Not So Wordless Wednesday

It seems that we're all about the V-E-T this week. Thimble had her annual visit on Monday, and Tonks, as well as her sister Winky and brother Flitwick, went in to be neutered yesterday. Certain girl kitties have been securely placed in their cones of shame, because they refuse to leave their spay incisions alone. Aside from that, though, all of them are doing great!

Now, though, pup Astrid is feeling a bit jealous. It's not that she really likes the V-E-T and wants a turn to go or anything crazy like that. Honestly, do any furbabies out there actually enjoy a date with their doctor? But, Astrid is a tad bit jealous that she's not the one getting all the attention. That's why she wanted to remind you all that in a few weeks, she'll have reached her one-year anniversary of having her toe removed.

For those who don't know, Astrid had what was at first believed to be a benign tumor on the outer toe of her back right foot. The tumor even went away for a while, but then came back early last October. When a biopsy was performed at that juncture, it came back as a malignant sarcoma. Needless to say, that toe was chopped right off in order to remove every margin of the tumor. The surgery was successful, and Astrid has been cancer-free since.

Nowadays, Astrid often shows off her three-toed foot with great pride.

My sister snapped some shots of Astrid posing her three-toed foot while enjoying a sunny day. Isn't the flower propped in the dead grass such a nice touch? Honestly, though, when it comes to foot models, Astrid is a natural.

As picky as pup Astrid is about some things, she has never for even one second seemed phased by her three-toed status. Astrid refuses to eat a single fruit or veggie, she doesn't like to get wet in the rain, and she doesn't like when I wash dishes because the sound of clinking and clanking glasses really, really irritates her. But, by golly, losing a toe is no big deal at all.

We're wishing all of our friends out there a happy, healthy Wednesday!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

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Our Tip of the Day:

Since we're already talking nonstop about the vet, and since National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day is next week, we figured we'd go right on ahead and do a series of tips on how to get that kitty of yours to the vet. We'll start this series with the simple tip to socialize and get your kitty used to interaction at an early age, if possible. Getting your cat used to people is ideal for helping them cope with future outings to the vet. This of course may not always be possible, depending on a particular cat's age and personality at the time of adoption or rescue. However, when possible and safe, start socializing your cat around people, even simply visitors to your home, when they are young.

What's more, try to get your cat used to hands-on checks. If it's safe for both you and your cat, you can get in the habit of looking in your cat's ears, having a look at their mouth and teeth, and so forth. This of course can help them get used to all that goes on when they're at the vet's office, while at the same time also helping you check for abnormalities that might need to be addressed. All in all, starting early with socializing and hands-on interaction, when it's a safe option, can possibly help your kitty feel more comfortable about getting examined during their trips to the vet.