Another Medical Mancat Monday

Hello, friends! Sorry we're yet again late. Very, very late this time. Evan had a bit of a rough weekend as well as a rough morning today. It was of course on a holiday that Evan started showing signs of yet another UTI. He's been urinating frequently, and he seems very irritated and restless both during urination and just in general. My poor boy. I was finally able to speak to his vet this morning, and given Evan's history with and typical symptoms of UTIs, the vet has already filled some antibiotics for Evan that I will be picking up after work today.

Despite him not feeling his best, I was glad that Evan was happy enough to offer his expert assistance as I put the Christmas trees up on Black Friday.

We use artificial trees, and Evan does admittedly chew on them. Luckily he doesn't eat any part or pieces of them, but he does sure give those bottom branches a run for their money.

Do you see his tongue there in that last photo? I thought that was extra cute.

Happy Monday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

We seem to be repeating old tips these days. 'Tis the season, it would seem. That being said, over the next few days, we'll be repeating some Christmas safety tips that we gave last year. How about we start with that good ol' Christmas tree? To begin, if you put up a Christmas tree, make sure it is securely in place. This is especially important if you have a kitty or pup who enjoys climbing or otherwise giving the tree lots of attention. You can try putting the tree in a corner of a room, if that helps to keep it safe and upright against furbabies. Moreover, to be extra safe, you can find a way to anchor the tree to the floor, wall, or even a heavy, sturdy piece of furniture. There is also the option of weighing down the base of the tree, such as with weighted bags, as long as they are of a safe and secure sort. Another option, especially if your furbaby is overzealous in their love for the Christmas tree, is to block their access to it altogether, whether that be with baby gates, closed doors, or another means. Whatever it takes, if you put up a Christmas tree in a home with a tree-loving furbaby, do be sure to try and find a way to prevent a fallen tree and potential injuries.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Festive Flashbacks with Eddy

Today's post is admittedly very late and a bit quick. I didn't get anything scheduled ahead of time before the holiday craziness began this long weekend. We celebrated Thanksgiving with family out of town yesterday, and my parents, sister, and myself have some Christmas traditions on Black Friday. 

All that to say, we'll get right to the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, of which my amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two and I came up with the second two.

1. I already know what I am going to get _________ for Christmas.

2. I have no idea what to get _________ for Christmas. 

3. _________ is my earliest Christmas memory.

4. My house _________ during the Christmas season.

My answers are below in bold.

1. I already know what I am going to get my dad for Christmas.
(My dad is very specific about the things he likes. That probably sounds like it would therefore be difficult to shop for him, but he mentions specific things he likes throughout the year and I just get those things. My family also does Christmas wish lists, as that's simply a tradition we never abandoned after my sister and I grew out of childhood. My dad's list is always very to-the-point, which makes shopping for him easy, and I'm already done shopping for his Christmas gifts.)

2. I have no idea what to get my sister for Christmas. 
(I usually know what to get my sister for Christmas. In truth, I've already gotten her the majority of her gifts. That said, I want to get her one final something, but I cannot for the life of me decide what that should be.)

3. Worrying about not having a fireplace and chimney is my earliest Christmas memory.

(I remember being about 4 or 5 years old and worrying that Santa couldn't visit us because we didn't have a chimney like he's so often seen traversing in movies. My parents told me he can also get in through windows and the like. I remember thinking that was a good thing, but also vaguely wondering about this breaking-and-entering habit of the jolly old man.)

4. My house is a festive mess during the Christmas season.

(I do my best to keep my house clean and tidy to a point, but I'm far from perfect. My house is definitely lived in, and during the holiday season, it's lived in by humans and cats who love Christmas decor. Putting Christmas trees back together after certain cats beat and batter them is nearly a daily event at my house this season.)

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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Christmas trees go up in my house today, so how about some festive flashbacks of tree-loving Eddy?

Have a festive Friday, friends!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

Happy Thanksgiving!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

As said above, to our friends in the USA, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

To our friends in the rest of the world, HAPPY THURSDAY!

Wishing you all many blessings and lots of festive fun this time of the year!

On this day of thanks, and on every day of the year, we truly have so much for which to be grateful. We are grateful for our family, human and furry, those still with us and those who watch over us. We are also grateful for our health, for the roof over our heads, and for the food on our table. We are grateful for this beautiful, festive season.

We are also beyond thankful for this wonderful community of friends. Without all of you, we would be lost. Thank you for helping give us so much for which to be thankful, friends. Wishing you all many blessings, today and every day!

(I'll admit that we've already shared the above flashback Thanksgiving doodle this season. I didn't quite get this year's new Thanksgiving doodle finished before today, but I'll still share it soon. It has some Christmas vibes going on in it, so it'll fit it well enough with the upcoming Christmas doodles.)

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We didn't forget about tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. We'll share the fill-in statements below. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing crafted up the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I already know what I am going to get _________ for Christmas.

2. I have no idea what to get _________ for Christmas. 

3. _________ is my earliest Christmas memory.

4. My house _________ during the Christmas season.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Tip of the Day

Our final Thanksgiving tip on this very Thanksgiving day is to be aware of your furbaby's safety if you are having a gathering at your home. Opening doors and foot traffic of course increase when guests arrive, which can put your kitty or pup in peril for more reasons than one. Begin by keeping your furbaby away from the door as guests arrive. What's more, you might also want to consider setting up a safe and quiet room where your furbaby can spend the majority of the holiday gathering. This is especially important if your kitty or pup is afraid of strangers, if he or she is active and might get stepped on or cause someone to trip, or if you think your guests might unwittingly give your furbaby dangerous scraps from the table. It's of course nice to think of your furbaby joining in on holiday festivities, but keep their safety in mind first and foremost.

Woof Woof Wednesday in the Leaves

Astrid loves this time of year. She loves cool weather. What's more, she loves spending time in her beloved back yard when it's nice and chilly outside. She'll choose to spend hours out there, even with us regularly asking her if she wants to come inside. Strangely, sometimes the old gal chooses to hang out on the concrete patio. I prefer when she chooses the grass, though, and she seems to especially enjoy when I leave those autumn leaves on the ground for her to lie on.

I'm admittedly not the kind of person who rakes my yard pretty much ever. My leaves get taken care of with a final mowing of the season, which I still need to do. The chopped leaves are supposedly good for the soil and all that jazz. Or something like that. For me, it's more that I'd simply rather mow than rake. That said, Astrid is currently enjoying all those leaves in the yard, so she can have them for now.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's doodle is many years old. It was also seemingly scribbled up in a year in which the days of November fell the same as this year. Fitting enough, I guess, so here you go.

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Tip of the Day

We've been discussing foods that may or may not be safe to share with your furbaby on Thanksgiving. Keep in mind, though, that food safety isn't just related to food preparation and eating. Safety precautions should continue even after you've finished your meal. What are we getting at? We're reminding you to be aware of dishes in the sink and food scraps or wrappers in the trash. If your furbaby licks off of plates in the sink or dishwasher that contain remnants of dangerous foods, or if they find their way into the trashcan where scraps or bones reside, then emergencies can result that way as well. So, be aware and take precautions to keep your pup or kitty safe from dangerous foods even after the feast is over. Immediately rinse or wash plates and keep the sink clear of dangerous food debris. Also take out the trash if it contains dangerous food items, or keep it securely hidden away from your furbaby.

An Almost Toesies Tuesday

We almost had some toesies to share with you all today, but then Tonks's tail decided to sabotage that.

The toe beans are only just barely visible in there. Can you see them? Tonks knows that her face and that tail of hers are also very cute, so she decided this was still a good photo to share with you all. And she hopes seeing her adorable self helps brighten your Tuesday!

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Doodle of the Day

It's almost time to start the festive doodles, but first we have one more random one. Yesterday I shared a doodle starring Evan helping me get stuff done on my non-desk of a couch. The main story I've been trying to write lately is of course weird and wacky, but it also has a kitty inspired by Evan, as in he's a full-on hind limb paralyzed orange tabby. This kitty's human also likes to do art, and her kitty also inspires her work.

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Tip of the Day

Do you know what holiday food we haven't yet mentioned in this Thanksgiving series? Cranberries! This here human loves cranberries, but are they safe for our kitties and pups? In moderation, plain cranberries can be given as a small treat to a dog or cat who enjoys them. That being said, it is best to steer clear of cranberry sauces and juices, as those contain excess amounts of sugar and other potential additives that might not be the best for your furbaby. Also be careful with special cranberry dishes, in case they contain not only excess sugar but potentially also toxic ingredients such as alcohol. As always, when in doubt, simply don't offer it to your furbaby.

Since we're on the topic of fruits, we'll go ahead and run through a couple of other fruity treat options for your kitty or pup. If fed in moderation, berries such as blueberries and strawberries are healthy for cats and dogs, as are bananas. Apples are also generally a healthy treat option, but only if you are careful to refrain from feeding your furbaby the seeds. That being said, keep in mind that when fruits like apples are made into pies, added ingredients such as sugar are not so healthy for your furbaby. Of course, also remember that fruits like grapes and raisins are toxic to cats and dogs, so never feed those. Even cherries can be dangerous, especially if consumed in large quantities, as cyanide poisoning can result due to the contents of the stem, pit, and even leaves. So, to be safe, don't feed your furbaby cherries, cherry pie, and most certainly not chocolate covered cherries this holiday season. Ultimately, if you are not certain that a particular fruit or other food is safe for your furbaby, simply don't feed it as a treat.

Medical Mancat Monday

Evan had his annual exam and senior bloodwork on Friday. The vet called and emailed me with the results, and Evan has hypercalcemia, that being elevated calcium levels. We're pursuing further testing regarding this. Every other value on his bloodwork was in the normal range and therefore not concerning. Evan's vet and I are hoping he just has idiopathic hypercalcemia. Obviously this would still have to be addressed and managed, but the other less likely though still possible reasons for his elevated calcium include cancer. I'm obviously truly hoping Evan does not have anything malignant going on. We won't have the results of the further testing until next week at the earliest, and I'll share what those are when I know. If you have any purrs and prayers to spare, Evan and I would truly appreciate it.

The vet did say that in his experience, in cases like Evan's, the diagnosis is most often idiopathic hypercalcemia. He said he rarely gets diagnoses like cancer or hyperparathyroidism in cases like this, but I'd like to rule these out with a calcium panel that involves sending Evan's blood out to Michigan Statue University.

I'll also add that, as far as I can tell, Evan is not showing any new symptoms. He has a history of urinary issues, megacolon and constipation, and that sort of thing. None of that is new, though, and besides the issues those conditions sometimes cause, Evan is acting happy and active. He eats well and has not lost weight, but instead has maintained the same weight for the last couple of years. I'm hoping that's a good sign that anything going on is benign and manageable.

Wishing you all a magnificent Monday!

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Doodle of the Day

I scribbled up this doodle a few days ago, during one of the many times when Evan was helping me get stuff done on my non-desk of a couch.

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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.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Another Tree Sneak Peek with Eddy

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.


1. I can't wait to have _________ on Thanksgiving.

2. Our Christmas tree goes up _________.

3. I'd like to create _________ for _________.

4. I prefer to shop _________ when buying _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. I can't wait to have ham and cranberries on Thanksgiving.

(And by this I mean eating the two mixed together. I also like turkeys topped with cranberries. I pretty much only have cranberries during the holidays, and I've found all sorts of combinations for them. They're also really good on bread.)

2. Our Christmas tree goes up on Black Friday.

(This is a tradition I've maintained since my childhood. Sometimes I start putting up non-tree Christmas decor on Thanksgiving night, but either way, Christmas trees and almost all other decor is up by the end of Black Friday. And that night, my family comes over to my house and we watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, which is my favorite Christmas movie. I already can't wait.)

3. I'd like to create handmade Christmas gifts for my family.

(I already have plans for this, using some of my drawings. I usually manage to gift at least something small that's handmade from my drawings to my parents and sister each year, as well as my Grandma and her husband, as they seem to enjoy my drawings. This year's handmade gifts are still in the beginning phases, but I should have plenty of time to complete them.)

4. I prefer to shop small when buying gifts.

(Obviously this can't always be the case, and there are plenty of non-small, non-local, and non-handmade gifts I give each year. That said, it's always a goal of mine each Christmas to not only give at least one gift handmade by me to my family members, but to also give at least one other gift that was handmade by someone else who runs a small business. I sometimes do this by way of local holiday craft fairs, but oftentimes I turn to places like Etsy.)

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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Who's ready for an Eddy fix? For today's photo, Eddy mostly sat still. Can you believe that? And in this shockingly non-blurry one, she's giving you yet another tiny sneak peek of her year round Christmas tree that will be decorated next Friday. Eddy is always so helpful during those festivities, and I know she'll be excited.

Eddy decided to not only give you all a little sneak peek of her soon-to-be-festive Christmas tree, but also her little snaggletooth. Do you see it?

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

We got a bit of snow yesterday, so why not share this seasonally confused doodle I scribbled up a couple years ago?

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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.