Spooky Drawing with the Mama's Boy

I've mentioned before how my orange boy Evan is quite the mama's boy, which I'm more than happy with. He's also my little shadow, which I've also mentioned before. He helps me with everything. If I'm cooking in the kitchen, he's at my feet. If I'm mowing, he's right there at the door watching me. If I'm sitting on the couch doing art, he's on my lap.

This is sometimes why I don't get art done. If Evan wants lap time, Evan gets lap time. And since I do tend to do art while sitting on the couch watching TV, that means art time often becomes Evan's lap time.

Honestly, I love Evan lap time, so I'm not mad about it.

I don't know how or why Evan finds my notebook or that there clipboard comfortable, but he very often uses them as a pillow. In these photos, I had just finished that doodle, which I shared here on our blog at some point earlier this month. And now you know Evan helped me scribble it up.

That there is a glimpse at my DIY notebook of a planner. I'll scribble up a drawing on a page, and then I'll use the rest of the page to create a to-do list, write some daily highlights, and that sort of thing. I don't know why that works for me, but it really does and it keeps me and my tasks in check.

Evan and all of us here wish you a happy  Monday!

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Flashback Spooky Doodle of the Day

Our new Halloween doodles will begin again tomorrow. We have one more flashback for today, in no small part because I scanned our newest doodles but then failed to upload them for me to share with you all. I'll remedy that tonight, but for today, here's another one of my favorite flashback Halloween doodles. This one was inspired by Evan and his love for blankets.

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Tip of the Day

Today's Halloween tip is one we're sure you all know, and it's to practice proper door safety. This is of course most relevant if you are handing out candy on Halloween night, or if you are hosting a Halloween party with a number of arriving guests. Knocks on the door, the doorbell, children or adults in strange costumes, and all of the hustle and bustle of Halloween can scare some furbabies. On the other hand, some cats or dogs might enjoy guests, and so they might be attracted to the door on Halloween. Either way, if you have increased traffic at the door on Halloween, there is always the chance that your kitty or pup could escape if proper precautions are not taken. This is why it is important to practice proper door safety, so that you can avoid escapes.

There are of course a number of options for keeping a cat or dog from escaping out a busy door on Halloween. First, you can set up a safe room for your cat or dog and keep them in there during the Halloween festivities, so that they have no ability to escape from the house when people show up at the front door. Depending on how your house is set up and how determined your kitty or pup is to reach the door, you can also put up baby gates or pet gates to keep a cat or dog in an area of the house away from the door. If your furbaby is leash trained, and as long as the leash is securely held, your kitty or pup can also be kept safe in the house by attaching them to their leash, with of course someone holding said leash. You best know your furbaby as well as the setup of your home, so use whatever method is the safest, most surefire way of keeping your kitty or pup from escaping out a busy door on nights like Halloween.

Spooky Reading Time with Tonks

Today's post is admittedly going to be not only late but also a quick one. At least there's a cute little someone to make up for it.

I've been reading as many spooky Halloween books as I can this season. I still need to tackle this year's reading of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, as Tonks is here to remind me.

Happy reading, friends!

***

Spooky Flashback Doodle of the Day

We've lost power a couple of times this weekend, though the weather is gorgeous. Though I think it finally came back on for good, I still need to scan and upload our newest batch of Halloween doodles. So, again for today, I'll share one of my favorite flashback doodles. At least this one matches Tonks's shot above well enough.

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Tip of the Day

Just yesterday, we gave the tip to avoid walking your pup or kitty on Halloween during trick-or-treat hours, in order to avoid the increased foot and road traffic that could lead to dangerous situations. On the other hand, today's tip involves some ideas for staying safe should you and your furbaby find yourselves out and about on Halloween night. If you're out on a walk on Halloween night, or any night for that matter, be sure to take a flashlight, as well your cell phone in case of emergency. At the same time, though, don't be distracted by using your phone instead of observing your surroundings. What's more, ensure that your furbaby's leash and collar include reflectors, and that you yourself are wearing reflectors in some way, so that both of you can remain seen and safe.

Another important factor if walking with your furbaby on Halloween night is to know where it might be safest to walk. Obviously, dark alleys are not the way to go, but you also want to ensure that you don't end up with a scared furbaby on the busiest trick-or-treating street. So, if you must head out for a stroll with your furbaby during trick-or-treat hours, think ahead about what route you should take. As we previously hinted, it should be a safe, well-lit area, but also one that won't be hustling and bustling with trick-or-treaters. This is especially important if the pup or kitty being walked is skittish or aggressive in any way. All in all, think ahead and make plans for where you can most safely take a walk with your furbaby should you need to go out on Halloween night.

Also, one last note we want to make is to watch your furbaby closely when walking them on Halloween, as well as on the following days. Trick-or-treaters might leave behind candy, candy wrappers, parts of costumes, or other unsafe goods. So, do keep an eye on that furbaby and make sure nothing unsafe makes it to their mouth when walking during the Halloween season, and year round.

Caturday Art with Kitty Krueger

Life got a bit hectic this weekend, which is part of why I haven't posted today until now. I haven't yet had a chance to scan the next batch of Halloween drawings for this season, so for this late post I'll go ahead and share one of my favorite Halloween doodles from a couple years ago. It's a bit of a busy scene, complete with jack-o'-lantern carving during a viewing of Freddy Kitty Krueger.

Happy Caturday, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

We're 19 days in, and our Halloween tips are still going. After all, we have 31 of them to get through. And, indeed, we have another Halloween-inspired tip for you today.

Yesterday, we mentioned the importance of keeping black cats, and of course all furbabies, indoors on Halloween to prevent them from becoming victims of tricks and pranks. Today's tip is similar, and it is to avoid going on a walk with your dog, or your kitty, during trick-or-treat hours. This is for a number of reasons, including the obvious one that foot traffic, and even potentially car traffic, will be increased during trick-or-treat hours. This is something that could pose a risk especially for skittish dogs or cats, as they might become frightened of the Halloween hustle and bustle. What's more, not only will more people be out and about on Halloween night, making extra traffic and noise, but many of them will be dressed in strange and potentially frightening costumes. These factors could lead a nervous dog or cat to panic, and to potentially get loose and lost. Of course, increased traffic could also lead to accidents and injuries, such as if a nervous or excited dog or cat gets loose and makes their way into the street. All in all, it is important to always take into consideration your furbaby's safety, which might very well mean house arrest during those trick-or-treat hours on Halloween night.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Shining Eddy

Hello and welcome to Friday! 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. My favorite Halloween movie is _________.

2. People always ask me for my recipe for _________.

3. I go to _________ when I need help.

4. If I had to spend a night in a haunted house, I would bring _________ with me.


My answers are below in bold. 

1. My favorite Halloween movie is Halloween.
(This answer is brought to you by nostalgia.)

2. People always ask me for my recipe for brownies.
(I'm not the greatest cook, and while I'm much better at baking, I'm still far from a pro. I also mostly bake for my parents and sister, and occasionally extended family, so my food isn't eaten by many. All that to say, the couple of times anyone has asked me for a recipe, it's been for the brownies I make. I think a family member also once asked me how I make my apple pie.)

3. I go to my parents when I need help.
(I'm 35 and, yes, I still go to my parents when I need help. I do my best to help them with things they need as well. I'm very grateful for this dynamic.)

4. If I had to spend a night in a haunted house, I would bring a furry friend with me.
(I'm a lot more brave when I have a kitty or pup with me. They know a lot and I believe see a lot more than I can, so I wouldn't feel comfortable in a haunted situation without their company and insight. I don't know if that makes sense, but in reality I would want my security blanket of a kitty or pup.)

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.

***

Eddy has what might not look like a spooky shot today, but my mind turned it into one. See this little cutie giving me so much privacy in my bathroom?

I almost always have an Eddy, Thimble, or Evan outside that door beating their way in. It always reminds of that scene from The Shining, when the main character Jack smashes a hole in a door and then peers through looking all shades of unhinged. For some reason, that scene always comes to my mind when my kitties beat their way into the bathroom whenever I have the audacity to close the door. It's a sliding door, so they don't have to use an axe to get through like Jack did, but even so.

All that said, today's new Halloween doodles is one that I scribbled up after snapping that shot of Eddy. I figured, why not turn Eddy's version of The Shining into a Halloween tale?

Truth be told, that doodle did not turn out even remotely how I wanted it to. I scribbled it up on a whim and had a ton of slipups and other mishaps during the process. I almost trashed it more than once, even during just the initial pen outline stage. I made myself finish it, though, even if just because I wanted Eddy to have her scene. It's a hot mess, but it's a hot mess that I didn't abandon.

Have a frightfully festive Friday, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

We know we don't have to tell you wonderful folk that all of those superstitions about unlucky black cats simply aren't true. That being said, there are unfortunately those out there who do believe such things. There are also, sadly, people out there who might even think to play unjust tricks on black cats on or around Halloween. This is why today we are here to remind you to ensure that your sweet and innocent black cats, and all of your furbabies, are safe inside on and around Halloween. Even if you live in what is believed to be a safe neighborhood, please do keep your black cats, and all of your furbabies, inside and under close observation during the Halloween season. This will help ensure that they don't fall victim to the tricks and pranks of any callous or superstitious people out there. As always, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Thankful Thimble Thursday with the Cat-o'-Lantern

It's Thursday, so of course Thimble is here for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is grateful for the cat-o'-lantern basket toy at our house. Tonks had a similar sentiment on Tuesday, and Thimble wanted to share it herself as well.

I get so many pictures of the kitties looking over their shoulders when posing with their favorite toys, likely because they're always eager to keep their kitty siblings away from their goods.

When toys are involved in a photo shoot, most of the shots I get are bloopers. Fun is a blurry thing.

This next one has Thimble somehow even blurrier, but I had to share it because I realized upon looking at it that you get a glimpse of Thimble's tongue in it. Do you see it?

Oh, and there was catnip in the cat-o'-lantern basket (and all over the floor, as you can see) during this photo shot, so there were of course lots of shots like this:

Thimble hopes you all have as much festive fun as she had today!

***

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. My favorite Halloween movie is _________.

2. People always ask me for my recipe for _________.

3. I go to _________ when I need help.

4. If I had to spend a night in a haunted house, I would bring _________ with me.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Not So Spooky Doodle of the Day

Today's new Halloween doodle is one that I scribbled up last minute just the other night. I saw a piece of art with a dark, ghostly, bookish theme. Feeling inspired, I added a kitty to the idea and ended up with what you see below.

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Tip of the Day

Today's Halloween tip is about bats. Bats may be a staple in Halloween lore and decor, but the reality is that they are one of the primary carriers of rabies. What's more, bats leave very small bites that might go unnoticed, especially on kitties or pups with fur that can hide such minuscule bite marks. For such reasons, do be aware and cautious of the presence of bats, such as if you and your furbaby are walking through a park with trees near nightfall.

Bats are not always found outside, though. Bats can sometimes find their ways into buildings, including attics or other areas of homes. If you live in a house or apartment where bats are discovered, keep your furbaby away (and also, of course, try to keep yourself safe), and certainly do not allow your furbaby to chase or play with any bats. A bat can bite quickly and without notice, and rabies could potentially be transferred that quickly if the bat at hand is infected with it. If a bat is unable to be safely escorted out through a window, or in another safe means that does not mean direct handling, then contact animal control or another relevant organization for the safe removal of bats.

Woof Woof Wednesday: Spooky Sweater Weather

It's Woof Woof Wednesday, and pup Astrid wanted you all to see the nonsense she has to put up with. You know, like wearing cute and festive sweaters.

Astrid is pretty much my only furbaby willing to wear any semblance of clothing. There are certain things she doesn't enjoy and so I don't put her in those, but she does tolerate me putting her in cute sweaters and very basic costumes.

Given that the temperatures have sometimes dipped to 30°F this week, it's the perfect time for Astrid to don this frightfully festive attire.

Astrid and all of us here send you warm wishes!

***

Not So Spooky Doodle of the Day

Today's new Halloween doodle is another one with a furry and also feathered friends from the Halloweenish story I've been writing. We again have the Evan-inspired special needs kitty, as well as his parrot friend. The raven isn't actually real, but instead part of a piece of decor very similar to something I have sitting on my own desk at home.

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Tip of the Day

We talked about sparing unwilling furbabies from dressing up for Halloween, and about selecting safe costumes for those furbabies who do enjoy dressing up. Today, we're here to remind you that, if you yourself are planning to don a costume for Halloween, to again take your furbaby into consideration. Any costume worn by yourself, or anyone else in the house, should be safe around your kitty or pup, such as by being free of parts and pieces that a kitty or pup might chew or ingest and thereby put themselves in danger. Earlier in the month we also talked about the toxicity of items such as fake blood, so of course it's safest to refrain from including that in any costume you wear.

Aside from costume dangers, also keep your furbaby's comfort and happiness in mind if you have any sort of costume for yourself. Wigs and masks, for example, might scare some cats or dogs, especially those who are already skittish. It's not only important to ensure that any costume you wear is safe around your furbaby, therefore, but that it also does not scare them.

Tonks Tuesday with a Used and Abused Cat-o'-Lantern

Recently, the kitties shared some flashbacks co-starring their beloved cat-o'-lantern basket toy. Back in day, the poor orange thing looked bright and immaculate. These days, he's looking rougher than rough.

Tonks is probably the kitty who loves that cat-o'-lantern the most. That said, all of the kitties enjoy it, and it shows. They especially love when catnip is placed inside of the basket toy and they get to shove their little faces in there and take a big whiff of the goods. Actually, you can see the paraphernalia all over the floor in that photo above, right next to Tonks and the used and abused cat-o'-lantern.

I'm positive Tonks will have more photos with that festive little guy to share with you all this spooky season. For now, though, have a terrific Tuesday!

***

Not So Spooky Doodle of the Day

Have you ever seen the Scream movies? Do you know the Ghost Face character in those? Today's new Halloween doodle stars a kitty version of that horror movie villain.

This is far from the last feline horror movie villain you'll be seeing this month. Can you guess what other kitty villains we might be sharing this spooky season?

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip is an extension of yesterday's tip, when we reminded you to only put Halloween costumes on furbabies who tolerate or enjoy it. Now we're here to mention the importance of choosing safe and secure costumes for those kitties and pups who do enjoy wearing them. There are a number of considerations to make in order to ensure that a Halloween costume, or other item of clothing, is safe for your furbaby. For example, you of course have to make sure that there are no embellishments or other decorations on the costume that could be chewed off and ingested, as this could indeed be dangerous. You also want to make sure that no strings or other similar parts and pieces could lead to a furbaby getting tangled in the costume. What's more, make sure the costume is the correct size and fit. A costume with too small of a neck hole or with too small of leg holes could be not only uncomfortable, but also dangerous for circulation. Dressing up our furbabies can indeed help you and them get into the Halloween spirit, but it is more so important to ensure their comfort and safety.

Mancat Monday with Evan and a Jack

I've mentioned this before, but my sweet mama's boy Evan is my little shadow. And I love that. No matter what I'm doing, he's right there with me. I do at-home workouts, and during those he's almost always on some of his favorite blankets on the floor beside me.

On that particular day, Evan was getting in the spirit of the spooky season and spending time with the a well-loved jack-o'-lantern catnip toy.

Every kitty here loves that toy. It's easily one of the most used and abused toys in the house. Like the black kitty toy Evan shared last week, that there pumpkin was recently laundered. Why? Because, like the black kitty toy shared last week, it was the target of a urine attack while Evan was fighting his recent UTI. Evan is feeling much better now, though, and so are the freshly cleaned toys. This poor pumpkin looks rough even after laundered, because the kitties have really put him through it over the years, but at least he's still smiling.

Happy Monday, friends!

***

Not So Spooky Doodle of the Day

Today's new Halloween doodle is courtesy of some images I saw of plague doctors in history. So, I tossed a kitty in one of those plague doctor masks and here you go.

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip is about none other than costumes. As you might see upon visiting a pet store this time of year, Halloween costumes are sometimes just as popular for kitties and pups as they are for children of the human sort. That being said, though, it is best to only put and keep a costume on a furbaby who tolerates and enjoys it. Some cats and dogs simply do not like wearing costumes or other clothing items, and those such furbabies should not be forced to wear a costume for Halloween, or any time of the year. If you do try a costume on your kitty or pup, watch for signs of stress, such as trying to remove the costume or restlessness. If you do notice any signs that your furbaby is not enjoying a costume you've chosen for them, remove it and simply let them don their birthday suit this Halloween.

Spookily Blurry Selfies on Sunday

It's time for the Sunday Selfies, and Thimble volunteered for this one. The only thing, though, is that she got a bit overly excited and just couldn't figure out how to sit still.

Hm, that's a bit blurry, huh? How about this?

Still blurry, but Thimble really just couldn't contain herself. Those shots were snapped when I was decorating for Halloween. Thimble always loves helping me decorate, hence the obligatory blur. She hopes you all still find her adorable, though she's certain you do.

Happy Sunday to all!

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Not So Spooky Doodle of the Day

Today's new Halloween doodle is a basic one, but it's Halloweenish nonetheless.

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Tip of the Day

We've made it to day 13 of our 31 Halloween tips. Today's tip is likely the last in our discussion on pumpkins, and it's also more than likely an obvious one. Nevertheless, we're here to remind you to take precautions and to keep your furbaby safe if you get festive by carving a jack-o'-lantern. Carving a pumpkin means pulling out knives or other sharp objects, which can of course be a danger to your kitty or pup. Do not leave any knives sitting where your furbaby might walk or jump, and certainly don't leave knives unattended. If need be, activities such as pumpkin carving can be, and perhaps should be, done in an area where your furbaby does not have access. This would allow for the prevention of any accidents. Also think about after you've carved the pumpkin, and do not leave the knives sitting dangerously in the sink or elsewhere. We've also already discussed safety around candles in jack-o'-lanterns, as flames are of course another danger. All in all, if you are carving pumpkins or partaking in other similar Halloween festivities, always be aware of your furbaby's proximity and safety.

Yet More Kooky Caturday Art

I still clearly need to work on my posting skills, especially on weekends. But, here we are, late but at least not never. And for today, we have some doodles that are a continuation of what we shared yesterday. I mentioned a fake spooky bakery and cat café that showed up in my brain one day, and which I've included in the Halloween-ish story I'm writing. Now, we have a couple more kooky goods to share from the menu. First up is what I call the Tombstone Scone.

It's been a long time since I've had a scone, and now I really want to remedy that. Maybe I'll even try to make one in the shape of a tombstone. The success of that is doubtful, but it might be worth a spooky try.

And, next, I call this one the Moonshine Muffin.

Happy Caturday, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

Can you believe we're still on the topic of pumpkins? We talked about the benefits of pumpkin and even pumpkin seeds. All of that aside, though, always keep in mind the age and condition of any pumpkins to which your furbaby has access. This time of year, pumpkins are indeed often used as beautiful outdoor decorations or spooky jack-o'-lanterns. Pumpkins won't stay pretty forever, though, and we're sure you've all witnessed the ultimate demise of pumpkins. That being said, old pumpkins can indeed begin to rot, and if pumpkins in this state are consumed by your kitty or pup, issues such as gastrointestinal distress can occur.

In addition, also keep wildlife in mind with regard to this, as old, rotting food may not sit well for them, either. What's more, pumpkins that are left to sit outside and rot will sometimes ferment. If squirrels or other wildlife consume fermented pumpkins, they can potentially end up in a more or less drunken state. Therefore, be sure to compost or otherwise dispose of old pumpkins in a timely, safe, secure manner, for the safety of your furbabies and the wildlife.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Cat-o'-Lantern Flashback

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. I _________ when I feel overwhelmed.

2. My favorite streaming service is _________.

3. I try to help _________ when I can.

4. I could tell a scary story about _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. I plan when I feel overwhelmed.
(I have a planner in which I create daily to-do lists, brain dump my thoughts, and even scribble up most of my drawings. When I feel overwhelmed, it generally indeed helps me to write down my ideas, plans, to-do lists, and really anything that helps me get my thoughts together. I also will sketch up drawings in this planner that moonlights as a sketchbook, because that also helps clear my mind. I should share a photo of this planner sometime, because it's just a messy DIY notebook I put together for cheap, but it's a lifeline most days. Of course, all of this is accompanied by lots of kitty and pup cuddles, because that's also a necessity when I'm overwhelmed.)

2. My favorite streaming service is Netflix.
(This is such a basic answer, but in general, Netflix probably has the biggest variation of movies and TV shows that I enjoy. I regularly use a few others as well, mostly HBO/Max, Peacock, and the horror-centric Shudder. So, while Netflix is my top choice, those other three are my honorable mentions. I also need to give credit where it's due, because I use my parents' accounts for all of these. They're amazing like that. Thanks, Mom and Dad!)

3. I try to help animals in need when I can.

(I'm not perfect at this, and I always wish I could do more. That said, I try to donate to rescues when I'm able. I also always stop and try help any lost animals I find out and about, whether that be while I'm driving, walking Astrid, or any other time I see an animal who looks lost. I always put out food for ferals in our neighborhood. It's one of my goals in life to do a lot more related to animal rescue, but for now, I try to do what I can.)

4. I could tell a scary story about feline fecal matter.
(I really almost didn't put this as my answer. But, especially recently, this is the primary ammunition I have for scary stories. I won't give any graphic details here, but Evan's colon is currently very unpredictable, and that has led to some very horrifying happenings.)

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.

***

Next week, Tonks and Thimble will be sharing the current status of the kitties' beloved little cat-o'-lantern basket toy. It's looking especially rough these days, so evasive Eddy thought she'd share a flashback to give you all one last glimpse of the cat-o'-lantern in its prime.

There were so many bloopers in this photo shoot, because we are talking about Eddy, after all. We'll share one more, because why not.

Eddy and all of us here wish you a fantastic Friday!

***

Not So Spooky Doodles of the Day

In part for the story I'm writing that takes place around Halloween, and in part because this has always just been something in the back of my mind, I created a fake-but-I-wish-was-real spooky little bakery and cat café.

The way my brain has crafted it, this bakery serves a variety of spooky and kooky baked goods, some indeed being kitty-inspired. I've decided that the cupcake on the sign there is called the Frankenstein's Meownster. I even felt compelled to scribble it up a second time.

***

Tip of the Day

Yesterday's Halloween tip was about the benefits of feeding pumpkin to your furbabies. Today's tip is related to this, but is about a part of the pumpkin that isn't as often discussed with regard to a furbaby's diet. We're talking about those pumpkin seeds. If fed in a manner that is safe, pumpkin seeds can have health benefits for our furbabies, just as they can for humans. For example, pumpkin seeds contain valuable nutrients, and they can have anti-inflammatory properties. It is also believed by some that pumpkin seeds have some deworming properties as well.

All of the above being said, if you decide to offer pumpkin seeds to your kitty or pup, of course do so safely. First, feed them only as an occasional treat or food topper. In addition, if the seeds are a potential choking hazard, you can cut them into small pieces. Also, of course, ensure that the pumpkin seeds are plain, and that they do not contain any added ingredients, such as onion, garlic, or even salt or sugar. We'll again also add that, should your furbaby have any health concerns, of course first discuss adding anything such as pumpkin seeds to your furbaby's diet with your veterinarian.

Thankful for the Tooth Fairy on Thimble Thursday

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

Just like Tonks did on Tuesday, Thimble wants to share her gratitude and joy over the goodies Ellen the Tooth Fairy sent our way after Thimble and Tonks had their dental surgeries last week.

Also like Tonks, Thimble was so excited that she mostly has blurry bloopers to share. Her cuteness makes up for it, though, of course.

Thimble loves the toys Ellen makes. She has also always loved the mats we've received from Ellen. To Thimble, they're like her own personal little thrones.

I wish I'd gotten a shot of Thimble looking at me with her adorable face, but she was so focused on keeping the other kitties off the mat that she just couldn't focus on a photo shoot. Don't worry, though, because eventually sweet Thimble did let all of her kitty siblings and housemates have a turn. The toys have all been dispersed around the house by happy kitties, and the mat has been napped on countless times. Thank you so much, Ellen the Tooth Fairy!

Oh, and Thimble and Tonks are doing great following their dentals. Despite losing 3 canines and a premolar, Tonks bounced right back and has been her usual self pretty much since she got home. Thimble is also doing great, though I can tell eating still feels a bit strange to her, since she now has nothing but her tiny little incisors on the bottom of her mouth. That said, overall, they're both doing great. Thank you all for the purrs and prayers you sent their way last week before, during, and after their dentals!

***

Now, let's share the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen (the Tooth Fairy!) of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I _________ when I feel overwhelmed.

2. My favorite streaming service is _________.

3. I try to help _________ when I can.

4. I could tell a scary story about _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Not So Spooky Doodle of the Day

I actually have a handful more doodles to share related to the Halloweenish story I'm currently writing, but apparently I have yet to scan and upload those. So, today you get a different one of my new Halloween doodles.

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Tip of the Day

We're on the 10th day of our 31 days of Halloween tips. Now, we simply couldn't go this entire Halloween month without mentioning none other than pumpkins! As most of you likely already know, pumpkin can make for a healthy treat for a kitty or pup. Plain, cooked pumpkin can be an excellent source of fiber. This can help to keep the bowels regular, and so could be something to keep in mind for those furbabies with irregular bowel movements. Pumpkin and the fiber it provides can also help move hairballs more easily through those kitty intestinal tracts. Fiber, such as that from pumpkin, can also help a kitty or pup feel full for longer, which means that it can also potentially aid in weight loss. All of these benefits are also on top of the fact that pumpkin is also high in a variety of beneficial nutrients, such as vitamin A and vitamin C.

That all being said, do of course ensure that you only feed your furbaby cooked pumpkin of the plain variety. You can feed your furbaby pumpkin puree from a can, of course ensuring that it contains no spices or other added ingredients. You can also cook up your own pumpkin and feed it to your kitty or pup as a treat. What's more, these days, there are many types of dry and moist foods, as well as treats, that contain pumpkin as an ingredient. These such foods might assist certain furbabies with bowel regularity or weight loss. Of course, if you have any questions or concerns regarding your furbaby's diet and digestion, discuss options such as pumpkin with your veterinarian.