Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

In case you hadn't noticed, it's Thursday! That means we'll be kicking this post off with a bit of a rhyme. After all, it's the day of Angel Sammy and Teddy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge.

Each week, our hosts share a photo prompt to help guide us on our poetic endeavors. This week's image is this fun one here:

I always find myself trying to give an explanation for my weird and wacky poems. When it comes to this week's poem, I don't know that I have a whole lot to say. I knew I wanted to write about bingo, and I knew that I enjoy trying to involve cats in my poems, and so I just went from there.

Bingo!

Berta was a bingo fiend.

She could play a game meaner than mean.

She also had a trick or two up her sleeve,

So that, for her, winning was a breeze.

Bingo night rolled around every Monday.

On those days, Berta never felt old or grey.

She counted down the minutes until game time,

When she would surely win more than a measly dime.

When the clock struck half past four,

Berta headed straight for the door.

First, though, she stopped and did plea,

"Here, kitty kitty! Come, kitty kitty!"

After a good and long wait,

A cat appeared, walking in a slow and steady gait.

It was big, orange, and purring.

It climbed into Berta's purse, where it began snoring.

"To bingo night we go!" Berta did declare.

Arriving early, as always, Berta seated herself in a front row chair.

Her bingo card was prepped and ready to go,

Ready to be filled with bingo after bingo.

Her lucky dauber sat well within reach.

Out of it and onto her bingo card, lucky ink would leach.

Right on time, the battle of the bingo cards began.

Numbers were called under B, and then O, and then N.

Slowly but surely, Berta had nearly reached a four corners.

Then, though, "Bingo!" was called out by someone who was not her.

At the sound of that single yet enthusiastic word of victory,

Berta's big orange tabby strutted to the winner one table away.

At first the winning woman oohed and awwed over her new feline friend,

But then, out of her mouth, a gasp was loudly rent.

Berta's orange cat had been savoring the attention and had rolled on his back,

Leaving the winner's glass of water spilled, just like that.

All over her bingo card, the water did run.

Ink spread, so that there was no verifying she had won.

When the game continued, a winner yet to be called,

Berta's big cat shook his fur and licked a paw.

Then he returned to his nap,

Nestling back onto Berta's lap.

Berta happily won that game with her four corners,

And then she won four more in a wonderful blur.

When another player excitedly shouted, "Bingo!",

Right on over to them Berta's big orange tabby cat did stroll.

He spilled two more glasses of water on bingo cards,

And his claws even turned one card into nothing but shards.

One of them he simply would not stop napping upon,

Answering any and all protests with a fanged yawn.

Finally, the woman Berta knew as Betty did cry,

"You're cheating, Berta, and being far too sly!"

"I most certainly am not!" was Berta's reply.

"What would compel you to utter such a lie?"

Another woman then did shout something absurd,

Saying, "You've made bingo your cat's attack word!"

"Ha!" Berta did laugh and laugh and laugh.

"A cat jumping into your lap is now an attack?"

Happy with her night's winnings,

Berta stood from the table, grinning.

She stretched, picked up her cat, and said,

"Come now, Bingo, it's well past time for bed."

Berta added to the ladies still playing the game,

"My boy Bingo here simply enjoys the sound of his name.

He can't help that he always comes when he's called.

It's really not the least bit his fault that, upon you, luck does not fall.

Now I big you good night, and good luck to you all!"

***

Guess what time it is? It's Thimble time, and Thankful Thursday time!

Thimble is thankful for mirrors, and for her adorable little face. I myself am also grateful for her adorable face. It gets her whatever she wants, in case you were wondering.

Of course, as always, we are also more thankful than we can express for the friends we have met in this amazing community.

***

And now we have for your the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. Ellen of 15andmeowing is the mastermind behind the first two, and I came up with the second two.


1. My favorite kind of music is _________.

2. I don't believe _________.

3. My ideal day _________.

4. Don't let _________ stop you from _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today is the last day of National Cat Health Month. For our final tip, we're closing out our discussion on medication administration with subcutaneous injections. This topic might sound scary, but with some practice, and perhaps a cooperative kitty, you can become a pro at it.

First and foremost, ensure that you and your kitty are as comfortable and ready as possible for injection time. This may indeed take trial and error. It may also take time for your kitty to become accustomed to injections. One option is to have your cat sit on your lap. You can place a towel or blanket on your lap, as an added protection against claws. Placing your kitty on a table, counter, or even the back of a sturdy chair or couch are other potential options. If you have a helper, they can try to hold your kitty, with said kitty wrapped in a blanket or towel if needed, while you give the injection.

That being said, before getting too far ahead of yourself, make sure that you properly prepare the syringe and needle. If you have any questions regarding the use of a syringe and needle, of course ask your veterinarian, or even request a demonstration. Once you get used to it, it's really not as scary as it seems. With the needle and syringe ready, depending on the medication being injected, be sure to shake, roll, and invert the bottle as needed. Then, of course, using the needle and syringe, draw up the prescribed dosage.

Giving a cat a subcutaneous injection is often best done in the skin near their shoulders. Sometimes, if needed, it can also be given in the skin of the legs, near the hipbones. Before giving the injection, you will need to "tent" your kitty's skin. In other words, pick up the skin between your thumb and index finger. If you are right-handed, you can do this with your left hand, so that you can give the injection with your right hand. While preparing to inject, try to keep the needle more or less parallel to the cat's back, as going in at too much of an angle could lead to issues such as going through the skin on the side or hitting muscle.

Now, with the needle parallel to the back, you will want to give the injection in the "tent" of skin that you've formed by pulling up the skin. Push the needle into the skin firmly enough to slide the needle through, but not so hard that the needle ends up going through the skin on other side, or that the syringe slams against your cat's tented skin. Again, this all might sound scary, but the more times you do this, the more you you will get the feel of it.

At this point, obviously, you will inject the medication. Push the syringe's plunger, making sure that you don't wiggle the syringe and needle too much while you do this. Depending on how you feel most comfortable holding the syringe, you will typically be pressing the plunger with either your index finger or thumb. Once you have given the injection, slide the needle back out, place the safety cap on it, and safely dispose of it. Check to make sure that there is no moisture on your cat's back, which might indicate that the needle either went through to the other side, or that it did not go in at all.

Related to this, if you are giving subcutaneous fluids, such as for a kitty with kidney disease, the general procedure will be very much the same, but the fluids will take longer to complete. You will inject the needle in the same manner as mentioned above, but your kitty will need to remain in place for minutes at a time. So, be sure that both you and your kitty are comfortable before beginning subcutaneous fluids administration. Also be sure that you follow other instructions for giving fluids at home, including warming the fluids bag, ensuring the line has been tested, and so forth. Veterinarians will most often give a demonstration on fluid administration before having you do it on your own. Of course, never be afraid to ask your veterinarian any questions that you have regarding any form of medication administration.