Fill-Ins and Window Watching

We are of course happily here for another Friday, and therefore another Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by our friends at 15andmeowing and McGuffy's Reader.

Our hosts never disappoint. Here are the fill-ins they crafted for us this week:

1. The first thing I think about in the morning is _________.
2. The last thing I think about before sleep is _________.
3. I am looking forward to _________.
4. I am so pleased _________.

Thinking cap firmly in place, here's what I came up with:

1. The first thing I think about in the morning is feeding time.
(And no, I don't mean my breakfast. I know my priorities. My first chore each and every morning is feeding the furbabies. I feed the stray and feral cats outside, and of course my little ones inside. I wake up with this task on my mind, perhaps in large part because my alarm clock is usually in the form of a little kitty named Thimble who pokes at my face and then runs off to remind me where the food bowls are located.)

2. The last thing I think about before sleep is my family and furbabies.
(As a little girl, I was taught to say my nightly prayers. Though I am far from perfect and don't always succeed as I should, I still always try to stick with this practice. Before going to sleep, I send up my prayers for my family, for my furbabies, and of course for friends like all of you. It really brings me some semblance of peace, to get such thoughts and hopes off of my chest each night.)

3. I am looking forward to April.
(I love April. It is the month of Evan's birthday, and Eddy's birthday, the birthdays of 3 of my parents' kitties, and even my birthday. Also, it means that Spring might truly arrive, which means beautiful flowers and the promise of all sorts of new life and lovely things. And, this April, I will be partaking in the A to Z Challenge for the first time ever. Bring it on, April!)

4. I am so pleased with my life.
(I thought and thought and thought about what to put for this one, and ultimately this seemed most fitting. Neither I nor my life are perfect, there's no denying that, but I wouldn't change my situation for anything. I have my furbabies, who make me happier than happy. And I have my family, and friends like all of you, and so much more for which to be truly grateful. I would never wish any of this away.)


Okay now, who's ready for Eddy? I hope you are. Because you know what? With a little help from some very distracting squirrels out in the yard, I think we managed to get some not so blurry shots of the active little lady for today.

Staring out the door means no straight-on shots of that adorable face of hers. But, look at that unblurry Eddy! We'll take it. Beggars can't be choosers, after all.

So many squirrels!

Woops! Sometimes big sister Thimble's ear swoops in for a photobomb.

Happy Friday, everybuddy!

***

Our Doodle of the Day:

***

Our Tip of the Day:

While we may not think of it often, and while of course we hope it will never happen to us and our furbabies, always be aware that pet food recalls do indeed happen. With all of the varying ingredients and formulas and conditions with which our furbabies' food is produced, unfortunately sometimes things go wrong. For this reason, to help head off any trouble or medical emergencies, find a reliable source of pet food recall news and information. Check to see if your own veterinary office keeps up with these on their website, as some do. If not, find another trustworthy source of such information. There are a number of places easily accessible online where pet industry press releases, such as those relating to pet food recalls, are compiled. The Human Society of the United States and the ASPCA, for example, often announce such news on their websites. If nothing else, do periodic checks yourself, searching for the latest news on your furbaby's food and its safety. With all of the dry foods, moist foods, treats, and other such products out there, it never hurts to make sure that nothing dangerous is lurking in your furbaby's food dish.

Glam Girl

Though Spring often brings with it rain and clouds, the sun really has been trying to stick around for us. That makes Thimble, for one, very happy. Not only does she love her a nice and toasty sun puddle, but she loves taking glamour shots in the sun.

This little model just loves to bask in those rays.

See how glamorous?

Oh, she almost forgot to show you her other side.

Isn't this just the cutest little profile you've ever seen? (I'm sorry, I can't even begin to hide my biased opinion. This here momma thinks little Thimble is simply too cute to handle.)

There. Thimble wanted to make sure you all got one more good and up close look at her and her sun puddle. She hopes this will brighten your day.

And of course we didn't forget Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble and all of us here are thankful for Spring and the lovely sun. And of course, as always, we're also so very thankful for family and friends, like all of you!

***

Our Doodle of the Day:

***

Our Tip of the Day:

We all know how our kitties, and even some of those pups, love basking in sunny windows. That being said, do keep an eye on them and their sunbathing habits, as not only is skin damage possible from sun exposure, but it's also possible for them to become overheated even indoors. Always try to monitor how long your kitty or pup has been in the sun, and if they or their fur is hot to the touch, or if the skin of their ears or nose is becoming increasingly pink from the sun and heat. Some cats and dogs will vomit if they become overheated, among other potential consequences, so always be sure to keep an eye on this, and to try to prevent this before it happens. One solution might be to have lightweight or lacy curtains that you can draw on sunny days, so that your furbaby can still enjoy the sun and its warmth without having such direct contact with it. There are also UV protection films that can be applied to windows, and which might be of some benefit to help keep your furbaby, you, and even your furniture and other belongings safe from the sun's rays when inside. Of course, there are also simple tips such as placing a fan or water bowl near your sunbathing baby, to help keep them cool. Even if you have a cooling method, though, please always still be cognizant of your furbaby's sunbathing habits, as there really can be too much of a good thing.

Wordless Wednesday

***

Our Doodle of the Day:

***

Our Tip of the Day:

How about a bit of a collar tip today? When putting a collar on a young puppy or kitten, please do not forget to frequently check its fit. Young furbabies grow fast, and if their collar is not adjusted accordingly, it can become not only uncomfortable for them but also dangerous. This also goes for grown animals who gain weight. A collar that is too tight can cause issues such as hair loss or skin irritation around the neck, and also of course loss of circulation or the risk of choking. Of course, also consider if your furbaby has lost weight, as this will also warrant a collar check to ensure that it has not become too loose. A collar that is too loose is not only a risk for escape, but also for allowing your furbaby to get a foot or other object stuck between the collar and their body, which poses additional dangers altogether. Collars can be very beneficial, such as by keeping our pups or kitties close to us, and of course being a perfect place for their identification and contact information. For these reasons, as well as your furbaby's safety, please always keep an eye on the fit of that collar of theirs!

Tuesday Taste Test (#ChewyInfluencer)

Pup Astrid got to try out some tasty food toppers last week as part of the Chewy.com Blogger Outreach Program. Now, it's the kitties' turn. For them, the picky little feline eaters that they are, I chose Blue Wilderness® Tasty Toppers Wild Cuts­™.

As I said, the kitties around here are picky eaters. There are roughly 2 kinds of moist food that I can buy with a guarantee that roughly 2 kitties will actually eat it. Thimble and Evan are the most likely to eat moist food, with housemate Toby somewhere behind them. Eddy, she won't touch the stuff. She lives and breathes her beloved dry food, and that's it.

So, when I saw these Blue Wilderness® food toppers, I figured it couldn't hurt to give them a try. I thought that maybe, just maybe, my kitties would like these enough that they would be tempted to more consistently eat their moist food if these Blue Wilderness® food toppers were added to it. Then again, as the product description indicates, these toppers can also be given as a treat by themselves. So, I thought, maybe my kitties would even like them as a moist food meal.

I chose the chicken flavor Blue Wilderness® Tasty Toppers Wild Cuts­™­­ morsels for my chicken-loving kitties. And these are legit, real chicken pieces. They also contain no grain, wheat, corn, or soy. They are also served in a juicy gravy, which is always a plus with my gang.

These morsels are perfectly moist and tender. They almost look like a chicken stew good enough for me to eat. But, I'm not the one reviewing the goods today.

I decided to give the kitties these food toppers plain at first, rather than start off by putting them on some food. To be honest, I didn't want to add any to their food unless I knew they liked them. It's hard enough to get my little felines to eat, so I didn't want to turn them away with something new that they might consider offensive.

Evan, always my kitchen assistant, was the first to give the Blue Wilderness® food toppers a try.

He seemed intrigued, gave them a good and long sniff, but then walked away.

Next up was housemate Toby.

Toby actually gave the morsels a couple of licks, which is usually a pretty good sign here at our house of picky eaters. But, then, he also walked away.

Soon enough, then, Thimble came in for a try.

And you know what? She also walked away.

Now, sometimes leaving the food out for a bit leads to stragglers coming by for a second try, which sometimes leads to a realization that the goods are actually pretty good. This time around, though, that didn't happen. The food sat there with no takers.

But that's not the end of it. Why? Because my parents' kitties, all 7 of them, like the Blue Wilderness® Tasty Toppers Wild Cuts™! Oh, and so do the strays and ferals that I feed outside, as well as the neighbor's cat who likes to hang out in my back yard. Seriously, I got a dozen other cats to eat these delicious things without hesitation, yet my kitties won't touch them.

Anyway, while my kitties may not be offering any paws up, pretty much every single other kitty I know gives them 4 paws up. All in all, I'd say that's not too bad of a review for these Blue Wilderness® food toppers.


(Disclaimer: As members of the Chewy.com Blogger Outreach Program, we received Blue WildernessⓇ Tasty Toppers Wild Cuts™ in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are our own. We only review products that we believe will be of interest to our readers, and we never recommend a product that we do not believe in.)

Wishing everybuddy a tasty Tuesday!

***

Our Doodle of the Day:

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Cats can be notoriously picky eaters. However, there are some tricks and other methods you can try to get your finicky feline to eat. Before we get to those, though, keep in mind that you should seek veterinary assistance if your furbaby suddenly becomes a picky eater when they were not this way before, and if they show other concerning signs alongside inappetance. Also always consider your individual kitty's age and health status and how that will affect their dietary needs, and seek veterinary guidance with any dietary questions or concerns you have. And, of course, always be cautious about switching up your furbaby's food too fast or too often. Some furbabies don't handle frequent dietary changes well, and sometimes changing food too quickly can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, or other similar consequences. Especially when changing their dry food, always be sure to transition the food over a few days, slowly mixing them until they are switched from the old to the new.

Now, that all being said, for those generally picky eaters out there, here are a few tips you can try to perhaps get them to eat some goods:

• Try different flavors of food, such as chicken rather than seafood, or beef rather than chicken. Perhaps even go for something a little more different, such as duck or venison.
• Cats are very tactile, so try different textures of moist food, including pate, chunky, and others, to see if there is one your kitty likes best.
• Try adding water to the moist food, or even the dry food, as some kitties like theirs extra soupy. (For dry food, though, don't let it get too soggy and spoil!)
• Perhaps add a little something extra special to the food, such as food topper treats, or pieces of chicken or tuna.
• How small or deep is your cat's food bowl? Cats often don't like their whiskers to touch the edges of the bowl when they eat, so make sure they have a low-sided bowl or dish from which to eat.
• In multi-cat households, make sure there are enough bowls for all of the cats, or that each one has their own bowl.
• Is your picky kitty being fed in the middle of the house? Perhaps try giving them somewhere private to eat. On the other hand, if your cat's feeding station is somewhere secluded and they don't each much, then perhaps they would like to try eating nearer to the where the family and activity is.
• Some cats get bored easily, so try making meal time different and fun, such as by moving around the food bowl to some place new on occasion. You can move it across the room, to a different room, or perhaps onto the cat tree or a favorite shelf.
• In desperate situations, such as when a kitty is extremely picky yet still simply needs to eat, try a can or two of, for lack of a better term, lower-end kitty food. Let's be honest, cheaper kitty foods are often to them what a Big Mac is to us. Not the best source of nutrients, but it sure is tempting and tasty. If possible, don't make this your kitty's primary diet, but it might wet their appetite, and can perhaps even be added to some higher-end food to make it more appetizing.

Whew. Talk about a wordy tip. Of course some of these tips may work for some kitties, even some of those pups out there, but not work for others. And again, if you have any concerns about your furbaby's eating habits, please do consult a veterinarian.

Mancat Monday

I think we can officially say happy Spring! We have our doors and windows open, and we're getting lots of window whiffies these days. The furbabies sure are happy!

Evan is, of course, king of the open doors.

He keeps an eye on the neighborhood. Nothing gets past him.

Those squirrels, those birds, those neighbor kids running amok, he keeps tabs on them all. What would this neighborhood do without watchmancat Evan?

Are any of our furiends out there having themselves some nice Spring weather? We sure hope so!

Happy Monday!

***

Our Doodle of the Day:

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Kitties sure do love cat trees. These indoor trees allow cats to employ their natural instinct to climb and scratch, and cat trees by windows allow our kitties to gaze out at the wildlife. That being said, cat trees are not always the most affordable pet product. To save money, consider upcycling items to create your own cat tree. You can even use a tree stump as a base for a cat tree, with additional tree limbs securely attached as perches or scratching posts. After all, in the wild, cats use trees to scratch and sharpen those claws of theirs. Then again, you can also use other scrap wood or unused shelving units to build makeshift cat trees, just as long as all is securely attached. And don't forget that sisal rope can be your friend as well, as it makes a great scratching material. Upcycling sure can be great, even for your kitty!

A Special Sunday Selfie

Who doesn't love a good selfie? Honestly, what's better than a cute and furry selfie? Not much, that's what. This is why we always look forward to the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by the Kitties Blue over at The Cat on My Head.

And guess what? Today we have a bit of a surprise. Which furbaby around here would you last expect to see starring in our Sunday Selfie post? If you answered active and ever blurry Eddy, you guessed it. That's right, none other than Eddy actually snapped a selfie to share with you all!

Want to see it? Here it is!

Now, for those who don't know or might not remember, Eddy came to me as a kitten with a neurological disorder. Back then, she would spin in circles, tip over, and stumble, on top of having facial nerve paralysis and a severe head tilt. Eddy no longer spins in circles or tips over when walking, not in the least. But, she still has her head tilt and her facial nerve paralysis, which gives here a permanent little snaggle tooth, which you see her proudly displaying in her selfie there. Oh, and for the record, this here momma of hers happens to think that Eddy's head tilt and snaggle tooth are downright adorable.

As most of you know, Eddy most often (as in, almost exclusively) offers up blurry shots best suited for a blooper reel. Don't worry, though, Eddy has not put her usual ways behind way. In true Eddy style, this active little lady also has a blurry selfie to share.

Now that's more like it.

Happy Sunday, everybuddy!

***

Our Doodle of the Day:

 ***

Our Tip of the Day:

If you have any concern that your furbaby is suffering from a neurological ailment, do not hesitate to seek veterinary care, as in such cases time is of the essence. Neurological abnormalities can signify serious medical emergencies, and they can manifest as symptoms such as a head tilt, dilated pupils, nystagmus (side to side movement of the eyes), other changes to facial features, stumbling, and spinning in circles. Symptoms such as these can be the result of traumatic injury, poisoning, certain infections and cancers, and a number of other serious conditions. If you observe any of these or other concerning signs in your kitty or pup, seek veterinary care as soon as possible.

Blog Hopping with Bunny

I know that we still have a couple of weeks until Easter, but with St. Patrick's Day behind us and Mother Nature finally giving us some Spring weather, we're all about Easter right now. I've always been fond of this holiday, as a child and still today as an adult, for so many different reasons.

So, would you be surprised if I told you that for today's Caturday Art blog hop, hosted by the one and only Athena, our art is Easter style? Because it is. I couldn't help myself.

So, who else is ready for a visit from the Easter Bunny? Does he ever bring you treats?

And don't forget to visit Athena's Caturday Art blog hop to see the fun and furry art created by many of our furiends!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

This time around, our tip is not just about pups and kitties. It's about rabbits! Rabbits have relatively specific dietary needs, in addition to other particular care requirements. Prior to bringing home a rabbit, therefore, it is always best to do some research, learn the type of care they require, and so forth. This way, you can determine if you feel comfortable bringing home a rabbit, as well as whether your home and lifestyle make a good match for a rabbit. Also, keep in mind that even though the Easter Bunny is popular this time year, giving a rabbit as an Easter gift might not be the wisest decision. A rabbit, or any animal, is not simply a cute gift to give on a whim. They are indeed living creatures who require proper care and knowledge, and so bringing an animal home when unprepared is not ideal. The moral here is to please always do some research prior to bringing home a furbaby such as a rabbit, and please think twice about the circumstances before giving a pet as a gift. Now, if you would like more insight into the care and keeping of rabbits, we highly recommend you take a look at The Daily Pip's fantastic rabbit series.

Friday!

Happy Friday, everybuddy! We'll get this party started with the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by our good friends over at 15andmeowing and McGuffy's Reader.

Here are the fantastic fill-ins our hosts created for us this week:

1. In the Spring, I look forward to _________.
2. I would love to have a _________ party.
3. Few know this about me, but _________.
4. No one _________.

And here are my attempts at filling in those there fill-ins:

1. In the Spring, I look forward to outdoor adventures.
(I love being outdoors. Come Spring, when the weather warms up, I love to go out and walk pup Astrid longer and farther, to go on little mini hikes, to enjoy bike rides, and even to mow. Yes, I actually like to mow. Of course, especially for the kitties' sake, come Spring we also love bringing the outdoors in with lots of window whiffies.)

2. I would love to have a murder mystery party.
(I'm not really one for parties. I am far more fond of just small family gatherings in celebration of a special event, just keeping it simple. I won't lie, I'm a bit on the antisocial side. But, that being said, I've always thought it might be a bit fun to have a party where the guests have to solve a mock murder mystery case, like a life-size game of Clue. I know it sounds a bit morbid, but I've heard about these sorts of parties and always found the idea intriguing. Of course, I would want it to all be in good fun.)

3. Few know this about me, but I used to keep roly poly bugs as pets.
(When I was a kid, I loved roly poly bugs. I would go searching for them in the yard and driveway, make a little home for them in a box full of grass and plants, and of course name them. I remember one particular roly poly that really stuck out to me, as it seemed far more interactive than others, and so he quickly became a favorite. His name was George. I'm still quite fond of roly poly bugs, but at this point in life I've at least learned to let them live in their natural habitat and enjoy life as bugs should.)

4. No one is youer than you.
(Though I know this isn't the exact quote, this is close to a sentiment Dr. Seuss once brilliantly made. I've always loved those words of his. It may be a prime example of grammatical incorrectness, but I can forgive that for a thought so profound.)


Okay now, who's ready for Eddy? I tried with all my might this week to get a picture of her gazing out her favorite window. It's the window above my bed, and she climbs the headboard post to get to it. She does this often, but when I grab the camera, she decides that photographic evidence is simply intolerable. This week was no different.

See? All I got was her escape from the camera.

And off she goes.

Do any of our furiends hate getting caught by the camera? Eddy says she surely can't be the only furbaby who turns shy around the pawparazzi.

Happy Friday to all!

***

Our Doodle of the Day:

***

Our Tip of the Day:

It's Spring, and it's also still National Poison Prevention Week. So, let's give a couple more safety tips for the upcoming warm months. Nobody likes being bit by bugs, but please do avoid putting bug spray on your furbaby. Chemicals found in these sprays can indeed be toxic to dogs and cats, such as if ingested or sometimes inhaled. Even be careful of commercial bug sprays that claim to be all natural or organic, as some of these may contain ingredients such as garlic, which is indeed toxic to the furbabies in our lives. For a truly all natural bug repellent, you can perhaps try using herbs or herbal sprays that are safe and believed to repel bugs, such as basil and mint. Another warm weather poison tip relates to sunscreen. Dogs and cats can indeed get sun burn and other related skin conditions, and to combat this they can indeed benefit from sunscreen. However, while some sunscreens are safe, others may contain ingredients that could cause your pup or kitty stomach upset or other symptoms if ingested. For this reason, look into using pet-friendly sunscreen, and ask your veterinarian what to look for in terms of safe sun protection for your pup or kitty. Don't worry, though, as it is indeed possible to safely enjoy the warm weather with your furbabies!

Model Toes

Sometimes I get a bit nostalgic, maybe a tad bit sentimental. And sometimes, this leads me to compulsive actions, like buying things to feed into my sentiments. I'm such a sucker.

During one of my recent moments of nostalgia, moments which of course most often involve the furbabies in my life, I felt compelled to find something that I could wear to represent both the cats and dogs who have been in my life. Among my favorite sayings are any of the variations relating how our animals leave paw prints on our hearts. So, I went in search of something to represent that.

I ended up at one of my favorite marketplaces, which just so happens to be Etsy.com. Shopping from home sure is fantastic, isn't it? While perusing and favoriting about a gazillion different items on Etsy, I did find something that genuinely caught my eye. It's cute little something. It's a simple, shiny, sparkly necklace, and it happily portrays those nostalgic thoughts I'd been having of late.

Of course, I ordered it. It arrived. And, unsurprisingly, Thimble helped me photograph it.

It's just a simple little necklace, but it really spoke to me. To me, at least, one of the paws on this pretty little heart is most like a dog's paw, and the other is most like a cat's paw. I loved this, as both dogs and cats have left paw prints on my heart.

This little necklace, posing there with Thimble's adorable little toesies, was created by the artist behind the shop called HoneySweetJewelry. Now, this is not an endorsement and we are not being compensated for this. I simply purchased this lovely little necklace from that lovely little shop, and wanted to share the artist's work because I think it is such a simple yet beautiful style.

I'm not the only one who is fond of this necklace. Thimble quite likes it as well. She thinks it looks wonderful next to her toesies.

And, well, it looks like Thimble also thinks it makes a fantastic toy.

Oh, okay, getting in a few whacks there, Thimble?

And a few tastes as well?

Well, thank you for being such a lovely model, Thimble. Now, can I have my necklace back? Please? Pretty please with sugar on top?

Would you like a little fun fact? Today's photos were taken on the kitties' nice and hairy cat tree. Why? Because the cat tree has raised edges, and it was therefore the only surface from which Thimble could not easily slap the necklace straight to the floor. You gotta do what you gotta do.

And, of course, we're participating in Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop. I myself am so very thankful for each and every paw print on my heart, past and present. Thimble and the rest of the gang, they're thankful for their nice and hairy cat tree, and for their mom's goods and gadgets that they can slap and whap and strew about the house.

Of course, we're all also so very thankful for all of you!

***

Our Doodle of the Day:
 

***

Our Tip of the Day:

This week is National Poison Prevention Week. Over time, we have given a few or so tips on items that are poisonous to the furbabies in our lives. There are dangerous foods like grapes, raisins, onion, garlic, chocolate, and alcohol, just to name a few. There are toxic plants, such as lilies, daffodils, and tulips. And don't forget all those other dangerous substances and chemicals around the house, such as a variety of human medications, household cleaners, paints, and of course infamous antifreeze. But did you know that there are even products specifically manufactured for our furbabies that can still have a potential for being toxic to them? One way this is possible is if you purchase medications, such as flea prevention or deworming treatments, that are not specifically prescribed by your veterinarian or that are not purchased at a veterinary office, as the production and dispensing of the medication may not be properly regulated in such cases. On the other hand, it is also possible for your furbaby to be poisoned by veterinary products if they are not carefully or properly administered. To help combat any such emergencies, always ensure that you fully understand the dosage and other details of a medicine that the veterinarian prescribes for your cat or dog. The world may seem full of dangers, but poison prevention is possible with a little care and caution.

Guess What Wednesday

Guess what? It's Wednesday, and Astrid has yet another nosy shot to share with you!

***

Our Doodle of the Day:

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Spring truly is in the air now! That means open windows, more outdoor play time, longer walks, and all that fun jazz. All that being said, though, in case of a furbaby escapee out in this wonderful weather, please make sure that your dog or cat has identification, such as in the form of a collar and a microchip. Also make sure that the information provided on such identification, such as your phone number and address, is up-to-date. Additionally, in the case of the microchip, don't forget to keep up with renewal fees, and with making sure that all pertinent information is correct in the online database, so that the return of a lost furbaby might not be impossible or delayed. No one likes to even consider the thought of their furbaby getting loose or lost, so make sure that all bases are covered, so that they can be identified and returned to you!

Food Topper Tuesday (#ChewyInfluencer)

Today, Astrid will be sharing a review as part of Chewy.com's Blogger Outreach Program. First, though, this mom of hers will give a small preface.

I won't lie, Astrid is a difficult dog to feed. She gets bored of food very, very easily. When my angel kitty Rosie was geriatric, as in 20 or so years old, she also was a picky eater. She had kidney disease, on top of arthritis and a number of other age-related quirks. Astrid, somehow, is more picky than my geriatric Rosie was even on her worst days. Astrid is nearly 70 lbs, so you'd think we could buy her giant bags of dog food and be done with it. But, no, we have to buy the smallest bags we can, because she gets tired of food that quickly. To be honest, we usually have 3 or 4 small bags of food going for her at a time, of a variety of brands and flavors, so that we can mix and match and hopefully entice her to eat at least one of them.

Vet checks have proven that nothing is medically wrong with pup Astrid. She's just picky. Very, very picky. She'd rather eat cat food or the beef and chicken the humans are having for supper than work her way through a bowl of dog food. Astrid also much prefers moist food, but her intestines don't allow for that to be her sole diet. That, and even certain flavors of moist food will send Astrid running off to find better grub elsewhere.

So, that all being said, when I saw that Chewy.com was offering Halo Purely for Pets­® Mix 'n Mores™ food toppers, I thought, Why not?

Given that she is most often a huge fan of beef, that's the flavor I chose for Astrid. They also come in a variety of other flavors. These food toppers are freeze-dried and made with limited ingredients, with whole beef as the first ingredient. They contain no grain and no artificial ingredients. So far, so good!

These food toppers are also decently soft, which was great to see. Astrid does not prefer hard or crunchy kibbles. That could in part be why she is such a picky eater. Then again, that never stops her from chowing down on the kitties' dry food, so I could be wrong. (As a side note, we have tried watering Astrid's dry food down. She is never quite sure what to make of this, though. More often than not, she just leaves it to get all soggy and thoroughly gross. And, as I mentioned earlier, her intestines can't seem to handle a purely moist food diet. Astrid is a tad bit of a conundrum. But I digress.)

Anyway, as always, Astrid knew what I was up to the second I started photographing these food topper treats.

I always like to see her intrigued by what I'm doing in this sort of situation. If she doesn't like the sight or smell of what I'm cooking up for her in the kitchen, she'll happily up and leave. So, when she sticks around to give something new like this a shot, I do a little happy dance.

I first wanted to give the food topper to Astrid as a plain treat. I wanted her to know what they tasted like by themselves. This way, if she liked them, I hoped she might be enticed to eat them on her food, and to then perhaps even eat the food itself! Then again, if she didn't like them, I wouldn't put them on her food, as she already has enough trouble convincing herself to eat it as is.

Now, the big question is, what did Astrid think of the Halo Purely for Pets® Mix 'n Mores™ food toppers?

Yum! That's what she thought. I'll admit, Astrid didn't totally inhale these treats like she does her absolute favorites, but she still eagerly ate all of them I had to offer. So, then I moved on to the next test.

I put some on her food. After all, these are food toppers. Astrid did indeed eat them in this case, too. She also ate some of her food with them. She didn't necessarily eat all of her food, but she rarely does that anyway. And these food toppers do sometimes remind her that food can be yummy, and sometimes she'll actually eat a whole bowl of food with their help.

So, all in all, especially from the standpoint of a picky pup like Astrid, the Halo Purely for Pets® Mix 'n Mores™ food toppers gets 4 paws up!


(Disclaimer: As members of the Chewy.com Blogger Outreach Program, we received Halo Purely for Pets® Mix 'n Mores™ food toppers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are our own. We only review products that we believe will be of interest to our readers, and we never recommend a product that we do not believe in.)

Wishing everybuddy a tasty Tuesday!

***

Our Doodle of the Day:

***

Our Tip of the Day:

When a cat or dog prefers cycling through new foods rather than eating the same old thing, that is referred to as neophilia. Neophilic animals like things that are novel, new, not tried before, or at least not recently. In some animals, this is simply just the way they are, as some cats and dogs simply get bored of a certain food or toy more easily than others. Cats are often especially known for displaying neophilia, and oftentimes keep their people guessing as to what type of food might be acceptable. In some cases, though, neophilia can indeed be a cause for concern. Especially if your furbaby begins showing increased habits of neophilia, such as if they suddenly start acting bored of the food they've always enjoyed and instead start to prefer only new varieties, it might be time for a date with the vet. This is of course especially the case if you are noticing other simultaneous symptoms, such as weight loss, lethargy, vomiting, or diarrhea. In some cases, a cat or dog who does not feel well might start refusing to eat their old, usual food because they might associate it with feeling unwell. Other times, if an animal does not feel well, it might only be new and exciting foods that can really spur them to want to eat. For reasons such as these, if your cat or dog begins displaying new or increased signs of neophilia, it might very well be wise to have them seen by their veterinarian. While some animals simply like plenty of variety, others might have an underlying condition sparking their desire for new, novel foods. It's always better to be safe than sorry, so be sure to phone up the vet if you have any concerns with your furbaby's dietary preferences.