Mancat Monday: Evan vs. the Meds

Today, Evan wanted to remind you all about the nonsense he has to put up with every day.

If Evan looks a little disgruntled there, it's because that photo was taken right after his morning meds were forced down his throat. And in his ear. Mornings are when he gets most of his meds, as he gets almost twice as many then as he does in the evenings. This is the kind of nonsense Evan has to put up with every morning:

Evan is not a big fan of getting his medications. Even so, he's such a good boy and lets me administer them. Most go in his mouth, while two go in his ear, one being an antimicrobial cleaner that keeps his deformed ear's suffocated canal from getting infected. All of these meds have been overall working great for him, with the occasional at-home enema needed when his megacolon medications don't quite do the trick. He doesn't enjoy it, but he lets me do it, and that minute or two of administering meds is worth seeing him happy and active and playing and purring and all that wonderful jazz the rest of the time.

Evan and all of us here wish you a happy Monday! Of course, Evan also hopes you all are putting up with far less nonsense than he is during medication time.

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Doodle of the Day

I don't see that I ever shared this doodles that I scribbled up honestly months ago, and so here it is. After all, it's more than fitting for today.

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumnal tip relates to grooming. As the weather starts to cool in the autumn, your furbaby might begin to grow their winter coat. Especially in double-coated furbabies, such as Persian cats and Husky dogs, you might notice the fur filling out and growing thicker as the weather cools. For this reason, do be sure to help you furbaby groom, such as by brushing them on a daily, or at least nearly daily, basis. If you are unable to groom your cat or dog, and especially if they are prone to mats or hairball issues, then you can consider taking them to a groomer. Some veterinary offices even offer grooming services, so, as needed, you can discuss this with your veterinarian. Regardless of if you do it at home or take your furbaby to a groomer, regularly grooming your kitty or pup can help prevent mats, and can help prevent the ingestion of hairballs, especially in cats. Mats can be uncomfortable and painful, so it's of course ideal to prevent these. It is of course also important to help prevent your furbaby's ingestion of too much hair, not only because this prevents the vomiting of hairballs, but also because, in worst case scenarios, ingestion of too much hair could cause a blockage in the intestinal tract. So, don't forgot about those grooming sessions.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Window Whiffies

Hello and happy Friday, friends! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. _________ would make me happier than _________.

2. _________ raises my blood pressure.

3. I have a lot of _________ that I don't use.

4. I never seem to have _________ when I need it.


My answers are below in bold.

1. Having more time to spend with my furbabies and on my passions would make me happier than almost anything else.
(This answer stems from me having this past week off of work, and during this time I got a lot of things done that I don't usually have time for. Looking at this from certain angles, obviously things could be a lot worse. Having a healthy family, both human and furry, is of high importance, and so on and so forth. I also don't mean to complain, as I'm grateful to have an income. Even so, I'd love to have more time, especially more time outside of my full-time job. Of course, this is something a lot of people wish for.)

2. My kitties or pup being sick raises my blood pressure.
(Seeing our furbabies ailing and trying to make them feel better can be a stressful thing, as I'm sure you all already know. When my poor Evan's megacolon acts up and he ends up constipated, even though I know I have multiple medications and even at-home enemas to work with in order for him to feel better, it still stresses me out.)

3. I have a lot of notebooks that I don't use.
(I'm one of those people who loves stationery. I've always loved notebooks and have acquired many over the years, probably because I love to write. The problem is that I'll see a cute notebook and buy it, but then because it's cute, I don't want to use or "waste" it. Then it just sits on my shelf looking pretty, and that's kind of sad. I do intend to get over that and put the poor notebooks to use.)

4. I never seem to have time when I need it.
(This heavily relates to my answer to #1, and this is certainly something a lot of people can relate to. Time is precious, and also seemingly in short supply.)

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 your Eddy fix? Yes? Well, you'll be getting yourself a shot of adorable Eddy, but the girl was admittedly yet again too busy watching the birds and squirrels to pay the camera any mind.

That there was taken on one of our days of beautiful, autumnal weather, before the current heat wave swooped in. Eddy hopes you're all enjoying lovely, window whiffies weather!

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Doodle of the Day

I spent part of this week finishing up a few kooky doodles as well as scanning the completed ones. As I was going through them all, I realized I never shared this one that I scribbled up a while back. So, here's this weird little something.

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is a short and simple one, and that is to keep up with those preventatives. Even as the weather cools in the autumn, and even winter, it is possible for there to be days and conditions that allow for fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and other parasites to survive. Bites or infestations of certain parasites can potentially lead to a variety of diseases or other medical concerns, some of them life-threatening. In order to better ensure that your kitty or pup remains healthy and happy, therefore, do consider administering their preventatives year-round.

Thankful Thimble Thursday in the Dirty Window

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

Today, Thimble is grateful that she's way prettier than a dirty window.

Do you see all that dirt and dust on the window? Thimble is not impressed with how this human mom of hers skipped this window during spring cleaning. A pretty lady like Thimble shouldn't have to pose in a dirty window, but she's at least glad she outshines it.

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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. _________ would make me happier than _________.

2. _________ raises my blood pressure.

3. I have a lot of _________ that I don't use.

4. I never seem to have _________ when I need it.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

This should be our last 90°F day, at least for this week, so perhaps autumn is finally on the horizon, which is something to celebrate with a doodle.

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday's autumn safety tip revolved around helping your kitty or pup stay warm by putting out more blankets or pet beds, and keeping said napping spots off the floor. Today's tip is also about helping your furbaby stay warm as the weather cools down, but this time in the form of food. It is possible that, as the weather grows colder, our furbabies might eat more in order to stay warm. This is because eating spurs metabolism, which can help produce warmth for the body. As it grows chilly, therefore, your kitty or pup might indeed need more food. That being said, though, if you have any concerns regarding your cat or dog's weight, or if they have related health issues, then of course discuss food intake with your veterinarian first.

Astrid's Adventures in Cat Sitting

I mentioned earlier this week how I'm watching my parents' 12 cats while they're on vacation. I live just a couple doors down from my parents, so I often pop in to see their kitties on the way home from pup Astrid's walks. So, of course Astrid is helping me take care of the kitties.

That there is Trapper. He's actually my Thimble's litter mate, and he loves Astrid. Sometimes he shows his love in weird ways, but he really is one of Astrid's number one fans.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's doodle is not only a flashback, but also a Halloween one. This is because it's sort of in the same vein as a new series of doodles I've been working on, and so when I thought of this old doodle, I figured why not just share it.

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is all about those cool fall temperatures. When the weather starts to cool, take into consideration what steps you might have to take to ensure that your furbaby stays warm. Don't forget that cooler weather can be felt both outdoors and indoors.

If it's growing cold outside, monitor your pup or kitty when outdoors, and don't leave them outdoors for long periods of time. In addition, if you care for strays, ferals, or other outdoor kitties of pups, do your best to ensure they have some form of shelter in which to stay out of the wind and to stay as warm as possible. Even a storage container or a Styrofoam cooler turned upside, with a hole cut in the side as an entrance, can allow for some warmth on cool days. You can add blankets or straw to help strays, ferals, and other outdoor cats or dogs huddle up and stay warm in such a shelter. Do keep in mind, though, that blankets can become damp and cold if rained on, which is why straw might be an ideal option for helping outdoor furbabies stay warm in a shelter.

Of course, don't forget that even our indoor furbabies can feel the drop in temperature this time of year. Floors can go from being cool respites on hot summer days to being drafty and chilly in the autumn. For this reason, try to ensure that your cat or dog has somewhere off of the floor to sleep, especially in these cooler seasons. You can put out extra blankets or pet beds for them to warmly nap on. Especially as we get further into autumn, safe and pet-friendly heating blankets or heated pet beds could also be put out for your furbaby. Then again, you can also help your kitty or pup stay warm with some extra lap time.

Tonks Tuesday: Every Day Is Halloween

Today, Tonks wanted to share a particular flashback of her cute self. This was snapped roughly a year ago.

The reason Tonks wanted to share that flashback is because she still plays with those toys a lot, and she even snapped some new photos with some of them recently. She wants to share those new photos soon, but since the toys have been a little too well-loved, Tonks was afraid you wouldn't be able to tell what they are unless you saw this old photo with them. It makes me so happy and proud that some of Tonks's favorite toys are Halloween ones. She loves them all year round, and that's fine by me. After all, as some say, every day is Halloween.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

We had some gorgeous days that were not much above 60°F. We're back to nearly 90°F, though, so we're bringing autumn back here with a doodle.

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Tip of the Day

We're still in the midst of our series of autumn pet safety tips. Today's such tip is to take precautions if you are walking your pup or kitty on autumn evenings. This time of year, it starts growing dark earlier in the evening. Therefore, if you head out with your furbaby on a walk in the evening, such as after getting home from work, be sure to wear bright colors, and make sure that your furbaby's collar, leash, and/or harness is adorned with reflectors. This way, if your furbaby is out on a walk with you after it has grown dark for the night, both your furbaby and yourself can be more easily seen and avoided by potentially dangerous traffic. Of course, when walking your furbaby in the dark, also do your best to select a route that is the safest one possible. After all, as always, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Mancat Monday with the Mama's Boy

It's Mancat Monday, and today Evan is doing a happy little jig.

This mama's boy is excited because this week, this here human mom of his took off of work and so will be home a lot more than usual.

I actually took this week off because my parents and sister are on a vacation halfway across the country. I don't enjoy traveling and prefer to be close to my home and kitties and pup, and so I chose to stay behind to take care of the furry family members. Between my parents, my sister, and myself, we have 18 kitties and of course pup Astrid, as well as a dozen or so fish and a frog. I don't mind caring for them all, though, and I'm honestly just happy to have a week off of work.

You'd think I'd be posting early in the day here on our blog, and that I wouldn't have missed yet another weekend of posts, since I'm not working my full-time job. But, this is actually one of the first times I've even turned on my computer since last week. I did get a number of big chores done this weekend, though, and so I hope to get back on track with blogging as well as getting lots of art and writing done this week. We'll see what the kitties and pup allow.

Happy Monday to all!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I'm pretty sure I haven't shared this doodle yet this season, but it's another flashback I wanted to share this month, as we transition from summer to autumn. We're also approaching my favorite season to mow the lawn, since it's usually more crisp and cool outside, hence this doodle.

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is all about those windows. We've shared many tips on this topic in the past, but here we go again. After all, as the temperatures cool down this autumn, we might find ourselves craving some fresh air. Before opening any windows, though, be sure to inspect screens and take any and all precautions to ensure that no furbabies escape from any open windows. If you have an escape artist, perhaps block their direct access to windows, such as by putting something in front of the window that will prevent them from getting right next to the screen. Also never leave furbabies unattended with an open window, but instead monitor them closely when windows are open. Perhaps this all sounds like extreme measures, but a lost furbaby is a devastating thing, and it is always better to be safe than sorry.

That's not all we have on those windows, though. Also keep in mind the health of your furbabies, and yourself, when windows are open. Does your furbaby, or yourself, have asthma? What about allergies? If your kitty or pup has any such respiratory issues, open windows might not be an ideal thing. Allergens, dust, dirt, and all sorts of debris can enter through the window screen with the aid of the wind. This debris can lead to asthma attacks, itching, scratching, and other potential side effects in furbabies who do have asthma, allergies, or other similar medical issues. So, though open windows can be very enticing when the weather is cool and crisp, never forget to take into consideration all potential side effects.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Window View

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. _________ is a movie I would like to see.

2. _________ is a museum I would like to visit.

3. I've been complimented on my _________.

4. I once got in trouble for _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. Longlegs is a movie I would like to see.
(I'm pretty sure I mentioned this movie in another recent fill-in. It's a new movie that I've heard is a creepy, psychological horror-thriller. It also stars Nicolas Cage, and I've really been enjoying a lot of the new movies he's been in. I mostly wait for movies to be available on the streaming services I have access to, which is why I'm still waiting to watch this one. I'll be excited when I can give it a try.)

2. The Halloween Museum of Salem is a museum I would like to visit.
(I don't know why, but I've always found museums a bit boring. I enjoy learning, and so I've never fully known why I feel this way, but it is what it is. That said, I wouldn't mind someday visiting Salem, MA, including the Halloween Museum there. There are also some Salem witch trial museums there that I would probably find interesting as well. I don't like traveling, mostly because I simply prefer being home and with my kitties and pup, but if someday I do travel, perhaps I'll visit Salem and the museums it offers.)

3. I've been complimented on my creativity.
(I've gotten compliments when others have seen my drawings or read my writing. I always appreciate the compliments, as there are times I wonder if others can understand or enjoy what my brain and hands come up with. I know I have some weird and out-there ideas sometimes, so I appreciate knowing that my creations bring others even a little bit of joy.)

4. I once got in trouble for getting distracted by a cat.
(Honestly, this has happened more than once in my life. Whether it was a family or school or other sort of event, I've more than once been told to focus on a task at hand rather than pet and fawn over a kitty, or a pup. There's little chance I'll readily obey that sort of order. I'm generally a pretty focused person, but when a cat or dog enters the picture, that goes right out the window.)

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.

***

Today's Eddy fix comes yet again from her post at her favorite window. This time, though, Eddy climbed to the very top of her cat tree to get a higher vantage point.

I've said this before, but I just love when Eddy's snaggletooth co-stars in her photos. Just look how cute it is!

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

While we're supposed to get another heat wave later next week, the next few days we'll be enjoying very autumnal temperatures. That makes it feel like Halloween is right around the corner, which makes me happy, and which made me think of this flashback doodle.

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Tip of the Day:

Today's autumn pet safety tip relates to those leaves, sticks, and other debris that ends up on the ground this time of year. Though they might seem harmless, it is possible for even simple fallen leaves to pose a variety of risks. If your pup or kitty is accustomed to chewing on or ingesting leaves, sticks, acorns, and other bits and pieces that frequently fall from trees during the autumn, for example, then medical issues could result. There is a chance that your cat or dog could end up with gastrointestinal distress if they eat leaves and the like. In worst case scenarios, ingestion of large amounts of leaves, sticks, or acorn material could lead to perforation or obstruction of the bowels.

Another similar risk might come from sharp leaf stems or sticks. If your furbaby is playing out in the yard where leaves are thick and obscure what's beneath, for example, then it is perhaps possible for them to sustain injuries to the eyes, legs, or other areas of the body. This might occur if a stick or leaf stem scrapes or pokes them while they are walking or playing in fallen leaves. In order to prevent injuries and other potential medical emergencies, you can try to keep on top of picking up leaves, sticks, and the like in your yard, so that dangers are less likely to lie in wait. It is also, of course, important to monitor your kitty or pup while they play in the yard or make their way on walks. This way, you can try to help them stay safe from injury from autumn debris on the ground. Of course, though, despite our best intentions, sometimes furbaby emergencies still do occur. If anything of the like occurs, do not hesitate to seek veterinary assistance.

A Pretty Cute Thankful Thimble Thursday

Welcome to Thursday, friends! Thimble is of course here and ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

This tabby girl is, as always, grateful that she's pretty cute. Pretty and cute, more like it.

Even though that photo is a bit too dark, which is absolutely the fault of this here human's lacking photography skills, Thimble is still adorable. And there is indeed a Christmas tree behind Thimble there. That's Eddy's year round tree, since she loves climbing them so much. Eddy admittedly doesn't climb it as often as she used to, probably because it's not new anymore, but I still let her keep it there. And Thimble loves posing with it, so there's that.

Now, Thimble has one more bit of gratitude, and that relates to how cute she is even when she gets excited and therefore blurry.

Thimble hopes her pretty, cute, adorable self helped brighten your day!

***

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

1. _________ is a movie I would like to see.

2. _________ is a museum I would like to visit.

3. I've been complimented on my _________.

4. I once got in trouble for _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today I'm sharing a flashback doodle that relates to my current endeavor of decorating my house for Halloween.

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is about none other than snakes. Depending on your location and the types of snakes, it might be baby snake season, or it might be the time when snakes are prepping for hibernation. In such cases, more snakes might very well be out and about and therefore pose a risk to furbabies and humans alike. Of course, not all snakes are dangerous. However, some snakes could indeed pose a risk or could be venomous. The types of snakes that are around of course depend on the area in which you live. So, it might be wise to a bit of research on the types of snakes in your area, and to also research which ones are dangerous to animals and humans. All in all, though, if in doubt, monitor your furbaby when they are outside to ensure that they don't run into any snaky danger. If you do see a snake, remove your kitty or pup from the area, especially if you know the snake is dangerous, but also if you are unsure of the risks it might pose. If your cat or dog is bit by a snake, do not hesitate to seek veterinary care to help ensure that no toxic reaction or infection results.

Adventures with Astrid: Scenery and Shopping Carts

Today, pup Astrid of course wanted to take you along on another one of her walks. We have some nice and scenic paths near our house, which Astrid seems to appreciate just as much as I do.

Astrid loves this path. She hardly ever used to take me on this particular one, but now she chooses it multiple times a week.

Oh, and soon after we walked down that path up there, we found another shopping cart. Because that's a normal thing to find on a sidewalk in the middle of a residential neighborhood.

We recently shared a very similar shopping cart here on our blog, as someone in our neighborhood apparently enjoys shopping at that somewhat nearby grocery store, bringing their goods home in a cart, and then just leaving the poor cart to fend for itself. Astrid always checks in with any shopping carts we stumble upon. Unfortunately, none of the carts we've found have ever contained any treats for poor Astrid. How rude.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Doodle of the Day

I've been going through all the doodles I created over the past few weeks to make sure I've shared all of the summer-ish ones, and I found yet another that never made it here to our blog. This one would have made more sense to share on my hind limb paralyzed boy Evan's Mancat Monday post, but Astrid is fine sharing it on her day. So, here's extra special Evan enjoying a summer evening in the moonlight.

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Tip of the Day

Today's autumn pet safety tip is about those mushrooms we often seeing growing all over the place this time of year. The honest truth is that the majority of mushrooms that we see growing outside don't pose a huge risk to our furbabies. However, a small population of them are a real danger. What's more, it's often difficult to distinguish between the different types of mushrooms, especially if you don't know all that much about these fungi. Therefore, especially if you aren't familiar with types of mushrooms and the level of risk they pose to your furbaby, do be sure to monitor your furbaby when they are in your yard, on a walk, or anywhere mushrooms are growing. Prevent your kitties and pups from gnawing on and ingesting any mushrooms, so as to ensure they are safe from any hazards certain mushrooms might pose.

Tonks Tuesday: Snoopervising in the Sun

It's Tonks Tuesday, and today the calico is admittedly a tad bit distracted.

Tonks not only found a highly sought-after sun puddle in this photo, but she also simply had to snoopervise the neighbor dogs playing in their yard. She's sorry she didn't look at the camera, but she's quite the busy little lady.

Also, do you see that tongue sticking out there? We have even more photos to share of it soon, as Tonks is known for stopping mid-bath and just letting her tongue do its own thing. It's adorable, which you probably already know.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Doodle of the Day

Before I start sharing our autumnal, kooky, and spooky doodles, I have a couple more summery ones that I forgot about. Today's was scribbled up during a recent heatwave, during which my kitties seemed to enjoy basking in the hottest of sun puddles (like Tonks above, as that photo was taken on a 95°F day). So, obviously, my brain figured why not draw a kitty happily melting in the sun?

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Tip of the Day

As part of our autumn series of pet safety tips, we recently mentioned keeping school supplies out of your furbaby's reach. In addition to this, there are further potential dangers that might pose a risk especially as the weather cools. One such hazard is, as you all certainly know, antifreeze. Without going into the chemistry of it, coolants such as antifreeze contain components that are highly toxic to cats and dogs. At the same time, it also can smell or taste sweet and enticing to our furbabies, making it all the more dangerous. For such reasons, try to avoid all emergencies by simply keeping antifreeze, and other similar products, hidden away where your cats and dogs cannot reach.

We'll also mention one more toxic group of products that is often more commonly used once the weather cools. We're referring to rodenticides. When the temperatures outside start to lower, critters like mice might very well try to find ways to enter our homes in order to find warmth. This might result in some people using rodenticides. However, these products can be highly toxic to our furbabies. Not only is it dangerous if a cat or dog finds and ingests the chemical itself, but they can also become sick if they ingest a rodent that has eaten the rodenticide. All of that being said, it is likely best to avoid using rodenticides altogether, to ensure that your furbaby is not affected by them at all. Of course, keep in mind that snapping mice traps can also pose a risk, especially if they contain  enticing cheese or peanut butter and are somewhere that your furbaby can potentially access. One safer option is to look into using humane mouse traps, such as catch-and-release types. Of course, it is still wise to place these somewhere hidden away to avoid complications with your furbaby.

As lovely as autumn is, it can still pose risks to our kitties and pups. As the seasons change, think of any and all new products that you might be using. Then, consider how such products might affect your furbaby and their health, and then only use and store them in manners that keep your furbaby safe.

Mancat Monday: Lazing Away on Labor Day

It's Mancat Monday, but it's also Labor Day here in the United States. So, Evan hopes everyone out there enjoys a nice, restful day!

If it's not Labor Day for you, or if you're hard at work, Evan and all of us here still wish you a happy and safe Monday!

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Doodle of the Day

Our autumnal, kooky, and spooky doodles will be starting up very soon. For today, though, we have a simple one that I drew at the same time that Evan's photo above was snapped. I just wanted to draw something quick and of course with a kitty, and this is what ended up on the page.

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Tip of the Day

Since we've reached September, we're all excited for autumn and are therefore doing a series of autumnal tips. Since autumn means the beginning of the new school year, yesterday we mentioned keeping school supplies out of your furbaby's reach. Today's tip also relates to those furbabies potentially affected by a new school year starting up. School starting up can mean a new routine, which can include a cat or dog suddenly being home alone more often, or for longer periods of time. For some furbabies, this type of change in their routine can lead to anxiety, which can in turn lead to destructive behavior, increased vocalization, and other behaviors that are out of their ordinary.

There are some potential ways you can help combat a cat or dog's separation anxiety, such as that which might result from the start of a new school year. First, you can try to introduce changes to your furbaby's routine slowly. If you are a teacher or have children with whom your cat or dog is used to playing, then leading up to the school year, transition your furbaby to being home alone by going out of the house more often slowly over time. In addition to this, you can set up interactive toys to help keep them busy when their humans are away. Of course, ensure that any such interactive toys are safe and will not cause any harm to an unattended furbaby. You can also try using diffusers with synthetic pheromones that can potentially help a cat or dog feel calmer. All of the above being said, in some cases, the safest thing might simply be to ensure that your cat or dog is kept secluded in a safe area where they cannot harm themselves, or the house. This might mean keeping them contained to a safe room or a crate of a sufficient size while you are away from home.

What's more, if your cat or dog does display signs of anxiety that do not relent, it is of course wise to discuss this with a veterinarian. First and foremost, it is important to ensure that there is not an underlying medical reason for anxiety in a cat or dog. Once medical issues are ruled out, anxiety in a cat or dog might require medication, which can help calm them or help balance out their mood and behaviors. Anxiety can lead to an unhappy and unhealthy furbaby, so if you notice any signs of anxiety in your cat or dog, do not hesitate to seek advice from a veterinarian, and to implement anti-anxiety techniques to help your furbaby feel happy and healthy.

A Rainbow Bridge Birthday Bash

This past Wednesday, August 28th, was Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, initiated by Deborah Barnes of Zee & Zoey in 2015.

While I did indeed take more than a little bit of time to remember my angels on that day, and every day, I decided to push my full post until today, September 1st. That's because today it is the birthday of two of my angels, Rosie and Sammy.

Some of you might very well remember Rosie, who was with me from the time I was 4 until I was 26. She was more or less the main star of our blog when we first started it all those years ago. Sadly, Rosie's brother, Sammy, only lived to 5 years of age due to undetected cardiac disease. But, like Rosie, he was still a huge part of my childhood and who I am today.

Rosie and Sammy were the best friends a girl could have when growing up. My sister and I were beyond blessed.

On the left of that ancient photo is my sister sitting with Rosie, and I'm on the right sitting with Sammy. If you're curious, the eye patch that childhood me was wearing was due to an eye condition called amblyopia. Rosie and Sammy never noticed the patch, and they loved unconditionally. They were also great reading buddies, and overall just wonderful furry friends for my sister and myself.

For today, I scribbled up a birthday doodle for Rosie and Sammy that relates to the fact that they were our loyal reading buddies. My sister and I grew up during the craze of the Harry Potter series being published, and we loved reading them and still enjoy the series to this day. While Sammy sadly wasn't around for a lot of this journey, both Rosie and Sammy were still a huge part of that aspect of our lives in their own ways. In the world of Harry Potter, magical children go to a school called Hogwarts, and according to Harry Potter lore, classes at Hogwarts begin on September 1st. Childhood me was so excited to read that fact, since my childhood kitties Rosie and Sammy shared that as their birthday.

All of the above rambling to say, here are Rosie and Sammy having a magical sort of birthday party at Hogwarts.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROSIE AND SAMMY!

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Since this post is indeed our Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day memorial, I also have to include my angelic childhood pups, Banjo and Shellie, who would keep me company and entertain me for hours on end.

I can't fail to mention that I also remember my childhood feathered friends, Pippin, Robin, and Sweetpea. And of course I also remember my aquatic angels, such as Lieutenant Legs and Oscar.

Though I sometimes cannot help but feel sadness that some of my dearest friends have made the journey to the Rainbow Bridge, I will forever be grateful for the unconditional love and memories they gifted me. I will forever remember them. I will forever love them.

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Tip of the Day

I apologize to anyone who does not yet wish to unofficially begin autumn. For me, though, September 1st marks the day when I can really start celebrating my favorite season of the year. That's why, starting today, we'll be doing a series of tips on pet safety during the season of autumn.

Since the fall semester of school is starting up for students, that's what our autumnal tip for today relates to. If any students live in your home with your furbabies, be sure that care is taken to keep your kitties or pups safe from any rampant school supplies. Pens, pencils, erasers, glue sticks, tape, scissors, and any and all sorts of school supplies could potentially pose a risk if left where a furbaby can turn them into a toy or snack. Ingested erasers or other supplies, for example, can result in gastrointestinal upset or even perforated or obstructed bowels. Obviously, this is not ideal, and so school supplies should be tucked safely away, out of reach of cats and dogs. Keep this in mind throughout the school year as well. Backpacks, for example, might contain some of the aforementioned potentially dangerous school supplies, or even lunches or snacks that contain hazardous ingredients. Therefore, again, be sure to keep all such school items well out of reach of your furbaby. As we always say, i's better to be safe than sorry.