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.