Friendly Fill-Ins and Curmudgeonly Eddy in Her Chair

Hello and happy Friday, friends! We're here and 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. Never have I ever _________.

2. My September to-do list includes _________ and ________.

3. I wouldn't mind hosting a _________ party.

4. I'm always curious about other people's ________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. Never have I ever been to Disney World or Disney Land.
(I'm more than fine with this fact, and it'll stay this way. I did grow up in the 90s and watched almost every single original, animated Disney movie. What Disney has become today, though, is not my thing.)

2. My September to-do list includes decorating for Halloween and finishing lots of new Halloween drawings.
(I'll be starting to decorate my house for Halloween this weekend. My sister is in the process of moving out of my house, but don't worry because she's just moving to an available house across the street and so she and her kitties will still be close. All that to say, my home is a bit chaotic right now and so I won't be able to finish decorating the whole house until that's all settled. But, I can at least decorate parts of the house for Halloween, and that'll make it really feel like spooky season. What also will make it feel like spooky season is scribbling up new Halloween doodles. I have 5 said drawings already outlined and ready to color in with my markers, and just today I got an idea for another series of Halloween doodles. I still have a dozen or more new doodles from the past few months I haven't yet scanned or shared, but at this point they might have to wait until after the holidays to see the light of day because I'm far too excited to start sharing new Halloween, autumnal, and then Christmas doodles.)

3. I wouldn't mind hosting a small Halloween party.
(I'm not big on parties or other gatherings, or too much hullabaloo or socializing in general. But, as for a low-key, quiet Halloween party that mostly involves eating lots of sugar and watching spooky, kooky movies, I'd be more than fine with that. In truth, I already sort of do that every Halloween night with my parents and sister. I always get my parents and sister some of their favorite candies, and I make spooky cupcakes and sometimes other freakishly festive baked goods, and then we watch Halloween and other movies at my house. I look forward to it every year.)

4. I'm always curious about other people's book and music preferences.
(I had a couple of ideas on what to put for this one. For example, I like knowing if someone shares their life with any animals. I often get annoyed if I find out someone doesn't like animals, though, so I decided to veer away from that and use the above answer instead. And truly, as an avid reader and picky song listener myself, I do often wonder what others like to read and listen to. That information might not tell you everything about a person, but I think it can reveal at least a bit about them.)

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.

***

Who's ready for a Friday Eddy fix? We know you all are. So, today, Eddy wanted to show off how she loves lounging in her favorite chair.

I had only placed that blanket there momentarily before taking it to its rightful place, but Eddy claimed it as hers and so now it just stays in her chair in a messy heap like that. At least until she pukes on it, which is her favorite way of telling me she wants a new blanket on her chair.

Oh, and in this next picture, can you tell that Eddy was getting exceedingly annoyed with me taking her photo?

Eddy truly does not like having her photo taken, but I refuse to have no memories of my sweet and sassy girl. So, she usually gives me a few seconds to snap a couple shots, and my goal is always to finish taking her pic before she gets up to escape the camera. I succeeded at that with this photo shoot, and Eddy resumed her nap when I was done annoying her. And don't worry, she got some treats and kisses for her cooperation.

Eddy hopes all of her kitty friends out there have way less annoying humans than she has!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

The leaves here have of course not even started to change colors whatsoever. Even so, since I'm eager for autumn and Halloween, and since I'm decorating my house for Halloween this weekend, this flashback doodle felt accurate enough for today.

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Tip of the Day

As part of our autumn series of pet safety tips, we recently mentioned keeping school supplies out of your furbaby's reach. In addition to this, there are further potential dangers that might pose a risk especially as the weather cools. One such hazard is, as you all certainly know, antifreeze. Without going into the chemistry of it, coolants such as antifreeze contain components that are highly toxic to cats and dogs. It also can smell or taste sweet and enticing to our furbabies, mostly dogs, making it all the more dangerous. For such reasons, try to avoid all emergencies by simply keeping antifreeze, and other similar products, hidden away where your cats and dogs cannot reach.

We'll also mention one more toxic group of products that is often more commonly used once the weather cools. We're referring to rodenticides. When the temperatures outside start to lower, critters like mice might very well try to find ways to enter our homes in order to find warmth. This might result in some people using rodenticides. However, these products can be highly toxic to our furbabies. Not only is it dangerous if a cat or dog finds and ingests the chemical itself, but they can also become sick if they ingest a rodent that has eaten the rodenticide. All of that being said, it is likely best to avoid using rodenticides altogether, to ensure that your furbaby is not affected by them at all. Of course, keep in mind that snapping mice traps can also pose a risk, especially if they contain  enticing cheese or peanut butter and are somewhere that your furbaby can potentially access. One safer option is to look into using humane mouse traps, such as catch-and-release types. Of course, it is still wise to place these somewhere hidden away to avoid complications with your furbaby.

As lovely as autumn is, it can still pose risks to our kitties and pups. As the seasons change, think of any and all new products that you might be using. Then, consider how such products might affect your furbaby and their health, and then only use and store them in manners that keep your furbaby safe.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Outtakes in the Window

Hello and happy Friday, friends! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge and would 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. Everybody loves _________.

2. If someone new entered my home, they would immediately know _________.

3. I think _________ should instead be named _________.

4. _________ was so bad I couldn't finish it.


My answers are below in bold, and are of course accompanied by my needless rambling.

1. Everybody loves Raymond.
(Weird answer, huh? Has anyone else ever watched the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond? Every time I tried to think of another answer for this fill-in, my brain would just keep going back to this show. My parents used to watch it when I was a kid, and I ultimately started watching it with them. To this day I sometimes watch reruns on streaming. I don't watch a whole lot of sitcoms, but I'll always enjoy watching Everybody Loves Raymond. Though, the titular character of Raymond is often quite annoying, but that's part of the humor and I find the show overall enjoyable.)

2. If someone new entered my home, they would immediately know that cats rule the place.
(Even if the kitties haven't dropped a fresh bomb in the litter boxes, my house is filled with cat trees and cat beds and blankets. I admittedly buy my kitties way too many toys, and they are quite literally all over the floor in every room of the house. In many areas of the house I decorate around the kitties, rather than placing the kitties' stuff around my furniture and such. Cat trees get window priority, for example, and the kitties' beds and blankets get first dibs for floor and furniture space. I'm pretty sure a lot of you know exactly what I'm talking about and live the same way.)

3. I think dollar stores should instead be named A Dollar + More Store.
(I know price increases are inevitable because of inflation and other economic factors. That said, it is still frustrating to go places where basic, cheap stuff you might need used to quite literally be $1, but now it's more than that. And yet the store is still called Dollar Tree or Dollar General. Even Target used to have the Dollar Spot section, where now a lot of things range from $3 to $5, if I'm remembering correctly. Even cheaply made stuff that'll break in no time still has higher price tags slapped on it. This is of course inevitable in the end, but it's still a bit frustrating when it comes to certain items.)

4. The Starship Troopers movie was so bad I couldn't finish it.
(This is a rather specific, niche answer, but it came up with my dad as well as a co-worker the other day. I love Robert A. Heinlein's book Starship Troopers. It came out in 1959, 30 years before I was born, but my dad recommended it to me when I was a young adult. Thanks to him, I've read and loved so many older sci-fi and fantasy books, Starship Troopers included. There is a movie based on the book, but my dad told me not to get my hopes up for it. I tried it anyway, and my dad was right. I could not finish it. After loving the book so much, the movie proved to be an awful adaptation right out of the gate and so I just turned it off.)

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.

***

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.

Blooper queen Eddy of course has some outtakes to share. These come from a photo shoot on a sunny day in the window, when Eddy started out looking at me, but the second I went to snap photos she of course did anything but look at me.

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

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

At some point in September, probably obnoxiously early in the month, I'm going to start sharing some autumnal doodles. I have plenty of old fall flashbacks, and I also hope to complete some new ones, though right now I'm knee-deep in new Halloween doodles for October. All that to say, right now it's still August, so here's another flashback doodle in the kooky spring/summer series I scribbled up a few years ago.

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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.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Window Woes

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. _________ sparks my creativity.

2. _________ zaps my energy.

3. My dream _________ would have _________.

4. _________ is the silliest way I've injured myself.


My answers are below in bold.

1. Cats and books spark my creativity.
(As is the case for many people, a lot of things spark my creativity. Cats, dogs, and all animals. Books, movies, TV. Nature. My favorite holidays, namely Halloween and Christmas. But, when it comes to my creative outlets of drawing and writing, cats and books are two of my biggest inspirations.)

2. Socializing zaps my energy.
(Need I say more?)

3. My dream home would have a huge library.
(I'm not really interested in having a big house, as I like feeling more cozy. But, in my normal-sized home, I would love for the biggest room to be a library for my hefty collection of books. For a variety of reasons, I'll very soon be reorganizing and relocating certain things in my home, and as a result I'm going to be turning one of the bigger rooms of the house into my library. I'm really looking forward to that. Oh, and don't worry, there will still be plenty of toys and beds in there for the kitties.)

4. Reaching for a roll of toilet paper is the silliest way I've injured myself.

(I won't go into detail on a story related to the bathroom, but I once dropped and therefore had to reach for a roll of toilet paper. I ended pulling a neck muscle, and that injury has since flared up many, many times over the years. Early last year I aggravated the old injury badly enough that it ended up spreading into shoulder pain for which my doctor had to prescribe me extra-strength anti-inflammatory pain meds. And now that shoulder pain also flares up every few months. All because I dropped a roll of toilet paper something like 20 years ago.)

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 an Eddy fix? We know you are. Today, Eddy wanted to share one of her attempts to watch out the window. The problem is that this window's blinds don't always work well, which means we can't always raise them very far. Which leads to annoying blinds in Eddy's face while she's trying to spy on wildlife and neighbors.

Just look at those rude blinds. They need to stay in their lane, the darn things.

Eddy hopes you all have an unobstructed, unbothered view out the window today!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback summertime spooky doodle is a bit more in-your-face than some of the previous ones we've shared recently. But vampires exist all year long, right?

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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.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Window View

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

Today, Thimble is grateful for window views.

Here, Thimble is gazing out our back door. When I first moved into my house over a decade ago, I was so glad that door had windows all the way down to the floor. Both my front and back screen doors also have windows all the way down to the floor. I was mainly thankful for this because it allows my hind limb paralyzed Evan to easily have views of the outdoors. Though my other kitties can all far more easily get onto their cat trees and the furniture that's situated by higher windows, they also enjoy sitting on the floor and watching out the door. And I love that.

Thimble wishes you all a good window view today!

***

And now we'll of course 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. _________ sparks my creativity.

2. _________ zaps my energy.

3. My dream _________ would have _________.

4. _________ is the silliest way I've injured myself.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

As always, I'm in a spooky mood. So, we're sharing yet another flashback doodle from a past spring/summer series of kooky drawings.

***

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.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Sunny Day

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. The older I get, the _________ I get.

2. I frequent _________.

3. Back in my day, we _________ at school.

4. I _________ during these last few weeks of summer.


My answers are below in bold.

1. The older I get, the more homebody-ish I get.
(I've always been a homebody, but the older I get the more of one I become. And that's pretty much all there is to that.)

2. I frequent the vet.
(This one is mostly courtesy of my sweet boy Evan. While he is my kitty who easily has the most actual vet appointments throughout the year, it's actually more so that his tushie gets bathed and shaved by our vet's groomer every two weeks. That's what we've found is necessary to keep him clean and healthy as his hind limb paralyzed, urinary incontinent self. So, we're at the vet quite a lot, but if that's what my boy needs, that's what my boy gets.)

3. Back in my day, we had things like presentations from yo-yo salesmen at school.
(This is such a specific answer, but my sister and I were just talking about this the other day. We grew up in the '90s, and I assume that's why our school assemblies involved things like yo-yo salesmen. This memory has always stuck with me, probably because pretty much every student's parents sent them money to buy a yo-yo and the school was just filled with the things flying all over the place. In addition to that, we did fundraisers that involved us students selling magazine subscriptions and chocolate bars,  and rewards for doing well in said fundraisers were anything from slap bracelets to limo rides. I don't know if kids these days still have these experiences, but we sure did.)

4. I am gearing up for Halloween during these last few weeks of summer.
(I love autumn and Halloween, and what's getting me through the last few weeks of summer is knowing that's on the horizon. For my own spooky happiness, I've been watching movies like Sleepy Hollow and have been starting on my Halloween doodles for this year. I'll also soon be pulling out all my Halloween decorations and spookifying my house. I know not everyone enjoys Halloween, but I do and that's what's getting me through the rest of summer.)

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.

***

Yesterday Thimble shared a photo of herself enjoying a sunny day, so Eddy wanted to do the same today.

We're not seeing sun through our windows like that much this week. It's been rainy and storming, and we've lost power twice this week. We were without power for 10 hours on Tuesday and 3 hours this morning. While the rain and storms are supposed to continue throughout the weekend, they're calling for some sunshine next week. The kitties are looking forward to that, and we're wishing you all lots of sunshine!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's doodle is kind of spooky, and it's also some concept art I scribbled up last year for the weird and wacky story I'm writing.

***

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.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Sunshine and Naps

Hello and happy Thursday! As always, Thimble is here and ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is grateful for sunny naps. She loves being able to sit in a sunny room and close her eyes for a snooze.

Thimble hopes you all get to enjoy both sunshine and snoozes today!

***

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. The older I get, the _________ I get.

2. I frequent _________.

3. Back in my day, we _________ at school.

4. I _________ during these last few weeks of summer.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is a kooky one. It's in the same vein as another one I shared this week, but even more weird. The short story is that a couple summers ago I was in a spooky mood and was doing a rewatch of the first season of the show Wednesday. The severed hand Thing in the Addams Family got me thinking, which resulted in me wanting to create a kitty version of it. So, I drew this severed kitty leg, and though you can't see it in this particular drawing, others I created at the same time prove that the black kitty is suspiciously 3-legged.

Don't mind the armless skeleton. He was inspired by someone I saw online who drives around with a plastic skeleton in their car, except his arms fell off. So, I decided to recreate that here as well.

Oh, and the kitty and its severed leg now make appearances in the current story I'm writing. Because I can.

***

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.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Glamorous Eddy

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. _________ was money well spent.

2. _________ was a big waste of money.

3. If I became famous, it would most likely be because _________.

4. _________ was the worst hairstyle I've ever had.


My answers are below in bold.

1. Getting gutter guards was money well spent.

(This is such a random answer, and one that proves I'm getting old. That said, my mom and I were talking about it recently, and so here we are. When I had my roof replaced after hail damage a few years ago, I almost didn't get the gutter guards that they roofers recommended. Home insurance covered a good chunk of my roof repair, but I ended up having to fork out a hefty sum for lumber. For that reason, I considered saving money by foregoing the gutter guards, which weren't all that cheap either. I ended up getting them, though, and I am so glad I did. My gutters stay completely clear of leaves and other debris, never clog up, I never have to climb up there to clean them out, and here I am singing the praises of none other than gutter guards.)

2. The warranty on my laptop was a big waste of money.
(Here's the thing—if I'd actually used the warranty, maybe it would have been worth it. However, my computer started having issues quite literally one week after my warranty expired. So, I'd paid for the warranty, but because my computer broke 7 days too late, I spent money on said unused warranty and then also the repairs. Warranties in some cases can be great. For instance, my aforementioned new roof needed a repair recently, and its warranty completely covered it. But, in the case of my laptop, I just wasted my money.)

3. If I became famous, it would most likely be because of Evan.
(I follow a lot of kitties online who have become their own version of famous because of how extra special they are. I sometimes wonder what would happen if I created actual social media pages for Evan, and if I had any skills in said social media. Would my extra special boy be "famous"? The reality is that it doesn't matter, because no matter what the world thinks, my boy will always be the best, most special, amazing kitty to me.)

4. My childhood perm was the worst hairstyle I've ever had.
(I was born in 1989, and my Mom had a couple perms in the 80s and I'd see photos of her like that and all that jazz. I think because of that, even growing up in the 90s, I ended up with at least one if not two perms as a preteen. I guess it wasn't the most awful hairstyle ever, but when I see the photos I just think, why did I want that?)

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.

***

Who's ready for an Eddy fix? We know you all are. And today the pretty girl has a glamour shot, albeit at an odd angle. Even better, it gives you a glimpse of her adorable snaggletooth.

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

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today we have the last tip in our litter box series. This tip is to consider using some sort of litter mat or tray, in order to keep your home environment free of as much rogue litter as possible. Litter often comes out of the box when our kitties dig and dig in the litter, or on our kitties' paws when they leave the box. This can ultimately result in litter not only outside of the box, but also throughout the house. To combat this, try placing a litter mat or tray under or outside of the litter box. There are such mats and trays available on the market, which are specifically designed to catch stray pieces of litter so that it can't as easily travel throughout the rest of the house. For a cheaper option, though, you can also use a rug to catch litter, or you can even try something such as a boot tray. Another option is to place the litter box within a larger container, such as a giant storage container or a kiddie pool. This would allow for rogue litter to remain in that outer container, rather than spreading throughout the house.

All of the above being said, litter mats and trays may not always be able to trap every piece of litter. So, to further help keep litter at bay and your house clean, do be sure to sweep up stray litter as often as possible. It's not a bad idea to make a habit of sweeping up rogue litter each time you scoop the box.

There are a number of options for helping keep stray litter from spreading throughout the house. You can buy specifically designed litter mats or trays, you can try a similar makeshift option, and you can of course keep a broom at the ready in the litter area. Of course, do make sure that any mats, trays, or other methods you use do not deter your kitty from using the litter box in the first place.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Blooper Queen Eddy

Hello and happy Friday, friends! It's time 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 August include _________ and _________.

2. I am a type _________ personality.

3. If _________ were a currency, I would be rich.

4. I can do a good impersonation of _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. My plans for August include getting a head start on spooky reading and finishing my own novel.

(I've been reading a lot of fantasy late, which I've been greatly enjoying since that's my all-time favorite genre. That said, as autumn and Halloween approach, I always find myself in the mood to read horror. I have a long list of such books that I want to read this spooky season, so I'll be getting a head start in August. As for the second part of this, I'm beyond excited that I can finally say that I'll be able to finish my current writing work-in-progress rather than just continue working on it. I've been making so much headway in this weird and wacky fantasy novel I'm writing that I should truly, finally be able to finish it in August. This is a life goal and dream of mine, and I'm so excited to finish this one. Of course, after that I'll immediately be starting on the second installment of this story, but I'm more than happy with that fact.)

2. I am a type C personality.
(I admittedly did a quick, easy, who-knows-how-accurate online test for this one. Beyond knowing that I'm decidedly not type A, I'd never really thought about this much. After doing a little research on each type, I figured I was probably a type B or type C. The quick quiz I took online informed me I'm type C, and I don't really disagree with that, so I guess I'll accept that as the answer.)

3. If cat pee were a currency, I would be rich.

(Honestly, Evan would keep me rich with this one. He seems to have a bottomless bladder. He's also not only urinary incontinent, but he'll also use his pee as a weapon against me when I'm coming at him with his bath time supplies or medications. So, yeah, I'd be rich if I could just waltz into a bank with his urine and cash it in.)

4. I can do a good impersonation of a chimpanzee.

(The way I can do it probably sounds more like the caricaturized sounds you hear for chimps or monkeys in cartoons or other forms of entertainment. But, even so, I one day many years ago discovered that I was pretty good at doing this impersonation, and the few people who have heard it were actually impressed. The only problem is that for me to do it well, I have to do it loud, so I rarely ever do it. My sister asked me to do it once recently, and I ended up scaring the poor kitties and I felt awful.)

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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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.

Today, our blooper queen Eddy indeed has some outtakes from a recent photo shoot. A couple weeks ago she shared a shockingly poised photo from this shoot, but today she's sharing her true favorites.

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

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Flashback Doodles of the Day

For fans of Harry Potter, like myself, July 31st is a fun day. After all, it's the titular character's birthday, as well as that of the author. So, today I'll share a couple of doodles I scribbled up a few years ago for the occasion.

That first one there is a more generic Harry Potter drawing, while the second one stars all 4 of my kitties with scarfs that indicate their Hogwarts house, for anyone who knows what that means.

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Tip of the Day

Today's (overly lengthy) tip in our litter box series is about selecting the type of litter. There are many, many kinds of litter out there. There's clay litter, corn litter, wheat litter, pine litter, litter made out of recycled paper, and even litter crystals, just to name a few. There are even choices such as scented versus non-scented litter, litter for single-cat versus multicat homes, and clumping versus non-clumping litter. The options for litter seem to be endless, which can make the task of choosing one a tad bit of daunting.

So, let's go over some of the factors that will help you select a litter. To begin, first and foremost, let's go ahead and repeat ourselves like the broken record that we are—ultimately, your kitty will have the final say on what type of litter you buy. Cats can be very picky, particular creatures. Some have texture preferences, some have scent preferences, and some have any number of other preferences. If your cat doesn't like the litter you choose, they might avoid the litter box, which is in large part why they ultimately get to choose their litter.

The above being said, what are some of the main factors that might go into choosing the right litter for your kitty? Consider, of course, the type of material out of which a litter is made. For example, clay litter is often one of the dustiest, which may not be ideal for a cat or person with asthma. Also consider whether your cat has any other sensitivities or allergies. To give you an example, I once tried my angel cat Rosie on pine litter. Little did I know, pine was not a substrate Rosie's body tolerated well, and she ended up with hot spots that required steroid and antibiotic treatment. So, especially if you are trying a new type of litter, always keep an eye on your kitty to make sure they do not have an adverse reaction, and also that they do not start avoiding the litter box.

There are plenty of other random yet important factors to take into consideration when choosing litter, though. Do you have multiple cats? If so, perhaps look for a litter that is formulated for multicat homes. Does your kitty leave quite the stinkers in the litter box, and so you've chosen a scented litter? If this is the case and your cat uses the litter with no issues, then that's great. But, do keep in mind that cats' noses are far better than ours, and some cats might not like fragrance in their litter. Your cat might very well let you know if they do not like scented litter by avoiding the box, in which case you'll get the hint.

We're not done with this discourse quite yet. As we touched upon earlier, some cats have texture preferences. Since litter touches their paws, such texture preferences can of course play a large role in what type of litter your cat might use. For example, some cats prefer fine litter, and will not touch litter that is more coarse. I will also add here that I have some family members with cats who do not like litter at all, and so they use pee pads in litter boxes, which works great for those particular cats. Then again, my own Evan, in large part due to his hind limb paralysis, is towel trained rather than litter trained. So, litter texture can be a significant consideration for some cats, and in such cases there may indeed be some trial and error required. In such cases, just be patient, and you and your cat will find a litter, or even a litter alternative, that suits everyone involved.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Late Night Cuddles

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 late night cuddles. And sometimes early morning cuddles. After all, this tabby girl sure loves to wake her mom up at all hours of the night and morning for none other than cuddles.

These photos were taken on one of the nights that I woke up and decided to turn on a light so as to get some shots of Thimble's adorable face during our late night cuddle sessions.

For a few years now Thimble's thyroid levels have been inching up. Her vet has said that while she's still in the normal range, she's now at the high end of normal and neither he nor I will be shocked if she ends up as an official hyperthyroid cat in the not too distant future.

Hyperthyroidism can cause things like hyperactivity, including at night, so I sometimes wonder if we're inching that way. That said, so far Thimble has not lost weight, has her typical appetite, and otherwise is not showing any other signs of thyroid issues or anything else. Except for being up at all hours of the night, she's her usual happy self. She'll be getting her next bloodwork check in October or thereabouts, so we'll see how her thyroid levels are then. It could very well just be that she simply likes late night cuddles, and she'll continue to get them.

I will note that one of my parents' cats, the sweet girl named Freya, was recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. She's been easily and happily taking her medication (methimazole) in food, and her thyroid values are already back in the normal range. Freya is the sister of Gemma, my parents' kitty who was also this year diagnosed with a new ailment, though hers is diabetes. She's also doing great on her new medication (Bexacat). Freya and Gemma are just making sure my parents don't get bored, I guess.

All of these busy kitties wish you a wonderful day!

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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 August include _________ and _________.

2. I am a type _________ personality.

3. If _________ were a currency, I would be rich.

4. I can do a good impersonation of _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today we have Thimble's spooky summertime doodle from a couple years ago. Maybe this is all Thimble's asking for when she wakes me up in the middle of the night. You know, just a spooky story or two.

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Tip of the Day

We're continuing on with our litter box tips today by discussing location. When deciding where to put litter boxes in your home, there are a variety of considerations to make. For example, you cat likely won't want to do their business in a high traffic area, where there are many distractions and little to no privacy. At the same time, though, many cats will also likely not want to be hidden away in an small, enclosed area, such as a small closet. Placing a litter box in a small, enclosed area such as a small closet will likely trap the smell, which some cats are averse to. What's more, using the litter box is one way in which cats often instinctively believe they are making a territorial display, and so hiding away the litter box, where no one can see them do their business, might lead to out-of-box behavior for territorial reasons.

All of the above being said, consider where in your home might work best for a box to be both away from heavy traffic, yet close enough to the goings-on for your kitty to still feel included. Dedicated litter box rooms, corners of bedrooms or living rooms, bathrooms, laundry rooms, or even large closets with their doors kept open, can all make for good litter box areas. It really depends on how your home is set up, and where your kitty might feel most comfortable. Just as we've mentioned before, though, it also might simply come down to your cat's preference. Perhaps your cat enjoys using the restroom right in front of you, or perhaps your cat actually prefers to go in a closed closet. In the end, if your cat displays a preference for litter box placement, try your best to stick with that.

We'll also now mention that, when selecting litter box location, also take into consideration how many cats you have. In homes with many cats, it is often ideal to spread litter boxes throughout the house, at least as best as possible. This is especially the case if there is any bullying amongst your cats. If all of the boxes are in one room, a bullied or timid cat might prefer to steer clear of using the restroom with other cats nearby, and therefore might begin out-of-box behavior elsewhere in the house. They even might simply hold their urine, which can lead to a variety of medical issues. So, especially in multicat homes, do consider the number of and comfort of all cats when deciding how few and far between to place the litter boxes. Then again, this consideration also might be important for even a single cat who is geriatric or has issues with mobility. For such a kitty, having multiple litter box options, in areas of the house where they most often hang out, can help them more easily urinate and defecate when and where needed.

There certainly are a lot of considerations to make when it comes to that litter box. You of course have to choose a type of box, as well as how many. Once you have that settled, it's all about deciding where to place the litter boxes in your home. Fear not, though, as you and your kitty, or kitties, will figure it out. If nothing else, trial and error will often lead your kitty to letting you know what he or she prefers.

Friendly Fill-Ins, Christmas in July, and a Kooky Cat Café

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. _________ is my favorite kind of cake.

2. The best part of my week was _________.

3. I _________ in a room full of strangers.

4. If I opened a restaurant, it would be called _________ and would serve _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. Peanut butter with chocolate frosting is my favorite kind of cake.
(I've always loved anything peanut butter and chocolate, and that includes peanut butter cake with chocolate icing. It's moist and honestly just tastes amazing. In close second place is a basic yellow cake with chocolate icing, but I also love yellow cake with cherry or lemon icing. I also wouldn't turn down a double chocolate cake. That all said, I don't eat sweets very often, as I just don't feel great when I eat them. But, when I do have cake, I'd happily scarf down some peanut butter cake with chocolate icing.)

2. The best part of my week was the arrival of Friday.
(I've had a relatively uneventful week. Nothing awful happened, but nothing all that great happened either. But, I'm currently very happy it's Friday. I just have to get through work today, and then tonight and the next two days I can hang out with my kitties and do my favorite weekend hobbies of drawing and writing. So, TGIF. Oh, and it's also time for my festive movie night for Christmas in July, so I'm also looking forward to that.)

3. I tend to stay in the corner in a room full of strangers.
(I'm not a very social person, and interacting with strangers is not my strong suit. That's why, when stuck in a room full of strangers, you'll likely find me in the corner. I'm also a corner dweller because I don't really like people being behind me, which perhaps makes me sound a tad bit paranoid.)

4. If I opened a restaurant, it would be called Graveyard Dishes & Hisses and would serve creepy and kooky foods.
(As the name of the place might suggest, you would find not only food here, but also cats. It is, after all, a cat café. Or perhaps more like a cat restaurant, but I digress. I know this is such an odd yet specific answer, but that's because I actually created this very restaurant for the world that exists in the weird and wacky book I'm writing. And now, if I were to open a restaurant in the real world, it would simply be this one. Graveyard Dishes & Hisses not only serves spooky-all-year-round sorts of food, but also some feline-inspired baked goods, like the Frankenstein's Meownster. That's the cupcake that's on the restaurant's sign, which I actually drew a couple years ago. I've shared it before, but at the end of this post I'll share that doodle again in order to give a small glimpse of Graveyard Dishes & Hisses.)

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 is July 24th. Does that make it Christmas Eve in July? In case it does, Eddy decided to share a photo of her sitting beside her year-round Christmas tree.

Merry Christmas Eve in July! Or, you know, something like that!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

In case you missed it, see Fill-In #4 above for the explanation of today's doodle. The short story is that this is the sign for Graveyard Dishes & Hisses, my weird, fictional cat café/restaurant that serves creepy, kooky food all year long.

I want to note that you were supposed to get a new Christmas in July doodle today, but I apparently forgot to scan it. Or maybe my scan just didn't save. I'm not sure what happened, but I don't have the image to upload like I thought I did. That's okay, though, because we still have time for Christmas in July and so you'll see that doodle very soon.

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Tip of the Day

Do you want or need to monitor your furbaby, even when you aren't with them? Items such as baby monitors don't have to be used for only children of the human sort. Baby monitors, or similar products, can be used for our furbabies as well. Depending on what type of monitoring you need, you can look into monitoring devices that allow you to hear, see, or locate your furbaby. For example, there are monitors and cameras that you can place in your home that allow you to view your furbaby and what they're up to, even if you're away from home, such as by using the internet, apps, or other similar means. There are even devices on the market that can be attached to your furbaby's collar and that take video of what they've been up to. Another method of keeping track of your furbaby includes more or less putting some form of tracking device on them. For example, there are GPS or other similar devices that can go on your furbaby's collar. This is something that might come most in handy if you have a dog or cat who goes outdoors.

All in all, if you want or need to keep an especially close watch on your pup or kitty, such as when you're away from home, there are ways to do this. You might wish to keep an eye on a new puppy or kitten, a sick or geriatric furbaby, a cat or dog with separation anxiety, or something else along those lines. In such cases, determine whether monitoring, such as when you're away from home, might be beneficial, and then research the best types of monitoring systems for your particular situation.