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?

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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!

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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.