Happy Three Kings' Day!

Yesterday was the Twelfth Day of Christmas. Today is the Epiphany, or Three Kings' Day. This day commemorates when the three wise men, or the magi, visited baby Jesus and gifted him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In some cultures, this is celebrated as something akin to a "little Christmas". Sometimes gifts are given to loved ones on this day, oftentimes in the form of three gifts in honor of the three gifts baby Jesus received from the three wise men. In our family we do give small, simple gifts on this day, and the kitties and pup are of course included in that.

After playing with his new toys, Evan of course took a nap under the Christmas tree. Because it still 'tis the season.

Do you see that needle-less little sprig there above Evan? That's courtesy of this boy chewing on the tree. He doesn't actually eat any parts of the tree, thankfully, but he does chew on it. In the photo below, you can even see one of the victims needles on Evan's side.

Oh, and don't mind Evan's wet fur in that first photo. This incontinent boy with sometimes messy megacolon gets lots of baths. They're certainly not his favorite thing, but they have to happen nonetheless.

To finish off this post, even on January 6th, Christmas isn't yet over. That said, we are going to share a couple more days' worth of Christmas goodness here on our blog. Not only am I just now finishing a couple of Christmas doodles that I didn't complete while sick at Christmastime, but we also haven't shared what our wonderful Secret Santa Paws sent us. That is in no small part thanks to an issue I'm having with my phone's camera and storage, but I am sorting that out and we will finally be sharing our amazing Secret Santa Paws goodies this week.

Happy Three Kings' Day, friends!

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Festive Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip regards what type of bedding to put in an outdoor cat shelter, such as for feral cats. We'll start by cutting right to the chase and saying that an ideal form of bedding for an outdoor shelter is straw. A cat can burrow down in straw in order to stay as warm as possible in the cold. Unlike blankets and towels, straw will not hold moisture, and therefore will less likely freeze or become uncomfortable in rain, snow, and so forth. This is one huge reason why straw is often a better choice over cloth bedding material, because it can repel moisture, and can therefore allow for a consistent, dry, warm form of bedding for outdoor cats. Straw can also be more easily replaced or replenished, as opposed to cloth bedding, should it get dirty. That being said, do make sure you know the difference between straw and hay. They are not the same thing, and hay will hold onto moisture, become wet and uncomfortable for outdoor cats, and can also become moldy when wet. Go for straw, not hay.

If you do put out cloth bedding for outdoor cats, check it regularly. If it is wet or dirty, be sure to replace it, clean it, and so forth. Try to keep all cloth bedding in areas where it is least likely to get wet, so that feral or other outdoor cats can use it comfortably. Cloth bedding works best in shelters that are free of leaks and that are in some way heated, as that will help it remain dry and comfortable.