A Birthday Girl and the Letter Z

First and foremost for today's post...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EDDY!

My girl Eddy is turning 9 years old today. I can't believe it. She's an active little lady, as well as very vocal. You know that saying about sugar and spice? That's Eddy. She's sweet like sugar, but she's also got a lot of spicy kick to her. She's easily my most skittish, least social kitty, but she loves this here momma of hers. I'm the only person she likes and that she lets touch her, hold her, and all that jazz, and I love her so very much.

Every year on her birthday I share one of my favorite of her kitten photos, so here you go!

I also almost every year explain how that little lamb doll was Eddy's little buddy when she was a kitten. She kept dragging him into the litter box, though, and other terrible things were done to him, so he's now retired in the closet.

Happy Birthday, Eddy! I love you so much!

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And now we have the last installment in the April A to Z Challenge.

Our alphabetical theme this month has been All Things Cat, for which I've shared doodles of items shaped like cats. Today is of course the letter Z. Honestly, I planned on scribbling up a zinnia, but I just wasn't in the mood to draw a flower. So, instead, Z stands for zany. Specifically, how about a zany hat for a zany holiday? After all, for those of us who love Halloween, today is the unofficial holiday known as Halfway to Halloween. Which is why, today, Z is this zany thing.

My lime green marker always comes out far more blinding on a computer screen than on the physical paper, so my apologies for the eye pain that background might cause you.

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Tip of the Day

 

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

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

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