Happy Belated Mother's Day!

I failed to get a Mother's Day post up yesterday, so I want to wish all the moms out there a belated Happy Mother's Day! Whether your children are of the humanoid sort, furry, feathered, or anything and everything in between, you make this world go round.

As for me, this weekend my orange boy bestowed me with lots of his adorable and expert cuddles. I always look forward to when I can sit down and relax on the couch, because if I'm on the couch, Evan is always right there with me.

Evan will often start by snoozing beside me, like you see above. But, more often than not, I end up serving as that adorable little guy's pillow. That's what happening in these photos here...

I love my couch and bed cuddle sessions with my sweet boy. Of course, I love my cuddle sessions with all of my furry babies, but Evan is the most likely of them all to cuddle me at every chance he gets. And I'm so grateful for that.

Happy Monday, friends!

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Doodle of the Day

Since this is our belated Mother's Day post, I figured I'd share the doodle I scribbled up as my mom's Mother's Day card. I made some mistakes while drawing this and it's full of all sorts of imperfections, but what's new. And as a little explanation, one of my parents' kitties is a humongous yet also incredibly sweet and cuddly orange tabby boy named Foggy.

This doodle might slightly caricaturize Foggy's size, perhaps just a tad bit.

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Tip of the Day

The final tip in our wildlife series involves some additional things you can do to help keep the wildlife safe in their environment. First, as you all surely already know, please refrain from littering. Do not toss trash willy-nilly, but instead place it in a secure trash bin, or a recycling bin if relevant. This includes any and all items, as any variety of things can lead to dangers for wildlife. For example, the handles of plastic or paper bags can get stuck around the necks of wildlife critters, or any variety of items could be swallowed and lead to a choking hazard. And that's just naming two potential examples. To further protect wildlife, please cut the aforementioned handles on plastic and paper bags before tossing them into the trash or recycling. This ensures that wildlife won't get their heads or limbs stuck in the handles. This also goes for milk jug lid rings, plastic or other rings that multipacks of soda come in, and anything else of that sort. Please simply cut such things before tossing them out in order to prevent strangulation or other injuries to wildlife.

In addition, before tossing them in a bin, do your best to rinse out cans and other food or drink containers. For one, this can perhaps help reduce the likelihood of wildlife eating food that is potentially unhealthy for them. Also, rinsing food containers can help reduce the likelihood of wildlife sniffing out leftover debris and therefore breaking into and going through trash and recycling bins, something that we surely all wish to avoid.

We share this land with a great many critters, and it's important that we keep this land safe for all of its inhabitants. So, please refrain from littering or otherwise contributing to situations that can be dangerous to wildlife.

Belated Mother's Day Wishes on Mancat Monday

Evan discovered this his human of a mom failed to post on our blog this weekend, so he now wants to wish all mothers out there a belated Happy Mother's Day! Whether you are a mom to children of the human sort or the furry, feathered, or scaled sort, you make the world a better place.

This human does apologize for not posting this weekend, especially on Mother's Day. I spent a good chunk of the weekend with none other than my mom, and I just wasn't online during any of that time. As another strange excuse, today is the last free yard waste pickup in our town, so I also spent a chunk of this weekend outside clearing the last of the sticks and other debris from my yard. It was very hot and I was very sweaty, but the job is done.

Evan and all of us here wish you all a magnificent Monday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Given the sweltering weather we've been having theses days, we're doing a series of tips all about summer safety for our furbabies. Previously, we discussed how to recognize the signs of overheating in cats and dogs. Today, we're here to remind you that, to avoid potentially fatal heat stroke in your furbaby, never leave them alone in a car. In the heat of summer, the inside of a car can reach temperatures well above 100°F within a matter of minutes. Even with the windows open, the inside of a car can still become not only stifling, but also incredibly dangerous.

Also keep in mind that the car is not the only location that can pose the risk of overheating. Garages, sheds, and of course even the great outdoors can be dangerous places on hot summer days. In short, as you all certainly know, never leave your furbaby in a car or anywhere that can easily overheat on summer days. Just like us, kitties and pups can indeed suffer from heat stroke if left in overheated conditions, and this can be fatal.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful moms out there!

Today is Mother's Day in the United States, as well as in many countries around the world. Whether your child is two-legged or four-legged, whether your child is the human sort or the furry and whiskered sort, we want to wish every mother out there a beautiful, amazing day. Mothers of all kinds help make this world go round in more ways than one, and for that we are beyond grateful. We hope every mother of every kind is treated like royalty today.

For our selfie today, my snuggly girl Thimble agreed to snap a selfie while giving me a cuddle.

We hope all of you moms out there get lots of cute cuddles like this!

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Tip of the Day

Today's wildlife tip is another about birds. Hummingbirds, that is. These majestic little creatures love them a sweet drink. To make some sugar water for hummingbirds, you can mix 1 part sugar with 4 parts water, such as 1 cup of sugar into 4 cups of water. Extra mixture can be stored in the refrigerator for up to roughly one week. Despite popular belief, though, please do NOT add red food coloring to the sugar water! Adding a chemical dye can potentially be harmful to hummingbirds. Rather than lace their drink with artificial colors, you can simply use a bright (such as red) hummingbird feeder to attract them. There are indeed feeders specifically designed for hummingbirds and their preferred sweet drink. Of course, don't forget to clean said feeder in between fillings, as the sugar water mixture can potentially lead to mold if the hummingbird feeder is not maintained properly. Hummingbirds can make for grand Bird TV, just as long as you take the right precautions.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful moms out there!

Today is Mother's Day in the United States, as well as in many countries around the world. Whether your child is two-legged or four-legged, whether your child is the human sort or the furry and whiskered sort, we want to wish every mother out there a beautiful, amazing day. Mothers of all kinds help make this world go round in more ways than one, and for that we are beyond grateful. We hope every mother of every kind is treated like royalty today.

For today's Mother's Day edition of the Sunday Selfies Blog Hop, my very own momma's boy Evan offered to snap a snuggly little shot for me.

Wishing every mother, and everyone else, a wonderful day!

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Tip of the Day:

We're in the midst of tips regarding parasites and their prevention. We have so far covered heartworms, fleas, tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. Now, today, it's all about those ear mites.

As is probably obvious, ear mites affect the ears, living primary in the ear canal. For what it's worth, ear mites are more commonly seen in cats, making dogs the luckier, less typical victims of these buggers. Ear mites can be spread directly from cat to cat.

Now, what will you notice if your cat, or dog, has an ear mite infestation? Your furbaby's ears will itch, they will scratch at them, there can therefore be inflammation in the area, and they may even shake their heads or hold their ears low due to the irritation. You also may see dark, brownish debris in the ears, which is commonly described as resembling coffee grounds.

If you do see any of the above symptoms in your kitty or pup, have them seen by a veterinarian. Ear mites can ultimately lead to secondary ear infections and other similar issues, so taking care of them is of course best for your furbaby's health and happiness. Your veterinarian can test for ear mites by swabbing the ears and looking at the debris under a microscope.

When it comes to treatment, it is of course best to use medications prescribed directly by your veterinarian. There are drops or other treatments that can offer a relatively fast-acting eradication of the ear mites. In addition, there are monthly preventatives that cover ear mites. These can typically help take care of existing mites, as well as prevent a future ear mite infestation. Discuss any and all such options with your veterinarian, especially if your furbaby is largely outdoors and potentially more susceptible to such infestations.

A Mother's Day and Birthday Bash

Today is a special day for more reasons than one. First of all, there are some kitties celebrating their birthday today. Who might that be? My girl Thimble and her brothers!

For those who don't know, Thimble's brothers are Toby (who owns this here human's sister) as well as Trapper and Talon (who own this here human's parents). How old are these furry cuties today? They're 6 years old! I've known these little ones since they were 3 weeks old, and I am beyond grateful that they came into my life.

Obviously, I want to wish Thimble, Toby, Trapper, and Talon the happiest birthday ever! My girl Thimble will be getting lots of extra cuddles, treats, toys, and catnip today. So will her brothers, of course, because I'll certainly be spoiling them rotten as well.

And of course birthday girl Thimble is our selfie star today.

You better believe this girl will have full control of the remote control today. She is the birthday girl, after all!

Happy birthday to my sweet girl Thimble!

and

Happy birthday to Thimble's handsome brothers, Toby, Trapper, and Talon!

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It's not just a birthday party we're having. We didn't forget about the other reason why today is a special day.

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful moms out there!

Today is Mother's Day in the United States, as well as in many countries around the world. Whether your child is two-legged or four-legged, whether your child is the human sort or the furry and whiskered sort, we want to wish every mother out there a beautiful, amazing day. Mothers of all kinds help make this world go round in more ways than one, and for that we are beyond grateful.

I'm going to share here the Mother's Day card I doodled up for my own mother this year. It's one that is always going to be dated due to its subject matter, but it also depicts some of the many reasons why I'm so proud of my mom. Not only is my mom another cat lover and cat mom, but she's also doing her part to help in the current pandemic state of our world. In our state of Illinois, at least through the end of May, we are required to wear masks when going into stores or other similar public spaces, especially if 6 feet cannot be maintained from others in the vicinity. Since face masks are hard to come by these days, over the past couple of weeks my mom has sewn over 200 masks for people in our local community. She actually might be at over 300 masks by now. She is happy to do it, and she is an amazing woman.

My mom is also a huge fan of Hello Kitty. That's why you're seeing yet another wannabe Hello Kitty doodled up here in her Mother's Day card.

Happy Mother's Day to all the supermoms out there!

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Tip of the Day:

Our parasite talk today is all about ticks. These nasty little guys can find their way onto your kitty or pup (or yourself) from wooded areas, shrubs, and tall grass. They can make their way into your yard, especially (though not limited to) if you live near a wooded or other similar area. This means that animals who go outdoors can always be at risk for ticks. Then again, it is not impossible for animals with limited outdoor activity to pick up a stray tick as well.

Ticks pose more danger than one. First, to put it simply, they suck your furbaby's blood. It would most likely take a good deal of time for a tick to cause anemia in their host, but this is still something to keep in mind. What's more, ticks can transfer dangerous, sometimes life-threatening diseases to a cat or dog (or human, or other animal). Lyme disease is one such disease, and it can cause swelling, pain, and arthritis in the joints. Another disease that ticks can transmit is Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can result in fever as well as lameness, similarly to Lyme disease.

Obviously, for reasons such as those listed above, you certainly don't want ticks on your furbabies. Especially if your furbaby goes outdoors, and most especially if they visit areas with lots of trees and tall grass, the best way to protect them from ticks is by way of preventatives. There are indeed preventatives on the market that cover ticks, often while at the same time preventing against other parasites we've already discussed, such as fleas and intestinal worms. So, discuss these options with your veterinarian. Again, as we've said before, it is always safest to purchase quality products, such as those offered at your veterinarian's office.

We'll also take this time to note that, if you see a tick on your furbaby, don't just start pulling at it. Ticks can attach themselves, especially their heads, very securely to an animal's body. This means that if you pull on them, you might very well remove their bodies, all while leaving their blood-sucking heads still on your kitty or pup. For this reason, if you see a tick on your furbaby, assess the situation and determine if you know how to or are able to remove it safely and in its entirety. There are some tricks and even products, such as tweezers specifically designed for tick removal, that can assist in removing a tick completely. However, if you are not positive that you can manage this, as it is not always an easy thing, then contact a veterinarian and seek assistance in removal of the tick.

How about a bonus tidbit? Possums are known to be incredibly efficient tick-eaters. It has even been said that one single possum can consume over 5,000 ticks in one season. So, if you have possums in your yard, leave them be. They could very well keep that tick population down, leaving your furbaby and yourself safer for it.

Happy Mother's Day!

Our selfie today was snapped by a certain momma's girl of mine.

My girl Eddy truly is a momma's girl. As in, her momma is the only human being she likes. Eddy is certain that every other human is out to get her, and it's far better to duck under the bed than meet other folks. Eddy, you make this momma of yours feel extra special. Thanks, little lady!

As most of you certainly know, here in the United States, today is Mother's Day. Now, we think being a mom can mean so many things. A mom is someone who nurtures. A mother can be just that to children of all types, shapes, and sizes. Whether she be the mother of two-legged or four-legged children, whether her children be human or furry, a mother should be celebrated for all that she does.

All of us here at Four-Legged Furballs want to wish every single mother out there a very happy and blessed Mother's Day! You rule!

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Tip of the Day:

Though rare, did you know that our furbabies can get lice? The lice our kitties and pups can get, though, are not the same that we humans get. In fact, lice are species-specific. Humans get a certain kind of lice, dogs can become infested with a different kind of lice, and yet a different type of lice affects cats. In other words, we cannot get lice from our furbabies, and they cannot get it from us. Again, though, lice in our furbabies is not terribly common. Still, it is important to know that it's not impossible.

Signs of lice might include your furbaby itching, scratching, or biting at affected areas of their body. You also might even be able to see the lice or their eggs, more or less white in color, on your furbaby. A lice infestation and its symptoms will likely more heavily affect cats or dogs who are sick, elderly, or have a compromised immune system.

Just as we have noted with all of the parasites we've previously discussed, if you have any concern that your kitty or pup is infested with lice, of course have them seen by your veterinarian as soon as possible. Your veterinarian will be able to prescribe a treatment for eradicating lice. In addition, don't forget that with parasites such as lice, your furbaby's environment might also need to be rid of the infestation. As always, discuss any and all concerns with your veterinarian.

Happy Mother's Day!

Our selfie for today was snapped by the mancat who first turned me into a cat mom.

Evan was indeed the first kitty whom I adopted on my very own, as an independent adult. Before him, I'd had animals that were shared or family pets. Evan, though, was the first kitty whom I rescued all on my own. Thank you for transforming me into a cat mom, Evan! It's the best job ever.

What's more, as we mentioned yesterday, we think being a mom can mean so many things. A mom is someone who nurtures. A mother can be just that to children of all types, shapes, and sizes. Whether she be the mother of two-legged or four-legged children, whether her children be human or furry, a mother should be celebrated for all that she does.

All of us here at Four-Legged Furballs want to wish every single mother out there a very happy and blessed Mother's Day!

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Our Tip of the Day:

 

Not too long ago, we shared a series of tips all about pet safety in the season of spring. We were going to wait a while before we got into the details of summer safety. However, given the summer-like days we've been having, we thought we'd go ahead and offer some of these important tips now.

In many areas, summer can mean extreme heat. For this reason, it is important to know the signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke in your cat or dog. Signs of overheating in our furbabies can include excessive panting, difficulty breathing, increased heart rate and respiration rate, excessive drooling, weakness, or even vomiting and diarrhea. If your furbaby begins to show any of these signs, especially if they have been in the heat, do not hesitate to seek veterinary assistance. Tomorrow, we'll start diving a little deeper into how to keep your kitties and pups safe from overheating and other summer concerns.

Mother's Day Caturday Art

Here in the US, tomorrow is Mother's Day. Ever since I was a little girl, I have drawn my mom a Mother's Day card nearly every year. I figured I could share this year's doodle for my mom with you all today.

In case you were wondering or don't know, I have one sister. So, this doodle is meant to represent my mother and her two daughters. Of course, my mom is a cat lover, which means doodles like the one above are my favorite types to create for her.

We hope every mother out there has a wonderful Mother's Day, whether your children are two-legged or four-legged, or anything in between! We'll be back tomorrow to celebrate the special day itself.

And, of course, our doodle up there is our contribution to Athena's always fun Caturday Art blog hop!

Be sure to visit Athena to admire the art all of our friends have created!

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Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip is one that we have given many, many times, for numerous occasions. We'll go ahead and say it again, though, as it is important. If you are giving or receiving a gift or goodies this Mother's Day, be sure to take into consideration if said gift is safe for your furbaby. If flowers enter your home for Mother's Day, remember that some are toxic to cats and dogs. Lilies, daffodils, and tulips, for example, should be kept away from those kitties and pups. Are you giving or receiving chocolates, or baked goods that contain chocolate? Keep that away from your furbaby, too! These are just two examples, though. It is important that, no matter what gift you give or receive, no matter the occasion, that you be cognizant of whether it could have effects on your furbaby, and do what's do needed to keep your kitty or pup safe.

In addition, if you are having guests over for occasions such as Mother's Day, be sure to take your furbaby's safety into consideration in this case as well. If there is a lot of foot traffic, keep your kitty or pup out of the way of harm, including away from the door. If needed, block their access to the door, or keep them segregated in a safe area of the home. If you are hosting a meal or have snacks out for guests on Mother's Day, or any day, always be aware of the danger that some foods pose. Remember that foods such as chocolate, alcohol, grapes, raisins, onion, and garlic, among others, can be dangerous to cats and dogs. Make sure that guests know not to feed your furbaby dangerous foods, and if needed, keep your cat or dog safely tucked away in another area of the house.

We know we repeat these types tips a lot, but there are many dangers that can arise for our furbabies around the different holidays. The important thing is to be aware of everything that enters your home, and how it might affect your kitty or pup. This way, you can plan accordingly in order to keep your furbaby happy and healthy.

Happy Mother's Day!

I may be a lot of things, but photogenic really is not one of them. That may have played a part in my decision to forgo joining my furbabies in a selfie despite the fact that it is indeed Mother's Day here in the US. Consider yourselves lucky.

Don't worry, though, we do have a selfie to share for this Mother's Day edition of the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted our pals over at The Cat on My Head.

Our selfie comes from none other than my boy Evan, who does happen to be perfectly photogenic. This mancat of mine is the momma's boy of all momma's boys. He also moonlights as a poetical sort, it would seem, which is perhaps why he snapped the below bright and sunny selfie and told me that he wishes it to represent the sunshine that all the mothers out there shed on the world.

All of us here wholeheartedly agree with Evan, in that mothers light up the world. So, keep on shining, ladies! From Evan and all of us here, we wish all of the mothers out there a most beautiful and perfect day.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

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Our Tip of the Day:

Motherhood is a wonderful thing, there is no doubt about that. But, please also don't forget the reality of overpopulation in the world of kitties and pups. Did you know that it is possible for just one female cat to produce thereabouts of 100 or so kittens in her primary reproductive years? And its been calculated that one pair of cats and their kittens can together produce well over 400,000 kittens in a matter of 7 years? So, please spay and neuter your cats and dogs. And, if and when possible, join in on efforts to spread this important message.

Caturday with Dog Mom

This Sunday, in our homestead of the US, we celebrate Mother's Day. I'm sure most of you already know this, but if you didn't, there you go. I myself may not have any children of the human sort, but I do have myself some furry, four-legged ones!

In honor of Mother's Day, our doodles for this weekend will of course be mom-centric. Despite the fact that we're entering it into lovely Athena's Caturday Art blog hop, today's doodle is actually one for the dogs (and dog moms, of course).

Be sure to check out Athena's Caturday Art blog hop to see what some of our furiends have created!

Happy Caturday!

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Our Tip of the Day:

This Mother's Day weekend, don't forget to recognize the women in your life who are moms to humans, but also those who are moms to children with fur. Babies come in all shapes and sizes, with two legs or four legs, bald or with fur. So, don't forget to wish all the mothers you know a happy Mother's Day this weekend!

Sunday Selfies: Happy Mother's Day!

All of my furbabies wanted to be sure to take part in today's Sunday Selfie blog hop, hosted by our good friends over at The Cat on My Head, so that they could all wish the moms out there a very happy Mother's Day. Whether you are the mom to human or furry babies, or both, my furbabies and I wish you a day full of blessings, plenty of rest and relaxation, and of course some fun, too.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms out there!

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Our Tip of the Day:

Puppies and kitties are best suited to stay under the care of their biological furry moms for at least the first weeks or even months of life. This is not only because their moms provide them with crucial nutrients through nursing, but also because it is in those early stages of life that puppies and kitties learn proper social skills from their moms, as well as their litter mates. Therefore, if and when possible, allow puppies and kitties to remain with their furry moms for at least their first 8 to 10 weeks of life, if not longer. After all, mother knows best!