Birthday Bash!

Today is someone's birthday. Can you guess whose?

Oh, there's the coy little birthday girl herself!

That's right, today is pup Astrid's birthday! Well, it's more like her "maybe birthday", given that we don't know the exact day this rescue pup was born. But that's beside the point.

Today, we celebrate Astrid's 5th birthday. I try not to let myself get anxious over my furbabies aging, because even the golden years are a beautiful blessing. But, I must admit that 5 is a strange number to hear when thinking of Astrid. She still acts like a puppy.

That all being said, today Astrid will of course be getting lots and lots of extra snuggles, hugs, kisses, and of course cookies!

Fear not, as I don't, in fact, feed my pup chocolate chip cookies (not that she would complain if I did). Our local pet store sells cookies made just for pups, and Astrid absolutely loves them. So, of course she'll be getting some cookies! Don't give away the surprise, but the birthday girl also has a new chew bone and a taste of ice cream coming her way.

Astrid, all of your humans love you and wish you a happy birthday! And, of course, so do the kitties, who all love you just as much!

All of you friends of ours are welcome to join us in partying and feasting on cookies! Anyone and everyone is welcome!

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Our Tip of the Day:

Yesterday, as part of our National Cat Health Care Month series of tips, we mentioned the importance of providing your kitty with fresh, easily accessible water at all times. Similar to this, today we're here to remind you of the importance of ensuring that your kitty is fed fresh food on a regular basis. To begin, as you all certainly know, moist food can spoil if left out for too long. It won't go rancid right away, but if left out for long periods of time, there is a concern for spoilage and resultant gastrointestinal issues if eaten. For this reason, refrigerate any unused portions of moist food (which can be reheated for a short amount of time in the microwave), and do not leave moist food out in your kitty's bowls for too long. While far less likely, it is not impossible for dry food to spoil, not to mention the possibility of ants helping themselves to food that is sitting out. So, try to ensure that uneaten old food is not left at the bottom of a bowl for too long. Also try to make sure that your kitty's dry food is stored in some form of an air-tight container, or at least that the bag is securely sealed.

Continuing on with the importance of fresh food, many cats are indeed picky eaters, which means it is quite possible that some kitties may not eat food that has been sitting out for a certain amount of time. In addition to this, as some cats age, their senses, including smell, start to diminish. Similarly, cats with certain ailments might need food with a fresh, strong odor in order to feel tempted to eat. This is another reason to offer food that is fresh and therefore enticing, so that the kitty will indeed have a desire to eat it.

All of this being said, also keep in mind your individual cat's weight, diet, and overall health. It is of course important to ensure that your kitty has sufficient access to food. Food allowance or scheduling will be different for an underweight cat versus an overweight cat, so all such considerations have to be made. If you have any concerns regarding your cat's food situation, of course discuss this with a veterinarian!