Sunday Selfies

Sometimes, I have to beg the furbabies around here to stop their snoozing and snap some selfies to share. Other times, I actually find myself with a purrfectly willing participant.

Today, Thimble was more than excited to snap this cute, nosy selfie to share with you all. She was so excited, though, that this photo shoot also had its share of blurry little bloopers. Want to see some of those, too?

Around here, our photo shoots usually result in far more bloopers than usable shots. Surely we're not the only ones with that problem. Are we?

Anyway, Thimble's nosy shots are of course our entry into this week's Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by the fantastic Kitties Blue over at The Cat on My Head.

Happy Sunday!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

Did you know that today is Thank a Mailman Day?

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Our Tip of the Day:

For today's Spay/Neuter Awareness Month tip, we're discussing how it is important to be aware of your cat or dog's age and size, and to have them spayed or neutered at an appropriate, safe, effective time of their kittenhood or puppyhood. This is important, for one, because cats can potentially become pregnant as early as 4 or so months of age. Dogs fall not far behind that, with the potential for becoming pregnant at 5 or so months old. Should your kitten or puppy get loose, this means they could come back pregnant even at such a young age.

In addition, spaying or neutering your furbaby before they go through their first estrus or pregnancy will give them the best chance of remaining free from related health issues later in life, such as mammary cancer. Spaying or neutering before their first cycle can also help to potentially reduce the display of certain behaviors, such as spraying. Though certain such health or behavioral issues can still arise even if a furbaby is spayed or neutered, having this surgery performed before their first cycle can reduce the risk.

So, then, when should you have your cat or dog spayed or neutered? The short answer is to discuss this with your veterinarian. Ultimately, it depends on the individual animal's overall health and development. For typical, healthy kittens and puppies, the AVMA has endorsed spaying and neutering as early as two month of age, and/or when the kitten or puppy has reached two pounds. Many shelters and rescues follow this practice. Some veterinarians will prefer to wait a little longer, such as when the kitten or puppy has reached three, four, or even five months of age. Essentially, a veterinarian will best be able to determine when is the best time for your furbaby to be safely and effectively spayed or neutered, so of course discuss this with a professional.