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. When I _________, it means that I am sick.

2. I _________ fireworks.

3. I have a newfound appreciation for _________.

4. I think everyone should _________ so that _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. When I lose my appetite, it means that I am sick.

(I'm generally a very hungry person, so if I don't have an appetite for an extended period of time, it probably means I'm under the weather.)

2. I generally dislike fireworks.

(When I was a kid I loved fireworks and watching them on Independence Day. When I got older and realized the fear and dangers that wildlife, strays, ferals, and even indoor animals can experience as a result of fireworks, I became way less a fan of them. I don't terribly mind firework shows that are put on by professionals in a safe, secured location. In my area, though, a bunch of novices like setting them off in their back yards and that sort of thing, and I can't stand that. It's not only unnerving to think of what a hazard that is in general, but I hate thinking of all the poor animals it terrifies.)

3. I have a newfound appreciation for Miralax.

(Those who didn't see our post on Monday are probably extra confused and concerned about this answer. To give a very brief explanation, my orange tabby boy Evan has been struggling with significant bouts of constipation. So, after a discussion with the vet, I started him on Miralax. Just a few days in and, at least so far, it's working wonders for Evan. He went from regularly struggling to pass large and rock solid stool every three or four days, to passing normal stool almost every single day. Thank you, Miralax.)

4. I think everyone should treat animals kindly so that the world can be a better place.

(This one's a no-brainer, especially for those of us who love and advocate for animals. What's more, animals simply deserve to live in a world where humans aren't cruel to them. And, if all humans could learn to treat animals as well as fellow humans with kindness, current and future generations could truly change the world for the 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.

You better believe our resident blooper queen Eddy has some outtakes to share. Today, the bloopers are brought to you by Eddy's chronic inability, or unwillingness, to properly pose for the camera. In this particular case, the bloopers all star Eddy's, well, back end.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Is your kitty one of those who likes to play with the toilet paper roll? You know, the kind of kitty who unravels the entire roll, and maybe shreds it a bit, or trails it all throughout the house? If your kitty is any semblance of a toilet paper fiend, we have a plain and simple pet parenting hack for you today. Perhaps the easiest way to combat a furry toilet paper fiend is to turn the roll upside down. I know that to some people this is something like a felony, but turning the roll so that it unravels under rather than over will help ensure that a cat cannot simply walk up, dig at it, and unroll the entire thing with little to no effort. Another option is to try tucking the end of the toilet paper into the roll itself. This way, if your furbaby tries to dig at the toilet paper, it won't immediately start unraveling. Of course, not every cat is intrigued by the concept of toilet paper. If your kitty is, however, then it might be worth it to try tips such as these to prevent torn and strewn toilet paper in your home.

A Festive Thankful Thimble Thursday

It's Thursday, and little tabby girl Thimble is ready for Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is grateful that certain holiday goodies stay out year round, including the Christmas tree kitty beds.

Truth be told, Thimble doesn't usually sleep in these beds, but she does seem to enjoy keeping them company and rubbing her cute little cheeks all over them. She's also glad that Christmas in July is coming up, because that helps make the sweltering heat of summer a bit more fun. That may or may not more so be a sentiment of this here human, but Thimble doesn't seem to mind having some festive fun in July, so we'll pretend that thought really came from her.

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And now we have for 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. When I _________, it means that I am sick.

2. I _________ fireworks.

3. I have a newfound appreciation for _________.

4. I think everyone should _________ so that _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Does your kitty every try to help you when you're using the computer? Does he or she make a bed out of the keyboard? Does your kitty take your computer chair right out from under you? If you truly need to use your computer, but also want to let your kitty hang out with you, try putting a cardboard box next to your work space. You could put it on the computer desk, at your feet, on a chair beside you, or anywhere near where you're working. As you all know, many cats live for boxes, and so that might be tempting enough to draw them away from the computer, so that you can properly do your work alongside a happy kitty. Of course, if your cat is not a box cat, near your work space you could instead set up for them a cat bed, a blanket, a piece of your clothing, or anything else they might enjoy. Believe it or not, it might be possible to have a happy kitty, and to also use your computer.

Woof Woof Wednesday in the Window

Astrid and I realized that it's been awhile since you all have seen a shot of the pup herself giving a good pout in her beloved window. So, here you go.

The sun is technically out, but it's not reaching the window very well since the smoke from the Canadian wildfires has officially reached us. The air quality is considered to be very unhealthy now, so pup Astrid is also getting shorter walks than usual. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the people and animals affected by the fires and smoke.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm already in the mood for Halloween and all things creepy and kooky. So, here's another summertime doodle to go along with that.

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday we gave the pet parenting hack of using rubber gloves to remove furbaby hair from sofas, car interiors, and so forth. We failed to mention another option, and so we'll go ahead and do that today. If your clothing, bedding, or similar item is covered in pet hair and you're looking for a quick fix, you can try tossing it in the dryer with a dryer sheet. The anti-static nature of dyer sheets will help keep the hair from sticking to the clothing, bedding, or whatever item is in question. The hair will instead make its way to the lint trap. You could also try just rubbing a dryer sheet on the hairy item, as that sometimes will also help remove hair with the aid of its anti-static nature.

That all being said, though, please do keep those dryer sheets out of your furbaby's reach. This is because dryer sheets often contain potentially toxic components. So, keep those dryer sheets well hidden, and find and toss stray dryer sheets before dispersing the laundry. Of course, if you have any concern for your furbaby's safety, then simply refrain from using this method altogether.

Tonks Tuesday

It's Tonks Tuesday, and the so the calico herself decided to grace you with a view of her adorable face.

Though this is a quick little post from Tonks, she hopes that seeing her cuteness made your day brighter!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

It may only be June, but I'm already in the mood for Halloween. So, this witchy doodle seemed fitting enough for today.

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Tip of the Day

Do you have furbaby hair on your sofa? What about in your car? Surely not on your clothes? Our pet parenting life hack for today is to keep some rubber gloves on hand. Why? Because, aside from the more commonly used lint roller or piece of tape, rubber gloves can be a reusable tool for removing furbaby hair from surfaces such as sofas and car interiors. You just put on a rubber glove and run it over the hairy sofa or other surface. With the help of static, the rubber glove will help lift the hair from the surface and the hair will instead stick to the glove. You can also lightly dampen the rubber gloves to remove more stubborn hair. When you're done using the glove to remove furbaby hair from your furniture, one easy way to get said hair off of the glove is by submerging the glove in water. The hair will float off of the glove, and then you can dip the hair out of the water and toss it. So, if you're looking for a quick, easy, reusable tool for removing your furbaby's hair from your furniture, consider giving the rubber glove trick a try.

Mancat Monday with Exhausted Evan

It's Mancat Monday, and all my poor mancat Evan can manage today is a sleepy shot.

Evan had a rough weekend with his intestinal issues. As we've mentioned a couple of times recently, after many months of occasional bouts of diarrhea, Evan has now been struggling with constipation lately. Though, usually that's also strangely accompanied with diarrhea. Then again, perhaps that's not strange at all, as the amount of straining he does is probably causing his intestines to release anything it can. During this weekend, especially the last half of the weekend, Evan was really struggling and straining to defecate. I'm sorry for anyone grossed out by this kind of talk, but from one cat parent to another, I'll share that when Evan finally managed to pass everything through, what he got out was a large, rock-hard piece of stool surrounded by a small pool of diarrhea. This has become a norm for him, despite all fecal, intestinal, and other diagnostics coming back normal.

Unfortunately, the new GI food the vet ordered is not something Evan is all that interested in eating. He'll nibble it here and there, but he's made it clear to me that it's not a diet he wishes to eat regularly. So, what we're trying next is Miralax. Despite the fact that diarrhea often accompanies his hard, constipated stool, the vet and I had a discussion and decided that we at least want to see if Miralax will prevent the hard stools that keep constipating him, hopefully without causing worsened diarrhea.

Poor Evan always ends up completely exhausted after one of his bouts of constipation. Sometimes he strains so hard to defecate that he vomits, and I can't even express how much that breaks my heart. There have been times that getting a fresh dose of the gabapentin and prazosin he takes for his urinary issues seem to calm his whole system down enough that he's then able to more easily pass his stool. This is why I'm starting to wonder if these intestinal issues are just another late-blooming result of his lifelong hind limb paralysis, just like his urinary incontinence and urethral spasms likely are. His vet and I are determined to find some semblance of a solution to eradicate or at least reduce his constipation.

Now that he's cleared his system, as stressful as that was, Evan is sleeping comfortably this morning. I hated having to leave him to go to work, but he had all of his meds on board and was very calm and cozy in his favorite cat bed. When I get home this evening, he'll be getting his first dose of Miralax. We'll let you all know how that works for my sweet Evan, even if it ends up being a bit of an overshare.

Evan and all of us here are wishing you a happy Monday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

We've decided to repeat an old series of tips on life hacks for pet parents, especially cat parents. These hacks may be all sorts of random, and some of them may even be repeats of tips from the past. But, we hope these might offer some pet parenting tips for saving money, saving space, saving time, and, of course, keeping your furbaby happy and healthy.

Today's hack is about those windows, which may or may not be open during the warm summer months. We're here today to ask if you know that there is window screen tape on the market. Did you know that? If you are in need of a quick or temporary fix for a torn window screen, especially if there is any chance that the window might be opened and a furbaby potentially escape, then perhaps look into having window screen tape on hand. This tape can be applied to a tear in a window screen, and is meant not only to hold it together, but is also made to look like part of the screen. Of course, this is likely not mean to be a permanent fix, and may not be able to hold up to a determined furbaby. It is of course still wise to only open windows when they are safe and when the furbaby is supervised, but it might not hurt to have window screen tape on hand in case an emergency quick fix is needed.

Friendly Fill-Ins

Sorry for showing up so late again, friends. Evan had some issues yesterday that I mention in the fill-ins below. Dealing with that and cuddling with him thereafter, I ended up forgetting to schedule this post. But, here we are! 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. Never underestimate _________.

2. _________ makes me _________.

3. I need to _________ so that I can _________.

4. I didn't realize _________ until _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. Never underestimate my desire to go home.

(This answer was purely inspired by a comment or meme I recently saw online, which said something along the lines of, "Whoever said 'go big or go home' severely underestimates my desire to go home." As a homebody who just wants to be home with her kitties and pup, I felt that sentiment to my bones.)

2. Knowing Evan was suffering with constipation while I was at work yesterday makes me feel absolutely terrible.

(I have security cameras in my house so as to keep an eye on my kitties and pup. I checked on them a couple hours before I left work for the day, and at that time Evan was comfortably sleeping in his favorite kitty bed. When I got home, though, Evan did not greet me at the door like he usually does. I found him lying on the floor with his usual constipation symptoms, clearly exhausted from his efforts to empty his bowel. I gave him the abdominal massage that usually at least somewhat helps him empty his bowels when he's constipated, and luckily within a few minutes of me getting home he'd evacuated everything he needed to. He was very tired and very quiet for the rest of the night, but I gave him his various medications and got him to settle in and sleep pretty comfortably. It still made me feel horrible that he was home alone trying to deal with that and exhausting himself in the process. There's a bit more on that in #3 below.)

3. I need to feed Evan his new GI food so that I can see if he'll eat it and if it helps his intestinal issues.

(I've mentioned both above and in previous posts how Evan has been having some intestinal issues, which have recently turned into some major constipation that also somehow simultaneously involves diarrhea. His vet ordered a prescription food that includes prebiotics and probiotics that she thinks could help him. That food finally came in, and so this weekend I'm going to see if he likes it, if it ultimately helps him, and all that jazz. Since this food isn't for urinary tract health, and Evan also has some urinary tract issues, I'll probably see if Evan benefits from having a mixture of this food with his usual urinary tract food. Pretty much, I need to experiment to find food that helps helps his intestinal issues while also keeping his urinary tract issues in check.)

4. I didn't realize Eddy would eat treats until the wrong flavor was once accidentally sent to us.

(I've mentioned this before, but Eddy's heightened love for treats these days has reminded me of how this all began. Eddy never used to like any treats I purchased. I had never really given my kitties many fishy flavors, but then an online vendor sent me fish flavored treats instead of the chicken flavor I purchased. I went ahead and offered those to my kitties, and turns out, Eddy loves those fishy flavored treats. Years later, that exact flavor that was sent to us in error is still her favorite thing in the world to eat.)

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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Ready for your Eddy fix? Today, this tabby girl is a bit tired, but she still can't help but snoopervise out her favorite window. It's tough being such a good watch kitty.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

This doodle was one I scribbled up after seeing a sign that said, "Coffee. Because murder is wrong." For me it would be hot cocoa, but either way, sometimes you just need a cup of your favorite beverage to keep you out of jail. That may or may not also be why there's a random little knife on the table behind the kitty. 

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Tip of the Day

We're continuing on with our tips on summer safety for outdoor strays and ferals. Today we're moving on to the topic of food. When feeding furbabies outdoors, you of course have to take into consideration the heat of summer. Food can spoil in extreme heat, as you all surely know. Dry food is often the best one to feed strays and ferals on hot days. After all, moist food will spoil far more quickly, and will also quickly dry out in the sun and heat. You can try adding additional water to moist food to keep it from drying out too quickly, but even this method won't be able to combat the heat for long. No matter what type of food you feed to strays and ferals, do try to keep it in a shaded area or under a shaded shelter. What's more, remove old food and offer fresh food as often as is possible and needed.

It's also worth noting that though dry food is easier and safer to feed to outdoor cats in the heat, you still have to take precautions. Not only can dry food lose its freshness and safe status in the heat, but also think of instances such as rainy days. Dry food that gets wet will swell, become unappetizing, and can easily spoil if not cleaned up. So, when feeding dry or even moist food, of course keep in mind not only the heat, but other environmental factors such as rain. All in all, keep those strays and ferals healthy this summer with fresh food that is in the shade and protected from spoilage and other issues as best as possible.

Thankful Thimble Thursday

Hello, friends! We're sorry for yet again posting so late in the morning. Technical difficulties of various sorts have returned over here. This here human actually just got a new phone yesterday to solve some of the difficulties the old phone was having, but after showing a lot of promise, the new phone suddenly started glitching out, so this here human has endlessly been battling technology and questionable customer service. Everything has been solved now, though, and so the human finally remembered to actually finish our post for today.

Complaining aside, it's time for Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop, and Thimble is ready to get right to it.

As has been the case a lot lately, tabby girl Thimble is grateful for sun puddles.

Can you see Evan's tail hanging from his beloved cube there? And do you like the crooked rug? Rugs simply aren't meant to stay in place. At least, that's the motto by which Thimble's sister Tonks lives her life.

Thimble hopes you're all enjoying some sunshine today!

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Now, let's finally share with you all 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. Never underestimate _________.

2. _________ makes me _________.

3. I need to _________ so that I can _________.

4. I didn't realize _________ until _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

The kitty in this doodle here more or less matched my mood during our technical difficulty battles, so it was today's chosen one.

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Tip of the Day

The past couple tips in our summer safety tips for strays and ferals have been all about water. Guess what? Today's tip is about water as well. Since water is such a crucial aspect of survival, especially in the heat of summer, we thought we'd give it one last hoorah. Today, we're specifically talking about water bowls.

Water bowl preference can of course play a part in any cat's life. We've talked before about whisker fatigue, for example, and how this often causes cats to prefer wider bowls, as these won't cause them to bump their whiskers while getting a drink. That being said, though, when it comes to offering water outdoors in the heat, keep in mind how the shape and size of the water bowl can play a part. For example, did you know that evaporation happens more rapidly when water has a large surface area? This is why water in wide, shallow bowls will evaporate relatively quickly in the heat. To combat this, try to offer water in bowls that are narrower and deeper. Of course, do try to ensure that the bowl is not so narrow that it makes drinking impossible or difficult, but also try to ensure that a bowl has a decent chance of combating evaporation.

In addition, consider the material out of which the bowl is made. This one can be a bit tough when it comes to offering water to strays and ferals to hot and sunny days. We've talked before about how stainless steel bowls are often a good choice over plastic bowls, since plastic bowls can get scratched and thereby more easily harbor microbes. But, as you all surely know, metallic surfaces can get pretty darn hot in the summer heat. Especially if a bowl is in the sun or on a hot surface, a metallic bowl might not only cause the water to become uncomfortably warm, but the bowl itself might also become painfully hot to the touch. This is best prevented if the bowl is placed in a cool, shaded area. You can also, if possible and safe, try using sturdy glassware as outdoor bowls. This is of course only reasonable if breakage is unlikely to occur, though, as broken glass is indeed a danger.

In short, take anything and everything possible into consideration when trying to help strays and ferals remain safe in the summer heat. This does indeed include their water bowls. Aim for bowls that will prevent rapid evaporation, but that will also be easy and safe out of which to drink.

Lakeside Adventures with Astrid

We mentioned on Monday how this past weekend we visited some family out of town. We actually met them on Saturday at some campgrounds where they were staying. Since it was a day trip to a dog-friendly site, Astrid joined us.

Some of our family was staying at a cabin right on the lake, which meant we got to see this view the whole day. It was really quite lovely.

Though we spent most of our time in the shade, it was still a rather hot day. Astrid got some breaks from the heat in the air conditioning of the cabin our family was renting for the weekend. Even better, though, on our way home we stopped by Dairy Queen, and you better believe Astrid got one of their vanilla pup cups.

Happy Wednesday and stay cool, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's summer safety tip for strays, ferals, and other outdoor furbabies revolves around water. Water is, as you certainly know, incredibly important for all life. It's especially important for staying hydrated and cool in the summer heat. That being said, today we have some quite logical albeit important tips for helping strays, ferals, and other outdoor furbabies stay hydrated this summer.

Not only is it important to keep water in a shaded area or shaded shelter, as we mentioned yesterday, but it's also important to keep fresh water available in abundance. Especially in the summer heat, it is not possible to offer too much water. Strays and ferals may very well drink, and need to drink, far more water in the heat. Not to mention, water can evaporate very quickly in the heat. For these reasons, try to offer extra bowls of water.

Furthermore, try to keep those bowls of water as fresh and clean as possible. Refill them as often as you can, and clean them as needed. Bugs, leaves, and all sorts of other outdoor debris can find their way into water bowls. Sometimes, cats and other animals may be unable to or unwilling to drink from a bowl that has debris floating in it or that is in another way dirty. In some cases, it's also unhealthy and dangerous to drink water this has been contaminated by certain debris. So, do try to keep those bowls and the water inside them fresh and clean.

For extra chill in that water, and perhaps even to give it a bit tad bit more ability to combat evaporation in the heat, you can also try putting ice cubes in the water bowls that are available to strays and ferals. Of course, do keep in mind the furbabies' preferences when doing this. Some animals will not drink from water that has something floating in it, so if this is the case, then refrain from putting ice cubes in at least some water bowls.

All in all, never forgot that fresh, clean water can of course be crucial to comfort and survival in the summer heat. So, offer lots and lots of water for those strays, ferals, and other outdoor furbabies. What's more, keep an eye on those water bowls, and try to ensure that they remain full and free of debris.

Tonks Tuesday: Tunnel Time Outtakes

Today's edition of Tonks Tuesday is pretty much all in the form of outtakes.

Honestly, I don't think a single one of these photos is free from blur. But, that's what happens when a calico is enjoying playtime with her beloved tunnel.

Tonks hopes your day is so fun that you turn into a blur! That is, after all, her favorite kind of day.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

We are working through a series of tips on how to keep strays, ferals, and other outdoor furbabies safe and sound in the summer heat. We began this series of tips yesterday by discussing the importance of offering shaded areas, where outdoor cats or even dogs can stay cool. In this same line of thought, today we want to remind you to put necessities for outdoor furbabies in said shade. Whether you have shaded areas beneath trees or bushes, a table that offers shade, a summer shelter that offers shade, or something else similar, be sure that you place food and water in those shaded areas. This will ensure that animals outdoors can have food and water that is as cool and fresh as possible, and that they can eat and drink out of the sun.

In addition, try to offer somewhere comfortable for strays, ferals, and outdoor furbabies to rest in their shaded area. For example, you can place bedding or even a chair in the shade, so that strays and ferals can get comfortable while also remaining as cool as possible. Then again, keep in mind that many furbabies will not want to sleep on blankets or other potentially insulating material in the heat. So, also take this into consideration, and make sure that shaded shelter truly allows for cool and cozy safety and relaxation. All in all, in the hot summer months, don't just offer shade to strays and ferals, but also food, water, and other necessities in that shade.

Mancat Monday: Happy Belated Father's Day!

It was a wild and crazy weekend, and Evan is exhausted.

Evan was feeling really good this weekend, but he did have to work hard to hold the fort down while his human of a mom was gone visiting family on Saturday. On Wednesday, pup Astrid will give you a glimpse or two of the pretty scenery we saw during that day out. Back to Evan, though, yesterday the poor boy had to snoopervise this here mom of his in the kitchen while she baked an intimidating chocolate layer cake that she chose to make for her dad for Father's Day. Evan loves his grandpa, better known as Pawpaw, and so he didn't mind being oh so helpful during the cake's production.

All that said, we're sorry we didn't post yesterday, but we do hope all dads of all kinds had a fantastic Father's Day! Whether you have children of the human sort or the furry sort, or both, you dads out there help make this world go round. In honor of all the amazing cat dads out there, like my very own dad and the kitties' and pup's Pawpaw, here's the Father's Day doodle I scribbled up for my dad last year.

We'll share this year's Father's Day doodle soon, since I have yet to upload it. And now that I said that, I don't think I ever even shared the Mother's Day doodle I scribbled up for my mom this year, so we'll also share that this week. This here human is so very behind on things, but I'm working hard to get things caught up so that our blog will stop being so neglected.

Have a wonderful day, friends!

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Tip of the Day

Not too long ago, we gave some tips all about summer safety for our furbabies. Given that we're currently in a heat wave, we feel compelled to give even more summer tips. These tips, however, will be more focused on how to help stray, feral, or other outdoor furbabies remain safe and healthy in the heat of summer.

Let's begin with a simple yet crucial way to help strays and ferals stay cool in the summer. And that is, please try to ensure they always have access to shade. Staying out of the sun is crucial for preventing overheating, heat stroke, sunburn, and all other such dangers. For this reason, try to make sure that strays and ferals in your area have somewhere shaded to stay in the heat of the day. This can be as simple as natural shade in a safe area, such as beneath trees or bushes that are away from the street and other dangers. Access to the area beneath a deck can also allow for shade, as well as areas beneath outdoor tables and other similar objects. You can even place a giant umbrella outside, under which strays and ferals can keep cool on hot and sunny days.

If you're feeling crafty or handy, you can even build a summer shelter. Then again, you can also purchase one, as there are many options available on the market. The important thing about any summer shelter for strays and ferals is that it should remain shaded but also cool, such as by being open and airy. Do not use an enclosed shelter that will insulate heat, like those better suited for winter weather, as a stray or feral would of course not be able to use such a shelter in order to stay cool on a hot summer day. So, to help those furbabies outdoors stay cool this summer, please ensure they have somewhere shaded to chill out!

Friendly Fill-Ins

Sorry we're late friends! I had my first bit of technical difficulties since getting our new internet. But we're here now, and it's Friday, which means we're ready and excited for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. We'd love for you to join in on the fun. 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. _________ is something that boggles my mind.

2. I hope to _________ this summer.

3. I could really use some recommendations for _________.

4. _________ wasn't my best idea.

My answers are below in bold.

1. Humanity is something that boggles my mind.

(I'm just going to leave it at that.)

2. I hope to bake some new desserts this summer.

(I enjoy baking, and I make some sort of homemade baked good for my family every Sunday. I have my personal armory of desserts that I'm decently good at making. I'd like to expand that, though. I've been wanting to learn to make new kinds of pies and cobblers with certain fruits, like peaches, and I feel like summer is the perfect time to learn to make that kind of sweet treat. It would of course be served with a hefty side of vanilla ice cream.)

3. I could really use some recommendations for books to read.
(The reality is that I don't actually need more book recommendations. After all, my list of books I want to read is already devastatingly long. But, there's something about discovering new books and having so many options that makes me so very happy.)

4. Leaving a dozen freshly baked chicken breasts on the edge of the counter wasn't my best idea.

(So I have this dog named Astrid who is generally a very good girl but who is also sometimes a bit ornery and who is also addicted to chicken. She's also 80 lbs and very tall and can easily reach the edge of the counter. Only one chicken breast was laid to rest in her stomach in this particular instance, but I certainly knew 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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Who's ready for their Friday Eddy fix? You are? Good, because that's what you're getting. The only problem is that little miss Eddy couldn't focus on the camera because she was a tad bit distracted with her backyard snoopervising duties.

Eddy takes her job very seriously. She keeps an eye on the her entire backyard kingdom, high and low.

Someone has to snoopervise those birds and squirrels, and of course those neighbors. And Eddy is a pro.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Is your kitty, or even your pup, a water dumper? Especially cats often like to dig at their water bowls, one reason being that this mimics the motions they make as kittens in order to stimulate their mama cat’s milk production. If your kitty is one of those who turns a water station into an ocean, there are ways to help prevent this.

First, you can simply try using heavier bowls. Stainless steel bowls with weighted and often skid-proof bottoms might be one solution, for example. Sometimes even simply a thick, heavy ceramic or glass bowl that does not easily give in to a cat’s slapping paws will do the trick. You can even try getting a skid-proof mat, on which you can place a skid-proof water bowl to help even further reduce the chance of spillage onto the floor. There are also bowls on the market that are meant to help prevent spillage from digging, such as bowls situated in a stand with grates, so that splashed water can drain into a basin beneath the bowls rather than onto the floor. If all else fails, you could even attempt a bowl that is in some way attached to the wall or floor, so that the bowl is unable to move altogether. In such a case, though, still always ensure that the bowl can be removed as needed for cleaning and freshening.

Thankful Thimble Thursday

It's Thursday, and you better believe tabby girl Thimble is ready for Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble grateful for human laps, and of course naps.

Though, admittedly, Thimble might feel a tad bit disgruntled when she's woken from said naps.

Don't let that furrowed brow fool you. Thimble is one of the most harmless cats you'll ever meet. She might look cranky sometimes, but a simple belly rub will boost her mood immediately.

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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. _________ is something that boggles my mind.

2. I hope to _________ this summer.

3. I could really use some recommendations for _________.

4. _________ wasn't my best idea.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Do you have kitties or pups who require separate feedings? This can occur if certain furbabies are on different diets, or if they require different amounts of food, such as if one is on a weight loss diet. While it is not always easy to do separate feedings, it is still often doable with at least a little work. For example, some cats who are more agile can be fed on an elevated surface, such as a counter or shelf, where other cats or even dogs cannot reach. In other cases, such as if you have a small cat or dog and a larger cat or dog, you can fabricate a box or other area with a small opening where the smaller furbaby can enter and eat without interference from the other, larger furbaby. Then there are times when feeding in separate rooms might need to be attempted. This version often works best if feedings are scheduled, and during those times the furbabies are placed in different rooms while each of them eats their diet as needed. There are also special bowls on the market to assist with separate feedings, such as bowls with shields that will open only when activated by a specific microchip. Though not always easy, there are methods that can be attempted for feeding furbabies on different diets, so don't lose hope if this is something your furbabies require.

Adventures with Astrid: Behind the Scenes

Today's edition of Adventures with Astrid takes us a bit behind the scenes. On our walks, I sometimes ask Astrid to stand still or sit for a photo. That usually results in lots of random shots during which I tried and often failed to get Astrid and a particular background just the right angle.

What I also don't always show you all are the times when Astrid is really just not into my request and so does anything from refusing to pose to giving me an especially annoyed look. Like you can see here.

Astrid has let me know on many occasions, like right then and there above, that my requests for photo shoots in the middle of walks are uncalled for. What a silly human I am. Don't worry, I got the hint and let Astrid continue on her way right after that photo was snapped.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Is your kitty or pup a fast eater? If your furbaby inhales their food, there are some potential ways you can help slow down their eating. One way is by placing something such as a golf ball or tennis ball, or another safe item, in the bowl. This can slow down eating since they have to eat around the item. Of course, do make sure that any item used is not a choking hazard, and also that it doesn't take up such a large portion of the bowl that it would restrict the ability to eat altogether. There are also bowls on the market that have partitions that serve the same purpose, to slow down a dog or cat's eating. In this same vein of thought, sometimes all it takes is using a plate rather than a bowl, as having the food more spread out can also slow eating. Using methods to slow down eating can help reduce problems that often result from rapid eating, such as regurgitating food and weight gain from overeating.

A Trashy Tonks Tuesday

On this Tonks Tuesday, the calico herself wants to remind all of her kitty friends that, even if your human gifts you toys and more toys, never forget that it's extra fun to play with good ol' trash.

The kitty in the house who most loves playing with empty toilet paper rolls is actually Eddy. Tonks is a fan as well, though, and she was the one open to posing with her loot. So, there's an adorably trashy Tonks for you.

Wishing you all a happy Tuesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

We have another quick and simple food and drink tip today. Especially for older, arthritic, or furbabies otherwise unable to get around well, try to place food and water bowls near their favorite places to sleep or hang out. If possible, you can also try to place bowls all throughout the house so that they have easily accessible options wherever they are at the time. This can help ensure that furbabies with less mobility are still getting proper nutrition and hydration.