Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Blurry 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 15andemeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.

1. My to-do list for September includes _________ and _________.

2. _________ grade was my favorite year of school.

3. I have a lot of respect for _________ because _________.

4. _________ made me stop _________.


My answers are below in bold, of course accompanied by my usual rambling that no one is required to read.

1. My to-do list for September includes doing neglected yard work and scribbling up Halloween doodles.

(I didn't get nearly enough yard work done this spring. Then, when the summer heat hit, I had no interest in going outside to do anything besides the occasional mowing. Now that it's cooling down out there, though, I realize I really do need to get out there and cut back a lot of overgrowth in my yard and all that other outdoor jazz. Oh, and you better believe the Halloween doodles will be getting drawn very soon. Though I make no promises, I'd love to share 31 days of Halloween doodles again this year. Or at least close to it. We'll see how that goes.)

2. 16th grade was my favorite year of school.

(I know this isn't even a real "grade" in school. But, I really want my answer to be my senior year of college, simply because I was so ready to be done with school. I've always loved learning, and due to no one's pressure but my own, I always got good grades. Even so, I hated school. I never liked being forced to learn only this or that, and only in this way or that way. I hated homework, as most of it seemed needlessly time-consuming and silly rather than helpful. So, when I got to my senior year of college, I was ecstatic to be at the end of my school years.)

3. I have a lot of respect for animal rescuers because they're doing an honorable but difficult job.
(Especially because of some of the strays and ferals in my neighborhood, I've been in contact with multiple rescue groups in my area throughout the years. Even with just those instances here and there, it's obvious these rescuers are doing a draining job out of nothing but the kindness of their hearts. They love animals, and that drives them to work day in and day out for the innocent creatures of this world. I have so much respect for that, and I hope to someday be able to do far more volunteering with animal rescue groups.)

4. Evan's urinary blockage made me stop giving my kitties' Temptations treats.
(I have no clear evidence that Temptations cause urinary blockages. However, quite literally while Evan was hospitalized with a urinary blockage at the end 2022, someone posted an article online about how Temptations might be linked with urinary blockages in cats. I wouldn't have thought much of it, except for the fact that I had just started regularly giving Evan Temptations a couple months before. I had always given them Friskies Party Mix before that, but thought I'd change things up. After reading that article, though, and given the timing of Evan's blockage, I stopped giving Temptations and went back to Friskies Party Mix. Though he has a number of other urinary issues, Evan has not had a blockage since.)

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.

***

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.

For today, blooper queen Eddy went all out. She is indeed an oft blurry gal, and she doesn't disappoint in today's outtakes.

And as if that one wasn't blurry enough, how about this one?

That's my girl Eddy. When I ask her for a cute photo shoot, I most often get that. But that's okay, because she's my sweet, sassy, adorable little lady, and she's in charge.

Happy Friday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

My angels Rosie and Sammy will be celebrating their heavenly birthday on Monday, September 1st. This weekend I will be drawing their birthday doodle for this year, but for today, how about their birthday doodle from a couple years ago?

If you're curious, I've gotten into the habit of making Rosie and Sammy's birthday doodles Harry Potter-esque, which explains the color choices in that there doodle. After all, as a kid, Rosie and Sammy were my reading buddies. My sweet Sammy passed from an undetected heart condition when he was only 5 and I was only 10. I never got to read Harry Potter with him, but I started reading it soon after his passing, which helped me during my grieving process. My Rosie, though, lived to the blessed age of 21, and so she was often by my side as I read every single Harry Potter book from the time I was 10 until I was 18. What's more, in the Harry Potter series, the magical school known as Hogwarts always starts on September 1st. As a kid, it excited me so much that this date was shared with my Rosie and Sammy's birthday. I don't know if any of that made sense, but it's why I often incorporate magical whatnot into my angels' birthday doodles.

***

Tip of the Day

Today is our last tip relating to those feline vet visits. This tip is actually far more of a general one, though, and it's to remember your veterinarians, vet techs, and all of the staff at your vet clinic on special occasions. Whether it be Christmas, Veterinarian Appreciation Day (June 18th), Veterinary Technician Week (the third week of October), or another similar day, do consider sending some appreciation to those at your veterinary clinic. You can send a simple card, some flowers, a basket of goodies, or anything that demonstrates your appreciation for all they've done for your furbaby and yourself. Sometimes, being a veterinarian or veterinary staff member is a thankless job, or one that is forgotten in the shuffle. So, if you appreciate what your veterinary clinic has done for any and all of your furbabies, then do consider being one of those grateful customers who expresses their appreciation.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Blurry on a Blanket

Hello, friends! Things have been a bit chaotic around here lately, and while I intend on creating a post for Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, to honor all of the angels in my life, I haven't created that post yet. I don't want to rush it. So, that will come later, and today will be a typical Thursday post.

That means Thimble is of course here and ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

 Today, Thimble is grateful that she's cuter than cute even in blurry bloopers.

This cute girl found out that Eddy will be sharing bloopers for tomorrow's Pet Photo Fails Blog Hop. And so, Thimble wanted to partake as well. After all, she knows she's downright adorable even in these outtakes.

Thimble especially loves posing, blurry or not, on her beloved fleece blankets. This is one of Thimble's new favorite blankies, as she finds it to be just her style.

As always, Thimble says you are welcome to give her belly a rub or a tickle, or both. This tabby girl truly, genuinely loves her a good belly rub or tickle.

***

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. My to-do list for September includes _________ and _________.

2. _________ grade was my favorite year of school.

3. I have a lot of respect for _________ because _________.

4. _________ made me stop _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

Today's tip relating to taking your cat to the vet is in regard to nonrecognition aggression. In relation to vet visits, nonrecognition aggression is typically when one cat goes to the vet, and when he or she returns home, one of the other resident cats does not recognize them. This is typically because the returning cat smells unfamiliar, with odors from the vet. Though it can be a disconcerting and scary thing to witness, nonrecognition aggression is not terribly uncommon. What's more, there are ways to potentially prevent it, and to help your cats recover from it.

One way to combat nonrecognition aggression is to take your cats to the vet together. This way, neither of them will come back home smelling differently than the other. This method is easiest if both cats travel well and can safely visit the vet together. So, if nonrecognition aggression is a concern in your home and it's a viable option, do consider taking your cats to the vet together to prevent future aggression between them.

There are other options to help prevent nonrecognition aggression. One is to use a synthetic pheromone spray, or a diffuser, to help keep all cats as calm as possible. Yet another option is to gently wipe down the cat returning home from the vet, in order to remove as much of the vet clinic smells as possible. Similarly, when a cat returns home from the vet, you can also wipe them with one of their usual blankets from home, to help transfer their usual scents back to them. Of course these are not fail-safe methods, but they can potentially help prevent nonrecognition aggression between cats.

All of the above being said, sometimes nonrecognition aggression might occur despite your attempts to prevent it. If it does occur, first and foremost, separate the cats who are involved in order to keep them both safe. Then, reintroduction might be similar to how you introduce two unfamiliar or new cats to each other. Slowly and safely allowing them to sniff, see, and then interact with each other might take some time, but your kitties can indeed return to one big happy family with time and patience.

Adventures with Astrid: Action Shots

Astrid's most recent episode of vestibular disease has improved quite a bit. She's far from the level of steady on her feet that she was even back in July, but she's at least not as constantly wobbly as she was the first couple weeks of August. She's especially steady on her feet when she goes for walks, as pavement seems to be what she's most confident walking on. She's also quite fast when she hits the pavement, which is why today's shots of Astrid are a bit blurry.

This Friday, Eddy will of course be sharing some bloopers for the Pet Photo Fails Blog Hop, so Astrid decided it was fine if I shared some blurry shots of her this week as well.

Walking too long, especially in the summer heat, causes Astrid's vestibular symptoms to flare a bit. So, we're giving the poor stir crazy girl some short little jaunts here and there. We also take her into the back yard quite a bit. The weather is finally cooling down, at least for now, which Astrid absolutely loves.

We don't know if Astrid will continue to improve even more, or if this particular vestibular episode has left her a bit more permanently wobbly. That can happen with some vestibular episodes, so we shall see what a couple or a few more weeks does for the girl. I especially can't wait for the weather to cool down even more. After all, not only does Astrid love colder temps, but her vestibular symptoms give her less trouble when it's cooler out.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is a rather random one from a series I scribbled up many years ago.

***

Tip of the Day

Can you believe we're still blabbing on about taking your kitty to the vet? Indeed, we still have a few more tips to offer in this series. Some of our very recent tips have been about ways to safely get an anxious or aggressive cat to the vet. These tips included leaving the carrier out at all times, putting treats and toys in it, using Feliway spray in the carrier, administering sedatives to your cat if needed and prescribed by your vet, and using a towel or thick gloves to load a potentially aggressive cat into a carrier. Sometimes, though, even with all such measures being taken, a certain cat might still be difficult or unsafe to easily take to the vet. This might be the case for semi-feral or otherwise aggressive cats. In addition, some cats become so anxious that it's potentially unsafe for them to make the trip to the vet, such as if it causes them to open-mouth breathe or other respiratory distress.

If any of the above descriptors match your cat and taking them to the vet is extremely difficult or unsafe, then consider discussing with your veterinarian the possibility of scheduling an at-home vet visit. Some veterinary clinics do offer visits in your own home, especially if that reduces any dangers related to taking your cat to the veterinary clinic itself. In some areas, there are even veterinarians who specifically practice as mobile vets. So, if your cat becomes distressed or dangerous when it comes time to get in a carrier or travel to the vet clinic, consider the option of having a veterinarian come directly to your home. This might not always work, but it's worth a try if other options are not easy or safe for you and your cat.

Tonks Tuesday: Peek-a-Boo!

I've mentioned before how Tonks is my kitty who loves to burrow under blankets, towels, and just about anything under which she can hide. She's startled me more than once, when I've gone to grab a blanket or towel or something of the sort, only for it to move, or for a calico head to peek out. Tonks's favorite game is indeed peek-a-boo.

Don't worry. Tonks knows she's adorable. You're still free to tell her, though. You're also free to boop that nose. Tonks truly loves a nose boop.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

I plan on starting on some new Halloween doodles soon, but for now, how about this old not-so-spooky summertime doodle?

***

Tip of the Day

We hope you're not getting bored with our tips on feline vet visits, because we still have some more for you. Today's tip is to, if needed, take precautions for the safety of both yourself and your kitty, namely when it comes time to load a kitty up. We're primarily referring to how to safely get an anxious or aggressive kitty into a carrier. We've already given tips on using methods such as leaving the carrier out, putting treats or toys in it, using Feliway, and even using sedating medications if needed. That all being said, for some cats, some or all of the aforementioned methods simply won't work. Even sedatives can be overridden if a cat becomes agitated enough. In such cases, it is important to take precautions to keep you and your cat safe when it comes time to get said kitty in a carrier.

When getting an anxious or aggressive cat into a carrier, a simple towel or blanket could potentially be your best friend. Wrapping your cat in a towel, and putting them in the carrier when they are thus confined, can potentially keep those claws and teeth in check. At the same time, make sure that you have the sufficiently sized carrier placed in a way that loading the cat is as easy as possible. This may mean using a top-loading carrier, or placing a front-loading carrier on its back side so that the door faces up. If a towel or blanket is not enough protection, then you can also look into using thick gloves specifically designed to keep kitty teeth and claws from penetrating, thereby keeping your hands and arms safe.

Some cats are simply less willing to visit the vet and are overall less amenable than others. Differences in personality are part of what make kitties so unique, after all. That being said, if your cat is one who is anxious, aggressive, or otherwise difficult to handle, always take precautions to keep everyone involved safe when vet appointments roll around. When in doubt, of course discuss with your veterinarian the best options for handling your cat.

Mancat Monday: Evan and the Antibiotics

It's Mancat Monday, and Evan is spending the day in his favorite bed. It's the bed he got for his birthday this year, and he especially loves when I toss a blanket in it for extra coziness.

Evan deserves a nap in his favorite bed. After all, he had an eventful end of last week. Nothing horrible or new, but on Friday I noticed that he was starting to show early signs of a UTI. I also found a sore around his private parts that would indicate he has urine scald, which has happened more than once for this urinary incontinent little guy, despite all my efforts to keep him clean and dry. I emailed our vet, and within a couple of minutes he'd responded saying that he'd prepare some antibiotics for me to pick up. That would take care of any potential UTI, and would also take care of the sores from urine scald. Evan has been on those antibiotics since Friday evening, and he and his back end are already acting and looking much better.

I appreciate Evan's vet so much. Being a hind limb paralyzed cat with urinary incontinence and various other issues, Evan is at a significantly heightened risk of UTIs. His vet knows this and is willing to prescribe antibiotics without Evan having to be seen and checked every time he starts showing symptoms. We still have his urine checked periodically, but I feel blessed to have a vet that trusts me to monitor Evan and request antibiotics when he starts showing symptoms.

Happy Monday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

I recently re-shared a couple of doodles of my kitties and pup that served as fan art for one of my newer favorite series of books. I haven't re-shared Evan's doodle in this series, though, probably because I know it looks a little odd, what with Evan wearing a cape and heart boxers, siting on a rock surrounded by mushrooms.

The books series upon which this doodle is based is called Dungeon Crawler Carl. These books are in my favorite genre, that being fantasy. What's more, they star a man named Carl, who happens to wear magical heart boxers, and who's accompanied by his talking Persian tortie cat named Princess Donut. The series is wild and crazy and full of pure chaos, and I enjoy it so very much.

***

Tip of the Day

We still have some tips all about taking that kitty to the vet. Today's tip is to, if needed, discuss with your veterinarian medications that might help calm a cat who becomes especially anxious, or even aggressive, when it comes time to visit the vet. Some cats are calm and collected, even at the vet. Other cats, however, simply become reactive when they see a carrier, when they get into a car, when they visit a veterinary office, or when they meet strangers. If you have tried the usual tricks—which of course include leaving the carrier out at all times, using Feliway, using treats to coax and distract, and so forth—yet your kitty still becomes anxious or difficult to handle, then there are some potential sedating medications that could be given when it comes time to visit the vet. Your veterinarian would be able to determine if or which sedatives might work best for your particular kitty, given said kitty's behavior as well as health. So, be upfront and honest with your veterinarian regarding the ease and safety of getting your cat in a carrier and to the vet. Your vet can of course also witness how your cat acts when visiting the clinic, and with all of those facts, the two of you can discuss potential options for making vet visits as easy and safe as possible for you, your cat, and the veterinary staff.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Adorable Face

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 wish I could believe that _________, but I don't.

2. I am all _________ed out.

3. I'm very picky about _________.

4. I don't mind _________ as long as _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. I wish I could believe that most people are good, but I don't.

(I don't like saying this, but I think we've all seen evidence that would indicate a lot of people are not good. Many people choose evil, as we often see in the news or even firsthand. It's a choice far too many people make, and it's such a disheartening reality.)

2. I am all summered out.

(It's hot. It's humid. I'm not a fan of either. Is it autumn yet?)

3. I'm very picky about the texture of food.

(I feel like such a child saying this, but I do find myself struggling to eat foods with certain textures. I'm not a fan of a lot of sautéed foods, most especially onions, because I feel like I'm eating worms. I also cannot stand eating cooked oatmeal, as I find it too gooey and gummy, though I love overnight oats that have only sat soaking in milk. The texture of mushrooms is also a no-go for me.)

4. I don't mind hot days as long as I can stay in the air conditioning.

(I'm really not a fan of summer, as I mentioned in #2 above. Heat and humidity are simply not my thing, as I also said above. The only time I don't mind these hot days is when I can just stay inside where the air conditioning keeps it cool. I always end up outside at some point, though, whether it be going to and from work or taking pup Astrid outside. So, with that said, I'm really just ready for autumn.)

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, your Eddy fix puts the adorable girl's adorable snaggletooth on full display. Actually, it puts her entire adorable face on display.

For anyone who doesn't know or might not remember, Eddy came to me as a kitten with neurological issues. When I adopted her, she would spin in circles, fall to the side when running, and she had a right-sided head tilt with right-sided facial nerve paralysis. With some drugs and TLC, Eddy recovered from the acute neurological issues she developed at the rescue from which I adopted her, which they believed were due to either an infection or an injury. She no longer spins or walks crooked, though she has maintained a mild head tilt and facial nerve paralysis. But, that gives us adorable shots like these.

Happy Friday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

I truly hope to hook up my scanner this weekend and prepare and upload a bunch of my newly completed but sorely neglected doodles. For today, though, how about an old one from back when I was painfully trying to improve my skills at drawing architectural elements.

***

Tip of the Day

We're still in the midst of our series of tips on taking that kitty of yours to the vet. Today's tip on this topic is a plain and simple one, and that is to take with you to the vet your kitty's favorite toy(s) or treats. This might not work for all cats, but in some cases, toys or treats can make for great distractions or positive reinforcement during your cat's exam or vaccinations. That being said, though, do try to choose wisely when it comes to what you take as a distraction. For example, does your cat get hyperactive or even aggressive when under the influence of catnip? If so, try to avoid toys laced with catnip, and avoid taking anything else that might cause a problem rather than assist during the vet visit. So, all in all, consider whether a simple toy or some treats might help your cat make it through a vet visit. If so, pack those so that they can go along.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Fleece Blankets and Furrowed Brows

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

Today, Thimble is grateful for fleece blankets. She especially loves ones that are almost as cute as her.

This is another case where I don't know how or why Thimble looks so disgruntled. When this photo was snapped, she was purring and incredibly happy. Despite being one of the happiest cats I've ever met, Thimble is also known in our family for her furrowed brow. Either way, she of course looks downright adorable.

Thimble hopes you all have a fleece blanket on which to nap today!

***

And now we have the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andnewing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I wish I could believe that _________, but I don't.

2. I am all _________ed out.

3. I'm very picky about _________.

4. I don't mind _________ as long as _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

Today's tip for taking your cat to the vet is to consider using a pheromone spray, such as Feliway. A synthetic pheromone such as this can potentially have a calming effect for your cat. One idea is to spray the pheromone into your cat's carrier, or onto a blanket placed in your cat's carrier. This could potentially help make the experience of getting into the carrier more calm for your cat, as well as potentially make the car ride and time at the vet a calmer experience. Also consider taking the pheromone spray with you to the vet, where you can spray it in the air in the exam room, or again spray it on a blanket or toy you might have brought along to the vet for your cat. Of course a pheromone spray isn't always guaranteed to work, and it might not work the same for every cat, but it definitely wouldn't hurt to try it in case it might help your kitty feel calm and soothed.

A Slightly Less Wobbly Woof Woof Wednesday

Astrid's current vestibular disease flare is slowly but surely improving. She has days and times when she moves around pretty well, having only minimal signs of dizziness and unsteadiness. Other times, especially if she's moved around a lot and is tired, she has to be helped quite a bit when walking. But, for about three mornings in a row now, she's woken up and has been able to make it all over the house on her own without falling over. That's a huge improvement from last week. It gives me hope that perhaps we're finally approaching the end of this vestibular episode, and hopefully Astrid continues to improve and return to her version of normal. Hopefully.

Oh, and despite us having placed rugs all over the hardwood and other slick floors in the house, Astrid still has far less confidence when inside. But when you get her onto the concrete outside, which she knows she won't slip and slide on, she walks far more normally. See?

Astrid isn't always so great on feet in uneven grass right now, but when she gets on cement, she's unstoppable. Well, usually.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

I honestly have a significant number of new doodles that I still need to scan and share here, going all the way back to some I scribbled up in the first couple months of the year. I finally got my laptop back from the repair shop for the fourth time this year, though, and so I will soon scan those new doodles. In the meantime, I've been going back in the archives and finding doodles I completely forgot about, like this one here.

***

Tip of the Day

Today's tip on taking that kitty of yours to the vet is about selecting the best kind of carrier for your cat. There are a number of considerations to make when it comes to carrier type. The size of your cat, the size of the carrier, how willing your kitty is to enter a carrier, your cat's behavior while in a carrier, and the material out of which a carrier is made can all play a role in the kind of carrier you might want to use.

To go into a bit more detail, let's start with the size of your kitty. For example, take into consideration the comfort of a large cat when selecting a carrier. A small carrier will of course be less than cozy for a large cat, not to mention that it might not be easy to get a large cat into a small carrier in the first place. At the same time, though, it is important to make sure that you can carry your cat's carrier with relative ease. This is especially crucial for emergency cases, when you might need to move quickly and therefore won't want to have difficulty transporting a cat-filled carrier.

Another consideration to make is how easy it is to get your cat into the carrier. Yesterday, we mentioned some tips on getting your cat used to the carrier. Those all being said, some cats may simply not be the easiest to coax into a carrier. With this in mind, consider what type of carrier will be easiest for you, your kitty, and your particular situation. If your cat is difficult to get into a carrier, for example, a top-loading one might be easier than a front-loading one. Then again, if it's possible and safe, you could set a front-loading carrier on its back end in order to load your kitty in through the door while it's standing up in that manner. Also keep in mind how sturdy a carrier is and how easily this might make it to load a kitty inside. Mesh or other flimsy carriers, for example, could collapse as you try to load a difficult cat inside, making the task even more challenging.

Yet another consideration to make is how your cat acts inside a carrier, and how details such as carrier material might be affected. For example, is your cat a digger while in their carrier? If so, a mesh carrier may not be the best option for them, especially if they are an insistent digger who might tear a hole in the mesh or dig at the zipper and escape. Also take into consideration if your kitty has a nervous bladder or nervous bowels. If your cat is known to urinate or defecate in the carrier, consider what type of carrier might be best able to withstand this and be cleaned afterwards. A plastic carrier might be a good option in this case.

There can be a great many considerations to make when selecting a carrier for your kitty. Those we mentioned above are just some considerations you might need to make. It all depends on your particular furbaby, their personality and behavior, as well as on you and your capabilities or preferences.

No Tech Tonks Tuesday

Tonks is still happily claiming my laptop cover as her favorite sleeping spot. After all, my laptop has now been at the repair shop for a week, and so Tonks has its soft and apparently cozy case all to herself.

Tonks will be very upset whenever I finally get my laptop back. I always let her sleep on the case when I'm using the computer, but she's currently enjoying having it as her own 24/7.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

Today's tip on taking your kitty to the vet is one that we're sure all of you have heard, and that is to get your kitty used to the carrier. The first and foremost way to do this is to keep the carrier out, in sight, and accessible all the time. If the carrier is tucked away, then it very well may simply become a source of fear when it comes out once a year. Keeping it out at all times can help combat this.

What's more, try to make the carrier a place of comfort or fun. For example, place a cozy blanket in the carrier, so that it can perhaps be seen as a place to nap. You can also place toys in the carrier, as well as treats. Or, you can try to use the carrier as a feeding station, such as by putting one of your kitty's bowls of food in there. The carrier could also be where your cat is given treats. These methods can help your cat associate the carrier with things that are cozy, fun, or commonplace, in turn helping it to be seen as less of a threat. All in all, help your kitty get used to the carrier by turning it into a place where good things happen, rather than simply a place in which once a year they're locked up and taken somewhere unfamiliar. Associating the carrier with happy experiences can potentially make vet visits a bit less scary for the kitty in your life.

Up Close and Personal on Mancat Monday

It's Mancat Monday, and today we're getting up close and personal with adorable Evan.

It's been a busy few days, what with Astrid having a vestibular flare and therefore needing more help getting around than usual while she recovers. But, while the pup took a nice, long nap yesterday, I got a chance to read a book and watch some TV on the couch. And you better believe my boy immediately joined me for a cuddle session.

I couldn't get all that many photos, as Evan had one of my arms pinned, but that's okay. I at least got these snapped, and they prove just how adorable my cuddly boy is.

Happy Monday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

I stumbled upon this weird old doodle starring our housemates, Toby and Winky. I scribbled this up years ago for my sister, whom these two house panthers own.

***

Tip of the Day

Since National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day is this week, we figured we'd go right on ahead and do a series of tips on how to get that kitty of yours to the vet. We'll start this series with the simple tip to socialize and get your kitty used to interaction at an early age, if possible. Getting your cat used to people is ideal for helping them cope with future outings to the vet. This of course may not always be possible, depending on a particular cat's age and personality at the time of adoption or rescue. However, when possible and safe, start socializing your cat around people, even simply visitors to your home, when they are young.

What's more, try to get your cat used to hands-on checks. If it's safe for both you and your cat, you can get in the habit of looking in your cat's ears, having a look at their mouth and teeth, and so forth. This of course can help them get used to all that goes on when they're at the vet's office, while at the same time also helping you check for abnormalities that might need to be addressed. All in all, starting early with socializing and hands-on interaction, when it's a safe option, can possibly help your kitty feel more comfortable about getting examined during their trips to the vet.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy in the Window

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. When it comes to making decisions, I _________.

2. _________ was the highlight of my week.

3. I wish there were a _________ in my local area.

4. Thanks to _________, I _________.


My answers are below in bold, along with my usual rambling.

1. When it comes to making decisions, I usually make up my mind pretty quickly.
(I don't tend to be very wishy-washy with most decisions. Sure, there are things here and there I have to ponder for a bit, but even then, I usually pretty quickly determine what I want or need and make the final decision. I've always been like this, which is funny, because my sister is the complete indecisive opposite.)

2. Astrid walking without my assistance was the highlight of my week.

(As I've mentioned at least once this week, pup Astrid is having another flare of her vestibular. Old dog vestibular disease is relatively common, and it causes all sorts of balance issues for geriatric dogs. They often recover from episodes after a couple or few weeks, but it seems to be so much worse for Astrid in the summer. She suddenly had a flare of it a little over 2 weeks ago, and after improving a bit from that episode, it flared up again early this week. Yesterday, though, Astrid was finally more able to walk without being constantly assisted. It's a small improvement, but it's an improvement nonetheless. It's been a very long week with poor Astrid being so wobbly and restless, and so seeing even a bit of improvement was truly the highlight of my week. Though still wobbly, this morning Astrid is far less restless and is acting a tad bit more like herself. Thank goodness.)

3. I wish there were a Dick Blick in my local area.

(It's a weird name, though I think it's called Blick Art Materials these days. It's a store that sells all sorts of art supplies, and it's one of the only art stores I've ever known to keep a full stock of my favorite markers, those being Window & Newton Promarkers and Brushmarkers. Dick Blick is prevalent in my home state of Illinois, but only in cities hours away from me. I'd love to be able to peruse the aisles of a Dick Blick in my hometown.)

4. Thanks to Astrid's current condition, I ended up with her bowl of food all over my clothes yesterday.

(Honestly, I'm so glad that Astrid's dizziness hasn't made her lose her appetite. As long as we feed her the food she wants, she'll happily eat. It's just a really graceless and messy activity. She doesn't like to eat lying down, but she's not very steady on her feet. Yesterday, she started to tip over while eating, and though I managed to keep her upright, the attempt resulted in her food bowl overturning on me. That's okay, though, because washing machines exist for a reason. And don't worry, I peeled the food off of my clothes, put it back in Astrid's bowl, and she ate it right up.)

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, your Eddy fix might look a bit odd. After all, it stars Eddy, but from the viewpoint of me looking at her from the outside of a window. See?

The reason I snapped this photo is because this moment made me so proud of Eddy. This girl is easily the most skittish cat I've ever shared my life with. For years, if Eddy saw any person outside of the window, myself included, she'd run and hide under my bed. That's why, when I recently started seeing Eddy watch me in the yard from my bedroom window, I was shocked. I was even more shocked when she let me walk up to the window, say hi to her, and take her photo. This has now become a ritual of ours, and I love it. My scared little girl is showing tiny steps toward more confidence, and I'm so proud of her.

Happy Friday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

We recently re-shared some old doodles starring Edgar Allan Poe and his tortie Catterina. Another one of my favorite horror authors is H.P. Lovecraft, and I also happened to scribble up a doodle for him a few years back. So, why not share that again today.

***

Tip of the Day

Yesterday's tip involved helping give your kitty or pup a window view by putting a cat tree, couch, or chair beside the window. Today's tip takes this concept in another direction, and involves looking into ways to make your home even more accessible to and traversable by your feline furbabies. For example, there are cat shelves on the market that can be placed along your home's walls, and which can be placed in ways that allow your kitty to not only rest on the shelves, but to also to travel the perimeter of a room by way of those wall shelves. There are plenty of other similar features available on the market as well, including walkways, bridges, ladders, and all sorts of items that can allow your furbaby to travel throughout the house in this fun, unique way. If interested, you could intersperse such wall shelves or walkways throughout the house. Or, if you have the space and ability, you could dedicate one room in the house to this, so that said room is some semblance of a playroom or jungle gym for your kitty. In the wild, cats often travel or sleep on elevated surfaces, such as trees or mountains. That's why many cats enjoy setups such as wall shelves or walkways, as this can mimic the environment of their wild ancestors.

Thankful Thimble Thursday in the Sun

Hello and happy Thursday, friends! You better believe Thimble is ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, as has been the case before, Thimble is grateful for sunny naps in the window.

Also as before, Thimble is thankful for her adorably humongous ears. After all, they're how she hears her beloved baby food jars being opened at treat time.

***

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. When it comes to making decisions, I _________.

2. _________ was the highlight of my week.

3. I wish there were a _________ in my local area.

4. Thanks to _________, I _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

I was looking through old doodles recently, and I was reminded of this one. It's a piece of concept art I scribbled up years ago for a story idea I had, this story idea involving a little girl, her well-loved teddy bear, her chubby calico friend, and her somewhat frightening imaginary friend. Except he's not so imaginary. Anyway, here you go.

***

Tip of the Day

For today's tip on how to decorate your home around your furbaby, we're here to remind you to make sure your kitty or pup has a safe window view. Indoor cats and dogs are of course safe from the dangers of an outdoor life, but it is still important that they get the mental stimulation provided by a view of the outdoors. To allow for this window view, try putting pet-friendly furniture near the window. Placing a cat tree beside the window is a perfect option for cats, for example. Of course, though, you can even simply position a couch, chair, table, or other pet-safe piece of furniture so that a window view is possible for your kitty or pup.

There are a couple of other considerations to make when it comes to window views for your furbabies. First, if it's possible and safe, try to feed birds or squirrels in view of the window, so that your kitty or pup can have the added mental stimulation of having wildlife to watch. What's more, make sure all windows are securely closed and safe from potential escapes. Also make sure that any nearby window blinds or curtains do not pose a risk to the safety of your cat or dog. It is important to ensure your indoor cat or dog has a window view in order to keep them happy and sharp, but it's equally important to ensure their safety.

A Dizzy Woof Woof Wednesday

Last week's Wednesday post was titled "Not So Dizzy Adventures with Astrid". Today's is titled what it is because poor Astrid's current vestibular flare is, well, flaring up a bit more the past couple of days. She's better today than she was yesterday, but this particular flare is just far more noticeable and prolonged than the other ones she's experienced over the past 8 months. Flares of old dog vestibular disease can take weeks if not months to resolve, sometimes with permanent and/or recurring issues like Astrid already has from her initial flares months ago. I'm hoping that with time this particular, gnarly flare resolves enough that the poor girl can go back to moving around without feeling so dizzy and unsteady.

All that said, Astrid needs more assistance walking as well as using the bathroom during her vestibular flares. Astrid, however, does not really like being helped. Bathroom breaks with Astrid often look like this, with her trying to get away from me and my attempts to assist her so that she doesn't fall in her own excrement.

Astrid can't walk in a straight line, but she can still give me her stubbornness and sass.

I sometimes put Astrid's harness and leash on when taking her to the back yard. However, she often refuses to move if she's hooked up like that in her beloved back yard. I also just want her to have a bit of freedom like she's used to, but then I get moments like in the photos above. Luckily, Astrid moves better in the grass and on concrete than she does in the house, despite the hardwood and laminate floors currently being covered in rugs for her. Again, though, that gives Astrid the confidence to be give me a run for my money when outside, even if her run is a bit drunken right now.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

In case you haven't seen our past couple of tips, we're currently in a series all about decorating your home around the furbabies in your life. Today's tip on this topic is to use couch or chair covers, or even just regular blankets, on your furniture. This can help protect the furniture beneath from excess pet hair, as well as from all varieties of accidents that can happen in a home with kitties or pups. If needed, you can also look into the various moisture resistant couch covers and blankets that are out there, to indeed protect furniture from vomit, urine, and all that jazz. We also mentioned in yesterday's tip that you can use furniture covers or blankets to help protect couches and chairs from kitty claw, or even claws of pups. In addition, some cats or dogs might be a bit more on the greasy side, such as Sphynx cats or furbabies with certain ailments, and furniture covers can also help keep couches and chairs clean in this way as well. There are covers designed to fit and protect entire pieces of furniture, or you can simply place a spare blanket on your furbaby's favorite chair or on their favorite part of the couch. Either way, furniture coverings can help protect your couches and chairs from direct damage. Whereas it's not exactly easy to clean an entire chair or couch, if you use a cover, you can easily remove it and throw it in the wash.

Technological Tonks Tuesday

It's Tonks Tuesday, and today Tonks is getting technological. As in, she's expressing her love for sleeping on my laptop case.

This is a perfect day to share Tonks's love for my laptop cover, since my laptop is currently not in it due to it yet again being at the computer repair shop. Three times this year now I've had to take my laptop in for its hinges coming apart. I just got the laptop last year. It works amazingly well as an actual computer, but for some reason it has repeated physical issues. I treat this computer very well. I open it carefully and slowly and make sure not to torque it, it's never been dropped, it's always kept flat when in use or stored, I keep the kitties off of it, and all that jazz. I can't figure out why the hinges keep getting messed up, but when this happens, it doesn't open or close properly, and all the parts and pieces inside are at risk if I try to force it open or closed. My main frustration is that this laptop is the only thing on which I write my stories, including the main book I've been making really good progress in. I feel like I'm at such a standstill when I'm without my computer. I don't want to complain, though, and there are much bigger issues in the world than a broken laptop, so I'll stop there.

The above said, Tonks is very happy. After all, I only hand over my laptop and not its case when I take it to the repair shop. That means Tonks has the soft case all to herself all hours of the day when the laptop is on vacation.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is a very old one. But, it stars my calico angel Rosie and a laptop, which seems apt enough for today. So, here you go.

***

Tip of the Day

We're still in the midst of our series of tips all about decorating your home around your furbabies. Today's tip on that topic involves protecting your furniture from kitty claw. After all, cats have claws. That's simply part of who they are. That being said, that doesn't mean there aren't safe, humane ways of protecting your furniture from those claws.

To begin, of course place cat scratchers throughout your house in order to give your cat appropriate places to use their claws. Cats often like to scratch as a more or less territorial display, so make sure that at least some of their scratchers are somewhere visible and in the open. You can also place a scratcher near any furniture to which your furbaby's claws gravitate. This way, your kitty can have an appropriate scratching location where you can immediately redirect them should they begin to use the furniture instead.

We recently mentioned this next idea in another tip, but we'll say it again. To protect your furniture from cat claws while also giving your cat a proper place to scratch, you can wrap sisal rope around furniture legs, rails of staircases, and other similar locations. Again, this not only protects those home features from cat claws, but also simultaneously gives your cat another appropriate place to use their claws. Another potential form of protection against cat claws for your furniture is a heavy-duty couch or chair cover.

As we said above, cats indeed have claws. While those claws can sometimes find their way to furniture, there are proper ways to combat this. Simply research types of scratchers for your kitty to use, create your own scratchers using sisal rope, or find another way to protect the furniture while also treating your kitty and their claws in a humane way. When your kitty scratches furniture, calmly redirect them to a proper cat scratcher, so that they can learn where they should and should not sharpen those claws of theirs. Of course, also don't forget to regularly trim your kitty's nails.

Majestic Mancat Monday

Evan is feeling quite majestic today. After all, our vet's groomer spruced him up with another sanitary shave last Thursday.

Don't mind Evan thinking he's on his bed in that photo. He's notorious for putting his front end on a bed, while letting his paralyzed back legs to do their own thing outside of the bed. If he's still awake, like he was here, I'll square him up in the bed so that he can properly curl up in it. If he's already asleep when I find him like that, I just let him sleep.

As a bonus, here's Evan in his carrier after he was groomed and I picked him up to take him home.

I know that looks kind of sad, but Evan was actually purring in that photo. Due to his hind limb paralysis, urinary incontinence, and various intestinal issues, Evan gets groomed by our vet's groomer every two weeks or so. Because of that, he's very used to being in his carrier and in the car. He pouts on the way to the vet, but when I pick him up and he knows he's going home, he's very happy, purrs, and watches out the car windows.

Happy Monday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

Our cats and dogs often more or less have free roam of our homes. Sometimes, though, that might become a bit difficult for them, for a variety of potential reasons. If your cat or dog is allowed on furniture, make sure that they can easily and safely access it. This is something to especially take into consideration for cats or dogs with mobility issues. Geriatric, arthritic, injured, and any other specially abled furbabies may require some form of help getting onto couches, chairs, beds, tables, shelves, and so forth. Sometimes all you have to do is put low stools or boxes next to the furniture, as long as said stools or boxes are safe and sturdy. There are also pet stairs and pet ramps available on the market, which can be placed beside beds, couches, and other relevant furniture. So, if your furbaby is allowed on furniture, keep in mind what might affect their ability to get onto said furniture. Age, injuries, and other such factors can make it difficult for your cat or dog to reach elevated locations. Take all such factors into consideration, and help your furbaby adjust as best and as safely as possible.