Friendly Fill-Ins

Hello and welcome to the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge! We'd love for you to join us in the fun. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that _________.

2. I am disappointed with _________.

3. I _________ when I hear _________.

4. I didn't believe _________ until I saw it for myself.

My answers are below in bold. This week, they're yet again all about the furbabies, and I yet again rambled far more than necessary.

1. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that quite a few non-prescription canned cat foods have low ash content.
(Though Evan's urethral blockage back in December was not caused by stones or crystals, I still now try to only feed him food that is for urinary health or that at least has a low ash content, as those minerals can lead to issues in cats with feline lower urinary tract disease. I have found a urinary tract health dry food that Evan will willingly and even happily eat. When it comes to canned food, though, I have had no luck in getting him to eat the kinds that are specifically for cats with urinary tract disease. So, after doing some research and talking to Evan's regular vet, I went on a mission to find canned cat food with ash content of roughly 3% or less. To my surprise, I found quite a few options, even within my kitties' favorite brands, like Fancy Feast and Friskies.)

2. I am disappointed with the quality of pup Astrid's current stock of poop bags.

(Weird answer, I know, but it's true. I've never had poop bags that rip so easily. You remove it from the roll a bit too emphatically? Torn poop bag. You stick your hand in there just wrong? Rip. You breathe wrong? The bag's integrity just can't handle it. The worst is when you don't notice one has ripped, and then suddenly there's you-know-what all over your hands. Even better when you're on a walk far from home and have to walk home like that. It's a glamorous life.)

3. I flinch when I hear Tonks running up behind me.

(This calico girl of mine is the kind of kitty that will take a flying leap off the ground so that she can land on your back or shoulder. She prefers to do so when you're bent over, like when you're trying to scoop litter boxes, but she'll also happily do this when you're standing straight up. She's actually pretty graceful about it, but when she's due for a nail trim, it can be quite painful. She also loves to use this time to bite my hair and more or less rip it out of my scalp. And she loves bobby pins, so if I'm wearing any of those, sayonara to them. I love that my sweet Tonks finds so much joy in jumping on me and climbing me like a jungle gym, but I still often flinch when I hear or see her running at me, because sometimes her enthusiasm is kind of scary.)

4. I didn't believe Feliway really worked until I saw it for myself.

(In an attempt to make this explanation less than the length of a novel, I'll first say that my incredibly skittish and sometimes semi-feral girl Eddy responded to the stress and general craziness surrounding Astrid's CCL surgery and Evan's urethral blockage by overgrooming and pulling out the hair on her sides. Giving her amitriptyline actually helped, but it got to a point where she would run from me and hide every time I walked into a room, as she hates being given medications of any kind. I couldn't let that be her life, so I opted to instead try Feliway diffusers. I hadn't seen many benefits with Feliway in the past when it was used at the cat clinic where I used to work, but for Eddy I grabbed the "optimum" strength Feliway diffuser. And you know what? It actually helps Eddy. I go overkill and plug two of them into Eddy's favorite room, replacing them every time they run out. Though she still has some occasional overgrooming on days when she's likely feeding off of my stress related to work, Evan's health, etc., overall Eddy's hair has mostly grown back and she overgrooms only very infrequently. Thanks, Feliway.) 

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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Though it might be cold outside today, we had us a couple of unseasonably warm days this week. You know what that meant? Window whiffies! And you better believe Eddy took full advantage.

Did any of our friends out there get to enjoy window whiffies this week? Eddy sure hopes you did!

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

We have a couple more tips related to this National Cat Health Care Month. These last ones are some random bits and pieces to help keep your kitty as happy and healthy as possible. Today it's all about those ears. Just as with humans, our kitties' ears can get a bit dirty. Wax can accumulate in a cat's ears, and can even become impacted. Your vet will likely check your cat's ears during their regular exams, but in between those times, if needed, you can help keep your kitty's ears clean at home. The safest thing to do is to ask your veterinarian not only if and how often your kitty needs those ears washed, but also what ear cleanser to use. Many veterinary offices will have pet-friendly ear cleaning solutions available. Some of these simply require that you drip some in the cat's ear and then rub the base of the ear. It can often be as simple and easy as that, if that is something your veterinarian thinks is of benefit to your kitty.

Also related to ear health is allergies. Airborne allergies can lead to itchy ears, just as can food allergies. Ear infections can result from such allergies, or from other potential causes. No matter the reason, always be sure to keep an eye on those ears. Does your kitty hold one or both ears down? Does he or she scratch at them? Are there scabs or hair loss around the ears? Are the ears warm to the touch? Do they have a strange odor to them? Ear infections, or other issues of the ear, can of course manifest in a variety of ways. So, if you have any concerns, do discuss the topic with a veterinarian. If there is an infection, antibiotics for the affected ear or ears will be necessary to treat the infection. Infections in the ear can lead to permanent damage if left untreated, so though it may seem like a small concern, that's not necessarily the case.

The ears are just one of the many parts of your kitty that can affect their overall health and happiness. This time of year, especially in extremely cold temperatures, kitties who live or go outdoors could even potentially suffer from frostbite on their ears. This is just one more example of an ailment that can afflict those feline ears. All in all, keep an eye on those ears!

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Not So Tiny Toesies

Hell and happy Thursday, friends! Thimble is ready for Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, this little tabby girl Thimble is grateful for her adorable little toesies.

To be honest, Thimble's toesies actually aren't all that little, at least not for her size. She weighs in at 10 lbs and is a rather short and small little thing, yet she has huge feet for her little body. That said, her paws are nothing compared to her 25-lb littermate Trapper's giant feet. He has monster paws. I'm pretty sure I have a photo of his feet from one of my many visits to my parents' house, so I'll have to find that and show you soon.

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Now, how about we finally share the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge? My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that _________.

2. I am disappointed with _________.

3. I _________ when I hear _________.

4. I didn't believe _________ until I saw it for myself.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is a rather random winter one. I believe it was actually an illustration for a poem I wrote for Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge (which I really do intend to begin participating in again soon). I saw it when going through old doodles, and it stars my angels Rosie and Sammy, whom I have not shared nearly enough lately, so I simply had to pick it.

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Tip of the Day

We're still in National Cat Health Care Month, so we're not done with this topic just yet. We've previously mentioned using interactive toys to keep your cat active, as well as to help control their eating habits. These types of toys can also play a large role in another aspect of a cat's life, though, and that is with regard to mental stimulation. Just as with us humans, cats' minds need to be exercised just like their bodies do. Without mental stimulation, a cat can become unhappy and can act out, such as with unwanted or even dangerous behaviors, like aggression. Toys and games are just one way that you can help keep your cat's mind active and healthy.

Another method for giving your cat's mind a workout is to ensure they have a good view out of at least one window, but preferably many windows throughout the house. Watching birds, squirrels, and other wildlife, as well as people and even cars, can give your cat something to watch and something to stimulate their mind. Cats are natural predators, so of course having a view of birds and squirrels, for example, is something that they often greatly enjoy. You can put furniture, a cat tree, or even a box near a window, or even a secure screen door, where your cat can perch and watch out.

Also, don't forget the wonders that a TV or computer can work. Some cats greatly enjoy watching movement on the television, such as if they can see on the screen other animals and wildlife just like they might see out the window. The computer is also great for this. Some websites even have games or screensavers designed specifically for cats' enjoyment. Of course, do be careful that the TV or computer and any related parts and pieces are safe for your kitty, and that your kitty is safe for them.

There are many ways you can ensure that your kitty has proper mental stimulation. So, to keep your kitty happy and healthy all around, try to find their favorite means of engaging that mind of theirs.

Adventures with Astrid: The Pawprint Investigation

We're certainly not getting any snow this warm week of February, but Astrid still wanted to share a snowy adventure she had earlier this month.

See those pawprints in the snow? Those are not Astrid's, and so she's certainly investigating them.

Astrid looked around to make sure the owner of those pawprints wasn't anywhere nearby. After all, this pup is not a big fan of other dogs, and she wanted this bridge to herself.

No other pups in sight. Whew.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Yesterday, for Valentine's Day, we shared a flashback doodle in honor of tuxie Toby's love for pup Astrid. That said, one of Toby's (and Thimble's) brothers, that being Trapper, also loves Astrid more than just a little bit. Trapper is one of my parents' many kitties, and so every time Astrid visits their house, Trapper is all over her. Today's doodle is another Valentine flashback, this one starring Astrid and Trapper.

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Tip of the Day

As a continuation of our National Cat Health Month tips, we have a bit more (more like a lot more) to say on food and weight management for those kitties in your life. We've already discussed selecting a proper diet for weight management, as well as initiating activity and playtime to aid in any needed weight loss. Today, to add on to that, we're going to give a couple of tips that could potentially help keep certain feline food fiends healthy and fit.

The following tips will most relate to those cats who scarf down their food. Eating fast can, to put it simply, lead a cat to immediately desiring more food, even after just eating, and can thereby lead to weight gain if they indeed attain that second or even third serving. Another negative side effect of rapid eating is that a cat can also regurgitate or vomit food that they gobbled up too quickly, and excess vomiting is of course less than ideal. To help reduce these issues related to rapid eating, there are a couple of tricks you could try.

To begin, you could of course try one of those famous treat-dispensing toys. Making your cat work for their food in this way can help them to eat slower, as they will not be able to scarf down a serving so quickly. It will also prompt activity on their part, which will keep their little body moving and burning extra calories even while eating.

Another trick to help slow down those quick eaters is to simply use a plate rather than a bowl. Food served on a plate is not as easily scarfed, since they will not have the sides of a bowl to help keep the food in place and easily inhaled into their mouth. Another similar method would simply involve feeding your cat their food directly on the floor, from which they will again have to be careful and diligent about picking up and eating the morsels. In this same line of thought, you could try putting something such as a ping pong ball or golf ball in your cat's bowl or plate with their food. The kitty will then have to eat around the ball, and that will thereby help slow their eating. There are also bowls on the market that serve this same purpose, such as bowls that have partitions around which a cat has to more carefully eat their food.

The above are all just some simple tricks that could potentially help slow a cat's eating. Helping a food-focused cat eat in a slower, more controlled way can help them realize that they are full after eating, so that they can perhaps refrain from immediately begging for more food after inhaling their meal. Of course, that being said, do be aware and mindful of your cat's response to these methods. If they are unable to figure out how to reach their meal in a food dispenser, or if they seem unable or unwilling to eat from a certain bowl or plate, then reassess the methods you could use to slow their eating, or discuss other options with a veterinarian.

Happy Valentine's Day!

On this Valentine's Day, Tonks is here with some flashbacks to remind you all of her love for someone special.

And that special someone is her big brother Evan.

Tonks even has a little animation of her love for Evan.

Evan might not be so thrilled to be the favorite sibling of pretty much all of his sisters, but he tolerates them and their advances pretty well nonetheless.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

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Flashback Valentine Doodle of the Day

I unfortunately didn't get our new Valentine doodle finished this weekend as I instead spent time with my grandma. That's okay, though, because we'll still share it this week. While the new one is dark and admittedly a bit macabre, today's flashback is another bright, pink, and purple one.

This doodle was scribbled up a couple of years ago, specifically in honor of the unabashed crush our housemate tuxie Toby has on resident pup Astrid.

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Tip of the Day

Today's National Cat Health Month tip is in honor of Valentine's Day. On this day of love, be sure to keep your furbaby's health in mind. For example, Valentine's Day often includes gifts in the form of chocolate or flowers, and it also might include a little alcohol and the like. All such items can be dangerous to our furbabies, though. As you all certainly know, keep chocolate, alcohol, any potentially hazardous food items, and lilies or any questionable plants well out of your furbaby's reach. Also consider items such as wrappers, ribbons, balloons, and cellophane. All of these can pose risks such as choking, intestinal perforation or obstruction, and other potential dangers. So, also keep these items out of your furbaby's reach. We're sure none of these tips are anything new to you animal lovers, but do still keep all such considerations in mind on days like Valentine's Day, and every day.

Mancat Monday: Heat Wave

Hello and happy Mancat Monday, friends! We're in a bit of a February heat wave, which is bringing with it lots of sunshine. Evan is not one bit upset by that.

My plans for this weekend to prep and schedule some posts so that they don't go up so late got a bit derailed. It was for a good reason, though, as my grandmother came to visit. I hope to get a lot done while cuddling with my orange boy on the couch after work throughout this week. The only problem is when I end up cuddling him so much that I fall asleep and take a nap with him instead of getting stuff done, but such is life when you have a cute kitty curled up next to you.

Wishing you all a wonderful day!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is another sort of Valentine one from a couple years ago. It's far less bright and pink than the ones we shared last week. It still involves some tasty treats, though, and of course kitties.

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Tip of the Day

We're continuing on with our tips for National Cat Health Month, today's tip being all about diet and exercise. As you all certainly know, not all foods are created equal. Always be sure to do your research and read labels, ensuring that you are feeding your kitty food that is as high-quality as possible, and address any concerns with your veterinarian. Also remember that cats are obligate carnivores, so make sure that their diet largely reflects this. In addition, when it comes to feeding your cat, it is of course important to take a number of other factors into consideration, such as their age and health status. For example, kittens do best on foods formulated for kittens, as these diets will include higher protein and fat content, which helps aid in their growth and development. As your cat ages, consider how their health will affect their dietary needs. For example, does your cat have kidney disease or diabetes? Cats with kidney disease should be on a diet lower in protein, in order to help their kidneys function as well as possible. On the other hand, cats with diabetes are often better regulated when on a diet higher in protein. Other factors that could affect diet include of course food allergies, dermatitis, arthritis, dental disease, and weight.

Speaking of weight, if your cat is overweight, then portion control is of course important, as is the type of food, frequency of feedings, and other such factors. There are weight loss cat foods on the market, these often focusing on high protein intake, but do be sure to discuss with a veterinarian your kitty's weight and the best diet to help them live a healthy, fit life. Similarly, if a cat is underweight, such as due to an illness, diet can play a large role in increasing their weight and overall health. Again, discuss with a veterinarian what type and quantity of food to feed your cat in order to achieve an optimal weight.

Moving on from diet, though, we'll now briefly discuss activity level. We'll primarily discuss this in terms of overweight cats, as activity level indeed affects this greatly. So, especially if your cat is overweight, engage them in various activities and games each day. You can grab a toy and play chase or catch with them. Wand toys, as you all certainly know, are often great at getting cats up and moving. You can also enlist the help of more advanced interactive toys, which can keep your cat busy without you having to do all the work. Anything that is safe yet that also keeps your kitty's interest and prompts them to move around and participate in daily activity can be a great benefit to their body condition and overall health.

The above being said, if your cat is in any way ill or injured, such as with asthma or an injury, do be sure to discuss with a veterinarian what types of activity are safe for them. Diet and activity level will both of course play a large roll in keeping your cat's weight in a healthy range, but not all diets and activity levels are suited for all cats. So, if your cat is overweight, or even underweight, perhaps do some research, discuss your individual kitty's condition with a veterinarian, and then remain motivated and optimistic about getting your kitty healthy and fit.

Long-Lost Caturday Art

Today's long-lost Caturday Art is one that I created back in October but just never shared. Don't worry, it's not a Halloween doodle, sadly. Instead, it's a little something I scribbled up for my parents' 35th wedding anniversary.

My parents have 12 cats who rule their house. That pretty much explains what you're seeing above.

Happy Caturday, friends!

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Tip of the Day

Today's National Cat Health Month tip is one we already gave recently, but that we'll repeat yet again because it can be very important for your kitty's health. And this tip is to keep up with those preventatives. Typically recommended for monthly administration, different forms of prevention can, of course, prevent a variety of health concerns. For example, flea prevention can help keep your kitty free from flea infestations, flea bites and related dermatitis, bloodborne diseases that can be contracted from fleas, and other issues that arise from a kitty having fleas. Especially depending on your cat's lifestyle, such as if they go outdoors, administering prevention for parasites such as tapeworms and roundworms can also be beneficial. If infested, various intestinal worms can lead to issues such as diarrhea and weight loss, among others. Also don't forget the concern of heartworms, which can stem from mosquitoes. Heartworms can be a very dangerous parasite that can affect the heart and lungs, so preventing this is of course something significant to consider. Prevention is something to always consider for keeping your kitty happy and healthy. That being said, do always still discuss this with your veterinarian, who can help you determine your kitty's risk for certain parasites, and which preventatives might be best or safest for your kitty.

Friendly Fill-Ins

We're late to post yet again, and this here human can indeed be blamed. Things are still pure chaos at my workplace for all sorts of reasons, and I have been terrible at getting our posts ready early. If all goes according to plan, this weekend I will be prepping and pre-scheduling posts, scanning new doodles, and all sorts of fun things to hopefully help get our blog back on track.

All that said, it's Friday, so let's get to the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. We'd love for you to join in! My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the firs two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. I am going to _________ on _________.

2. The worst _________ is _________.

3. From my experience, _________ is worth its weight in gold.

4. _________ does not work for me.

My answers are below in bold. This week, they're all about the kitties and pups.

1. I am going to watch puppies and kitties play football on Sunday.
(I am not a sports person and have less than zero interest in the Super Bowl. I do, however, love watching the Puppy Bowl, which I believe airs on Animal Planet, Discovery, and TBS on Super Bowl Sunday. There also used to be a Kitten Bowl, but it was cancelled some time ago. I thought I heard that there is some semblance of a replacement for it this year, so I'm going to do some research on that and hope to find something involving adorable kittens.)

2. The worst feeling is not being able to help your ailing kitty or pup.

(Obviously, not being able to help any loved one is a terrible feeling. As an animal lover, though, I especially struggle with my furbabies feeling sick because I can't explain to them what's going on, why they're feeling ill, why I'm leaving them at the vet, why I'm shoving things down their throat, and all that sad jazz. I know I'm not alone in this feeling. This topic is still just fresh in my mind because of Evan's urethral blockage in late December and his continual need for meds and other special care to ensure he doesn't block again.)

3. From my experience, a cat or dog's unconditional love is worth its weight in gold.

(My kitties and pup never let me down, no matter the day, the circumstances, you name it. There are few to nil people out there about whom I can say the same. This is one of the many reasons why it boggles my mind when I find out someone doesn't like animals. How is that even possible?)

4. Pilling a cat does not work for me.

(Not a single one of my cats is cooperative when it comes to getting pills down their throat. Not even my incredibly sweet and docile Thimble. Whenever it's an option, I will always choose to give my kitties their meds in the form of liquids. That option always has infinitely more success for me than pilling. Then there's my pup Astrid, for whom I can shove a dozen pills in peanut butter and she'll gobble them up like nothing. Absolutely not the case for my kitties, though.)

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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Today, your Eddy fix is brought to by a bunch of old photos I found of her and Evan. I've mentioned here before how Eddy does not like other cats. That is, except for Evan. She loves her orange boy so much, and he is the only cat she actually wants to be around.

Eddy is also easily my most skittish cat. Pretty much anything and everything scares her, and sometimes when I need her to come out of hiding, I have to send Evan in to coax her out. It works every single time.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Another Valentine's doodle from years ago, this one is in honor of Eddy and her singular love for Evan.

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday, our first tip for National Cat Health Month was to make sure your kitty is examined by a veterinarian at least once a year. Today, our tip is to also remember to be diligent of your kitty's health in between vet visits. You know your kitty best, and you spend lots of time by his or her side. So, be sure to do frequent observations and checks of their actions, behaviors, and overall health and happiness. For example, keep an eye on how much your kitty is eating and drinking, and make note of any changes in their food or water intake. In addition, check that litter box and take note of any changes there, such as the amount of urine or feces, or even the odor. Or, has your kitty become less active, or more active? What about the way they walk? Are they walking abnormally, such as favoring a foot? Do they still jump as often and as well as they used to? What about their vocalizations? Is your kitty more vocal than he or she used to be? Less vocal? Has the sound of their voice changed? Is your kitty hiding more often? Has he or she become more aggressive, or less tolerant of being petted or held? These are all just examples of things that you, as your kitty's companion, should keep an eye on regularly. Any such changes, even subtle ones, could be indicative of disease, injury, or any number of issues. So, be sure to make observations such as these, and report any concerns, no matter how big or how small, to your veterinarian.