A Mancat Monday Nap

Evan apologizes that he's not actively participating in this Mancat Monday post. Instead, he's been taking some much needed naps after snoopervising his mom all weekend.

The lighting is less than ideal there, but hopefully you can see the pose Evan loves to strike when napping. I don't know how he can breathe like that, but he doesn't seem the least bit bothered.

Happy Monday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I mowed this weekend. The 90°F temperature had me wishing and hoping for autumn and Halloween even more than I already have been lately. That thought reminded me of this doodle I scribbled up a few years ago, so here you go.

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Tip of the Day

Today we have the last tip in our litter box series. This tip is to consider using some sort of litter mat or tray, in order to keep your home environment free of as much rogue litter as possible. Litter often comes out of the box when our kitties dig and dig in the litter, or on our kitties' paws when they leave the box. This can ultimately result in litter not only outside of the box, but also throughout the house. To combat this, try placing a litter mat or tray under or outside of the litter box. There are such mats and trays available on the market, which are specifically designed to catch stray pieces of litter so that it can't travel throughout the rest of the house. For a cheaper option, though, you can also use a rug to catch litter, or you can even try something such as a boot tray. Another option is to place the litter box within a larger container, such as a giant storage container or a kiddie pool. This would allow for rogue litter to remain in that outer container, rather than spreading throughout the house.

All of the above being said, litter mats and trays may not always be able to trap every piece of litter. So, to further help keep litter at bay and your house clean, there's of course the option of sweeping up stray litter as often as possible. It's not a bad idea to make a habit of sweeping up rogue litter around the box each time you scoop it.

There are a number of options for helping keep stray litter from spreading throughout the house. You can buy specifically designed litter mats or trays, you can try a similar makeshift option, and you can of course keep a broom at the ready in the litter area. Of course, do make sure that any mats, trays, or other methods you use do not deter your kitty from using the litter box in the first place.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Squeaky Clean Eddy

Hello, friends! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. 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 want to try _________.

2. _________ should be an Olympic sport.

3. I'm grateful that _________ while I was growing up.

4. _________ deserves to be more popular.


My answers are below in bold.

1. I want to try baking and building a gingerbread house.
(I attempted a small gingerbread house a couple times as a kid, with very little success. Over the years I've seen some baking shows that have mentioned some techniques on how to create a big, sturdy, festive gingerbread house, and I'd really love to genuinely give it a shot during the Christmas season. And I'd love to do it all from scratch. What's more, I'd also love to bake and build a haunted cookie house for Halloween. I've done this on a very small scale using a chocolate cookie recipe I have, but for both Halloween and Christmas, I'd love to create a cookie house that's big and festive, and that stays standing.)

2. Pilling a cat should be an Olympic sport.

(I know I'm not the only person who cringes at the mere thought of pilling a cat. A number of Evan's current medications are in pill form, but I can crush them and dissolve them in liquid. I'm grateful for that, because even though Evan is overall not a difficult cat to medicate, that's really only the case when the medications are liquids in syringes or transdermals. Like most cats, Evan will fight a pill, and the pill giver, to the death.)

3. I'm grateful that modern technology didn't exist while I was growing up.

(Technology was making advances when I was a kid, but not in the way it does these days. I was born in 1989 and therefore grew up in the 1990s and early 2000s. Smart phones, laptops, and other bits of modern technology were not largely popular until after my primary school years, and I'm grateful for that. I feel like I was in the last generation of kids who spent their evenings and summers outside or reading a book rather than staring at a phone or using some other advanced device. I so rarely see kids playing outside these days, let alone reading a book, and that makes me so sad for kids in this highly technological world.) 

4. Special needs animal adoption deserves to be more popular.

(I know there are plenty of advocates out there for adopting special needs animals. That said, especially given how much my extra special boy Evan inspires me, I always wish there was just a bit more out there for special needs animals and getting those in need in forever homes. Or, at the very least, I wish there was more readily available, extensive education on the topic. I'm not sure I'm making much sense with this answer, but it's what immediately came to my mind, so here it is.)

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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Eddy was all posed for a window photo shoot to share with you all today. Then she decided it was bath time. So, here you go.

Don't mind the blur. Last week was blooper day, but Eddy's happy to snap bloopers any and every day.

Eddy never skips a bath. She's a squeaky clean little lady.

One of Eddy's favorite times to take a bath is after this filthy mom of hers gives her a hug.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

This weekend I'll finally be getting all of my newest doodles scanned and uploaded to share in the weeks ahead here on our blog. A few of them are a sort of summer version of spooky, so while we await those, here's another flashback doodle in that same vein.

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Tip of the Day

Can you believe we're still talking about that litter box? Today's tip in our litter box series is to take your own health and safety into consideration when scooping that box. For example, do you have asthma? Or, does dust from the litter box bother you in any way? If so, wear a mask when scooping, or at least be sure to blow your nose as soon as you are finished scooping the litter. Another safety precaution is to wear disposable gloves when scooping the litter box. Extra safety precautions are especially something to take into consideration if you are pregnant or in any way at risk for toxoplasmosis. Another reason to wear gloves when scooping the litter box is if your cat has giardia or any other parasites that can be passed on to you or the other furbabies in your life. Especially if you don't wear gloves when scooping the litter, then of course thoroughly wash your hands after you've finished with the chore. It is of course important to make sure that the litter box is a safe and sanitary place for our kitties, but it's also important to ensure it's the same for ourselves. After all, our kitties depend on us to remain healthy and able to care for them.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Rain or Shine

It's Thursday, which of course means Thimble is here to share some gratitude for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

We've been having lots and lots of rain lately. Thimble is grateful that on those days, she has lots of blankies in which to snuggle. But, when we do we finally get some sunshine, Thimble is also so very thankful for that.

Thimble hopes all of you are enjoying some bright and shiny sun puddles!

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Now, let's 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 want to try _________.

2. _________ should be an Olympic sport.

3. I'm grateful that _________ while I was growing up.

4. _________ deserves to be more popular.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

To get me through the summer as I await autumn and Halloween, I've been making my way through some spooky reads. So, this doodle from a few years ago seemed fitting enough.

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Tip of the Day

We're still making our way through our tips on litter boxes. Today's tip is a quick and simple one, and it's to use the times you scoop and clean the litter box wisely. In other words, use your litter scooping time to be observant of your kitty's urine and feces. Are there any changes to the urine or stool volume or frequency? Is it a different color? Is there blood or mucus in it? Is the stool especially hard, or especially soft or runny? What about the odor? Excrement never smells particularly nice, but is there any new change in its smell? Try to always be observant of these types of things when you're scooping your cat's litter box. After all, some diseases will have symptoms that show up in the litter box, and so it is indeed important to make sure you are regularly checking to make sure all is well in that box. Of course, if you do notice anything concerning while scooping the litter box, do not hesitate to make a call to your veterinarian.

Adventures with Astrid: Bridge over Water

Last week, Astrid shared a visit to one of her favorite bridges in our neighborhood. So, today, she thought she'd share part of the trek to yet another bridge she loves to walk.

Are you read? You are? Good. Just follow Astrid and she'll show you the way.

The bridge is just past that bend up there. It's a simple and quaint little thing.

See? Astrid doesn't pick to walk to this bridge as often as some of the others in the neighborhood, but it's still a nice path to take.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

We mentioned yesterday how this time of year is when I always feel compelled to scribble up some Harry Potter-ish doodles. I still need to finish scribbling up this summer's weird, wizardly whatnot, but for now, here's this old one.

Astrid loves car rides, so the flying car in Harry Potter seemed like something to share for her today.

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip in our litter box series is all about cleaning that litter box. A clean litter box is very important for keeping your cat healthy and happy. Cats are very clean and particular creatures, and so a dirty box might drive them away from using it. That is why an unclean litter box is one of the primary reasons why some cats begin urinating or defecating outside of the box.

So, as you all certainly know, be sure to scoop the litter box, or boxes, regularly. Scooping once a day is recommended, but more often, if possible, is of course even better. Twice or three times a day helps keep the litter box odors at a minimum, and of course helps your kitty stay healthy, happy, and with somewhere clean to use the restroom. You may also need to alter the number of times per day you scoop based on the bathroom habits of your particular cat, or cats. Some cats only go once a day, and so once a day scooping would likely suffice. For cats who go more frequently, though, more frequent scooping is of course a better option.

Cleaning a litter box doesn't just stop at scooping it, though. Doing a full clean of the box, which involves disposing of the old, dirty litter and scrubbing the box down, is also recommended on a regular basis. The frequency of a full litter box clean might vary, depending on your particular cat's bathroom habits, and even depending on which professional you might ask about this topic. If possible, try doing a full clean of the litter box once a week, to keep the box squeaky clean and your kitty healthy and happy. If that's not possible, perhaps at least try for once a month. After disposing of the old litter in the box, you can scrub it down with a safe cleaner. This might be warm water with dish soap, vinegar and water, baking soda and water, or another pet-friendly cleaner that you are certain will not leave behind any harsh or hazardous chemicals. Once the litter box is dried, you can add fresh litter, and even a bit of baking soda or other pet-safe deodorizer.

Litter box cleaning may not be a desirable chore, but it's a crucial one. To prevent your kitty from avoiding the litter box, or from simply having to suffer the discomfort of using a smelly bathroom, be sure to keep the box nice and clean. So, do at least daily scooping, and roughly weekly scrubbing, and your kitty will likely be very happy with you.

Tonks Tuesday: Every Day is Halloween

Last week, Tonks shared how we have Halloween pillows that stay out all year long. Today, she's sharing another Halloween something that is always out at our house. After all, every day is Halloween around here.

That back there is a kitty pumpkin light. It's a cat-o'-lantern lamp, essentially It actually stopped working recently, and it looks like I'll have to replace the socket inside of it. I need to get on that, because it's so cute lit up.

Tonks is wishing you a wonderfully spooky sort of day!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

It's the time of the year when I'm always in the mood for Harry Potter doodles. I was a kid when the books and then the movies were first being released, and it was a huge part of my childhood. Anyway. I hope to have a new Potter doodle finished to share in the next couple of days, but for today, here's one from a few years ago.

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Tip of the Day

Today's (overly lengthy) tip in our litter box series is about selecting the type of litter. There are many, many kinds of litter out there. There's clay litter, corn litter, wheat litter, pine litter, litter made out of recycled paper,  and even litter crystals, just to name a few. There are even choices such as scented versus non-scented litter, litter for single-cat versus multicat homes, and clumping versus non-clumping litter. The options for litter seem to be endless, which can make the task of choosing one a tad bit of daunting.

So, let's go over some of the factors that will help you select a litter. To begin, first and foremost, let's go ahead and repeat ourselves like the broken record that we are—ultimately, your kitty will have the final say on what type of litter you buy. Cats can be very picky, particular creatures. Some have texture preferences, some have scent preferences, and some have any number of other preferences. If your cat doesn't like the litter you choose, they might avoid the litter box, which is in large part why they ultimately get to choose their litter.

The above being said, what are some of the main factors that might go into choosing the right litter for your kitty? Consider, of course, the type of material out of which a litter is made. For example, clay litter is often one of the dustiest, which may not be ideal for a cat or person with asthma. Also consider whether your cat has any other sensitivities or allergies. To give you an example, I once tried my angel cat Rosie on pine litter. Little did I know, pine was not a substrate Rosie's body tolerated well, and she ended up with hot spots that required steroid and antibiotic treatment. So, especially if you are trying a new type of litter, always keep an eye on your kitty to make sure they do not have an adverse reaction, and also that they do not start avoiding the litter box.

There are plenty of other random yet important factors to take into consideration when choosing litter, though. Do you have multiple cats? If so, perhaps look for a litter that is formulated for multicat homes. Does your kitty leave quite the stinkers in the litter box, and so you've chosen a scented litter? If this is the case and your cat uses the litter with no issues, then that's great. But, do keep in mind that cats' noses are far better than ours, and some cats might not like fragrance in their litter. Your cat might very well let you know if they do not like scented litter by avoiding the box, in which case you'll get the hint.

We're not done with this discourse quite yet. As we touched upon earlier, some cats have texture preferences. Since litter touches their paws, such texture preferences can of course play a large role in what type of litter your cat might use. For example, some cats prefer fine litter, and will not touch litter that is more coarse. I will also add here that I have some family members with cats who do not like litter at all, and so they use pee pads in litter boxes, which works great for those particular cats. Then again, my own Evan, in large part due to his hind limb paralysis, is towel trained rather than litter trained. So, litter texture can be a significant consideration for some cats, and in such cases there may indeed be some trial and error required. In such cases, just be patient, and you and your cat will find a litter, or even a litter alternative, that suits everyone involved.

Toe Beans on Mancat Monday

It's Mancat Monday, and Evan would just like to remind everyone how adorable his little paralyzed back feet are. See?

Just look at those toe beans! I happen to think they're cuter than cute. Evan hopes seeing his toesies helped brighten your Monday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I still need to get my newest drawings scanned to share, but in the meantime, here's yet another flashback summertime doodle of the spooky sort.

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Tip of the Day

We're continuing on with our litter box tips today by discussing location. When deciding where to put litter boxes in your home, there are a variety of considerations to make. For example, you cat likely won't want to do their business in a high traffic area, where there are many distractions and little to no privacy. At the same time, though, many cats will also likely not want to be hidden away in an small, enclosed area, such as a small closet. Placing a litter box in a small, enclosed area such as a small closet will likely trap the smell, which some cats are averse to. What's more, using the litter box is one way in which cats often instinctively believe they are making a territorial display, and so hiding away the litter box, where no one can see them do their business, might lead to out-of-box behavior for territorial reasons.

All of the above being said, consider where in your home might work best for a box to be both away from heavy traffic, yet close enough to the goings-on for your kitty to still feel included. Dedicated litter box rooms, corners of bedrooms or living rooms, bathrooms, laundry rooms, or even large closets with their doors kept open, can all make for good litter box areas. It really depends on how your home is set up, and where your kitty might feel most comfortable. Just as we've mentioned before, though, it also might simply come down to your cat's preference. Perhaps your cat enjoys using the restroom right in front of you, or perhaps your cat actually prefers to go in a closed closet. In the end, if your cat displays a preference for litter box placement, try your best to stick with that.

We'll also now mention that, when selecting litter box location, also take into consideration how many cats you have. In homes with many cats, it is often ideal to spread litter boxes throughout the house, as best as possible. This is especially the case if there is any bullying amongst your cats. If all of the boxes are in one room, a bullied or timid cat might prefer to steer clear of using the restroom with other cats nearby, and therefore might begin out-of-box behavior elsewhere in the house. They even might simply hold their urine, which can lead to a variety of medical issues. So, especially in multicat homes, do consider the number of and comfort of all cats when deciding how few and far between to place the litter boxes. Then again, this consideration also might be important for even a single cat who is geriatric or has issues with mobility. For such a kitty, having multiple litter box options, in areas of the house where they most often hang out, can help them more easily urinate and defecate when and where needed.

There sure are a lot of considerations to make when it comes to that litter box. You of course have to choose a type of box, as well as how many. Once you have that settled, it's all about deciding where to place the litter boxes in your home. Fear not, though, as you and your kitty, or kitties, will figure it out. If nothing else, trial and error will often lead your kitty to letting you know what he or she prefers.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Photo Fail

Hello, friends! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. 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 have changed _________ in the past year.

2. I need to get moving on _________.

3. Though it might seem childish, I _________.

4. _________ wasn't as _________ as I thought it would be.


My answers are below in bold, along with unnecessarily lengthy explanations.

1. I have changed my morning routine in the past year.

(Over the past year or so, Evan has been put on a variety of new medications, mostly for his urinary and intestinal issues. He gets anywhere from six to nine medications every morning, and half as many every evening. Prepping Evan's medications and administering them to him takes a bit of time, in part because a number are crushed and/or dissolved, some are liquid suspensions I draw up in a syringe, and one is given transdermally. What's more, Evan is not the biggest fan of medication time, so a tiny little battle ensues every time. Before work, my mornings also include feeding the furry babies, scooping litter, tending to feral kitties in our neighborhood, walking pup Astrid, and doing a workout. With Evan's new medication necessities, I've started getting up 30 minutes earlier than I used to, usually in the 5 o'clock hour, so that I can fit it all in. I'm a morning person and so I don't really mind, but the mornings I fall behind turn into pure chaos.)

2. I need to get moving on my writing projects.

(I've been saying this for years. I love writing. I've always wanted to be a writer, an author. And for years now, I've been planning and writing stories in the same fantasy world I created quite some time ago. The stories keep shifting and evolving. Earlier this year I had a huge revelation for my stories. A missing piece of the giant puzzle finally crawled out of the depths of my brain. All that to say, I've reworked some things and now have a new starting point for my stories. I've been chipping away at it, but I have some publishing goals, and even some publishing experimentation I want to try, and so I need to really get to writing.)

3. Though it might seem childish, I went to a kids' summer showing of How to Train Your Dragon.

(I've mentioned before how How to Train Your Dragon is one of my favorite movies. It came out when I was in college, when I was already an adult, but that didn't stop me from falling in love with it. I have watched that movie dozens upon dozens of times. I have memories of my angel Rosie watching the dragons fly around the TV screen, and now Thimble does the same thing. All that to say, on Monday of this week, a local theater had a free, midday showing of the movie. It was targeted for kids, though anyone was welcome, so I left work early for the day and went with my sister and mom. It was one of the most fun things I've done in a while.)

4. My most recent horror read wasn't as scary as I thought it would be.
(I'm one of those people who likes the horror genre. I like books as well as movies that can give me a good scare. So, I recently looked for a new book that was deemed scary by the majority of its readers. I found one by a new author that many people said was as scary as Stephen King's Pet Sematary. Given that Pet Sematary is one of only two books that have ever truly scared me, I was all for it. But, I didn't find this other, new book scary whatsoever. It wasn't a bad book, and it even starred a canine character who does not die in the end, which gets a thumbs up from me. But, it just wasn't the scare I was looking for. If anyone's curious, the book I'm talking about is Mean Spirited by Nick Roberts.)

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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And now it's time for the Pet Photo Fails Blog Hop, hosted by none other than Melissa and Mudpie of Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries, & Meows.

You better believe your blooper queen Eddy is ready for the event. If you're looking for blurry and off-center, Eddy's got you covered.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Yesterday, Thimble shared some photos of her watching a momma opossum eating on our back porch, while carrying 9 babies on her back. That reminded me of this drawing I scribbled up a couple years ago, and which I'd honestly love to recreate with upcoming holiday themes. Because what's more festive than an opossum.

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Tip of the Day

We've given tips on cats and their litter boxes multiple times before. The litter box plays such a crucial role in not only your cat's daily life, but also their health and happiness. That's why we've decided to refresh and repeat an entire, comprehensive series of tips on that box of litter.

The first tip in this series is all about selecting the type of litter box. You wouldn't think a litter box could come in all that many varieties, but the litter box aisle at the pet store begs to differ. Litter boxes come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and configurations. That means there are a lot of considerations to make when selecting that litter box.

So, let's start with size. Is your cat of the larger variety? Especially in the case of a large cat, it is important to make sure the litter box is big enough. Out-of-box behavior, even if in the form of accidental misses, can occur if the box is too small for the cat. Sometimes, you'll even need to make sure to get a box that is not only large enough but that also has tall enough sides. Some cats are more prone to raising their rear end when urinating, for example, which would mean that a box with tall sides is a far more ideal option.

The above being said, also take into consideration if your cat is small. If you have a petite cat or a kitten, you might at least have to start with a small box. Being able to climb over the edge of the box in order to get inside is of course important. A kitten might very well outgrow their first litter box, but when they're small, they of course need to be able to comfortably climb into the litter box. In truth, though, no matter the size of your cat, stick to whatever size of box they seem to prefer and do well with. Some cats might be large, but also might prefer and do just fine with a small box. Take any such preferences your cat has into consideration.

There are also different shapes of cat litter boxes. There are rectangles, squares, circles, ovals, and even some triangular ones that can fit into corners. When selecting the shape of the litter box, you can base your decision on concepts such as how the shape might affect your furbaby's ability to get comfortable when in the box, or how the shape might affect the way it fits in your home. Then again, as mentioned above, your cat might reveal a preference for litter box shape, and if so, go with that.

Next up is an oft debated litter box detail. And that is, do you get a covered box? Or, do you get an uncovered box? Let's go right ahead and touch upon the fact that, ultimately, the cat gets to pick. Some cats prefer a box that is covered, such as for the sake of privacy. Other cats do not like covered boxes. That being said, covered boxes can harbor smells far more easily than uncovered boxes. Imagine walking into a portable toilet, one in which all of the smells just sit and fester. No one enjoys using a portable toilet, and that might be how some cats feel about a covered litter box. Again, though, the truth of the matter is that the cat should get to pick what kind of toilet they use. If your cat will not enter or use a covered box, but will willingly urinate or defecate in an uncovered box, then an uncovered box it is. If your cat urinates or defecates outside of an uncovered box, but will willingly go into a covered box and use it, then no matter what your thoughts on this topic are, your cat just gave you their answer.

So, when it comes to selecting the type of litter box your cat will use, of course take into consideration their size, whether the box will harbor smells, and other such details. That being said, though, just like us, our cats often have preferences and opinions on various matters. The litter box might very well be one of these matters. That's why, when it comes to any of the details of the litter box, if your cat shows a preference, take note of that and run with it.