Toesies on Tonks Tuesday

I spent part of my weekend prepping some posts for June, but apparently I forgot to get a post ready for this last day of May. Woops. Well, here it is now! And in this post, we have for you some toe beans.

Tonks hopes seeing her cute little toesies makes your day a good one!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback is just a little something I scribbled up for one of our weekly poems a couple of years ago.

***

Tip of the Day

A couple of days ago we shared a tip about taking safety precautions when traveling with your pup or kitty to a beach or other watery locale. To add to this tip, also take precautions to keep your furbaby safe if you have a swimming pool in your own yard, or if they visit somewhere that has a pool. Not all animals are keen on or even good at swimming. This may simply be due to their swimming skill level, but can also be affected by their age, such as being very young or very old, whether they have certain special needs, or if they are sickly in any variety of ways. So, if you have, plan to install, or visit a place with a swimming pool, make sure to keep a close eye on your furbaby near this water. If need be, block a cat or dog's access to the pool, such as by keeping the pool behind a gate, securely covering it, or using another safety measure to keep your kitty or pup out of danger.

Memorial Day Remembrance

After an unintentional hiatus yesterday, we're back today. More importantly, in the United States, today is Memorial Day. On this day, we remember those who have lost their lives while serving in the armed forces. Today, we thank and honor all those who have died for our freedom.

To all those who have fought to keep us safe and free, thank you for your bravery, service, and sacrifice.

To our friends in the US as well as those outside of the US, we wish you a safe, happy, and healthy Monday!

***

Did you know?

Today, we're sharing the same little tidbit we shared on Memorial Day last year. We've all certainly heard of and respect the many amazing canine war heroes. Did you know, though, that cats, dolphins, and sea lions, among others, have also played roles in war? Cats have been sought out to serve as mousers and ratters, for example, keeping bases and ships sanitary and safe from rodents. Dolphins have served roles such as detecting underwater mines. The sea lion is another underwater animal who has been trained to serve in the armed forces, such as to detect enemy divers, and even to attach tracking devices to these enemy divers. Animals are heroes in more ways than one, and that includes a great many of them earning the title of war hero.

Not So Neighborly Caturday Art

Hello, friends! Today is a late and quick post, simply because yesterday there was a malfunction of a critical appliance at the lab where I work, and so I ended up working an extra long day to sort all of that out. That said, here in the US, this is a 3-day weekend. I am beyond excited. I'll be using the time to do a couple of outdoor chores, but even more so to catch up on my hobbies, like art and blogging. Now, for today, here's a quick little doodle that, some days (as in, most days), I relate to so much.

Happy Caturday, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

If your furbaby enjoys traveling and you plan on visiting a beach or other watery locale with them these warm days, be sure to take any and all safety precautions necessary. As you all certainly know, keep a close eye on your pup or kitty, and keep dogs and cats who might like to run on leashes. If your furbaby will be directly on water or at any risk of potentially falling into water, such as if they are on a boat, do consider putting a flotation device on them. They do indeed make life vests for cats and dogs. Some animals are naturally calm, don't wander, and may give you little to no reason to worry when at a beach or anywhere else near water. Other animals might be the exact opposite. In either case, take precautions as needed when your furbaby is near water.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Photo Fails

Hello and happy Friday, friends! It's time for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.

1. I wouldn't mind being stuck in an elevator with _________.

2. Now that the formula shortage is fixed, I wish something could be done about the _________ shortage.

3. If I had to sum up my life in one sentence, it would read as follows: _________: 

4. _________ is an awkward situation in which I once found myself.

My answers are below in bold.

1. I wouldn't mind being stuck in an elevator with a furry friend.

(This is perhaps a weird answer for this one, but it's the most honest one I could think of. It would be awkward being stuck in an elevator with strangers. And in a situation like being stuck in a stuffy box suspended by some cords, even if I were with immediate family or anyone else I know well, we'd probably just end up annoyed with one another. So, who better to keep you company in a situation like that than a cute kitty or pup?)

2. Now that the formula shortage is fixed, I wish something could be done about the cat food shortage.

(My kitties are not impressed with the dismal options. They're going to eat me alive.)

3. If I had to sum up my life in one sentence, it would read as follows: I came, I saw, and I left early to go home and be with my cats.

(I've seen joking quotes like this online before. But, as an introverted homebody who loves her furbabies, this sort sentiment really does ring true. Whether it's school, work, or really any social gathering that I probably didn't really want to be at, it's my preference to get in, get out, and go home as soon as possible. If I have the option, I'll just stay home rather than even go in the first place. After all, home is indeed where my kitties and pup are.)

4. Finding myself in the middle of a screaming match between two people I didn't know was an awkward situation in which I once found myself.

(I know I've been in plenty of awkward situations, many of which I've been at the center of the situation, but I must block them out of my mind sometimes, because I couldn't think of a really good one for this. But, I did remember this situation, which actually happened really recently. A few weeks ago, I arrived at my church, and right outside were a man and woman yelling at each other. They were very clearly in the middle of a nasty breakup, and they were standing in a way that a person trying to get to the church had to pretty much walk between them. They were screaming all sorts of colorful obscenities, accusing each other for all sorts wild things, and the man was holding a paper bag filled with his belongings. It was quite a scene to behold. The quarreling couple didn't seem to feel awkward by having a screaming match in the middle of the road, but it certainly made me feel awkward as I tried to nonchalantly walk past them.)

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.

***

And now it's time for the Pet Photo Fails Blog Hop, hosted by none other than Melissa and Mudpie of Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries, & Meows.

Our resident blooper queen Eddy of course has some outtakes to share. These were during a recent photo shoot, in which I tried to use Eddy's attention on the window to get decent photos of her. Even so, most of the photos look a little something like this.

As if blurry wasn't good enough, Eddy next decided to straight up block her face from the camera's view.

Happy Friday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

For the illustration of yesterday's poem, I actually used a flashback doodle from last year. If you didn't see it, it involved a kitty who decided to not be upset by whether or not her, well, butt looked big. Makes sense, right? Well, I had one more doodle I scribbled up to go with that one, this time with a kitty who wasn't so pleased. So, I figured I'd share that one today.

***

Tip of the Day

Today's random little tidbit of a tip is to keep your cat or dog's nose in mind when using scented items in the home. Cats and dogs both have a far better sense of smell than us humans. This is why some smells, such as citrus, often cause a cat or dog to turn and skedaddle in the other direction. Scents like citrus are already smell strong, but it's even stronger for a cat or dog's nose. This said, keep this in mind when selecting scents for detergents, candles, and other household items. Not only is it important that you are aware of these items because they can be dangerous to our furbabies for various reasons, but it's also important to remember that a cat or dog's sensitive nose might be offended by certain fragrance options of these kinds of items. For example, if you wash your kitty or pup's favorite bed with a citrus-scented or other pungent detergent, there is the chance that they might not want to sleep on it simply due to its strong scent. And if citrus or another especially strong scent fills a certain room, such as due to a candle or spray, a cat or dog might avoid that room in order to be away from that smell. Some cats and dogs of course will not care or will simply get used to some scents, even strong ones, but still do keep in mind your cat or dog's powerful nose when buying scented items.

Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

Hello and happy Thursday, friends! We're finally back to participating in Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge

As always, our poetic host shared a photo prompt to help guide our endeavors. This week's prompt is this image here:

Not only did I take some major liberties with this one, but the end result wasn't exactly what I was hoping for. But, here's the poem I scribbled up nonetheless.

If You've Got It, Flaunt It

Tabby was invited by her friend Kitty to go out on the town,

Something which usually made her do nothing but frown.

This time, though, she reluctantly agreed,

And so now to her closet she went to have a look and see.

"Oh no, what am I going to wear?"

That's what Tabby asked herself as into her closet she stared.
"Is this blouse too boring for a night out?

Do these jeans make my butt look big?" she said aloud.

Tabby tried on this and that and then some more,
Until she almost decided to stay in and go to bed for a snore.

She actually would have done just that,

If her friend Kitty hadn't arrived and struck up a certain chat.

"What are you going to wear?" fancily clad Kitty asked.
Tabby sighed and admitted, "I was afraid you were going to ask that."

"What's wrong with those jeans you have right there?" was Kitty's reply.
"They make my butt look far too big," Tabby answered with a sigh.

Kitty gave a little spat, shook her head, and rolled her eyes.
She said, "That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard, and that's no lie."

"No, really, look," Tabby said as she pulled on the jeans.

Then she added, "Just look at how terribly they fit me. Can't you tell? See?"

"Wear them," Kitty said as she stood and headed toward the door.
After looking at herself in the mirror, Tabby's gaze dropped to the floor.

"You simply have to wear those jeans," Kitty said with a smile on her lips,

Adding, "After all, if you've got it, flaunt it."

Kitty had said it so matter-of-factly,
And then she'd headed outside as if Tabby's only option was to agree.

After another brief glance in the mirror at the sight,

Tabby decided that, in fact, Kitty was quite right.

***

Now, we're of course ready to participate in Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Thimble is of course here to share her gratitude. What's Thimble thankful for today?

Thimble is yet again grateful for a window seat, and for the fact that she's adorable, even when her pitiful photographer cuts off part of her face.

***

Now, how about 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. I wouldn't mind being stuck in an elevator with _________.

2. Now that the formula shortage is fixed, I wish something could be done about the _________ shortage.

3. If I had to sum up my life in one sentence, it would read as follows: _________. 

4. _________ is an awkward situation in which I once found myself.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

Evan is going to our vet's grooming service for another sprucing up of his sanitary shave today, so how about a tip that we've given before, but that relates to that? So, as you all probably know, generally speaking, cats do not need us to give them baths. They are some of the world's most proficient self-groomers, after all. We can certainly help them by brushing or combing them, though, which can remove excess hair that would otherwise be ingested—and then possibly vomited—by them. Combing them can also help stimulate their natural oils, keeping their coat shiny and so on and so forth. When it comes to a healthy cat who grooms him or herself, though, true baths can be not only difficult and dangerous to give, but they can also lead to issues such as dry fur. So, if your kitty is healthy and grooms him or herself, keep your grooming assistance to activities like combing.

The above all being said, there are times when a cat may indeed require a true bath. For example, if you cat has a bad case of external parasites, has somehow gotten incredibly dirty, and certainly if they have gotten anything potentially toxic or otherwise dangerous on them, then you may indeed need to give them a bath, or take them to a grooming facility or veterinary clinic for a bath. A cat with incredibly long fur, geriatric animals, and others with special needs may also need extra care beyond combing when it comes to grooming, so also take this into consideration when it comes to your kitty's grooming necessities. One last example are cats like Sphynxes, who have little to no hair. These kitties can get extra oily skin, since they have no hair to absorb the oils, and so they often do indeed require help bathing to remain clean and free of excess oils.

Woof Woof Wednesday

Today, Astrid is sharing some photos that this sorry excuse for a human let slip through the cracks. They're from late February or early March, which is why you'll see our yard dead and in all levels of disarray, and you might even notice some frozen water in our bird bath. There certainly isn't any frozen water in there these days.

In those photos, Astrid is gazing over at our backyard neighbor's house. They used to have a dog at that house, but they moved away recently. Don't feel too bad for Astrid, though. She and this other dog were not friends. Astrid doesn't particularly like other dogs, and neither did this neighbor dog. They actually had this weird understanding in which they'd both run outside, scream at each other through the gate for a few seconds, and then just stare at each other while doing their business. Just typical neighborly behavior.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

For now, in between the new doodles we're finally again starting to share, I'll be sharing some flashbacks from a series of doodles revolving around a quaint little home I scribbled up. Let's start in its front yard, which may or may not be a forest.

Does anyone remember this doodle? This cabin's series of doodles were first scribbled up and shared back in 2020, and that tuxedo kitty will be your tour guide throughout.

***

Tip of the Day

Shall we go for another random tip today? We shall. So, while a small taste of dog food is likely not toxic for your kitty, and vice versa, it is still necessary that a furbaby be fed a diet formulated specifically for their species. This is especially the case for cats, who have specific dietary requirements that are not accounted for in dog food. For this reason, a cat cannot thrive on a diet of dog food. Therefore, as I'm sure you all already know, be indeed sure your furbaby is fed a diet specifically for their species. Of course, this goes for other pets as well, such as rabbits, rodents, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians. In addition, do your best to select a food that fits with their specific health status, such a kitten or puppy food for those growing young ones, a weight maintenance diet for those who might be overweight, or a renal diet for cats with chronic kidney disease. When in doubt about the best diet for your furbaby, of course never hesitate to consult your veterinarian.

Boxed-In Tonks Tuesday

Tonks is here, of course, as it is indeed Tonks Tuesday. And today, this little calico is glad that at least one of her siblings shares her love for ill-fitting boxes.

Tonks and her big brother Evan love having box parties like this. And if you're curious, those are the skinny boxes in which pup Astrid's canned food can be purchased. Tonks actually kind of fit in hers, because she's just a little 8-lb thing. Evan is another story. There's a reason why his box has completely collapsed.

Tonks (and Evan) hopes you all get to enjoy a box or two today!

***

Doodle of the Day

Today, we finally have another new doodle for you all. This is actually an overdue doodle, as it's one that's been completed for weeks. In fact, it was completed for and given to this here human's mom on Mother's Day. First we'll share it, and then I'll give a brief explanation.

Weird for a Mother's Day doodle, huh? This Mother's Day image was actually somewhat of a joke, and I was kind of trolling my mom with it. You see, she gets creeped out by possums. That said, a lot of possums come and go from my yard, especially at night, because I feed the neighbor's indoor/outdoor cat out there, as well as any strays or ferals that come by. The possums know that I do this, and so they're regular visitors of my back yard. When my mom visits my house, especially at night, she'll sometimes get  a possum sighting, and it always freaks her out. So, I made her this doodle in honor of that.

***

Tip of the Day

We have yet another random tip for you today. This is definitely a repeat tip, but it's brought to you by the fact that lots of kitties at our house are due for their annual exams this summer. So, don't forget to consider using some of the common tips and tricks for making vet trips as easy as possible. For example, try keeping that dreaded carrier visible and accessible at all times, so that your furbaby doesn't learn to grow fearful of its appearance. Put a favorite blanket in the carrier, or an item of your clothing, and take it with you to the vet. Also consider taking a favorite toy or treats to help distract your furbaby, or to use as a reward for good behavior. You can also try something such as spraying the carrier with Feliway for cats, or use the dog version for those pups out there, as it mimics a calming pheromone to help soothe a stressed furbaby. And, of course, do all that you can to stay calm yourself. Your furbaby will feed off of you and your emotions, so do all that you can to be their rock. Then again, it is also possible that some furbabies, depending on their personality and past experiences, might just be naturally stressed when going to the vet. In such cases, discuss options beforehand with your vet. Discuss methods that might help calm your furbaby, medications that might calm or sedate your furbaby, and even consider discussing at-home visits or other similar solutions. Going to the vet can be a stressful experience for all involved, but if you stay calm and consider all options, you can indeed succeed.

Mancat Monday

It's Mancat Monday, so you better believe we have an Evan for you today.

Evan's looking a bit shocked there, isn't he? It's probably because he just found out he has yet another grooming appointment this week. We've mentioned this all before. Hind limb paralyzed Evan has urinary incontinence, but he won't let me trim up his back end to help me keep him clean and dry. Apparently he'd rather a stranger do it. So, to the groomer Evan goes every two to three weeks. Come Thursday, he'll again look all trimmed up on his back end. Of course, he makes it look so very handsome.

Happy Monday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Now that I've seemingly sorted out at least a chunk of our internet and computer issues, and now that my full-time job is not so chaotic (knock on wood three times), I'll finally be back to sharing new doodles this week. At least for now, I'm aiming at getting back to sharing something like four new doodles most weeks, with flashback doodles being shared on the other three days of the week. I used to have this type of schedule of doodles I was able to stick to, and I'm working on getting back to that. But I digress.

First, though, for today, I thought I'd share this flashback doodle that I forgot about until I saw it in my archive the other day. I believe I created it for one of Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenges a couple of years ago, and I kind of liked how it ended up.

***

Tip of the Day

As we finish off May, we're continuing to share some relatively random tips. For today, we're reminding you about nonrecognition aggression. In a multipet household, when bringing one of the resident kitties or pups back home from someplace such as the vet, nonrecognition aggression is possible upon homecoming. This might occur, for example, if one of the furbabies in the home reacts to an unfamiliar smell (such as alcohol from a blood draw) or behavior (such as acting sedated after anesthesia) of the returning furbaby. Some animals are more prone to this, depending on their individual personality as well as past experiences. In such a case of nonrecognition aggression, or nonrecognition fear, do not force the animals to interact right away. It might even be best if you separate them, and even treat it as if they are being introduced to each other all over again, from the beginning. Separate them, allow them to sniff each from under doors, sniff and see each other through screens or gates, and so on and so forth. You might also consider trying out calming products, such as Feliway in the case of cats. You can of course also discuss options with your veterinarian. Overall, patience is key.

Sleepy Flashback Selfies

Hello, friends! We're still sorting out some kinks with our internet and computer issues, so here's just a couple of quick, sleepy flashback selfies from Eddy for you all.

And here's a silly little doodle from a couple of years ago, because why not.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

Flashback Caturday Art

Hello, friends! Today we're extra late as we work on getting the internet up and working better at our house again. We've mentioned how our internet has been acting up, with our internet provider indicating for quite some time now that they're working on upgrading our neighborhood. They actually did upgrade our neighborhood awhile ago, but apparently now they've partially started doing another sort of upgrade, but it's stalled. I'm admittedly confused on what is going on, but that said, I've discovered there are some things I can do on my end to improve the situation at least a bit. So, I'm working on that today, and that's why for now we'll just quickly share a flashback doodle.

We'll should (finally) be back to our regular programming tomorrow! We'll see you then, friends!

Friendly Fill-Ins

Hello and happy Friday, friends! We're finally here with the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. _________ was a pleasant surprise.

2. _________ was a not so pleasant surprise.

3. I can't help but _________ when _________.

4. I wish people would stop asking me _________.

My answers are below in bold. I tried to make them all about the furbabies again this time.

1. Finding Tonks's favorite canned food at the pet store a month ago was a pleasant surprise.

(No stores I had tried, online or in person, had my little calico's favorite food for months on end. I may have done an actual happy dance when I found it a month or so ago.)

2. Finding an empty slot where Tonks's favorite food should be at the pet store last week was a not so pleasant surprise.

(The days of finding Tonks's favorite food were quite short-lived.)

3. I can't help but be in a good mood when I have a cute kitty with me.

(I'm human, and so I'm admittedly not always in the best mood. But, when one of my kitties, or any kitty, keeps me company, my mood immediately improves.)

4. I wish people would stop asking me if my specially abled Evan has a good quality of life.

(I've mentioned this before. Evan is hind limb paralyzed. He's 9 years old, and he's been this way since he was roughly 6 weeks of age. I've had anywhere from strangers all the way to vet techs ask me if I think Evan really has a good quality of life. Evan isn't his usual happy, active, running, playing, cuddly self when he's in the company of strangers, and most especially not when he's at the vet. So, when people ask me this, I try to kindly explain to them that they're not seeing the real Evan, and that the real Evan I see and know loves life.)

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.

***

Are you ready for your Eddy fix? Today Eddy wanted to share a flashback photo with an old friend.

Eddy loved that little gnome, but he's been missing for some time now. There's a chance he's up in the box spring of my bed, as Eddy has ripped it to shreds and now enjoys taking and hiding things up there. It was nice knowing you, gnome.

Eddy and all of us here wish you a fantastic Friday!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

And, here's yet another weird, witchy flashback doodle from a couple of years ago. I remember scribbling this up after reading a story that included a dessert called a moondust cupcake. I immediately had to scribble that up, and this was the result.

***

Tip of the Day

We yet again have just a random tip today, and it's also likely a repeat one, but we felt compmelled to share it. So, always remember that our kitties, and even our pups, can be pros at hiding discomfort and disease. In the wild, displaying weakness can make one easy prey, and our furbabies have transferred that even to their lives with us. This is just one reason why it's important to take your furbaby in for at least their annual exams, so that those hidden diseases can be caught as early as possible. But, prevention of diseases can easily begin at home, even with simple checks of your furbaby and their behaviors. Get in the habit of keeping track of your furbaby's usuals, from how much and when they usually eat, when and where they usually relieve themselves, or how and where they usually sleep. Keep an eye on anything and everything about them, such as their posture – do they look hunched up, uncomfortable? How about their eyes? Are their eyes unusually squinted, their pupils dilated, their third eyelids up? Veterinarians can help treat and cure disease, but preventing it or catching it early is often something best suited for a pet parent. After all, no one knows your furbaby like you do.

Friendly Fill-Ins Prologue

Hello, friends! This is just a quick little post to say that my Friendly Fill-Ins post will be up as soon as possible! You may or may not have noticed that all of our posts this week went up well into the morning, and that's in no small part because my internet at home is acting up yet again. Actually, it's happening all over our neighborhood. They've been saying they're going to be upgrading it for months now, but no such thing has happened.

Anyway, I've only been able to do the bulk of our posts using my work computer while on breaks, because my home computer just can't currently seem to understand the concept of the internet. I haven't been finishing our posts before I leave the vicinity of my workplace's internet in the evenings, even though I've been having to work late again lately, and so posts are going up later in the morning. Don't worry, I'm not time thieving. My workplace gives breaks and allows people to use the internet for personal use, because it's a really relaxed place, aside from the client work and the stress that causes. I'll be seeing if I can't figure something out with my home internet this weekend, with my less than impressive tech skills.

I will post the link to the Friendly Fill-Ins linky here, if my phone allows me to, so just click HERE to link up with your fill-ins. Mine will be posted soon. Thanks for joining us!

Thankful Thimble Thursday

Today, we're jumping right in with Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

As always, Thimble is here to share some gratitude. Can you tell what Thimble is thankful for today?

Thimble is grateful for her cute little toesies, as well as soft blankies. She hopes all of you have a soft blankie to enjoy today!

***

Now, how about 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. _________ was a pleasant surprise.

2. _________ was a not so pleasant surprise.

3. I can't help but _________ when _________.

4. I wish people would stop asking me _________.

 

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

The flashback doodle for today is, of course, yet another in that weird and wacky series I first shared a couple of springs ago.

***

Tip of the Day

Today's tip is yet another random one. So, just as is the case for us humans, diet can affect our furbabies' eyesight. For healthy eyesight, a pup or kitty needs proper nutrition that supports those peepers. To help give the furbabies in your life an extra boost in ocular health, perhaps opt for healthy treats such as carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, blueberries, or broccoli. You can either give these foods as treats themselves, or find natural pet treats that contain such ingredients, keeping in mind that any treats must be given in safe moderation. Of course, if you have any concern about your furbaby's eyesight or even simply keeping them healthy overall, discuss this with your veterinarian. It never hurts to ask a pro what food and treats can be given in order to promote a healthy and happy furbaby.

Woof Woof Wednesday

For today's edition of Woof Woof Wednesday, pup Astrid wanted to remind you all how pretty her eyes are.

This brown-eyed girl wishes you all a wonderful Wednesday!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's doodles is yet another flashback one from a wacky, witchy series we shared a couple of years ago. This one even involves an equine friend, and I believe this was the illustration for one of our poems as part of Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge.

***

Tip of the Day

Today we have for you yet another random yet also repeat tip. And that is, don't forget that some cats and even dogs are lactose intolerant. Though they may like dairy foods such as cheese, sometimes it simply won't agree with them. However, if your furbaby likes the occasional cheesy treat, also remember that there are a number of cheeses that are in fact essentially lactose-free. Natural, hard, aged cheeses, such as cheddar and parmesan, often have no more than trace amounts of lactose. So, if your furbaby has a fondness for cheese, the occasional treat of these such types of cheese are your safest bet. Also keep this in mind when purchasing cheesy pet treats, and look at the ingredients to ensure that safe, quality cheese was used in the production of any such treats. Of course, still keep an eye out for any negative reactions, and also still be sure to keep all human food and even pet treats to a safe minimum in order to keep your furbaby healthy and therefore happy.

Tonks Tuesday

Tonks is here to wish you all as sunny of a day as hers!

Happy Tuesday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is another one from the weird, witchy series I scribbled up a couple of springs ago.

***

Tip of the Day

How about another completely random tip today? And that is, don't let your old clothes go to waste. You can upcycle old shirts, pants, and even socks to be used by your furbaby. You can use pieces of clothing items to make knotted or braided toys, for example. Catnip can be tied in the knots of such a toy for a bit of added fun for those kitties out there. Your old clothing can even become your furbaby's new clothing. For example, if you have pup who enjoys wearing clothes, you can fashion some of your old shirts into shirts or sweaters for them. You can even uses pieces of the clothing to create bandanas for your pups or kitties. Also, of course, your old clothing can be used as bedding and blankets for your furbaby's comfort. We all know how our furbabies like to use our clothes for that purpose already.

Mancat Monday

Hello, friends! After a much busier than usual weekend, hence the lack of post yesterday, we're back today. We may be here with a late post again, but we're working on that. That said, would you like a dose of Evan on this Mancat Monday?

Do you see how the sun almost sets Evan's fur on fire? He quite enjoys it.

Have a wonderful day, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Does anyone remember the weird, witchy series of doodles I created for springtime a couple years ago? Like this one?

***

Tip of the Day

We've given many recent tips regarding mosquitoes and how they carry heartworm, and how it's therefore important to take that into account for your furbaby's preventive care. For today, how about we look at this topic in a more natural way? Did you know that there are herbs and plants that are not only safe for your furbaby, but that can also help deter mosquitoes? One of these just so happens to be catnip! That's not all, though. Others that might help repel mosquitoes, and that are also safe for your furbaby, include basil, rosemary, and garden marigolds. A number of other plants and herbs are also said to have natural mosquito repellent abilities, but some of these are toxic to our furbabies, so always proceed with caution. That being said, when it comes to herbs and plants that are safe mosquito repellents, you can try planting or stationing some throughout your yard, especially in areas that you or your furbabies frequent, as well as by entrances to the house. That said, of course keep in mind that this method of repelling mosquitoes is certainly not fail-safe, but we still thought we'd throw it out there.

Flashback Caturday Art

Today's Caturday Art is one of my favorite flashback doodles from many years ago. 

Striking up a little fire in the fire pit and cooking up some s'mores is one of my favorite summer activities. At least, on nights when it's not 90°F.

Happy Caturday, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

Mosquitoes have officially started taking up residence in our neighborhood. So, how about a repeat tip on these little buggers? Don't forget that mosquitoes, and other potentially dangerous insects, are not only an issue outside, but they can indeed find ways into your home, such as through open doors or even small cracks. Mosquitoes can carry heartworm, as I'm sure most of you know. So, please do take this into account when considering preventive care for your furbabies. Preventives that cover heartworm are often only able to be obtained at a veterinary office, or by prescription, so please consult your veterinarian about protecting your furbaby against all potential threats such as this. Keep in mind also that, while dogs can be go through an often difficult yet viable treatment for heartworm, there is no heartworm cure for cats. Long story short, please do take heartworm into consideration when it comes to preventive care for your kitty or pup. Their life could depend on it!

Friendly Fill-Ins

Hello and happy Friday! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us! My co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.


1. If you see me _________ it means _________.

2. I am feeling _________ about _________.

3. I wish I could go back and relive the moment when _________.

4. I would like to swap lives with _________ for a day.

My answers are below in bold. This week they're all about the kitties in my life.

1. If you see me stuffing my washer full of blankets, it means Evan's urinary incontinence is on full force.

(Sometimes my specially abled little guy has his way with multiple of his dedicated blankets in a day, usually innocently while sleeping. That's totally fine, no matter how much my washer whines. I try not to make my washer work too hard, but sometimes that poor thing works overtime.)

2. I am feeling relieved about Evan's recent grooming appointment.

(Evan just got one of his regular sanitary shaves at our vet's groomer yesterday. As I sort of hinted in fill-in #1, he's been having even more urinary incontinence than usual over the past couple of weeks, and the more his hair grows back, the more difficult it is for me to keep him even remotely clean and dry. I've been taking him in for sanitary shaves every 3 weeks, since he won't let me shave him myself. When I brought him home yesterday, I can't even explain how excited I was to see him so shaved, clean, dry, and all that jazz. And this time I scheduled his next grooming for 2 weeks out instead of 3 weeks, something which makes me feel even more relieved, but which Evan will quite loathe. Sorry, buddy.)

3. I wish I could go back and relive the moment when I met my angel kitties Rosie and Sammy.

(I can easily recall meeting all of my current furbabies. After all, they came into my life when I was an adult. Rosie and Sammy were my childhood kitties, though Rosie lived to be 21 years of age and therefore lived into my own adulthood. But, I was only 4 years old when my family adopted them. I have some vague memories of that day, such as when kitten Rosie reached out of their cage to grab the ribbon I was wearing in my hair, but I'd love to have a more vivid memory of it. Rosie and her brother Sammy really helped shaped who I am today, so I'd be so happy to remember more of my young childhood with them.)

4. I would like to swap lives with any of my kitties for a day.

(Honestly, I just want a 16-hour nap. That sounds like heaven right now. Really, who wouldn't want a relaxing day off of work, with nothing but snoozing and food put in front of you on my command?)

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.

***

Are you ready for your Eddy fix? Yet again, this active girl couldn't bother to look at the camera. She was too busy enjoying a moment of window whiffies, which this mom of hers made obnoxiously brief since it was 90°F outside at the time.

Have a fantastic day, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

As I've mentioned, I've been playing catchup at my full-time job after having to isolate with COVID, and since I work at a chemistry lab, this doodle from a couple years ago seemed apt enough.

***

Tip of the Day

How about another random tip for today? Do you have some studying or work to do, yet your furbaby wants to play? At times like this, wand or string toys can be your best friends. There are already a number of cat toys of this nature available on the market, including ones that you can hold in one hand while working with the other, as well as those that can be stood on the floor or even attached to a windows with a suction cup. You can place toys such as this near your work area, so that you can direct your cat's attention to them when they seek you out, but also so that they can still feel close to you. Toys such as these may not be as common for dogs, but you can always get creative in order to keep that pup of yours busy while you work. This could include something as simple as attaching their favorite ball or chew toy to a string, and using this to play makeshift games of fetch or tug-of-war that satisfy your pup while also leaving you one or both hands free to continue your work at hand. These days, there are also plenty of other creative interactive toys for kitties and pups available on the market, so your options should be endless. It is indeed possible to get some work down while also keeping your furbaby happy and occupied.