Toesies Tuesday

Yesterday you got to see Evan attempting to relax on his beloved cube by the back door. He wasn't able to relax all that well, though, because this here human quite rudely shoved a camera in his face. I not only shoved the camera in his face, of course, but I also pointed it at the toesies of his adorably paralyzed back legs.

I love these toesies so much.

Happy Toesies Tuesday to everyone!

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Doodle of the Day

I've been scribbling up some doodles that involve gnomes over the past couple of days. I've of course also been including lots of kitties in these doodles. So, then I decided to meld those two together and therefore doodled up a kitty gnome. I'll admit, I'm not sure how I feel about the outcome.

I can't decide if this gnome cat is cute or a tad bit creepy. I'll let you all be the judge of that.

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Tip of the Day

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

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

So, then, when should you have your cat or dog spayed or neutered? The short answer is to discuss this with your veterinarian. Ultimately, it depends on the individual animal's overall health and development. For typical, healthy kittens and puppies, the AVMA has endorsed spaying and neutering as early as two month of age, and/or when the kitten or puppy has reached two pounds. Many shelters and rescues follow this practice. Some veterinarians will prefer to wait a little longer, such as when the kitten or puppy has reached 3, 4, or even 5 months of age. Essentially, a veterinarian will best be able to determine when is the best time for your furbaby to be safely and effectively spayed or neutered, so of course discuss this with a professional.