Happy Birthday, Eddy!

As the title of the post says...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EDDY!

My little girl Eddy isn't a kitten anymore.

Actually, she hasn't been a kitten for quite some time. After all, she turns 8 years old today!

Eddy, you are my sweet and sassy, sugar and spice, sometimes feral little girl, and I love you so much! 

Friends, grab some fishy cake and help yourself to some catnip in the back. We're celebrating Eddy all day long.

(P.S. We'll finish up our April A to Z Challenge tomorrow. See you then!)

***

Tip of the Day

 

Are you ready for another spring safety tip for your furbabies? As certain insects and buggers start to make an appearance this time of year, be cautious of those that could be harmful. For example, just as with humans, bee stings can lead to allergic reactions in cats and dogs. These reactions can include mild swelling at the site of the sting, or a full anaphylactic reaction, such as with difficulty breathing. For this reason, always try to keep your furbaby away from bees and other similarly dangerous critters. Keep your furbaby out of gardens where bees and other such critters might frequent, and don't leave your kitty or pup unattended in an area known for its bees and so forth.

We'll also now remind you of some other critters that we not too long ago mentioned in another tip. So, don't forget that some caterpillars and butterflies, such as those that consume milkweed, can be toxic for furbabies to ingest. There are also dangerous spiders of which to be cautious, of course including the brown recluse and black widow. There are even some toads and frogs that can be poisonous for our furbabies to ingest.

All in all, this time of year, some incredible critters start to make appearances. However, some of these critters can lead to serious effects in our furbabies. This means we must always be cautious with our furbabies around any critters that we know are dangerous, and even those with which we are not familiar. And, of course, should your furbaby come into contact with a dangerous insect or other critter, do not hesitate to seek veterinary assistance. What's more, discuss with your veterinarian what you can do to help prevent serious allergic reactions or other emergencies, which can include having diphenhydramine (Benadryl) on hand, and knowing how much to give.

Friendly Fill-Ins, Photo Fails, and X-Ray Things

Hello and happy Friday, friends! 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. I wish my town (city) had a _________.

2. So far, this year has been _________.

3. _________ is a little too _________ for my liking.

4. Even if _________, I really appreciate _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. I wish my city had a Trader Joe's.

(We have never had a Trader Joe's in or near my city, and I've always wanted to shop at one. I've heard and seen some of the unique things they offer, and I've heard their prices are decent, so I wouldn't complain if my city decided to get itself a Trader Joe's store.)

2. So far, this year has been a tad bit stressful.
(I think all of us pet parents and just adults in general understand that stress just exists some days, or more like most days. My furbabies and their health and happiness are admittedly what makes me personally feel the most stressed and anxious some days, because I really just want what's best for them. Especially following Astrid's knee surgery last October and Evan's urethral obstruction last December, I've been really on edge when it comes to those two furbabies of mine. Evan now requires daily medications and fights regular UTIs and other complications from his situation, but both he and Astrid are both doing well right now, so I really shouldn't complain. It could be so much worse and I am blessed.)

3. Getting groceries is a little too expensive for my liking.

(Obviously I'm not going to stop shopping for groceries. I like food way too much for that. But, I used to be able to buy my groceries for so very much cheaper. It's not like I have to tell any of you that, though. We're all living in the same economy, which is just going so wonderfully, isn't it?)

4. Even if they aren't perfect, I really appreciate the emergency vet in my city.

(This emergency vet is where I took Evan on the day after Christmas when he had his urethral obstruction while our usual vet was closed for the Christmas holiday. It's also where the specialist performed Astrid's surgery to repair her knee. I'll admit there are a couple things here and there that aren't my favorite about the emergency vet clinic, but none of those things are crucial enough to make me not appreciate the fact that they are open every hour of every day of the year in case a kitty or pup is in need, and that they have significantly helped two of my furbabies.)

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.

You better believe our resident blooper queen Eddy has some outtakes to share. As always, she's all shades of blurry today.

Eddy hopes you all enjoy some sunshine today, blurry or not!

***

And now we're moving on to the April A to Z Challenge.

My theme is "These Are a Few of My Favorite Things", and we've reached the letter X. This was definitely not an easy letter to work with, so I took some liberties and decided that my X stands for x-ray things, or something like that.

I've mentioned how I keep a variety of my favorite Halloween decorations out year round. Some of the most obvious ones that stay out are two life-sized skeletons. They each have a chair they sit in at my house, one of them at my art desk and the other in our little home library. I'm not saying it's normal, but I myself enjoy the aesthetic.

I also have this doodle below from my 2021 "Halfway to Halloween" A to Z Challenge, when I believe I also had X stand for x-ray sorts of things. 

  

I won't even deny that some of my preferences are a bit weird. Even so, I hope you enjoyed these wacky x-ray things!

***

Tip of the Day

As the weather grows warmer, time outdoors with your furbaby may very well increase. For example, you might walk your dog, or even your kitty, more often or farther. Or, time out in the yard might simply increase. That's why this is the perfect time of year to remind you all to take precautions to keep your outdoor furbabies safe. When venturing away from home, keep your furbabies on leashes, or otherwise keep them safely at your side. When it comes to safety in your own yard, ensure that leads and fences are secure and resistant to escape attempts. In addition, ensure that your outdoor kitty or pup is donning identification, such as by means of a tag on a collar and an updated microchip. All of these precautions are important for ensuring that your furbaby remains safe and sound with you, or that they can find their way back to you should the unthinkable happen and they become separated from you. A lost furbaby is certainly a nightmarish situation for all, so do all that you can to prevent it.

Thankful Thimble Thursday with a Side of Eddy and the Letter W

Hello and happy Thursday, friends! We're here and ready for Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Of course, tabby girl Thimble is here to share her gratitude. And, of course, she's yet again thankful for her sunshine.

Thimble is also grateful that her sister Eddy hasn't been smacking her around as much lately.

Can you see Eddy back there in the darkness? Can you see Eddy's big yawn?

Eddy and Thimble don't always get along perfectly. That's honestly Eddy's doing, as she doesn't get along with most other cats. She loves being around Evan, as he's the one cat Eddy really, truly likes. That said, even though they're not the best of friends, Eddy does tolerate Thimble and will willingly be in the same room as her. Lately, Eddy has even been trolling Thimble a tad bit less than usual, and Thimble has been taking advantage of that.

***

And now we're on to today's edition of the April A to Z Challenge.

As I've repeated like a broken record nearly every day this month, my A to Z theme this years is "These Are a Few of My Favorite Things". Today we've reached the letter W, and I decided that my W stands for wildlife.

I love all animals, of course including wildlife. Since I put food on our back patio for strays, ferals, and the neighbor cat, we get lots of visitors, most commonly opossums. These poor little marsupials get such a bad rap sometimes. I know they might look a bit unorthodox, but they do a lot for the environment, such as eating ticks. They're also essentially immune to rabies and therefore people have little to no reason to fear opossums spreading this disease. 

***

Now, let's 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 wish my town (city) had a _________.

2. So far, this year has been _________.

3. _________ is a little too _________ for my liking.

4. Even if _________, I really appreciate _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

As spring really gets underway, don't forget that our furbabies can have allergies just like we can. Just as with us, pollen, grass, and other airborne allergies can lead to itching, scratching, sneezing, and a number of other similar symptoms in our kitties and pups. If you notice any such symptoms in your furbaby, discuss this with your veterinarian. There are antihistamines and other treatments that can potentially help alleviate allergies for our furbabies.

In addition to veterinary and medicinal care, there are other considerations to make when it comes to helping a kitty or pup cope with seasonal allergies. For example, though we all love window whiffies, keep in mind that open windows can potentially exacerbate allergies, as the allergens then have easy access into the home. So, closed windows are often best for keeping the allergens down within the home. For furbabies who go outdoors, when they come inside, you can wipe off their paws and even wipe down their body to help remove allergens. Regularly cleaning floors, curtains, bedding, clothing, and so forth, can help keep a handle on allergens that might find their way into the home. Regularly changing the filter in your heating and cooling system is another important factor. In addition to this, an air purifier can also help.

As always, we of course want what's best for our furbabies. Allergies can lead to discomfort, so of course helping your furbaby cope with them is crucial. If you think or know that your furbaby has seasonal allergies, or any allergies at all, discuss this with your veterinarian and do all that you can to minimize their effects.

Adventures with Astrid, a Lone Cone, and the Letter V

Pup Astrid has been enjoying sniffing all of the stuff construction workers have been leaving behind in our neighborhood, but it would seem their work is coming to an end.

Astrid has shown you shots of her investigating some of the construction machinery, since they didn't seem to mind leaving it sitting around the neighborhood in the evenings. Astrid also made friends with a sizable collection of orange cones. Now, though, all we have left are a few of those lone cones scattered here and there. 

Astrid will miss her strange friends the construction workers kept leaving for her, but she won't miss the racket they often made during her beloved nap time.

***

Now, let's move on to the April A to Z Challenge.

As if I haven't reminded you all of this nearly every day this month, my A to Z theme this year is "These Are a Few of My Favorite Things". Today we've reached the letter V. After doing some brainstorming, I chose to make my V stand for the Victorian era, especially Victorian architecture, or a Victorian settings in general. I quite enjoy books, movies, art, and all such things set in Victorian times. I know the world wasn't perfect in any stage of history, but I at least enjoy seeing beautiful imagery of the Victorian era.

To illustrate how my V stands for the Victorian era, I'm showing you two doodles that are admittedly from a couple of years ago. The plan was to recreate these drawings in some semblance, but drawing architecture is far from my strong suit, and so I failed to ever find the courage to take this challenge on again. I will do so soon, though, as seeing these old images has really inspired me to see if maybe I can't improve on them even just a little bit. My main goal for my upcoming second attempt is to add more details far more true to the Victorian era.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

Our spring safety tip today involves those beloved window whiffies. As you all certainly know, before opening those windows, make sure that they have screens and that those screens are properly safe and secure. Thoroughly check those window screens before allowing your kitty or pup access. If any weak spots or issues are noted, do not allow your furbaby access until the window is safe against escape by said furbaby.

Also keep in mind that it is possible for a window screen to seem secure, but for a furbaby to lean or push against it and thereby knock it loose. It's also possible for little claws to make weak spots in screens. For this reason, never leave your furbaby unattended with open windows. This way, no accidental falls or escapes from the window can occur. We're nothing if not a broken record, so we'll again repeat that it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Tonks Tuesday: Un-sunny Days and Upcycling

Friends, Tonks is a little upset on this Tuesday.

She got all nestled by the window, and then do you know what happened? 

The sun went away and it started raining. How rude, Mother Nature. No snoozing in sun puddles for Tonks today. Oh well, just because it quite quickly became an un-sunny day doesn't mean Tonks won't get in those naps.

***

Now, let's get to today's contribution to April's A to Z Challenge.

My theme this year is "These Are a Few of My Favorite Things", and today we've reached the letter U. This is perhaps a strange one, but I decided to make my U stand for upcycling. I don't know if that's actually a weird one or not, but the doodle below sure is. So, my attempt at a quick explanation is that I find joy in reusing certain items rather than tossing them out. I do a lot of upcycling of glass jars, for example. I especially like when this saves me from having to spend money on store-bought containers. For example, I use old mason jars, glass syrup bottles, and baby food jars (my tabby girl Thimble is spoiled and likes baby food as a treat) to store pencils, paintbrushes, paperclips, and that sort of thing. I also turn them into different forms of decorations, like candle or other light holders, or the ones I perhaps strangely turned into fake potions bottles. Honestly, if you need some homemade Halloween decorations, glass syrup bottles make great potion bottles. 

I'll also mention that I have picked up my fair share of really old, tattered books at garage sales to use as craft paper, or to use as the labels for the aforementioned potions bottles. I also once found a cauldron-like planter at a garage sale, cleaned it up, and turned it into a Halloween decoration.

All the above rambling aside, here's my doodle to rather weirdly demonstrate how U stand for upcycling.

We hope your day is a little less weird than that doodle!

***

Tip of the Day

Today's spring safety tip is another one we've very recently mentioned, but that we'll repeat again. It is to always be aware and cautious of the potential dangers of various fertilizers, pesticides, and other such chemicals that are often used this time of the year. If you plan to use any such products, do your research and try to avoid using potentially toxic variations. No matter what kind you use, though, to be safe, keep any such products stashed safely away from your furbaby's reach.

But, this tip also goes beyond what you might be using in your own personal environment. For pups or kitties who go outdoors, you should take into consideration that unfamiliar yards, parks, and other such areas may use products that could have toxic effects if walked through, ingested, and so forth. When out and about with your furbaby, or even just yourself, try to avoid areas where you know or think any unsafe chemicals are used. When you arrive back at home after a walk or other excursion, wipe off paws and shoes, so that you can do your best to remove any traces of fertilizers, pesticides, or other chemicals. There is no such thing as being too careful when it comes to the health and safety of our furbabies, so do all that you can to keep your furbaby protected from potentially dangerous chemicals this time of year, and all year round.

Mancat Monday: Snoozing, Snacking, and TV Time

Hello, friends! This past weekend turned out far crazier than I anticipated. Our internet was finally upgraded, though with many complications along the way. By the time that was sorted out, I ran out of time to get my laptop and scanner on board with the new internet setup. So, now here we are yet again posting late after falling off the face of the earth over the weekend.

I hope to get all of the above final technological issues sorted out tonight, or at least within the next couple of days, but for now here's mancat Evan on this Mancat Monday.

Evan has been enjoying his naps these days. He's been feeling great now that his UTI is all cleared up, so he plays hard and then naps even harder. Of course, whatever blanket this human mom of his is using is the best place to curl up for that nap. And I don't mind that one bit.

***

Now, let's try to catch up with the April A to Z Challenge in some way.

My A to Z theme this year is "These Are a Few of My Favorite Things". During our absence on Saturday we missed the letter S, and now today we're at the letter T. Since I'm still fighting my ancient laptop and my even more ancient scanner following our internet upgrade, I didn't manage to get the new doodles for either of those letters scanned to share. So, I went through some old doodles to see what I could do to still share something for those two. I wanted to try to find something that included at least one of the brainstormed ideas I had already considered for S and T this year, and I ended up finding one single doodle that could cover both. In this doodle from many years ago, S stands for snacking, and T stands for TV time.

I'm one of those people who might put the TV on in the evenings even if I'm not watching it closely. Sometimes I'll be drawing or writing, or even reading, but I still enjoy having the TV on in the background. Then there are nights when I'll sit down and binge an entire TV series with my full attention, or even have myself a movie marathon. More often than not, no matter how I'm watching TV, some sort of snack will be involved, and popcorn is a favorite.

As a side note, there will still be a variety of alphabet-related doodles on our blog come May. This is not the first time this month that I couldn't manage to get my new doodles for a particular letter successfully scanned to share with you all. So, all of those abandoned doodles will end up being shared in retrospect.

***

Tip of the Day

 

We've gotten into the habit of revamping and re-sharing old series of tips, and we're doing that again now with a series of tips on pet safety in the spring. Today's springtime tip is one that we've shared far more than once before, and that is to always be aware and cautious of the plants you have both in your garden and in your house. Some of the springtime plants that can be highly toxic to our furbabies include certain lilies, daffodils, and tulips. The list most certainly does not end there, though.

All of the above is why, before you bring any plants anywhere near your kitty or pup, always do your research and understand any potential toxicity. One good resource for finding out the potential toxicity of plant types is by perusing the ASPCA's extensive information on plants, which you can find by clicking here. In short, to keep your furbaby safe this spring, of course be aware of any and all plants with which they come in contact. And, of course, if you have any concern that your furbaby may have gained access to a toxic plant, seek veterinary assistance as soon as possible.

Friendly Fill-Ins with Eddy and the Letter R

Hello and happy Friday! I'm sorry for yet another late post, friends. Technology was just not working at my house last night, and I wasn't able to finish this post during breaks at work yesterday, so now I had to wait to top off this post when I got back to work and its functioning internet this morning. The good news, though, is that I actually got an appointment for tomorrow to have my home internet upgraded. That should solve a lot of the problems I've been having, which should mean that I can finally get back to having my posts properly finished and scheduled ahead of time.

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


1. I was pleased to hear that _________.

2. There should be a _________ Appreciation Day.

3. I have a lot of confidence in my ability to _________.

4. _________ is easier said than done.

My answers are below in bold.

1. I was pleased to hear that we're supposed to have cooler temperatures for at least the next week.

(I might be in a minority here, but I'm not into the heat of summer. I was not prepared for the 80°F days we recently had, and I'm happy that we'll be in the 50-60°F range over the next few days. That's more my speed.)

2. There should be a Specially-Abled Animal Appreciation Day.

(Truth be told, I typed up this answer and then researched to make sure there isn't already a day like this. Guess what? There is one! National Specially-Abled Pets Day is May 3. My wish came true, and now I need to make sure I remember this day, because I'm ecstatic it exists.)

3. I have a lot of confidence in my ability to read animals.

(Sadly, I can't truly speak with animals or communicate with them in that sort of way. However, I feel like I have a good grasp on reading the body language of cats and dogs. This is probably a mixture of having grown up with animals since a young age, studying companion animals and their behavior in college, and working with animals in various jobs throughout my life.)

4. Pilling a cat is easier said than done.

(One thing I never mastered in all of my experience with animals is pilling a cat. Granted, I've never myself had a kitty who was all that cooperative when it came to being pilled. I'll always remember the time when my angel Rosie was all but on death's doorstep with pancreatitis and yet she still fought me tooth and nail to get a pill into her mouth. I was elated when it finally went in her mouth and didn't come back out. But then she spit it out at me 2 hours later. That said, I am good at giving animals liquid medications by mouth, transdermal medications, and even some injections. Pilling a cat is simply not my favorite, however, and I will always pick medication options that are anything but that.)

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? This girl has been showing you lots of photos of her in action and at her favorite window, so she wanted to remind you all that every once and awhile she does stop and rest. Especially if she can do so in a sun puddle.

Eddy's wishing you all lots of sunshine and snoozes today!

***

Now, how about today's edition of the April A to Z Challenge?

This year, my A to Z theme is "These Are a Few of My Favorite Things", and today we've reached the letter R. I was quite easily able to choose for my R to stand for reading.

In truth, that's another flashback doodle. I actually just last night put the final touches on the new doodle for R, but the technological issues I was having extended all the way to my scanner, which of course means I couldn't scan my drawing to share it today. But, the above drawing was actually what inspired my new doodle, which is actually just a simplified version of the one above. So, today you get to see that there version of R stands for reading, and sometime soon you'll get to see the new R doodle.

Happy reading!

***

Tip of the Day

In case you forgot, April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. And, in case you forgot, we're doing a short series of tips on this topic. Today, we have a simple tip on how you can help prevent cruelty and neglect of animals. And that is, simply, to adopt your furbabies from shelters or rescues. Though there are indeed reputable and responsible breeders out there, there are also, unfortunately, a vast number of backyard breeders and puppy and kitty mills where animals are inhumanely treated as nothing but tools for the sake of human profit. By purchasing from such breeders or from pet shops, you are supporting the cruel treatment of the animals used by these breeders. So, please always consider adopting from shelters and rescues!

Also, as we're certain you already know, please also have your kitties and pups spayed or neutered. In addition, if you are able to do, consider assisting with trap-neuter-release (TNR) programs, which help reduce overpopulation both in the wild and in the shelter system. Strays, ferals, and even intact house pets can contribute to a large number of kittens and puppies being born in the wild. Sadly, these outdoor animals can make accessible and easy targets for cruel treatment from humans who wish them harm. We have all heard the terrible stories of animal cruelty inflicted on innocent creatures living outdoors. So, for more reasons than one, please also spay and neuter your pets, and consider assisting in TNR programs.

Thankful Thimble Thursday with Sunshine and the Letter Q

It's Thursday, which means it's time to be thankful!

Thimble is of course here to share her gratitude. As is often the case lately, Thimble is thankful for that sunshine.

Darn it. Her human got in the way of her sun puddle. Move, human.

More. Scooch over, human.

There. That's much better. Thimble is wishing you all lots of sunshine as well!

***

And now we're ready for today's edition of the April A to Z Challenge.

My theme is "These Are a Few of My Favorite Things", and today we've reached the letter Q. This wasn't an easy one, but I still somewhat easily picked quiet, or what they call quietude.

That there is admittedly a flashback doodle, but the one I had scribbled up for today just ended up not seeming right. I can probably use if for one of the last letters of the alphabet, which I haven't finished drawings for yet. That said, my type of quietude involves me being tucked in the comfort of my home, surrounded by my furbabies, books, art, and that sort of thing. For me, Q could also stand for quirky or quaint things, like the random potion bottles in that there doodle. That sort of thing just kind of speaks to me, so I thought I'd throw that in there as well.

***

Now, let's share 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 was pleased to hear that _________.

2. There should be a _________ Appreciation Day.

3. I have a lot of confidence in my ability to _________.

4. _________ is easier said than done.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

Yesterday's tip for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month offered suggestions for reporting animal cruelty that you might witness. To further that, did you know that some areas have cruelty prevention programs or task forces? These are often part of the local animal control, humane society, or other similar organization. Therefore, if you wish to further assist in the prevention of animal cruelty in your area, do your research and see if your area offers a program such as this and inquire as to how to join. If your area does not offer such a program, there are still ways you can help when it comes to preventing cruelty. Over the next couple of days we'll be going into detail about some the ways you can help prevent animal cruelty, so stay tuned.

Adventures with Astrid and the Letter P

Astrid has another adventure to share with you all today, and she wants to show you some new friends she made.

See them there? They're tall, and orange, and not very talkative or active. But, they did highly interest pup Astrid.

Those new friends of Astrid's have been sitting on that corner of our neighborhood for weeks now. Astrid will be sad to see them go, whenever that might happen. 

Astrid is curious if any of you have made any weird new friends lately? She sure has, with all the random bits and pieces the construction workers keep leaving behind on our walking paths. She'll keep showing you more of those new friends of hers for as long as they stick around.

***

And now we're ready for today's edition of the April A to Z Challenge.

This year, my A to Z theme is "These Are a Few of My Favorite Things", as anyone who has visited us this month very likely already knows. Today we've reached the letter P.

Especially the farther I make it into the A to Z challenge, the more I find myself coming up with a number of different ideas for each letter. I guess I just like keeping my options open. For P, I heavily considered making it stand for purple, which has been my favorite color since childhood. I also thought of simply making it stand for personal space, or more like personalized space. Or peace, of course with a side of quiet. Obviously, P can also stand for pets, which I love so very much. Then I realized, why not try to cover all of that in one doodle? And so P stands for all of the above, and then some.

I also considered making P stand for Poe, that being Edgar Allan Poe, as his macabre work is my kind of thing. So, pretend one or more of those books contains Poe's works.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

As part of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, we are continuing our series of tips regarding this topic. Yesterday we mentioned some of the unfortunate forms of cruelty and neglect, and mentioned the importance of recognizing animal cruelty when you witness it. Today, we are giving some brief tips on what to do if you do witness animal cruelty.

First and foremost, if you witness animal cruelty, report it as soon as possible. You can report it to the police, including calling 911 if you believe it is an emergency at hand. You can also call your local animal control, humane society, or other organization that can offer help in the face of animal cruelty. If your local area does not offer help for animal cruelty, then call the Humane Society of the United States or other similar organization to see what can possibly be done.

What's more, if you do have animal cruelty to report, make sure that you have all the details and any evidence possible. Knowing the location, date, time, and of course the nature of the witnessed cruelty can be important for expediting the report and actions taken by police or other organizations. Try to tell them what types of animals and how many are involved, as well as details on any perpetrators you've seen. If possible, use that cell phone of yours to grab photos or video of any cruelty you are witnessing. Evidence in this form can really help to expedite the resolution of the issue.

When it comes to reporting animal cruelty, be persistent. Animals do not have a voice with which to speak up for themselves, so we must do it for them. If you are witnessing cruelty, be persistent in contacting those who can help, and follow up to ensure that there is resolution. Give the police, animal control, the humane society, or whoever is helping your contact information, so that they can contact you if needed. All in all, we must be the voice for the voiceless, so if you witness any form of animal cruelty or neglect, do all that you can to safely seek aid for the victim(s).

Terrifying Tonks Tuesday

It's Tonks Tuesday, and it's kind of a terrifying one. After all, look at the kind of stuff poor Tonks has to deal with year round.

This here sort of morbid human indeed has a number of Halloween goodies that stay out year round, including that there pillow. And that topic takes us right to today's contribution to the April A to Z Challenge.

This year, my A to Z theme is "These Are a Few of My Favorite Things", and today we've reached the letter O. While I yet again had a number of options to go with for this letter, I ended up landing on my O standing for October. After all, that allowed me to scribble up and share a doodle like this:

October offers a lot of things I quite appreciate in life, including the one and only Halloween, pumpkins and jack-o'-lanterns (or, even better, cat-o'-lanterns), horror stories, autumn leaves, crisp air, and all of that wonderful stuff. All things considered, October is my favorite month of the year.

You've probably seen drawings with similar characters as above. Though that there is a new doodle, it is concept art for a book I've been writing for what seems like an eternity. It involves none other than the Headless Horseman as well as a calico cat, and I've mentioned it before, and I've also shared a number of doodles related to it. Also, the calico kitty previously mentioned and in the doodle above is my angel Rosie.

Wishing you all a not too terrifying Tuesday!

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Tip of the Day

April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. For this reason, we're going to have a bit of a series of tips on how to recognize potential cases of cruelty, as well as what we can do to help. Today, we're going to start by giving a simple overview of what cruelty can look like. First, of course physical abuse toward an animal is cruelty. Neglect is another form of cruelty, and can include situations such as when an animal is left outdoors in extreme or unlivable conditions with no shelter, food, or water. In a similar line of thought is hoarding, which can include too large of an animal population for the space provided, extremely unsanitary conditions, and lack of nutritional, medical, and other basic care for the animals. Another example of neglect and cruelty to animals is abandoning an animal, such as in a vacated home or outdoors. Other examples of cruelty to animals include leaving an animal alone in a hot, or even cold, car, as well as any form of dog fighting.

There are, sadly, a great many examples of animal cruelty and neglect. Since animals can't speak for themselves, it is of course important that we all be aware of what cruelty is, and what forms it can take. Our vigilance and diligence may be the only way for some innocent, helpless animals out there to receive the help and care they need. So, do make sure that you are aware of the sad yet true facts of animal cruelty and neglect. This way, you can know it when you see it, and can thereby seek help for the afflicted animal or animals. Tomorrow, we will discuss some of the ways we can address situations of cruelty and neglect that we might witness.

Mancat Monday with M and N

Hello, friends! We yet again apologize for how chaotic our blog and overall online presence is lately. My laptop and internet at home are just plain disasters, and have been for quite some time now. My internet will be upgraded in a couple of weeks, so hopefully that will sort out that issue. I also need to get a new laptop, but I'm far from tech savvy and admittedly always put off purchasing and figuring out new computers because I just don't enjoy the process. But I won't ramble on about that. I will, however, try to use my breaks at work and my parents' already upgraded internet to do better here on our blog while I wait for my own internet at home to function a bit better.

All that said, it's Mancat Monday, and Evan is here to grace you all with his handsome presence.

Excuse Evan if he looks a tad bit grumpy. I may or may not have woken him up from a nap.

Evan hopes you all get in lots of uninterrupted naps today! Oh, and this orange boy also wants to thank everyone who wished him a happy birthday on Saturday!

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Now, shall we finally get to the April A to Z Challenge that I've neglected for a couple of days?

My A to Z theme this year is "These Are a Few of My Favorite Things". Saturday was meant to be the letter M, though I didn't share it then. Today is the letter N. I'm admittedly cheating and rolling both of those into one doodle, because what I have here works for both letters. For M I had numerous options I was trying to choose from, including the moon, as it is yet another aspect of astronomy that highly intrigues me. I also was thinking of making M stand for magical things, as I am a fan of the fantasy genre. As for N, it also had multiple options I was debating, and the night sky was one of them. This here doodle in some way contains all of those things, so here you go.

If that doodle looks familiar, it's because over the years I've scribbled up at least three different iterations of that imagery. I once long ago saw a painting with the same sort of concept, and I liked it enough that I've created my own version multiple times.

Happy Monday, friends!

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Tip of the Day

The last parasite we'll be discussing in this parasitic series of tips is Toxoplasma gondii, which causes the disease known as toxoplasmosis. Though different animals can be affected, including cats, dogs, and humans, cats are the most prevalent. A cat can get toxoplasmosis from eating the infected muscle or organs of an animal, such as by eating a mouse or uncooked meat. The parasite can thereafter be passed through the cat's feces, and then other cats, dogs, or humans can acquire the disease after coming into contact with and ingesting such fecal matter.

Some cats with toxoplasmosis will display symptoms such as fever, lethargy, respiratory distress, or neurological disturbances. Symptoms are most often seen in cats who are immunocompromised, such as young kittens or the geriatric and sick. In most cases, though, especially in grown, healthy cats, no symptoms are noticed. It is even possible for a cat to indeed have toxoplasmosis for years, but to simply never display symptoms. This can also be the case in other animals, including humans. That being said, developing babies in utero can be at high risk for toxoplasmosis. This is why it is often recommended that women refrain from scooping their cat's litter box when pregnant.

To help prevent the transmission of toxoplasmosis, you can keep your kitty indoors, where they are less likely to come into contact with the feces of an infected animal or to ingest infected tissue from prey. Also ensure that any meat you feed your cat is cooked. Also keep all litter boxes scooped and cleaned. To protect yourself, always wash your hands well after scooping the litter box. Accidental transmission can occur simply from a person scooping the litter, not thoroughly washing their hands, and then touching their mouths or food. Dogs can also acquire toxoplasmosis by ingesting fecal matter, so keep your dogs away the litter box and fecal material they might find outdoors.

We're sure you all know this by now, but if you notice any concerning symptoms in your kitty, of course always have them examined by a veterinarian. Any questions or concerns regarding your cat's risk for diseases such as toxoplasmosis can of course be discussed with your vet as well. Even diseases such as toxoplasmosis, which often give off no symptoms at all, can be lethal in a compromised, untreated furbaby. So, as always, it's always better to be safe than sorry.