Caturday Art

I mentioned the other day that I wasn't sure I'd be sharing any more winter doodles. After all, I've moved onto a new series of doodles starring cats and books. But then I sort of felt a sense of guilt for not sharing a wintry scene on the final, 29th day of February. So, I decided on melding winter with my current desire to doodle cats and books and thereby ended up with this weird and wacky little doodle:

We're sending warm wishes to all!

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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.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Photo Fails

Happy Friday, friends! We're all ready with our Friendly Fill-Ins. Are you? If you'd like to participate, we'll share the fill-in statements again below. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I know spring is almost here when _________.

2. I find _________ confusing.

3. I have a strong opinion on _________.

4. _________ is the strangest thing I have ever eaten.


My answers are below in bold.

1. I know spring is almost here when the sneezing begins.
(When spring is on the horizon, and especially when spring is in full swing, my house is filled with sneezing things. I sneeze. Pup Astrid sneezes. Evan sneezes. It's a sneeze fest. Some of us take allergy meds for it, but the allergens usually win anyway.)

2. I find people confusing.
(Humanity can be such a strange thing. That's probably why I stick with the kitties and pups as much as possible.)

3. I have a strong opinion on animal cruelty.
(I know that, especially in this community, I'm not the only one with strong feelings on animal cruelty. I'm of the belief that animal cruelty should indeed be a felony, that declawing should be banned, and simply that animal cruelty in any form should not exist.)

4. Flan is the strangest thing I have ever eaten.
(Has anyone ever had flan, a dessert popular in countries such as Spain? I had it once in a high school Spanish class. It's supposed to be something like a custard dessert. My answer here probably isn't all that fair, because the flan I had was made by one of my classmates rather than someone who knows how to make authentic flan. But, this one time I had what was supposed to be flan, I was not a fan. It didn't taste anything like a dessert to me, and the texture issue I have with certain foods reared its head when it came to eating the weirdly gooey flan. I haven't had flan since.)

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.

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Believe it or not, I actually got a decent shot or two of Eddy the other day. But guess what? We're not showing you those today. Why? Because today is the day of the Pet Photo Fails! Blog Hop, hosted by Mudpie and Melissa of Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries, & Meows.

I don't ever worry about lacking bloopers for this fun day of the month. Why? Because Eddy always keeps my photo archives stocked with outtakes.

We've recently shared with you all some photos of Eddy enjoying her favorite treats. Treats are one of the ways I distract Eddy during my attempts to get decent shots of her. Sometimes, though, the treat bin is more my enemy than my assistant when it comes to distracting Eddy. And that's how today's bloopers came to be.

Those treats sure did help me distract Eddy for a photo shoot, huh? Serves me right, though. I'm the one who left the lid open. I set both Eddy and myself up for failure on that one.

Oh, and if you're wondering if that's a Christmas tree visible in the bottom right corner of those photos, it is. I keep a Christmas tree set up in my bedroom for Eddy all year long, simply because she loves climbing it so much that I don't have the heart to take it down. In truth, I find the tree just as fun as Eddy does, because I enjoy trying to decorate it for each season.

Have a fantastic Friday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

How about another flashback doodle starring a cat and a book? We'll go for one of last year's bookish doodles I scribbled up starring our housemate Toby.

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday, we gave a lengthy tip on administering oral medications to your kitty. Today, we're here to give a lengthy tip on the ins and outs of transdermal medications. Transdermal medications are those applied to and absorbed through the skin. A number of medications can be given this way, such as methimazole (for the treatment of hyperthyroidism) and even famotidine (Pepcid), just to name a couple. If you will be administering transdermal medication for your kitty, of course read the directions as prescribed by your veterinarian, and discuss with your veterinarian any concerns that you have.

So, transdermal medication has to be applied to, obviously, the skin. It is best applied to skin that is clean, free from as much as hair as possible, and where your kitty cannot easily lick or reach. This makes the pinna (the flap of the ear) an ideal place for applying transdermal medication.

To actually apply the transdermal medication, ensure that you are wearing gloves. As its name suggests, this type of medication does indeed absorb through the skin, and that includes your own skin as well as that of your kitty. If your kitty is on transdermal thyroid medication, for example, using your bare hand to apply it could lead to unwanted effects on your own endocrine system. So, put on disposable gloves, which are sometimes even provided with the prescription.

Next, when you and your kitty are ready and your hand is gloved, place the medication on your gloved finger. Transdermal medication is typically provided in pre-filled syringes, from which you can eject intended dosages. Sometimes it is suggested that you squirt the medication onto your index finger, but, ultimately, place it on whichever digit works best for you and for effective administration. I, personally, find it easiest to use my thumb.

Now, when you have the medication on your gloved finger, apply it to the upper to middle part of the pinna of the ear and rub it in. Again, this medication is easily absorbed through the skin, and so excess being left behind is not ideal. So, rub it in as thoroughly as possible, which of course will also ensure that your kitty is receiving his or her full dosage.

Once you have rubbed the medication in, you can dispose of your glove. For optimum safety, you can clean it off first, such as with soap and water. Then, you can remove it using the aid of a paper towel. Then, the glove and paper towel can be disposed of, of course in a receptacle where it cannot be easily removed by any curious paws or hands. Also be sure that you put away the syringes of medication away somewhere.

All of that being said, of course try to make the medication administration process as comfortable as possible for both your kitty and yourself. You can try to do apply transdermal medications when your kitty is relaxed, as long as you are prepared and are able to safely do so without getting any of the medication on yourself or anywhere else besides your kitty's ear. You can also, of course, use treats as a reward. Just as with oral medication administration, you can use a partner-in-crime if needed, or a blanket or towel to help keep your kitty still and safe. Sometimes it takes trial and error to figure out what works best for you and your kitty, and there's nothing wrong with that!

Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

It's Thursday. Whew. We've almost reached the weekend. First, though, we need to do some rhyming. It is, after all, time for Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge.

As always, our host shared a photo prompt to help guide us. This week's prompt is this image here:

I'll be honest and admit that I can't really remember exactly how I got from the above image to my final product. Sometimes I have a very distinct thought or point of inspiration for my poem. That wasn't really the case this week. This time around, I simply pondered various options to go with the above image, of course wanted to figure out how to get a kitty character snuck in there, and then ultimately ended up with this ridiculously lengthy rhyme:

The Golden Years

John and Jane were what folk might call old and grey,

But they lived quite the active life back in the day.
They used to don their dancing shoes every evening,
Waltzing until even the stars and moon were sleeping.

John and Jane once traveled the world all year long,
Dancing for a great many audiences the tango and foxtrot.
With them traveled Milton, none other than their cat,
Who, now also very old and grey, was currently sleeping Jane's lap.

Every now and then, John and Jane disagreed,
Which is nothing all that abnormal, no siree.
The topic of their arguments was usually the same,
Often initiated by John and sometimes by Jane.

On one particular afternoon, the bickering began.
John and Jane each took their usual opposing stands.
"I think we should start dancing again," said John.
"Good grief," Jane said, "those days are simple done and gone."
"I disagree," was John's reply,
Which was met with only a grunt and a sigh.

John, as usual, stood his ground and refused to give up.
"Come on now, Jane," he said, rising from his chair in a manner quite abrupt.
John continued, "Let's just try a bit of a cha cha.
Or what about even just a simple salsa?"

Jane shook her head.
"We're too old for such things," she said.
"Age is just a number," John told his wife,
And then he added, "We don't have to live a dull, boring life.
We don't have to live with dread and fear.
After all, Jane, we're living the golden years!"

Yet again, Jane dismissed John's thoughts.
She said, "I am not moving from this very spot.
This old body isn't dancing, no it is not."
John stomped a foot, his ears growing red hot.

Milton huffed and jumped from Jane's lap.
He was not what you would call a very tolerant cat.
As John and Jane continued their argument in the living room,
Milton strutted to the room oft treated like a tomb.
It was not visited often, especially not by Jane.
It housed trophies that boasted John and Jane's youthful dancing game.

The room had enough space for a duo to dance,
But for years and years it had not seen a single person prance.
The room also housed a neglected piano,
And it was to the instrument that Milton did go.

He jumped on the piano bench and sat for a second.
The sounds from the other room were still just as unpleasant.
John and Jane were still and yet still arguing.
And so, Milton jumped right onto the piano's keys.

The cat stomped and stomped and stomped some more.
The sounds coming from the piano could've shaken the dead to their core.
John and Jane's arguing at least had ceased,
And suddenly their heads appeared as they tried to see.

"What on earth are you doing, Milton?" John asked.
What the cat did next prompted Jane to gasp.
Milton moved to a shelf and knocked a trophy to the floor.
Then he returned and stomped on the piano's keys once more,
And then jumped down and pranced and turned on the floor.
After that, Milton turned his nose toward a turntable over yonder.
At that, the old couple slowly nodded as they seemingly pondered.

"See, Jane?" John said. "Even Milton wants us to dance again."
Jane put her hands on her hips and shook her head.
Nonetheless, she threw her hands in the air and said,
"Fine, you two old coots, have it your way.
I'll put on my shoes and we'll try a dance or two today.
If I break a hip, you two will do the chores yourself every day."

John clapped, did a little jig, and put on his dancing shoes.
Hanging from the walls was more than a memory or two.
John glanced at not only the trophies sitting here and there,
But also nostalgic photos of John and Jane dancing with flare.

Jane finally returned wearing her own dancing shoes.
She said, "All right, then, let's see what we can do."
John loaded the turntable with one of their favorite tunes,
And Milton sat on the piano bench to watch and perhaps snooze.

John and Jane started with a waltz.
Though rusty, they danced with very few faults.
They then moved right on into the foxtrot and the cha cha,
And then both agreed to go right ahead with the salsa.

They smiled and laughed and danced for hours.
By the time they finished, neither John nor Jane spoke a word that was sour.
"I told you, Jane," John said. "We're still dancers, no matter our age."
Jane shrugged and replied, "I guess I didn't realize you were so wise and sage."

On that day, John and Jane's love for dance was yet again obvious.
Thereafter, they would oft put on music and dance with Milton as their audience.
John and certainly Jane had finally learned to live without fear.
After all, these were none other than the golden years.

***

Now, who's ready for Thimble? Today, on Thankful Thursday, Thimble is grateful for none other than belly rubs.

That rather candid photo may not make it very obvious, but Thimble had just gotten herself a belly rub just before that picture was taken. This tabby girl loves her a belly rub. She's the most likely furbaby in the house to roll her belly up and ask for a tummy tickle. I'm always happy to oblige.

As always, we are of course also incredibly thankful for this community and all of you in it. What a kind and supportive community this is.

***

Now, who's looking forward to tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge? If you'd like to participate, just grab the fill-in statements below and fill them in. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I know spring is almost here when _________.

2. I find _________ confusing.

3. I have a strong opinion on _________.

4. _________ is the strangest thing I have ever eaten.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

We have three days left of National Cat Heath Month. For these last couple of days, we'll be discussing some methods for administering medication to that kitty of yours. We'll be starting today with oral medications. This is going to be a long one, so kudos to anyone who makes it to the end.

To begin, if your kitty is prescribed a medication in the form of a pill, tablet, or capsule, there are a number of methods for attempting administration. If possible, and if your kitty is open to the idea, you can use pill pockets or another form of treat in which to hide the medication, and then your kitty might simply eat it up that way. Sometimes pills, tablets, or capsules can also be hidden in a bowl of canned food. If it is small enough, the entire pill can be left intact and hidden whole in the food. Or, some pills can be crushed and then stirred in and masked by the moist food. That being said, some pills, tablets, and capsules are not as effective or sometimes not truly safe to crush and expose in this way, so always ask your veterinarian first regarding this method. 

If a kitty will not voluntarily ingest a pill in the above ways, though, then you may very well have to manually pill your cat. First and foremost, be gentle with this method, and make sure your kitty is as comfortable as possible, and of course not harmed. It's also important to ensure that you are not bitten. One of the best methods for pilling a cat involves placing your hand over the cat's head and more or less using their cheekbones as a handle. This way, you can gently tilt your kitty's head back, and they will often then open their mouth on their own. As long as you do it safely, you can also place the tip of a finger on the incisors (not the canines!) of the lower jaw in order to help open the mouth. When your kitty's mouth is open, you can carefully place the pill inside, trying to get it as far back on the tongue as is possible and safe. You can try doing this with the pill plain, or put it in a small treat to better mask it. When the pill is inside the mouth, close your kitty's mouth and gently hold it shut. Sometimes, if needed, blowing on their nose or gently rubbing their throat will prompt them to swallow the pill.

There are also pilling devices on the market. I personally do not prefer to use these, but for kitties who need it, you can try this method. When using a pilling device, you can use the same methods as indicated above for opening your kitty's mouth, and then use the device to place the pill as far back on the tongue as possible.

For kitties who simply do not tolerate being pilled, there is also the chance that the pill can be suspended in a liquid form. Do discuss this with your veterinarian, though, as this method is not effective with all medications. If the medication at hand is able to be given in liquid form, though, sometimes you can do this yourself, simply by crushing the pill and dissolving it in water or a safe broth or gravy. Other times, pharmacies can prepare a liquid solution for you. For tips on the administration of liquid medications, see below.

Next up, we have liquid oral medications. With these, you use the appropriate syringe or dropper to pull up the prescribed dosage. If your kitty does not sense it and refuse to eat it, you can sometimes mix liquid medication in moist food. If your kitty will not eat food laced with medication, though, then squirting it directly into their mouth is your likeliest option. It is typically recommended that liquid medications be injected into the pocket of space that is between the cheek and the teeth. As needed, you can use the methods indicated above for opening your kitty's mouth for easier administration of the liquid medication. However, do not tilt your kitty's head back when administering liquid medications, as aspiration is possible.

What's more, keep in mind that larger quantities of liquid medications, such as over 0.5 or 1.0 mL of medication, may need to be injected into the mouth in multiple rounds. This is because squirting larger quantities of liquid into your kitty's mouth could be dangerous, such as by potentially leading to aspiration. So, depending on the dosage prescribed, it might be safest to squirt in half or so of the liquid, allowing your kitty to swallow that, and then squirting the rest into the mouth.

Other tips include using having a partner-in-crime to help you administer your kitty's medication. One person can hold the kitty, for example, while the other gives the medication. Whether you are by yourself or have help, you can also use the help of a towel or blanket. You can wrap the kitty in this, to keep them and their legs still during the process.

If you have trouble giving your kitty oral medications, even when using methods such as those discussed above, of course discuss this with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian might be able to suggest other options for medication administration. We will be discussing transdermal medications and subcutaneous injections over the next two days, so if either of those are a solution your veterinarian proposes, we'll be sharing tips on those as well.

Woof Woof Wednseday

Last week Astrid celebrated her birthday and showed off her birthday cookies. Remember seeing these?

Now, do you want to know what Astrid thought of her birthday cookies?

She thought they were lip-licking good! That photo above is pretty much a blooper, but it gets Astrid's point across. Speaking of bloopers, though, do you want to see another one from this pup?

Yikes. That was probably Astrid's face when she realized she had eaten the last birthday cookie. That was a devastating moment for her.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday, as part of National Cat Health Month, our tip involved food allergies. Keep in mind, though, that cats can of course be allergic to any number of things, not just food. Symptoms such as itchy skin, hair loss, rashes, and so forth can also result from seasonal and airborne allergies, allergies to fleas, and any number of other allergens. A cat can even be allergic to fragrances and other components in items such as cat litter or laundry detergent.

That all being said, if your kitty has dermatological or even respiratory signs of allergies, try to pinpoint when it started, and discuss this with your veterinarian as needed. Keep track of if your cat displays symptoms year-round, or if the symptoms are new. Does your cat have scabs or bites on their skin? Is he or she on monthly preventatives for fleas? Did you start using a new kind of cat litter? What about a new kind of laundry detergent with which you've cleaned blankets and bedding? Think back to even weeks or months ago, as allergies can take time to manifest. If the onset of symptoms can be tracked down to exposure to a new litter or other removable or remediable environmental factor, then it might be an easy fix. If your kitty is diagnosed as having seasonal or airborne allergies, though, then you can discuss with your veterinarian what might be done to help your kitty stay as itch-free and comfortable as possible.

Bathtime Tuesday

Evan may or may not be a bit of an exhibitionist. He may or may not bathe right in front of an open window.

Evan wonders if the neighbors saw him bathing. I'm sort of wondering if he actually hopes they did. Why else would he bathe in front of the window on a daily basis?

Are any of you friends of ours exhibitionists? Do you bathe in front of wide open windows?

Exhibitionist or not, happy Monday to you!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I'm in the midst of creating and sharing a new series of doodles starring cats and books. On Tuesdays, though, I usually share a flashback doodle. So, I rewound to last year to see what I could find. Apparently my desire to doodle up cats and books is rather cyclical and predictable, because I was creating a series of none other than cats and books at the end of last February as well. One of those doodles form last year was especially out there. See?

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Tip of the Day

Can you believe that we're still on the topic of food? As we start to close out our National Cat Health Care Month tips, we're here today to offer a bit of a (lengthy) discussion on food intolerances versus food allergies. There is indeed a difference between the two, and both can affect your kitty and his or her health.

A food intolerance occurs when something found in a food cannot be properly digested in the body. For example, lactose intolerance occurs when a cat is deficient in lactase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down lactose, a milk sugar. Such an intolerance can result in diarrhea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal issues, if the problem food is ingested. Just as with humans, it is indeed possible for cats to be intolerant to foods such as dairy, gluten, soy, corn, and any other number of food ingredients. If your kitty is suffering from diarrhea, vomiting, or other gastrointestinal distress after eating their food, then discontinue the food and discuss the issue with your veterinarian as needed.

Now, as for a food allergy, this is indeed different than an intolerance. A food allergy occurs when antibodies mount a response to a component in the food the cat is eating. In other words, the cat's immune system determines something in the food to be a harmful allergen, and so initiates an allergic reaction. This typically results in dermatological effects, such as itchy skin, scratching, redness, hair loss, and lesions. It is possible for a cat to have an allergy to any number of proteins that he or she has been exposed to in food. The types of food culprits can include beef, lamb, chicken, and turkey, just to name a couple.

That all being said, it can take time to develop an allergic response, as antibodies seen in allergic reactions only form after exposure to the food allergen at hand.. So, if you start your kitty on a new food, it may be a month or more later when they start developing signs such as itchy skin. For this reason, try to keep track of when you start your kitty on new foods, and also what types of food you have fed them. If a food allergy is expected, a veterinarian will often recommend the cat go on a novel diet, typically a diet containing a protein source to which the kitty has never before been exposed and therefore to which the kitty won't mount an allergic response. This is why it is important to keep track of the foods your kitty eats.

The same is important with regard to food intolerances. Food intolerances are more fast-acting than allergic responses, and symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting are more immediate. In this case also, though, it is still important to keep track of when you start your kitty on new food, or even when you open a new bag of food. Sometimes companies will make even slight changes in a food you've been buying for years, and sometimes those changes mean the introduction of components to which your kitty might be intolerant. So, keep tabs on any and all food going into your cat's body. This way, if need be, you and your veterinarian can determine what might be causing your cat distress, and can find the best options for keeping him or her healthy and happy.

Peek-a-boo!

Evan may look like he's snoozing. Really, though, he's keeping an eye on you.

Peek-a-boo!

Happy Monday, friends!

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Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Since we've been giving a variety of food tips, today we figured we'd give a quick reminder on how to transition your cat to a new food, if needed. If a kitty is transitioned to a new food too quickly, a variety of gastrointestinal issues could possibly result, vomiting and diarrhea included. For this reason, it's generally recommended that you transition from the old food to the new food over a span of seven days or so.

To transition your cat to a new food, you can start by adding a small amount of the new food to the old food on the first day. Then, of course, you add more and more of the new food each day. On the final day of the transition, your kitty's food bowl will contain only the new food. Of course, when changing foods, keep in mind your particular kitty's overall status. If your cat is a finicky eater, whether by nature or due to age or an ailment, you may have to do a slower transition over a longer period of time, in order for them to accept the new food. In other cases, such as if your kitty is having adverse reactions to their current food, a more rapid or immediate transition might be necessary. This is of course something to discuss with your veterinarian. During any transition, of course keep an eye out for any adverse reactions. Alert your veterinarian of any concerns you have, and stop or slow the food transition as needed or as instructed if issues arise.

Upside Down Sunday Selfie

I asked Thimble to strike a pose and snap a selfie for today. The result was pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself.

It doesn't get much cuter than that, if you ask me me. It's not like I'm biased or anything.

Wishing you all a happy Sunday!

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Doodle of the Day

I recently mentioned that I've been working on a yet another new series of doodles starring cats and books. It's probably more than obvious by now that those are two of my favorite things to draw. Here's the first doodle I created for the new series.

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Tip of the Day

We're making these National Cat Health Care Month tips stretch until the end of February. So, today's (incredibly long) tip is another one related to feeding those kitties of yours. In some cases, you might have multiple cats with differing dietary needs. For example, you may have one cat who needs a low-protein kidney diet in a household that also contains other cats in need of higher levels of protein. Or, you might have one cat on a diet for weight loss in a household also with other cats who should not be on a restrictive diet. Or, perhaps you simply have one kitty who steals the other kitty's food. If any of these are the case in your house, there are some possible ways to succeed in feeding your kitties their separate diets.

First, if your cats are of different sizes or have different physical abilities, there is a chance you can take advantage of these traits to separate their feeding stations. For example, if you have a large cat and a kitten needing separate foods, you could cut a hole in an upside box in which the kitten can fit, but not the larger cat. This way, the kitten could be fed its kitten food in the box without the larger cat feasting on the food. You can also try feeding one cat its food on various elevated surfaces, if its housemate cat on a different diet is unable to reach those elevated feeding spots.

Of course, there are many cases in which the above options simply will not work. If this is the case, one primary option is to stick to scheduled feedings of some sort, and to physically separate the cats during these feeding times. First, determine times of the day when you are home and can oversee feeding time, such as morning, lunch, and evening. Then, at feeding time, each cat can be given their specific diet separately under your observation. This can be done in a number of ways. You can simply separate the cats in the same room, if you are able to closely observe them so that no kitty's food is stolen by another. You can also separate the kitty's in the same room while using something such as baby gates to ensure they remain separated while they eat. Another option is, of course, shutting cats in different rooms to each eat their meal on their own. There is also a bowl on the market that can be linked to a certain microchip, and the bowl will only open and allow access to food for a furbaby with that particular microchip.

That all being said, if your cats are used to being free-fed all day and you find yourself needing to transition to scheduled feedings due to differing dietary needs, then do be patient and give this transition some time. A cat will have to get used to going from having access to food 24/7, to eating on a schedule. If need be, such as if your cats are not yet used to eating their meals at a scheduled time, then start this transition by feeding your cats more often, so that they will have more chances to eat their food throughout the day. Of course, if you have any questions or concerns with regard to feeding your kitties, do speak to your veterinarian!

Caturday Art

Since it is still pup Astrid's birthday week, she asked me to include a canine in today's Caturday Art doodle. I obliged the birthday girl. Don't worry, though, our kitty pals, because the pup in the doodle has a feline friend.

I'm not sure yet if this will be our last true winter doodle or not. I'm currently working on a series of doodles starring cats and books, because I've only done a gazillion of those already. But, I may or may not share one last winter doodle this upcoming final week of February. Either way, we hope you enjoy the doodles we share!

Happy Caturday, friends!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

After our tips on offering your kitty fresh water and food, we're now here today to remind you to keep those water and food bowls nice and clean. When it comes to keeping bowls clean, do your best to steer clear of using plastic bowls, as these can most easily harbor bacteria and other microbes, especially in scratches that might be the result of claws or other use and abuse. Rather than plastic, go for bowls that are stainless steel, or even ceramic or glass. Even so, though, it is still important to clean any and all bowls often. Saliva, oils or grease, and other debris from food or the environment can lead to a dirty bowl, so even if you have stainless steel, ceramic, or glass bowls, do clean them often. Unclean bowls can lead to issues such as feline acne, or, in worst case scenarios, gastrointestinal or other serious conditions caused by dirty, spoiled remnants in a food or water bowl. So, though we're certain you all already know this, do be sure to keep those food and water bowls spick and span!

Friendly Fill-Ins With a Rhyme on the Side

First of all, thank you for the birthday wishes you sent pup Astrid's way yesterday! Both she and I appreciate your kindness so very much!

Now, who's ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge? If you'd like to participate but missed the fill-in statements yesterday, I'll share them again here. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I am trying to _________.

2. I always _________ when _________.

3. _________ has my seal of approval.

4. I would not recommend _________.


My answers are below in bold. They're kind of all over the place this week, probably because my brain was all over the place. They also include some frighteningly long explanations, and for all of that I apologize profusely.

1. I am trying to get back to regular programming.
(Over the past year or so my work place has gotten a bit extra chaotic, and unfortunately that has bled into my personal life. I used to happily have set times on nearly a daily basis when I'd blog, draw, write, read, and all that jazz. Then things at my work place got off track, and in a domino effect the scheduling of my time off work got off track. I am changing things up at work to make it more manageable again, though, and so now I'm ready to get my personal time back to its regular programming. I want to get back to regularly sticking to a productive and enjoyable schedule of blogging, drawing, writing, reading, and you get the idea. I have some personal projects I'm striving to complete, some of which I've at least hinted at here on our blog, so getting back to a more productive schedule is something I desperately want and need.)

2. I always tell my furbabies goodbye and that I'll be back soon when I leave the house.
(I'm that clingy cat mom and dog mom who tells my furry children that I love them and that I'll be back soon every time I leave home. Every time. Most of the time, the majority of my furbabies are sleeping, eating, playing, or otherwise ignoring me when I'm leaving. That doesn't matter. I go through my whole goodbye spiel every single time no matter what.)

3. Purina Frosty Paws ice cream for dogs has my seal of approval.
(I apologize to all of our kitty friends out there, since this is such a blatant dog answer. Unless any of you kitties would like to give this treat a shot? But, this answer is actually in honor of pup Astrid's birthday yesterday, given that she had a Purina Frosty Paws ice cream cup to celebrate. You see, pup Astrid absolutely loves ice cream, and I was starting to feel bad letting her have human ice cream, even just on special occasions, given all the sugar and other whatnot it contains. Then I found Purina Frosty Paws ice cream cups for dogs. These are certainly still nothing that should be a significant part of a dog's diet, but they're at least a lower sugar, higher protein mock ice cream formulated specifically as a dog treat. It fools Astrid, she loves it, and therefore I love it and feel far less guilty about giving her so-called ice cream every once in a while. For the record, we're not sponsored by Purina, or ice cream, or anything of the sort.)

4. I would not recommend grocery shopping on an empty stomach.
(I just had to throw this one in here, because I seem to relearn this lesson every time I go to the store hungry. If I eat before I go to the store, I tend to stick to my grocery list. If I don't eat before I go grocery shopping, my cart ends up filled with a gazillion things that weren't on my list, and some of those things are down my gullet before I even leave the store parking lot.)

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.

***

As we mentioned yesterday, we pushed our poem for Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge back by a day, given that yesterday was all about celebrating pup Astrid's birthday. So, now we have our poem to share today.

Our wonderful host always shares a photo prompt to guide us on our poetic endeavors. This week's prompt is this incredibly intriguing one here:

I really like this photo. I like it so much I shared it with my sister. She also quite liked it, and then she made a random comment about The Chronicles of Narnia series. One thing led to another and my sister and I were suddenly discussing old trucks in forests potentially leading to magical lands like the one found in The Chronicles of Narnia. My sister and I have some really weird and wacky conversations, obviously, and sometimes those lead to really weird, wacky, and insanely long poems like this one here:

Lost and Found

Becky moved to a new house.

Her new neighborhood was quieter than a mouse.

After all, her only neighbors were trees and more trees,

Which spoke only the soft whispering words of the breeze.

Becky moved to her new house with her dog,

A friendly mutt known as Hedgehog.

The canine acquired the name because of his fur,

Which was more or less unruly and a tad bit absurd.

Becky and Hedgehog both greatly enjoyed time outdoors,

And they set out on walks to breathe fresh air and explore.

Living next to a forest was wonderful indeed,

Until you realized all the trees made it impossible to see.

On one spring afternoon, Becky and Hedgehog headed into the forest,

A place that would be enjoyed by any tree enthusiast or florist.

The forest was green from head to toe,

And the sun and shadows put on a lovely light show.

Becky prided herself on her wits,

And she did not intend on letter her or Hedgehog be missed.

She had slipped a compass in the pocket of her vest,

With the knowledge that to get home they simply needed to travel west.

The walk began with sunshine and beauty,

But then it was spring, completely and truly.

A storm brewed up out of seemingly nowhere,

And rain began pouring out of seemingly thin air.

Neither Becky nor Hedgehog were fond of storms,

So they intended to quickly get home and out of this downpour.

Becky pulled out her compass and flipped it open,

But it was at the same time that Hedgehog shook off because he was soaking.

His sudden movement made Becky flinch and gasp,

And as a result the compass flung and flew right out of her grasp.

Becky groaned, "Oh no, where did it go?"

She didn't see it anywhere near her or Hedgehog's toes.

"It couldn't have gone that far," Becky said.

The forest floor was filled with grass, plants, and leaves both live and dead.

The compass could be hidden in plain sight,

Perhaps in a newly formed puddle or beneath a leaf green and bright.

As Becky searched, something suddenly shot out from behind a tree.

It was not the compass, of course not, no indeed.

Rather, it was a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed cat,

With a sharp meow and fur of the deepest and sleekest black.

Just like that, the cat turned and ran.

Simply watching it go was not something Hedgehog could stand.
He charged forward and broke off his leash,
Chasing the cat through puddles and soggy leaves.

After a short chase, Hedgehog came to a stop in a clearing.
Rain still poured and thunder tested their hearing.
When Becky caught up, the cat was no longer in sight.
Perhaps Hedgehod had given it too much of a fright.

But something else up ahead could be seen,
That being a quaint old truck swallowed up by the forest's green.
Rain came down heavier and heavier some more.
As a result, into the rundown truck Hedgehog did soar.
Becky could tell the old thing would not and could not run,
But at least it could offer shelter until the return of the sun.

"Make room for me," Becky said to Hedgehog.
She crawled into the truck and squeezed in beside her dog.
Suddenly, there was a flash of light quite frightening.
 Was that a terrifyingly nearby strike of lightning?

The answer to that question seemed a tad bit complex,
Especially since they now seemed to be in a place completely different.
Well, it wasn't that different after all,
But it wasn't out of the same sort of truck that they now did crawl.

Becky and Hedgehog now stood on a dry forest floor.
From the sky, rain no longer did torrentially pour.
They also no longer looked at a truck buried and broken.
It's like it had been completely fixed up in just one quick moment.
The truck was now a lovely sort of ivory,
And it was sparkling clean and really quite shiny.

The sky was a clear one of night,
Shining and twinkling with starlight.
A lamppost also glowed and lit the nearby night,
And in its glow something else then did come into sight.

Suddenly there was a return of the cat,
With its sharp meow and its fur of deep, sleek black.
Then more than a simple meow came out of its head.
"You two look like you need help," the cat quite aptly said.

Becky's eyes widened in something like shock.
The same thing happened for a now whimpering Hedgehog.
Becky stammered, "Who are you? What are you? What's going on?"
She looked around to see their original surroundings were still gone.

"How can I make this simple?" the cat said.
It looked up and pondered as it scratched its head.
"You see," it began, "you left Lost and now you're in Found.
Does that make sense? How does that sound?"

Becky said nothing but a spluttering noise.
The cat said, "I guess you're still confused. Oh boy."
It sighed and tried again.
It spoke slowly as it said,
"You must have lost something.
Perhaps your socks? Your favorite pen? A ring?
A lost something or other is usually what brings folks to Found."
Then the cat pointed and said, "There! What's that on the ground?"

Becky looked down toward her feet.
Something lost sat in the grass there indeed.
"My compass," she said as she reached down and picked it up.
Hedgehog looked from Becky to the cat and let out a shrill yip and a yup.
Becky looked at the compass and let out a quick laugh.
After all this, she had completely forgotten about that.

"See?" the cat said. "That was a perfectly simple explanation.
Your compass disappeared in your land of Lost, and so the land of Found became your destination.
That makes complete and total sense, trust me.
Now, is there anything else that you need?
I'm actually really quite late for an important meeting."

Becky was still more or less shocked and speechless,
But she managed to tell the cat that her only lost item was the compass.
"Wonderful," the cat said with a little clap of its paws.
"I assume you're now ready to go home and be gone."

The cat added, "By the way, I'm known to most as Lady Luck.
If you ever find yourself here again, look me up.
Now, both of you, get back in that truck."
Becky and Hedgehog did as the cat did instruct.
They climbed into the lovely ivory truck,
And within moments there was a flash of light and rain falling from above.

Becky and Hedgehog were now back were they began.
Beside the rundown truck and in the pouring rain they now did stand.
Becky looked down to see her compass in her hand.
She wasn't sure there was anything she did currently understand.

Finally, she said, "Well, Hedgehog, let's run on home."
She consulted her compass so that in an aimless manner they did not roam.
They ran through rain and puddles of mud,
Reaching their home just before the onset of a flood.

As they dried off and warmed up inside the house,
The rain and thunder outside sounded nowhere near as quiet as a mouse,
Becky said, "Hedgehog, I think perhaps we should go back there tomorrow, yes?
Perhaps I'll accidentally lose my compass again by that truck in the forest."

***

It's time for you Friday Eddy fix. So, how about yet another series of photos of Eddy chowing down and enjoying the view from the window? Yeah?

Most of those could be considered bloopers, in true Eddy style. Don't worry, though, because Eddy still has plenty of bloopers to share for next week's blooper blog hop. We're never wanting for bloopers around here.

Happy Friday, friends!

***

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 consequential 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 it becoming stale, or even 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!

Happy birthday, Astrid!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ASTRID!

Today is indeed pup Astrid's birthday. Well, given that she's a rescue with an unknown origins, today is the day we have chosen to celebrate whenever her real birthday is. Astrid turns 7 today, officially making her a senior dog. Astrid is evidence that age is just a number, though, because this wide-eyed and bushy-tailed girl still acts like a puppy.

Now, who's ready for a birthday bash? Thimble is our resident party planner, and she's inviting all of you to pup Astrid's birthday bash.

Of course, to celebrate her big day, Astrid will get to enjoy some of her favorite things. Don't worry. She's probably willing to share.

Though we're not sponsored, Astrid has a great fondness for cookies made by the owner of the Etsy shop known as DogParkPublishing. Above are the cookies Astrid gets to enjoy today. There are plenty to go around, so help yourself to a cookie or two!

We're not stopping at cookies, though. Pup Astrid is also a huge fan of ice cream. She actually probably enjoys ice cream even more than cookies. So, how about a trip to the ice cream parlor?

Don't worry, though. Astrid knows that some of her furry friends out there might not enjoy car rides as much as she does, so she's offered to bring some ice cream back for everyone.

That is, if the ice cream survives the car ride. And Astrid's tongue.

So, friends, grab yourself some cookies, grab yourself some ice cream, and party on with us!

Astrid, all of us humans and kitties in your life wish you the happiest birthday you could ever imagine. Thank you filling our lives with lots of love, energy, entertainment, and chaos. We love you, Astrid!

***

Today, just as every Thursday, is Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop. This time around we are of course endlessly grateful for our birthday pup Astrid. We are thankful for each and every birthday we are blessed to celebrate.

***

We did not forget that tomorrow is the day of the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. So, here are the fill-in statements. Ellen of 15andmeowing crafted up the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I am trying to _________.

2. I always _________ when _________.

3. _________ has my seal of approval.

4. I would not recommend _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!


P.S. Our weekly poem for Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge will be shared in tomorrow's post, for anyone who might be looking for it or would like to read it.

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip in our cat health series is plain and simple. We're here to remind you to make sure that your cat has easy access to fresh water at all times. Water intake is of course crucial to a kitty's health, as it is important for proper functioning of not only organs such as the kidneys, but all systems of the body. So, make sure that your cat has water readily available. Some considerations to make include ensuring that your kitty has water accessible in areas where they are comfortable drinking, such as somewhere that is not too heavy with foot traffic, yet also somewhere that they frequent often. You can of course also offer water bowls in multiple areas of the house, something that is often especially important in multi-cat households.

Also make sure that your kitty's water is in a bowl or other drinking vessel that they like. Some cats prefer typical bowls, some cats only want bowls with especially low sides, and some cats might even show a preference for drinking water out of cups or another container with high sides. Also, of course, freshen up that water as often as possible or as needed. Cats can be picky creatures, and some cats might refuse to drink water that is not fresh. In addition, fresh water is also simply healthier overall. To help ensure that water remains as fresh as possible, you could use a water fountain for your kitty. All in all, especially given how important it is for all bodily functions, make sure to give special attention to your kitty's water bowl.