Astrid and the Merry Mess

Here were are on our third day of sharing all of the festive loot sent to us by our Secret Santa Paws (that is, Jean and her wonderful menagerie of furbabies!). Today is Astrid's turn to show off the goods.

Although this was technically a gift exchange for kitties, pup Astrid was by no means forgotten by Santa Paws. And the second she saw that box of goodies, she knew it.

In case you can't tell, Astrid is the black blur at the bottom right corner of the above photo. Let me tell you, it's hard to get a picture of an enthusiastic pup set on raiding Santa's bag box.

Astrid rooted her gift right out of that box and demanded I open it up for her right then and there. Of course I obliged, and then made her pose with it for a photo. Talk about animal cruelty.

Just look at that yummy goodness Astrid got from our fantastic Santa Paws! This treat was so long all of it didn't even make it into the picture!

And did Astrid enjoy her treat from Santa?

She sure did! She enjoyed it amidst the merry mess the kitties made. And that shows just how delicious of a treat it must have been, since Astrid was so easily able to ignore all of the kitty toys and treats surrounding her as she gobbled hers up. Astrid sends her full-bellied thank you to our Santa Paws!

We're still not done with our Santa Paws show-and-tell, though. Thimble will be back tomorrow to show you all just how much she enjoyed opening and playing with her new gifts. (Spoiler alert: Thimble enjoyed herself more than a lot.)

We'll wrap this post up now with today's art. This one is is in honor of all the snow (and ice - yikes!) that we got this weekend. And in case you were wondering, Astrid loves snow.

A wonderful Wednesday to all of you!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Here's a repeat tip for you. As the holidays close in on us, please be sure to consider your furbaby's safety and comfort during all festivities. If visitors will be coming over, ensure that your furbaby can not escape out the open door. If need be, set up a room or area of the house where your furbaby is safely secured during the festivities. A safe space such as this could not only save your furbaby from escaping out the door, but also from feeling anxious or scared around visitors, from swiping potentially dangerous food or beverages from party-goers, and from being underfoot and thereby unintentionally injured. You certainly don't have to leave your furbaby out of all Christmas festivities, but do always be sure to take their safety into significant consideration.

Toby's turn with Santa!

We mentioned yesterday that, since our Secret Santa Paws (Jean and her fantastic furbabies!) sent us so many fantastic goodies, The furbabies here are going to use this entire festive week to show it all off. Each furbaby wants a turn, and today the turn is Toby's.

Toby, for those who might not know or remember, is our housemate. He is the kitty master of this human's sister, but also happens to be Thimble's biological brother. Let's just suffice it to say that our family tree has a lot of branches. That aside, though, our Santa Paws certainly didn't forget our house bro Toby in their gift to us!

And what was inside that bag of goodies!

If you can tell in the midst of that mess we made, Toby got him some sparkly crinkle balls! Toby tends to love anything that is bright and shiny, and anything that is, well, a ball. So these are purrfect, Santa Paws! Thank you bunches!

In between bouts of play with his crinkle balls, Toby also helped the rest of the crew here test out the oodles of other goodies.

But, Toby's going to stay mum about what all else he helped test out. After all, Astrid, Thimble, and Eddy all still have plenty of goodies to show you this week. So, the festivities will continue tomorrow!

Before we head out, though, here's today's art:

The only explanation I can offer for this doodle is that I wanted to draw something inspired by Toby. Since Toby is a black little mancat who also happens to be a grabby kitty and a thief of items like socks, the above is what came about.

We hope everybuddy is having a very merry week!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Despite common belief, cats and dogs are not truly color blind. Research has shown that, although they certainly see the world differently than us humans, both cats and dogs can see at least some colors. That being said, some cats and dogs might show an awareness of or even a preference to the color of certain objects. This is perhaps something to keep in the back of your mind, since this could potentially affect certain furbabies' daily habits. For example, some cats or dogs might show a preference to bowl coloration, such as if they dislike drinking out of a bowl that is dark in color, or eating out of one that is bright or shiny. There are also those animals that might show a preference to the color of certain toys. So, always remember that, like us, our furbabies can be unique in their preferences, and this may very well include coloration.

Santa Paws came to town!

Remember not too long ago, when we gave you all this sneak peek of the delivery we received from our Secret Santa Paws?

We were so excited when we received this wondrous package in the mail! Nevertheless, we told ourselves we had to hold off on opening it until closer to Christmas. Well, we made all the way to this past weekend, when we just couldn't wait any longer.

First things first, who was our Secret Santa Paws? The answer to that is none other than the fantastic crew over at Welcome to the Menagerie, of course with a little help from their mom Jean! And let us tell you, these pals sure know how to pack a box of festive goodies!

Just look at these gorgeous gifts! Thimble couldn't wait to get her hands paws on this box. (Let's be honest, Thimble is the reason we got to open this box of goodness early. This here human ran out of places to hide this package from Thimble. So, open it we did!)

But, you'll have to wait a while to get the rest of Thimble's rave review of our Secret Santa Paws delivery. Why? Because Jean and her furbabies sent us so many fun goodies that we simply can't do it justice in just one post. That's why, throughout this festive week, each furbaby around here is going to take a turn to show off some of the wonderful gifts we received. Honestly, what better way to celebrate a week of Christmas than by filling it with the goodness of Santa Paws?

This being Mancat Monday, Evan is here today to really kick off this week of Santa Paws goodies. Just like all the furbabies here, Evan knew right away that this box held some festive fun.

Jean and her furbabies sure knew the way to Evan's heart. What did Evan get?

Party Mix!

Party Mix is one of Evan's most favorite things in the whole world. That's why he sure was one happy boy to find that he got 3 whole bags of these tasty treats!

But that's not all Evan got. He also got something that we have honestly been needing around these parts. And what's that?

Cat grass! The kitties around here love cat grass, but this here human has long failed to replace the last one that she, well, failed to water. We'll be getting this cat grass up and going, though, and this time this human will remember to give it the care it needs. The kitties will be so happy to have cat grass again!

Although we still have lots and lots of goodies to share with you, we'll stop here for today. Don't worry, though, the kitties around here won't be bored, that's for sure. Their Secret Santa Paws sent them enough goodies to last them well through the Christmas season, and we are so very grateful for that. Thank you to Jean and all of her furbabies for being such great Santa Paws!

Evan's off now, off to go enjoy his goodies!

Oh, but we can't forget to share our daily art with you. Today's is a bit different, as it stars, well, a seal.

Why a seal was chosen to be our Santa today, we don't know. Regardless, this seal is here today to help us wish all of our furiends a very merry Monday!

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Our Tip of the Day:

What a perfect post to give a reminder about the benefits of cat grass. Not only does cat grass offer health benefits, such as by providing fiber in the diet and thereby assisting in proper gut motility, but it also can serve as a healthy distraction. Do you have yourself a Christmas tree chew or climber? Perhaps try setting some cat grass out for your kitty, maybe even near the Christmas tree itself, to offer your furbaby an alternative to the tree. In this same way, offering some cat grass could potentially help spare other festive decorations and home decor, all throughout the year.

A Cozy Sunday Selfie

For today's Sunday Selfie blog hop, hosted by our friends over at The Cat on My Head, we wanted to go for something festive and warm. That is to say, that's what this here human wanted. I begged and bribed furbaby after furbaby, trying to determine who might be up to the challenge of the selfie I envisioned.

Long story short, I had one taker. Evan, always the momma's boy of all momma's boys, promised me the selfie I sought. So, he posed himself in front of the Christmas tree and snapped this cozy shot:

 

This boy always does his momma proud. For his selfie efforts, I told Evan that he more than earned the right to star in today's art. So, I turned him into a Christmas present.

It's only one week until Christmas, and we're wishing all of you a very merry Christmas week!

***

Our Tip of the Day:
Is your kitty extra helpful? Do they want to be right there in the middle of the action as you sign Christmas cards, wrap presents, or whip up some Christmas cookies? If so, try to give them something of their own to do. For example, get a spare cardboard box and set it somewhere just for them. You can turn it into a new and attractive sleeping spot by putting a blanket in it, or you can turn it into a play station by placing some toys inside. Your furbaby might especially appreciate it if you put the box near where you're working, so that they still feel as if they're part of the action. If it's wrapping presents that really gets your kitty excited, you might find yourself more successful if you give your furbaby their own piece of wrapping paper with which to play. As long as you monitor your furbaby to ensure they don't get themselves into any trouble, you can give them a piece of wrapping paper on which to romp around, or you can wad up a piece for them to chase and bat around. So, if you need to keep your kitty preoccupied while you prepare for the holidays, you might want to try getting innovative by giving them something extra special and fun to do.

Fireside Caturday Art

For the record, we do not have a fireplace at our house. And if we did have one, I doubt I would ever use it. I love the sense of warmth and peace that the image of a fireplace evokes, but with furbabies who chase lights like rabid moths, I would be a nervous wreck at the mere thought of a giant crackling ball of light burning in the wall of my house.

Regardless of all that, though, our drawing for Athena's Caturday Art blog hop this week is a bit of a fireside one.

Astird had some input on this one. She informed me that, since so many fireside art pieces show kitties curled up in the warm glow, it was time we changed that up. So, pup Astrid got the prime spot in front of this fire. That's okay, though, because the kitties around here love their puppy sister and were happy to give her the honor.

Do any of our furiends out there have a fireplace? Whether you do or don't, we hope you're staying warm on these cold winter days!

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Our Tip of the Day:
Remember not to take my drawings as good advice! Never leave furbabies unattended by an open fire or flame. If you have a fireplace, always take your furbaby's safety into consideration and block their access to it. If you light candles, keep them out of your furbaby's reach. And don't forget about the stove and other heated appliances or items, as well. Be sure to use stove top covers or other similar safety precautions as needed. It's not only important to keep your furbaby from burning themselves, but to also consider that open flames can be a fire hazard in general. Even if on accident, a furbaby can tip over a candle and catch nearby items on fire, or could knock or bat flammable items into a lit fireplace. So, please never leave open flames in the reach of your furbaby. And, to be safe, try to keep all potentially flammable objects away from candles and fireplaces. Safety first!

Festive Friday

Can you believe that Christmas is only a little over a week away? Though we're feeling the crunch, we're also feeling very festive these days. That's why we were especially excited when we saw that this week's Friendly Fill-Ins, hosted by 15andmeowing and McGuffy's Reader, were perfectly festive themselves!

Here are the festive fill-ins for this week:

1. My favorite Christmas song(s) is/are _________, but I could do without hearing _________ ever again.

2. My most meaningful Christmas ornament/decoration is _________, because _________.

3. My favorite holiday treat is _________.

4. A holiday tradition in my house is _________.

And here's what I came up with:

1. My favorite Christmas songs are those by Mannheim Steamroller and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, but I could do without hearing "The Christmas Shoes" ever again.
(I love instrumental Christmas music, and nothing beats good ol' Mannheim Steamroller. The Transiberian Orchestra is a bit of a newer discovery for me, but I quickly grew fond of their style of festive pieces as well. That being said, has anyone else heard the song called "The Christmas Shoes"? The local radio stations playing Christmas music around here love to play that song, and it's just too darn sad for Christmastime, if you ask me. I know it has a beautiful message hidden beneath those tearful lyrics, but regardless, if it comes on, I promptly turn the channel.)

2. My most meaningful Christmas ornament is a picture frame ornament my grandmother got me a couple years ago, because it now holds a drawing of my angel Rosie.
(My grandma gets me at least one ornament for Christmas each year. A couple of years ago, when my Rosie was still with me, my grandma got me a picture frame ornament that says "cats leave paw prints on your heart". Having grown up with Rosie and then having to say goodbye to her in May of 2015, last Christmas was my first one in my memory without her. As I put ornaments on my tree last year, it meant so much to me when I stumbled upon that ornament my grandma had given me, which I had somehow forgotten all about. I immediately sat down and did a quick sketch of Rosie so that she could be part of the Christmas tree decorating that very night, just as she always had been in the past. I wrote a post about this ornament of Rosie's after I created it last year, which you can read here.)

3. My favorite holiday treat is anything with mint.
(I love mint, and this is the perfect time of year to indulge in that. And if it involves mint and chocolate, all the better.)

4. A holiday tradition in my house is the making of Nutter Butter Santas.
(Years ago I happened upon a recipe for turning a Nutter Butter cookie into Santa Claus. You start by dipping each end of the cookie in melted white almond bark. One end remains as Santa's white beard, while the other end is decorated with red sprinkles and a white frosting pom-pom, thus turning it into Santa's hat. Then you give him a face with frosting or candy or something of the delicious sort, and there you have a Nutter Butter Santa! I now make these every year. Which reminds me, I need to get on that.)

We're not stopping the festivities there, though. No, siree. Eddy herself wants to help continue the Christmasy goodness of this post.

It all began when I tried to snap another shot of Eddy frolicking in the tree the other night. Not wanting to be caught in the act, though, she jumped out of the tree and tried to play innocent beneath it.

Doesn't she make a purrfect gift under there?

For today's festive art, I had intended on drawing none other than a monkey in a Santa hat, in honor of Eddy's monkeying around. Alas, though, I did not get said monkey completed, so you'll have to settle for this Santa donkey instead:

Have a festive  Friday!

***

Our Tip of the Day:
Are you still looking for a little something to get your kitty for Christmas? One idea is to, if you haven't already done so, give your kitty something a little different than catnip to get happy on. For example, you can try getting them a batch of silver vine, or a toy containing it. Another idea is to go classic and get your kitty a yarn ball for Christmas. Of course, be safe about this and make sure there are no loose strings or ends (remember the tip from a few days ago, about the hazards of eating string?). There are actual yarn ball toys out there, though, that are safe to play with and that will give your kitty the fun that you see in all those classic images. Another idea is to donate money, goods, or time to a shelter or rescue group in your kitty's name. Your kitty enjoys a cozy life of love with you, so surely they would be happy to know that you are spreading that love to less fortunate kitties.

A Thankful Thimble Thursday

It's that time of year, when the furry cuties in our lives try their hardest to find those elusive sun puddles. Am I right? Well, Thimble is no exception to this.

Thimble says not to let that sun puddle fool you. It won't last long, she knows, and it sure doesn't feel like the warm sun puddles from this summer. Where did all that heat we were complaining about go?!?

Well, I guess that sun puddle isn't so bad after all.

It's good enough to snooze in, at least.

Has winter set in for all of our pals out there? If so, be sure to bundle up!

Despite the cold, we try not to complain, as we know we are blessed. That's why we are participating in Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, we are thankful for our home, where we can feel safe and warm. We know that not all furbabies, nor all humans, are so lucky, and we purr, bark, and pray for them every day.

We are also thankful today for all of you, our dear friends, and we send you all the warmest of wishes!

***

Our Tip of the Day:

Don't forget that winter air is not only cold but also dry. For both the sake of your furbabies and yourself, consider running a humidifier this time of year. This added moisture can help improve air quality and respiratory health, can help prevent dry skin, and can even possibly reduce the amount of static in the environment, thereby reducing the chance that you'll shock your furbaby during a petting session. Staying warm is important for your furbaby's health and comfort, but don't forget the role of humidity as well!