Thankful Thimble Thursday

For hopefully the last time, it won't be until this weekend that we share our poem for Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge. Things at my workplace should be much calmer and quieter this month, which should mean more time for my fun hobbies, like blogging. This weekend is even a long one thanks to Labor Day, and I can't wait to catch up on some of my favorite things.

Now, we're of course participating in Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

As always, Thimble is here to share some gratitude. What is this tabby girl thankful for today?

Thimble is not only grateful for window views, but also for the fact that it's been feeling just a tiny bit more like autumn lately. It's only 80°F here instead of 90°F, and we'll take it. Anything that inches us closer to autumn makes us happy.

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Last but not least, we have for you the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. _________ is more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

2. One should take time to _________ every day.

3. I hesitate to _________ because _________.

4. Is it time for _________ yet?

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Since we've reached September, we're all excited for autumn and are therefore doing a series of autumnal tips. Since autumn means the beginning of the new school year, yesterday we mentioned keeping school supplies out of your furbaby's reach. Today's tip also relates to those furbabies potentially affected by a new school year starting up. School starting up can mean a new routine, which can include a cat or dog suddenly being home alone more often, or for longer periods of time. For some furbabies, this type of change in their routine can lead to anxiety, which can in turn lead to destructive behavior, increased vocalization, and other behaviors that are out of their ordinary.

There are some potential ways you can help combat a cat or dog's separation anxiety, such as that which might result from the start of a new school year. First, you can try to introduce changes to your furbaby's routine slowly. If you are a teacher or have children with whom your cat or dog is used to playing, then leading up to the school year, transition your furbaby to being home alone by going out of the house more often slowly over time. In addition to this, you can set up interactive toys to help keep them busy when their humans are away. Of course, ensure that any such interactive toys are safe and will not cause any harm to an unattended furbaby. You can also try using diffusers with synthetic pheromones that can potentially help a cat or dog feel calmer. All of the above being said, in some cases, the safest thing might simply be to ensure that your cat or dog is kept secluded in a safe area where they cannot harm themselves, or the house. This might mean keeping them contained to a safe room or a crate of a sufficient size while you are away from home.

What's more, if your cat or dog does display signs of anxiety that do not relent, it is of course wise to discuss this with a veterinarian. First and foremost, it is important to ensure that there is not an underlying medical reason for anxiety in a cat or dog. Once medical issues are ruled out, anxiety in a cat or dog might require medication, which can help calm them or help balance out their mood and behaviors. Anxiety can lead to an unhappy and unhealthy furbaby, so if you notice any signs of anxiety in your cat or dog, do not hesitate to seek advice from a veterinarian, and to implement anti-anxiety techniques to help your furbaby feel happy and healthy.