Mancat Monday With a Side of Motivation

That there is (embarrassingly crooked) photographic evidence of a mancat being snuck up on...

...by another mancat! Indeed, housemate Toby snuck up on Evan, and a brawl ensued. I will spare you the photographic evidence of that battle.

For anyone who might be new to our blog, or at least new to seeing Evan in photos like these, I always feel compelled to explain that he is hind limb paralyzed. He also has scoliosis. His posture in the photos above showcases one of his very typical sitting positions. Don't worry, though, because this specially abled boy of mine gets around excellently, and he runs and plays and has a grand ol' time. He's my happy hind limb paralyzed hero!

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It's been a while since I shared a Monday motivational quote. This all began with the Sparks blog hop, hosted by Annie of McGuffy's Reader. Annie has been on a blogging break, but many bloggers often continued posting motivation quotes on Monday in honor of the blog hop. I got out of the habit of doing that, though, and I hope to get back in the habit starting today. So, here's our motivational thought for this week.

"A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are built for."

-John A. Shedd

Wishing you all a magnificent Monday filled with motivation!

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Did you know?

Did you know that a cat's whiskers are connected to the nervous system as well as the muscular system? The link with the muscular system allows cats to move their whiskers, something that is often noticeable with the whiskers on their cheeks. Sensors on the tips of the whiskers, as well as their overall connection with the nervous system, allow cats to use their whiskers to determine and navigate the environment directly surrounding them. Because of cat whiskers' deep connections and their overall significant functions, they should never be trimmed.

Mancat Monday Motivation

It's Mancat Monday, which  means a certain orange boy named Evan is here to visit with you all. The problem, though, is that Evan's a tad bit distracted.

You see, friends, though you can't see it, there's a bird out on the porch. Evan just needed to get the door out of the way in order to reach the bird. But, how, exactly, was he to do that?

Whoa! You can't very well break out of the house when the sun is blinding you.

Is the bird even still out there? It's impossible to see through those sun rays. Shucks!

Well, anyway, speaking of birds, that has a little to do with our motivational thought today. Though Annie of McGuffy's Reader is taking a well-deserved blogging break, we still feel compelled to honor her Sparks blog hop. The purpose of this blog hop was to share positive thoughts in this oft negative world. The inspiring words we're sharing today actually come in the form of an old nursery rhyme.

We're wishing you all a wonderful, wise week!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

We're still in the midst of our series of autumn pet safety tips. Today's such tip is to take precautions if you are walking your pup or kitty on autumn evenings. This time of year, it starts growing dark earlier in the evening. Therefore, if you head out with your furbaby on a walk in the evening, such as after getting home from work, be sure to wear bright colors, and make sure that your furbaby's collar, leash, and/or harness is adorned with reflectors. This way, if your furbaby is out on a walk with you after it has grown dark for the night, both your furbaby and yourself can be more easily seen and avoided by potentially dangerous traffic. Of course, when walking your furbaby in the dark, also do your best to select a route that is the safest one possible. After all, as always, it's better to be safe than sorry!

Labor Day and Changing Seasons

We want to wish all of our friends in the United States a happy Labor Day! We hope your day is relaxing and free of labor.

For me, and I believe for many others out there, Labor Day edifies that summer really is coming to an end. By Labor Day, most schools have already gone back into session. In my town, Labor Day is also the last day the local swimming pool is open. If the swimming pool closing its doors doesn't signify the end of summer, I don't know what does.

The above being said, the imminent change of seasons is what inspired the Sparks sentiment I chose for today. Though Annie of McGuffy's Reader is taking a well-deserved blogging break, many of us still feel compelled to continue sharing positive thoughts in honor of the Sparks blog hop she initiated. And so, here is a sentiment that I hope inspires you:

Happy Labor Day! Happy Monday! Happy unofficial beginning of autumn! Happy days to all!

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Our 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. At the same time, it also can smell or taste sweet and enticing to our furbabies, 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.

Mancat Monday Motivation

It's Mancat Monday! Obviously, that means a certain mancat around here wanted to pop in to say hello.

Whoa there, Evan. Talk about a close-up. Maybe back it up just a tad bit?

There, now all of you friends of ours can see Evan's adorable face much better. Perhaps I'm biased, but I think this mancat has such a cute nose, and such wonderful whiskers, and pretty much a purrfect face all around. Honestly, do you see Evan's freckles? Aren't they just swoon-worthy?

Now, as is often the case, my boy Evan inspired some motivational thoughts from us this week. As many of you already know, Evan is hind limb paralyzed. This never gets him down, though, and he just so happens to be one of the strongest little beings I know. That's why our motivational thought for this week is this one here:

Though Annie of McGuffy's Reader is taking a well-deserved blogging break, we still often feel compelled to share some inspiring words in honor of her Sparks blog hop. With the Sparks hop, Annie intended for us all to share some positive thoughts in this often negative world. We hope our above sentiment sends you some positive vibes.

Have a happy, motivational Monday, friends!

***

Our 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 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.

Mancat Monday Motivation

There's an especially special mancat around here.

Indeed, Evan's my extra special mancat! Those of you who visit us frequently will have heard this many, many times before. But, for those who might not know, Evan is hind limb paralyzed. At the age of roughly six weeks, he was abandoned at the front door of a cat clinic where I used to work, with a note saying that he had been paralyzed in a coyote attack. So, those toesies of his you see up there in that photo are not just adorable, but also special in their very own way.

There is an infinite number of traits that I adore about my Evan, one of those being his resilience. Evan has never let his hind limb paralysis get him down. If he wants something, he figures out a way to get it. He runs, he plays, and he even climbs onto furniture. The story of Evan's life may have had a rocky start, but he has been filling the subsequent chapters with plenty of happy tales.

Evan's life story is what led to the motivational thought we're sharing this week. Annie of McGuffy's Reader is taking a well-deserved blogging break, yet we still like to share inspiring thoughts as she intended others to do in her weekly Sparks blog hop. 

The idea behind the Sparks blog hop is to share positive thoughts in this often negative world. And so, with a little help from Evan, here is the thought we're sharing today:

"Do not compare your Chapter 1 to someone else's Chapter 15.

Follow your own path, write your own life story, and never give up on yourself."

Have a magnificent, motivational Monday, friends!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

In a home with a hind limb paralyzed cat, as well as two active kittens, rugs on hardwood, laminate, tile, and other similar floor surfaces do not easily stay put. That being said, today's tip covers just a couple ideas on how you can try to keep rugs in place when you live with playful, active furbabies who often just cannot help but move those rugs around. To begin, you can get rugs that come already equipped with a nonslip backing. There are also separate nonslip pads that can be placed beneath a rug. Even these options are sometimes not enough to keep rugs in place, though. For something a bit more heavy-duty, you can try something such as double-sided carpet tape. Similarly, you can use velcro strips, placing one on the rug's underside and one on the floor beneath it, thereby attaching the rug to the floor. I have even heard of people using something such as silicone caulking on the bottom of rugs, which, when dried, will have a nonskid effect. Sharing our homes with furbabies can mean that rugs throughout the house end up in all sorts of disarray. To combat this, you can brainstorm and test out which potential nonskid or adherent methods might work best for you, your furbaby, and your home.

Mancat Monday with a Side of Motivation

It's Mancat Monday! Evan wanted to snap a shot of him enjoying the sun at his beloved front door. But, then the sun tried to outshine him.

This here human has relatively zero talent in photo editing. My photo viewer, though, offers some sort of autocorrect option, and I decided to give it a shot for this one. I'm not sure the corrected version is all that much better, though. There's really just no correcting my ability to overexpose a photo.

Despite his photographer's epic lack of skill, Evan hopes you enjoy this sunny shot of him!

Oh, and speaking of the sun, that has a little to do with our Sparks for today.

Annie of McGuffy's Reader is taking a well-deserved blogging break, but we still often feel compelled to continue on with her Sparks blog hop. With this hop, Annie intended for us to share positive thoughts in this often negative world. And so, we have a sunny thought for you today.

"Keep your face to the sun and you will never see the shadows."

-Helen Keller

Have a marvelous Monday, friends!

***

Our Doodle of the Day:

Here's today's Christmas in July doodle!

Our Tip of the Day:

When there's rain rather than shine, it can often make it difficult to take our pups or outdoor kitties outside. For those furbabies who might need to go outdoors, such as for a bathroom trip or a walk, you can try to find ways to keep them as dry as possible in the rain. Did you know that there are indeed products on the market specifically designed to help keep your pups or even kitties dry? For example, there are leashes available that have umbrellas attached to them, so that your furbaby can stay dry beneath the umbrella while on their leash in the rain. In addition, there are also rain ponchos available for pets. With such products, you of course have to ensure that you get a product that matches your furbaby's size. An umbrella or poncho fit for a mastiff won't fit a small dog or cat.

There are also, of course, other options for helping your furbabies stay dry when they go outdoors in the rain. You can try the simple trick of holding a typical umbrella over your furbaby. Another option is to have an area of your yard that stays dry, such as beneath some sort of canopy, where your furbaby can comfortably enjoy the outdoors even in the rain. For furbabies who might refuse to go outdoors in the rain, yet who are not litter box trained, you can also train them to use pee pads in the house if plausible or if in dire straits. So, there are a variety of ways to potentially help furbabies stay dry in the rain, which is especially crucial for those who go outdoors to use the restroom yet who also don't like getting wet. Simply take into consideration what methods might be most useful for your particular situation, and then try viable options until you find a solution that works best for your furbaby and yourself.

Mancat Monday with a Side of Motivation

It's Mancat Monday, so are you ready for an orange boy?

Evan sure loves his front door, as most of you probably know by now. But, just look at that dirty thing. Evan never understands why his human of a mom so disgustingly slacks on cleaning his beloved door.

Is that a dog boogie stuck on the door? Yuck.

Well, in addition to a mancat gazing out a frighteningly filthy window, we also have what we hope is an inspirational thought for you today. Though Annie of McGuffy's Reader is taking a well-deserved blogging break, we still wish to honor her Sparks blog hop.

With this hop, Annie intended for us to share inspiring, positive thoughts to help brighten this oft negative world. This week, we'd like to share with you this thought:

"Life is like a book that never ends. Chapters close, but not the book itself."

-Marianne Williamson

We hope you all have a magnificent, motivational Monday!

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Our Tip of the Day:

We're continuing with our pet parenting hack tips. So, yesterday we mentioned wrapping sisal rope around furniture legs in order to create money-saving scratching posts that also save you extra floor space. That's not the only way furniture can be used to create something special for your kitty, though. We all know that cats love cozy places to relax, including, of course, hammocks. If you yet again want to save money and floor space, you can suspend a hammock from beneath an end table or other similar piece of furniture. You would start with some cloth, which could be securely attached to or tied around the legs of the table. You could use velcro, some safely tied rope, or even just the corners of the cloth to suspend the hammock. In this way, you could create a cheap, easy, space-saving DIY hammock in which your kitty could snooze.

Magical Monday Motivation

Since Evan got to show off his handsome self yesterday, on none other than Cat World Domination Day, he agreed to give up his Mancat Monday post so that another kitty could have a turn here on our blog. And what other kitty will you be seeing today?

Tonks! Just look at those sleepy eyes. This is actually a very rare moment of Tonks caught sitting still. What's more, it's not really a very good shot at all. I barely got this photo snapped before Tonks woke up and was up and running amok again.

I think Eddy may have lost her role as the most difficult kitty to photograph in this house. Kitten Tonks and her kitten sister Winky seem to be allergic to sitting still, especially for the camera. If it came down to a competition between Eddy and the kittens over who could take the blurriest photo, I'm starting to think the kittens would now win. I never would have thought any kitty could take that title from Eddy, but I have been proven wrong.

That all being said, we're now going a bit magical on you. In the post in which we introduced Tonks, her sister Winky (who owns my sister), and her brother Flitwick (who owns my parents), we mentioned how they were all named after characters from Harry Potter. The fantasy genre is well-loved in my family, so furbabies named after random fantasy characters has happened on far more than one occasion. Did you know that my angel Rosie and her brother Sammy were named after characters in The Lord of the Rings?

That being said, for the next few days, in honor of the kittens' magical names, our doodles are going to be a bit, well, magical. We know that certainly not all of our friends are fans of the fantasy genre like we are. It is, after all, sort of like an acquired taste. I acquired it from my dad, in fact, who read fantasy stories to me on the regular as a child. But, we do hope that, even if you aren't a fan of fantasy, you might still find some enjoyment in these doodles.

That's not all. This doodle and overall topic of magic inspired the motivational thought we wanted to share with you all today. Though Annie of McGuffy's Reader is taking a well-deserved blogging break, and her Sparks blog hop is therefore on hiatus, we still feel compelled to share a positive thought. So, today's magical words of wisdom are:

"Magic is believing in yourself. If you can do that, you can make anything happen."

-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

We hope all of you friends of ours have a magnificent, magical, motivational Monday!

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Our  Tip of the Day:

Today's summer safety tip for strays and ferals relates to the trap-neuter-release (TNR) practice. TNR is crucial for keeping the feral cat population under control, as well as keeping individual ferals as safe and healthy as possible. This being said, always keep the weather and environment in mind when embarking on a TNR effort.

The summer heat can of course pose an extreme danger to cats being trapped. Potentially fatal overheating or heat stroke can occur if a cat is trapped and left sitting in the trap in the sun. In addition to this, traps are often made of metal, which means that if these traps are sitting on a hot surface, such as asphalt, the trap as well as the cat inside can overheat in this way as well. To combat such issues, try to trap and thereafter keep ferals in the shade. After they are trapped, do not leave the cats sitting out in the sun and heat, but instead transfer them somewhere cool as soon as possible. Also keep in mind the cats' safety when transporting them. For example, as you all surely know, the interior of a car can quickly become like a deadly oven in the summer months, so do not leave any animals, including trapped ferals, inside hot cars.

TNR is of course a very important practice for the safety and well-being of feral cats. That doesn't mean there aren't risks to the cats, though, and that includes the weather. So, if you are assisting in the significant task of trapping ferals, of course always ensure the cats' safety in all weather.

Mancat Monday

Today is Mancat Monday. So, guess who's here to say hello?

Evan is here to say howdy to all of you friends of ours! He is of course sending his greetings from his sunny door.

Speaking of that sun, we have a bit of a sunny thought to share with you all today. Though Annie of McGuffy's Reader is taking a well-deserved blogging break, and therefore her Sparks blog hop is on hiatus, we still feel compelled to share some inspiring words with you all today. The thought we have for you today is this one right here:

"Keep your sunny side up."

I first saw that sentiment on a little art card years ago. What's more, to be honest, that little piece of art contained a drawing much like the one I doodled up there. Since I first saw it years ago, that image and its sentiment has always stuck with me. So, I figured, why not share it with all of you?

We hope you all have a happy, sunny Monday!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today's tip regarding bringing home a new furbaby is about microchips. If you adopt a furbaby from a shelter or rescue, they sometimes will have already implanted a microchip in your new kitty or pup. If this is the case, ensure that you know how to register the microchip with your information, and that you of course actually do so. If a cat or dog adopted from a shelter or rescue does not have a microchip placed, then do consider having one placed by your veterinarian, and, again, properly registering it.

In the case that you directly rescue a furbaby without a third party, such as if the cat or dog is found as a stray, then first have it microchip scanned at a local shelter, rescue group, or veterinary office that has a microchip scanner. This can help ensure that the furbaby does not belong to someone who is looking for them. In the event that no owner is found and you choose to adopt the furbaby, then, again, certainly consider having a microchip implanted, and register it with your contact information.

Also be sure that you understand the renewal process of your furbaby's microchip. Many microchips require yearly renewal, but again, be sure to you do your research on the exact microchip that is implanted in your cat or dog. Also make sure that your information, as well as that of your furbaby, is updated as needed in the microchip company's records. If you move, update the address attached to your furbaby's microchip. The same goes for if you have a change of phone number, of any other detail that corresponds with the microchip.

Implanting and keeping a microchip updated can help ensure that, should your furbaby get lost, a microchip scan would still lead back them to you. Today's tip was technically part of our series about adopting a new furbaby, but microchips are relevant and important for any and all furbabies. No one wants to think about what could happen should their furbaby escape and get lost. Should that ever happen, though, a microchip would give them a far better chance of returning to you.

Mancat Monday

The two mancats around here, that being Evan and Toby of course, love their pup Astrid. One of their favorite things about her seems to be her smell.

Pardon the quality of this photo, as it was snapped on a camera phone. But, anyway. What you're seeing in that there photo are Toby and Evan thoroughly enjoying Astrid's harness and leash. When I return home from a walk with Astrid, the boys usually intercept me as I remove her harness and leash. I then have to surrender the harness and leash to Toby and Evan, so that they can get their fix. They roll in Astrid's harness and leash, take big whiffs of them, drag them around, and just all around have a grand time with them.

The relationship between the furbabies at our house makes me smile. Don't get me wrong. There are certainly moments of disagreements and discord between the fursibs around here. But, for the most part, I just love watching them all interact. All of the cats just love pup Astrid to pieces. Well, except Eddy, who leaves it at tolerating the dog's existence. The other kitties, though, don't care one bit that Astrid's a dog. They love her no matter her species, and they follow her around, rub on her, and, for some reason, seem to enjoy rolling in her ears.

Astrid, for the most part, just lets the kitties have their way with her. It has always amazed me how terrified Astrid is of other dogs, but how she wants to meet every cat she sees. My parents have 11 cats, and not even a single one of them hide from Astrid. She is so great with cats, that even the ones who loathed the sight of her at first now tolerate her just fine. Oh, and some of my parents' cats also love to have their way with Astrid's harness and leash when she's at their house. Astrid must smell pretty darn good to the kitties in her life.

The fondness the kitties and pup Astrid have for each other, regardless of the classic inimical interactions often expected between these two species, got me thinking about an inspiring quote I've heard before. Though the Sparks blog hop is currently on hiatus, while host Annie of McGuffy's Reader takes a well-deserved blogging break, I figured I would still share this inspiring quote today.

"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend."

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Wishing all of you a lovely, love-filled day!

***

Our Doodle of the Day:

Our foodie doodles continue.

Today's doodle was created in honor or housemate Toby's love for strawberries. Over the next couple of days, our foodie doodles will be ones crafted up specifically for the furbabies around here. After that, we'll be tackling more of the suggestions you all gave us for foodie doodles. We're looking forward to drawing lots of foodie furbabies!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today's summer safety tip is to be careful around water. Summer often means swimming in pools, or visiting lakes or other bodies of waters. If your dog or cat is with you when you visit the pool or any body of water, always be cautious and keep an eye on them. Though many animals have the instinct to swim when in water, that does not mean they cannot drown in certain situations. So, as needed, block access to pools so that your cat or dog cannot access the water, especially when not closely monitored or when they are not used to being in or near water. If you take your pup or kitty to visit a lake, to go on a boat ride, or to participate in any other similar water activity, keep them near you, such as safe on a leash. In addition to this, you can get flotation devices specifically designed for furbabies. This can come in handy especially for furbabies who are new to water, or if you have any concern for their safety when around water. After all, what do we always say? It's always better to be safe than sorry! So, if your summer plans with your furbaby include some watery ones, plan ahead for their safety.

A Tuxie Boy and a Kitty Tale

Evan and Eddy got to show off their cute little noses yesterday. Our housemate Toby heard about this, and he may or may not have gotten a tad bit jealous. So, this tuxie of a mancat wanted to show you all his own sniffer.

What makes this nosy shot even better is that involves some window whiffies! We sure are loving this thing called Spring.

***

It seems like just yesterday that we started the A to Z Challenge, yet now here we are at the letter T.

The classic novel title we twisted around for the letter T is A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. We told you guys that we'd be having some more kitty doodles coming up, so here's a bit of one for you:

What's more, given that we made use of his work for the A to Z Challenge, we chose a quote by Charles Dickens as our Spark this week.

The Sparks blog hop, hosted by Annie of McGuffy's Reader, is a way for us to share positive thoughts in this often negative world. We hope the quote we are sharing below is one that is positive and inspiring to you.

"There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are brighter in the contrast."

-Charles Dickens

Have a magnificent, motivational Monday, friends!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

 

We've gotten into the habit of turning our tips into series of tips these days. We're doing that again, and our newest series is going to be on pet safety in the Spring. Today's springtime tip is one that we've shared far more than once before, and that is to always be aware and cautious of the plants you have both in your garden and in your house. Some of the springtime plants that can be highly toxic to our furbabies include certain lilies, daffodils, and tulips. The list most certainly does not end there, though.

All of the above is why, before you bring any plants anywhere near your kitty or pup, always do your research and understand any potential toxicity. One good resource for finding out the potential toxicity of plant types is by perusing the ASPCA's extensive information on plants, which you can find by clicking here. In short, to keep your furbaby safe this Spring, of course be aware of any and all plants with which they come in contact. And, of course, if you have any concern that your furbaby may have gained access to a toxic plant, seek veterinary assistance as soon as possible.

Nap Time and North Tabbies

Where do we start on this Monday? How about with a mancat?

There's yesterday's birthday boy! With all of that partying he did, Evan's in need of a good nap.

I guess we won't bother him, then. So, what's next? How about the A to Z Challenge?

Today we're at the letter N. Again, our theme involves putting animal-inspired twists on titles of classic stories. Today we went with Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. But can you guess how we twisted that title around?

Northanger Tabby it is!

We decided to use Northanger Abbey for the Sparks blog hop this week.

The Sparks hop is hosted by Annie of McGuffy's Reader, and it is a wonderful way for us to share positive thoughts in this often negative world. Our quote for today is short and simple, but it's also a sentiment that I, personally, find very true.

"Well, we must live and learn."

-Jane Austen (Northanger Abbey)

 Life is one of the best teachers that there is, is it not?

We hope all of you friends of ours have the most marvelous Monday!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

 

We're back to our tips on parasites that can affect our furbabies. Two days ago we gave a tip on Giardia, and the parasite of today is very similar to this. Today's parasite is coccidia, which is another single-celled protozoa that can infect the intestinal tract. Coccidia is similiar to Giardia in more than just that regard, though. Just like Giardia, coccidia most commonly causes diarrhea, and is passed in the feces. It is also possible for a furbaby to become infected with coccidia if they ingest an infected rodent.

Also just like with Giardia, sometimes a cat or dog will show no signs of infection even if they have coccidia in their intestinal tract. Young kittens or puppies, geriatric furbabies, and those otherwise medically compromised are at the highest risk. In compromised cats and dogs, diarrhea caused by coccidia infection can lead to dehydration and other complications, which can be life-threatening.

Like the broken record that we are, we're of course reminding you again to keep an eye on your furbaby when outdoors, and to keep their environment as sanitary as possible. As we said earlier, ingesting the feces of another animal infected with coccidia can lead to infection. Also ingesting debris or water near where such animal defecated could lead to an infection with coccidia.

And, again, if your furbaby has diarrhea, seek veterinary care as soon as possible. Take a fecal sample to the appointment, so that your veterinarian can do a test for coccidia and other parasites. When a diagnosis is made, discuss with the veterinarian the treatment options. Give prescribed medications, which may include antibiotics, probiotics, or another, and do so for as long as the veterinarian prescribes. Stopping medications early, even if symptoms subside, can result in a recurrence. Then again, if a treatment plan is not working, discuss that with your veterinarian as well. Diarrhea, among any number of symptoms, is not to be taken lightly, so do your best to stay on top of it.

Headbutts and Hoppers

Today is Mancat Monday. Evan was all excited to snap some shots of his handsome mancat self to share today. But, he got distracted and ended up with a bunch of bloopers instead.

Can you see what's going on in that bright and blurry shot? Evan is a notorious headbutter, and during this photo shoot he got distracted by the knee of this here mom of his. In other words, Evan simply could not help but headbutt his mom as she crawled around on the floor during his photo shoot.

I guess nothing says love like a knee to the face.

So, who of our kitty friends is a headbutter like Evan?

***

Now, though, moving past the blurry headbutt shots, we are moving on to the A to Z Challenge.

We'll again repeat our A to Z Challenge theme for anyone who might not know. We are putting animal-inspired twists on the titles of classic stories. Then, for each new title, we doodle up an illustration.

The letter we're at today is H. The classic I used for H is one I've mentioned here on our blog before. It's one of my favorite books, and it's one that my father read to me when I was a very small child. And that is none other than The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. It has now, though, become The Hoppit.

Bunnies can go on adventures, too, right?

Speaking of the original The Hobbit, it is of course the source of the Sparks we chose for today.

The Sparks blog hop, hosted by Annie of McGuffy's Reader, is a way for us to share positive thoughts in this often negative world. Some of my favorite quotes in life have come from the mind of J.R.R. Tolkien, and this is one of them:

"I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay.

Small acts of kindness and love." 

-J.R.R. Tolkien (The Hobbit)

We are wishing you all a magnificent Monday

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Our 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.

Brave Worlds and Inspiring Words

Mancat Evan wants to show you all a bright and shiny shot of him today.

It must look like we're having lots of sunshine. Maybe it looks like we've finally reached the season known as Spring. We wish. Our Easter Sunday was all shades of snowy, and that is no April Fool's joke. Evan wasn't all that impressed.

We're holding on to hope, though. Spring has to be out there somewhere!

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Now we're moving on to the second day of the A to Z Challenge.

Today, we're at the letter B. As we've shared before, for this round of the A to Z Challenge we're putting animal-inspired twists on the titles of classic stories, and then creating little doodles for these new titles. Today, we went with Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, but of course changed it to Brave Mew World.

To be totally honest, I have never read Brave New World, and when did a bit of research, I found out that its plot is nothing like what I thought. I quite honestly thought it was a historical fiction revolving around the time of colonization in America. I was wrong. Very, very, embarrassingly wrong. Brave New World is actually a dystopian novel addressing concepts such as artificial life. Hence the robo-kitty in the doodle above.

And since we're on the topic of Brave New World, I chose a quote from this novel for this week's Sparks blog hop.

This hop, hosted by Annie of McGuffy's Reader, is a wonderful way for us to share positive thoughts in this often negative world. So, here's our positive thought for this week:

"Never put off till tomorrow the fun you can have today."

-Aldous Huxley (Brave New World)

Don't forget to have some fun today! Happy Monday!

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Our Tip of the Day:

April is Heartworm Awareness Month. For the next couple of days, therefore, we're going to repeat some heartworm tips that we gave a couple months ago. So, these tips may sound familiar, but we've decided to share them again for this significant month.

We'll start simple and remind you all that heartworms come from mosquitoes, and a dog or cat can become infected if they are bit by a mosquito carrying larvae. This can occur in either indoor or outdoor furbabies. For indoor animals, you can try to keep all windows and doors closed, in hopes to prevent mosquito entry into the house. However, they can enter through cracks, or simply when you open the door to enter or exit. What’s more, it is possible for mosquitoes to be out and about year round, even in the winter. For this reason, our first, very significant tip is to simply ensure that you keep your dogs and cats on preventatives that include heartworm coverage, and that you do this year round.