Farewell to 2023

Hello, friends! I really didn't want to miss any posts during the Twelve Days of Christmas, or to post one as late as this. But, here we are. My ancient laptop is really, truly on its last leg these days, and I couldn't even get it to work on Friday or most of yesterday. I do have it working in some regard now, but I have even better news. Thanks to a Christmas gift from my amazing parents, I will very soon finally have a new, working laptop again, which I plan to use to really get back on track with blogging and writing.

I'll stop rambling now, and get to today's somewhat short post. It's New Year's Eve, which we're pretty sure we don't have to tell any of you. That said, we want to thank you all for your friendship and for just being amazing people all throughout 2023. We're so grateful for this amazing community. I also have to express my gratitude for my furbabies' health this year. After last year ending with Astrid's surgery for her torn CCL, and soon after that Evan's hospitalization for a urethral obstruction, I am so thankful that all my kitties and my pup had an overall healthy year in 2023. I'm also grateful that the same can be said for my human family.

We hope all of you friends of ours end 2023 with much health and happiness, and that your 2024 is filled with many blessings!

And, of course, Merry Seventh Day of Christmas!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip on winter feral care is to remember to put water out for ferals and strays you care for. This sounds and often feels impossible, given that water freezes in cold temperatures. However, it is often possible to make water accessible to ferals or strays even in the winter months. Yesterday's tip discussed ways to successfully feed moist food to ferals in the winter, and most of those methods will also work for water. You can start by simply checking the water as often as possible, and removing ice or refreshing the water to ensure that it remains a liquid and not a frozen solid. You can also warm the water bowl, or even put out warm water, to delay its freezing. Other options include putting microwavable heat pads beneath the water bowl, using an electric heated bowl, or using another heat source in the area where the water is kept. With all such options, though, always keep safety in mind, and only choose and use heated products that best prevent burns and fires.

There are a couple of other considerations to make when putting water outside for ferals and strays in the winter months. To begin, as is possible, try to keep water bowls elevated off of the cold ground, to help keep it from freezing rapidly. In addition to this, using a deep bowl inside of a wide bowl will also help it to freeze less rapidly. Another option is to have a source of running water, such as by offering water in some sort of fountain, as moving water does not as easily freeze. And yet another way to help keep water from freezing rapidly in the winter is to put the bowl in the sun.

It also important to note that, as is possible, try to avoid putting water directly beside where ferals or strays might sleep. This is because spills can indeed happen, and damp bedding material can make warmth and comfort difficult. So, there are many considerations to make when successfully offering water to ferals and strays in the winter months, but it is indeed possible, and of course also beneficial to them and their health.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Festive Photo Fails

Hello, 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. The best part of 2023 was _________.

2. My focus word for 2024 is _________.

3. A new year is a great time to _________.

4. You don't have to wait for a new year to _________.

My answers are below in bold, and are of course yet again accompanied by far too much rambling.

1. The best part of 2023 was every moment with my kitties and pup.
(The moments with my human family also count as best moments, of course. With the way 2022 ended, with Evan hospitalized at the emergency vet, I've found myself increasingly grateful for every moment I've been able to share with my kitties and pup this year. Evan's on meds and is staying healthy with their help, and all of my other furbabies have been staying healthy, and I'm beyond grateful for that this year.)

2. My focus word for 2024 is actually 6 words.
(I've come to the conclusion that picking a single focus word when a new year rolls around doesn't do much for me. A single word just doesn't speak to me, I guess. So, this year I chose a quote that I've seen floating around the internet, and that quote is, "Dreams don't work unless you do." This is a quote by John C. Maxwell. I admittedly don't know much about him at this point in time, but I do know that I've seen this quote of his multiple times, and every time I stumble upon it, I stop because I immediately realize how much I need to live by it in order to achieve my biggest dreams and goals in life. And so, that's my guiding quote for 2024.)

3. A new year is a great time to evaluate.

(This could mean so many things. All I can say is that when one year ends and a new year begins, I always find myself evaluating all sorts of things. My work life, my home life, my finances, my health, and all sorts of things. Then I start deciding what I want or need to change in a new year in order to live my best life, and of course to be the best cat mom and dog mom possible. A new year just seems like the perfect time for this sort of thing, and I'm sure I'm not the only person who thinks this.)

4. You don't have to wait for a new year to set and achieve goals.
(While a new year is a great time to evaluate and make changes, as I rambled on about in #3 above, plans and dreams and goals can be made and achieved any time of the year. If there's something I really want to accomplish in life, I always try to strive for it as soon as possible, not just when there's a new beginning. Otherwise, I feel like time is just passing me by.)

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.

We're still celebrating Christmas around here. After all, today is only the Fifth Day of Christmas. That said, you better believe blooper queen Eddy is here with some wonderfully blurry and festive shots.

If you like that blurry little nose by the Christmas tree, perhaps you'll also like this blurry little tongue.

Merry Fifth Day of Christmas, friends!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday we discussed feeding feral and stray cats outdoors in the cold winter months. As we mentioned yesterday, dry food is a good option in the winter, as it will not freeze like moist food. However, moist food still has its benefits, and so today we're here to give some tips on how to feed moist food outdoors in the cold months with at least some success. To begin, you can resort to putting moist food out only when you know the cat or cats you feed are present, so that they will be able to eat it immediately, giving it little to no time to freeze. Sometimes, though, you might not know when a feral or stray cat will show up for a meal, or you might not be home. In such cases, there are ways to potentially offer moist food to ferals and strays without the moist food freezing rapidly.

To begin, you can simply check on the status of moist food as often as possible, and warm or replace food that has become frozen. What's more, a source of heat will obviously help keep moist food from freezing at a fast rate, although you of course have to ensure that this source of heat is safe. This could mean doing something as simple as warming the bowl in which you put the moist food, or warming the moist food itself, to a safe temperature. There are also both electric and non-electric heat sources that can work for keeping bowls and their contents warm. For example, there are microwavable, or otherwise warmable, heating pads that can be placed under bowls to help prevent the rapid freezing of moist food that is fed to outdoor cats in the winter. There are also electric heated bowls that could keep moist food warm enough to prevent freezing. Other options of course include using a more extensive heat source within an entire feeding station or shelter, details which we will further discuss in upcoming tips. One important detail, though, as we mentioned just a few moments ago, is ensure that any heat source you use is safe and that it will not cause burns or fires. Always do your research before using any item that entails electricity and heating, and choose and use accordingly and wisely.

The last note to make here is that you should still of course make sure that moist food is not spoiling, such as if it manages to get too warm or sits out for too long. If a heated bowl or heat pad causes moist food to remain warm for long periods of time, do be sure to remove any uneaten food prior to spoilage. It might be cold outside during the winter months, but depending on the methods you use and the duration of time that outdoor cats' moist food is sitting out, it is always best to be aware of the potential for gastrointestinal or other issues that could result from the consumption of spoiled food.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: A Feathered Fourth Day of Christmas

It's Thursday, and Thimble is of course excited to participate in angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today's, Thimble has some bloopers to share to express her gratitude.

Those little feathered birdies are just two of the toys the kitties received from their Secret Santa Paws. We'll very soon be sharing the full jackpot the kitties hit, along with the identity of our Secret Santa Paws. For now, though, you'll have to excuse Thimble for only sharing these bloopers today, because she was so thankful for and was having so much fun with her new toys that she simply couldn't pose for the camera.

Thimble and the other kitties can't wait to show you the rest of their Secret Santa Paws goodies. And Thimble hopes you're all having as much fun as she is on this Fourth Day of Christmas!

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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. The best part of 2023 was _________.

2. My focus word for 2024 is _________.

3. A new year is a great time to _________.

4. You don't have to wait for a new year to _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

We're starting a series of tips on how you can assist strays and ferals during the cold winter months. Today's tip regards feeding strays and ferals, and it is to make sure you understand the pros and cons of feeding dry versus moist food during the winter months. Dry food often takes more energy than moist food to digest, and animals need to conserve as much energy as possible to stay warm in the winter. However, that being said, moist food that is not immediately eaten can freeze during the winter months due to its high moisture content. For this reason, it is typically best to ensure that dry food is offered to strays and ferals in the winter months, as it will not freeze and therefore will be readily available even after sitting out for some time. All in all, though, it is possible and often beneficial to feed both dry and moist food to outdoor strays and ferals. Tomorrow we will further discuss how to successfully feed moist food to strays and ferals in the winter.

Woof Woof Wednesday with Astrid and Her Elf

We had us an unseasonably warm Christmas. Though that didn't make this here human all that happy, pup Astrid didn't seem all that bothered. After all, it meant more time outside to play with her Christmas toys.

Astrid also received a reindeer and Santa toy, which she'll show off soon enough. She actually got the elf toy early, well before Christmas, but apparently he still required the most punishment attention on Christmas.

Merry Third Day of Christmas, friends!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip is one that can affect our indoor furbabies, and most certain any strays and ferals you might feed outside. During the cold winter months, it can be beneficial to increase the amount of food you feed to the furbabies in your life. This is because animals typically eat more in the cold months in order to produce more energy and heat for their bodies. This is why you might see your kitty or pup heading toward the food bowl more often than usual in the winter months. Then again, eating more food to stay warm is something that far more affects outdoor animals than indoor animals, since the latter are able to maintain their body heat far more easily. And, of course, if you have any concerns about how much your furbaby is eating or should eat, any time of the year, discuss this with your veterinarian.

When it comes to outdoor strays and ferals, if you are accustomed to offering them food outside, perhaps do consider feeding them larger quantities of food, or feeding them more often, during the cold winter months. Their bodies use that extra food to stay warm. Over the next few days we'll be giving more detailed tips not only on feeding strays and ferals, but also offering them assistance in other ways.

Tonks and Her Toys on the Second Day of Christmas

The Christmas season is far from over. After all, Christmas Day is just the First Day of Christmas. I know a lot people who think that the Twelve Days of Christmas refer to the twelve days leading up to Christmas. But, in fact, they only start on Christmas Day. So, you'll have to excuse us as we continue to celebrate this festive holiday for many more days.

As for Tonks, she'll be celebrating by snapping blurry bloopers with some of her new toys.

We also received some wonderful goodies from our Secret Santa Paws, and we'll be sharing those this week as well. The kitties can't wait to show you the jackpot they hit.

Merry Second Day of Christmas, friends!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

Since Christmas movies continue to play nonstop here at our house well into January, here's a little kitty friend reminding you roughly what the house from A Christmas Story looks like. This movie is one of the main ones that we re-watch many times throughout the Christmas season.

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Tip of the Day

Did your kitty or pup get new toys for Christmas? We're thinking many of them probably did. Now that all such new Christmas gifts have been opened and are being enjoyed, consider going through your furbaby's toy stash, pulling out old ones they don't use, and donating them to a shelter or rescue. Many shelters will accept such toys as long as they are clean, as well as easily cleaned, and in good condition. Of course, it is nonetheless always best to do your research regarding an individual shelter or rescue's requirements for donations. Donating toys that your kitty or pup has accumulated but does not use not only keeps your furbaby's toy stash at manageable levels, but also of course benefits shelter kitties and pups who are awaiting their forever homes. This might also go for unopened cans of food your furbaby will not eat, and even clean blankets they do not use. Christmas is indeed the season of giving, and even though the 25th of December has passed, that spirit of giving does not need to come to an end.

Merry Christmas!

We wish all of our friends out there a merry Christmas, happy holidays, and all of the warm wishes and winter blessings you could ever ask for. Thank you all for making this community the amazing and inviting place it is.

From all of us to all of you, peace, joy, and good tidings!

MEOWY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOWLIDAYS!

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Tip of the Day

Christmas is often a time of remembrance, a time when memories find their way into our minds. This can sometimes make this time of year a bittersweet one, as we remember our loved ones, both human and furry, who are no longer with us. Today's tip is to of course remember lost loved ones with fondness during the beautiful holiday season, but also to find ways to include lost loved ones in the festivities, if this is something that would benefit you. There are a number of ways to keep lost furbabies' or other family members' memories alive and well during the holiday season, such as by hanging an ornament dedicated to them. One example of this includes picture frame ornaments, in which you can obviously place a photo of a lost loved one. Another example are ornaments sculpted or painted in the likeness of a lost loved one, and this of course includes ornaments made to resemble kitties or pups who have gained their angel wings.

In addition to memorial ornaments, you can also set up memorial stations in your house for lost loved ones. This memorial area can be a place where you set up photos of a lost kitty, pup, or human family member who is no longer with you. What's more, to maintain their memory and inclusion during the holidays, you can add festive decorations to the memorial area you have set up for them. You can festively light up the memorial station with lights or candles, as long as this is done in a safe manner. There are plenty of other options for using festive yet respectful decor to include a lost loved one in the holiday spirit.

Just one more of many options for keeping a lost loved one's memory alive and well during this holiday season is to make a donation or other gift in their memory. When it comes to an angel kitty or pup, you can donate goods to a shelter or rescue in their memory. You can also sponsor, or even foster or adopt, an animal in their honor. Though remembering lost loved ones during the holiday season can be a bittersweet thing, there are many ways in which to maintain a lost loved one's memory and include them in the festivities.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Hello and Merry Christmas Eve to all! The pup and kitties here hope you all have a festive and blessed day. At the same time, they're a little busy on Santa watch today.

Merry Christmas Eve!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

We recently mentioned some ways to make Christmas special for both your own furbabies and those in shelters. Today, we want to remind you to remember those furbabies who are outdoors and in your neighborhood. Do you have stray or feral cats around your area? If so, for Christmas, or any day possible, try to give them any extra help you can. During this holiday season, or all year round, perhaps give strays and ferals extra food, treats, or even a toy. If possible, also try to offer them shelter in some way, even if it's something makeshift. This is something that can greatly benefit them during a cold and snowy winter. We'll soon be sharing some repeat yet also significant tips on offering assistance to outdoor strays and ferals, but for now we'll offer this simple reminder to remember outdoor furbabies during this holiday season.

Since we're talking about outdoor animals, perhaps also don't forget the squirrels and birds. For Christmas, you could throw some extra food out for wildlife, to allow them an extra festive day as well. Some places even make or sell especially festive suet cakes and other goodies for outdoor critters this time of year.

So, this Christmas season, don't forget to think outside of your own home and family. Of course Christmas is a time for family, but it's also a time to remember how lucky we are, and how others may not be so lucky. So, spread the love this Christmas season.

Caturday with Krampuss

Hello, friends! There are only two days until Christmas, and we're here for Athena's Caturday Art Blog Hop with a festive doodle. Well, sort of. Have you ever heard of Krampus? In some European folklore, he's a horned creature who punishes naughty children during the Christmas season. What's more, the other day I saw an image someone had created of what they called Krampuss, and I simply had to recreate it in my own style. So, meet Krampuss.

What do you think Krampuss did during his visit to that there house? Do you think any naughty children in there required punishment? Or are there naughty kitties in there? Surely not. Perhaps this a friendly neighborhood Krampuss?

Have a Christmassy Caturday, friends!

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip relates to the spirit of gift-giving during the holiday season. In particular, we're talking about the practice of giving cats, dogs, and other little critters as gifts on Christmas morning. The important thing here is that anyone giving a furry friend as a gift realize the significance of such a gift. Obviously, a living creature requires proper care and commitment. For this reason, if you or someone you know is intending on giving a cat, dog, or other critter as a gift, be sure that all considerations have been made. Does the recipient want a furry friend? Do finances, time, age, location, and other such factors allow the recipient to properly care for a furry friend? These are just the basics that need to be considered, as cats, dogs, and other animals come with far more factors than this. After all, pets are a commitment that can be with you for many years.

The long and short if it is that while it is wonderful to think of an animal finding a home on Christmas morning, it is still important to ensure that said animal will not end up without proper care, or back at a shelter or abandoned. There are of course times when giving or receiving a cat, dog, or other critter as a gift works out perfectly fine. Such cases might include when someone gifts a furbaby to their significant other who wants and can care for it, or when a parent knows their child wants and is capable of assisting in the care of a cat, dog, or other pet. If you or someone close to you is planning to surprise someone with a furry friend on Christmas morning, just as with any gift, do take into consideration whether a pet is appropriate for the recipient in question.

Friendly Fill-Ins and the Red Ribbon's Demise

Hello, friends! We're here and 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'll be _________ for Christmas.

2. I am eager to see _________ open his/her gift.

3. 'Twas the night before Christmas and I _________.

4. I _________ the day after Christmas.

My answers are below in bold, and are yet again accompanied by plenty of rambling.

1. I'll be happily home for Christmas.
(I love nothing more than being home. And I especially like being home with my family, both furry and human, at times like Christmas.)

2. I am eager to see my sister open her gift.
(I actually have specific gifts for my sister as well as my mom and dad that I'm especially excited to see them open. The same goes for my kitties and pup, as I got them some fun and yummy little things that I can't wait to see them enjoy on Christmas. But, back to my actual answer, one of my sister's gifts includes drawings I scribbled up of our pup Astrid as well as her kitties Toby and Winky, and these drawings include a silly little concept from one of her favorite sitcoms. I turned the drawings into magnets, and since she's often asking me to draw her furbabies, I'm look forward to seeing her open these.)

3. 'Twas the night before Christmas and I was enjoying our family Christmas Eve traditions.

(I'm pretty sure I mention this every year in some way, but when I was a kid, we traveled to go see family every year on Christmas Day. Because of this, my parents, my sister, and myself would all go to church in the afternoon on Christmas Eve, and then we'd open our presents under the Christmas tree on the evening of Christmas Eve. That tradition has stuck to this day, even though my sister and I are now in our 30s, and even though we visit family on other days throughout the season rather than Christmas Day.)

4. I am hoping for no emergencies this year on the day after Christmas.

(Last year, on the day after Christmas, Evan ended up at the emergency vet with a urethral obstruction. He was hospitalized for 3 days, and I missed having it at home with me so much. Thankfully, he came home unblocked, and with the help of lots of meds that he is still on, we have not had a repeat incident. And I hope to keep it that way, on December 26 and every other day of the year. All of the other furbabies also need to remain emergency-free, please and thank you.)

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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Are you ready for a festive Eddy fix? And by festive, I mean part of the Christmas tree didn't survive this little tabby girl's antics.

I've been trying to get photos or video of Eddy's boxing matches with that red ribbon that tops the Christmas tree. She often sits on her cat tree and just smacks the ribbon senseless, also giving it a few bites here and there. Every time I tried to get photos or video, though, she would stop. Apparently she didn't want evidence on record.

These blurry shots were the closest I got to showing you all how Eddy treats the ribbon.

That all said, though I might not have gotten much evidence of Eddy in the act of abusing the ribbon, I did get a photo of the victim.

That's how I found the ribbon when I got home from work the other day. Eddy did exactly what she set out to do, I guess. And I will say, don't worry, because Eddy never actually eats the ribbon. She's not one for consuming non-food items. She's too picky of an eater for that. But, she was still more than happy to sever the tie, literally. Eddy would be worried about going onto Santa's naughty list, but she knows he's already delivered her gifts, so it's all fair game now.

Have a festive Friday, friends!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Over the past couple of days, we've been discussing how to ensure that your furbaby is safe when you leave home or otherwise leave them unattended this holiday season. We've already reminded you to unplug Christmas lights and to remove the ample Christmas snacks from their reach. Now, today, we want to remind you about those gifts under the Christmas tree. To begin, we've mentioned in previous tips the danger posed by items such as ribbon, tape, and even wrapping paper itself. After all, consumption of these items can lead to any number of issues, including intestinal distress, blockage, or other damage.

It's not just the outside of the gifts that can be hazardous, though. First and foremost, if any wrapped gifts contain food, whether it be yummy treats for a human or treats for a furbaby, keep those gifts well out of reach of your furbaby at all times. As you all know, kitties and pups have a darn good sense of smell, and some furbabies might feel compelled to chew or rip their way to any food they smell. This can be bad news not only for the gift itself, but also of course for your furbaby, especially if the food they find includes chocolate or other toxic components. Though it's obviously not toxic, also perhaps refrain from hiding gifts containing catnip beneath the tree. This could lead to a destroyed or stolen gift box, as well as to the potential dangers that result from eating gift wrapping material.

There are plenty of other considerations to make on this topic as well. Are any of the gifts you wrapped small? And is your kitty or pup one to slap around, run off with, or eat small items? Are any of the gifts large? Or are multiple gifts creating a large pile around the Christmas tree? Is your furbaby a jumper or climber or otherwise at risk of knocking over large or piled gifts? Are any of the gifts fragile? Is your furbaby simply a chewer who will eat their way through a wrapped gift just for the sake of it?

The long and short of it is to always be aware of the temptations as well as the dangers that wrapped gifts can pose to a furbaby. You know your furbaby best, and you, or perhaps someone else in your house, knows what is contained within those gifts beneath the tree. Keeping all of that in mind, treat gifts accordingly when leaving your furbaby unattended at home. If that means hiding all gifts rather than leaving them beneath the tree, then find a safe and secure hiding place for them.