbaby's mouth, or any part of their body, do be sure to have them examined by a veterinarian. Dental health can even be linked to heart health and other systems of the body, so this is again one of those cases in which it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Annoyed 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. I _________ for fun.

2. I am tired of seeing _________.

3. I once had the crazy idea to _________, and it worked.

4. I spoke too soon when I said that _________.


My answers are below in bold. Yet again, I've rambled more than I have any right to. My apologies, again.

1. I read lengthy books for fun.
(Don't get me wrong, because in order for this to be fun for me it needs to be a genre, author, and just overall book that I enjoy. That said, when it's a book I'm excited for, I love seeing that it's over 600 or 700 pages, or more. That many pages means there's more story to enjoy, and for longer. One of my newer favorite fantasy authors has two books coming out over the next few months, and they're both over 600 pages, and that makes me so happy. I'm sure there are lots of people out there who get excited over a big book to read. But, I thought to put this answer because when I was recently talking to a fellow reader, they couldn't believe I was excited for books with that many pages.)

2. I am tired of seeing stories of animal cruelty.
(None of us like these terrible stories, that's for sure. Animals offer unconditional love and deserve nothing but the best, so seeing stories of cruelty towards them boils my blood. Since I follow so many animal accounts on social media, my algorithms will give me all sorts of animal stories, including the devastating ones. Animal abusers deserve the same treatment they give to the innocent creatures of this world, a sentiment I feel every time I see these heartbreaking stories.)

3. I once had the crazy idea to try alcohol markers, and it worked.

(I can sometimes be a stick in the mud. When I have a preferred method for doing something, I'm not always comfortable changing it. For my entire youth and early adulthood, I would draw using just pencil and/or pen. Then I started seeing more and more artists sharing their work created by alcohol markers. I was very intrigued, but I kept dragging my feet on getting any. I apparently mentioned my intent to someday try them to my sister enough times that she showed up one day with a set of 12 alcohol markers and told me to try them already. I did, and I've never looked back. Thanks, sis! I used to never draw in a bright, colorful, cartoon style, but now that's pretty much all I create. I enjoy it so much.)

4. I spoke too soon when I said that my old car and old furnace were behaving.

(My car is 16 years old and my furnace is 26 years old. They've both been doing great for their age. I even made the fatal error of saying that out loud recently, and mentioned it here on our blog. Not long after that, my car started throwing some warning lights. Luckily these were found to be the result of my poor old car being more sensitive to cold weather these days, and after a quick checkup it's still hanging in there and serving me well. I have faith in you, car. As for my furnace, it started making multiple failed attempts to run the other day. I was worried it was croaking, given that it's a quarter of a century old. Turns out, the flame sensor was just dirty and it was a quick and cheap fix. Whew.)

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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I mentioned last week how Eddy isn't a big fan of cameras or having her photo taken. I can't go without photographic memories of my sweet girl, though, so I do sneak photos ops when I can. She always notices, of course, which more often than not leads to annoyed looks on her cute face.

Though she might look a little dour there, Eddy still wishes you all a fantastic Friday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I had forgotten about this kooky, spooky winter doodle I scribbled up a couple years ago until I scrolled past it in my archives yesterday. So, I figured I'd go ahead and share it again.

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Tip of the Day

Among other things, February is National Pet Dental Health Care Month. So, of course we'll be giving a couple of tips on keeping those pearly whites healthy and happy. Let's start with a quick discussion on at-home care and dental disease prevention. First and foremost, of course, is the act of brushing your furbaby's teeth, which can help remove food morsels, plaque, and other debris that could lead to tartar and other dental issues. Though this is not a job that every furbaby enjoys or even allows, if they are trained to accept it and it is done correctly, brushing can help keep those teeth healthy and happy. There are pet-friendly toothpastes and other oral cleansers out there, as well as pet-friendly toothbrushes and other similar tools for cleaning those teeth. There are even products on the market that more heavily focus on helping treat gum disease, such as for those furbabies with a history of gingivitis or stomatitis. Not all dental products are created equally, though, so if you are unsure what is safest or best for your furbaby, then most certainly discuss the options with your veterinarian.

There are also other types of products on the market that can potentially help teeth remain as healthy as possible. These of course include treats and food formulated for dental health. This is something that again can be discussed with your veterinarian, as he or she will best be able to guide you to products that are the most reliable and effective.

Dental care can of course start at home, but do keep in mind that it is still possible for tartar, gingivitis or stomatitis, and other forms of dental disease to arise even with brushing and other at-home care being used. Tomorrow we'll discuss some of the symptoms you might notice if your furbaby's oral health is in need of further assistance.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: What Big Eyes You Have

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

Today, Thimble is grateful for what big eyes she has. They're quite adorable, don't you agree?

In these photos, Thimble was excited by the lights my phone was reflecting onto the walls thanks to the sunshine. This girl loves chasing lights on the wall, and so that's what she had such big eyes for this time around. No matter the reason, though, I love my girl Thimble's giant eyes.

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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. I _________ for fun.

2. I am tired of seeing _________.

3. I once had the crazy idea to _________, and it worked.

4. I spoke too soon when I said that _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Our last tip related to Spay/Neuter Awareness Month is to make sure that you know and follow the proper pre-op preparation and post-op treatment for your furbaby's operation. Just as with any anesthetic event, there are some rules that will need to be heeded for your furbaby's health and safety. To begin, a cat or dog's food should be withheld well in advance to going under anesthesia. This is in order to prevent aspiration of food during surgery. Ask your veterinarian how early to pull your kitty or pup's food, as their age can affect this. For example, adults may need their access to food cut off at 10 pm or thereabouts the night before surgery, whereas young kittens or puppies may need to be allowed access to food until the early hours of the morning of their surgery. Of course, also ask your veterinarian if there are other requirements prior to surgery.

The at-home care will continue after the surgery as well, of course, so also be sure that you follow these instructions from your veterinarian. For example, make sure you know how much and how often to give any medications that are sent home with your furbaby after surgery, which may include pain medication or antibiotics. It is also of course important to keep spayed or neutered furbabies calm and as least active as possible, so that they can recover safely and quickly. This is especially important for females, so that their abdominal sutures remain intact and their incision heals properly. If necessary, a kitten or pup can be secluded to a safe area of the house, where they can recover and heal as needed. Spaying and neutering is incredibly important, but so is the care required before and after the surgery itself.