Rest in Peace, Homer

Hello, friends. This is not the post I expected for today. I will share my Friendly Fill-Ins and link below, but I first want to give a moment for a very special kitty.

Last night, one of my parents' kitties passed away very unexpectedly. He was a healthy, robust, active, and all around amazing boy named Homer.

I just snapped that photo of Homer when I was at my parents' house this past Saturday. He was staring at my hands, as he was a firm believer that hands were always supposed to be petting him. He did indeed gets lot of pets and cuddles after that photo was snapped.

Homer would have turned 9 years old at the end of this month, and he's never had any health issues. Last night, though, he collapsed at home. He got back up after what my parents thought was perhaps a seizure, though he was not acting himself at all. They called me and I went with my mom to the emergency vet with Homer. When we got there, they rushed him to the back but then came out to tell us that he was was doing okay. His heart and lungs sounded good at the time, and they said he was purring and flirting with all of them, as he loved to do. They seemed hopeful that he'd just suffered a seizure and that they'd discharge him and we'd monitor him at home and go from there. Soon after, though, Homer's respiration started to decline, they ran some quick cardiac tests that came back abnormal, and ultimately his heart stopped. They tried CPR, rescue meds, and everything possible, but sweet Homer gained his angel wings. We were at the emergency vet until nearly midnight, and it was plain and simply an unexpectedly terrible night.

It's most likely Homer suffered some sort of cardiac event. Diseases such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are sadly somewhat common in cats, and they can suddenly kill a kitty who otherwise seemed healthy up to that point. A very similar thing happened to one of my childhood kitties, Sammy, who passed away at home very suddenly at the age of 5. Homer could have also had myocarditis or any other number of similar issues.

Because my parents are also blessed to share their life with three of Homer's full litter mates, a necropsy is being done on Homer. His three siblings are also going to be tested for HCM and other potential cardiac issues at our regular vet. My mom has already reached out to our regular vet, whom we have a lot of trust in, and the vet is already getting Homer's siblings scheduled for him to do a cardiac blood test and ultrasound. One of Homer's sisters has a history of coughing, so we don't want to delay the tests. Though Homer's sister has been seen for her cough and nothing was found to be abnormal at that time, no true cardiac testing has been done yet and so my parents are moving forward with all of that for sweet Homer's siblings. Homer was the far more cool and collected one of the litter, though. His siblings are all exceedingly more wild, so I'm sure the vet will have fun wrangling them for the cardiac bloodwork and ultrasounds.

I will be sharing a better memorial post for Homer soon. It might be part of this litter's birthday post, as that will be March 31st. It's unfortunately been quite a while since I've shared Homer on our blog here, but just know he was a sweet and handsome boy with a big personality. We will miss him forever, and we'll also love him forever.

I'm sorry all of the above is so long and rambling. I truly find it cathartic to just purge that all out on the keyboard, and you friends of ours are always the recipients of that.

***

We'll share the Friendly Fill-Ins now. 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. The longest I have been without electricity is _________.

2. I am so tired of waiting for _________.

3. I can't believe I still remember _________.

4. I wish I could go back and experience _________ for the first time again.


My answers are below in bold. I'm sorry if they don't make a whole lot of sense. I didn't get them finished before the awful events of last night, so I filled them in after and my mind was not fully in it.

1. The longest I have been without electricity is a little over 24 hours.
(I'm lucky in that I've never experienced a truly lengthy power outage like some folks have. The 24 hours I experienced happened to just 6 houses on our block a couple years ago. A relatively small tree limb fell on a line. We could see it and alerted the power company, but it took them over 24 hours to come out and repair it.)

2. I am so tired of waiting for good books and movies to come out.
(This is such a First World problem, I know. That said, it feels like books and movies just aren't as good as they used to be. Or, at least, they aren't always what I'm personally looking for. Lately, when there are books or movies I'm truly excited for, I tend to find out about them before they've even released. And then the wait is torture. There is at least one book I'm eagerly waiting to be released in a couple months, and there's a new movie I'm very excited to watch, but I'm waiting for it to come out on streaming. Again, talk about First World problems.)

3. I can't believe I still remember the lyrics to songs I haven't heard in decades.

(My mom and I were recently listening to a certain playlist of songs from a couple decades ago. I hadn't heard the songs in roughly those couple of decades, and yet I was actually able to sing along to most of them. They were songs I liked back then, though, so apparently they stuck with me all this time.)

4. I wish I could go back and experience reading my favorite books for the first time again.
(I've always thought it would be interesting to have selective amnesia, so that you can choose to forget a particular book or even movie or TV show. This way, you can enjoy it for the first time all over again.)

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.

***

I'll get back to posting doodles and tips next week. Right now, nothing I have seems appropriate for today.

Thankful Thursday: Thimble's Favorite Blanket

It's Thursday, which means Thimble is here and more than ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Recently, Thimble showed off her second favorite fleece blanket. She wasn't using her favorite blanket at the time because her brother, Evan, had peed on it. So, today, Thimble is happy to show off her absolute favorite—and now squeaky clean—blanket.

Isn't that blanket almost as cute as Thimble herself? And I know Thimble looks kind of disgruntled in that photo, but I promise she's not. This cute little tabby actually loves the camera, and that there is the look she gives just before she jumps up to run at the camera and rub her cheeks around it.

Those treats in front of Thimble were my attempt to get her to stay where she was rather than obsess over the camera's presence, but it didn't work. Right after that last photo was snapped, Thimble indeed ran at the camera and purred and rubbed all over it. After that, all the photos looked a little something like this:

Even absurdly close to the camera and blurry, Thimble is downright adorable. Don't you agree?

***

And now 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. The longest I have been without electricity is _________.

2. I am so tired of waiting for _________.

3. I can't believe I still remember _________.

4. I wish I could go back and experience _________ for the first time again.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

After yesterday's National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip on paint products, we wanted to also give a PSA on the dangers of certain glues. If we're to be honest, the primary danger of glue isn't necessarily poisonous effects. Nevertheless, we still want to warn of the life-threatening hazards of glue. Some glues, such as glues for wood or construction, as well as heavy-duty glues like Gorilla Glue, can lead to severe side effects. Ingestion of these glues can cause symptoms such as gastrointestinal distress, vomiting, and decreased appetite. What's more, though, is that these types of glues can contain diisocyanates, which can mix with stomach acid and then expand. This can then lead to bowel obstruction. Bowel obstruction is nothing to take lightly, and often requires surgery. Needless to say, if your kitty or pup gets into glue, especially heavy-duty glue that contains diisocyanates, seek veterinary care immediately. Of course, to prevent such emergencies, take no risks and be sure to hide away any and all glues someplace where your furbaby cannot reach.

Woof Woof Wednesday: Angel Astrid's Ice Cream Adventures

The first day of spring is this Friday. Each year, Dairy Queen offers free ice cream cones to celebrate the change of seasons. I'm lactose intolerant and so never partake, but for the past couple years I would go grab a cone for my now angel pup Astrid.

Ice cream was quite possibly Astrid's favorite thing in the whole wide world. I'm sad that I won't be able to share a cone with her this year, but I'm so grateful for all of the ice cream memories I have with my sugar-addicted girl.

I hope you're enjoying lots and lots of ice cream up there, my sweet Astrid!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

We've given past tips on the dangers of paint products, but we're going to repeat this for National Pet Poison Awareness Month. Unsurprisingly, paint, varnish, and other similar products can be toxic to our furbabies. Lead paints can of course cause lead poisoning, which can cause a variety of severe symptoms, including those of the gastrointestinal and neurological systems. Lead can also be detrimental to red blood cells, brain function, and other important processes in the body. Oil-based paints can also be dangerous, potentially causing diarrhea as well as having serious effects on the lungs. They may also contain heavy metals and thereby cause symptoms similar to those of lead paint toxicity. Products such as varnish can also have similar negative side effects as paint.

Also keep in mind that paint and paint products can emit dangerous fumes. Especially without proper ventilation, inhalation of the fumes can cause irritation of the lungs or symptoms such as dizziness. To avoid emergencies related to the ingestion or inhalation of paint or other paint products, of course keep these items well out of reach of your furbabies. Try to keep your furbabies safely out of areas that are being painted. Should ingestion or inhalation of paint products occur, do not hesitate to seek veterinary assistance.

Tonks Tuesday: Camera Shy

Usually, just like her sister Thimble, Tonks is a bit of a ham for the camera. She generally likes have her photo taken, probably because she loves her some attention. But, there are still times when Tonks is not really in the mood to have her photo taken. Like in these photos here, when she refused to look at the camera no matter how much sweet talk I attempted.

Don't worry, though, because Tonks still got lots of cuddles and her beloved belly rubs after these photos were snapped.

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

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

We haven't reached the end of National Pet Poison Awareness Month yet, so we'll keep these tips coming. Today's tip on potentially poisonous household items relates to batteries. If a dog or even a cat bites a battery or ingests it, the acidic or alkaline components could leak out and enter their gastrointestinal system. This material is corrosive in nature, and can therefore cause serious side effects, including oral ulcers, vomiting, other various signs of gastrointestinal distress, and even fever. Due to the corrosive nature of battery components, vomiting should not be induced in the case of ingestion, as this will cause further damage. Immediate care can include rinsing out your pup or kitty's mouth with lukewarm water to remove as much of the battery material as possible. Of course, quickly follow that up with immediate veterinary care. To prevent such emergencies, keep all batteries tucked safely away where curious furbabies cannot get to them. As always, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Mancat Monday with Evan and His Extra Special Ear

Hello and happy Monday, friends! We've mentioned Evan's adorably deformed ear quite a bit over the last few weeks. You know, the one that had a hematoma a couple years ago that for whatever reason did not heal in a normal way. On this Mancat Monday, Evan wanted to give you a close-up of how handsome and tough he looks with his special ear.

Evan doesn't seem to notice or care about the deformity of his ear. And as long as I administer our vet's specially concocted antimicrobial cleaner into Evan's ear canal every day, he stays free of ear infections and other such issues.

Neither Evan's vet nor myself know why Evan's ear hematoma didn't heal like most do. But, as long as he's still happy and healthy even with an odd little ear, I'm happy.

Evan and all of us here wish you a wonderful day!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Still continuing on with our National Pet Poison Awareness Month, we are today reminding you to keep any questionable kitchen products well out of reach of your furbabies. Just as laundry detergents can be dangerous, so can those used in the kitchen. Dishwasher detergent or tablets, for example, can often have corrosive or other dangerous side effects. Other potentially toxic kitchen products include degreasers, oven cleaners, and drain cleaners. These products can also potentially have corrosive effects, among other adverse reactions. If your furbaby ingests any such products, they might display gastrointestinal distress, oral ulcers, lethargy, or other symptoms. As always, if you think your kitty or pup might have ingested a toxic kitchen product, seek veterinary assistance.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Attempt to Sit Still

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. My favorite kind of pie is _________.

2. I will celebrate St. Patrick's Day by _________.

3. I was correct when I predicted that _________.

4. I didn't see _________ coming.


My answers are below in bold.

1. My favorite kind of pie is chocolate pudding pie.

(I'll gladly eat pretty much any form of pie, including pumpkin, apple, and any kind of berry pie. But, in this very moment, chocolate pudding pie sounds the most delicious. I recently started making a chocolate pudding pie that has an Oreo crust as well as Oreos crumbled on top, and now I'm hungry for that. All that said, tomorrow is Pi(e) Day, and I'll be making apple pie for my family to enjoy for the occasion. I do this every year, and I always add the pi symbol (ℼ) to the crust. I think I have a photo from a previous year, so I'll share that here.)

2. I will celebrate St. Patrick's Day by eating a hefty serving of Dublin Coddle.
(My mom always makes foods popular in Ireland for St. Patrick's Day. Most of what she makes involves corned beef and cabbage, as that's apparently often eaten in Ireland. I'm not a big fan of cabbage, and so I instead eat the dish my mom makes that's called Dublin Coddle. It's a stew that contains sausage, bacon, potatoes, and other deliciousness all cooked in at least part hard cider, or something akin to that. I'm already looking forward to this year's batch.)

3. I was correct when I predicted that Evan's intestines would go haywire after finishing his most recent round of antibiotics.

(Granted, this is an easy prediction to make. Evan's intestines are always a mess. He has megacolon, which means he often combats constipation. That said, his meds to combat the megacolon and constipation in turn sometimes result in loose stool, or even blowout diarrhea. He also gets antibiotics every couple weeks to prevent his chronic UTIs. Antibiotics are known to cause intestinal havoc, and they more often than not do just that for my boy Evan. Because of that, I reduced his usual megacolon stool softener in an attempt to prevent too much of a mess while he was on the antibiotics recently. That didn't help. The antibiotics are still hitting his intestines extra hard this time.)

4. I didn't see Thimble's early kidney disease diagnosis coming.
(At Thimble's senior exam this past October, her bloodwork came back with at least one value that our vet considers indicative of early stage kidney disease. I wasn't expecting that, simply because Thimble has lost no weight and acts completely like herself. I'm grateful that she's still doing so well, and I've started her on the renal nutraceutical AminAvast, which worked wonders for my angel Rosie when she was diagnosed with kidney disease. I'm thankful we caught it early for my Thimble. At nearly 12 years old, she's still her happy self. Luckily she is only in the very early stages of the disease, and I hope to keep her kidneys happy for as long as possible.)

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.

***

Are you ready for your Eddy fix? We know you are. The lighting might not be great in this photo, but I'll take any shot I can of Eddy willingly sitting still. She was really trying to stay in place for me here, and those opportunities are few and far between, and fleeting. So, here's what I managed in that moment.

Though the lighting doesn't do them justice at all, I'll take any chance I can to show off Eddy's gorgeous aquamarine eyes.

Oh, and you better believe we also have a blurry shot of this blooper queen.

And there's that adorable snaggletooth! I love it so much.

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

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Our next set of tips for National Pet Poison Awareness Month will cover some of the random household items that could potentially be toxic to your kitty or pup. To begin, don't forget that some laundry products could lead to ill effects for your furbaby. For example, fabric softeners and dryer sheets often contain detergents that can be corrosive in nature. If your cat or dog gets into such products, the adverse reactions could include gastrointestinal distress, oral ulcers, and lethargy. For such reasons, do be sure to keep all laundry products well out of reach of your furbaby. If your kitty or pup does get into any such products, do not hesitate to seek veterinary assistance.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Another Blanket Fort Sequel

Hello to all! It's Thursday, and you better believe Thimble is here and more than ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Thimble hasn't been crawling under blankets as much as she was a couple weeks ago. After all, it's starting to warm up outside. However, we've been having a couple of cooler days, and so she decided to partake in making a blanket fort again. I'm so glad to get to see her do that, and she's thankful for the coziness as well.

We had to share this again, in case the warmer temps make it so that Thimble doesn't sneak under a blanket again for a few months. Oh, and Thimble also often enjoys treats under blanket fort.

She did indeed eat those treats once she stopped rolling around like an adorable little cutie. She will only eat treats under a blanket if I'm not actively giving her attention under there, because attention always trumps food for this sweet tabby girl.

Thimble hopes you all get some blanket fort naps in before the weather warms up!

***

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. My favorite kind of pie is _________.

2. I will celebrate St. Patrick's Day by _________.

3. I was correct when I predicted that _________.

4. I didn't see _________ coming.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday, as part of National Pet Poison Awareness Month, we discussed the danger of human medications if ingested by our kitties or pups. It's not just human medications that are potentially dangerous, though. Even veterinary medications designed for pets could lead to toxicity in certain circumstances. This of course can occur if a particular furbaby gets into a furry housemate's medication that he or she do not need. In addition, even a medication prescribed to a particular cat or dog can cause them issues, such as if taken in larger quantities than instructed. This could perhaps occur due to human error in administering, but also if the animal finds their medication stash and helps themselves. Some veterinary medications are formulated to smell and taste enticing to our furbabies, making them all the more desired by said furbabies. If your furbaby likes the taste of one of their medications, or one of their housemate's medication, then they may try to sneak quantities out of the safe range, which could indeed lead to detrimental effects. So, of course, hide those medications away.

Don't only take into consideration oral medications, though. Even transdermal medications can result in toxicity, such as if your furbaby finds and in some way exposes themselves to large quantities of it. The short story is, just as you must keep your own medication hidden away from your kitties and pup, you should also keep all veterinary medication hidden away so as to prevent any and all such emergencies.

Woof Woof Wednesday with Angel Astrid...and Thimble

Last week, I showed photos of my sweet angel Astrid with her kitty brother Evan. They grew up together, as they were just about 2 months apart in age. Evan isn't the only kitty who was fond of Astrid, though. My family brought home my girl Thimble and her 3 brothers, the boys all being adopted by my parents and sister, when Astrid was about a year old. The kittens were just 3 weeks old at the time, and all of them were enamored with Astrid the second they set eyes on her. It's like they imprinted on her, and they all loved her from the moment they met her.

The above said, how about some flashbacks of my little Thimble happily hanging out with my sweet angel pup Astrid?

Thimble loved Astrid so much, as we all did.

I remember those two constantly battling each other over that window seat. Though, "battle" isn't really the right word. Thimble very often won, as Astrid was such a sweet pup who never put up much of a fight against her kitties.

Happy Wednesday to all!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

I'm sure I don't need to tell you all, but as part of our tips for National Pet Poison Awareness Month, we're here to remind you that many human medications are indeed toxic to our furbabies. One of the most common pet poison emergency culprits is ibuprofen. It can be very dangerous and even fatal if ingested by your kitty or pup, and its side effects can include gastrointestinal distress or even kidney failure. Ibuprofen is of course not the only human medication that can have dire consequences for our cats and dogs, though. Decongestants such as excess pseudoephedrine can also be toxic, as well as medications for treating blood pressure and ADD/ADHD, just to name a couple. Needless to say, keep any and all human medications hidden away in a secure cabinet, drawer, or other such confines.

It is also worth noting that certain topical creams and ointments that we humans use can also be dangerous for cats and dogs. These such medications can be sneaky as well, since you might apply a potentially toxic cream to your skin, then you might forget about it, and then your furbaby might lick your skin or even clothing that touched the topical medication. This, in turn, can possibly result in toxicity. As a couple of examples, creams for pain management or hormone treatment can easily contain ingredients that could lead to life-threatening side effects for your kitty or pup. So, not only should you safely store medications, but you must also be diligent about how you might be exposing your furbaby to toxic ingredients.

A Purple Tonks Tuesday

My favorite color is purple, which means I have my fair share of blankets and other decor of that color. Tonks has decided that purple is now her color, and she has become quite a fan of this particular purple fleece blanket.

No matter what colors she's surrounded by, I happen to find Tonks eternally adorable. Tonks agrees, but right now she's all about that purple.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip is one we've touched on time and time again, but it is a pretty important one. As you all certainly know, never forget that some human founds can indeed be toxic to our kitties and pups. Chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, grapes, and raisins are just some of the foods that could lead to extremely dangerous or even fatal consequences if ingested. Also don't forget about the sweetener known as xylitol. This can often be found in sugar-free gums and candies, but also in various other foods, drinks, and even medicines, supplements, and toothpaste. This sneaky ingredient is indeed toxic, especially to dogs.

Though symptoms of toxicity can vary based on what human food your furbaby ate, and how much, signs can include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, difficulty walking, or any other number of concerning manifestations. If you know or think your furbaby might have eaten a toxic food, do not hesitate to seek veterinary assistance. Just as with any poison, removing the toxins from the body and treating the patient in a timely manner can be a matter of life or death. To prevent such emergencies, avoid feeding your furbaby any and all foods that you are not absolutely certain are safe.

Mancat Monday in the Carrier

Last week, Evan went to our vet's groomer for one of his regular sanitary shaves. He always just lies down in his carrier and pouts on the way there. But, when I go to pick him up and take him home, he always perks up and gets incredibly happy. On the way home he sits up, looks around, purrs, and all that jazz. Though it looks like he's giving me the side eye in this here photo, it's after I'd picked him up and so he was actually purring and rubbing his cheeks against his cage.

How about a cute blooper with Evan's nose all scrunched up mid-rub?

This last one is sort of blurry but also sort of not, but either way Evan looks so handsome in it, so here you go.

Happy Monday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Next up in our National Pet Poison Awareness Month series of tips is a quick discussion on rodenticides. We rather recently mentioned these, but we'll mention them again for this month of poison prevention. These chemicals, meant to kill mice, rats, and other rodents, are dangerous all around. Depending on the type of poison, rodenticides can cause any number of potentially fatal side effects, such as internal bleeding or acute kidney failure. Ingesting the rodenticide itself is of course one way in which your furbaby can be poisoned. In addition to this, though, if a rodent ingests the rodenticide or walks through it, and then your furbaby gets a hold of that rodent, the poison can also pass into your furbaby's system this way.

To be safe, simply try to avoid the use of rodenticides completely. If rodenticides are being stored or used in your home, garage, garden, or other areas, absolutely ensure that your cat or dog cannot reach them. Also monitor your furbabies if you think rodents are in your house and a rodenticide is being used, to ensure your cat or dog does not catch or eat a rodent that has been poisoned. Severe side effects can result from rodenticides, for both the rodents, your furbabies, and even wildlife. So, please do all that you can to avoid their use.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Still Annoyed Eddy

Hello and hi! We're ready and excited 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 don't _________, but I appreciate those that do.

2. Lately, I can't get enough _________.

3. _________ scared me away from _________.

4. _________ forced me to learn how to _________.


My answers are below in bold, and are again accompanied by far too much rambling. Believe it or not, I'm not very talkative when you meet me in person. But, if you give me a keyboard, my fingers always have lots to say. Especially when it's a topic that interests me. I apologize that you wonderful folks always get the brunt of that, as seen below.

1. I don't possess the bravery required to save lives, but I appreciate those that do.
(I recently saw a video of firefighters saving people and animals in all sorts of fires and other terrifying situations. It really made me think about how those men and women willingly choose a job that puts their lives at risk on a daily basis. The same goes for combat soldiers and other such brave souls who put their lives on the line for others. I am so grateful people like that exist, and I appreciate what they do for others. I also appreciate doctors who put in a great deal of work and long hours, and I'm sure ample amounts of stress, to perform life-saving treatments for their patients.)

2. Lately, I can't get enough humorous fantasy reads.
(My all-time favorite genre is fantasy, and right now that's all I'm in the mood to read. I also often go through spells where I'm in the mood for horror or thriller reads, and I was in that reading habit a couple months ago. Not now, though. The only problem is that because of an enjoyably comedic fantasy series I've been reading, I'm now mostly in the mood for books with those same vibes. So now I'm constantly on the lookout for niche books in the humorous fantasy genre, which is strangely difficult to find.)

3. Evan's urethral blockage scared me away from feeding my kitties Temptations treats.

(I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this before, but it's the first thing that popped into my head when I came up with this fill-in. Evan had a urethral blockage in December 2022. A couple months before that, I started giving him and the other kitties Temptations treats instead of their usual Friskies Party Mix treats. Fast forward and Evan ended up hospitalized the day after Christmas with a blocked urethra. While he was still hooked up to an IV and catheter at the vet, I unintentionally stumbled upon an article about how Temptations treats might be linked to urinary blockages in cats. For the record, I don't know that there's any scientific proof of this. But, I've since seen multiple cat owners mention this potential link as well, given their own experience. I haven't fed my kitties Temptations since. We're back to Friskies Party Mix, but my kitties aren't complaining.)

4. My job as a vet assistant forced me to learn how to handle fractious cats.
(I mentioned this previous job of mine last week, and how I ended up resigning from it a decade ago due to the toxic work environment. That said, the kitties I met at the clinic taught me a lot for which I'll always be grateful. On pretty much day one of that job, I was thrown into situations that required me to learn how to physically as well as mentally handle fractious, aggressive, and sometimes outright feral cats. I learned all sorts of techniques for dealing with such kitties, which has actually come in handy when helping various ferals in my neighborhood, or even when handling typically friendly kitties in my family who turn into little tigers when things like nail trims or vet visits are needed.)

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.

***

Are you ready for your Eddy fix? We know you are. I've shared quite a few photos and tidbits lately revolving around the fact that Eddy really isn't a big fan of having her photo taken. So, how about another shot in that vein? See this adorably annoyed look on her face?

Though not a fan of the camera, Eddy still often humors me and lets me snap photos here and there. I've mentioned how I refuse to have no photos of my sweet girl, and so I'm glad she lets me sneak some in. And by sneak I mean she's fully aware I'm there and so offers me the cute grumpy face you see there.

Don't worry, though, because Eddy always gets some of her beloved treats as soon as I'm done taking her photo. And if she's in the mood, I also bestow upon her lots of kisses and cuddles.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday, we discussed being aware of your furbaby's safety around potentially hazardous plants. Today, as yet another tip for National Pet Poison Awareness Month, we're giving a reminder to also be careful of other dangers that might come with those plants. When outside with your pup or kitty, always be cognizant of the fact that some areas may have been treated with fertilizers, weed killers, and pesticides. Depending on their ingredients, such garden substances can potentially affect the intestinal tract, respiratory system, the mucosal membranes of the eyes and nose, or the skin. So, try to avoid using such garden treatments in your yard and around your home, or ensure that any treated areas are kept off limits to your pups and kitties. Also be careful when you are away from home and in areas with which you are not familiar, including strangers' yards and public parks, as you do not know what types of plant or lawn treatments may have been used in such places.

In addition, if you do use any form of fertilizer, weed killer, or pesticide, always be cautious where you store it. Make sure that it is in an areas that your furbaby cannot reach. And yet another consideration to make is the possibility of your furbaby or yourself unknowingly walking through a treated area while outside. Therefore, after a stroll outside, you might consider wiping off your furbaby's paws, as well as your shoes, to help ensure that nothing unknown is left lingering and entering the home. We can't say it enough times—it's better to be safe than sorry.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Sunshine, Stripes, and Big Ears

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

Today, Thimble is grateful for so many things, like sunshine, how cute she is, her adorably large ears, and the stunning stripes on her cheeks.

She thought you might want a closer view of her cuteness, so here you go.

Thimble wishes you all lots of sunshine!

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And now 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. I don't _________, but I appreciate those that do.

2. Lately, I can't get enough _________.

3. _________ scared me away from _________.

4. _________ forced me to learn how to _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Spring is just around the corner (hopefully), and that means blooms and blossoms will start to make appearances. As beautiful as it is, though, don't forget that this season can also come with dangers. That's why today's tip for National Pet Poison Awareness Month is to keep in mind that some of the plants blooming this time of year can indeed be poisonous to your pups and kitties. These include, but are not limited to, daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, crocus, azaleas, and lilies. Of course, there are plants that bloom during other parts of the year that are also toxic, so be aware of this year-round.

Try to keep your furbaby from chomping on any questionable plants, keeping an especially close eye when out on walks or in unfamiliar areas. In your own yard, block off your furbaby's access to areas that contain plants, in order to avoid the ingestion of any potentially toxic ones. If you think your furbaby might have snacked on a dangerous plant or begins displaying signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, or lethargy, seek veterinary assistance immediately. The beauties of spring can indeed bring their fair share of dangers, so always be aware of your furbaby's safety around the plants that are blooming.

Woof Woof Wednesday with Angel Astrid...and Evan

I was going through old photos of my sweet angel pup Astrid, and I was reminded of the time I got photographic evidence of how Evan would always gladly crawl right by and sometimes over Astrid.

Astrid and Evan grew up together, as I brought them both home as a puppy and kitten in the summer of 2013. They always had such a typical sibling relationship, including some cute moments of affection but even more moments of trolling each other. I loved seeing them interact, and I'm glad for all of those memories. Evan is definitely the kitty who grieved the loss of Astrid the most, but he's been doing a lot better lately.

Wishing you all a blessed Wednesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

And so continue our tips for National Pet Poison Awareness Month. We've mentioned before the benefits of having a first aid kit for your furbaby. What's more, a first aid kit would do well to take the potential for poisoning into consideration. For example, it could be beneficial to have 3% hydrogen peroxide as part of a pet first aid kit, as this can be used to induce vomiting, most commonly in dogs. For poisons that involve skin contact, dish soap could potentially be used to help remove the offending agent, and so even that could be included in a pet first aid kit.

All of the above being said, though, it is most wise to never try to treat a poisoned cat or dog without first contacting a veterinarian. This is because, depending on the type of toxic substance involved in a poison event, and even sometimes depending on the particular animal's overall health status, certain treatments could do more harm than good. For example, if your furbaby ingested a corrosive agent, inducing vomiting could cause even more damage. For reasons such as these, always contact a veterinarian immediately when poisoning is known or suspected. A veterinarian can inform you if or what first aid you can perform, and you can then use items from your pet first aid kit to offer immediate care as recommended. Of course, getting your furbaby to a veterinarian in an emergency is still crucial. But, first aid treatment can certainly help stall or treat the effects of a toxicity.