Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Photo Fails

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. I can't _________ since _________.

2. _________ since _________.

3. _________ was my first ever job.

4. _________ is my best advice for _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. I can't get comfortable some nights since my cats are in charge.
(I honestly just put the first thing that came to my mind, and currently I have a sore shoulder that is the result of me sleeping in an odd position because of how Thimble informed me I was and was not allowed to sleep the other night. After all, the little tabby sleeps on top of me every night, and she's very bossy particular on how I'm allowed to sit or lie in bed. I know some people would say to lock the cats out of my room if they cause issues, etc., but I'm just straight up not going to do that.)

2. It has been 0 days since Tonks jumped on my back.
(Tonks loves piggyback rides. She usually waits until I'm bent over, such as while I'm scooping litter, but sometimes she'll jump onto me when I'm standing straight up. Luckily, she's very agile and a skilled jumper, on top of only being 9 lbs. So, as long as I keep her nails trimmed, it's not a huge problem to have Tonks riding around on me like I'm her own personal pony. It does make doing lots of things a little more difficult, but I'm getting used to doing various tasks with a calico sitting on me, since she does it pretty much every single day.)

3. Dog-sitting was my first ever job.
(I started doing a lot of pet-sitting, house-sitting, and baby-sitting all around the same time, when I was about 10 years old. I think the first job ever was watching one of my neighbor's elderly dogs. His name was Lucky, and he was an absolute sweetheart. Around that same time I also started house-sitting for multiple neighbors, and started helping a couple of neighbors with their kids during the summer months. Said pet-sitting, house-sitting, and baby-sitting all became my main source of income and kept me very busy all throughout my school years, including while I attended college. I ended up taking care of quite a few different children, many houses of vacationing folks, and—my favorite—I got to meet and care for dozens upon dozens of dogs, cats, and other furry, feathered, and scaled friends.)

4. "Do your best" is my best advice for just about anything.
(I tried to think of something more profound for this one, but my mind just kept going to this. I have had to tell myself this so many times in life, and I've told it to others as well. In any given situation, all a person can do is their best, and then whatever is meant to happen will happen.)

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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I tried to get more photos of Eddy enjoying her favorite window the other day. In true Eddy style, though, she only had lots of blurs and bloopers to share. Which is perfect, since it's time for the Pet Photo Fails Blog Hop, hosted by none other than Melissa and Mudpie of Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries, & Meows.

So, here's your dose of blurry, bloopery Eddy.

This last one below might be hard to decipher, but it's Eddy turning around and giving the camera a blurry shot of her cute little bum.

Eddy and all of us here wish you a happy Friday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

It's the last day of February. That said, it's also 60°F and gorgeous outside, so I again feel compelled to share a spring doodle.

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Tip of the Day

Today is the last day of National Cat Health Month. For our final tip, we're closing out our discussion on medication administration with subcutaneous injections. This topic might sound scary, but with some practice, and perhaps a cooperative kitty, you can become a pro at it.

First and foremost, ensure that you and your kitty are as comfortable and ready as possible for injection time. This may indeed take trial and error. It may also take time for your kitty to become accustomed to injections. One option is to have your cat sit on your lap. You can place a towel or blanket on your lap, as an added protection against claws. Placing your kitty on a table, counter, or even the back of a sturdy chair or couch are other potential options. If you have a helper, they can try to hold your kitty, with said kitty wrapped in a blanket or towel if needed, while you give the injection.

That being said, before getting too far ahead of yourself, make sure that you properly prepare the syringe and needle. If you have any questions regarding the use of a syringe and needle, of course ask your veterinarian, or even request a demonstration. Once you get used to it, it's really not as scary as it seems. With the needle and syringe ready, depending on the medication being injected, be sure to shake, roll, and invert the bottle as needed. Then, of course, using the needle and syringe, draw up the prescribed dosage.

Giving a cat a subcutaneous injection is often best done in the skin near their shoulders. Before giving the injection, you will need to "tent" your kitty's skin. In other words, pick up the skin between your thumb and index finger. If you are right-handed, you can do this with your left hand, so that you can give the injection with your right hand. While preparing to inject, try to keep the needle more or less parallel to the cat's back, as going in at too much of an angle could lead to issues such as going through the skin on the side or hitting muscle.

Now, with the needle parallel to the back, you will want to give the injection in the "tent" of skin that you've formed by pulling up the skin. Push the needle into the skin firmly enough to slide the needle through, but not so hard that the needle ends up going through the skin on the other side, or that the syringe slams against your cat's tented skin. Again, this all might sound scary, but the more times you do this, the more you you will get the feel of it.

At this point, obviously, you will inject the medication. Push the syringe's plunger, making sure that you don't wiggle the syringe and needle too much while you do this. Depending on how you feel most comfortable holding the syringe, you will typically be pressing the plunger with either your index finger or thumb. Once you have given the injection, slide the needle back out, place the safety cap on it, and safely dispose of it. Check to make sure that there is no moisture on your cat's back, which might indicate that the needle either went through to the other side, or that it did not go in at all.

Related to this, if you are giving subcutaneous fluids, such as for a kitty with kidney disease, the general procedure will be very much the same, but the fluids will take longer to complete. You will inject the needle in the same manner as mentioned above, but your kitty will need to remain in place for minutes at a time. So, be sure that both you and your kitty are comfortable before beginning subcutaneous fluids administration. Also be sure that you follow other instructions for giving fluids at home, including warming the fluids bag, ensuring the line has been tested, and so forth. Veterinarians will most often give a demonstration on fluid administration before having you do it on your own. Of course, never be afraid to ask your veterinarian any questions that you have regarding any form of medication administration.