Happy New Year's Eve! (And Merry Seventh Day of Christmas!)

Tonks wants to know if you'd like her to tell you a scary story?

Once upon a time, Tonks's human of a mom called her over, promising toys and treats. But then, that lying human pulled out a nail trimmer, and Tonks's claws were brutally cut. See? Isn't that a scary story? And for poor Tonks, it's unfortunately a true one.

Tonks considered telling a different sort of scary story to round out 2024, but she decided otherwise. So, instead, Tonks and all of us here are wishing you a Happy New Year's Eve! We hope 2024 has treated you with much happiness and many blessings.

Oh, and Merry Seventh Day of Christmas!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

This year's plan of making new New Year's Eve and New Year's Day doodles didn't happen, but I'm telling myself that's okay. I do have this one I've shared for the past few New Year's Eves, so why not share it again.

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Tip of the Day

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

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

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