Toesies Tuesday

We have for you today some extra special toesies. They're the back toesies of my hind limb paralyzed boy Evan. This sight isn't something most people see every day, but it's a sight I see every day, and I love it.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Doodle of the Day: Flashback Tuesday

For today's flashback doodle, I again decided to see what drawing I shared on this very date last year. It was one with a kitty, books, and autumnal sights. Those are three of my most favorite things, so I decided it was the one to share today.

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Tip of the Day

In case you missed it, we're doing a series of pet cancer prevention tips during this Pet Cancer Awareness Month. Today's tip is one we've mentioned on more occasion than one, and is one that many of you have probably heard. This tip is to always keep in mind that it is indeed possible for cats and dogs to get skin cancer, especially on vulnerable parts of the body, such as the ears and nose. For this reason, monitor the amount of time they spend outdoors in the sun, but also the amount of time they spend sunbathing in windows or doors. If your furbaby does spend a lot of time in the sun, perhaps look into pet-friendly sunscreen, and discuss safe options with your veterinarian as needed. There are also windows or window films that block out UV light, which is another option for keeping our furbabies and their skin safe during their sunbathing sessions. The sun can indeed be fun, but it can also be dangerous, so do keep a close eye on those furry sunbathers!

Toesies Tuesday

Guess who gets to have back-to-back posts yet again?

Evan! That's right, my hind limb paralyzed boy is showing off his, well, paralyzed toes.

More often than not, whether Evan is sitting or lying down, one back foot faces down and the other faces up. Most commonly, it is exactly as seen above, with his right foot being the one faced down and his left foot faced up. This is probably because Evan has always seemed most comfortable and likely to sit with his hind legs positioned out to his right side. We just thought we'd share that little tidbit with you.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

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Our Tip of the Day:

Do you know what holiday food we haven't yet mentioned in this Thanksgiving series? Cranberries! This here human loves cranberries, but are they safe for our kitties and pups? In moderation, plain cranberries can be given as a small treat to a dog or cat who enjoys them. That being said, it is best to steer clear of cranberry sauces and juices, as those contain excess amounts of sugar and other potential additives that might not be the best for your furbaby. Also be careful with special cranberry dishes, in case they contain not only excess sugar but potentially also toxic ingredients such as alcohol. As always, when in doubt, simply don't offer it to your furbaby.

Since we're on the topic of fruits, we'll go ahead and run through a couple of other fruity treat options for your kitty or pup. If fed in moderation, berries such as blueberries and strawberries are healthy for cats and dogs, as are bananas. Apples are also generally a healthy treat option, but only if you are careful to refrain from feeding your furbaby the seeds. That being said, keep in mind that when fruits like apples are made into pies, added ingredients such as sugar are not so healthy for your furbaby. Of course, also remember that fruits like grapes and raisins are toxic to cats and dogs, so never feed those. Even cherries can be dangerous, especially if consumed in large quantities, as cyanide poisoning can result due to the contents of the stem, pit, and even leaves. So, to be safe, don't feed your furbaby cherries, cherry pie, and most certainly not chocolate covered cherries this holiday season. Ultimately, if you are not certain that a particular fruit or other food is safe for your furbaby, simply don't feed it as a treat.

Special Mancat Monday

Every once in a while, I like our Mancat Monday post to focus on why my mancat Evan is my hero. For those who might not know or remember, Evan is hind limb paralyzed. This is the result of a coyote attack that Evan survived just days before I met him, when he was roughly 6 weeks old. Obviously, Evan does not have typical use of his hind legs. But, that doesn't stop Evan one bit.

This boy walks in his own way, runs in his own way, plays and plays and plays in his own way, and even jumps in his own way.

Can you see why Evan's my hero? He's what you might call different, yes. But, Evan is also why I have come to adore the term specially abled. Evan is perfectly able to do whatever he pleases, just in a very special way. Nothing gets him down.

I know a lot of people often wonder why I don't hook Evan up with a set of wheels or something similar. That's a perfectly good question. The answer as to why Evan does not ever use anything along the lines of a wheelchair is that Evan does not enjoy having things strapped to him. I have tried, but he very much so does not like it, and he lets me know that. So, I just let him do as he pleases. Since he is more than happy with that, so am I.

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

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Art of the Day:

As we mentioned yesterday, over the next week or so we will be sharing some art that Ann of Zoolatry and myself created for each other. Ann asked me to create some magnets portraying some of the furbabies in her life. One of those furbabies is a handsome mancat named TK.

Drawing TK allowed me to try something new. In his many wise years, TK has developed cataracts. I honestly had never drawn eyes in this way before, but thanks to TK, I now know how. Moreover, TK is one handsome boy, and I found great joy in doodling this piece for him.

We also mentioned yesterday how Ann created for me some beautiful images using one of my favorite photos of my Angel Rosie and myself. (To see the original photo, visit this post here.) Just some of the images she created were ones for each season. The following is the lovely Spring image Ann created.

As always, Ann's work is beyond beautiful. We'll be sharing more of this art tomorrow!

Toesies Tuesday

My boy Evan gets to star in two posts in a row. He was of course here yesterday for Mancat Monday, and he's here now again for Toesies Tuesday.

As many of you know, Evan is hind limb paralyzed. His back legs do not function in a typical manner, and they are also often situated in atypical poses, as seen here. In a sitting position, usually at least one of Evan's hind paws is facing upward. I know that might seem strange, but it is perfectly normal for Evan. Even better, this gives me a constant shot of those pink jelly beans!

Happy Toesies Tuesday to all of our furiends!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

Can you guess which furbaby around here inspired this dancing doodle?

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Our Tip of the Day:

Did you know that on a 77°F day, asphalt can reach temperatures as high as 125°F? Imagine how hot it must be in temperatures such as 85°F, 90°F, or even above that. You can get an idea by touching your hand to the ground, even just briefly. If it feels hot and painful to your hand for even just that second, imagine your furbaby's paws having to remain on that hot ground during a walk. That's why, as we have mentioned before, it is important to take summer walks with your furbabies in the coolest parts of the day, such as early morning or late evening. Similarly, when going outdoors is necessary, try to ensure that grass or another cool surface is available, for both the comfort and the safety of their paws. Walking on hot pavement can indeed cause burns to a cat or dog's paw pads. Even those who are used to walking outdoors and have built up firm paw pads can still suffer from serious burns in this manner. So, if it's hot outside, be considerate of those paws. Don't go on long walks on pavement in the heat of the day, and do what you can to protect those paws if going outdoors is necessary. Your furbaby and their paws will thank you!

Mountain Climbing Mancat

It may be Monday, but that doesn't mean you can't conquer the world. After all, Cat World Domination Day was just this past weekend. But that's beside the point, sort of. Anyway, it's Monday, so who's ready to kick this week in the rear end? Mancat Evan sure is!

Evan always reminds this momma of his here that anything is possible. So what if your hind limbs are paralyzed? That doesn't mean you can't climb mountains.

And that's exactly what my hind limb paralyzed boy does. If he wants to climb the cat tree mountain, he makes it happen.

What is it they always say? Oh, yeah. Where there's a will, there's a way. That's it.

So, take Evan's advice, and climb a mountain or two on this Monday!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

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Our Tip of the Day:

Depending on a cat or dog's physiology, age, and overall health status, you may have to provide them with mobility aids, such as stepping stools, pet stairs, or ramps. These can be placed beside taller pieces of furniture, such as cat trees, beds, and couches, in order to help the furbaby to more easily reach them. As is obvious and which you certainly already know, this may be necessary for furbabies with various levels of paralysis, for those who are stiff or arthritic, and even for those who are simply overweight and therefore have difficulty jumping or climbing. For the kitties who are aging or arthritic, also ensure that their litter boxes have low sides for easy entrance, or place a short stool in front of it. Such as is Evan's case, you can even try putting more easily attainable pieces of furniture adjacent to those less so. For example, we have our low and therefore easily climbable couch directly next to the cat tree, forming a little highway for Evan's ease of travel. Sometimes all it takes is a little redecorating and a tad bit of creativity to make your furbaby's life a bit easier!

A Special Mancat Monday

As always, my boy Evan is here today for none other than Mancat Monday.

With his hind limbs paralysis, I have always been in the habit of calling Evan a special needs cat. However, recently I have been seeing the term specially abled used more and more frequently, and I am now extremely fond of this title. Evan may have special needs due to his condition, but he is indeed far more aptly described as specially abled.

Can Evan ambulate on four legs? No. But, that doesn't stop him from being anything less than a perfect cat. Thanks to his determination and innovation, Evan pulls himself up onto stools, couches, beds, and even jumps off of things at least as high as my waist. I used to panic and run to his aid when he'd pull such stunts. That is, until I realized they weren't stunts at all. They were Evan. They were his way of making do, his way of thriving and loving life. They were why he is specially abled.

No matter what kind of abled you are, we wish you a beautiful day!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

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Our Tip of the Day:
So that you're prepared for any potential medical emergency when it comes to your kitty or pup, always be sure to know and/or have immediate access to you veterinarian's phone number, as well as the nearest emergency clinic's number. If you're traveling with your furbaby, be sure to have access to contact information for veterinary clinics, including emergency ones, on your travels. Similarly, if you're traveling but your furbaby is staying home with a sitter, make sure you leave them the numbers for pertinent clinics. And, in case of an emergency, don't forget to always have your furbaby's medical records up-to-date and readily available. It's never fun to think there might be an emergency, but it's always best to be prepared nonetheless.