Friendly Fill-Ins

Happy Friday! Let's get started with the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. If you'd like to participate but missed the fill-in statements yesterday, we'll share them again here. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I like ketchup on my _________.

2. _________ reminds me of _________.

3. It pains me to _________.

4. I can't _________ without _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. I like ketchup on my tater tots.

(You know those crisped, bite-sized bits of potatoes? Like little hash brown cylinders? I don't know if they exist in other areas of the world or what they're called elsewhere, but where I'm from in the Midwest region of the United States, we call them tater tots. I love them, and I love eating them with ketchup.)

2. Applesauce reminds me of my childhood.

(Talk about a weird and random answer, huh? Honestly, though, I recently ate applesauce for the first time in years. Not only do I find applesauce delicious, but it really does remind me of when I was a kid. I'm sure this is because applesauce was a common childhood snack for me, it often made it into my lunchbox for school, and it was also one of the foods I'd eat when I had a stomach bug as a kid. So, there's that strange tidbit for you.)

3. It pains me to take my kitties to the vet.

(Every single one of my kitties is terrified of car rides and equally terrified of the vet. None of them have ever showed aggression while there, but they still cry and curl up into sad little balls. Thimble, who went to the vet on Wednesday, is also akin to panting when in the car or at the vet. I hate seeing her open-mouth breathe like that. I know taking them to the vet is for their own good, but it still pains me to do it, because it makes them so scared. It especially pains me that the pandemic is currently leading to curbside vet care in our area, and so all I can do is hand my kitty over in the parking lot and watch them go inside without me.)

4. I can't leave my house without saying goodbye to all of my furbabies.

(Sometimes it takes me forever to leave my house, simply because I'm finding and telling each kitty or pup goodbye. I can't help myself. I have to let them all know that they are the best things ever and that I'll be back later. Because obviously they understand me and care so much.)

Now it's your turn!

To add your link to the Friendly Fill-Ins Linky list, just click HERE!

You can also click on the badge below to add your link.

You are also welcome to complete the fill-ins in the comments below,

or in the comments on Ellen's blog, 15andmeowing.

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Ready for your Eddy fix? Today, Eddy again refused to look at the camera. When I offered her an open window and asked her to smile for the camera, she moseyed away on the window sill.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Doodle of the Day

How about another doodle in our Edgar Allan Poe series, of course also starring his tortie Catterina? Today's installment is a bit more basic, I guess you could say. It was inspired by the chilling waters that claimed Annabel Lee's life in her macabre namesake poem. Though a bit morbid, that is actually one of my favorite poems of all time.

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Tip of the Day

Today, Eddy posed for a photo in her favorite window. In line with that, we're going to give a couple of possible options for keeping kitties and pups safe around the screens of open windows. After all, no one wants their cat or dog to bust through the window screen, fall from the window, and become injured or lost. So, to begin, there are window screens on the market that are specifically designed to be resistant to tears and punctures, such as from paws and their claws. If you are looking to replace or otherwise pet-proof your windows, perhaps look into this pet-safe type of screen. Another simple option is to add extra layers of screen, to serve as extra lines of defense when your kitty or pup is in the window. You can find ways to add extra layers of screen to the frame of the window, or even attempt to just tape or otherwise adhere the extra layers of screens. Just one more example of a way to pet-proof a window is to buy or DIY a blockade to put between your kitty or pup and that window screen. There are indeed such products on the market, some of them being more or less like baby gates that can be fitted into the window. All in all, our cats and dogs can enjoy and benefit from window sessions, but it's of course important to find a way to make windows a safe place for your furbaby to sit. 

Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

Happy Thursday! Let's start with our rhyme for Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge.

As always, our host shared a photo prompt to help get our creative juices flowing. This week's prompt is this nostalgic image here:

For this one, I honestly just looked at the image and started writing. I didn't really know where I was going to end up with my poem, but I ended up here:

The Spilled Milk Mystery

Nancy enjoyed milk in all sorts of forms.
She drank it with cereal or plain, cold or warm.
Every day, Nancy awaited the delivery of her milk,
Brought by the friendly and kind milkman named Bill.

The only problem was that sometimes someone else reached the milk first.
Nancy would go outside only to find there was no milk left to quench her thirst.
Instead, the lids of her milk bottles would be here, there, and everywhere,
With the bottles themselves empty of everything but the morning sun's glare.
Sometimes a puddle of milk might be left on the ground,
But drinking that was an idea Nancy found quite unsound.

"Who is stealing and spilling my milk?" Nancy asked aloud one day.
After all, she had just found her milk bottles empty and in complete disarray.
There they lie scattered all over the front walk,
Empty and dryer than a piece of sidewalk chalk.

Taking the empty bottles inside and preparing herself for a milkless day,
Nancy decided she would find the culprit in some sort of way.
In the end, she realized she would simply have to play the part of a spy.
She would await tomorrow's delivery with a keen and watchful eye.

And so, Nancy woke up at the break of day.
She knew Bill the milkman always started his route without delay.
And so she parked herself right beside the window,
Where she watched, quiet and stooped low.

Before long, Bill arrived with the milk as he whistled a tune.
Sitting right there and not saying hello made Nancy feel really quite rude.
She was on a big, grand mission, though.
The identity of her milk thief she would soon know.

Nancy waited and watched and waited and watched.
She could hear the arms ticking and moving on her clock.
Nancy eagerly jumped when something moved in the bushes outside,
But it turned out just to be a bright orange cat with stripes.

Sighing, Nancy continued to spy out the front window.
Would the culprit sneak up on their tiptoes?
Was the spiller and thief of her milk a neighbor she knew?
Nancy would continue her watch to find out, even if it took until noon.

Nancy did not have to wait long, though.
In fact, she had already caught sight of her culprit, she just hadn't known.
Indeed, it was the orange cat from the bushes who tiptoed up to the milk.
He approached the bottles, moving as soft and quiet as silk.

Just like that, the cat began knocking the milk bottles to the ground.
Then, he began lapping up all the milk he had found.
Nancy could not help but laugh at the sight.
Was a cat really the first culprit she'd caught as a spy?

Still at the window, Nancy then took a closer look.
The poor cat, she finally thought, looked like a sad little crook.
He was skinny and looked like he might enjoy a much more well-rounded meal.
Now frowning, Nancy went to the kitchen and grabbed some tuna and a cheese wheel.

She cracked the front door open and sat down just outside.
Then she said hello to the cat in a voice quieter than even a sigh.
The cat jumped, but then put its nose in the air.
It approached the scent of tuna with a great deal of care.
The orange feline stepped on the porch with Nancy only after a full investigation,
And then quite some time later finally began eating the tuna and cheese with hesitation.

Nancy sat as still as a statue while the cat ate.
She spoke to it only after it had finished its plate.
"You're just skin and bones," she said to the cat.
"You must not have a family, not when you look like that."

Then Nancy said to the cat, "Would you like to come inside?
You can nap on the couch, or you're free to hide."
With another serving of tuna as a bribe,
Slowly but surely, Nancy lured the skinny kitty inside.
And so, after that day, Nancy had a cat.
She also had milk again after that,
Milk that of course she shared with her new orange cat.

***

Next up, how about we share some gratitude for Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop?

What is Thimble thankful for today?

Thimble is thankful that her vet visit from yesterday is done and over with. She's also thankful that she got an A+ from the veterinarian. In the past, Thimble's annual exams have revealed anywhere from impacted earwax to resorptive lesions in her mouth. This year, though, she's free of all of that. That makes both her and myself very happy.

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Last but not least, how about the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge? Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I like ketchup on my _________.

2. _________ reminds me of _________.

3. It pains me to _________.

4. I can't _________ without _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Tip of the Day

To go along with our poem today, we're going to share a tip we've already shared before. It's relevant and a potentially important message, though, so here goes. Let's talk about dairy. Not all furbabies are intolerant to dairy, but some indeed are. This is because, just as in some humans, some cats and dogs lack sufficient lactase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down lactose, the sugar found in dairy. If a lactose intolerant kitty or pup consumes dairy, they may display symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting.

Keeping the above in mind, especially if giving dairy to a kitty or pup for the first time, don't offer much, and keep an eye on your furbaby for a few hours to monitor if gastrointestinal issues arise. Obviously, if there is any vomiting or diarrhea, do not give any more dairy. On the other hand, if no symptoms arise within 12 hours or so, that particular furbaby may not be lactose intolerant. It also might be worth noting that certain forms of dairy contain less lactose and therefore have less likelihood of causing symptoms of lactose intolerance. Forms of dairy low in lactose include hard cheeses, yogurt, and other cultured dairy products. All in all, though, if your kitty or pup is lactose intolerant, simply avoid feeding diary in order to prevent unnecessary gastrointestinal symptoms. Even if your furbaby is not lactose intolerant, it's still wise to feed human foods only in moderation, or not at all.

Woof Woof Wednesday

 Guess where pup Astrid's posing today?

That's right. Pup Astrid is, yet again, posing in her beloved window. Surprised? Yeah, neither are we.

Oh, and do you like Astrid's grey fur on her snout? This girl is 7 years old and she's proud of her wise furs of grey. Honestly, though, Astrid started getting a grey muzzle when she was something like 2 years old. Either way, we just let Astrid believe all that grey is a sign of her wisdom.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I have more doodles in my new Edgar Allan Poe series to share, but I realized that the flashback I was going to share on Friday would better fit today's post. Why? Simply because it stars pup Astrid. So, in order to let Astrid have the honor of sharing her flashback doodle, we'll share it today and then share a new doodle rather than a flashback on Friday. That being said, this flashback still sort of correlates with our spooky doodles we've been sharing. I scribbled this doodle up right around this same time last year, after seeing a macabre typewriter Halloween decoration at a store.

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Did you know?

According to some statistical sources, the average dog might start getting grey hair, such as around their snout, when they are roughly 5 years old. When it comes to cats, some statistics indicate they're more likely to start getting grey furs, or other similar color changes associated with age, when they are somewhere around 8 to 12 years old. Honestly, though, all of this depends on the individual animal, their genetics, their circumstances, their overall health, and so on and so forth. Some animals go grey or show other such signs of age much earlier in their life, whereas others might never develop such traits at all. Either way, a dog or even cat getting grey furs is nothing to worry about in most cases. If you do have any concerns about your furbaby's coat or their age and how it's affecting them, then of course discuss this with a veterinarian.

Tonks Tuesday

 Some poor little calico had her annual exam at the dreaded V-E-T yesterday.

Thanks to a certain pandemic, it's still curbside care at our vet's office. It breaks my heart to send my babies in there without me, but I guess it simply is what it is. Tonks got an A+ from the vet. I was told she's in perfect health, which makes me a happy mom. Tonks was of course very uncertain and nervous, but she's not an aggressive girl and so she just turned into a scared little statue for the veterinary staff.

Next up, Thimble goes in for her annual. That's happening tomorrow. Though she gets nervous at the vet, Thimble's always a total sweetheart and never poses a problem. She's also been dropped off at the vet on many occasions because of various ailments and surgeries, so though it makes her nervous (as well as me nervous), I know she's sort of used to being there without me.

Evan isn't due for his annual exam until December. Like most of my cats, he also turns into a statue at the vet. I don't know whether our vet will still be doing curbside care come winter. If they are, Evan won't go all feral on them or anything like that, but he will very likely urinate and defecate on them. That's his go-to defense mechanism at the vet's office. Evan is the only cat for whom I prepare a "diaper bag" when I go to the vet. Said "diaper bag" always contains paper towels, regular towels, Evan's shampoo spray, bags for soiled towels, and all that jazz. If I'm not allowed to go in with Evan in December, I'll have a "diaper bag" ready in case the vet wants to take it in with them. Evan's nervous habits can get very, very messy.

And then there's Eddy. My Eddy girl is still wildly overdue for an exam and vaccinations. That is absolutely my fault. All I can say is that she is the most skittish cat I've ever shared my life with, and she is an absolute nightmare to get into any carrier I've ever tried for her. Eddy was trapped by a local rescue as a semi-feral kitten in the country, and ever since then she has expressed an intense and very violent fear of anything that resembles a cage. She also is terrified of every human who is not me, so unless she gives me a distinct reason to take her in during this pandemic, she's not going to the vet until I'm allowed to go in with her. I've considered at-home vet visits for her, but she she's proven more likely to freeze when at that vet, whereas at home she absolutely panics when strangers enter the house and she becomes impossible to catch or hold. I have also discussed with our vet giving Eddy a bit of sedation to get her in a carrier, but the vet and I both have a suspicion that Eddy's extreme and very physical fear will cause her to override most sedatives that can be given at home. That's not to say that won't be an option to at least try in the future, though.

Anyway, now I'm just rambling. Yet again. As mentioned above, calico Tonks got an A+ at her vet visit yesterday. She's my smallest cat. She's tall but skinny, and she weighs in at exactly 9 lbs. Then again, my other 3 kitties are only 10 to 11 lbs each, so it's not like my cats have a vast range of weights. Our housemates Toby and Winky weigh something like 16 and 12 lbs, respectively, so they're the biggest cats in the house. And then there's pup Astrid, who officially weighed 82 lbs at her annual exam last month.

So, are your veterinary clinics doing curbside care at this point in time? What are your thoughts on curbside care? I both understand it and admittedly dislike it, but the latter could very well be due to the overprotective stance I take when it comes to my furry children.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is sort of in line with the new Edgar Allan Poe series we've been sharing the past couple of days. Sort of . This was actually a doodle I scribbled up this time last year, when I realized it was summer but I still wanted to draw something spooky.

We're not yet done with our Edgar Allan Poe series of doodles, which of course also star Poe's feline companion Catterina. Stay tuned over the next week or so still to see at least a couple more doodles in this series. What's your favorite poem or story by Edgar Allan Poe? I'm quite enjoying scribbling up my Poe-inspired series of doodles, and I would be more than willing to create a couple of extra doodles based on some of Poe's other poems or stories that you friends of ours enjoy the most.

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Did you know?

Did you know that 1 lb of extra weight on a typical domestic cat is the equivalent of roughly 15 lbs on a 5'4" woman? Obviously, our kitties at home are smaller than us, which means that any small amount of excess weight they carry can greatly affect their small body's overall health and well-being. For this reason, do your best to feed your cat only a reasonable amount of food, limit their treat intake, help them stay active, and discuss any concerns about weight with their veterinarian.

Mancat Monday

 It's Mancat Monday, so how about a cozy mancat named Evan to kick off your week?

That there is Evan enjoying a nap by the back door he loves so much, and he's enjoying that nap on his beloved cube. Some of you might remember that Evan occasionally has urinary incontinence when sleeping, very likely related to his hind limb paralysis. Sometimes, Evan's cube falls victim to this incontinence. Since it's not exactly plausible to stick a giant cube in the washing machine, it very often gets sprayed down with soap and water and then gets a final wash with enzyme cleaner. For a bit of info on cat urine and enzyme cleaners, see our tip at the end of this post.

Happy Monday to all!

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Doodle of the Day

Today's doodle in our newest series, starring Edgar Allan Poe and his tortie Catterina, was inspired by my favorite of Poe's short stories, that being The Fall of the House Usher. This is more or less the story of a haunted house, but of course with a few twists and turns in there.

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Tip of the Day

Cat urine is composed of a variety of chemicals. Most of these chemicals, such as the urea in urine, are water soluble. This means that soap and water, as well as other traditional cleaners, will work to remove them. However, cat urine also contains uric acid, which is not water soluble. Initially, soap and water or other basic cleaners might mask the remnants and odor of uric acid. However, especially when exposed to humidity, uric acid essentially reforms and that odor of cat smell is thereby reinvigorated. To further explain this in a more scientific sense, because of its uric acid content, cat urine has a half-life of 6 years. This means that in 6 years, only half of the original content of the urine, or uric acid, has decayed or disappeared.

All of the above being said, due to the fact that uric acid is not water soluble, enzymes are often required to fully break down the uric acid. So, if your cat urinates outside of their litter box, and especially if they urinate on carpet or a piece of furniture, consider using an enzyme cleaner to eliminate the stain and odor. For safety and efficiency, it is of course best to get a pet-friendly enzyme cleaner, such as one specifically designed to remove cat urine. Also follow the directions of the enzyme cleaner, as even instructions to let the cleaner air dry are there for reasons related to chemical reactions and efficiency. These enzyme cleaners can help reduce that stubborn odor of cat urine, thereby leaving your house smelling fresh, but they are also crucial in helping reduce the potential for future behaviors related to urinating outside of the litter box. After all, if a cat stumbles upon an area of the carpet that smells of cat urine, they might think it perfectly justified to urinate there again. So, grab yourself some pet-friendly enzyme cleaner and remove that odor.

Sunday Selfie

 Evan snapped an excited, off-center selfie for you all today!

Evan just can't control his excitement when he's rolling around in sun puddles. He hopes you all don't mind. In fact, he's wishing you all lots of your own sun puddles today!

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Doodle of the Day

After a fight with our internet that put a kink in our Caturday Art plans yesterday, we're finally sharing the first doodle in our newest series, which stars Edgar Allan Poe and his beloved cat, Catterina.

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Tip of the Day

If your cat goes outdoors, do your best to keep them from catching and eating prey. Of course, also do so in the event that prey finds its way indoors. Though in the wild cats consume prey to survive, domesticated cats who are fed by their people don't need prey in order survive. What's more, this prey could potentially get your kitty sick. For example, a variety of prey, such as mice and birds, could lead your kitty to developing tapeworm. Birds and mice can also pass on to a cat diseases such as toxoplasmosis, and salmonella is another disease that cats can get from birds. Some such diseases could not only make your beloved kitty sick, but could be passed on to you. There's even the probably rare but still possible chance that a cat could choke on or get an obstruction from the skull of a mouse or bird that they eat and that gets stuck. From what I've seen first hand at the cat clinic where I used to work, cats can indeed get the skulls or mice or birds lodged in their throat, intestines, and so on and so forth. So, all in all, to prevent disease and injury, simply do your best to keep your kitty from consuming prey.

Caturday Art

Hello, friends! I will be sharing a Caturday Art doodle, but it will be up later today. I've been fighting with my internet since yesterday, and it's still not cooperating this morning. I'm typing this using the data on my phone, but I need my actual computer hooked up to the internet in order to upload my Caturday Art contribution. There are days when technology makes life easier, and there are days when it tests my patience to limits I never knew I had. Anyway, I hope to get my internet sorted out very soon, but if nothing else, I'll just go to my parents' house later and make use of their internet.

Long story short, I hope your weekend is getting off to a lovely start, and if you'd like to see our Caturday Art, it will be up later today!

EDIT: The internet issues seem to finally be resolved! The only problem is that it's nearly evening now. Because of this, I've decided that the Caturday Art we'll be sharing today is going to be a flashback one. I just don't know how I feel about sharing our newest doodle so late in the day. After all, as we mentioned yesterday, we're moving on to a new series of doodles inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, I'm really quite excited by this new series of doodles, and I hate to share the first one so late in the day. So, the first Poe-inspired doodle is now ready and queued up for tomorrow.

What flashback doodle will we share today, then? We're going all the way back to 2018. What's more, this doodle is a sort of summery one. The reason we're moving on to doodles inspired by Edgar Allan Poe is because I'm already eager for autumn and Halloween. Before we move on to those macabre vibes, therefore, we'll share a flashback summer doodle to even things out.

S'more, anyone? Or would you prefer a flaming marshmallow?

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Tip of the Day

How about a common sense tip all of you probably know? It's still an important topic, though, so we'll go ahead with it. This tip is to keep your kitty or pup's safety in mind when partaking in any bonfires, cookouts, and the like. An open fire like the one in our doodle is of course a major safety hazard, so if your cat or dog joins you in any such activity, keep them well away from the fire. Whether this means keeping them on a leash far away from the fire, in a caged area removed from danger, or simply keeping them inside, do what you must to ensure your furbaby's health and safety. In addition, if you're having another type of cookout, also keep your kitty or pup away from grills and any other heat sources. What's more, keep other factors of cookouts and summer events in mind. For example, a curious and hungry furbaby might try to steal the makings for s'mores, or any other food left in their reach. To avoid potential food toxicity, pancreatitis, or any other number of ailments that can result from eating certain foods, keep watch over those furbabies and make sure they don't get into any trouble as a result of you or someone you know having a cookout of any kind.