Shy Toesies on Tonks Tuesday

It's Tonks Tuesday, and so today the little calico is sharing her little toesies.

But you only get that quick glimpse. Tonks has shy toesies, so her tail had to come to their rescue.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I almost forgot about the witchy winter series of doodles I scribbled up a couple of years ago. A couple of the new winter doodles I'm currently working on have a somewhat dark feel to them, but so far I haven't scribbled up anymore witches like this one.

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Tip of the Day

Today is our last tip in our winter safety series. For this last tip, we're going to do an overview of winter weather concerns, and remind you of some of the signs to look out for that might indicate a furbaby is struggling with the winter elements. To begin, when outdoors in the cold winter months, closely observe your kitty or pup and watch for shivering, a hunched up position, restlessness, whining, lifting paws off of the ground, redness of the ears, and other signs that the furbaby is becoming too cold. On extremely cold days, frostbite and hypothermia can happen fast, which is why it is not only important to closely monitor a furbaby who might need to venture outdoors even for a short time, but to also reduce time outdoors as much as possible. Also monitor your kitties and pups indoors, and ensure that they are remaining warm with sufficient heating and bedding.

Coldness, frostbite, and hypothermia are not the only issues that can arise in the winter, though. Injury to the paws, for example, is another potential. Pups and kitties who go outdoors can be affected by the cold ground, and by the snow, ice, and ice melts that might cover the ground in the winter. For this reason, be watchful for paw pads that are dry, cracking, bleeding, or otherwise injured, and monitor for lifting of the paws or altered ambulation.

The winter issues don't end there, though, as many more potential concerns can arise from the harsh cold of winter. For example, dryness of winter air and heated homes can lead to dryness of the coat and skin. When it comes to this, be on the lookout for itching, scratching, dander, and a dull coat. Yet another system of the body that can be affected by the winter months is the respiratory system. Dry, cold air can affect asthma and other such ailments, so be on the alert for coughing and other similar signs.

Winter can be a harsh time of the year, as you all certainly know. It can be hard on us, and also of course our furbabies. For this reason, always monitor your furbaby when outdoors but also when indoors. Over the past couple of weeks we've discussed some of the potential ways to combat the various issues that might arise due to the harsh winter weather. What it comes down to, though, is that it is important to monitor your furbaby, and if you have any concerns regarding their health and comfort, to never hesitate discussing this with your veterinarian in order to keep your kitty or pup as cozy as possible even on those cold winter days.

Mancat Monday: Snow TV

Today is Monday, which of course translates to Mancat Monday. That means mancat Evan is here today to grace you with his handsome presence. He'd say hello, but he's having far too much fun watching snow fall outside.

Do our kitty friends out there also enjoy watching the snowflakes float to the ground? The kitties here sure do. They certainly won't go as far as pup Astrid and play in the snow, but through the window it's quite nice. Snow TV is becoming one of the kitties' favorite stations.

Happy Monday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Our series of winter safety tips has already covered wiping off those paws when they've been in contact with snow, ice, ice melts, and so forth. Today's tip relates to all of that, and is to regularly check your furbaby's cute little toes. It is of course important to always ensure that your furbaby and his or her paws are free or injury, but this is something that is especially important in the winter. The cold and dry air, as well as the cold ground that might be covered in snow, ice, ice melts, and other substrate in the winter, can potentially lead to dry, cracked, bleeding, and overall uncomfortable paw pads. This is why it is important for you to regularly check your pup or kitty's paws in the winter, and of course year round. Be especially vigilant of the condition of paws that frequently go outdoors.

If you do notice your furbaby's paw pads are dry, cracking, or bleeding, or if they are displaying any discomfort when walking, consider options for treating and combating paw pad dryness and discomfort. There are pet paw salves on the market that are intended to combat dryness and to protect paws pads that often go outdoors. In some cases, petroleum jelly might be deemed safe to wipe onto the paw pads before they head outdoors, but this is sometimes a debated option. More importantly, when it comes to the health, safety, and comfort of your furbaby and their paws, it is of course always recommended to discuss the matter with a veterinarian. A veterinarian can check for any damage to the paws, and can also best recommend treatment for or prevention of dryness, cracking, and other injury to the paw pads. So, do be observant of the state of your kitty or pup's paws, and seek veterinary care if you have any concerns.

Caturday Art in the Library

I was going through some of my older drawings the other day and found one from last winter that I'm fairly certain I never shared here. It's one of my many bookish doodles, with a bookworm hanging out in a library with a couple of her feline friends. I don't know why I felt compelled to describe it to you there, since I'm sharing it right now as our contribution to Athena's Caturday Art Blog Hop.

Warm wishes and happy reading!

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Tip of the Day

We've discussed helping ferals stay warm and cared for in the winter, such as by offering them even makeshift shelters and putting food out for them. We've also mentioned helping your own kitties or pups remain healthy and happy during the cold winter months, such as by minimizing time their outdoors and offering extra warm places for them to sleep inside the home. But, what role can you play when it comes to others' companion animals, those who are not ferals, but who are also not your own furbabies? The important thing when it comes to this is to be observant, to be aware of an observed companion animal's situation on a cold winter day, and, if necessary, to be a voice for the voiceless.

If you notice someone's pet cat or dog being kept outdoors for an extended, unsafe length of time on a cold winter day, then get the details of the situation and report it. Also report if an animal being abused or neglected in this way is left outside in the cold without shelter in which to stay warm, or while chained up, and so forth. If you believe you are witnessing a stray animal struggling to survive without a home, in the cold winter months or any time of the year, also report this to someone who can help them. In any such cases, get the address where the animal is located, the number of animals affected, details regarding the conditions in which the animal is living, and even get pictures if possible.

In case you ever do find yourself facing a situation of animal abuse or neglect, try to make sure you are aware of whom to call in order to get help for an animal in need. In some locations, cases of animal abuse or neglect are best reported to certain humane organizations. In some places, if you notice animal abuse or neglect, you should call animal control, or law enforcement. What's more, to ensure that an abused or neglected animal is indeed rescued from unsafe conditions, don't just report it, but follow through with any reports you make to ensure that animals suffering abuse or neglect get the help they need.

At this point, we do want to make what we're sure is an obvious clarification. In order to avoid mistakes or misunderstandings, never jump to conclusions without first having the facts, and this of course regards the care of others' furbabies. For example, if you see a dog outside in someone's yard on a cold winter day, don't automatically assume this is a case of abuse or neglect, and don't raise false alarms. In some cases, a dog might of course just be outside on a short bathroom break, perhaps even with their human monitoring them from inside the home. So, before making any reports, always make sure you have observed the situation enough to know the facts and to have formed proper conclusions regarding animal abuse or neglect. If you do ultimately come to the conclusion that an animal is living in unsafe conditions, then do your best to seek help for them.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Photo Fails

Hello and happy Friday, friends! We're ready 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 always forget to _________.

2. I never forget to _________.

3. Nothing makes me _________ more than _________.

4. It might sound outrageous, but I _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. I always forget to take my allergy meds.

(I don't take anything all that important, just allergy meds and vitamins, but some days forgetting to take the allergy meds before going to work leads to lots of sneezing and all that snotty jazz. I take my meds just fine when I put them in one of those day-by-day pill boxes, but do I remember to put them in there in the first place? No, no I don't. Maybe this will be my reminder to do that today. Maybe.)

2. I never forget to give my kitties or pup their meds.

(I have my priorities straight. I might forget to take my allergy meds, but Evan never misses a dose of his gabapentin or prazosin. And after her surgery on her knee, Astrid never once missed a dose of her meds.)

3. Nothing makes me feel like a ball of rage more than seeing or hearing about animal abuse.

(I'd like to think that I'm generally not someone who gets mad all that easily, and I don't have too bad of a temper. That said, knowing that an animal has experienced abuse or neglect makes me see red. I don't think anything will ever be more of a trigger for me.)

4. It might sound outrageous, but I have yet to let my kitties try out those popular squeeze-up lickable cat treats.

(Please don't hurt me, Mudpie. I know you love your squeezies and would never be able to fathom a kitty not having them as part of their life. I keep seeing ads for them online as well, and yet I still haven't managed to bring any into our house. I keep meaning to, but then when I go to the pet store my brain remembers to get my kitties' usual favorites and forgets to grab those to test out. I'll try to do better.)

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.

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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. Today, Eddy is sharing her ability to never look at the camera. The first shot is of course good and blurry.

These next two are surprisingly not all that blurry, but even so, Eddy certainly still refused to look at the camera.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip is one we've mentioned before, but that we're going to mention again for these cold winter days. Though of course living indoors helps keep our furbabies safe and sound during the winter months, it is still important to remember that extra measures can be taken to keep them warm and cozy. This is especially important for young or old furbabies, those with little to no fur, and any cats or dogs whose health is compromised. You can start by putting out additional soft and cozy blankets and beds for them. To take it one step further, there are heated blankets and beds on the market. Of course, be very careful when using anything heated, taking especial care to ensure that no burns or fires result. To be on the safe side, you can look into beds that allow warmth in a non-electrical way. For example, there are pet beds constructed of material that essentially reflects a kitty or pup's body heat back to them, warming them that way. Lastly, also take into consideration the location of blankets and beds. Place your kitty or pup's blankets and beds somewhere that is elevated off of the floor, and away from drafts, doorways, and windows, to ensure that they can remain as warm as possible.

Thankful Thimble Thursday...and Another Evan Update

Sorry for yet another late post, friends. Things are again a bit extra crazy at my workplace, as one of my coworkers is out on an unexpected medical leave. This co-worker has been at our workplace for over 30 years, so in her current absence right now we're all doing our best to fill her shoes, but it's definitely not easy and is requiring a bit of extra effort at work. Obviously I can't complain, though, as she and her family are the ones going through it right now.

Now, given that it's Thursday, we have some gratitude to share for Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, little tabby Thimble is grateful for boxes to sit on, and for the rare sunshine we're occasionally seeing lately.

Thimble and this here human are also grateful that Evan is doing well overall right now, especially after starting the week rough.

Since his urethral obstruction the day after Christmas, Evan has still been having occasional difficulty with his urinary habits. Mostly, he sometimes starts urinating blood. That's how his urethral obstruction first presented itself, so I always panic more than a tad bit when it happens. Monday ended up being a very rough day for Evan, as on that day he urinated nearly as much blood as the day of his urethral obstruction. He was actually at the vet for his sanitary grooming when it started happening, though, and it all ended up okay. He was not blocked again, I gave him another dose of his gabapentin and prazosin as soon as he got home, and then all was okay. The vet thinks he's still just having residual issues as a result of his acute urethral obstruction. He might be fighting cystitis, or simply just feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) in general. All that said, I'm incredibly grateful that Evan has not needed to be hospitalized again, and I'm glad that his meds are overall working well for him, especially when he's having a sudden flare.

Wishing all of our friends well!

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Now, how about we finally 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. I always forget to _________.

2. I never forget to _________.

3. Nothing makes me _________ more than _________.

4. It might sound outrageous, but I _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Are you ready for an insanely long tip? Yes? Good. Because that's what we have for you today. Yesterday, we discussed the presence of parasites even in the winter, and the resulting importance of preventatives. During this discussion, we talked about how mice can carry parasites, and so how mice in the home can lead to the risk of parasites in our furbabies. Parasites are not the only way mice can affect our furbabies, though. As we mentioned yesterday, mice can often find ways into homes during the winter months, as they are seeking warm places to stay. As a result, some people move forward with ways of eradicating mice in the home. When it comes to such methods, always consider how they can affect our furbabies. For example, the common wooden snap traps can obviously cause pain and injury. If a curious paw or nose finds the traps, such as if lured by the scent of peanut butter or cheese on the trap, it can snap closed and cause damage to little paws and noses.

As an alternative to the wooden and metal snap traps, there are mouse traps that are considered safer. One option includes plastic snap traps that do not contain metal that can easily break or otherwise harm a cat or dog paw. There are also sticky traps, which do not contain the danger of snapping parts, but these do of course contain adhesives, which can cause risks such as stuck paws or fur, or the dangerous consumption of adhesive material. If you are looking to spare the life of the mouse, you can also consider various live traps, or catch-and-release traps.

No matter what kind of trap you use, if you use them, always put them somewhere that your furbaby cannot reach. This might mean putting traps in cabinets that you ensure your furbaby cannot open. Sometimes traps can also be placed under boxes or containers constructed to allow a mouse access, but to block a furbaby's access to the trap beneath. In other cases, traps could be placed in rooms or areas of the home where your furbaby cannot access, such as rooms with closed doors, attics, crawl spaces, and so forth. This of course goes for the more dangerous traps, but also even the safer ones. This is because no mouse trap poses zero risk, and a curious kitty or pup might try to get a mouse even in a trap. While cats are of course classically known as being mouse hunters, it is still perhaps ideal for them not to regularly play with or consume mice, such as to avoid parasites, choking, and so forth. As a side note, when I worked at a cat clinic, a cat once came in with a mouse head lodged in its throat. This is why you hear me mention to perhaps avoid allowing your cats to catch mice, in order to prevent dangers such as this.

Of course, this lengthy discussion on mice in the home would not be complete without mentioning the danger of rodenticides. Rodenticides can contain incredibly toxic ingredients, such as anticoagulants. This means if a kitty or pup manages to come in contact with or consume the rodenticide itself, or even if they find a mouse who has come in contact with or consumed the rodenticide, serious side effects can occur. For this reason, simply avoid using rodenticides. This is for the safety of your furbaby, and also for the safety of ferals, strays, and wildlife who can also be affected by the serious side effects of rodenticides.

All in all, mice in the home is not an ideal situation, for reasons including health and safety. Mice can carry disease and parasites, and can potentially and dangerously chew on wires and cabling in the walls or other areas of the home. That being said, though, only use mice prevention methods in your home that are guaranteed to be safe for your furbaby. Find and block entry points for mice in your home, garage, and so forth. If need be, only put out traps that are as hidden and safe as possible. You know your home and furbaby best, so proceed accordingly.

Adventures with Astrid: Don't Eat the Yellow Snow

It's been a couple of weeks since we've had a good snow, but that will seemingly change today. Like plenty of others out there, we're in a winter storm sort of situation today. With that, Astrid wanted to show you all one of her favorite things to do in snow.

Do you see where this is going?

You know how they say not to eat the yellow snow? Definitely don't eat it. Please don't.

Warm wishes to all!

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Doodle of the Day

Today's doodle isn't a wintry one, though it still sort of relates to Astrid's photos above. This is actually the doodle I scribbled up and turned into a refrigerator magnet for my grandma and her husband for Christmas. They have Boston terrier dogs, and each year I scribble up some sort of drawing relating to their pups. This year, their oldest dog has had to start wearing diapers, and so I thought this doodle was apt enough.

What I didn't include in the drawing is the fact that the younger, hyperactive dog likes to remove the diaper from the older dog. There are a lot of diaper-related stories my grandma and her husband can tell, and they're really quite entertaining.

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Tip of the Day

Today's winter tip is to, despite the fact that it's winter here in the Northern Hemisphere, still keep in mind parasites and their prevention. If you live somewhere that is warm or temperate even during this time of the year, of course certainly do consider keeping up with those parasite preventatives for your furbabies. The same, though, goes even for those who don't live somewhere consistently warm in the winter. Some winter days are not as cold as others, and parasites such as mosquitoes and fleas can survive and make reappearances when the temperatures rise. Sometimes, some parasites even make their way into our homes and survive winter climates by hanging out in the warm comfort of our heated houses. With this in mind, don't forget that mosquitoes can carry heartworms, and fleas can cause bloodborne diseases, as well as can carry tapeworms, all of which can cause dangerous side effects. For all such reasons, do think about the benefits of keeping up with parasite prevention for your furbabies all year round.

One more note we want to make regards none other than mice. This time of year, mice might find ways to enter our homes, garages, sheds, and so forth, in search of a warm place to stay. What's more, mice can carry parasites such as fleas, tapeworms, and roundworms. This means, especially if your furbaby gets near or even eats a mouse inside the home, or anywhere else, they are at risk such parasites. This is yet another reason to keep up with parasite prevention for your furbaby, no matter what time of year it is.

Tonks Tuesday: Lap Time

First and foremost, we are sending our purrs, thoughts, and prayers to Ellen of 15andmeowing. Yesterday, her sweet Emmy gained her angel wings.

Fly free, beautiful Emmy.

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Today's edition of Tonks Tuesday is brought to you by lap time.

None of my kitties are true lap kitties, at least not very often, and so when my lap is chosen, I am always ecstatic. Tonks is most likely to take a nap on my lap if I'm covered in a cozy, fleece blanket. I may or may not often intentionally lure her in that way.

How many of our kitty friends out there are lap kitties? Inquiring minds want to know.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

We've given a variety of tips regarding today's topic, but we're going to compile them and mention them again today. Today's tip is to keep a close eye on your kitty or pup's water bowl and food bowl during the cold winter months. What do we mean by this? To begin, make sure the water bowl remains full and fresh. To keep warm on cold winter days, we of course run the furnace, or turn on heaters or the fireplace. This is of course crucial for helping our furbabies and ourselves remain warm when it's cold, but this can also lead to increased evaporation of water. This is just one reason to regularly check on your furbaby's water bowl, even on, or especially on, cold winter days. In addition, the furnace and other heat sources can lead to dryness, such as of your kitty or pup's coat and skin. This is another reason why it is crucial to ensure they have sufficient fresh water, as they very well may drink more in order to remain moisturized and comfortable in the dry winter air.

The food bowl might also be affected by the cold weather in the winter. This concept more heavily relates to furbabies who live outdoors or who spend time outdoors in the winter, such as ferals, strays, or those who go outdoors to use the restroom or go on walks. Those who spend time in the cold will often eat more in the winter. This is because when the body breaks down consumed food, it produces energy and heat, which can be crucial for helping a furbaby remain warm in the cold. Therefore, if your furbaby spends time outdoors, keep an eye on their food intake. They may require more food in the winter in order to remain warm and comfortable. Of course, if you have any concerns regarding your furbaby's diet, weight, and overall food and water intake, then do discuss this with your veterinarian.

Mancat Monday: Spa Day

Evan has one of his grooming appointments today, which means this little back end of his is getting trimmed up. It also means he'll be getting a pedicure.

For anyone who might be new or might not remember, Evan is hind limb paralyzed and has urinary incontinence. Those two combined means he stays his cleanest, healthiest self when his rear end is shaved. Since he won't let me do it, he goes to our veterinary clinic's groomer for a spa day every couple of weeks. He's not the biggest fan of it, but it helps keep UTIs and urine scald away, so sorry, Evan, but it's a necessary evil.

Happy Monday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Though we're more than a tad bit late in the season to give this tip, we're going to give it nonetheless. Today's tip relates to the furnace, and we want to remind you to have a professional inspect your furnace before use every year, or as needed. An inspection could help detect any issues that might make running the furnace a risk. This in turn of course gives you the chance to have any necessary repairs or replacements made, so that neither your furbaby nor yourself are put in unnecessary danger.

Also relating to the furnace, don't forget to replace the filter regularly. A clean filter not only allows the furnace to run optimally, but also helps eliminate allergens, dust, and other such debris from the air. Ensuring ideal air quality with a clean furnace and air filter is something to especially take into consideration if your furbaby, or yourself, has asthma or other respiratory issues. The furnace plays a crucial role for your furbaby and yourself on cold winter days, so don't forget to give it the care and attention it needs.

Sunday Selfie with a Festive Friend

Yesterday we shared with you all some snippets of us deconstructing Christmas at our house. A little calico named Tonks was not at all happy about it, as she loves her some Christmas and already misses climbing her Christmas trees. But, she at least has a festive friend that will be able to keep her company all year round.

I'm a big fan of the song "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas", and I have drawn my fair share of hippos, especially festive ones. My sister knows this, and so for Christmas she got me that there hippo stuffed animal. She even tied on it that red ribbon, to match the festive hippos I often draw.

This hippo will be staying out year round, of course. He sits in that chair, and now Tonks has discovered that she loves to take her naps with him. Oh, and do you se the the blanket draped over the back of the chair as well as the matching pillow directly behind Tonks? If you look closely you'll see the koala bears on the blanket and pillow. My mom made the blanket and pillow and gifted them to me for Christmas, my sister also getting one of each. There is meaning behind this, and the short story is that a koala stuffed animal was my mom's focus object when she was in labor with both my sister and myself. Tonks of course tries to claim the blanket and pillow as hers, just as she does with the hippo.

I got a festive photo of the hippo by the Christmas tree during the actual festive season, so why not share that now? I'm only a month late.

Since we just shared our festive little hippo friend in the flesh fluff, perhaps you all won't mind me sharing yet another forgotten Christmas doodle, just like I did yesterday. This one stars none other than—can you guess?—a festive hippo.

Happy Sunday, friends!

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Tip of the Day

As you all certainly know, cats often seek out heat. Those pups out there sometimes do, too. For this reason, when it's cold this winter, monitor your furbaby around any sort of heat source. This of course goes for fireplaces, which should be sufficiently blocked so that kitties and pups can't directly access it or end up with burns. But, this also goes for various space heaters, radiators, and even floor or wall registers for the furnace. Especially if your cat or dog is known to park themselves incredibly close to, or even on top of, such heat sources, be sure to keep a very close eye on them when heaters are being used, or when the furnace is running. If they are near a heat source, check on them regularly, and feel them to make sure that they, and their fur, are not getting dangerously hot. Depending on the kind of heat produced by various heat sources, burns and other injuries can occur if a kitty or pup sleeps on or near it. If needed, such as if your kitty or pup insists on keeping a heater or furnace register company, consider blocking direct access to them. For example, there are safe, fire-proof covers for furnace registers on the floor or wall. When it comes to space heaters, if needed, place them in areas where your kitty or pup does not have access. In other cases, you might be able to find a way to safely block direct access to heaters and radiators, so that your furbaby can enjoy the heat without the risk of burns. Of course we want our furbabies to stay warm in the winter, but it is also important to ensure that your kitty or pup does not end up with burns or other injuries.

Caturday Art: A Festive Farewell

It's nearly a month after Christmas, so obviously now is the time to share our final festive posts, right? Right? The Christmas takedown actually took place last weekend at our house, as that's when we deconstructed all of our Christmas decor. Of course, the main event was taking down our Christmas trees. Speaking of which, since this is the day of Athena's Caturday Art Blog Hop, how about we start off with a long-lost Christmas tree doodle that never got to see the light of day during the festive season? Yeah? Well, here it is. Only a month late.

Now, back to our Christmas decor that was deconstructed last weekend. Some of it had certainly seen its fair share of festive fun, including these villagers.

Who needs Godzilla or King Kong when you've got a mouse taking out festive carolers and paper boys? Then again, the mouse might have had an accomplice or two.

My money really is on that there calico Tonks helping that mouse wipe out the Christmas village. After all, Tonks was the main inhabitant of that there Christmas tree and its general vicinity. That's probably why the poor girl was so sad to see me ridding the house of all the festiveness.

 

Tonks did make sure to protest and to make my Christmas cleanup take extra time, such as by scattering the ribbons I was trying to remove from the tree.

As I was gathering up the ribbons from the Christmas tree, I found a little something else hidden amongst the branches.

Again, I'm positive it was Tonks who put that little coil toy in the tree. When I knocked it to the floor, she certainly came to investigate. From the depths of the tree, of course.

Tonks sadly did have to say farewell to her tree soon after that photo was snapped. Don't worry, though, because there is still a festive thing or two for Tonks to enjoy year round. She'll actually show off one of those tomorrow, when she'll be sharing a selfie with a special sort of guest.

Happy Caturday, friends!

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Tip of the Day

The mixture of cold air outside and dry heat inside during the winter months can lead to skin that is dry, itchy, and flaky. For this reason, it could very well be a good idea to keep a humidifier going in your house, to help keep the air and your furbaby's fur and coat as moist and comfortable as possible. Do be sure to keep in mind your kitty or pup's activity level and favorite areas to play or run when placing the humidifier, though, in order to avoid spills and other risks that might come with a humidifier. In a strategic, safe, and secure place, though, a humidifier can help keep the air moist and a cat or dog free of the discomfort of dry skin and coat.

It's also worth it to note that another way to reduce your furbaby's dryness and itchiness in the winter is to minimize or eliminate baths, as well as to dry them off when they come indoors and are wet with snow or rain. Brushing them regularly can also stimulate the natural oils of their skin, which can further help keep their fur and skin from drying out. If you do notice your kitty or pup's skin and coat is dry and itchy during the winter, and especially if you cannot get an easy handle on it, you can certainly discuss the issue and further solutions with your veterinarian.

Friendly Fill-Ins

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


1. _________ makes me feel old.

2. _________ makes me feel young.

3. Recently, _________ came in very handy.

4. I think that _________ is the most useless _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. Modern music makes me feel old.

(While there are some modern music artists that I enjoy, a lot of the popular stuff just isn't to my taste. Hearing it makes me feel old, because the style is not what I grew up listening to, and I don't know many of the artists or songs. I don't mind that, but it does make me realize that I'm certainly not the spring chicken musicians are targeting these days.)

2. '80s music makes me feel young.

(In contrast to my answer to #1, I was born at the very tail end of the '80s and so didn't grow up with that type of music as the soundtrack to my life. My childhood was all things '90s and early 2000s, so that kind of music is what played on the modern stations of the radio during my youth. I do watch a lot of shows and movies that were filmed in the '80s or that take place in the '80s, though, and I've heard my fair share of '80s music. That said, I admittedly can't often tell you the exact artist or title of the '80s songs I'm hearing, though my parents certainly can, and sometimes that makes me feel just a tad bit young.)

3. Recently, Evan's unexpected vet visit came in very handy.

(I mentioned last week how Evan had some blood in his urine, which is how his Christmastime urethral obstruction first presented. Therefore, I raced him to the vet last Tuesday, where they found that he is just fine thought still having some irritation from his blockage. It was as I pulled out of the vet's parking lot with Evan that, as I also mentioned last week, a bar that holds my car's back wheels on snapped in half. Since I was only going 5 or 10 mph when it happened, nothing terrible came of it despite the fact that such a thing can cause a car to be difficult or impossible to steer. If it hadn't been for Evan's false alarm vet visit, I would have likely been driving to or from work at much higher speeds, rather than slowly exiting the vet parking lot, when this happened. The shop that fixed my car said that I'm lucky it happened at such a low speed, so thank you very much, Evan.)

4. I think that banana is the most useless flavor for a cat's medication.

(I'll also include in this bubblegum and all the other weird flavors that kitties' antibiotics and other meds often come in. I know a lot of times human-grade medications can and are used for cats, and so that's where some of the weird flavors come from. But my kitties don't want banana or bubblegum, so I'm thinking an overhaul in feline medications would be great. This answer is courtesy of all the medications Evan was or is on recently, including his banana flavored and scented Clavamox that he absolutely loathed.)

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.

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In case you needed to be reminded how gorgeous Eddy's eyes are, here you go.

We had a couple of sort of warm days recently, so Eddy got to have some very short window whiffies. Now it's cold again, though, so we're sending you all warm wishes!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's winter tip is one that is probably rather logical, and it's therefore one that you all very likely already know. This tip is to refrain from shaving your kitty or pup in the winter, especially a shave close to the skin. The truth is, it is always best to refrain from cutting your furbaby's fur to the skin. In the winter, one obvious reason their fur is crucial is because it helps insulate heat. Similarly, though, a cat or dog's fur can insulate cool air when it's hot outside, making it equally important in the summer. Of course, in the case of severe mats, thick fur that causes overheating in the summer, or other extenuating circumstances, a shave might be required or beneficial. That being said, though, it is usually best and safest for your furbaby to never shave their fur down to the skin. That fur serves far more purposes than one, including insulating both warm and cool air, depending on the time of the year.

Thankful Thimble Thursday

It's Thursday, which means we're ready for Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

As always, a little tabby named Thimble is here to share her gratitude.

Today, Thimble is indeed grateful for those great big sun puddles she finds. They come in very handy on winter days.

Warm wishes to all!

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And now we're ready to share with you 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. _________ makes me feel old.

2. _________ makes me feel young.

3. Recently, _________ came in very handy.

4. I think that _________ is the most useless _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's winter safety tip regards none other than frozen water. If you and your furbaby go out for walks, be careful of frozen ponds, lakes, and so forth. If you live or walk in an area where there is any sort of body of water, be very careful that you are aware of its location. Snow and ice can easily camouflage the frozen surface of water, beneath which danger awaits. To be better safe than sorry, simply avoid walking in areas where you know or think there are ponds, lakes, or any body of water. It is of course also safest to keep your walking pup or kitty on a leash and near to you, so that they cannot stray far and inadvertently find themselves on or in frozen water. A white winter scene can be beautiful, but it also holds many dangers. Be aware of these dangers, and plan walks and other activities with your furbaby accordingly.