Mancat Monday

Today is Mancat Monday, and Evan just wanted to pop in to show you all his handsome mancat whiskers.

Evan is quite proud of his whiskers, as they are quite photogenic. Do any of our furiends have photogenic whiskers? We bet you do!

Happy Monday!

P.S. This week we will be participating in the Sparks blog hop, hosted by Annie of McGuffy's Reader, but we will hold off on sharing ours until a tad bit later this week. The reason is that we like to try to match our daily doodles with our Sparks, and we have a doodle coming up later this week that better matches the Sparks we've chosen.

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Our Tortie Doodle of the Day:

Ten Days of Tortie: Day 9

Has anyone else been seeing all of the festive images these days starring red trucks like this one? We have been seeing them all over the place. I must admit that I quite like rustic images like that, and so I had to create one myself, only of course starring some torties.

Also, we hope you don't mind all of the festive doodles we've been creating. We can feel Christmas in the air already, so you'll probably be seeing lots and lots and lots of Christmas doodles from us these days. That being said, we do plan on doing another Ten Days of Tortie in a couple of months, without the influence of Christmas.

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Our Tip of the Day:

Today's Pet Diabetes Awareness Month tip is to know and understand what blood glucose levels mean, especially if you are monitoring a diabetic cat or dog's blood glucose at home. What's more, in case a diabetic furbaby ever has an emergency case of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), be sure to have honey, maple syrup, corn syrup, or some form of sugar syrup available. Rubbing a sugary substance such as one of these on a hypoglycemic animal's gum line or in their cheeks can help to raise their glucose to a safer level. Of course, discuss with your veterinarian any questions you have regarding hypoglycemia and reversing it. Also be sure to alert your veterinarian of any hypoglycemic events your furbaby has, so that better diabetes management can be achieved.

The above being said, also make sure you understand the factors that can affect blood glucose. Food intake, of course, largely affects blood glucose levels. For example, if your furbaby has a decreased appetite and is not eating, administering insulin can potentially lead to hypoglycemia. This is because an animal gets glucose from their food. If your furbaby is not eating and is therefore not taking in food as a source of glucose, then administering insulin, which lowers blood glucose, can lead to even lower levels of glucose. So, be sure to discuss all such factors with your veterinarian, and be sure to hold off on administering insulin if your furbaby is not eating so that hypoglycemia does not result.

Christmas on Caturday

Hello, friends!

We're feeling pretty festive today. Why? Because, with Thanksgiving said and done, it's all about Christmas these days. Our tree is up, our halls are decked, and the Christmas music is playing nonstop.

That all being said, of course we had to go festive for today's doodle. Then again, you'll probably be seeing lots of Christmas doodles from us these days.

Ten Days of Tortie: Day 7

This festive doodle is of course our entry into Athena's Caturday Art blog hop.

Who else is feeling festive on this Caturday? Do you have a Christmas tree? Have you decked the halls?

Have a beautiful day!

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Our Tip of the Day:

Continuing on with our tips for National Pet Diabetes Awareness Month, today we're here to say that, of course, always give insulin and other treatments as discussed with your veterinarian. The amount, frequency, and timing of insulin administered to a diabetic furbaby is very important for getting blood glucose under control. For this reason, be sure that you understand how to administer the insulin, which is injected beneath the skin, and have your veterinarian give explanations and demonstrations as needed. Also make sure that you understand the proper storage and preparation of insulin. In most cases, insulin needs to be refrigerated, and before administration it is often suggested that the bottle of insulin be rolled between the hands in order to prepare it for administration. Then there is also the important step of pulling up the insulin into the syringe for administration. If you have any questions or concerns with any of these steps, never hesitate to ask your veterinarian. And, of course, immediately let your veterinarian know if you notice any changes in behavior that might indicate that an adjustment to the insulin dosage is needed. Keep a close eye on your diabetic kitty or pup's water intake, eating habits, bathroom habits, activity level, and other such factors, as all of these can be affected by either high or low blood glucose levels. You know your furbaby best and spend the most time with them, so do be sure to keep a close on them and inform your veterinarian of any concerns you have.

Festive Friday

We hope all of our US friends had a wonderful Thanksgiving! And we of course hope that all of you have had a wonderful week!

Now, this week is coming to an end. That's okay, though, because that means it's time for the always fun Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by our friends over at 15andmeowing and McGuffy's Reader.

I was again so happy to see such festive fill-ins this week.

1. I start to decorate for Christmas/Hanukkah _________.
2. I prefer a _________ Christmas tree because _________.
3. The best thing about the holidays is _________.
4. The worst thing about the holidays is _________.


I hope my answers are even half as festive.

1. I start to decorate for Christmas on Black Friday.
(I always really, really want to decorate far earlier. But, I also always do my best to give Thanksgiving its time to shine. So, I can usually make it only as far as the day after Thanksgiving before I'm decking the halls. We're getting to it today around here!)

2. I prefer an artificial Christmas tree because I can't keep a plant alive to save my life.
(I have the farthest thing from a green thumb, and watching a tree suffer and die in my house doesn't make me feel all that festive. Of course, I also love to leave to my tree up from Black Friday all the way through the 12 Days of Christmas, and a real one might not make it that far even with a better caretaker than myself. Also, I'm 110% certain that a real tree would not survive Eddy.)

3. The best thing about the holidays is the magic of the season.
(Does that make sense? For me, personally, there really is something magical about the atmosphere around Christmastime. It's such a powerful time of the year, in more ways than one. On top of that, there are so many beautiful, glowing Christmas trees to see, Christmas music to hear, Christmas lights to admire, Christmas cookies to enjoy, and so much more. There's just no other time of the year that is filled with such festive and magical moments.)

4. The worst thing about the holidays is the state of my kitchen.
(I absolutely love to bake for the holidays. I love the make pies, all sorts of cookies, and just outright experiment with new and old festive bakes. But, this means my kitchen often looks like a tornado tore through it. 'Tis the season!)


Okay, now, are you ready for your weekly Eddy fix?

Eddy still loves her Jackson Galaxy Space Station that we won from the Kitties Blue! She had been playing with it before this shot was taken. That is, right up until she saw that I had the camera. I guess you could say Eddy is a bit camera shy.

Happy Friday!

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Our Tortie Doodle of the Day:

 Ten Days of Tortie: Day 6

Do any of our tortie furiends out there love a good box?

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Our Tip of the Day:

November is National Pet Diabetes Awareness Month. So, for the rest of the month, we'll be giving tips related to this disease. To begin, we'll start with a tip that you all certainly already know. And that is, to be very vigilant with regard to your furbaby's behaviors and body, keeping an eye out for signs of diabetes, and of course for signs of any disease. How often is your kitty or pup drinking? How often are they urinating? What is the volume of their urine? The color of it? Has their appetite increased? Has it decreased? Does their fur look dry and dull? Are they more lethargic than usual? Have any of these things changed recently? How recently? These are just some of the questions that, as a pet parent, you have to ask yourself every day. Regularly observe and check your kitty or pup for any changes in their body or behaviors, and if you have any concerns, whether your furbaby has or has not yet been diagnosed with diabetes or any other disease, consult your veterinarian. As always, early detection and beginning treatment as early as possible can be crucial.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We want to wish all of our US friends a very

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

(And a very happy Thursday to everyone, no matter where you live!)

Ten Days of Tortie: Day 5

Today and every day, we are so very thankful for our health and home.

We are thankful for the pie on our plates, and for all of the food in our stomachs.

Most importantly, we are incredibly grateful for our family, 

and for the wonderful friends we have in all of you.

We are, of course, entering all of these blessings into Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Now, we didn't forget that today is also the Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge, which is hosted by handsome Angel Sammy and Teddy.

This week, we've made it all the way to the letter X. That sure is a tough one, isn't it? We had a suggestion from a certain kitty's mom, though, and that very kitty is the one who stars in our poem today!

Chimera the Xenobiologist

Have you met Χίμαιρα?

  Oh me oh my, what does that say?

Speaking Greek is not my forte.

A little translation will make things much clearer.

Yes, that's better, you can call her Chimera.

So then, have you met Chimera?

She is the Xenobiologist of the era.

She studies life from lands all over the place,

But most especially those from outer space.

Chimera the Xenobiologist seeks answers on the moon,

And even all the way to Neptrune!

She hopes to make friends with those who live among the stars,

And she especially longs to meet those who hail from Mars.

Chimera the Xenobiologist can even give you a lesson or two,

As she recently had a grand breakthrough.

After all, she spotted a UFO up in the sky,

And now Chimera the Xenobiologist knows that extraterrestrial life is no lie!

To visit the real, lovely Chimera, do be sure to click there on her name! And, of course, here is Chimera the Xenobiologist's little doodle:

Once again, we are wishing all of our US friends a very

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

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Our Tip of the Day:

Since it's the big day itself, today is our last day of Thanksgiving tips, and we're going to sound like a broken record. As we have mentioned on many other holidays and other days of the year, please be sure to ensure your furbaby's safety if you have visitors or if foot traffic increases at your home on Thanksgiving. Especially for indoor furbabies, reduce or prohibit their access to the door, so that they can't slip outside when Thanksgiving visitors arrive. If you are worried that your kitty or pup might get underfoot and thereby put themselves at risk, perhaps consider setting them up in a safe room all to themselves. This could also reduce the risk of them being fed or stealing dangerous foods during Thanksgiving meals. Also try to ensure that your furbaby has identification, such as in the form of an ID tag and/or microchip, in the case that they might escape. After all, as if we haven't said it before, it's always better to be safe than sorry!

Wordless Wednesday

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Our Tortie Doodle of the Day:

 

Ten Days of Tortie: Day 4

Calista Jo was hoping for some dilute torties during this series!

Now, how many torties out there are the boss of their domain?

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Our Tip of the Day:

Adding to our Thanksgiving kitchen tips, don't forget to take out the trash! There are a number of reasons to make sure your furbaby does not have access to the trash, turkey bones being just one of them. Bones, scraps of toxic foods, food wrappers that could cause bowel obstruction, and a number of other potential dangers could arise from keeping the trash bin where your furbaby can reach it. This is why, on Thanksgiving or any day of the year, try your best to block your kitty or pup's access to the trash, or take it out as often as possible.

Mancat Monday

Thanksgiving may be this Thursday here in the United States, but it already feels like Christmas sort of weather here in our part of the world.

It's been cold and wet, with rain and even some snow flurries. Evan and the other kitties around here don't mind one bit, though, because they stay inside where it's warm, where there are blankets and laps to keep them cozy. Or, sometimes it's even fun to just gaze out the window and watch the rain and snowflakes fall.

The view would be even better if it looked a little like this, don't you think?

Ten Days of Tortie: Day 2

That is indeed our second installment in the Ten Days of Tortie series. We have more of these lovely lady cats in store for you, and we hope you enjoy them!

Now, we usually participate in the wonderful Sparks blog hop, hosted by Annie of McGuffy's Reader. But, this week we're going to have to postpone or contribution. Why? Because our internet went out this weekend. The human here had to run to her parents' house to quickly mooch off of their internet in order to complete this post. We failed to select a quote for our Sparks earlier, and we don't want to rush it now. We'll post our Sparks within the next couple of days, though!

We wish you all a magnificent Monday!

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Our Tip of the Day:

We've been talking about what foods on the Thanksgiving dinner table may or may not be healthy for your furbaby to taste. Today, we'll switch it up a bit and talk about food more geared toward our kitties or pups. If you would like your furbaby to be able to enjoy their own little Thanksgiving goodies that are more assuredly safe for them, then consider selecting dog or cat treats in festive flavors. For example, grab some moist food or treats in flavors such as turkey or pumpkin. In addition, you might be able to find specially made Thanksgiving treats, such as dog cookies in the shape of traditional Thanksgiving foods. Just the other day we saw on none other than Etsy some dog treats that are safe yet are shaped and decorated like turkey drumsticks, mashed potatoes with butter on top, noodles, and other such Thanksgiving goodies. Some pet stores might sell treats such as these as well. Or, you can try your hand at making your own Thanksgiving treats for your kitty or pup, just as long as you are certain the ingredients are safe. Of course, still feed any such treats in moderation!

Sunday Selfie

Can you guess who snapped a selfie for today? Huh? Can you?

Pup Astrid, that's who snapped our selfie for the Kitties' Blue Sunday Selfie blog hop!

We're guessing that selfie of Astrid's looks pretty familiar. Astrid has something like two poses she'll strike on a regular basis. I promise all of her pictures are always new and fresh shots, she just always looks the same in just about all of them.

What's more, we have one final update on the malignant sarcoma Astrid had removed by way of a toe amputation. On Friday, Astrid had a date with her doctor, because they wanted to do one final check of the incision. Well, the doctor said it looks great, and Astrid has been given the okay to go back to her usual ways! That means regular walks again, and no more of those quick little trips around the block that give the poor girl cabin fever. Needless to say, we're all quite happy!


Now, all of that being said, it's time for our first doodle in our Ten Days of Tortie series. These doodles were inspired by Mudpie and her mom Melissa, who got us thinking upon recently mentioning that finding goodies starring adorable torties is not all that easy of a task. So, we've decided to give some love to terrific torties by creating ten days of doodles just for them.

The first doodle in our Ten Days of Tortie is for lovely Mudpie herself. I'm sure most of us know that she and her mom are quite well-read, and of course fancy a cup of joe. So, this one's for you, Mudpie!

Ten Days of Tortie: Day 1

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Our Tip of the Day:

Another common Thanksgiving food we haven't mentioned yet is stuffing. Is this Thanksgiving staple safe for your furbaby? More than likely, it is best that you simply avoid feeding any of that stuffing to your kitty or pup. Why? Because many stuffings include ingredients such as onion, garlic, plenty of butter, or others that could cause ill side effects. If the stuffing is plain, without any potentially dangerous ingredients, then a small taste might be fine for your furbaby. But, more than likely, that stuffing will contain some ingredients that simply should not be part of your cat or dog's diet.