Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Flashback Photo Fails

Hello, friends! I guess I didn't manage to actually push publish on this post, because it's well into the afternoon and I just discovered it sitting in my drafts. That's very likely my wrongdoing, so my apologies. Now we'll get to the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, far later than intended. 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 hope my Easter basket has _________ in it.

2. March has been _________.

3. If there ever was a time to _________, it's now.

4. I _________ in preparation for _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. I hope my Easter basket has health and happiness in it.
(I try not to give cheesy answers for these, but given the way things have been going, right now I just want health and happiness for my family and friends. Please and thank you, Easter Bunny.)

2. March has been a lot.

(I've suffered far less tragedies than many, so overall I am grateful. Evan has had a rough March in terms of health, though, as has my dad, so it was just a lot to juggle. That said, both Evan and my dad have improved a great deal, for which I am also very grateful.)

3. If there ever was a time to work toward your goals, it's now.

(I couldn't think of how to word this to really get my point across, but what I'm trying to say is simply that there's no better time than now. For anything you want to achieve in life, working toward it in even a small way can be done now rather than later.)

4. I suit up in preparation for Evan's medication time.
(I've mentioned this before, but Evan does what I call rage peeing, and sometimes rage pooping. When he doesn't like something, like getting his meds, he'll often spray urine at his assailant, which is almost always me. I've learned ways to protect myself, like bringing with me an extra blanket or paper towels as a shield. I also always bring over cleaning supplies. It's a whole production.)

Now it's your turn!

To add your link to the Friendly Fill-Ins Linky list, just click HERE!

You can also click on the badge below to add your link.

You are also welcome to complete the fill-ins in the comments below,

or in the comments on Ellen's blog, 15andmeowing.

***

And now it's time for the Pet Photo Fails Blog Hop, hosted by none other than Melissa and Mudpie of Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries, & Meows.

This time around, Eddy wanted to share some flashback bloopers. A few years ago, the kitties got a new little friend for Easter. When this here human tried to get some shots of Eddy and the new pal, Eddy first had to be lured over with treats, and then most of what we managed were blurry bloopers. See?

Happy Friday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

We're of course here today with another National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip. It's time to give a reminder of the dirty details of keeping your kitty or pup safe. What we mean is, don't forget to keep your garbage can, recycling bin, dirty dishwasher, compost, and other similar areas safe against curious furbabies. Garbage cans or recycling bins, for example, might contain empty containers for potentially poisonous substances, such as detergents. The garbage can, dishwasher, or even compost might also contain the remnants of food that is toxic to a cat or dog. When it comes to the compost, or perhaps even the garbage can, moldy foods especially might be found within, and moldy food can contain mycotoxins, which are indeed toxic to our furbabies.

All in all, what we're trying to say is to never forget all of the details, no matter how dirty, for ensuring that your kitty or pup is free from any form of poisoning or other injury. Use garbage cans that are securely lidded or pet-proof in another way. You could even hide your garbage can in a cabinet, drawer, or room to which your furbaby cannot gain access. Also ensure that your dirty dishwasher remains securely closed, and that any compost you have is kept somewhere that your furbaby cannot reach. Even if a precaution seems like overkill, it's probably not. After all, when it comes to the health and safety of your furbaby, it is of course best to take no risks.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Wondrous Whiskers

It's Thursday, which means Thimble is ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Thimble is grateful for every part of her adorable face, but today she particularly wants to show off her majestic whiskers.

Truth be told, Thimble actually has some of the shortest whiskers of all the kitties in the house. Even so, just look at those wondrous whiskers!

***

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

1. I hope my Easter basket has _________ in it.

2. March has been _________.

3. If there ever was a time to _________, it's now.

4. I _________ in preparation for _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

Today's National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip is an add-on to our tip from yesterday, when we reminded you to keep doors closed and other obstacles in place to keep your furbaby safe from substances and areas with poison. Taking that one step further, if needed, child-proofing products can be your your best friend even for those furry children in your life. For example, do you have a curious kitty or puppy who has found ways to open cabinets and drawers? This can put a furbaby at risk, such as if those cabinets and drawers contain human medications, cleaners, or other toxic items, or even sharp or other dangerous objects. To prevent prying paws from opening cabinets and drawers, you can get child-proof, or pet-proof, locks that make cabinets and drawers difficult or impossible to open without dexterity, or opposable thumbs. There are also child-proof locks to keep main doors securely closed. This can come in handy if you have a kitty or pup who knows how to manipulate certain door handles.

We've mentioned this on here before, but also don't forget the usefulness of baby gates. They also make gates that are more specifically pet-proof, such as tall ones over which dogs and cats cannot easily jump. These can be used to block access to certain areas of the house to ensure your kitty or pup's safety. For example, you can use baby or pet gates to block access to the kitchen, especially if potentially toxic foods are being prepared. These gates can also be used to block off garbage cans, laundry areas, or other areas of the home where potential poisoning might occur.

Just as with a human child, our kitties and pups can get themselves into trouble. Consider all areas of the home where danger might arise, and then do your research on what you can do to best prevent emergencies from dangers such as accidental poisoning. Do your best to always be one step ahead of your kitty or pup, as difficult as that may be.

Adventures with Astrid: Walking Weather

Hello, friends! We are all sorts of off kilter and posting late this week. Or as always, lately. Evan and other furbaby care has been a tad bit crazy lately, as has my day job. That said, I have a 3-day weekend for Easter, and one of my main goals is to try my best to get a number of April's blog posts written and scheduled. I have all of my April A to Z Challenge doodles completed except for 6 of them, so I'm well on my way for that. They are admittedly pretty simple drawings (though still feline-centric) which made my A to Z prep easy. You'll see what I mean come Monday.

All that said, it's the day for you to see adorable pup Astrid, who is loving her not-frigid and not-hot walks these days.

I've been enjoying this walking weather as much as Astrid has. It's so nice to enjoy a day with none of the weather extremes going on.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

For anyone curious, I scribbled up that doodle last spring, a few months after Astrid had metal placed in her right knee after tearing her CCL (like the ACL in humans). So, metal-legged Astrid was drawn.

***

Tip of the Day

In these last couple days of National Pet Poison Awareness Month, we're going to summarize some tips on how to help keep your furbaby safe from potential poisons. First, as obvious as it is, we're here today to remind you to use doors or other obstacles to properly block your kitty or pup's access to potentially dangerous products or areas of the house. For example, if your bathroom, laundry room, or utility closet contain dangerous chemicals, such as detergents, then keep their doors securely closed to bar your furbaby's entrance. Similarly, keep the door to your garage shut, in order to keep your furbaby away from gasoline, antifreeze, and other dangers that might be found in the garage. If you have a shed and your furbaby goes outdoors, keep the shed's door securely closed, especially if it houses fertilizers, pesticides, or other potentially toxic products. And don't forget to consider your garden, where toxic plants might grow, or where dangerous chemicals might be used. In such cases, monitor your furbaby while outdoors, and block your kitty or pup's access to the garden, such as with a secure fence. In short, consider all areas of the house and yard where poisoning or danger might arise, and ensure proper safety against said dangers.

Tonks Tuesday: What a Cute Nose

It's Tonks Tuesday, and this little calico wants to remind you all what a cute nose she has.

Really, that whole face is cute. Just look at it! Tonks is certain you all agree.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

Yesterday's National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip was about being cautious of the potentially poisonous bites of certain snakes and spiders. In a similar yet also different tip, we are today talking about those critters who contain substances that could be toxic if ingested by our furbabies. For example, there are certain toads that contain substances on their body that can lead to severe toxicity. Two of the most poisonous toads are the Colorado River toad and the Marine toad. A pup or kitty making oral contact with these toads can lead to nearly immediate side effects such as drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, difficult breathing, difficulty walking, and potentially death if left untreated.

Other critters that can poison a dog or cat if ingested include a butterfly or caterpillar that has eaten milkweed, which can be incredibly toxic to our furbabies. In addition to this, there are some caterpillars with hairs or other means capable of injecting venomous toxins, which can spell out trouble if a cat or dog puts the caterpillar in their mouth. Monarch caterpillars and a variety of moth caterpillars are some of those known to have the ability to inject toxins when threatened.

Even fireflies can have poisonous effects on a cat or pup if ingested. Though their less-than-ideal taste is likely to keep a pup or kitty away, if ingested, they can cause vomiting and other gastrointestinal distress. For all of these reasons, especially if you are unsure of a critter's potential effects on your furbaby, simply do all that you can to prevent your kitty or pup's contact with or ingestion of bugs and other critters. As we mentioned yesterday, do your best to be aware of the types of critters in the area, and which ones can pose a risk to your pup or kitty. And, if your furbaby does come into contact with or ingest any bug of which you are unsure, do not hesitate to contact a veterinarian.

Mancat Monday: Medication Madness

We're trying to find a bit of a new normal here at our house. Evan is on increased medications, both in terms of dosages and frequency, due to his recent increased urinary issues and intestinal issues, and his still-healing aural (ear) hematoma. There is much time being spent tossing medications down poor Evan's throat. And on his part, there is much urination happening and much defecating happening.

That there was Evan after his first increased dose of gabapentin. He's been on a lower dose of gabapentin for a little over a year, ever since his urethral obstruction in December 2022. Due to his most recent straining and urinating blood, though, his vet doubled his dose. That certainly conked Evan out. It's slowly balancing back out and not causing him to be quite as tired, but that first high dose sure hit him hard.

All the above said, Evan is slowly but surely getting back to his usual self. He is no longer straining to urinate and is not passing any blood in his urine anymore. He also started on cisapride for intestinal motility after very recently being diagnosed with megacolon, and at least for now it has finally started to help him defecate every day.

When Evan is not feeling like himself, and when his body is trying to learn new medications, he admittedly doesn't always go to his toilet to relieve himself. That means there's lots and lots of cleaning going on around the house, but as long as he's feeling better, I'll make that work. This has happened before and Evan always ends up back to using his toilet like usual. We just have to get to that stage of the game again.

Now, you'll have to excuse Evan while he goes and takes another long nap. Happy Monday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

As part of National Pet Poison Awareness Month, we're now talking about the risk of poisonous bites your kitty or pup might receive from other critters. Depending on where you live, or where you might be visiting with your furbaby, you might find it necessary to be on the lookout for critters such as snakes and spiders whose bites can have toxic effects. When it comes to snakes, some of the dangerous ones include certain coral snakes and rattlesnakes. As for spiders, as most of you certainly know, black widows and brown recluses are among the most dangerous. Bites from such critters can result in any number of dangerous or life-threatening side effects, including cardiovascular shock, respiratory distress, neurological damage, and tissue damage, among others.

When outdoors, especially in areas where snakes, spiders, or other venomous critters are a known possibility, always monitor your furbaby and keep an eye out for danger. As needed, research the wildlife of areas you will be, so that you know what snakes, spiders, and other critters of which to be cautious. Of course, if your kitty or pup is bitten by a spider or snake, especially a known venomous one, do not hesitate to seek veterinary care. In many such cases, counteracting the venom in a timely manner is crucial.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Non-Blurry Eddy

First and foremost, my thoughts and prayers are with Ellen of 15andmeowing as she prepares to say goodbye to her dear Joanie.

Ellen is understandably taking a break from blogging as she spends time with her Joanie, so the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge we co-host can be joined through my blog today. Ellen came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. I refuse to spend more than _________ for _________.

2. I am not ashamed to admit _________.

3. I've been obsessed with _________ lately.

4. When someone tells me _________, I _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. I refuse to spend more than pennies for drinking water.
(I've told the full story before, but after once spending $5 for a small bottle of water on a rare occasion I attended a concert, I decided that wasn't a thing I liked doing. I'm someone who willingly drinks the water that comes out of the tap, which accounts for only a tiny fraction of my house's water bill. Even most restaurants don't charge for a glass of water, and I appreciate that.)

2. I am not ashamed to admit that I prefer to stay home with my furry family.
(I know a lot of people who say it's "unhealthy" and the like to refrain from going out and socializing with other humans and such, but I am a proud homebody who wants nothing more than to get home to my kitties and pup every day.)

3. I've been obsessed with potatoes lately.

(I know this is a weird answer, but when I thought about something I've just recently been really into, the answer is potatoes. I went through a long spell where I didn't buy or eat potatoes very often. I don't even know why. But, a month or so ago I bought a bag of potatoes, and now I've gotten into the habit of buying a bag with nearly every grocery shop and happily making and eating baked fries, potato wedges, and all sorts of potato dishes with as many meals as possible.)

4. When someone tells me "it's just a cat", I lose respect for them.
(Not everyone has to share their life with cats or dogs. As for me, though, my cats and pup are my world, so when someone uses terminology that devalues a living, breathing companion so dear to me and my life, I'm not the slightest fan of that.)

Now it's your turn!

To add your link to the Friendly Fill-Ins Linky list, just click HERE!

You can also click on the badge below to add your link.

***

Are you ready for your Eddy fix? Today you get a rare shot of still, snoozing Eddy. Don't get used to the non-blurry version of Eddy, though, as I'm sure it won't last.

Happy Friday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

Today's National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip is yet another one regarding random yet potentially toxic items that might be found in the the home. Today's household item to be aware of is matches. Matches can contain potentially toxic substances, such as potassium nitrate. It is also possible for matches to contain heavy metals or other dangerous components. Ingestion of matches can lead to toxicity for your furbaby, with the effects depending on the quantity ingested. Poisoning from the ingestion of matches can result in symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Consuming items such as matches can also lead to a variety of other problems, such as perforation or obstruction of the bowels. Needless to say, to prevent any such issues, of course keep matches and all dangerous items well out of reach of your kitty or pup.

In this same line of thought, also keep items such as lighters and lighter fluids hidden away. These can also contain components that are potentially toxic to kitties and pups. And what do we always say? It's better to be safe than sorry.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Tummy Tickles

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

Just like last week, Thimble is grateful for her adorable belly, and for any rubs and tickles bestowed upon it.

Tickle away on that tummy if you'd like. Thimble loves her belly rubs.

Thimble and myself are also very thankful that Evan is slowly improving every day. In case you missed it, Evan started straining to urinate on Friday night, and he began passing blood and blood clots in his urine. He's also been having continued difficulty defecating, and has officially been diagnosed with megacolon. After a vet appointment and multiple emails and phone calls, we've upped all of his meds, some of them just temporarily and some of them permanently, and we're also starting him on a new medication. Evan acts a bit better every day, and that makes me very happy.

***

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

1. I refuse to spend more than _________ for _________.

2. I am not ashamed to admit _________.

3. I've been obsessed with _________ lately.

4. When someone tells me _________, I _________.

 

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

In a previous tip as part of National Pet Poison Awareness Month, we discussed the danger of human medications if ingested by our kitties or pups. It's not just human medications that are potentially dangerous, though. Even veterinary medications designed for pets could lead to toxicity in certain circumstances. This of course can occur if a particular furbaby gets into a furry housemate's medication that he or she do not need. In addition, even a medication prescribed to a particular cat or dog can cause them issues, such as if taken in larger quantities than instructed. This could perhaps occur due to human error in administering, but also if the animal finds their medication stash and helps themselves. Some veterinary medications are formulated to smell and taste enticing to our furbabies, making them all the more desired by said furbabies. If your furbaby likes the taste of one of their medications, or even one of their housemate's medication, then they may try to sneak quantities out of the safe range, which could indeed lead to detrimental effects. So, of course, hide those medications away.

Don't only take into consideration oral medications, though. Even transdermal medications can result in toxicity, such as if your furbaby finds and in some way exposes themselves to large quantities of it. The short story is, just as you must keep your own medication hidden away from your kitties and pup, you should also keep all veterinary medication hidden away so as to prevent any and all emergencies possible.

Adventures with Astrid: Glowing Goddess

On a recent walk, the sun helped Astrid give a proper demonstration on how much of a glowing goddess she truly is. See?

Astrid isn't always keen on stopping her beloved walks for photo shoots, but she made an exception for this one.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

Today's National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip is one that relates to our previous tips on pesticides, but is also one upon which we failed to expand. The type of pesticide of which we speak today is none other than mothballs. Mothballs come in a variety of forms, and typically release gas vapors intended to repel or kill moths, or other pests. When it comes to our furbabies, mothballs can cause toxicity via inhalation, skin contact, or ingestion. Dogs are perhaps the most likely to ingest mothballs, but cats are more sensitive to their effects. Old-fashioned mothballs are the most dangerous, as they contain naphthalene. More modern mothballs are typically formulated to be less dangerous to kitties, pups, and ourselves, but they can still pose risks. Mothball poisoning can result in vomiting, lethargy, difficulty breathing, or even failure of organs such as the liver or kidneys.

Needless to say, it is likely best to avoid the use of mothballs altogether. There are alternatives to ridding your clothes or areas of the home of moths. Some of these methods may require more laborious cleaning and may indeed be more time-consuming than simply tossing in a mothball, but the health of your furbaby is well worth the effort.

Tonks Tuesday: Sun Puddle Naptime

It's Tonks Tuesday, and this calico is very happy to report that she got to nap in a purrfect sun puddle recently.

Isn't it just wonderful when the sun hits that cat tree? Tonks says it really is.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

After yesterday's National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip on paint products, we wanted to also give a PSA on the dangers of certain glues. If we're to be honest, the primary danger of glue isn't necessarily poisonous effects. Nevertheless, we still want to warn of the life-threatening hazards of glue. Some glues, such as glues for wood or construction, as well as heavy-duty glues such as Gorilla Glue, can lead to severe side effects. Ingestion of these glues can cause symptoms such as gastrointestinal distress, vomiting, and decreased appetite. What's more, though, is that these types of glues can contain diisocyanates, which can mix with stomach acid and then expand. This can then lead to bowel obstruction. Bowel obstruction is nothing to take lightly, and often requires surgery. Needless to say, if your kitty or pup gets into glue, especially heavy-duty glue that contains diisocyanates, seek veterinary care immediately. Of course, to prevent such emergencies, take no risks and be sure to hide away any and all glues someplace where your furbaby cannot reach.

Medical Mancat Monday

First and foremost, I wanted to share my prayers and condolences with Ellen of 15andmeowing following the loss of her beautiful Lucy.

Lucy was so blessed to know love, thanks to Ellen. What a beautiful angel Lucy was, is, and always will be.

***

I started typing out a whole long explanation for yet another weekend absence on our part, but let me see if I can make it short-ish, not-so-sweet, and almost to the point.

Evan started straining to both defecate and urinate on Friday night. He also started passing blood in his urine. I was able to get his urinary issues to settle down on Friday night with additional doses of his medications, and then he was seen at the vet on Saturday morning. Thankfully he did not have a urethral obstruction, but we have increased multiple of his urinary medication dosages and frequencies. Evan also was officially diagnosed with megacolon this weekend. He received an enema to help with that in the moment, and he was able to get lots of stool out on Saturday and a bit out on Sunday as a result. He is still, however, straining to urinate and is passing blood and now blood clots as of last night and this morning.

I know that photo looks dramatically sad, but that was Evan simply trying to make himself look invisible at the vet. He had just gotten out a large amount of urine when the vet tech expressed him, which was good, but he seemed pretty sure that if pretended to sleep he would be left alone. Sorry, buddy, but no such luck.

Evan was already scheduled for his usual sanitary shave today, so I dropped him off at the vet's groomer this morning. After this weekend's enema and other events, the grooming was very much needed. When I dropped him off, I also had the receptionist leave a note for the vet, to let her know that he's still straining to urinate, still passing blood, and now also passing blood clots. He also might still be doing some straining to defecate, despite all of the stool passed this weekend, but sometimes Evan's hind limb paralysis seems to make his internal tracts all shades of confused.

What's more, my dad ended up in the ER on Saturday. He was having back and abdominal pain and couldn't keep anything down, not even water. Despite all sorts of tests and imaging, nothing major was found, and the ER doctor believes he's either having a flare related to gallstones, or that he has some sort of intestinal virus that presented in this way. Thankfully, my dad was able to come home that afternoon and with some medications of his own has been slowly feeling better.

While I'll try to keep some sort of schedule, if a miss a post over the next day or two, don't be alarmed. Evan is currently on so many medications at so many intervals as we're trying to settle his urethral issues, not to mention his urethral spasms and urine straining have been happening all hours of the day and night, that my sleep and schedule in general are completely off the rails. I'm trying to stay on top of things, but I just thought I'd mention this, in case I miss a post over the next day or two.

Either way, have a wonderful Monday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

We've given past tips on the dangers of paint products, but we're going to repeat this for National Pet Poison Awareness Month. Unsurprisingly, paint, varnish, and other similar products can be toxic to our furbabies. Lead paints can of course cause lead poisoning, which can cause a variety of severe symptoms, including those of the gastrointestinal and neurological systems. Lead can also be detrimental to red blood cells, brain function, and other important processes in the body. Oil-based paints can also be dangerous, potentially causing diarrhea as well as having serious effects on the lungs. They may also contain heavy metals and thereby cause symptoms similar to those of lead paint toxicity. Products such as varnish can also have similar negative side effects as paint.

Also keep in mind that paint and paint products can emit dangerous fumes. Especially without proper ventilation, inhalation of the fumes can cause irritation of the lungs or symptoms such as dizziness. To avoid emergencies related to the ingestion or inhalation of paint or other paint products, of course keep these items well out of reach of your furbabies. Try to keep your furbabies safely out of areas that are being painted. Should ingestion or inhalation of paint products occur, do not hesitate to seek veterinary assistance.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Elusive Eddy

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 enjoy watching _________.

2. I _________ on St. Patrick's Day.

3. Others come to me when they need help with _________.

4. _________ is my lucky charm.


My answers are below in bold.

1. I enjoy watching my kitties and pup as they sleep.
(Because they're downright adorable and I'm a creep like that. What more can I say?)

2. I feast on Dublin Coddle on St. Patrick's Day.
(My mom always cooks up some Irish-inspired foods on St. Patrick's Day. Most of them are cabbage-based, but as someone who's really just not a fan of cabbage, I instead have myself a hearty serving of the Dublin Coddle my mom makes. It's an Irish sausage and potato stew, and it's delicious.)

3. Others come to me when they need help with cat claws.
(By this I mean I'm the person who cuts most of the family cats' claws. I don't mind. I used to work as a veterinary assistant at a cat clinic, and one of my jobs there was trimming kitty claws, so I grew quite used to it.)

4. My furry family is my lucky charm.

(I'm not a very superstitious person and don't really have items I consider truly lucky. That said, my kitties and pup make me feel like the luckiest person on earth, so that's my answer.)

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.

***

Who's ready for an Eddy fix? We're sure you all are. Today, you get a rather strange angle of ever elusive Eddy, since she was too busy looking out at the sunny day to say cheese to the camera.

Eddy and all of us here wish you a happy, sunny Friday!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

Our tips for National Pet Poison Awareness Month continue on, and we have yet another random household item to be aware of due to the potentially toxic effects that can result if ingested. What we're talking about today are coins. Coins, such as pennies, contain zinc, which can lead to toxicity and serious side effects if ingested in large enough quantities. Zinc poisoning can result in vomiting as well as increased respiration rate and heart rate. Zinc can also damage blood cells. For these reasons, as well as for the choking and obstruction hazards that coins can pose, be sure to always keep coins out of your kitty or pup's reach. Some animals will put anything and everything into their mouth, which could of course lead to danger with items such as coins. So, keep those coins safely tucked away.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Too Cute for Words

Hello and happy Thursday, friends! Thimble is of course ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is grateful for warm and cozy places to nap.

And, of course, Thimble is also thankful for belly rubs, and for how adorable she is when she rolls around. Even when blurry, she's simply too cute for words.

You are indeed free to rub that belly. Thimble loves to have that belly tickled and smooched and all that good stuff, for which I myself am very grateful.

***

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

1. I enjoy watching _________.

2. I _________ on St. Patrick's Day.

3. Others come to me when they need help with _________.

4. _________ is my lucky charm.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Before we go, though, we want to wish everyone a Happy Pi(e) Day! For anyone who might not know what on earth I'm talking about, the mathematical constant known as pi, that being 𝜋, equals 3.14. So, March 14 is Pi(e) Day.

I failed to finish my new Pi(e) Day drawing this week. I'll complete it soon and share it then, along with a number of other doodles I have complete and need to scan and upload to share. But I digress. For today, here's an old doodle of Angel Rosie the Baker. She says you can pretend this pie is whatever you want, whether that be banana pie, lemon meringue pie, pineapple pie, or whatever else you're craving.

***

Tip of the Day

Today's National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip is about essential oils. There are a wide variety of essential oils on the market, and there are also a wide variety of reactions your furbaby might display if exposed to certain essential oils. Some essential oils can indeed be poisonous to our kitties or pups, kitties typically being especially sensitive to them. Depending on the type of oil and its concentration, exposure to and ingestion of an essential oil can lead to potentially serious side effects, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty walking, just to name a couple.

To prevent any accidental toxicity or emergencies, it might be best to simply prevent your furbaby from coming into contact with any essential oils, to ensure that your furbaby does not come into contact with one containing a toxic ingredient. This would mean refraining from putting essential oils on your kitty or pup, or placing essential oil diffusers anywhere near where your furbaby can reach. Also keep in mind that essential oils and their fragrances can also potentially cause respiratory irritation, with symptoms such as ocular discharge, nasal discharge, or signs related to asthma. When in doubt, keep essential oils, essential oil diffusers, and any other similar products well away from your furbaby, as their health and safety is not worth the risk.

Adventures with Astrid: Greener on the Other Side

For today's adventure with Astrid, the pup wants to first take you back to a walk we took a couple weeks ago.

Do you see the not-so-green grass there? It was still pretty dead, as you can tell. That said, shall we fast forward to a walk from earlier this week? You'll see a bit more color in this one. See?

The green grass is officially here, friends! And you better believe Astrid is marking it all as hers on her walks.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

We have yet more random safety tips for National Pet Poison Awareness Month. Today's tip is to keep that hand sanitizer out of the reach of your furbabies. Hand sanitizer contains alcohol, which means that, especially if ingested in large enough quantities, it can indeed lead to alcohol poisoning. More than likely, hand sanitizer will neither smell nor taste enticing to your kitty or pup. But, some furbabies may simply have strange or unprejudiced tastes, and so keeping any potentially toxic items out of their reach is of course crucial. Keep this in mind not only when it comes to hand sanitizer. Some items can contain toxic ingredients that you might not expect, and some furbabies might not be picky about what they put in their mouths. So, never leave anything questionable within their reach, because it is indeed always better to be safe than sorry.

Sleepy Tonks Tuesday

It's Tonks Tuesday, and it's a sleepy one today.

Tonks isn't the most likely kitty to seek out a human lap, so when she does choose mine, I feel so honored. Not to mention I just love oohing and awwing over at that cute face of hers. Honestly, just look at it!

Happy Tuesday, friends! Tonks is wishing you all lots of naps today!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

Still continuing on with our National Pet Poison Awareness Month, we are today reminding you to keep any questionable kitchen products well out of reach of your furbabies. Just as laundry detergents can be dangerous, so can those used in the kitchen. Dishwasher detergent or tablets, for example, can often have corrosive or other dangerous side effects. Other potentially toxic kitchen products include degreasers, oven cleaners, and drain cleaners. These products can also potentially have corrosive effects, among other adverse reactions. If your furbaby ingests any such products, they might display gastrointestinal distress, oral ulcers, lethargy, or other symptoms. As always, if you think your kitty or pup might have ingested a toxic kitchen product, seek veterinary assistance.

Mancat Monday: Co-Starring the Ear

Hello, friends! I'm yet again sorry for disappearing for a couple days this weekend. I spent a good chunk of the weekend doing yard work. The weather was lovely, and there was a project I've been meaning to finish for quite some time now. It's not quite done yet, but it's very close. That said, working on that meant I didn't open my laptop even once this weekend. This is why it's still a goal of mine to soon get back to scheduling our posts days in advance. Anyway.

It's Mancat Monday, so here's a dose of handsome mancat Evan for you, co-starring his aural (ear) hematoma.

I know Evan looks rather sad in those photos, but I promise he was purring and enjoyed some treats both before and after these were snapped. Evan's floppy ear makes him look so dejected, but his ear in these photos is actually an improvement. It sort of plateaued at this stage over the past week, but I hope it continues to shrink again soon.

Evan has had mostly good days lately. This whole ear hematoma really had him acting differently there for awhile. While he's still not fully past all of the annoyance with his ear, he's acting a lot more like himself again. He's still on all of his medications, which help with the ear as well as his urinary and intestinal issues. Not that he's a huge fan of having nearly half a dozen drugs shoved down his throat every day, but he's a good boy and let's me do it anyway.

Evan hopes you all enjoyed seeing his handsome self today! And he promises he's not as sad as he looks in these photos. He's purring for you, actually. Can you hear it?

***

Now, wonderful Ellen of 15andmeowing brought to my attention that it's time to announce our themes for this year's April A to Z Challenge. I hadn't even noticed that fact myself, so I'm glad she's far more on top of things than I am.

I will indeed be participating this year, of course again in the form of doodles. And this year's doodles will be of the theme...All Things Cat. I won't say exactly what that means just yet, but this flashback doodle here sort of inspired this year's theme, and so it might point you in the direction of what you'll perhaps be seeing from me this April.

That old drawing there is actually not too terribly timed, since this Thursday is Pi(e) Day. I only just realized that, but now I hope to scribble up a new pie-ish doodle for the occasion. We'll see how that goes.

That said, I've been working on this year's A to Z doodles for months now. They're a bit different than my usual drawings, but they're still of a feline nature, and hopefully you'll enjoy seeing them as much as I'm enjoying scribbling them up.

***

Tip of the Day

Our next set of tips for National Pet Poison Awareness Month will cover some of the random household items that could potentially be toxic to your kitty or pup. To begin, don't forget that some laundry products could lead to ill effects for your furbaby. For example, fabric softeners and dryer sheets often contain detergents that can be corrosive in nature. If your cat or dog gets into such products, the adverse reactions could include gastrointestinal distress, oral ulcers, and lethargy. For such reasons, do be sure to keep all laundry products well out of reach of your furbaby. If your kitty or pup does get into any such products, do not hesitate to seek veterinary assistance.