Thimble Thursday

Hello, friends! Because of the wild way this week has gone, we were technically going to take one extra day off from blogging today. We're kind of still doing that, sort of, since it's tomorrow that we'll finally get back to sharing the bulk of the fun stuff. But, we did want to pop in today to say hello and to share the Friendly Fill-In statements. Since it's Thursday, it's of course Thimble who's here to greet you all.

My apologies if Thimble looks a little perturbed. That's my fault. I woke her up from her nap to snap this photo. Talk about rude.

And now we'll share the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. A week without _________ would be nice.

2. A week without _________ would be impossible.

3. I didn't plan to _________, but I'm glad I did.

4. I once _________ and lived to regret it.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends! We'll be here then with not only with the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, but also with our weekly poem and all that fun stuff. Eddy even recently cooperated for a photo shoot, or at least she mostly did, and so get excited to see a non-blurry photo of her tomorrow!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

February is not only Spay/Neuter Awareness Month and Pet Dental Health Care Month, but also National Cat Health Month. We've already given tips on the first two, so now we're of course moving on to some tips for keeping those kitties healthy. Our first such tip is to take your cat to the veterinarian for a checkup on an annual basis at the least. In general, a health check is recommended at least every 6 to 12 months. More regular vet visits are of course recommended for any cats with known illnesses, such as kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and cancer, among others.

Visits with the veterinarian do not always just simply mean a quick exam, though. Depending on your furbaby's health, lifestyle, and any other important factors, you will of course have to take into consideration vaccinations, blood work, urinalyses, fecal exams, and so forth. Your veterinarian will be able to discuss and offer recommendations on how and when to proceed with these. For example, discuss with your veterinarian your cat's risk for certain illnesses, and discuss any related vaccinations. When it comes to blood work and urinalyses, these are often recommended at least yearly for seniors cats, such as those who have reached 7 or so years of age. This could allow for early detection of certain diseases. More frequent blood work is of course recommended for those with known kidney disease, diabetes, and a variety of other diseases.

The long and short of this tip is that your cat should be seen by a veterinarian at least once a year, or more frequently if needed. A veterinarian's exam, as well as blood work and other tests, can help reveal any issues that might be arising, whether or not your kitty is showing any signs of illness. Cats are professionals at hiding disease, so exams and tests could, quite literally, be lifesavers.

In addition to making sure your kitty is examined by a veterinarian at least once a year, also remember to be diligent of your kitty's health in between vet visits. You know your kitty best, and you spend lots of time by his or her side. So, be sure to do frequent observations and checks of their actions, behaviors, and overall health and happiness. For example, keep an eye on how much your kitty is eating and drinking, and make note of any changes in their food or water intake. In addition, check that litter box and take note of any changes there, such as the amount of urine or feces, or even the odor. Or, has your kitty become less active, or more active? What about the way they walk? Are they walking abnormally, such as favoring a foot? Do they still jump as often and as well as they used to? What about their vocalizations? Is your kitty more vocal than he or she used to be? Less vocal? Has the sound of their voice changed? Is your kitty hiding more often? Has he or she become more aggressive, or less tolerant of being petted or held? These are all just examples of things that you, as your kitty's companion, should keep an eye on regularly. Any such changes, even subtle ones, could be indicative of disease, injury, or any number of issues. So, be sure to make observations such as these, and report any concerns, no matter how big or how small, to your veterinarian.