Wordy Wednesday Déjà Vu

Guess what, guys? Remember when I told you last week how I am on a mission to get a shot of pup Astrid's usual face, which is one that is smiling and all shades of happy instead of the pouty puppy shots she always shows you all? Well, I caught Astrid happy and smiling while looking out the window the other day. So, I snuck over with my camera and thought I'd stealthily snap some evidence. She saw me, though, and that camera in my hand. So, what did she do? This, she did this:

This little booger is turning my mission into one seemingly impossible task. But, I will prevail!

***

Today is Send a Card to a Friend Day. We actually meant to send some snail mail cards out to you friends of ours. But, alas, we did not accomplish that. So, we hope you'll accept this virtual card instead!

In case you were wondering, that there doodle was actually inspired by Astrid and one of my parents' cats, Trapper. I have shared Trapper here on our blog before.

Trapper is one of the litter mates of Thimble, as well as housemate Toby. He is more or less Thimble's look-alike, even if he is quite literally twice her size. Trapper is also one friendly and totally cool cat, and he also just so happens to be 110% in love with pup Astrid. So, that is how we got to that doodle up there.

We are wishing all of you friends of ours a beautiful day!

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Our Tip of the Day:

As part of our series of tips for National Pet Dental Health Month, today we'll be discussing some of the symptoms to look out for related to dental disease. First up, of course, is halitosis, or bad breath. This can signify any number of issues, including an infected tooth or gum disease. Of course, bad breath can also come with certain diseases, such as oral cancer or even kidney disease. For these reasons and more, never ignore abnormally rank breath in your cat or dog. Moving on from bad breath, though, if your kitty or pup is suffering from certain dental issues, they may also of course have a decreased appetite, or seem pained or have difficulties when eating. In some dental cases, you also might notice blood or excess drool coming from their mouth. There is also the chance you might visibly notice broken teeth, loose teeth, discolored teeth, or even tartar buildup. Also don't forget that the teeth are in close proximity to and therefore often linked to the eyes and nasal cavity, and so discharge from either of these can also potentially signify an oral concern. All in all, if you smell, see, or in any way notice concerns relating to your furbaby's mouth, or any part of their body, do be sure to have them examined by a veterinarian. Dental health can even be linked to other systems of the body, such as the heart, so this is again one of those cases in which it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Tushie Tuesday

We have done all sorts of Tuesday posts in the past. We've done Toesies Tuesdays, Tummy Tuesdays, Tabby Tuesdays, Tuxie Tuesdays, and even a bit of a Tortie Tuesday. Today, we have something a little different. This is none other than Tushie Tuesday!

Can you guess whose tushie that is? We won't keep you guessing long. That there tushie belongs to the ever elusive Eddy. She was standing all cute and pretty on my desk, so I asked her to smile for the camera. What did she do instead? Well, you already saw what she did. She turned around and waved her tushie at the camera.

I did get a couple of other shots from this photo shoot, but they are, not surprisingly, in Eddy's usual eccentric, blurry style.

Has any of you furry friends of ours ever had a Tushie Tuesday post? We'd sure love to see some of those cute tushies!

Happy Tuesday to all!

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Our Doodle of the Day:

We thought we'd go ahead and throw some Tortie into this Tuesday as well. So, here is a bit of a bookish tortie (much like our lovely friend Mudpie!).

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Our Tip of the Day:

Among other things, February is National Pet Dental Health Care Month. So, of course we'll be giving a couple of tips on keeping those pearly whites healthy and happy. Let's start with a quick discussion on at-home care and dental disease prevention. First and foremost, of course, is the act of brushing your furbaby's teeth, which can help remove food morsels, plaque, and other debris that could lead to tartar and other dental issues. Though this is not a job that every furbaby enjoys or even allows, if they are trained to accept it and it is done correctly, brushing can help keep those teeth healthy and happy. There are pet-friendly toothpastes and other oral cleansers out there, as well as pet-friendly toothbrushes and other similar tools for cleaning those teeth. There are even products on the market that more heavily focus on helping treat gum disease, such as for those furbabies with a history of gingivitis or stomatitis. Not all dental products are created equally, though, so if you are unsure what is safest or best for your furbaby, then most certainly discuss the options with your veterinarian.

There are also other types products on the market that can potentially help keep teeth as healthy as possible. These of course include treats and food formulated for dental health. This is something that again can be discussed with your veterinarian, as he or she will best be able to guide you to products that are the most reliable and effective.

Dental care can of course start at home, but do keep in mind that it is still possible for tartar, gingivitis or stomatitis, and other forms of dental disease to arise even with brushing and other at-home care being used. Tomorrow we'll discuss some of the symptoms you might notice if your furbaby's oral health is in need of further assistance.

Mancat Monday Motivation

Here we are at another Mancat Monday! Evan is our mancat of the day, and he decided that he wanted to showcase his whiskers for you all to enjoy.

Our housemate mancat Toby often gets compliments on his whiskers. His are white like Evan's, but he always gets told how stunning they are against his black fur. But, Evan says white on orange makes him just as mighty!

Speaking of mighty, our Sparks for today has perhaps a little to do with that thought. Sparks is a blog hop hosted by Annie of McGuffy's Reader, and it encourages us to share positive thoughts each week.

I have started on a mission to always try to incorporate my Sparks each Monday with my doodle for that day. So, here is today's doodled up motivational thought:

 Wishing you all a magnificent Monday!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Our last tip related to Spay/Neuter Awareness Month is to make sure that you know and follow the proper pre-op preparation and post-op treatment for your furbaby's operation. Just as with any anesthetic event, there are some rules that will need to be heeded for your furbaby's health and safety. To begin, a cat or dog's food should be withheld well in advance to going under. Ask your veterinarian how early to pull your kitty or pup's food, as their age can affect this. For example, adults may need their access to food cut off at 10 pm or thereabouts the night before surgery, whereas young kittens or puppies may need to be allowed access to food until the early hours of the morning of their surgery. Of course, also ask your veterinarian if there are other requirements prior to surgery. The at-home care will continue after the surgery as well, of course, so also be sure that you follow these instructions from your veterinarian. For example, make sure you know how much and how often to give any medications that are sent home with your furbaby after surgery, which may include pain killers or antibiotics. It is also of course important to keep spayed neutered furbabies calm, so that they can recover safely. This is especially important for females, so that their abdominal sutures remain intact and their incisions heal properly. If necessary, a kitten or pup can be secluded to a safe area of the house, where they can recover and heal as needed. Spaying and neutering is incredibly important, but so is the care required before and after the surgery itself.

Sunday Selfies

Sometimes, I have to beg the furbabies around here to stop their snoozing and snap some selfies to share. Other times, I actually find myself with a purrfectly willing participant.

Today, Thimble was more than excited to snap this cute, nosy selfie to share with you all. She was so excited, though, that this photo shoot also had its share of blurry little bloopers. Want to see some of those, too?

Around here, our photo shoots usually result in far more bloopers than usable shots. Surely we're not the only ones with that problem. Are we?

Anyway, Thimble's nosy shots are of course our entry into this week's Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by the fantastic Kitties Blue over at The Cat on My Head.

Happy Sunday!

***

Our Doodle of the Day:

Did you know that today is Thank a Mailman Day?

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Our Tip of the Day:

For today's Spay/Neuter Awareness Month tip, we're discussing how it is important to be aware of your cat or dog's age and size, and to have them spayed or neutered at an appropriate, safe, effective time of their kittenhood or puppyhood. This is important, for one, because cats can potentially become pregnant as early as 4 or so months of age. Dogs fall not far behind that, with the potential for becoming pregnant at 5 or so months old. Should your kitten or puppy get loose, this means they could come back pregnant even at such a young age.

In addition, spaying or neutering your furbaby before they go through their first estrus or pregnancy will give them the best chance of remaining free from related health issues later in life, such as mammary cancer. Spaying or neutering before their first cycle can also help to potentially reduce the display of certain behaviors, such as spraying. Though certain such health or behavioral issues can still arise even if a furbaby is spayed or neutered, having this surgery performed before their first cycle can reduce the risk.

So, then, when should you have your cat or dog spayed or neutered? The short answer is to discuss this with your veterinarian. Ultimately, it depends on the individual animal's overall health and development. For typical, healthy kittens and puppies, the AVMA has endorsed spaying and neutering as early as two month of age, and/or when the kitten or puppy has reached two pounds. Many shelters and rescues follow this practice. Some veterinarians will prefer to wait a little longer, such as when the kitten or puppy has reached three, four, or even five months of age. Essentially, a veterinarian will best be able to determine when is the best time for your furbaby to be safely and effectively spayed or neutered, so of course discuss this with a professional.

Mother Nature Mashup

We made a little doodle for Groundhog Day yesterday. We felt like doing another one today, just because.

This little doodle is also in honor of our wildly confused weather these days. The other night I awoke to thunder storms, and then that same afternoon the temperature dropped 30°F and it snowed. We're putting a APB out for Mother Nature so that we can ask her what gives.

Of course, this silly little doodle is our contribution to Athena's fantastically fun Caturday Art blog hop.

Be sure to visit Athena in order to see the art all of our friends have crafted up!

Happy Caturday to all!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Today, our Spay/Neuter Awareness Month tip is all about behavior. Yesterday we gave some examples of how spaying and neutering can benefit a cat or dog's health, and the same can be said for their behavior. For example, a cat or dog who is not spayed or neutered will often be more inclined to escape outside, such as to run off and find a hot date. Nobody likes the scare of a loose or lost furbaby, and especially not if they come back with news of a surprise pregnancy. So, to reduce any hormonally-induced escapes, of course have your furbabies spayed or neutered. This is not the only behavior affected by hormones and spaying and neutering, though. Cats and dogs who are not spayed or neutered are also more likely to display aggression, also often due to their hormones. In addition, there is the chance that they will spray or mark their territory, as well as the chance that they will be more vocal and might yowl, such as at windows or doors, especially if they are in estrus and therefore instinctively calling for a mate. These and other potential behavioral concerns can often be reduced or eliminated altogether if a cat or dog is spayed or neutered. So, in case you didn't already have enough good reasons, please spay and neuter your cats and dogs!

Happy Friday!

We're happy to be wishing you all a happy Friday! After all, Friday is one of our favorite days of the week. This Friday, just like every Friday, we're participating in the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by the wonderful Ellen of 15andmeowing and Annie of McGuffy's Reader.

Our hosts always give us four fantastic fill-ins each week. Here are this week's:

1. Trust _________.
2. I would protest _________.
3. I have _________ since _________.
4. Right now, I _________.

I always try to keep my wits about me when filling in these fantastic fill-ins, but sometimes I fall short. I'll let you all be the judge of my answers.

1. "Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do." -Benjamin Spock
(Wise words, Dr. Spock.)

2. I would protest declawing.
(Do you want to hear a sad truth? My Angel Rosie was declawed, on all four paws, the poor girl. My parents had been told by a veterinarian when they got her back in the early '90s that declawing was the best way to reduce the scratching of humans and furniture. They didn't know any better back then. Rosie ended up with arthritis in every single one of her vertebrae due to her altered ambulation from the declawing. She still lived a happy, long life of 21 years. Nevertheless, I will never, ever declaw a cat. My parents learned the truth of the matter as well, and they now have 11 fully clawed cats, with a total of 198 claws that I trim for them every 2 weeks.)

3. I have loved books since I was a toddler.
(My dad read bedtime stories to my sister and me nearly every night even when we were just very, very little girls. I loved picking out books, hearing the stories, and then reading them myself when I learned to read. I have also been collecting books since childhood, and my collection may or may not have gotten completely out of hand.)

4. Right now, I am snuggled up next to Evan.
(I went very literal with this answer. But, it's the truth. My current location is the couch. That means my momma's boy Evan is snuggled up against me. He and I are both very happy.)

***

Our regular readers probably know what's next in this Friday post. And that is...Eddy!

In true Eddy style, this shot is blurry and far less than ideal in quality. But, it does gloriously show off her adorable snaggletooth, and that's a win if you ask this momma of Eddy.

Now, yesterday, Thimble shared a petting preference chart that we colored in just for her. We got the fun little chart from lovely Mudpie's blog.

Today, we have filled it in for Eddy.

Now, let's clarify one thing. This chart pretty much only applies to me, Eddy's mom. For anyone else—except maybe my sister, whom Eddy allows to be in her presence—all of the areas of her body are a big fat "NO!!" For me, though, Eddy loves head rubs, back rubs, and even (perhaps especially) belly rubs. It's pretty much just the legs and the tooshie that are typically a no-no.

We hope all of you friends of ours have a fabulous Friday!

***

Our Doodle of the Day:

Happy Groundhog Day!

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Our Tip of the Day:

With February being Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, we are giving some tips on this significant topic over the next couple of days. Today, we have a few words on how a kitty or pup's health can benefit from being spayed or neutered. Just to give a couple of examples, spaying a female cat or dog can eliminate the risk of uterine cancer or infection, and can reduce the risk of mammary cancer. For male cats and dogs, neutering can eliminate the concern of testicular cancer and can reduce the risk of diseases of the prostate. Of course, pregnancy itself can be risky, so a spayed cat or dog is also free of unexpected pregnancy and the dangers that come with it. There are a great many other health benefits that can potentially result for having a cat or dog spayed or neutered. Due to their reduced risks of various diseases, spayed or neutered cats and dogs are sometimes more likely to live longer, healthier lives. So, of course, spay and neuter your pets! And, as we mentioned yesterday, also consider assisting with or donating to the neutering efforts of feral colonies, so that these furbabies can also live as healthy of lives as possible.

Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

Here we are at another Thursday! Isn't that just wonderful? As usual, we'll kick off our Thursday with the Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge, hosted by the always wonderful Angel Sammy and Teddy.

Our hosts have been giving us some incredibly fun and inspiring photos as prompts for our poems each week. The photo prompt for this week is this here:

You know, I had a long explanation all written out for how I got from that photo up there to my poem that you can read below. I ended up cutting my rambling discourse out of this post, though, because it was painfully dull and really didn't explain anything at all. So, long story short, I have always been intrigued by beautiful structures such as castles, I have always loved reading magical and fantastical stories, and apparently I can't write a poem without creating some weird and random sort of story line to guide me through it. That all being said, you will now meet Frannie and Fred.

Frannie and Fred

Once upon a time, a witch lived in her castle on the hill.

The townsfolk said that with a wave of her wand she could make you iller than ill.

It was even said she could turn you into a goblin,

With nothing but a stir of her bubbling cauldron.
Her name was Frannie,
And the mere thought of her turned the hands of the townsfolk clammy.

Frannie could often be seen gazing out her castle window,

Watching the fearful folk hustling and bustling in the town below.

The townsfolk said she was nothing but wicked,

And that a mere look from her eye would leave you stricken.

Even Frannie's big black cat was feared,
And of its path the townsfolk steered clear.
His name was Fred,
And he was the source of much dread.

But the truth is that every story has two sides.

The same goes for Frannie and Fred who in their castle on the hill did reside.

These two were not what the townsfolk made them out to be.

They were more than simply what the eye could see.

The witch did oft gaze out her window,

And from it watched the townsfolk below.
But never once did she strike anyone down,
And nor did she let loose a goblin in town.

She would stand at her window with her loyal feline friend,
Whom each day to the town the witch would send.

Fred the black cat would strut from the castle door,
Seeing and sniffing what the outdoors had in store.
Into town each day he would make his way,
And the sight of him would turn the townsfolk grey.

But Fred was quite happy being shunned,
As he was simply content with a quiet nap in the sun.
He would spend his days in town wherever he pleased.
It was no matter to him if it left the townsfolk aggrieved.

But catching a snooze was not all Fred had in store.
He was not simply in town to show off his snore.
While he spent his days among the folk,
He perked his ears to hear all that they spoke.

One day Mr. Miser told his friends of his debt,
And about her wilting roses Old Lady Lotus did fret.
Of these comments Fred made careful note,
Even as into the land of dreams he did float.
He never stopped listening to those nearby,
And he took special notice when little girl Sally began to cry.
She bemoaned the loss of her favorite doll.
She was certain she would never again see it at all.

After a full day of eavesdropping on the folk in town,
Fred returned to his castle as the sun went down.
He sat by the window of the castle on the hill,
And all the details of the day to Frannie he did spill.

Then Frannie waved her wand and spoke a few simple words,
Which were the most beautiful thing you could have ever heard.
That was all it took for Mr. Miser to find himself debt-free,
And Old Lady Lotus's roses to become a sight to see.
As for the little girl Sally,
Her doll reappeared and she was quite happy.

For that was the way of Frannie and Fred.
They did not truly intend to be the source of dread.
Frannie perhaps stayed in the confines of her castle,
But that was simply because she was really quite bashful.
Neither she nor Fred were even a little bit wicked,
But more along the lines of quiet and timid.

They considered the townsfolk their people,
Whether or not the folk thought them evil.
They were content being the folks' friends from a distance,
Even if the folk shunned their very existence.
Onto the townsfolk Frannie and Fred did joy secretly pour.
After all, is that not exactly what friends are for?

***

Okay, everybuddy, my mom has jabbered on long enough today. Now you get to spend some time with me, Thimble!

First, let's start with a bright and shiny picture of me.

I just love my cat tree and the sunshine.

Now, though, I have something else to share with you. Our tortie pal Mudpie very recently shared an image to help kitties show what their petting preferences are.

Mudpie filled this out for herself, and I loved that idea. So, I filled it out for me, too. It really wasn't that difficult for me to pick what and where to color the image in.

I don't care where, just pet me! Getting petted is one of my favorite things in the whole wide world. I especially love having my tummy rubbed.

How about all of you? How woudl your chart look? Where do you like being petted?

Of course, we wouldn't leave yet, not without participating in Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, I am thankful for my favorite cat tree, for sunshine, and for petting sessions. We're all also of course so very thankful for our family and friends. We are so lucky to have friends like all of you.

We wish you all a wonderful Thursday!

Purrs,

Thimble

***

Our Tip of the Day:

February is a significant month. It is Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, as well as National Pet Dental Health Month and National Cat Health Month. Over the next few days, or perhaps even weeks, we're going to give some tips and facts on these important topics. We'll start with spaying and neutering. As you all surely know, spaying and neutering your pets, as well as ferals outdoors, helps significantly reduce cat and dog overpopulation. This in turn reduces the number of homeless animals, the number of furbabies awaiting homes in shelters, and the number who are, sadly, euthanized due to lack of space in the shelter system. That being said, if possible, consider assisting in or donating to trap-neuter-release (TNR) efforts, so that even those kitties who are most comfortable with an outdoor life can enjoy a life that does not involve contributing to pet overpopulation. All of us here certainly love animals, but all of us also certainly feel heartbroken when we remember that there are a great many cats and dogs without homes due to uncontrolled reproduction and overpopulation. So, have your pets spayed and neutered, and, if possible, do what you can to help in the efforts to have feral colonies spayed and neutered as well. Stay tuned tomorrow for some facts and tips on the health benefits of spaying and neutering your furbabies!