Happy Birthday, Angel Homer, Kipper, Josie, and Iris!

I know Tuesdays are usually Tonks's day to post, but she's willing to step aside today for some birthday kitties. My parents' rescued a litter of 4 kittens almost 9 years ago. Sadly, one of the kitties passed away just under two weeks ago. His name was Homer, and we shared a post about him the day after he passed. We miss this sweet and handsome boy so much, but we'll never forget him. We hope you're having the best birthday ever up there, Homer!

Homer also loved showing off his belly. He was one of the rare kitties who loved tummy rubs without it being a trap.

We love you, Homer, always and forever!

Homer seemingly passed away from a sudden, undetected cardiac event, and since he left behind 3 full litter mates that could possibly be affected by anything genetic, a necropsy was done. The results indicated that he did indeed pass away from the cardiac condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This is one of the leading causes of death in cats Homer's age, and in many cases there are no symptoms until the kitty suddenly passes away.

My parents took all 3 of Homer's litter mates to our vet for cardiac bloodwork as well as cardiac ultrasounds. As a side note, Homer was the only calm and collected kitty of this litter. His sisters are especially a bit, well, wild. So, taking all of the others was quite an ordeal. That said, thankfully, none of them are showing any signs of suffering from HCM. They had full exams and fresh bloodwork of all types that day, and they're all doing incredible. While me miss Homer terribly, we are thankful that he's looking out for his siblings and that they're all in good health.

Are you ready to see the other 3 birthday babies? We'll start with handsome Homer's equally handsome brother, that being Kipper.

Kipper is a very talkative little guy. Except he's not little. Aside from some Maine Coons I've known, Kipper is easily the tallest cat I've ever met. He is a very sweet boy and will gladly follow you around serenading you. Unfortunately, though, he does not like being held. That's okay, though. He's allowed to set boundaries.

Next up is one of Homer's sisters, and this one is Josie.

Josie can be pretty darn sassy, but she's cute and so that's permitted. What's more, Josie is 100% my dad's cat. While she tolerates my mom and my sister and myself and will let us pet her and all that, she loves her dad so much. And when she needs to go into a carrier or anything like that, the only person she'll let handle her in that way is my dad. She just loves him so much, and she often displays that love by getting on his lap and screaming in his face. They both seem to enjoy that so very much.

And last is Homer's other sister, that being Iris.

Iris is easily the most wild and skittish of this litter, but she's also my little buddy. When I visit my parents and watch TV at their house, she'll often come sit with me. When she's relaxed, she'll let you rest an arm on her and all that adorableness. If she's not relaxed, good luck touching her. Unlike her brothers, Iris is a tiny gal, but she packs a lot of personality and sass into that little body of hers. And I love that about her.

Homer, Kipper, Josie, and Iris were the born to a feral cat that would help herself into my uncle's house. He named her Scamp, and she had this litter of kittens inside of his house. We often refer to these 4 kitties as none other than the Scamps. They were around humans from day 1, and they came to live with my parents when they were only a few weeks old, none of which you would know by how hard they can be to handle. Well, except for sweet angel Homer, as he was incredibly laidback and easy to hold and do whatever you needed to do with him. I'm not sure why the other 3 can be so skittish, but they sure make it look like a feral, wild nature can be genetic, as their mama cat was just that. Josie looks just like their mom Scamp, in case you were curious.

Happy 9th Birthday, Homer, Kipper, Josie, and Iris! We love all of you, always and forever!

I unfortunately failed to get a birthday doodle completed for these cuties, so I pulled one I created years ago for my mom. It stars Homer, Kipper, Josie, and Iris, as well as my parents' kitties Trapper and Talon. Sadly, sweet Talon passed away last April, also about 2 weeks before his birthday, just like sweet Homer.

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Tip of the Day

Today is the last day of National Pet Poison Prevention Month. Since Easter is just around the corner, we're going to give you a summary of what Easter items to keep away from your furbaby, so that they do not end up at the emergency clinic around this springtime holiday.

First, keep those Easter lilies away from your kitties and pups! There are a number of lily types that are toxic to furbabies, Easter lilies being one of the most dangerous. Any part of the Easter lily can be toxic, even the pollen. Lily toxicity can lead to any number of life-threatening side effects, one of them being acute kidney failure. As you surely already know or can guess, it is simply safest to keep any and all lilies out of the home, well out of reach of your kitty or pup.

Other Easter goodies to keep away from your furbaby include chocolate, which is also toxic, as you all certainly already know. Don't forget the danger that other candies can pose as well, such as the sugar-free sort containing toxic xylitol. If you are giving or receiving Easter baskets that contain candies such as these, keep them well hidden away, so that hungry or curious furbabies cannot help themselves to a toxic snack.

It is also worth it to note the danger of Easter grass. This stringy, grass-like material often used as a filler in Easter baskets can be dangerous if ingested by a kitty or pup. It can lead to emergencies such as intestinal blockage, perforation, or laceration. Try not to use any such materials in Easter baskets. If you receive a basket with this dangerous fake grass material, keep it well out of your furbaby's reach and dispose of it safely.

Mancat Monday: Drawing with My Cuddle Bug

I did my best to work on my April A to Z Challenge doodles this weekend. I did make some progress, but I was combatting a very adorable saboteur most of the time.

Evan loves being wherever I am, and that includes him giving me lots of cuddles when I sit down to do draw.

I'll see how much my adorable little guy lets me get done tonight as well. I'm sure there will be lots of cuddles involved, and I'm not complaining about that one bit.

Happy Monday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

We're of course here today with another National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip. It's time to give a reminder of the dirty details of keeping your kitty or pup safe. What we mean is, don't forget to keep your garbage can, recycling bin, dirty dishwasher, compost, and other similar areas safe against curious furbabies. Garbage cans or recycling bins, for example, might contain empty containers for potentially poisonous substances, such as detergents. The garbage can, dishwasher, or even compost might also contain the remnants of food that is toxic to a cat or dog. When it comes to the compost, or perhaps even the garbage can, moldy foods especially might be found within, and moldy food can contain mycotoxins, which are indeed toxic to our furbabies.

All in all, what we're trying to say is to never forget all of the details, no matter how dirty, for ensuring that your kitty or pup is free from any form of poisoning or other injury. Use garbage cans that are securely lidded or pet-proof in another way. You could even hide your garbage can in a cabinet, drawer, or room to which your furbaby cannot gain access. Also ensure that your dirty dishwasher remains securely closed, and that any compost you have is kept somewhere that your furbaby cannot reach. Even if a precaution seems like overkill, it's probably not. After all, when it comes to the health and safety of your furbaby, it is of course best to take no risks.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Blurry Eddy

Hello and happy Friday, 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 plans for this weekend include _________ and _________.

2. I meant it when I said _________.

3. I should probably _________ more often so that _________.

4. I will never jump on the _________ trend.

My answers are below in bold.

1. My plans for this weekend include working on my April A to Z Challenge drawings and writing.
(I have lots of my usual chores and other such weekend things I'll be doing, but I also really want to make significant progress on two creative endeavors I want to pursue in April. One is the annual A to Z Challenge, for which I need to make a lot more progress on the drawings I'll be creating for it. Second, I have some experimental plans for my main writing project in April, and to achieve that goal I need to get ahead and write a lot this weekend.)

2. I meant it when I said my cats come first.
(I had a long explanation typed out for this, but I decided to delete it all and let this answer speak for itself. The short of it is that while there are lots of "it's just a cat" sort of people out there, that's not my way of thinking or life. This also goes for any pups I'm blessed to share my life with.)

3. I should probably get out more often so that I'm less awkward around people.

(That said, will I go out and about and learn to be more "normal" in social settings? No. The likely answer is simply no. And as a major homebody who loves being with her kitties, I'm fine with that.)

4. I will never jump on the "scarcity" commercialism trend.
(I wasn't sure how to write this answer, so I'll give an explanation that I'll try to keep short. My answer here refers to all of those items that are "limited edition" or "seasonal" or fall under any form of the "scarcity" mentality that commercialism tries to rope us in with. The online algorithms have recently been showing me videos of hordes of people flocking to various stores to fight over limited edition items. I'm talking about some of the recent limited Starbucks cups, limited releases of Hello Kitty and other franchise items at home goods stores, and even basic but still limited edition Trader Joe's tote bags that people are apparently obsessed with. I didn't realize how crazy and at times violent this trend had become until I was shown all of these recent examples. I can't believe where commercialism has led us.)

Now it's your turn!

To add your link to the Friendly Fill-Ins Linky list, just click HERE!

You can also click on the badge below to add your link.

You are also welcome to complete the fill-ins in the comments below,

or in the comments on Ellen's blog, 15andmeowing.

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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.

I had a particular, gorgeous photo of Eddy picked out for today, and then I realized it's blooper day! Since Eddy prefers to give more bloopers than non-bloopers, though, it was easy to find something blurry to share. And it's from the same photo shoot as the original shot I was going to post today.

Eddy isn't the only bloopery kitty in this shot. The original photo I was going to share, which you'll see next week, included a little Thimble in the background. She's in the background of this one as well, but she's a tad bit decapitated.

Have a fantastic day!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Just as we did for the past couple of days, today we're sharing a flashback doodle inspired by my newest favorite series of fantasy books. Among other crazy things, this series of books involves a talking, decapitated head (of a certain sort that we won't go into detail on because we're a PG-rated blog) that is particularly sassy and a tad bit feral. That sounded a lot like my girl Eddy, and so I let her hang out with the decapitated head. It's weird, I know, but this chaotic series of books makes me so happy and inspired, and out of that comes drawings like this.

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Tip of the Day

Today's National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip is an add-on to our tip from yesterday, when we reminded you to keep doors closed and other obstacles in place to keep your furbaby safe from substances and areas with poison. Taking that one step further, if needed, child-proofing products can be your your best friend even for those furry children in your life. For example, do you have a curious kitty or puppy who has found ways to open cabinets and drawers? This can put a furbaby at risk, such as if those cabinets and drawers contain human medications, cleaners, or other toxic items, or even sharp or other dangerous objects. To prevent prying paws from opening cabinets and drawers, you can get child-proof, or pet-proof, locks that make cabinets and drawers difficult or impossible to open without dexterity, or opposable thumbs. There are also child-proof locks to keep main doors securely closed. This can come in handy if you have a kitty or pup who knows how to manipulate certain door handles.

We've mentioned this on here before, but also don't forget the usefulness of baby gates. They also make gates that are more specifically pet-proof, such as tall ones over which dogs and cats cannot easily jump. These can be used to block access to certain areas of the house to ensure your kitty or pup's safety. For example, you can use baby or pet gates to block access to the kitchen, especially if potentially toxic foods are being prepared. These gates can also be used to block off garbage cans, laundry areas, or other areas of the home where potential poisoning might occur.

Just as with a human child, our kitties and pups can get themselves into trouble. Consider all areas of the home where danger might arise, and then do your research on what you can do to best prevent emergencies from dangers such as accidental poisoning. Try to always be one step ahead of your kitty or pup, as difficult as that may be.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Sunshine and Lights

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

Today, Thimble is so very grateful for sunshine. This is nothing new, but it is indeed one of her favorite things.

Thimble also loves when the wonderful sunshine hits this here human's phone and creates lights on the walls and ceiling. That's what she's staring at in this photo. Thimble loves her lights.

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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. My plans for this weekend include _________ and _________.

2. I meant it when I said _________.

3. I should probably _________ more often so that _________.

4. I will never jump on the _________ trend.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Just like sweet angel pup Astrid's flashback doodle yesterday, today's is another based off of some of my favorite books. In these books there's a talking kitty who has a tiara and a butterfly collar charm, among lots of other magical goodies. Since Thimble is a little princess, I decided she would get to be just that in her doodle based off of these books.

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Tip of the Day

In these last few days of National Pet Poison Awareness Month, we're going to summarize some tips on how to help keep your furbaby safe from potential poisons. First, as obvious as it is, we're here today to remind you to use doors or other obstacles to properly block your kitty or pup's access to potentially dangerous products or areas of the house. For example, if your bathroom, laundry room, or utility closet contain dangerous chemicals, such as detergents, then keep their doors securely closed to bar your furbaby's entrance. Similarly, keep the door to your garage shut, in order to keep your furbaby away from gasoline, antifreeze, and other dangers that might be found in the garage. If you have a shed and your furbaby goes outdoors, keep the shed's door securely closed, especially if it houses fertilizers, pesticides, or other potentially toxic products. And don't forget to consider your garden, where toxic plants might grow, or where dangerous chemicals might be used. In such cases, monitor your furbaby while outdoors, and block your kitty or pup's access to the garden, such as with a secure fence. In short, consider all areas of the house and yard where poisoning or danger might arise, and ensure proper safety against said dangers.

Woof Woof Wednesday: Sunshine and a Tongue

Since my sweet angel pup Astrid loved her favorite window seat, I simply have to share memories of her enjoying it. She especially loved when the sun was shining through the window. In this particular photo, Astrid also decided to show off her adorable tongue.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I've been working on my drawings for this year's April A to Z Challenge. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I'm worried I might fall behind on the drawings and not have one to share every day in April. I'm still trying my best, though life is really lifing lately.

My doodles for this year's April A to Z Challenge will be bookish in nature. That said, a couple years ago I scribbled up some drawings starring my furry babies as characters from a new books series I've been enjoying. Astrid got to star as a two-headed puppy that showed up in one of the books, so here's that one for you all to see again.

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Tip of the Day

As part of National Pet Poison Awareness Month, we're now talking about the risk of poisonous bites your kitty or pup might receive from other critters. Depending on where you live, or where you might be visiting with your furbaby, you might find it necessary to be on the lookout for critters such as snakes and spiders whose bites can have toxic effects. When it comes to snakes, some of the dangerous ones include certain coral snakes and rattlesnakes. As for spiders, as most of you certainly know, black widows and brown recluses are among the most dangerous. Bites from such critters can result in any number of dangerous or life-threatening side effects, including cardiovascular shock, respiratory distress, neurological damage, and tissue damage, among others.

When outdoors, especially in areas where snakes, spiders, or other venomous critters are a known possibility, always monitor your furbaby and keep an eye out for danger. As needed, research the wildlife of areas you will be, so that you know what snakes, spiders, and other critters of which to be cautious. Of course, if your kitty or pup is bitten by a spider or snake, especially a known venomous one, do not hesitate to seek veterinary care. In many such cases, counteracting the venom in a timely manner is crucial.

Tonks Tuesday in the Sun

Just like any kitty, Tonks loves herself some sunshine. Though, I'm not sure why she wants to stare at the bright orb in the sky.

Tonks and her littermate Winky, who owns my sister and currently lives with us, have an odd habit of staring at lights. Whether it be a lightbulb or the sun itself, they stare at it. I can't imagine that's good for their eyes, so I always try to distract them from doing so.

Tonks hopes you all have lots of sunshine today! (But maybe don't, you know, stare right at it.)

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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 about the toxic gas known as carbon monoxide (CO). CO is not only dangerous to us humans, but also incredibly dangerous to our kitties, pups, and other animals. CO most often results from car exhaust, fire/smoke, and when generator systems fail. When a large amount of CO is inhaled, this can lead to cells in the body becoming deprived of oxygen. CO poisoning can thereby result in life-threatening effects on the cardiovascular system, neurological system, and other important systems of the body.

Needless to say, do all that you can to prevent both your furbaby's and your own exposure to CO. Set up CO monitors in your home, and ensure that they are always properly functioning. Of course also ensure that you have functioning fire and smoke alarms. There are all-in-one alarms on the market that detect fire, smoke, and CO. In addition to this, properly maintain any generators that you have, and do not use them if they are in any way malfunctioning. Also, of course, do not let your kitty or pup into a closed, unventilated garage where a car or other motor vehicle is running. CO can be a silent killer, so do all that you can to protect your furbaby, as well as yourself, from it and its deadly effects.

Mancat Monday with Handsome Evan

Hello, friends! We're sorry for yet another late post. Life is just, well, life lately. But, we do of course have a handsome Evan to share with you all on this Mancat Monday. 

Evan and all of us here hope your week is off to a wonderful start!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I meant to share this flashback doodle on Pi(e) Day, but since I forgot, you get to see it today.

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Tip of the Day

One of our previous National Pet Poison Awareness Month tips was on the dangers of medications indeed formulated for our furbabies. We meant to (yet failed to) expand on a particular topic in this regard. That topic is as that of topical preventatives. First and foremost, always ensure that you are giving preventatives specifically formulated for the species at hand. Just one reason for this is that some flea and tick preventatives formulated for dogs are toxic to cats. Many such canine preventatives contain pyrethrin/pyrethroid, to which cats are highly sensitive. Pyrethrin/pyrethroid poisoning can result in excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty walking, or seizures, just to name a few. So, never apply dog preventatives on your kitty.

Also, be careful if your cat lives in a household with a dog who receives preventatives. In such a case, try to look for canine preventatives that do not contain pyrethrin/pyrethroid, or keep the dog and cat separated for a safe amount of time after application. Ask your veterinarian for information on how to keep both your kitty and pup healthy and safe, yet also protected from pests. It's also worth noting that some other forms of flea, tick, or other pest preventatives, such as sprays, may contain pyrethrin/pyrethroid. Always check the label, and only use products that you are certain will not harm your kitties or pups. Again, ask your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns regarding a product's safety.

In addition, know your cat or dog's weight and select preventatives accordingly. Administering a medication intended for a cat or dog larger than yours could have negative effects for the furbaby. Also be aware of their age, as some kittens or puppies, for example, may not yet be of an age deemed safe for the application of some preventatives. What's more, also always take into consideration your furbaby's overall health status. If your cat or dog suffers from any ailments, always discuss with your veterinarian the safety of giving a preventative, or any medication. While we of course want to keep our furry family members safe from fleas, ticks, heartworms, and all sorts of infestations, it is important that we do so safely.

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.

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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.