Friendly Fill-Ins

Hello and happy Friday, friends! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. Are you? If so, please feel free to join in on the fun! My co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. _________ makes my skin crawl.

2. I enjoy _________.

3. I consider myself _________.

4. _________ and _________ are not a good mix.

My answers are below in bold, and I made them all about the furbabies again.

1. Stepping in cat puke makes my skin crawl.

(I'm not generally all that easy to gross out, but this is definitely a texture thing. Which is probably why I only get grossed out when I'm barefoot and step in chunky puke. TMI? If so, my apologies. In case you were curious, if I wasn't trying to make all these answers be about my furbabies, my answer easily would have been that spiders make my skin crawl. Arachnophobia is definitely a thing over here.)

2. I enjoy being home with my furbabies more than anything else.

(As I've probably mentioned roughly infinity times, I am a huge homebody who wants nothing more than to be home with my kitties and pup. And that just about sums that up.)

3. I consider myself a crazy cat lady.
(I know some people don't like this term. I myself am not offended by it, and I welcome anyone to consider me as such. Because I am one.)

4. Thimble and beef are not a good mix.

(If you feed Thimble any food in a beef flavor, there is almost a guarantee that she will projectile vomit it right back out. Probably from the top of a cat tree. So that it hits at least five surfaces on the way down.)

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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Ready for your Eddy fix? Don't expect a clear or focused Eddy today, because she was too busy doing her own thing while one of our black cat Halloween decorations did all the posing.

Have a fantastic Friday!

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Flashback Doodles of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip is an extension of yesterday's tip, when we reminded you to only put Halloween costumes on furbabies who tolerate or enjoy it. Now we're here to mention the importance of choosing safe and secure costumes for those kitties and pups who do enjoy wearing them. There are a number of considerations to make in order to ensure that a Halloween costume, or other item of clothing, is safe for your furbaby. For example, you of course have to make sure that there are no embellishments or other decorations on the costume that could be chewed off and ingested, as this could indeed be dangerous. You also want to make sure that no strings or other similar parts and pieces could lead to a furbaby getting tangled in the costume. What's more, make sure the costume is the correct size and fit. A costume with too small of a neck hole or with too small of leg holes could be not only uncomfortable, but also dangerous for circulation. Dressing up our furbabies can indeed help you and them get into the Halloween spirit, but it is more so important to ensure their comfort and safety.

Thankful Thimble Thursday

Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge is on hiatus this week while his parents take a much deserved vacation. We'll be back to rhyming next week!

So, let's get right to Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Thimble is yet again here to share a strange bit of gratitude. Actually, she's not sure if she should be grateful for this or not.

There's a skeleton in Thimble's library. Is that good or bad? Thimble can't decide. This skeleton doesn't even go away after Halloween. It sits there all year round, even wearing a Santa hat during the Christmas season. Because that's how weird Thimble's human here is. Thimble has honestly sort of befriended the skeleton, because this sweet tabby girl is friends with anything she comes across, but she's still pretty sure this is weird.

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And now let's share the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. _________ makes my skin crawl.

2. I enjoy _________.

3. I consider myself _________.

4. _________ and _________ are not a good mix.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip is about none other than costumes. As you might see upon visiting a pet store this time of year, Halloween costumes are sometimes just as popular for kitties and pups as they are for children of the human sort. That being said, though, it is best to only put and keep a costume on a furbaby who tolerates and enjoys it. Some cats and dogs simply do not like wearing costumes or other clothing items, and those such furbabies should not be forced to wear a costume for Halloween, or any time of the year. If you do try a costume on your kitty or pup, watch for signs of stress, such as attempts to remove the costume, or other restlessness. If you do notice any signs that your furbaby is not enjoying a costume you've chosen for them, remove it and simply let them don their birthday suit this Halloween.

A Footsie Flashback

Around this very time in 2017, pup Astrid had a cancerous tumor removed from her foot. To have it fully removed, she had the entire outer toe on her back right foot amputated. During all of that, I bought Astrid a mummy cookie in honor of her bandaged foot. Because why not be festive about it.

Do you see Astrid's booted foot there in that there photo? Both before and after her toe amputation, we would have her wear that boot for protection. Astrid as well as us humans were glad to be rid of that boot after her three-toed foot was all healed up.

Whether out of solidarity or revenge, Astrid even took that there mummy's back right foot, as you can probably see. Is that what we call karma?

Astrid has been without that toe for 4 years now. More importantly, she's therefore been cancer-free for 4 years. It probably goes without saying that we are so very happy and grateful for that. Way back when Astrid was diagnosed with cancer and was going through her surgeries, so many of you sent us purrs, woofs, prayers, and all sorts of good thoughts, and we are still so very thankful for that.

Happy Wednesday, wonderful friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Who remembers this doodle from last year, inspired by Garfield and his puppy pal Odie?

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Tip of the Day

We've made it to day 13 of our 31 Halloween tips. Today's tip is likely the last in our discussion on pumpkins, and it's also more than likely an obvious one. Nevertheless, we're here to remind you to take precautions and to keep your furbaby safe if you get festive by carving a jack-o'-lantern. Carving a pumpkin means pulling out knives or other sharp objects, which can of course be a danger to your kitty or pup. Do not leave any knives sitting where your furbaby might walk or jump, and certainly don't leave knives unattended. If need be, activities such as pumpkin carving can be, and perhaps should be, done in an area where your furbaby does not have access. This would allow for the prevention of any accidents. Also think about after you've carved the pumpkin, and do not leave the knives sitting dangerously in the sink or elsewhere. We've also already discussed safety around candles in jack-o'-lanterns, as flames are of course another danger. All in all, if you are carving pumpkins or partaking in other similar Halloween festivities, always be aware of your furbaby's proximity and safety.

Tonks Tuesday

Who remembers last year when Tonks showed off the large, stuffed scarecrow we keep in a mini rocking chair this time of year?

Tonks also sure loves to drag this poor fellow around the house. He regularly has to be returned to his chair, and then he gets sat on again. What a life he leads.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Can you believe we're still on the topic of pumpkins? We talked about the benefits of pumpkin, and even pumpkin seeds. All of that aside, though, always keep in mind the age and condition of any pumpkins to which your furbaby has access. This time of year, pumpkins are indeed often used as beautiful outdoor decorations or spooky jack-o'-lanterns. Pumpkins won't stay pretty forever, though, and we're sure you've all witnessed the ultimate demise of pumpkins. That being said, old pumpkins can indeed begin to rot, and if pumpkins in this state are consumed by your kitty or pup, issues such as gastrointestinal distress can occur.

In addition, also keep wildlife in mind with regard to this, as old, rotting food may not sit well for them either. What's more, pumpkins that are left to sit outside and rot will sometimes ferment. If squirrels or other wildlife consume fermented pumpkins, they can potentially end up in a more or less drunken state. Therefore, be sure to compost or otherwise dispose of old pumpkins in a timely, safe, secure manner, for the safety of your furbabies as well as wildlife.

Another Haunted Mancat Monday

Once upon a time, Evan tried to enjoy his favorite window seat. And then an annoying little pest started haunting him. Again.

Poor Evan. That little ghost even insisted on photobombing him. How rude.

Evan hopes your Monday has far less hauntings than his!

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Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday's Halloween tip was about the benefits of feeding pumpkin to your furbabies. Today's tip is related to this, but is about a part of the pumpkin that isn't as often discussed with regard to a furbaby's diet. Though we've mentioned these before, we're again talking about pumpkin seeds. If fed in a manner that is safe, pumpkin seeds can have health benefits for our furbabies, just as they can for humans. For example, pumpkin seeds contain valuable nutrients, and they can have anti-inflammatory properties. It is also believed by some that pumpkin seeds have some deworming properties as well.

All of the above being said, if you decide to offer pumpkin seeds to your kitty or pup, of course do so safely. First, feed them only as an occasional treat or food topper. In addition, if the seeds are a potential choking hazard, you can cut them into small pieces. Also, of course, ensure that the pumpkin seeds are plain, and that they do not contain any added ingredients, such as onion, garlic, or even salt or sugar. We'll again also add that, should your furbaby have any health concerns, of course first discuss adding anything such as pumpkin seeds to your furbaby's diet with your veterinarian.

A Tardy Sunday Selfie

Hello, friends! For the first time in years, I almost didn't get a post put up for today. Shame on me. Some unexpected work showed up in front of me this weekend, and things just took a tiny little major detour. As I mentioned recently, my workplace will soon be interviewing a promising candidate to fill the void we have there, and then hopefully things can begin to return to some semblance of normal.

Anyway, since I showed up so late today, we're just going to throw in a photo of a cute kitty and call that good just for today. I'm working on our posts for at least the early part of this week now, in hopes of getting back on track with our preferred blogging routine. We really enjoy blogging over here, so we're eager to get back to it like we used to be able to. We'll get there.

So, here's a bright and sunny Thimble for you all.

And how about a flashback doodle to make this post frightfully festive?

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Tip of the Day

We're on the 10th day of our 31 days of Halloween tips. Now, we simply couldn't go this entire Halloween month without mentioning none other than pumpkins! As most of you likely already know, pumpkin can make for a healthy treat for a kitty or pup. Plain, cooked pumpkin can be an excellent source of fiber. This can help to keep the bowels regular, and so it could be something to keep in mind for those furbabies with irregular bowel movements. Pumpkin and the fiber it provides can also help move hairballs more easily through those kitty intestinal tracts. Fiber, such as that from pumpkin, can also help a kitty or pup feel full for longer, which means that it can also potentially aid in weight loss. All of these benefits are on top of the fact that pumpkin is also high in a variety of beneficial nutrients, such as vitamin A and vitamin C.

That all being said, do of course ensure that you only feed your furbaby cooked pumpkin of the plain variety. You can feed your furbaby pumpkin puree from a can, of course ensuring that it contains no spices or other added ingredients. You can also cook up your own pumpkin and feed it to your kitty or pup as a treat. What's more, these days, there are many types of dry and moist foods, as well as treats, that contain pumpkin as an ingredient. These such foods might assist certain furbabies with bowel regularity or weight loss. Of course, if you have any questions or concerns regarding your furbaby's diet and digestion, discuss options such as pumpkin with your veterinarian.

Caturday Art

We have another late and not-quite-to-plan post for today. Work was just a tad bit crazy the past couple of days, with us being down a person since one of my co-workers left. Luckily, we're very soon interviewing a very promising candidate for the job, so I'm feeling optimistic. Anyway, here's one of my favorite Halloween doodles I scribbled up last year.

Our new series of Halloween doodles will resume tomorrow, after I boot up the scanner today and get them all ready for our blog.

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Tip of the Day

It is not only important to prevent your furbaby's access to dangerous products during the Halloween season, and to know the signs of potential toxicity, but also to know when and where veterinary offices are open in your area. It is it course ideal that emergencies be prevented by taking precautions. Sometimes, though, accidents and emergencies do happen. For this reason, it is important that you are aware of the hours and locations of veterinary clinics in your area. What time does your regular veterinary clinic close? Are there emergency clinics in the area? If so, when are they open, and where are they located? Planning ahead for potential emergencies may sometimes prove unnecessary, which is a good problem to have. But, in the event of an emergency, such as if your kitty or pup breaks into the candy stash on Halloween, you can save precious time and potentially your furbaby's life by knowing ahead of time where you can take them for immediate veterinary care. This is important any time of the year, but of course including during holidays such as Halloween, when dangerous products and situations may be more prevalent. It's also important to know what's going with your veterinary clinic during this pandemic, so that you know the protocols ahead of time.