Angel Astrid's Birthday Wishes for Her Grandma

Today is the birthday of this here human's mom. As in, it's the birthday of the furry babies' grandma, or Gammy. Sweet angel pup Astrid would be more than happy to share one of her birthday goodies with her beloved Gammy, so today's memory of the sweet pup is indeed just that.

Happy Birthday, Gammy! Angel pup Astrid as well as all the kitties and us humans hope you have the best day ever!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Despite the fact that I've had my mom's birthday doodle completed for many days, I failed to scan it to share today. So, we're sharing one of her birthday drawings from the past. This one stars her fuzzy calico Gilly, and a couple of gifts she has to offer.

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Tip of the Day

Today's pet parenting hack of a tip is one to help you sleep better at night. Does your kitty or pup ever wake you up during the night, perhaps seemingly bored or hungry? The first step in a case such as this is of course to make sure there is no medical explanation. If your furbaby is indeed healthy, though, and they simply wake you in the middle of the night for some playtime or a midnight snack, then there are a couple of simple things you can do to try to combat this.

First, you can do a bit of a pre-bedtime play session with them. One of the last things you do before you go to bed can be a game of fetch, perhaps a little fun with a wand toy, or anything that your furbaby finds fun and that expends their energy. This will help tire your furbaby out, and will hopefully help satisfy their desire to play so that they can sleep through the night.

Second, in the case that your furbaby wakes you up in the middle of the night out of hunger, perhaps save their last meal of the day for right before bed. Fill their bowl just before you go to bed, so that they will go to bed with a full stomach. If needed and possible, you can also make this nighttime meal their largest of the day, to even further satisfy them and their stomach. In some cases, this is all it takes to help keep those hungry furbabies satiated until their breakfast.

Just like us, our furbabies are not immune to restless nights or a desire for a midnight snack. If a medical concern has been ruled out, then try to find a way to help both you and your furbaby sleep through the night. Satisfying the play or hunger drive just before bed may be all that is needed.

A Rare Tonks Tuesday in Bed

It's Tonks Tuesday, but we're starting this post with a comment on a certain orange boy. You see, yesterday Evan shared how much he loves his favorite bed. While seeing Evan in his beloved bed is a very common sight, seeing Tonks use a cat bed is very rare. Which made this photo shoot with not only Evan but also Tonks something special.

When I saw Tonks enjoying the other cat bed in the background there, I absolutely had to get a photo of her. This cute calico has never had much of an interest in cat beds, but perhaps she's changing her mind.

Tonks hopes you all get a cozy nap in bed today!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is a bit of an odd one, but it was part of a Christmas in July series of drawings I did a few years ago. I remember thinking it would be fun to draw a somewhat Wild West one, and that resulted in this.

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Tip of the Day

Today's pet parenting hack of a tip is one to help you save on floor space. When it comes to storing some of your pet supplies—whether it be treats, canned food, medications, brushes, toys, or cleaning supplies, just to name a few—you can try using a shower caddy or other similar shelving system. You can even get shelving units that are meant to hang from a door, such as by a hook that goes over the top of door, to further save on both floor and wall space. Sometimes our furbabies come with a lot of supplies, and we have to find a place to put all of those items. So, as needed, think outside the box and find ways to use a variety of storage systems that will help save you on floor space or even wall space.

Mancat Monday: Beds and Baths

It's Mancat Monday, and my boy Evan is yet again showing off how much he loves his favorite bed.

I do indeed put a blanket over his bed, as Evan has urinary incontinence. What I'm getting at is that the bed has a better chance of survival if it's covered in a sacrificial blankie.

Evan had one of his routine sanitary shaves last week, hence his bald bum. He gets groomed every 2 weeks, so he always looks a tad bit like a baboon. Oh, and don't mind how wet some of his fur looks, as these photos were taken right after his morning bath. He would like everyone to know that he gets disrespected like this every single morning. Bath time is easily his least favorite part of the day, but washing up his back end with antimicrobial cleaner every day is the only way to keep him from getting urine scald.

Happy Monday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's pet parenting hack tip is a simple yet important one. Especially if your furbaby is a known chewer, do consider getting covers for power cords and other cables. I'm sure you all know the dangers that chewing on a cord can pose to our furbabies. So, to prevent this, cover up those cords and cables. There are a variety of cord and cable covers available on the market. There are covers that encase cords so that they are safe yet still able to be easily moved, and there are ones that essentially pin cords safely and securely to the floor. Of course, those are just two examples as to how you can make cords and cables safe around your furbabies. Perhaps do a bit of research, and, depending on your home and technological setup, determine what kind of cord and cable covers would best work for both you and your furbaby. As we always say, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Aquamarine Eyes

Hello and happy Friday, friends! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. If I were to start a museum, it would be a museum of _________.

2. If I see _________ one more time I am going to lose my mind.

3. _________ is the strangest thing I believed as a child.

4. If my life had a mascot, it would be a _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. If I were to start a museum, it would be a museum of drawings starring cats.
(I'd also be happy to include some doodles in there with dogs and other animals, but I'd mostly have a museum filled with drawings of cats in all sorts of seasons and settings and situations. I already have a ton of sketchbooks and notebooks filled with such feline drawings, so this answer is mostly me taking the easy way out.)

2. If I see a pregnant cat in my neighborhood one more time I am going to lose my mind.
(My neighborhood has always had feral cats. I put food out for them, and I'm happy for them to find a safe place in my yard. I've been able to trap-neuter-release one very feral kitty in need of vet care, and one pregnant cat was very sweet but without a family, and so I got her to a local no-kill rescue group. The newest issue is that a family in our neighborhood has started letting their intact cats roam. These cats have collars and a home, but the males are well-endowed and the females keep showing up pregnant. And that just means the cycle will never end. I wish people would be more humane and, well, smarter.)

3. Leprechauns living in my sandbox is the strangest thing I believed as a child.

(When I was a kid, my parents often made various holidays extra fun for my sister and me. One St. Patrick's Day when I was young, we wrote letters to leprechauns and made little homes for them in our backyard sandbox. If I'm remembering correctly, my parents even made tiny, fake footprints in the sand. Thereafter, for I don't even know how long, I really thought leprechauns lived in our sandbox outside.)

4. If my life had a mascot, it would be a cat reading a book.

(My mascot would be a cat for sure, because that's my life. Since I also love reading and writing, as well as drawing cats with books, I'd be more than happy with a bookish kitty as my life mascot. I fear this might make me sound full of hubris, but I'd like to turn one of my bookish kitty drawings into my mascot. Perhaps one of my bookish doodles of my calico angel Rosie.)

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 some Eddy? Today, we figured you were all due for another reminder that Eddy has absolutely stunning aquamarine eyes.

I just love her eyes. Well, I love all of her and her entire cute face, but those eyes are just stunning.

Eddy and all of us here wish you a fantastic day!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today we have two flashback doodles, and they're yet more of the spookyish variety. Well, sort of. I scribbled them up a couple summers ago, when I simply felt like drawing a kitty Grim Reaper as well as a kitty zombie. Because why not.

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip is one a bit more for the dogs, but of course could be used for kitties if the situation applies. What we're talking about today is bell training. It can help to have a way for your dog to tell you they need to go to the bathroom. Since jumping and scratching at the door is not all that ideal, you can hang a bell, or a strand of bells, on the doorknob. Of course, make sure the design of the bell and any attachments are safe for your furbaby, especially if they're a chewer. Once you've selected and placed the bell to be used, training techniques such as positive reinforcement can be used to teach your dog to ring the bell prior to going outside to use to the restroom. This will allow your dog to make the connection that, if they ring the bell on the door, they will be let out to use the restroom. Just as with any training, this may take time, but with patience, practice, and positive reinforcement, everyone involved can get the hang of it.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Farewell, Froggy

Hello and happy Thursday, friends! Thimble is here and ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop, and this one is in honor of our aquatic family member.

Yesterday, the African clawed frog I've had since I was 10 years old passed away. Today, Thimble is very thankful for the 27 years we had with our froggy. Well, Thimble only knew the frog for her 12 years of life, but she's grateful for those 12 years with the frog, and I'm grateful for the 27 years.

I sadly could not find any good photos of Thimble hanging out beside the frog in her tank. But, in the photo below, the reflection of the trees you can see behind Thimble is on the side of the frog's tank. 

Though I can't currently find any photos to prove this, Thimble spent not an insignificant amount of time staring at the frog. So did Tonks, as well as my sister's cat Toby. I don't blame them, as the frog was always a very intriguing little thing.

That photo was taken about 10 years ago, when the frog was roughly 17 years old. It's the best photo I ever managed to get of her. I did get a more recent photo of the frog a couple weeks ago, but it was when she was starting to get sick and so she doesn't look her best in that photo, so I'll keep that one to myself.

My grandma brought the wonderful frog to my family when I was 10 and my sister was 11. The frog had belonged to someone my grandma knew, but since the frog kept eating their other fish and frogs, they were going to flush it. African clawed frogs are indeed notorious for their cannibalistic tendencies. All that said, my dad's always had a lot of tanks for fish and such, and so we told my grandma to bring the frog to us. She got her own tank, of course, so that she wouldn't eat anyone. We never knew we'd have 27 years with the frog. When I moved to my house 11 years ago, I brought her with me, and so she's been fully under my care since then.

When we first got the frog, we were told it was a male. So, my sister and I, for some reason or another, named it Steve. Some time later, we learned how to figure out the gender of frogs, at which point we discovered that Steve was actually a girl. After that her name technically became Stefanie, but the reality is we've often just called her Froggy.

I've never had an aquatic companion cremated before, but after giving us 27 years, this loyal frog is indeed getting cremated and will be coming back to me in a cedar box with a plaque that says Steve/Stefanie and Froggy.

Thank you for 27 years, Steve...Stefanie...Froggy!

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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. If I were to start a museum, it would be a museum of _________.

2. If I see _________ one more time I am going to lose my mind.

3. _________ is the strangest thing I believed as a child.

4. If my life had a mascot, it would be a _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I felt like sharing another spooky summertime doodle today, so how about this old one of a kooky cat-o'-lantern mug hanging out on a summer night?

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Tip of the Day

Over the past couple of days, we've talked about the option of having cat grass available for your kitty to snack on or play in, or even using artificial grass to give your kitty a mock grassy area for napping or playing. Today, we're yet again expanding on this idea by suggesting that, if possible, you can start a cat garden for your kitty's enjoyment. This can be outdoor or indoor, of course assuming that your kitty does not put itself in any danger by having access to a large quantity of pet-friendly plants.

So, what could you put in a cat garden? First, of course, you could have cat grass and catnip. Also don't forget about valerian, which is a great alternative to catnip. Another option is cat thyme, which is known to make cats feel more content than plants such as catnip. Keep in mind, though, that some people find the odor of cat thyme to be rather unappealing. The traditional thyme herb is also non-toxic to cats, if you're looking to give your kitty even more variety. You can plant these goodies in separate pots throughout your kitty's favorite room, or you can plant them all together in one large pot, to give your kitty his or her own little jungle. An added bonus is that, if you have other plants in the home that are pet-friendly but which you'd like to keep safe from curious paws and teeth, offering a cat garden can help distract your kitty from these other plants.

It is worth mentioning that some sites online will mention adding other plants or herbs to a cat garden for more variety. If you are looking up such information online, always be cautious and careful to double check the safety of any plant you place in a garden for your cat. For example, lemon grass and chamomile are sometimes indicated as safe for pets, but such plants have been known to cause issues such as upset stomach and vomiting. Another example is parsley, which is typically harmless in small amounts, but which can lead to sensitivity to the sun and sunburn if consumed in large quantities. When in doubt, of course consult a veterinarian regarding safe plants, or visit the ASPCA's list of toxic and non-toxic plants.

Adventures with Angel Astrid: Floppy-Eared Fun

It's time to share a memory with my sweet angel pup Astrid, and today I have yet another one from one of her walks. This one stars her floppy ears, and I love that so much.

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday, we mentioned some of the benefits of growing cat grass indoors for your kitty. We wanted to offer a couple more tips in this same line of thought. First, you don't only have to grow cat grass in small pots from which your kitty can have a bit of a green snack. Another option is to create for your kitty a cat grass bed. For example, you could grow some cat grass in a larger pot, and some cats will enjoy this grassy environment for napping or playing purposes. Cats' ancestors out in the wild often live, sleep, and even play in this type of grassy environment, so why not our domesticated kitties?

Another option is to create beds or play areas out of artificial grass, which can again give off the idea of a more wild environment for your kitty. Most synthetic grass materials are safe for pets, but you should of course still always double check, or simply look for ones that are specifically designed to be pet-friendly. There are, in fact, artificial grass toys, scratchers, and beds that are specifically designed for cats. Did you know there are even artificial grass potty mats for dogs, or even cats? All in all, artificial grass is not only low-maintenance, but can also have beneficial effects for your kitty. It can offer them a place to play or snooze, all while mimicking grassy environments found out in the wild. If you think your cat might enjoy cat grass or synthetic grass in the form of a bed or play area, perhaps look into setting this up for them.

Tonks Tuesday with the Toe Beans

It's Tonks Tuesday, and today the cute little calico wanted to give you all a glimpse of her toe beans.

Tonks has adorable toes, and she knows it. She says you're welcome for the toe beans show and tell today.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I felt like sharing another summertime spooky doodle today, and since I still haven't scribbled up this year's yet, I went into our archives and found this one. It's actually more so a springtime spooky doodle, though, as I scribbled it up as part of my "Halfway to Halloween" April A to Z Challenge a few years ago. That said, this drawing was also inspired by the fact that I have a couple of life-size skeletons that hang out around my house year round. They're not real, at least not that I'm aware of, and their names are Jack and Sally.

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Tip of the Day

Is your kitty a chewer? Do they put anything and everything in their mouth? While we're sure you all know to keep potentially dangerous plants out of your home, do you have safe or fake plants on which your kitty chews? If your cat goes outdoors, do they tend to eat grass on the lawn? If the answers to any of these are yes, and if medical issues have been ruled out for any abnormal behaviors, do perhaps consider keeping some cat grass growing in your home. Even if any of the above statements aren't true of your cat, you can of course still offer cat grass. Cat grass is a safe plant on which many cats enjoy chewing, and which also serves as a source of fiber than can help keep things moving sufficiently through the GI tract. For example, cat grass might be able to help prevent issues with hairballs.

You can purchase cat grass that has already been grown and is ready for your kitty's chompers, or you can grow your own. It is relatively simple to grow, and is also typically cheap. So, do consider looking into keeping cat grass in your home, both for your kitty's entertainment as well as for their health. Of course, do monitor your kitty, especially when first offering cat grass. If they gorge on the grass and/or vomit after eating it, then only offer it to them on occasion, or not at all.