Bushy Adventures with Astrid

Today, Astrid wanted to take you to one of her favorite landmarks in our neighborhood. And that is, well, this bush.

This bush lives in a yard just down the street from us. Some days, old girl Astrid's walks are simply her pulling to go sniff this bush for 5 or 10 minutes. I assume it smells like other dog's bladder donations, which for some reason Astrid enjoys sniffing for a weirdly long time.

I don't think a dog even lives in the house this bush stands sentry in front of. But, I'm sure lots of dogs walking by and christen it. Astrid often does so herself, before and/or after giving it her many sniffs.

Astrid hopes you enjoyed meeting her favorite local shrub! Any suggestions on what she should name it?

Also, Astrid is going to the vet today for her 6-month bloodwork and exam. Just one reason she goes in at least every 6 months is because one of her arthritis medications is carprofen, which can affect the liver. There's also the fact that Astrid is 12 years old, has developed chronic vestibular disease issues, and so on and so forth. So, to the vet we go for a little checkup.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Astrid seems to think vet trips are some sort of horror story, so this scary story time doodle I created a few summers ago seems apt enough for today.

Though Astrid really doesn't like the actual trip to the vet, she's always a very good girl for them there. Even better, afterwards, she always gets to go to Dairy Queen for a little cup or cone of ice cream. She'll indeed be getting that treat after her appointment today, so the horror story will be worth it.

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Tip of the Day

We've all seen those chew toys for pups. Puppies, and even grown dogs, often love to chew, and so chew toys can allow them to gnaw on a designated item rather than one that is not ideal or one that is dangerous. But, did you know that there are chew toys for cats as well? Like dogs, some cats love to chew. Chewing is sometimes more common in kittens, but some adult cats are chewers as well. If this is the case with your cat, perhaps look into getting them some feline-friendly chew toys. This could potentially save them from chewing on items that they should not, which could be beneficial to your goods, and also of course to your kitty's health.

Of course, whether a chew toy is for your kitty or pup, it is important to take into consideration the material out of which a chew toy is made, as well as whether it will withstand a particular furbaby's level of chewing. Some toy brands will label whether a chew toy is suitable for powerful chewers, for example. Even so, you know your furbaby best, and so you must decide whether a toy will be able to survive their chewing habits, and therefore whether it might be a hazard. There are a great many pet toys available these days, you simply have to consider a toy's benefits and safety for your furbabies.

Tonks Tuesday on the Window Throne

It's Tonks Tuesday, and today the calico is of course having a bit of a rest in one of her favorite places.

Tonks loves sleeping on the back of the couch by the window. She often requests a throne there, such as that pillow. She often sleeps on that pillow as well as a giant pile of blankets that she often insists I build for her. I'm surprised she settled for just the pillow in that photo above.

Tonks and all of us here wish you a terrific Tuesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today is my mom's birthday, that being the kitties' and pup's Gammy. I haven't yet uploaded her birthday doodle for this year, but how about this past one to celebrate? I'd apologize for the litter box imagery, but I'm thinking a lot of you see this in your real life, so a scribbled up version hopefully isn't too appalling.

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Tip of the Day

Today's pet parenting hack of a tip is one to help you sleep better at night. Does your kitty or pup ever wake you up during the night, perhaps seemingly bored or hungry? The first step in a case such as this is of course to make sure there is no medical explanation. If your furbaby is indeed healthy, though, and they simply wake you in the middle of the night for some playtime or a midnight snack, then there are a couple of simple things you can do to try to combat this.

First, you can do a bit of a pre-bedtime play session with them. One of the last things you do before you go to bed can be a game of fetch, perhaps a little fun with a wand toy, or anything that your furbaby finds fun and that expends their energy. This will help tire your furbaby out, and will hopefully help satisfy their desire to play so that they can sleep through the night.

Second, in the case that your furbaby wakes you up in the middle of the night out of hunger, perhaps save their last meal of the day for right before bed. Fill their bowl just before you go to bed, so that they will go to bed with a full stomach. If needed and possible, you can also make this nighttime meal their largest of the day, to even further satisfy them and their stomach. In some cases, this is all it takes to help keep those hungry furbabies satiated until their breakfast.

Just like us, our furbabies are not immune to restless nights or a desire for a midnight snack. If a medical concern has been ruled out, then try to find a way to help both you and your furbaby sleep through the night. Satisfying the play or hunger drive just before bed may be all that is needed.

Just Another Manic Mancat Monday

Hello, friends! We're having a bit of chaotic Monday. My car died this weekend. I was able to jump it yesterday, but after it ran for a while and then turned off, it was dead again. Then this morning it decided it was happy to start on the first try, no questions asked, as if it hadn't refused to start for the previous 24 hours. I dropped my car off at the the shop anyway, as I'd rather not be left stranded whenever it decides to die again. But this isn't a car blog. This is a cat blog, so let's move on to some kitty shenanigans, shall we?

So, my poor boy Evan likely has another UTI.

Thankfully, Evan is actually acting pretty happy. He just got his second Solensia injection for pain relief on Friday, and these injections have been making him feel and act great. Though the injections are often given for arthritis, our vet had the idea to try it for Evan's pain related to his bladder cystitis. So far, it's working great. That said, over the weekend, Evan's urine developed a very pungent odor reminiscent of his past UTIs, and he was also urinating more frequently than usual. I emailed Evan's vet, and he agreed that given his urinary history and chronic issues, we should put Evan on a 10-day course of antibiotics. I'll be picking those up today, and Evan will be so thrilled.

Evan and all of us wish you a magnificent Monday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Given that today's post is about Evan but also my car, how about this old Harry Potter-inspired doodle starring Evan (and Eddy) taking a ride in a magical car that flies? Makes total sense. So here you go.

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Tip of the Day

Today's pet parenting hack of a tip is one to help you save on floor space. When it comes to storing some of your pet supplies—whether it be treats, canned food, medications, brushes, toys, or cleaning supplies, just to name a few—you can try using a shower caddy or other similar shelving system. You can even get shelving units that are meant to hang from a door, such as by a hook that goes over the top of door, to further save on both floor and wall space. Sometimes our furbabies come with a lot of supplies, and we have to find a place to put all of those items. So, as needed, think outside the box and find ways to use a variety of storage systems that will help save you on floor space or even wall space.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Elegant Eddy

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, and I came up with the second two.

1. A word to describe my life right now would be _________.

2. _________ drives me batty.

3. When it comes to _________, I'm most known for _________.

4. _________ is my idea of cozy.


My answers are below in bold.

1. A word to describe my life right now would be chaotic.

(This is probably a pretty normal situation for most people. Sometimes, life is just crazy. Between work, my aging furry babies, and life in general, I'm just in one of those crazy seasons right now.)

2. Technology drives me batty.

(I really enjoy and appreciate a lot of what technology has to offer. It can save lives, not to mention it simply makes life easier and more fun sometimes. But, sometimes it doesn't. Between device errors and breakages and my own lack of technological savvy, I often get really frustrated with technology. It's a running joke in my family that I'm the person who can look at a technological device and it'll pretty much self destruct.)

3. When it comes to going to our vet, I'm most known for being the lady with the paralyzed cat.

(Perhaps because my special needs boy Evan is at the vet so much, even if it's just for his regular sanitary shaves, everyone there knows me by sight. And they mostly associate me with my sweet and special orange boy. When I occasionally show up with my other kitties or pup Astrid, it's like some of the staff there forgets I have other furry babies, because they're always expecting to see Evan. It's not that they're unhappy to see my other furry family, it's just that Evan is very well known at our vet.)

4. Home is my idea of cozy.

(As I've mentioned many times, I'm a homebody. I love nothing more than being home with my kitties and pup, and home is simply where I'm most cozy and happy.)

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.

***

It's time for your Eddy fix! Unfortunately, this busy girl was busy spying on wildlife, so the view you get of her is this classy one here:

Elegant, right? In case you can't make heads or tails of that, Eddy's heady is over at the right, staring out the window. You can barely see her ears poking up thanks to the sunlight and the used and abused cat tree's sisal rope dangling down. Her bum is so politely facing the camera.

Eddy and all of us here hope you have a wonderful day!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

I found another old doodle I forgot I'd scribbled up in a past series of spooky summertime drawings. So, I might as well share it now, right?

I honestly have a number of new doodles of all sorts I still haven't shared with you all. I simply need to get them scanned and uploaded. Hopefully this weekend I can work on that and start sharing all of those new ones next week.

***

Tip of the Day

Today's pet parenting hack tip is a simple yet important one. Especially if your furbaby is a known chewer, do consider getting covers for power cords and other cables. I'm sure you all know the dangers that chewing on a cord can pose to our furbabies. So, to prevent this, cover up those cords and cables. There are a variety of cord and cable covers available on the market. There are covers that encase cords so that they are safe yet still able to be easily moved, and there are ones that essentially pin cords safely and securely to the floor. Of course, those are just two examples as to how you can make cords and cables safe around your furbabies. Perhaps do a bit of research, and, depending on your home and technological setup, determine what kind of cord and cable covers would best work for both you and your furbaby. As we always say, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Another Thankful Thimble Thursday in the Sun

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

Today, the little tabby lady is yet again grateful for sunshine, and her majestic whiskers.

Thimble does wish her amateur photographer of a mom had done better with the lighting in order for you to better see her adorable tabby face, but that cuteness still comes through.

***

And now, of course, we have 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. A word to describe my life right now would be _________.

2. _________ drives me batty.

3. When it comes to _________, I'm most known for _________.

4. _________ is my idea of cozy.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

We've been sharing a lot of spooky summertime doodles lately, but we can't ignore this little thing called Christmas in July. So, for today, how about an old doodle of this festive sort, which for one reason or another I created with Wild West vibes.

***

Tip of the Day

Today's tip is one a bit more for the dogs, but of course could be used for kitties if the situation applies. What we're talking about today is bell training. It can help to have a way for your dog to tell you they need to go to the bathroom. Since jumping and scratching at the door is not all that ideal, you can hang a bell, or a strand of bells, on the doorknob. Of course, make sure the design of the bell and any attachments are safe for your furbaby, especially if they're a chewer. Once you've selected and placed the bell to be used, training techniques such as positive reinforcement can be used to teach your dog to ring the bell prior to going outside to use to the restroom. This will allow your dog to make the connection that, if they ring the bell on the door, they will be let out to use the restroom. Just as with any training, this may take time, but with patience, practice, and positive reinforcement, everyone involved can get the hang of it.

Annoyed Adventures with Astrid

On these extremely hot summer days, sometimes pup Astrid's main adventure of the day is out to the back yard. Recently, I followed her out there in hopes of getting a cute photo shoot. The problem is that Astrid has always been a mixture of paranoid and annoyed when she's followed around, and so I ended up with photos like this:

Do you see that side-eye? I'm pretty sure she was also chuffing at me in that photo. Astrid is not an aggressive girl whatsoever, but her facial expressions alone usually give away her true thoughts. And in that moment above, she was sufficiently annoyed with me.

In that one, I distinctly asked Astrid to look at me. And so, of course, she refused. She's still pretty darn cute, though.

Astrid has always had a big personality. While she's slowed down at her age of 12, that ornery personality is still there, which makes me so very happy. Oh, and she's still a shameless cat food thief.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

I'm pretty sure I re-share the doodle below every single year. Since I recently shared a number of old and new spooky summertime doodles, I think this one yet again fits right in.

I scribbled that one up many year ago, after one summer seeing a spooky typewriter like that in an early Halloween decor launch. I can't remember what store it was at, but I remember thinking it looked pretty darn cool. I didn't end up buying it, but I did immediately go home and scribble up this doodle.

***

Tip of the Day

Over the past couple of days, we've talked about the option of having cat grass available for your kitty to snack on or play in, or even using artificial grass to give your kitty a mock grassy area for napping or playing. Today, we're yet again expanding on this idea by suggesting that, if possible, you can start a cat garden for your kitty's enjoyment. This can be outdoor or indoor, of course assuming that your kitty does not put itself in any danger by having access to a large quantity of pet-friendly plants.

So, what could you put in a cat garden? First, of course, you could have cat grass and catnip. Also don't forget about valerian, which is a great alternative to catnip. Another option is cat thyme, which is known to make cats feel more content than plants such as catnip. Keep in mind, though, that some people find the odor of cat thyme to be rather unappealing. The traditional thyme herb is also non-toxic to cats, if you're looking to give your kitty even more variety. You can plant these goodies in separate pots throughout your kitty's favorite room, or you can plant them all together in one large pot, to give your kitty his or her own little jungle. An added bonus is that, if you have other plants in the home that are pet-friendly but which you'd like to keep safe from curious paws and teeth, offering a cat garden can help distract your kitty from these other plants.

It is worth mentioning that some sites online will mention adding other plants or herbs to a cat garden for more variety. If you are looking up such information online, always be cautious and careful to double check the safety of any plant you place in a garden for your cat. For example, lemon grass and chamomile are sometimes indicated as safe for pets, but such plants have been known to cause issues such as upset stomach and vomiting. Another example is parsley, which is typically harmless in small amounts, but which can lead to sensitivity to the sun and sunburn if consumed in large quantities. When in doubt, of course consult a veterinarian regarding safe plants, or visit the ASPCA's list of toxic and non-toxic plants.

Tonks Tuesday: Coy and Cozy

It's Tonks Tuesday, and today the little calico is here to bring you a bright and sunny shot of her cute self.

Tonks apologizes for not looking at the camera, but sometimes she simply likes to play coy. At least she's also quite cozy on a pile of blankets in that there photo. Tonks loves herself a comfy blanket, or two or three or seven.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

I was scrolling through older doodles, and this one popped up. I think it was from an April A to Z Challenge from years past, when K stood for kickboxing. Or maybe it was B for boxing. For all I know it was H for health or F for fitness. I genuinely can't remember, but either way, here's a kitty ready to assist in a workout.

***

Tip of the Day

Yesterday, we mentioned some of the benefits of growing cat grass indoors for your kitty. We wanted to offer a couple more tips in this same line of thought. First, you don't only have to grow cat grass in small pots from which your kitty can have a bit of a green snack. Another option is to create for your kitty a cat grass bed. For example, you could grow some cat grass in a larger pot, and some cats will enjoy this grassy environment for napping or playing purposes. Cats' ancestors out in the wild often live, sleep, and even play in this type of grassy environment, so why not our domesticated kitties?

Another option is to create beds or play areas out of artificial grass, which can again give off the idea of a more wild environment for your kitty. Most synthetic grass materials are safe for pets, but you should of course still always double check, or simply look for ones that are specifically designed to be pet-friendly. There are, in fact, artificial grass toys, scratchers, and beds that are specifically designed for cats. Did you know there are even artificial grass potty mats for dogs, or even cats? All in all, artificial grass is not only low-maintenance, but can also have beneficial effects for your kitty. It can offer them a place to play or snooze, all while mimicking grassy environments found out in the wild. If you think your cat might enjoy cat grass or synthetic grass in the form of a bed or play area, perhaps look into setting this up for them.

Mancat Monday: The Paw Pillow

It's Mancat Monday, so of course handsome Evan is here to grace you with his adorableness.

Evan often uses his paws as pillows of a sort, like in that photo there. I always try to get photos of him when he does it, because it's just so cute.

Happy Monday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

The photo above reminded me of this doodle I scribbled up last year, so I figured I'd share it again today.

***

Tip of the Day

Is your kitty a chewer? Do they put anything and everything in their mouth? While we're sure you all know to keep potentially dangerous plants out of your home, do you have safe or fake plants on which your kitty chews? If your cat goes outdoors, do they tend to eat grass on the lawn? If the answers to any of these are yes, and if medical issues have been ruled out for any abnormal behaviors, do perhaps consider keeping some cat grass growing in your home. Even if any of the above statements aren't true of your cat, you can of course still offer cat grass. Cat grass is a safe plant on which many cats enjoy chewing, and which also serves as a source of fiber than can help keep things moving sufficiently through the GI tract. For example, cat grass might be able to help prevent issues with hairballs.

You can purchase cat grass that has already been grown and is ready for your kitty's chompers, or you can grow your own. It is relatively simple to grow, and is also typically cheap. So, do consider looking into keeping cat grass in your home, both for your kitty's entertainment as well as for their health. Of course, do monitor your kitty, especially when first offering cat grass. If they gorge on the grass and/or vomit after eating it, then only offer it to them on occasion, or not at all.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Creepy Coziness on Independence Day

To all of our friends in the United States, we wish you a happy and safe Independence Day!

To our friends outside of the US, have a fantastic Friday!

***

Now, of course, we're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. 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 plans for July 4th include _________.

2. I _________ fireworks.

3. I'm grateful that I have the freedom to _________.

4. I wish I could do a factory reset on _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. My plans for July 4th include working on my creative projects and eating hot dogs.

(Since I have the day off of work, I'd love to spend a good chunk of the day on my newest drawing projects as well as my current writing project. What's more, for lunch I'll be going to my parents' house for our typical July 4th hot dog meal. I'm generally not a big fan of hot dogs, but I love the Nathan's Famous brand of hot dogs, which is what we'll be having. So, I'm admittedly looking forward to a lunch of none other than hot dogs.)

2. I loathe fireworks.

(When I was younger, I liked fireworks. They seemed fun and festive. Then I became aware of how fireworks affect wildlife, other outdoor animals such as stray and feral cats, and plenty of animals indoors, not to mention individuals with PTSD. Now the sound of fireworks puts me on edge, because I spend the entire time they're going off worrying about the poor animals affected by them.)

3. I'm grateful that I have the freedom to snack whenever I want.

(I almost put something far more meaningful, as there are many freedoms in the US for which I'm grateful. But when I got hungry and ate cereal in chocolate milk at nearly midnight the other night, it got me thinking back to when I was a kid and didn't always get to pick what and when I ate. I know there are reasons why parents say that kids shouldn't eat sweets at midnight, but I'm thankful that as an adult I can feed my grumbling stomach whatever I want, whenever I want. Weird answer, I know, but it's what came to my mind.)

4. I wish I could do a factory reset on my house.

(My house is hanging in there, but it is an older home that needs things done here and there. What home doesn't? There are always plenty of little projects needing done, and then sometimes bigger issues spring up. The past few months have included a variety of issues needing addressed, and it's times like this when I wish I could just do a reset to the home's original state. Though maybe I don't want that, since it was built in the 1960s and over the decades it's had plenty of needed updates. Even so, some sort of reset would be nice sometimes.)

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.

***

Your Eddy fix for today is actually a photo I took a couple months ago but failed to share. In this photo, on the wall behind Eddy is the only painting I've ever created as an adult. Despite my love for drawing with pen and marker, I'm neither good at painting nor enjoy the mess it creates. But, a few years ago, one of my cousins had her bridal shower at an art facility where we all created a painting. I chose my own design, and went for a kitty on a hill gazing at the full moon. It's hard to tell in the distance behind Eddy, but that's what it is.

If you squint your eyes and gaze into the blurriness behind Eddy, you'll also catch a glimpse of a little cameo from Thimble. Also, this is another photo that I think really brings out Eddy's gorgeous aquamarine eyes. Just look at those peepers!

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Spooky Doodle of the Day

And now we have Eddy's doodle in our new series of spooky summertime weird and wacky whatnot. Like in last year's set of spooky summertime doodles, Eddy is enjoying herself a cozy nap in a creepy little chair. This is because Eddy is my kitty who indeed has a favorite chair, and no one else is allowed to use it. And since Eddy is my skittish kitty who is infinitely introverted, she's also the only furry baby I ended up drawing in a spooky indoor setting. Enough rambling, though. Here's Eddy's spooky doodle.

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Tip of the Day

We're doing a bit of a repeat tip today, since it is, after all, the day of fireworks. I think we even shared this doodle around Memorial Day, but we're going to share it again. On this 4th of July, there are ways to help keep your furbaby calm and safe during the often booming festivities. While those fireworks go off outside, close all window and doors, as well as blinds and curtains. This will help reduce the sights and sounds of the fireworks. You can further drown it out by putting on a movie or some music, and turning up the volume enough to mask the sounds of the fireworks. Just make sure it's not so loud that it is uncomfortable for your kitty or pup's sensitive ears.

What else can you do to help keep a nervous dog or cat calm during the fireworks shows? Try to distract them. Start a game inside with them, such as fetch or hide-and-seek. You can also offer some treats or a special meal. Sometimes simply talking to them can help, or even reading a book out loud to them.

Still, there are a few more potential ways to help a cat or dog feel as calm as possible while fireworks are set off this time of year. You can use a ThunderShirt, which, as many of you know, may help reduce anxiety in dogs and cats. You can also fashion something makeshift yet similar, using a blanket, towel, or even one of your shirts. If nothing else, simply provide a scared or anxious furbaby somewhere safe to hide inside the home. Ensure that they have somewhere to retreat that is pet-friendly, whether that be under a bed, behind a couch, or in another nook or cranny. You can also offer them boxes in which to settle down, if that helps your furbaby feel safe.

Lastly, in the unfortunate event of an escape or other emergency, ensure that your cat or dog has identification on them. Of course try to ensure that they are safe indoors and unable to get out of the house, but should they escape, be prepared. Many animals are uncertain of the sights and sounds of fireworks, and so if they find themselves outdoors on days like today, they might very well run and hide. This is why it is so important that, today and every day, your furbaby have an updated microchip and/or an identification tag to help them find their way back home. Of course no one wants to think of their furbaby escaping and getting lost, but it is always best to prepared for the worst case scenario.

Thankful Thimble Thursday with an Eight-Legged Friend

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

Today, the cute little tabby is yet again grateful that she's, well, cute!

That freckle on Thimble's nose is a relatively new development. Orange Evan and calico Tonks have accumulated lots of new freckles over the years, but this is one of Thimble's firsts.

***

Now, how about 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 plans for July 4th include _________.

2. I _________ fireworks.

3. I'm grateful that I have the freedom to _________.

4. I wish I could do a factory reset on _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Spooky Doodle of the Day

Today's doodle in our new series of spooky summertime silliness of course stars Thimble. She's my gal who will stare at all sorts of things on the walls and ceiling, including spiders, light reflections, and things that are invisible to my human eyes. So, given that even quite recently Thimble had a staring contest with a spider up on the ceiling, I decided to scribble up what you see here for Thimble's spooky fun.

Over the years, I've snapped many shots of Thimble staring up at things. Like this one here, when she was indeed staring at a spider on the ceiling.

How about some more photos? In most of the ones below, I'm pretty sure Thimble was staring at light reflections overhead. If a light hits my phone and makes pretty designs on the ceiling, Thimble will absolutely stare at it with her adorably huge eyes.

***

Tip of the Day

We've been offering some pet parenting hacks, including ways to save money or space while also having a happy furbaby. Today's tip is another plain and simple one, and that's to consider making your own toys for your cats, or even your pups. For example, if you have an old shirt you no longer intend to wear, you can cut it up and use the cloth to create simple knot toys for your cat. If you have some catnip on hand, you can even include some of that in the knot itself, or let the toy soak up some catnip in a sealed bag prior to gifting it to your cat. You can also use old clothes to make knotted or braided toys for a dog, as long as the dog is not know to eat such items. Even a lone or unwanted sock could be used as a toy, such as simply by rolling it into a ball that a cat or dog could bat around or chase.

You could even try your hand at making an interactive toy for your kitty, or even your pup. One such idea is to take a Tupperware container, cut roughly golf ball-sized holes in its lid, put some of your kitty's toys or treats in the container, put the lid on, and let your kitty use the holes to have fun trying to access their goodies. Then again, a cardboard box might work just as well for this DIY interactive cat toy. Interactive toys such as this can be great for a cat or dog's physical as well as mental health, especially if they are spending extra time closed up indoors due to the weather. It's even better when you can save money by creating such toys yourself.

The options for making your own cat toys, or even dog toys, are endless. You can even take cardboard boxes to make a cheap castle for your kitty. So, if you're looking to save some money, or if you want to find a use for safe yet unused items such as clothing, then consider how they might be used to create something fun for your furbaby. If you want further ideas, there are an astonishing number of ideas online, so look into all of your options if you wish to. Of course, always make your furbaby's health and happiness your highest priority, and do not create any toys that might put them at risk.

Adventures with Astrid and Creepy Company

Between the excessive heat as well as Astrid's arthritis and recurring vestibular disease issues, the old gal doesn't go for many true walks these days.

When it was still somewhat cool out, she'd happily choose to go for slightly longer walks with the whole family on weekends. These days, though, we often just go down the street, she does her business, and then we go home. If it's early morning and not too hot yet, sometimes she'll choose to go a full block, but that's very rare on these hot days. And that's fine with me. I'm also not a fan of summer heat, and I just want Astrid to be as comfortable and safe as possible.

Astrid has her annual exam in a couple of weeks. She did have a 6-month check in January, when her bloodwork overall looked really good, so we'll soon see if that's still holding steady. At 12 years old, Astrid is finally showing her age, which is more than fair. She's a big old girl at 85 lbs, which makes things like arthritis a bit more troublesome at times. Her pain meds help her feel comfortable, though, and there are days when she tries to go for little runs in the back yard and she tries some of her youthful habits, with mixed results.

Somewhere around the end of last year, Astrid had some sort of mild bout of "old dog vestibular disease", which causes things like a head tilt and loss of balance. One of my childhood dogs had two severe bouts of this, and though Astrid's didn't have a severe, acute flare of it like my childhood dog, her symptoms do recur or flare here and there. Astrid has a permanent head tilt to the right that is often noticeable, as well as some imbalance that makes the big girl not so graceful on her feet. These symptoms aren't themselves painful for Astrid. They just make her a bit, well, clumsy. She also started having occasional strabismus affecting her right eye, causing it to sometimes stare outward even when her left eye is looking forward. It tends to occur when she's having a rougher vestibular day and is turning or looking a certain way. It only lasts a couple or a few seconds, and getting her to focus on me usually corrects it. Her vet said that this can indeed be caused by vestibular disease, and that since Astrid has been having mild symptoms for at least 6 months now, he's comfortable saying that the strabismus, head tilt, and clumsiness are very likely just residual effects of her of having vestibular disease.

One thing that always amazes me is that, in 12 years, there has never a been a single day when Astrid feels sick to the point where she won't eat her favorite foods. The same childhood dog I mentioned above was incredibly food oriented and would eat anything and everything, but she also regularly got what her vet called "gut rot" and would stop eating. Though Astrid has always been a picky eater, she has favorite foods that she will always eat, like chicken and peanut butter. If she ever stopped eating those, we'd know something was truly wrong. In 12 years, though, she's never once had even part of a day when she wouldn't eat her favorite foods. She's had lots of other health issues over the years, including cancer and a torn ligament, but somehow never an upset stomach.

Anyway. Have I rambled long enough? Yeah? Well, Astrid and all of us here wish you a wonderful Wednesday! If you're in a heat wave like we are, we hope you're staying cool.

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Spooky Doodle of the Day

We'll still sharing our new series of spooky summertime doodles. Today, we of course have Astrid's drawing, in which she has some creepy company.

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Tip of the Day

We're continuing with our pet parenting hack tips. So, yesterday we mentioned wrapping sisal rope around furniture legs in order to create money-saving scratching posts that also save you extra floor space. That's not the only way furniture can be used to create something special for your kitty, though. We all know that cats love cozy places to relax, including, of course, hammocks. If you yet again want to save money and floor space, you can suspend a hammock from beneath an end table or other similar piece of furniture. You would start with some cloth, which could be securely attached to or tied around the legs of the table. You could use velcro, some safely tied rope, or even just the corners of the cloth to suspend the hammock. In this way, you could create a cheap, easy, space-saving DIY hammock in which your kitty could snooze.

Tonks Tuesday with Pumpkins and a Ghost

Tonks has shared our household seasonal confusion before. Today, she's sharing it again.

Indeed, those are two Halloween pillows that stay out year round in our home. Our couch is often a mess of blankets and pillows, mostly courtesy of the kitties, and those two spooky pillows are always involved. Though you can't see them in this photo, behind Tonks in that moment above were our two year round Christmas pillows. Because what other pillows would you have out in July?

Tonks and all of us here with you a terrific Tuesday!

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Spooky Doodle of the Day

Yesterday, Evan got to share his zombified self as part of our new spooky series of summertime doodles. And today, of course, Tonks gets to share her new spooky something or other. Since Tonks is a kitty who loves blankets, both snoozing on them and under them, she gets to have a certain sort of friend in her drawing. See?

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Tip of the Day:

Are you interested in saving the money or space that comes with store-bought cat scratching posts? One simple option is to securely wrap sisal rope around table legs, chair legs, banisters, or other similar furniture or home features. This also can spare said furniture from damage from kitty claws. Therefore, this sort of DIY cat scratcher is not only simple and easy, but can also save you money, space, and damage to certain pieces of furniture or areas of the home.

Mancat Monday: Zzzzzzz and a Zombie

It's Mancat Monday, and Evan is celebrating the occasion by snoozing in a sun puddle.

Under there somewhere is the new bed I got Evan for his birthday back in April. He especially loves it when I toss a blanket in it for extra coziness. That admittedly also helps spare the bed, as my hind limb paralyzed boy does indeed have urinary incontinence, among other special things.

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

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Spooky Doodle of the Day

I've mentioned multiple times how I'm creating a new series of spooky doodles for this summer. After all, we're in a heatwave that has me craving autumn. I finally managed to finish all of these new doodles this weekend, so it's time to bring autumn to this hot summer by giving it some Halloween vibes. For today, Evan gets to cosplay as a zombie.

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Tip of the Day

Our previous pet parenting hack was to use rubber gloves to remove furbaby hair from sofas, car interiors, and so forth. We failed to mention another option, and so we'll go ahead and do that today. If your clothing, bedding, or similar item is covered in pet hair and you're looking for a quick fix, you can try tossing it in the dryer with a dryer sheet. The anti-static nature of dyer sheets will help keep the hair from sticking to the clothing, bedding, or whatever item is in question. The hair will instead make its way to the lint trap. You could also try just rubbing a dryer sheet on the hairy item, as that sometimes will also help remove hair with the aid of its anti-static nature.

That all being said, though, please do keep those dryer sheets out of your furbaby's reach. This is because dryer sheets often contain potentially toxic components. So, keep those dryer sheets well hidden, and find and toss stray dryer sheets before dispersing the laundry. Of course, if you have any concern for your furbaby's safety, then simply refrain from using this method altogether.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Blurry Bloopers

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. Lately, my main focus is _________.

2. I crave _________.

3. I get my best ideas _________.

4. I only trust _________ with my biggest secrets.


My answers are below in bold.

1. Lately, my main focus is giving the best care possible to my senior and special needs furry family members.

(This is always my main focus, but as of this year all of my kitties and pup are 7 and older and are therefore considered seniors. Thimble, Eddy, and Tonks truly don't seem it, though. Evan and Astrid's special needs have increased the most. They are indeed the oldest in the family, both 12 years old, but they're also the ones who have simply had the most medical issues over the years. They're both on medications for their various ailments, though, and overall they're both doing pretty good right now.)

2. I crave fruit.

(I love anything sweet, and luckily there are a lot of fruit that satisfy this craving for me. I have fruit with almost every meal. I often have a huge serving of blueberries in oats for breakfast, and on the side of my lunch and/or supper I always have a big bowl of watermelon and/or grapes and/or strawberries. I wish I craved veggies as much as I do fruit, but alas, I do not.)

3. I get my best ideas when I'm falling asleep.

(Ever since I was a kid, I'll get some of my best ideas for art, writing projects, and other such things when I'm falling asleep in bed. It's like halfway to dreamland exists this magical place full of gems. The problem, though, is that I either have to immediately jolt awake and write the idea down, or fall asleep and never remember the idea again. There's no in between.)

4. I only trust my kitties and pup with my biggest secrets.

(I have a sign at home that says, "Nobody keeps secrets better than my cat." And that is so very true. Pup Astrid is also pretty darn good at keeping secrets.)

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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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.

You better believe blooper queen Eddy is here to grace you with her blurriness. Today's outtakes were taken when I pulled out the camera while Eddy rested on her favorite chair. Annoyed with me, the poor girl of course started moving around in that blurry way.

Don't worry, because I left Eddy alone and let her snooze after just a few photos. I even got a couple of decent shots from that photo shoot, which we've already shared in recent weeks.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

This weekend I will be finishing this year's new summertime spooky doodles. As I've been working on those, I've been re-sharing last summer's spooky doodles. We already shared Eddy's last Friday, but we haven't shared Evan's yet, so here was his spooky little something from last summer.

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Tip of the Day

We've decided to do a series of tips on life hacks for pet parents, especially cat parents. These hacks may be all sorts of random, and most of them are repeats of tips from the past. But, we hope these might offer some pet parenting tips for saving money, saving space, saving time, and, of course, keeping your furbaby happy and healthy.

Do you have furbaby hair on your sofa? What about in your car? Surely not on your clothes? Our pet parenting life hack for today is to keep some rubber gloves on hand. Why? Because, aside from the more commonly used lint roller or piece of tape, rubber gloves can be a reusable tool for removing furbaby hair from surfaces such as sofas and car interiors. You just put on a rubber glove and run it over the hairy sofa or other surface. The rubber glove and a little thing called static electricity will help lift the hair from the surface, and the hair will instead stick to the glove. When you're done using the glove to remove furbaby hair from your furniture, one easy way to get said hair off of the glove is by submerging the glove in water. The hair will float off of the glove, and then you can dip the hair out of the water and toss it. So, if you're looking for a quick, easy, reusable tool for removing your furbaby's hair from your furniture, consider giving the rubber glove trick a try.

Thankful Thimble Thursday in the Air Conditioning

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

Today, Thimble is grateful for the sunshine, but also for air conditioning.

It's been 95°F or hotter every day this week. Thimble knows she's blessed that she can enjoy some sunshine while sitting in a cool home, and she wishes the same for all kitties in the world. We know a lot of you are also in a heat wave, so we hope you're staying cool! 

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Now, of course, we have 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. Lately, my main focus is _________.

2. I crave _________.

3. I get my best ideas _________.

4. I only trust _________ with my biggest secrets.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

We've been re-sharing last year's summertime spooky doodles, and so here's what little Thimble's looked like.

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Tip of the Day

Today's summer safety tip for strays and ferals relates to the trap-neuter-release (TNR) practice. TNR is crucial for keeping the feral cat population under control, as well as keeping individual ferals as safe and healthy as possible. This being said, always keep the weather and environment in mind when embarking on a TNR effort.

The summer heat can of course pose an extreme danger to cats being trapped. Potentially fatal overheating or heat stroke can occur if a cat is trapped and left sitting in the trap in the sun. In addition to this, traps are often made of metal, which means that if these traps are sitting on a hot surface, such as asphalt, the trap as well as the cat inside can overheat in this way as well. To combat such issues, try to trap and thereafter keep ferals in the shade. After they are trapped, do not leave the cats sitting out in the sun and heat, but instead transfer them somewhere cool as soon as possible. Also keep in mind the cats' safety when transporting them. For example, as you all surely know, the interior of a car can quickly become like a deadly oven in the summer months, so do not leave any animals, including trapped ferals, inside hot cars.

TNR is of course a very important practice for the safety and well-being of feral cats. That doesn't mean there aren't risks to the cats, though, and that includes the weather. So, if you are assisting in the significant task of trapping ferals, of course always ensure the cats' safety in all weather.