Woof Woof Wednesday with the (Almost) Birthday Angel Astrid

This Friday, February 20th, is my sweet angel pup Astrid's birthday. It's her first heavenly birthday. She would be turning 13 years old.

We'll of course be having a little birthday shindig during Friday's post for this sweet angel. I've been planning out a birthday doodle for Astrid, but I'll admit I haven't gotten far at all with that and I'm not sure it'll be done before her birthday. I think I'm having trouble feeling like anything I draw might not be good enough for this sweet girl's first heavenly birthday. I know that's not true, though, and that Astrid wouldn't want me thinking like that. I will absolutely finish a birthday doodle for her soon and will share it when it's done.

That said, when recently scrolling through photos of my Astrid, I saw the one above. I loved getting photos of her adorably large nose. If you look closely, you can see that her nose is bunged up in that photo. Why? Because Astrid always made a game out of using her nose to toss her food bowl around, no matter what kind of bowl we tried or where we put it. She always seemed to have some level of frantic fun shoving her bowl around with her snout. My pup was admittedly bit of a neurotic girl, and her vet once said that if dogs could be diagnosed with autism, he'd easily hand that diagnosis to Astrid. I loved her quirkiness so much and always will, even if that meant she sometimes threw her bowl around and took chunks out of her nose.

Angel Astrid and all of us here wish you a wonderful Wednesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is a very old one, but it of course stars Astrid.

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Tip of the Day

We're still not done with tips for National Cat Health Care Month. Today, we're here to remind you to regularly groom your kitty. Brushing your cat has many benefits, such as removing hair that might otherwise lead to hairballs. Hairballs can not only potentially cause vomiting, but also, in some cases, intestinal blockages, which are certainly something no one wants. In addition, brushing can of course also help prevent painful mats, or remove those that are forming. A well-groomed kitty is a happy and healthy kitty, so keep that brush handy. Regular nail trims would also come into play in this topic of regularly grooming your kitty. Of course, if your kitty does not allow for you to brush him or her or trim his or her nails, then perhaps consider a professional groomer, or asking your veterinarian if they offer grooming services. This is especially important for kitties with issues such as mats or painfully long nails that need addressed.

While we're on this topic, remember that cats are both physically and behaviorally equipped to bathe themselves. Therefore, unless your kitty becomes unusually dirty or for some reason is in dire need of a full bath, putting your kitty in that bathtub for a scrub down is not generally necessary. In fact, bathing your kitty could even lead to dry skin or fur, which is of course not ideal for their comfort or health. So, unless a bath is absolutely called for, leave the regular grooming to brushing, nails trims, and other such tasks that will keep your stay kitty sleek, shiny, healthy, and happy.