Friendly Fill-Ins and Photo Fails

TGIF! All of us here are stoked that it's Friday. Here in the US, it's even a three-day weekend, and we certainly won't complain about that. That being said, though, let's move on to the Friendly Fill-Ins. In case you missed them yesterday, we'll share them again below. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. The best teacher I ever had was _________.

2. The worst teacher I ever had was _________.

3. I recently learned how to _________.

4. I think everyone should know how to _________.


I wouldn't just ask you to fill these in without doing so myself. I'm not promising any semblance of great answers, but here you go nonetheless.

1. The best teacher I ever had was my university astronomy professor.
(Astronomy was just an elective I took during my junior and senior years in college, to help me reach the required number of course hours while I made the final touches on my degree. Little did I know, though, that I had found a hidden gem of a professor. He absolutely loved what he did, and it showed. He was the epitome of a teacher who truly loved to teach. Thanks to him, I now have a keen interest in the sky above, and the stars and planets and galaxies it houses.)

2. The worst teacher I ever had was a grade school computer teacher.
(I don't want to bash this particular teacher of my past at length, so I'll just suffice it to say that she is one of the reasons I dislike working with computers still to this day.)

3. I recently learned how to keep Thimble from snacking on my laptop.
(My lady cat Thimble won't eat cat treats, or even any delicious human food, but she will try to make a snack out of a computer. She especially enjoys my laptop's top corners, just above the screen. I've recently learned, though, that if I see Thimble approaching, all I have to do is angle the computer screen down, so that the laptop is half-closed, and she'll act like it doesn't exist and will leave it alone. Apparently, laptops are only yummy if they're sitting straight up. I might very well look ridiculous as I stoop over in an attempt to use a half-closed laptop, but at least that spares both the computer and Thimble's teeth.)

4. I think everyone should know how to cook some basic meals.
(I recently met someone my age who said they don't know how to fry eggs or cook chicken. This person admitted that they essentially never make their own meals, because they don't like to and don't know how. I promise I'm not making fun of those who don't like to cook or don't know how to cook. It's simply that I, personally, think it's a good idea to learn at lease some basics of cooking. No one has to be a master chef, and most of us aren't. But, you never know when the simple ability to fry an egg or cook a chicken breast might come in handy. What's more, cooking for yourself at home is often healthier and cheaper than eating out, and I consider that a plus.)


I sure can blabber on and on in my answers, can't I? I should probably remedy that.

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.



***

We sure are glad that today is the Pet Photo Fails! Blog Hop, hosted by The Cuddlywumps Cat Chronicles. After all, our usual Friday furbaby star, the ever elusive Eddy, has nothing but bloopers to share these days.

Maybe some day this year I'll get decent shot of this girl. Maybe.

We're wishing you all a fantastic Friday!

***

Our Doodle of the Day:

I have another doodle today for my angels Rosie and her brother Sammy. This one is in honor of the master skills they had as homework helpers.

Tomorrow is these angels' birthday, so of course our doodle will involve a bit of cake!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today is our last tip relating to those feline vet visits. This tip actually far more of a general one, though. Today's tip is to remember your veterinarians, vet techs, and all of the staff at your vet clinic on special occasions. Whether it be Christmas, Veterinarian Appreciation Day (June 18th), Veterinary Technician Week (the third week of October), or another similar day, do consider sending some appreciation to those at your veterinary clinic. You can send a simple card, some flowers, a basket of goodies, or anything that demonstrates your appreciation for all they've done for your furbaby and yourself. Sometimes, being a veterinarian or veterinary staff member is a thankless job, or one that is forgotten in the shuffle. So, if you appreciate what your veterinary clinic has done for any and all of your furbabies, then do consider being one of those grateful customers who expresses their appreciation.

Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

Thank goodness it's Thursday! Why? Because Thursday means fun times are in store. We'll start with the Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge, hosted by Angel Sammy and Teddy.

Each week, our hosts give us a photo prompt to guide us on our poetic endeavors. The mesmerizing photo for this week is this one here:

Though I could sense a macabre nature to this image, it also gave me a fantastical feel. Honestly, it made me think of fairy tales, like those about Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. That's why, for this week's poem, I decided to simply start off with a classic fairy tale line, and then just see where the rhyming led me after that. I can tend to get a bit wordy, which is probably why I ended up with this really, really long poem here:

True Love's Kiss

Once upon a time, there was a princess.

Let's be honest, folks, she was hopeless.

Of course, she was the so-called "fairest of them all".

She was beautiful, lived in a castle, and blah blah blah.

Honestly, the princess's life was no grand story.

She was a damsel in distress, and that's just downright boring.

Here, let us catch you up on it all.

It began when a witch showed up outside the castle wall.

The witch wanted the princess's beauty to claim as her own,

Which made the king fume as he sat on his throne.

Not one to take "no" for an answer,

The witch entered the castle in the form of a hamster.

To a hidden tower the witch then smuggled the princess,

And muttered a spell so that with beauty she herself would be blessed.

But, the witch was an amateur at best,

And that's why all she did was make a royal mess.

Her plan was to be a beauty rather than a crone.

Instead, the witch turned the princess into stone.

But, the witch wasn't one to give up on her dreams,

And so she put out an ad to all serfs, squires, kings, and queens.

Surely true love's kiss would turn the princess less stony and cold.

After all, isn't that how it goes in all the stories of old?

Anyway, like we said, the princess was a bust.

She got herself kidnapped and was left to collect dust.

And that is why she is not the focus of this story.

After all, reading about a slab of stone really is boring.

So, let's tell this tale from the other end of the spectrum.

Now, let's see, this side of the story begins with a breadcrumb.

It was dropped by the princess and eaten by a mutt of a stray.

Thereafter, the princess ate breakfast in the gardens with the mutt every day.

The mutt waited in the gardens each morn for the princess to pass through.

Until, one day, she stopped showing up with eggs, bacon, and stew.

After all, if you remember, the princess was off being a statue.

The mutt, though, he happened to be really quite shrew,

And so he immediately went off to find himself a clue.

The news was still more or less hot off the press,
But it nevertheless was being thrown about with little finesse.
The butcher was out in the street, cleaver in hand.
"I will be the princess's savior!" he shouted from where he did stand.
"Nay! I am the one for the job!" came from the baker.

"More likely it's I," declared the candlestick maker.

Skirting the feuding workers out in the street,
The mutt traversed the cobblestone on his four little feet.
So, the princess was in some sort of trouble?
Now the mutt just needed to sort out the rest of the puzzle.

Figuring it out, actually, proved not all that tough.
After all, the village folk were discussing it in a right old huff.
The mutt now knew at least half of the truth.
It would seem a witch wanted the princess's youth.
So, she had locked the girl up in a secret tower all alone.
Oh, and somehow the princess was now made of stone?

According to the ads put out by the witch,
She now needed someone to help the princess make the switch.
After all, the witch couldn't steal beauty and youth from a rock,
So she needed the princess's true love before too many turns of the clock.
Apparently true love's kiss would turn the princess back?
It sounded strange to the mutt, but he'd start with that.
Of course, the princess would in turn be offered as treasure.
Oh, and gold was being offered by the witch for good measure.

With all of that now figured out,
The mutt realized a new hitch was floating about.
Who on earth could the princess's true love be?
And where was this tower to where, with the princess, the witch did flee?

It would seem that fortune was shining down on the mutt,
For right by him an armored knight then did strut.
He declared something or other about rescuing the king's daughter,
Apparently he knew of a secluded tower just past the river's water.
Surely that was where the princess of stone was being kept,
And so that was in the direction the mutt was then swept.

The mutt followed the knight from a very safe distance.
You never knew when a man with a sword might threaten your existence.
So, through the village and to a forest the mutt stalked the knight,
Never letting him escape his keen canine sight.

Trees and more trees were all around,
Until, finally, the mutt heard the roaring river's sound.
The bridge to the other side seemed miles and miles away,
But he had followed the knight there by the end of the day.

 Wasting no time and risking no competition,
The knight made haste and continued on his mission.
Indeed, there stood a tower just beyond where the river did flow,
And in its wall was a window out of which a light did glow.

After crossing the bridge, the knight did proclaim,
"Hark! Is this where can be found the royal dame?"
The warty face of a woman appeared in the window,
And she immediately pointed to the wooden door below.

Again, the mutt silently followed in the knight's trail,
So that no one caught sight of him or his tail.
The knight entered the tower, with the mutt sneaking behind.
Then up the tower's stairs the knight and mutt did climb.

Up and up and up they ascended to the top,
Where indeed they found a witch when they did stop.
Across that tiny room there was also a bed,
Where the princess, now stone, rested her head.

Wasting no time in the matter at hand,
The witch pointed to the knight who in his armor did stand.
The witch asked, "Are you the princess's true love I have sought?"
The knight shrugged and answered, "Sure, why not?"

The man strutted over to the princess in her bed,
And pecked the cold cheek of her statuesque head.
The witch and knight both held their breath,
For so long that surely they were now nearing death.
Finally, gasping, the witch waved a finger at the knight.
"How dare you lie to me when I'm in such a plight!"

The mutt could then not help but huff and ruff.
He had simply, quite frankly, now had enough.
He let himself be known to the two fools in the room,
And then to the bed he did dash and zoom.

The mutt needed the princess to awaken, and now.
This situation was starting to make him furrow his brow.
First he tried giving the princess a nudge,
But on his nose the stony statue simply left a smudge.
He tried pawing and barking and breathing in her face,
But none of those returned the princess to her original grace.
With no other options saving the princess from a stony fate,
The mutty slapped his tongue across the stone girl's face.

Suddenly, the royal statue let out a groan,
And the princess then shook off all of that stone.
She had now finally awoken in that bed,
Over the pillow cascading her hair of red.

Looking all around, the princess let out a gasp.
"Oh dear, did I fall asleep?" she then asked.
Happy to have his breakfast buddy back,
The mutt answered with a woof and a mighty tail wag.
"Oh, hello there, good boy!" the princess exclaimed.
"What are you doing here in this strange place?"

Before long, the princess learned of the recent events,
And to the castle dungeons the witch was immediately sent.
As for the mutt, his was most certainly a happily ever after.
From that day, he lived in the castle with the new name of Jasper.

I know this one doesn't star a kitty, as most of my poems do. I apologize to all of our feline friends, therefore, if this one is a bit out of your comfort zone. But, this week's poem is in part for pup Astrid, as she was pretty adamant that my lack of pup poetry was getting rather unjust. Also, one of my childhood angel pups, Shellie, sort of inspired this poem. Why? Because that pup of mine was a diehard licker. If her kisses could have turned people from stone, this world would have been one great big warm and fuzzy place thanks to her.

***

Don't worry, we didn't forget that we always give you a dose of Thimble on Thursdays.

You may or may have not have guessed that Thimble is also, of course, participating in Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop. Her picture up there is a hint as to what Thimble is grateful for this week. Indeed, she is thankful for pretty whiskers and window views. As always, though, all of us here are also so very thankful for every single one of you.

***

Last but not least, we're here to give you the Friendly Fill-Ins for tomorrow. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. The best teacher I ever had was _________.

2. The worst teacher I ever had was _________.

3. I recently learned how to _________.

4. I think everyone should know how to _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

We're on our final tips in our series about kitty vet visits. Today's tip doesn't directly relate to the physical act of taking your cat to the vet, but it still can play a part in those vet visits. What we're talking about are a variety of ways that might help you pay vet bills. We have a number of thoughts on this topic, and so this will be a long one.

So, let's start with pet insurance. As most of you likely already know, you can indeed get insurance for your furbabies. Just as with humans, there are a variety of companies and policies to choose from, and so pet insurance can certainly involve some research in order to determine the best coverage for your furbaby. In the end, though, this research and the resulting coverage you select can potentially save you money. For example, depending on the policy you choose, you could possibly save a large sum of money in the event of an unexpected pet emergency that is at least partially covered by your pet's insurance.

All of the above being said, when it comes to pet insurance, do try to think ahead. If you are interested in starting your furbaby on a policy, perhaps do so when they're still young and healthy. One reason for this is that some companies and policies make it difficult, or even impossible, to acquire coverage for an animal who is already geriatric or sick. So, early on, consider the benefits you might obtain from pet insurance, do your research, and then do what is best for you and your furbaby.

Besides pet insurance, another option is CareCredit. CareCredit is a credit card that can be used to pay medical bills, such as vet bills. Just like pet insurance, this one will likely require some research to ensure it is a good fit. For example, not all vet clinics accept CareCredit as a means of payment. Therefore, you would want to find out if your preferred vet accepts CareCredit before applying for it.

In addition to all of the above, if needed, some vet clinics also allow for payment plans. Some vets are especially willing to do this for clients in good standing, and who have proven trustworthy and who have shown a willingness and ability to pay for funds in a timely manner. If you have large furry family, if you are faced with a pet emergency, or if there are other such circumstances, perhaps consider discussing with your veterinarian the possibility of making payments to cover your furbaby's bills. If you do so, of course also ensure that you understand all of the terms, and that you are able to make payments on time and in agreement with the payment plan.

One last idea we're sharing today is to simply do your best to have some sort of "pet emergency fund" in which you save money over time. Such a fund can come in handy especially if you do not have pet insurance or CareCredit, and if you don't use a payment plan at your vet clinic. Accidents and emergencies can indeed happen, and they can happen when you least expect it. What's more, resulting vet bills can potentially start racking up. So, if and when possible, try to determine ways to save even just a little money each week or month in order to contribute to a "pet emergency fund", so that you won't be left scrambling to find funds for your furbaby. Ways to save a little extra for such a fund might mean cutting back on eating out, cutting back on the number of coffees you buy, cutting back on your clothes spending, or cutting back on other luxuries. Rest assured, though, that passing on a special luxury or two is well worth it for your furbaby's health and happiness.

Furbabies make wonderful companions, but they are also, admittedly, not free. They require care, just like humans do, and that care does come with a cost. Therefore, always include your furbabies in your budget or other financing plans. This might require some research and money-saving measures, but our furbabies are always worth it.

Wednesday with Yummy Goodness (#ChewyInfluencer)

Pup Astrid recently got to test out some treats as part of Chewy.com's Blogger Outreach Program. What, exactly, did she test out?

Astrid went for the "I and Love and You"Ⓡ Nice Jerky™ Bites treats for dogs. She got to try out the 3-pack, obviously with three different flavors: chicken and salmon, beef and lamb, and chicken and duck. One of the best things about these treats, at least for Astrid, is their texture.

These treats are relatively soft and chewy, which is Astrid's absolute favorite texture of treat. So, that is one definite plus for them. What's more, the "I and Love and You"Ⓡ Nice Jerky™ Bites dogs treats contain no grain, wheat, corn, soy, or fillers. They also contain no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. That sure sounds good to this mom of Astrid's. But, what did Astrid think?

Well, to begin, she was excited the very second she caught whiff of these goodies. She didn't let me make her wait long before letting her do a taste test. And what were the results of that taste test?

The "I and Love and You"Ⓡ Nice Jerky Bites™ treats got four paws up from pup Astrid! She tested out all three of the flavors, and each one went right down the gullet. You get an A+ from Astrid, "I and Love and You"Ⓡ!


(Disclaimer: As members of the Chewy.com Blogger Outreach Program, we received "I and Love and You"Ⓡ Nice Jerky Bites™ dog treats 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.)


We hope your Wednesday is wonderful and full of delicious goodness!

***

Our Doodle of the Day:

I scribbled up another doodle in honor of angel Rosie and her brother Sammy. After all, yesterday was Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, and this upcoming Saturday is these angels' birthday. So, here's a doodle in honor of sharing a bedroom with these two kitties.

***

Our Tip of the Day:

We have just a couple more tips in our series on taking your felines to the vet. Today's tip is a simple one, and that is to check the status of your furbaby's medications before taking your kitty to the vet. Not all cats are on medications, of course, but if yours is, then check to see how much of the medications you have left, and also check expiration dates. In addition, consider if you have any newly developed questions regarding any of the meds prior to taking your cat to the vet. This way, when you're at the vet, you can take care of refills, dosage adjustments, and any other related necessities. Also don't forget about prescription diets, monthly preventatives, and any other products you purchase from your vet clinic. Knowing what and how much you need to purchase from the vet before you arrive can save you and your cat on time while at the vet's office, and can also save you a later trip to the vet.

Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day

We're sure most or all of you already know that today is Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, initiated by Deborah Barnes of Zee & Zoey in 2015.

On days like today, I do my best to not dwell on the sadness of having lost furry, feathered, and other friends who have gained their angel wings. Rather, I try to focus on the wonderful memories all of my angels have gifted me throughout the years. I am lucky to have shared my entire life with furry and even feathered friends, and so the memories are many.

That there is, indeed, just a snapshot from a memory with my angels Rosie and Sammy. That photo shows my sister with Rosie and myself with Sammy. These two litter mate kitties were always the best reading buddies for my sister and myself.

Our longtime blog friends will very likely remember Rosie. She was still with me when I started this blog a few years ago. My family adopted Rosie and her brother Sammy when I was 4 years old, and Rosie was by my side until I was 26 years old. Rosie's brother Sammy also played a significant role in my life, even in his, sadly, short 5 years of life.

As a child, I loved to read. I loved to be with my kitties. Put those two facts together, and you'll get that I loved to read with my kitties. I remember feeling nothing but peace when with my Sammy and Rosie.

I just now quite randomly realized how strange it is that I didn't even think to draw glasses onto my childhood self in my doodles for this week. I wore glasses from the age of 4 to 12, but since my ocular condition was one that does not affect adults, I no longer have to wear anything but reading glasses. Nearly every picture of me from my childhood portrays me in glasses, but when scribbling up this week's doodles in honor or Rosie and Sammy, I failed to even remember that I wore them all those years ago.

If I'm to be honest, I was very self-conscious about my glasses as a child. What's more, as you can see in the photo above, as a child I even had to wear an eye patch to help correct my vision. That patch made me even more self-conscious than the glasses already did in the first place. My angel kitties Sammy and Rosie, though, they never once judged me for my face or what I wore on it. I remember feeling so comfortable around them no matter what I looked like, and how wonderful that felt.

Actually, Sammy loved to rub against my glasses. Once, he got so overzealous that he knocked the screw out of one of the earpieces on my glasses while rubbing against them. My parents and I couldn't find the tiny little screw anywhere, and I needed my glasses for school the next day, so we had to run out and buy another pair of glasses that night.

Well, that tangent up there wasn't entirely how I planned for this post to go. I even almost deleted those last couple paragraphs above. Now, though, I think I'll keep them in there. After all, that part of this post just goes to show how, growing up, I found great solace in spending time with my furbabies. They taught me about unconditional love, about what it means to never judge others. Whether you're a child or an adult, there is no better teacher in lessons on unconditional love than a cat or a dog.

And so, on this Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, I am thinking back on all of the beautiful, fond, happy memories I have gained thanks to all of my Rainbow Bridge angels. I have on my mind and in my heart pup Sacket, whom, sadly, I know only through photographs because I was just a baby when he left. I remember my budgie bird Pippin, and his successors Robin and Sweetpea. I remember my incredibly intelligent Banjo and my sweeter than sweet Shellie, who were my pup playmates. And, of course, I remember my dear angel kitties Rosie and her sweet brother Sammy, the best friends and reading buddies a girl could ever have.

We are keeping all of you and your angels in our thoughts and prayers today, friends. May your Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day be filled with fond memories. I know mine will be.

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today, we're taking a bit of a break from our feline vet visit tips in order to share a tip for Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day. Today's tip will offer some ideas on how you might be able to memorialize your Rainbow Bridge angels. Everyone has their own way of grieving and their own thoughts on memorials. Below are just some ideas that some may wish to use, while others may opt for other memorial options.

To begin, you can simply yet effectively memorialize your angel by displaying photos of them. You can even set up a little memorial corner or other area in your home, specifically for maintaining a memorial for your Rainbow Bridge angel. Whether or not you display it in a specific memorial area, you can also display your angel's clay paw, if you have one. You can also select a special urn for their remains, if you opted to keep their cremated remains.

Another option is to have customized portraits or other artwork painted or otherwise created for your Rainbow Bridge angel. You can have such artwork created based on your favorite photo of your angel, for example. Another option is to have custom jewelry created, using your Rainbow Bridge angel's image or name. Whether you wear such jewelry or put it on display, it can make for a lovely, unique memorial item.

If you can and want to, you can also create your own art or craft in honor of your angel. Whether this be a drawing, collage, or anything in between, this can help you feel closer to your angel. Or, you can write something in honor of your Rainbow Bridge angel. You can write a letter to them, write a poem for them, or simply write down any and all memories that you share with them. This is yet another way that you can honor and feel close to your angel, and you can choose to display or store away your personalized memorial items.

If you have a yard or garden where this is possible, you can also plant a tree or flower in honor of your Rainbow Bridge angel. You can also place a memorial plaque or statue for them in your yard or garden, or even inside your home. In the case where you can and do bury your furbaby in your yard, you can also select grave markers, including customized ones, to mark their resting place in a special way.

Yet another potential way to memorialize your Rainbow Bridge angel is to make some sort of donation to a shelter or rescue, such as the one from which they were adopted. Donations can be monetary, or in the form of food, toys, or even your time. Other donations you can make include those to the cause for a cure, such as in the case that your angel passed away from or suffered from a particular disease.

The options for memorializing Rainbow Bridge angels are endless. Everyone grieves and honors lost loved ones in their own way, and that is more than fine. If you wish to memorialize your angel, simply think of what ways might feel best to you, and then pursue those options.

Mancat Monday Mischief

Evan was all ready for his Mancat Monday photo shoot. He was posing in the window, looking all handsome, and couldn't wait to show you all the results. But, then there was an intruder on his photo shoot.

Tonks, you're totally in Evan's shot.

Little sisters. You can't live with them, and you can't live with them.

Just look at Tonks back there! Good grief.

Tonks was certain she needed to teach Evan some new poses.

Evan was not impressed.

Friends, do any of you have siblings who totally ruin your photo shoots? Evan really, really hopes he's not the only one. He's disgruntled that his little sister Tonks turned his Mancat Monday into a day of bloopers. Evan hopes you can all forgive him. And Tonks.

Have a magnificent Monday, friends!

***

Our Doodle of the Day:

I'm going to do just a little copy and paste magic, and repeat a tiny snippet of what I said yesterday, for any of your friends of ours who might have missed our explanation for our newest series of doodles. So, this week, we're having us some extra special doodles. This is in part because Tuesday, August 28th, is Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day. More so, though, it's because this upcoming Saturday, September 1st, is the birthday of my angel Rosie and her brother angel Sammy.

My family adopted Rosie and Sammy when they were 8 weeks old, and I was 4 years old. Sammy passed away unexpectedly at the age of 5, but Rosie lived by my side for 21 years. In honor of both Rosie and Sammy, for this entire week, I'm going to share doodles that portray growing up with them. They played such a huge role in my life, that this week of Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day and their birthday seems like the perfect time to dedicate all sorts of doodles to them.

Fun fact? My angels Sammy and Rosie were real saints. I would indeed play dress-up with both of them, those poor kitties. In case you were wondering, Sammy enjoyed it, and Rosie tolerated it.

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip relating to taking your cat to the vet is in regard to nonrecognition aggression. In relation to vet visits, nonrecognition aggression is typically when one cat goes to the vet, and when he or she returns home, one of the other resident cats does not recognize them. This is typically because the returning cat smells unfamiliar, with odors from the vet. Though it can be a disconcerting and scary thing to witness, nonrecognition is not terribly uncommon. What's more, there are ways to potentially prevent it, and to help your cats recover from it.

One way to combat nonrecognition aggression is to take your cats to the vet together. This way, neither of them will come back home smelling differently than the other. This method is easiest if both cats travel well and can safely visit the vet together. So, if nonrecognition is a concern in your home and it's a viable option, do consider taking your cats to the vet together to prevent future aggression between them.

There are other options to help prevent nonrecognition aggression. One is to use a synthetic pheromone spray, or a diffuser, to help keep all cats as calm as possible. Yet another option is to gently wipe down the cat returning home from the vet, in order to remove as much of the vet clinic smells as possible. Similarly, when a cat returns home from the vet, you can also wipe them with one of their usual blankets from home, to help transfer their usual scents back to them. Of course these are not fail-safe methods, but they can potentially help prevent nonrecognition aggression between cats.

All of the above being said, sometimes nonrecognition aggression might occur despite your attempts to prevent it. If it does occur, first and foremost, separate the cats who are involved, in order to keep them both safe. Then, reintroduction might be similar to how you introduce two unfamiliar or new cats to each other. Slowly and safely allowing them to sniff, see, and then interact with each other might take some time, but your kitties can indeed return to one big happy family with time and patience.

Sunday Selfies ft. The Box

Do you all remember Thimble's beloved box she shared with you on Thursday? Huh? Remember?

Yeah, that box. And do you remember how we mentioned that Thimble partook in an entire photo shoot on that there box? Well, some of the shots from that photo shoot were of course selfies!

Thimble can't believe that she cut off her own ear in that one. Usually it's her slipshod photographer of a mom who cuts off her ears, but even this selfie of Thimble's is missing an ear!

Ugh. Thimble is not happy that she yet again cut off her ear, and that a certain orange mancat photobombed her.

You know, it's just tough balancing on a box and trying to snap a selfie all at the same time. So, Thimble hopes you enjoy her selfies even if they're all sorts of earless and mancat photobombed.

Of course, Thimble snapped her box selfies for the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by none other than the Kitties Blue over at The Cat on My Head.

We hope your Sunday is super-duper, friends!

***

Our Doodle of the Day:

Starting today, we're going to be having an extra special week of doodles. This is in part because Tuesday, August 28th, is Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day. More so, though, it's because this upcoming Saturday, September 1st, is the birthday of my angel Rosie and her brother angel Sammy.

Our regular readers will know that my angel Rosie was with me for 21 years. My family adopted her and her brother Sammy when they were roughly 8 weeks old, and when I was 4 years old. Sammy, sadly, passed away at the age of 5 from undetected hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). I was just under 10 years old at that time, and his loss was one of the very first I experienced as a kid.

My Rosie, she was by my side until I was 26 years old. She was with me for every milestone. Rosie was there for me throughout grade school, high school, college, and all of my first jobs (she was with me when I started the job I currently have). She was with me when I started this blog, too! She was even by my side during the process of buying my very first house, but, sadly, she was called to fly on angel wings just 3 days before I moved into my house.

Where am I going with all of this reminiscing? Well, for this entire week, I'm going to share doodles that portray growing up with Rosie and her brother Sammy. They played such a huge role in my life, that this week of Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day and their birthday seems like the perfect time to dedicate all sorts of doodles to them.

I'm hoping that these doodles bring about smiles and joy. After all, they're based on happy memories. They are based on what it's like to grow up with the best friends ever.

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Can you believe we're still blabbing on about taking your kitty to the vet? Indeed, we still have a few more tips to offer in this series. Some of our very recent tips have been about ways to safely get an anxious or aggressive cat to the vet. These tips included leaving the carrier out at all times, putting treats and toys in it, using Feliway spray in the carrier, administering sedatives to your cat if needed and prescribed by your vet, and using a towel or thick gloves to load a potentially aggressive cat into a carrier. Sometimes, though, even with all such measures being taken, a certain cat might still be difficult or unsafe to easily take to the vet. This might be the case for semi-feral or otherwise aggressive cats. In addition, some cats become so anxious that it's potentially unsafe for them to make the trip to the vet, such as if it causes them to open-mouth breath or other respiratory distress.

If any of the above descriptors match your cat and taking them to the vet is extremely difficult or unsafe, then consider discussing with your veterinarian the possibility of scheduling an at-home vet visit. Some veterinary clinics do offer visits in your own home, especially if that reduces any dangers related to taking your cat to the veterinary clinic itself. In some areas, there are even veterinarians who specifically practice as mobile vets. So, if your cat becomes distressed or dangerous when it comes time to get in a carrier or travel to the vet clinic, consider the option of having a veterinarian come directly to your home.

Caturday Bike Ride

Welcome to the weekend, friends! We of course have a bit of a doodle to share with you all today. Is anyone interested in a bike ride?

I've always quite liked those images of vintage bikes, with their cute little baskets full of flowers. The only thing better than that is, of course, a bike basket with a kitty in it! So, that's exactly what we scribbled up to share with you all today for Athena's Caturday Art blog hop.

We're wishing you all a lovely day!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

We hope you're not getting bored with our tips on feline vet visits, because we still have some more for you. Today's tip is to, if needed, take precautions for the safety of both yourself and your kitty, namely when it comes time to load a kitty up. We're primarily referring to how to safely get an anxious or aggressive kitty into a carrier. We've already given tips on using methods such as leaving the carrier out, putting treats or toys in it, using Feliway, and even using sedating medications if needed. That all being said, for some cats, some or all of the aforementioned methods simply won't work. Even sedatives can be overridden if a cat becomes agitated enough. In such cases, it is important to take precautions to keep you and your cat safe when it comes time to get said kitty in a carrier.

When getting an anxious or aggressive cat into a carrier, a simple towel or blanket could potentially be your best friend. Wrapping your cat in a towel, and putting them in the carrier when they are thus confined, can potentially keep those claws and teeth in check. At the same time, make sure that you have the sufficiently sized carrier placed in a way that loading the cat is as easy as possible. This may mean using a top-loading carrier, or placing a front-loading carrier on its back side so that the door faces up. If a towel or blanket is not enough protection, then you can also look into using thick gloves specifically designed to keep kitty teeth and claws from penetrating, thereby keeping your hands and arms safe.

Some cats are simply less willing to visit the vet and are overall less amenable than others. Differences in personality are part of what make kitties so unique, after all. That being said, if your cat is one who is anxious, aggressive, or otherwise difficult to handle, always take precautions to keep everyone involved safe when vet appointments roll around. When in doubt, of course discuss with your veterinarian the best options for handling your cat.

Friendly Fill-Ins

Happy Friday, friends! Oh, it's Friday? Well, that means it's time for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge! In case you missed the fill-ins yesterday, you can find them again below. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. _________ brings out the best in me.

2. _________ makes me grumpier than Grumpy Cat.

3. If money grew on trees, I would _________.

4. I have a fear of _________.

I took my turn to fill them in, and that led me here:

1. My furbaby gang brings out the best in me.
(All of the furabies in my life have always been able to improve my mood, my attitude, and my overall outlook on life. Each and every furbaby who's been in my life has contributed to any positive attributes I might have. That includes my childhood furbabies, like my dear angel Rosie and her angel brother Sammy, and my angel pups Banjo and Shellie. I spent nearly all of my spare time as a child with my kitties and pups, and they all taught me about compassion, friendship, and unconditional love. Now, my furbabies in my adulthood continue to the do the same.)

2. Heat and humidity make me grumpier than Grumpy Cat.
(I'd like to ask Mother Nature to chill out a little bit. Literally.)

3. If money grew on trees, I would plant as many money trees as possible for the benefit of shelter animals.
(Wouldn't it be wonderful if animal shelters and rescues had money trees growing on their property? That way, they could more easily pay to care for as many animals as possible. I wish I could plant money trees for them. I also wouldn't mind a money tree or two in my own yard, though I'm pretty sure most of the money I'd harvest from a money tree would still go to animals in need. There are some other charities I would donate to as well, and then if there was any money still left on the tree, I'd pay off any family debts.)

4. I have a fear of spiders.
(What a generic, boring, and silly answer, huh? But, spiders are honestly one of my biggest fears. I'm also less than fond of public speaking. Oh, and roller coasters. I don't do roller coasters, either.)

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.

***

Eddy always gets to make an appearance on Fridays, but she's certainly not making it easy these days. She seems to be allergic to the camera, and so won't sit still let alone stick around long when it shows up. That's why you all get to cringe at photos like this winner here:

That's what my life has come to, folks. I post photos of blurry cat butts online. Yep, that's me.

Anyway, we're wishing you all a fantastic Friday!

***

Our Doodle of the Day:

***

Our Tip of the Day:

We still have some tips all about taking that kitty to the vet. Today's tip is to, if needed, discuss with your veterinarian medications that might help calm a cat who becomes especially anxious, or even aggressive, when it comes time to visit the vet. Some cats simply become reactive when they see a carrier, when they get into a car, when they visit a veterinary office, or when they meet strangers. If you have tried the usual tricks—which of course include leaving the carrier out at all times, using Feliway, using treats to coax and distract, and so forth—yet your kitty still becomes anxious or difficult to handle, then there are some potential sedating medications that could be given when it comes time to visit the vet. Your veterinarian would be able to determine if or which sedatives might work best for your particular kitty, given said kitty's behavior as well as health. So, be upfront and honest with your veterinarian regarding the ease and safety of getting your cat in a carrier and to the vet, and then the two of you can discuss potential options.

Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

Aren't you happy that we've reached another Thursday? We sure are. One reason is that we always look forward to the Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge, hosted by Angel Sammy and Teddy.

Each week, our hosts share a photo prompt to help get our creative poetry juices flowing. This week, they shared an incredibly fun retro photo. See?

Every time I see a van even remotely resembling that one there, the first thing that always comes to my mind is The Mystery Machine, the van driven by none other than Scooby-Doo and his gang. As an animal-loving child, Scooby-Doo was indeed one of the cartoon characters whose adventures I often did follow while growing up.

So, indeed, Scooby-Doo inspired my poem this week. To be honest, I must say that I always try to steer clear of directly using copyrighted material in any of my own works, whether they be those with words or doodles. I really just don't want to mess around with the game of copyright infringement. That being said, though, with absolutely no intention of earning any gain off of this, I really felt compelled to let Scooby-Doo take the lead in my poem this week.

Scooby-Doo and Kitty-Too

There's a famous brown hound named Scooby-Doo,

Who solves mysteries with his loyal and bumbling crew.

Scooby was an expert in the field of mystery,

Solving problems spanning all sorts of history.

Yet even the best of the best sometimes need help,

And for such help even once Scooby-Doo did yelp.

You see, there was one dark and stormy night,

When Scooby-Doo was given a bit of a fright.

He had been called to a big and tired old house,

Where he found stirring far more than one little mouse.

It was the butler who had made the call to trusty Scooby,

Telling the hound that in the house was something far too spooky.

The old lady of the house was deafer than deaf,

But haunting noises had been heard by the butler and the chef.

Skittering and scratching and even some yowls,

That was what could be heard even over the wind's howls.

And so Scooby-Doo tiptoed his way into the manse,

Where in every corner cobwebs swayed and danced.

It truly did not take long at all,

Before Scooby-Doo heard chilling sounds in every wall.

There was a scratch and a scrape and even a growl,

Followed by a screech that was fouler than foul.

Quivering and quaking at those chilling sounds,

Scooby-Doo tiptoed on with a yip and a worried frown.

Scooby racked his brain for creatures rare and common,

Searching for ghosts, poltergeists, gremlins, and goblins.

But nothing he did would draw the thing out,

The mysterious being just continued to scream and shout.

 Scooby-Doo even pulled out his book of spells.

In response, the mystery creature just stomped and yelled.

Scooby-Doo simply had to admit,

This case was a tad bit beyond even his wit.

Scooby-Doo dashed out to his van of orange, blue, and green,

And down that old deserted road he did speed and speed.

Scooby-Doo raced along until he arrived at a cottage,

Where lived an old friend filled with all sorts of knowledge.

From the porch he was certain he could hear snores,

And so he knocked as loud as he could on the door.

Finally, the door opened to the sight of Scooby's old pal,

She had black and brown hair and was a whiskered gal.

She chirruped, mewed, and waved a welcome to Scooby-Doo.

The hound declared, "Why, hello there, Kitty-Too!"

After the greetings were said and done,

Clever Kitty-Too put an end to the fun.

"I'm guessing that you need my help," she did say.

Scooby-Doo nodded to indicate his answer was a yay.

And so back in Scooby's van they did hop.
Finally, in front of that haunted house they did stop.
Without an ounce of hesitation, Kitty-Too trotted inside.
Scooby-Doo had difficulty masking his jitters with pride.

To each and every wall Kitty-Too pressed an ear,
All while Scooby-Doo still struggled to hide his fear.
Kitty-Too's nose rose up in the air,
Trying to sniff out the thing making everyone so scared.

The sounds of scratching and growling in the walls hit a crescendo,
So that against every wall the noises did echo and echo.
Kitty-Too looked up at the ceiling and stared with wide eyes,
Until she finally laughed and made Scooby jump back in surprise.

Kitty-Too declared, "Scooby-Doo, you're not hearing a ghost.

That's the sound of this very old, tired house's host!"

"You mean Old Lady Lou?" Scooby-Doo asked,

To which Kitty-Too shook her head and laughed.

Kitty-Too beckoned Scooby-Doo to follow her then,
And up a flight of creaking old stairs they did ascend.
The entire time Kitty-Too kept her eyes on the ceiling overhead,
Until she stopped just outside of the master bedroom with its canopy bed.

Kitty-Too pointed up at a door in the ceiling,
Which gave Scooby the chills and a scared little feeling.
"If you could just open that, please,"
Was what Kitty-Too said to Scooby and his quivering knees.

Not wanting to appear anything less than brave,
Scooby reached for that door, hoping it wouldn't land him in a grave.
Just before the door swung down,
From it emitted a shriek and a growl.

Scooby-Doo jumped back, far away from the door,
Especially since something jumped from the darkness to the floor.
But, Scooby-Doo could not help but cock his head,
For apparently a simple tabby cat had filled everyone with dread.

Kitty-Too purred and mewed at the freed feline,
Who looked ruffled and let out a grumbling whine.
"How on earth did you get up there?" Kitty-Too asked.
The tabby cat shook out its fur and let out a spat.
Then it replied, "I was simply chasing a mouse,

When I was locked up there by some silly old lout."

That was all the tabby was willing to say,
For it had begun to bathe its fur filled with cobwebs quite grey.
Finally, the cat turned to them its fuzzy rear,

And to the master bedroom it did dramatically steer.

Kitty-Too turned to Scooby-Doo and shrugged.
"Is that all you needed?" she asked with a look quite smug.
Scooby-Doo ruffed, sulked, and nodded his yes.
Kitty-Too then turned to leave, while to Scooby she addressed,
"I'll see you next the time you need me to get you out of a mess!"

***

It's time for the Thimble part of this Thursday! As usual, Thimble is not only gracing you all with her adorable presence, but she's also participating in Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop. Can you guess what Thimble is thankful for today?

Boxes! That box from the store that will be the demise of Thimble's mom's bank account Target showed up all bunged up and worse for wear. So, to make it look 1000% times better, Thimble adorned it with herself! Honestly, though, aren't boxes just the best? Thimble asked for an entire photo shoot on that there box, because it made her feel that grand. So, you'll certainly be seeing more photos of her and her box in the near future.

What are you all thankful for today? In addition to boxes, we're always so very grateful for this wonderful blogging community, and for all of you friends we've made here. Whatever you're thankful for, certainly feel free to share it over at Brian's blog!

***

Tomorrow is Friday. Friday brings about lots of things, one of those being the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. Here are the fill-ins that you are indeed welcome to fill in for tomorrow. Ellen of 15andmeowing crafted up the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. _________ brings out the best in me.

2. _________ makes me grumpier than Grumpy Cat.

3. If money grew on trees, I would _________.

4. I have a fear of _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip in our series on taking your cat to the vet is to be prepared. This may seem strange or vague, but being prepared prior to loading your kitty up in the carrier and taking him or her to the vet can help everyone avoid extra and unneeded stress and anxiety. Being prepared even involves the moments when you're getting ready to head to the vet. For example, before you get your cat into the carrier, have everything ready to go so that your kitty doesn't have to wait in the carrier longer than necessary. Have anything loaded up that you might need at the vet, such as treats, toys, or even goodies such as your cat's fecal sample. Also think of what might need prepped in the car, such as if it's hot outside and the car needs pre-cooled, if it's cold outside and the car needs pre-warmed, or even if you need to pre-prepare a safe seat in the car for your kitty's carrier.

Of course, being prepared doesn't just end with what needs done prior to arriving at the vet. For example, if you have questions to ask or notes to share with the veterinarian, have those written down or otherwise ready to be addressed prior to arriving. This can ensure that the appointment does not last longer than necessary, which is especially important for anxious cats who grow increasingly nervous the longer they're at the vet. So, for the sake of your cat and to reduce any anxiety they might feel during a vet visit, do your best to be fully prepare prior to arriving at the vet for your kitty's appointment.

Nearly Wordless Wednesday: Brown-Eyed Girl

***

Our Doodle of the Day:

(I have no idea why I gave that there doodled pup green eyes when

this post is dedicated to pup Astrid's brown eyes. Great planning, huh?)

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip in our series on taking your cat to the vet is yet another plain and simple one, and that is to be and act calm. As you all certainly know, our furbabies can feed off of our own emotions. That's why, if you are anxious, your cat's anxiety could be heightened. So, as best as possible, remain calm and collected both before and during your cat's vet visit. Even speaking calmly and soothingly to your cat could help to make them indeed feel calm and soothed during their excursion to the vet. You can praise your cat for good behavior, of course remaining calm and quiet when doing so, as that can also help them feel more calm. The long and short of this tip is to try your best to keep any anxiety you have in check, and to remain calm for your cat's sake.