A Birthday and the Letter Z

Let's begin with the fact that there's a birthday in this house today. Can you guess whose birthday it is? Can you?

It's Eddy's birthday!

Ignore those 4 candles. This here human is a disgrace of a mom and failed to get new birthday cards doodled up this year, so we're using last year's cards for the furbabies' birthdays. That means Eddy is not 4 today, but is instead 5. 5! Can you believe it? I can't.

Eddy came to me as a 10-week-old kitten with neurological issues that left her tilting to the side and running in circles. She overcame that ailment, though she does still have a head tilt and right-sided facial nerve paralysis. She lets neither of those get her down. She's my active and lively girl. Eddy loves running. Eddy loves playing. Eddy loves fishy treats. Eddy also loves her mommy, and this momma loves her so very much.

Happy birthday, my sweet Eddy!

Eddy is very much so our bit of gratitude for Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop today. I am so grateful for this birthday girl of mine. I don't know what I'd do without her.

We also want to thank you all for being our friends, friends!

***

The last day of April is not only my girl Eddy's birthday, but it's also the last day of the A to Z Challenge.

We all know what the last letter of the alphabet is. It's Z, in case you needed a reminder. Rosie is finishing off the dessert portion of "A Day at Rosie's Restaurant", and what could possibly start with the letter Z and be tasty?

That there is zucchini bread. There's a little cream cheese frosting drizzled on top, as well as cream cheese frosting in a bowl on the side, for a little extra sweetness. This whole concoction was a childhood favorite of mine, and Rosie did me a favor by stirring it up. Feel free to help yourself to a slice or two, or three or four. And feel free to dip it in that cream cheese frosting, because in reality that's the best way to eat it.

***

Now, how about 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. It is important to learn _________.

2. When I was _________, I was obsessed with _________.

3. I feel _________ about _________.

4. My lucky number is _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

P.S. Our weekly poem for Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge will be posted on Sunday. This is the last week we'll be doing it this way. Next week we'll be back to our usual Thursday poems.

***

Tip of the Day

Let's talk about zucchini. Is zucchini safe for our kitties and pups to eat as a treat? It is, if fed in a plain form and in moderation. In the form of zucchini bread, the dessert we shared above, it wouldn't be considered as safe. This is because desserts such as zucchini bread often include added sugar, and might possibly contain toxic ingredients such as chocolate or raisins. That's not to say there aren't pet-friendly variations of foods like zucchini bread. Yesterday we talked about making birthday cakes or other goodies for furbabies using safe ingredients, and there are indeed pet-friendly cake recipes using zucchini. If your kitty or pup enjoys zucchini and if you're hoping to make them a little treat in the form of a safe birthday cake or cupcakes, using zucchini as a base might be an option.

The above being said, even when it comes to foods that are safe for cats and dogs, treats should still only be fed in moderation. It's generally recommended that treats only make up 10% of a cat or dog's daily caloric intake. So, for a cat or small dog who only requires 200 calories per day, only about 20 calories should be given in the form of treats.

Y is for...

We've reached the penultimate day of the April A to Z Challenge.

It wasn't too difficult to pick a dessert for Rosie to whip up for the letter Y. After all, today's sugary sweet for our theme of "A Day at Rosie's Restaurant" is one of this here human's favorites. It's a basic one, but also a classic one.

Yellow layer cake, anyone? And of course it's lathered in chocolate frosting. Oh, and this sugary feast would not be complete without a glass of milk on the side, so Rosie of course readied that as well. Do any of the other humans out there enjoy yellow cake, perhaps with chocolate on top? If not, what is your favorite way to enjoy cake?

***

It's Wednesday, and Wednesday is usually pup Astrid's turn to star on our blog. Today, this pup didn't want anyone to forget how much she enjoys pouting gazing out the window. So, here you go.

We hope all of you are enjoying lots of sunshine!

***

Tip of the Day

Most of you probably know that the cakes us humans enjoy are not all that healthy for our furbabies. There's lots of excess sugar and often chocolate involved in our cakes, and that's just naming two ingredients that are best not given to our kitties and pups. That's not to say, though, that you can't make or even buy a pet-friendly cake for you furbaby to enjoy, especially for special occasions such as birthdays. There are plenty of recipes online for pet-friendly cakes or other treats, and there are even places that make these goodies for cats and dogs. This is of course best done in moderation, such as with cakey treats reasonably proportionate to an individual furbaby's size. In addition, it's also important to make sure none of the ingredients are toxic or otherwise dangerous to your furbaby.

As a starting point, ingredients that can be used to bring together a cake for a kitty or pup include banana, pumpkin (plain pureed pumpkin), yogurt (unsweetened, plain yogurt is ideal), peanut butter (make sure xylitol is not an ingredient), and applesauce (unsweetened is ideal). Obviously, do not throw into the mix any ingredients that pose any risks. Also be aware of the usage of ingredients that may not be intrinsically toxic but that can still make an unhealthy contribution, such as added sugar, salt, and excess fat. More so, keep in mind your kitty or pup's individual response to certain foods. For example, if they are lactose intolerant and do not respond well to dairy foods like yogurt, then refrain from using such ingredients.

One last comment we'll make is one we've mentioned in past tips. Obviously, chocolate is toxic to our furbabies, so it should not be used in any food you prepare for your kitty or pup. If you are looking for a safe alternative, though, then perhaps consider using some carob. Carob is a chocolate-like ingredient, but without the toxic component that actual chocolate contains. So, even if you're simply into the chocolate aesthetic and are looking to decorate a furbaby's birthday cake with such an icing, then you can consider using a bit of carob to your advantage.

X is for...

There are only three letters left for the A to Z Challenge.

Today's letter is X. It certainly wasn't easy to find a dessert starting with X for Rosie to make for our "A Day at Rosie's Restaurant" theme. Finally, though, we found one.

That there is meant to be xuixo. This is a cream-filled pastry that originated in Spain. Though not very a common dessert, Rosie hopes you all enjoy it!

***

I tried for half a second to figure out a way to make the letter X work for a cute kitty photo today. Then I figured, who am I kidding? It's the letter X and I'm not going to be linking that up to anything in my feline photo collection. So, how about we just go for some window whiffies?

Thimble was enjoying the view by herself. That is, until her calico sister joined her.

The almighty Google even created an animated version of some of the photos. See?

We've been enjoying lots of beautiful spring days lately. This week it's supposed to rain more than we'd like, but we'll just keep looking forward to the next time we see the sun. The kitties will surely be ready for their window time again after all the rain stops.

Happy Tuesday!

***

Tip of the Day

Today's A to Z Challenge dessert known as xuixo is filled with cream, and in some variations this cream is given a vanilla flavor. This led us to the decision to have a quick discussion on vanilla extract, or even other similar extracts. Is it safe if your kitty or pup steal a taste of vanilla extract? The simple answer is no. While a tiny amount of vanilla extract may not do a whole lot of damage, a larger amount of it can lead to alcohol poisoning. This is because alcohol is found in many types of vanilla extract, which is usually something like 35% alcohol. The primary reason alcohol is in vanilla extract is because alcohol is used to extract the vanilla flavor from the vanilla bean. As we've discussed before, alcohol in and of itself is toxic to cats and dogs. The ingestion of alcohol can lead a cat or dog to display symptoms such as lethargy, lack of coordination, vomiting, respiratory distress, or worse. So, obviously, do not give your cat or dog a taste of vanilla extract or any alcohol product. If you spill any, clean it up immediately. And certainly don't leave it sitting out anywhere your kitty or pup could reach it.

W is for...

It's the last week of April, which means it's the last week of the A to Z Challenge.

Today is all about the letter W. Rosie is still sharing desserts for our theme of "A Day at Rosie's Restaurant". So, what dessert is there to enjoy for the letter W?

How about some waffle ice cream sandwiches? Rosie has prepared some of these sweet sandwiches with vanilla ice cream, chocolate ice cream, and strawberry ice cream. If you have any other flavor requests, just let Rosie know. Rosie isn't biased against any ice cream flavors, so the options at her restaurant are endless.

***

Do you know what else W stands for?

Window whiffies! It's finally spring here. Well, at least on most days it is. That means Evan and his furry siblings get to enjoy some window time. Are you friends of ours getting to enjoy window whiffies? We sure hope so!

Happy Monday!

***

Tip of the Day

We've mentioned lactose intolerance in cats and dogs before, but we'll go just a tad bit more in depth today. Not all furbabies are intolerant to dairy, but some indeed are. This is because, just as in some humans, some cats and dogs lack sufficient lactase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down lactose, the sugar found in dairy. If a lactose intolerant kitty or pup consumes dairy, they may display symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting.

Especially if giving dairy to a kitty or pup for the first time, don't offer much, and keep an eye on your furbaby for a few hours to monitor if gastrointestinal issues arise. Obviously, if there is any vomiting or diarrhea, do not give any more dairy. On the other hand, if no symptoms arise within 12 hours or so, that particular furbaby may not be lactose intolerant. It also might be worth noting that certain forms of dairy contain less lactose and therefore have less likelihood of causing symptoms of lactose intolerance. Forms of dairy low in lactose include hard cheeses, yogurt, and other cultured dairy products. All in all, though, if your kitty or pup is lactose intolerant, simply avoid feeding diary in order to prevent unnecessary gastrointestinal symptoms. Even if your furbaby is not lactose intolerant, it's still wise to feed human foods only in moderation, or not at all.

An Upside Down Selfie and a Rhyme

You know who doesn't get to share selfies very often?

Eddy! Active girl Eddy rarely sits still long enough to snap a selfie. Recently, though, this usually blurry girl agreed to snap a selfie while snoozing on this here human's lap. She's sort of upside down and not in the most orthodox pose, but my completely unbiased opinion is that she's completely adorable nonetheless.

Of course, Eddy is entering her selfie into the Sunday Selfies Blog Hop, hosted by the Kitties Blue over at The Cat on My Head.

***

Since we've been participating in the April A to Z Challenge every weekday except Sunday, we've been using this day to share our usual Thursday poems. This change in schedule will be coming to an end soon, but not yet. That means we indeed have a poem for you all today.

We always enjoy participating in Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge. We also appreciate that our host always shares a photo prompt to guide us, like this one here:

This image seems both mesmerizing and haunting to me. That's a lot of identical mansions. I certainly did use this image as inspiration, though I did take some liberties. Sometimes I have a distinct explanation for why I wrote the poem that I did, but I don't have that this time around. For this one, I just sort of started writing and let the poem go wherever it wanted to go. Below was the result of that:

The Same

Every house on Lindy Lane looked exactly the same.

In truth, that made the residents feel the most sane.

They wanted nothing more than complete and total normalcy.

Anything else would bring about sure insanity.

New neighbors always made the residents of Lindy Lane nervous.

After all, what if a newcomer brought with them a disservice?

Lindy Lane residents wished for their street to remain free of change,

And they worried a newcomer would not want the same.

Then, one day, the nightmare came.

A newcomer showed up at the vacant house on Lindy Lane.

This new neighbor was a bright and lively young woman,

And the usual residents were not happy about this for even one moment.

The problem was that this new woman was not like them.

From somewhere else completely she must have stemmed.

After all, the woman had purple hair!

Did she have no shame or a single care?

Surely not, if dying her hair purple was something she dared.

This new neighbor also had a big orange tabby cat,

Which happened to sit upon her head like a weird hat.

Who was this woman, and why was she here?

Was she going to ruin the Lindy Lane the residents held so dear?

The folks on Lindy Lane soon realized this was indeed the case.

In just one day, all their work towards normalcy this new neighbor began to erase.

Roofs and shutters of grey were the norm on Lindy Lane,

And all siding and porches were white, perfect, and the same.

The new woman on the street, though, she changed all that.

She went out to her yard one day, along with her orange cat.

She placed on the ground buckets and buckets of paint.

The residents of Lindy Lane thought they just might faint.

By the end of that day, her house was no longer white.

Against the normalcy of Lindy Lane this new neighbor did fight.

Her house was now purple, much like her hair.

Painting her door turquoise was another thing she dared.

More than one neighbor was about to go tell this woman off.

Then, though, she exited her house with a plate of cookies as big as a trough.

With that great big plate of cookies in her hands,

The new neighbor went to every door and introduced herself as Jan.

She offered cookies to every single soul on Lindy Lane.

Accompanying her was her big orange cat, who was introduced as Twain.

The residents of Lindy Lane could not deny that Jan's cookies were delicious.

But that wasn't the only thing that made the new neighbor less suspicious.

Jan began to prove herself someone who truly did care,

Despite her purple house and equally purple hair.

On her second day on Lindy Lane, Jan helped old Mr. Frost with his lawn.

She didn't even meet his endless tales with frowns or yawns.

Jan also offered to make a trip to the grocery store for old Miss Cross,

And she returned with everything on the list and with nothing lost.

Jan had offered nearly every neighbor help by the end of her first week.

She and her tabby Twain even took care of the furry family of those in need,

Making them friends to neighbors both human and furry, indeed.

In truth, as a nuisance on Lindy Lane Jan was no longer seen.

The residents of Lindy Lane realized their initial judgments had been quite mean.

They now knew that expecting everyone to be the same was absolutely obscene.

Well wishes to all!

***

Tip of the Day

Our tip today is based off of one small aspect of our poem today, and that is hair dye. To begin, it's perhaps obvious that it's not recommended to dye your cat or dog's fur. There are dyes that are actually pet-safe, but even in that case you have to consider whether your kitty or pup will tolerate or enjoy having their hair dyed. All of that being said, what about human hair dye? Is that safe for our furbabies? The answer is no. Though different hair dyes can contain different chemicals or other ingredients, in general, these types of products can be harmful to cats and dogs. Even hair dyes deemed to be more natural have been found potentially toxic to furbabies. Ingestion of or contact with human hair dye could lead to a cat or dog displaying symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, burns or redness on the skin or in the mouth, loss of appetite, and lethargy, just to name a few. For these reasons, if you use hair dye at your home, keep it well out of the reach of your furbaby. In addition, if you have freshly dyed your hair, try to keep your furbaby from coming into close contact with your hair. As always, it's better to be safe than sorry.

V is for...

We're in the final days so of the April A to Z Challenge.

"A Day at Rosie's Restaurant" may be nearing its end, but it's not there quite yet. After all, today is only the letter V. And what dessert does Rosie have to offer for this letter?

Vanilla cream pie, anyone? It's a nice and cozy moonlit night, and there's plenty of pie and milk to go around. So, eat up!

Happy Caturday to all!

***

Tip of the Day

We've given a ton of tips this month on foods and how they might affect our furbabies. We've already mentioned to refrain from feeding your cats and dogs food with too much sugar. We've also mentioned being careful feeding your kitties or pups dairy, as some furbabies are truly lactose intolerant. These aforementioned tips can indeed relate to the food Rosie had to share for today's installment of the A to Z Challenge.

The ingredients themselves, however, are not the only reason why you should refrain from feeding foods like vanilla cream pie to your kitty or pup. Another aspect to consider is simply the calories. Most of our furbabies are significantly smaller than us, and that means they require significantly less calories than we do. For example, an average cat only requires roughly 200 to 300 calories per day. Dogs obviously vary in size more than cats do, and so their caloric needs will also vary. As a very basic idea, small dogs require roughly 30 calories per pound of body weight, medium dogs require  roughly 25 calories per pound, and large dogs require more like 20 calories per pound of body weight. These numbers will just give you a rough idea, though. After all, an individual animal's caloric needs can also vary based on age, activity level, health status, genetics, and so on and so forth.

The important thing to remember is that feeding too many table scraps not only poses risks of toxicity, but it also risks weight gain for our furbabies. Obesity is indeed a concern in any furbaby, so to help avoid this, reduce or completely avoid feeding table scraps. We'll also of course note that, as we're sure you're all aware, it's best to contact a veterinarian with any concerns you have regarding your furbaby's diet and weight.

Friendly Fill-Ins, Photo Fails, and the Letter U

We made it to Friday! Isn't that all shades of wonderful? It is indeed, because Friday means the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. 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. If I couldn't live in my country, I would live in _________.

2. I wish I had kept _________ from my childhood.

3. I would choose _________ over _________.

4. _________ doesn't matter in the long run.

My answers are below in bold.

1. If I couldn't live in my country, I would live in Canada.
(I live in the United States, but I have a fondness for my upstairs neighbor that is Canada. If I'm being specific, I'd love to live on Prince Edward Island. I'm a huge fan of Anne of Green Gables, the stories by L.M. Montgomery, and they take place on Prince Edward Island. Shows and movies inspired by Anne of Green Gables often film there, and it looks gorgeous.)

2. I wish I had kept my drawings from my childhood.
(I do have some of the wacky drawings I created as a child, but nowhere near all of them. I remember drawing tons of cats and dogs in every notebook and on every piece of scrap paper I could find as a kid. I'd love to see all those wild drawings to compare them to the doodles I scribble up these days. I'm sure I'd be laughing hysterically at my childhood artistic style.)

3. I would choose staying home with my furbabies over going out.
(I'm pretty sure I've made this sort of answer work for a variety of fill-ins over the past couple of years. Probably because it's completely true. There's really nowhere I'd rather be than at home with my kitties and pup.)

4. A person's collection of worldly possessions doesn't matter in the long run.
(In reality, a person's house, car, clothes, and any random item you can think of won't matter at the very end. Perhaps this is a pessimistic or morbid thought, but this is what I've come to see as true. I meet people who fret over a tiny scratch on their otherwise fully functioning car, and all I can think is, does that really matter in the long run? Aren't there more important things to concern your time and mind with? It's not a house, car, clothes, or any physical possessions that will matter most in a person's final days. That sounds like such a dark and depressing sentiment, and I apologize for 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.

***

What's next? How about the A to Z Challenge?

Going along with the theme of "A Day at Rosie's Restaurant", Rosie has finally reached her dessert menu. What sweet treat did Rosie whip up to go with the letter U?

How about an upside down cake? In particular, Rosie baked you all a pineapple upside down cake. Help yourself!

***

There's even more fun to be had 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.

As I've said before, I'm really glad bloopers are a Friday sort of thing. This is because Friday is my girl Eddy's day on our blog. Eddy is also our blooper queen, and so that's a perfect combo.

Today's bloopers are brought to you by Eddy and a new friend of hers. This friend is a little someone she'll formally introduce to you on another day. For now, though, enjoy some bloopers with Eddy and her pointy-hatted pal.

Wishing you all a fun and fantastic Friday!

***

Tip of the Day

Obviously, it's best to refrain from feeding your kitty or pup cake. After all, it's bound to be filled with excess sugar and all that jazz. What about plain pineapple, though? Can your furbaby have a taste of this sweet fruit? In moderation, pineapple can offer health benefits for a cat or dog. Pineapple contains a variety of nutrients, vitamin C being just one of those many nutrients.

The above being said, though, there's a reason that moderation is important if feeding pineapple to your kitty or pup. First, pineapple contains a great deal of sugar. This sugar is indeed natural, but it's still sugar, and our kitties and pups only need so much of that. Along these lines, be sure to refrain from feeding your furbaby pineapple, or any fruit, that comes stored in sugary syrup. That added sugar is far more than a cat or dog needs, so stick with feeding fresh fruit to your furbaby.

One more note to make is that pineapple is high in fiber. If you feed this fruit to your kitty or pup, keep an eye out for any diarrhea they might experience. In some kitties or pups, fruits like pineapple simply might not be a good idea for this sort of reason.

T is for...

Who's ready for some more alphabetical fun?

Today's letter for the A to Z Challenge is T, and Rosie is still in charge here. After all, it's all about "A Day at Rosie's Restaurant" this month on our blog. Tomorrow Rosie is moving on to her dessert menu, and so today is the last main course meal. She wanted to make something that she thought a lot of her friends out there might enjoy. And what might that be?

How about some tuna melts? This here human loves tuna melts. Though they certainly aren't the most aesthetic food, Rosie hopes you all still enjoy some cheesy tuna on toast!

***

Today, Thimble is glad the letter of the day is T. After all, her name is Thimble with a T! You know what else goes with T? Tummy rubs!

As we've said before, Thimble loves her a good ol' tummy rub. She'll roll that belly up for pretty much anyone. Who out there wants to rub Thimble's tummy? She'd be more than happy to let you do so.

On this Thankful Thursday, we're also incredibly grateful for this wonderful community of blogging friends!

***

Last but not least, how about we share the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge? Ellen of 15andmeowing crafted up the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. If I couldn't live in my country, I would live in _________.

2. I wish I had kept _________ from my childhood.

3. I would choose _________ over _________.

4. _________ doesn't matter in the long run.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

P.S. For our usual Thoroughly Poetic Thursday poem, visit us on Sunday. Come May, after the A to Z Challenge is complete, our poems will return to their usual Thursday programming.

***

Tip of the Day

It's an age-old idea that cats love tuna. In fact, that's probably a true statement for many cats. That being said, though, is tuna safe for our furbabies? If fed in small amounts, tuna can be a relatively safe treat. Again, though, this is only the case if it's fed in small amounts. Too much tuna can be less than healthy for our furbabies, both cats and dogs.

Let's start by saying that tuna on its own cannot provide proper nutrition for our furbabies. It lacks certain essential nutrients, just one such nutrient being the amino acid taurine. Unlike dogs and humans, cats cannot manufacture taurine themselves, and so they require it in their diet. The aforementioned reasons are why pet foods that are tuna flavored have to include added ingredients to make them nutritionally balanced for our furbabies.

In addition to the above, consuming too much tuna could mean a cat or dog is consuming too much fat, mercury, or salt. Tuna contains fats that can be healthy, but cats and dogs can easily overeat fats when eating foods that are high in fats. Going along with this, when you feed your kitty or pup a taste of tuna from a can, stick to canned tuna in water rather than tuna in oil. Also keep in mind the salt content of tuna. Cats and most dogs are smaller than humans and so should not ingest anywhere near as much salt as humans, so keep an eye on that sodium content when feeding them any human foods, including tuna. There's also the concern for mercury, as tuna is likely to contain more mercury than other fish. Ingesting large amounts of tuna could therefore possibly lead to mercury poisoning.

We'll also yet again note that, if you are preparing tuna with garlic, onion, or any ingredients dangerous to cats and dogs, of course refrain from giving them a taste. We've said this over and over again, but we figured why not say it again. There's nothing like being a broken record. If you want to give your kitty or pup a small tuna treat, stick to giving tuna that is plain and therefore safe.

S is for...

It's still April, which of course means we're still working our way through the A to Z Challenge.

Today's letter is S. For her "A Day at Rosie's Restaurant" theme, Rosie stirred up something classic.

Spaghetti and meatballs, anyone? Rosie even has some tomato sauce and meatballs on the side. Do you want to know why? Because when this here human was growing up, everyone in the house liked their spaghetti prepared and assembled in different ways, so there was always sauce and meatballs on the side to accommodate this. Rosie decided to do the same for all of you, in case you like your spaghetti a certain way. Eat up!

***

What else does S stand for? Smiles, obviously!

Happy Wednesday, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

We've discussed a number of Italian inspired dishes this month. Many of these dishes include tomato sauce, and we've touched on hidden, hazardous ingredients such as garlic, onion, and salt. What we haven't strictly mentioned, though, are tomatoes. Are tomatoes safe for kitties and pups? The answer could be either yes or no. Ripe tomatoes are generally non-toxic to cats and dogs. The green parts of the tomato plant, though, can contain a compound known as solanine. This includes unripe, green tomatoes. When ingested in small amounts, solanine is not likely to be toxic. If ingested in large amounts, though, toxicity could result in issues such as vomiting, diarrhea, cardiac disturbance, and lethargy. Since solanine is largely in the green parts of the tomato plant, including in the unripe tomato fruit itself, ensure your kitty or pup does not have easy access to unripe tomatoes or the leaves and stems. If you have a tomato garden, do your best to block your cat or dog's access to it. In addition, it's worth it to mention that tomatoes are also a slightly acidic food, and while that doesn't make them toxic, the acidity could potentially cause issues for some cats and dogs, such as upset stomach. All in all, generally speaking, tomatoes are not terribly likely to harm a cat dog, but to avoid any potential for danger, limit or avoid feeding them to your furbaby.

R is for...

Today seems like an R sort of day. Well, at least it does for the A to Z Challenge.

Most of you are probably tired of being reminded what our theme is. So why not remind you again? Our alphabetical theme is "A Day at Rosie's Restaurant", and for today Rosie has obviously prepared an R sort of food. Can you guess what this meal of the day is?

That there is ratatouille. Rosie prepared this French stew, with French bread on the side, for anyone who might like a bowl or two. Help yourself!

***

Our housemate Toby reminded me that he hasn't gotten to star in a post lately. I tried to snap some decent photos of him, but he didn't do a lot to help me catch a shot of him in great lighting. So, what you get today are some photos of Toby in less than ideal lighting.

At least Toby showed off his impressive whiskers for you.

Do you see Toby's dismal whiskers above his eyes, though? This boy is constantly breaking and losing those whiskers. His cheek whiskers are all shades of majestic, and then the ones above his eyes are just sad sometimes. Does this happen to any of our furry friends out there?

Happy Tuesday!

***

Tip of the Day

Today's tip is going to start with a comment that is probably silly and petty, but that I thought I'd mention just for the heck of it. My desire to comment on this came about when I was researching ratatouille. Ratatouille is considered a vegetable stew, but in reality, the majority of its common ingredients are technically fruits. In case anyone is curious about fruits versus vegetables, a very basic way of looking at the difference is that fruits have seeds while vegetables do not. Ratatouille most often contains zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, and bell peppers. All of these have seeds, and all of these are technically fruits. I guess fruit stew doesn't sound as good as vegetable stew, though, and so ratatouille is referred to as a vegetable stew.

All of the above being said, we're going to piggyback off of ratatouille and give some examples of fruits and veggies that can be healthy for kitties and pups. Some cat sand dogs love foods in the fruit and veggie categories, and others don't. If your kitty or pup does enjoy these types of foods, obviously only offer them ones that are safe, healthy, and provide nutritional benefits. When it comes to fruit, perhaps offer your furbaby a taste of banana, blueberry, strawberry, or pumpkin (yes, pumpkin is a fruit). When it comes to vegetables, you can let them enjoy a snack of carrots, celery, spinach, or green beans. There are plenty of other fruits and veggies that can make for safe treats for a kitty or pup, but of course always do your research to make sure of the safety of a food. For example, cherries are a fruit and might seem innocent, but their pits, stems, and leaves can be deadly to cats and dogs due to none other than cyanide. Another toxic fruit are grapes. What's more, make sure that even safe foods you give your kitty or pup are prepared in a healthy way, without any dangerous ingredients added. And, last but not least, of course also only offer human foods to your furbabies as a small treat.

Q is for...

We're well into the last half of the alphabet for the A to Z Challenge.

Today's letter is Q. In her theme of "A Day at Rosie's Restaurant", Rosie went for a classic Mexican dish.

Who would like a quesadilla? Rosie has all the ingredients ready for this cheesy dish. How would you like yours? With chicken? With steak? With extra cheese? Double extra cheese?

***

Though it may be a stretch, we have another Q for today. This Q is quiet time with Evan.

That there is Evan using a teddy bear's foot as a pillow. The lighting is certainly not phenomenal, but I just love how adorably Evan fell asleep on the stuffed bear.

This mancat of mine can be such a cuddle bug, and I love it.

Happy Monday to all!

***

Tip of the Day

Our tip today relates to aforementioned quesadillas, even if just vaguely. Traditionally, quesadillas are made using corn tortillas. In the United States and certain regions of Mexico, though, wheat flour tortillas are more commonly used. On that topic, are corn and flour safe grains for dogs and cats to consume? In and of themselves, corn and wheat are not toxic to animals. Both can even be found in certain pet foods and treats, and they can be sources of energy in the form of carbohydrates. That's of course not to say that an entire dish of corn or that a mound of flour should be fed to our kitties or pups, though.

The above being said, can cats and dogs be allergic to corn and wheat flour? Let's begin by saying that studies have found that dogs and cats are more likely to be allergic to meats than to grains. It is still possible, though, for our furbabies to be allergic to grains like corn and wheat. When it comes to food allergies, symptoms include itching, scratching, skin rashes, skin lesions, hair loss, and ear infections. Gastrointestinal symptoms are not as common in food allergies as dermatological symptoms, but certain furbabies can indeed display symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea as a result of certain food allergies or food intolerances. If you see any such symptoms or suspect food allergies in your kitty or pup, of course contact a veterinarian for the proper testing, diagnosis, and treatment. And if you know your kitty or pup is allergic to a certain food, of course avoid feeding them that food in the form of both pet food and human food.