Tuesday, April 18, 2017

O is for...Taste Test Tuesday? (#ChewyInfluencer)

Let's start with our A to Z Challenge doodle of the day. Yesterday we found ourselves at the letter N, and I forced myself to draw the amphibious newt. No offense to newts, of course, but I simply prefer drawing animals that are far more furry and, well, cute. That's why I was so happy to move on to the letter O.


Who doesn't love an otter? I have been a huge fan of otters for a very long time. They're just so stinking cute. Is anybody else with me on this?


Well, I'll let that there otter enjoy its little swim with the fishies and move on to the next bit of business. And that is the kitties' Chewy.com review, as part of the Blogger Outreach Program.

No, we did not try otter food. That would be terrible, no matter what way you look at it. But I digress.

I've mentioned before how it's always a gamble when picking out moist food for the kitties around here. More often than not, Thimble will love a certain kind, while Evan far prefers another, and all while housemate Toby would much rather gorge on something different than either of them altogether. And then there's Eddy, who won't even touch moist food.

That being said, when I saw that Chewy.com was offering a poultry and beef collection of Purina® Fancy Feast® paté moist food, I decided to jump on the offer. To be honest, my little kitties used to eat Fancy Feast® all the time. Thimble and her litter mates grew up on Fancy Feast® kitten food, and even after that they loved their daily can of Fancy Feast® chicken, turkey and giblets, chicken and liver, beef and chicken, and so forth.

But then, well, boredom set in. One day, Thimble just stopped eating her Fancy Feast® moist food, and then Evan got bored of it, and then so did housemate Toby. So, I stopped buying it. That was going on a year ago, though, and so I selected this once-loved food for the kitties' review this month, in hopes that, after all this time, it would be like new again to them.


This boxed collection of food comes with a total of 24 cans, 8 each of chicken, beef, and turkey and giblets. I was very happy to see that this collection of food came in a case with only the poultry and beef varieties. To be honest, I've never been a fan of feeding my furbabies foods in any sort of fishy flavors. One reason, perhaps the primary reason, is that neither their intestines nor their stomachs seem to agree with fish all that well. Fishy flavors always seem to make for far too lively litter boxes around here. That, and Thimble tends to vomit any foods that fail to fall in the chicken and turkey category. In addition, I myself just really don't like seafood, apparently even in the form of kitty food.

So, anyway, with my hopes high, I first popped open a can of the Fancy Feast® chicken food, and then I brought out the turkey.


Mmmm. Appetizing, huh? A paté texture is always the biggest hit around these parts. After all, we wouldn't want to have to chew any morsels or shreds of food. That would be silly.

But, anyway, now we'll get to the big question. Did the kitties like it? After all this time, roughly a year after they began rejecting their once beloved Fancy Feast® moist food, did they give it the time of day?


They actually did! Well, that is, Thimble and Evan did. Thimble was a big fan of the turkey and giblets flavor, while Evan raved over the chicken.

In all honesty, I did not even try the beef food. Thimble has a persistent habit of vomiting up any and every kind of food that is beef flavored. She most often seems to really enjoy beef foods, but only for roughly 60 seconds, after which she donates it to the floor.

Don't worry, though. My parents' 7 kitties love Fancy Feast® food. So, they got themselves some beef food, and even some of the chicken and turkey, and they love all of it. Oh, and the outdoor strays and ferals got some as well, and they also very much enjoyed it. The only picky kitties around here are the ones living under my roof.


(Disclaimer: As members of the Chewy.com Blogger Outreach Program, we received the Purina® Fancy Feast® poultry and beef moist food collection in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are our own. We only review products that we believe will be of interest to our readers, and we never recommend a product that we do not believe in.)


We hope everybuddy has a tasty Tuesday!



***
Our Tip of the Day:
Did you know that food allergies are not the same as food intolerances? Food allergies result from, obviously, an allergic response to the protein or other substance in a food. In our furbabies, these such food allergies often manifest with symptoms affecting the skin, such as itching, rashes, and hair loss. Food intolerances, on the other hand, often stem from the inability to properly digest a certain component of a food, and this often results in symptoms of the gastrointestinal tract, such as vomiting or diarrhea. Though different, both food allergies and food intolerances can be serious in their own ways. Dermatitis resulting from a food allergy can lead to skin infections and other conditions that should not be taken lightly. Food intolerances are also nothing to brush off, as the resulting vomiting and diarrhea can easily lead to dehydration, inappetance, and a number of serious side effects. For all of these reasons, always be aware of what you are feeding your kitties and pups. It is wise to keep track of what flavor of food they are eating, what type of formula their food is (i.e., dental health, hairball control, kitten, senior, etc.), and even when a new bag of food is started. Keep track of all such details, and if your furbaby ever begins displaying symptoms of a food allergy or food intolerance, have them examined by a veterinarian, and of course don't forget to give the doctor their dietary information so that all possible avenues can be investigated and a diagnosis reached. Never forget that diet plays an extremely significant role in the health and well-being of any animal!

Monday, April 17, 2017

N is for...

Remember back when we did the letter I for the A to Z Challenge? We did an ibis, because this here human couldn't muster up the courage, let alone the ability, to doodle a certain reptile known as an iguana. Now we're at the letter N, and though we couldn't manage a reptile, this time around we thought we'd try our hand at an amphibian.


So, there's a newt for you. At least we can't say we didn't try. But let's be honest, we're more than glad to be doodling a furry critter for tomorrow's letter O. Thank goodness.

And now, how about a little mancat for you on this Monday?


Window whiffies!


Evan and all of us here have been enjoying lots of lovely fresh air, and we hope everybuddy else is, too!

Oh, and of course Evan says thank you all for the thoughtful birthday wishes on Saturday! You helped make his special day purrfect!

Happy Monday!



***
Our Tip of the Day:
We've talked relatively recently about potentially dangerous insects and spiders, but don't forget that there are also a variety of amphibians and reptiles that are potentially hazardous to our furbabies. For example, rattle snakes, as many know, are venomous and their bites potentially life-threatening. There are also certain toads, as another example, that can secrete a toxic chemical through their skin, causing cardiac issues and other medical emergencies. These are just two examples, though. There are a number of other potentially hazardous snakes, lizards, toads, frogs, and other such creatures out there. This is something to especially take into consideration if you live in an area with this type of wildlife, or if taking your furbaby somewhere unfamiliar, such as to visit to another state or country, or even if going on a hike. When traveling somewhere new, consider reading up on your destination's wildlife and potentially dangerous critters, and once there keep an eye on your furbaby, and of course seek immediate medical attention in the case of any bites or other concerning contact with wildlife.

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Happy Easter!



We are wishing all of you happiness and blessings aplenty, today and every day!


From all of us to all of you, HAPPY EASTER!


Oh, and of course Astrid snapped that Easter shot of hers so that she could star in the Sunday Selfies blog hop, hosted by our friends over at The Cat on My Head.


Visit the Kitties Blue over at The Cat on My Head to see more festive and all sorts of fun selfies!



***
Our Tip of the Day:
Have lots of leftover Easter eggs? If your furbaby is not likely to chew on, swallow, or be left unattended with these plastic eggs, consider letting them have an Easter egg hunt of their own! You can place some especially pungent and delicious treats inside the eggs, hide the eggs or even just place them in the open on the floor, and let your furbaby sniff them out. When they find them, they get some Easter goodies all of their own! If you are at all concerned that your furbaby might swallow or in any way be harmed by the traditional Easter eggs, you can use some treat-dispensing toys, or even just hide some treats around the room or around the house for them to find in their very own eggless Easter hunt. Happy Easter!

Saturday, April 15, 2017

M is for...Happy Birthday!

Guess what? The A to Z Challenge letter of the day is M. And guess what else? Our doodled little critters are helping us do some celebrating today.


M is for mousies, obviously. What's more, though, is that we put these little rodents to work on a birthday cake. Why? Because today it's some boy's birthday!


That's right, my boy Evan is turning 4 years old today! Well, maybe he is. It's hard knowing a boy's real birth date, when he just up and lands on a cat clinic's doorstep in 2013 at something like 6 weeks old. But that's beside the point. April 15th was chosen as Evan's birthday, and so today we celebrate!

Those mousies sure did a good job. They made Evan a butter cake. His favorite! So, feel free to grab yourself a dish.


There's lots of food, fun, and festivities to be had today!



P.S. Our mousey little cake makers are our contribution to Athena's Caturday Art blog hop.


Be sure to visit Athena to see the artistic talent of many of our friends!

Happy Caturday to all!



 ***
Our Tip of the Day:
Today seems like a good day for a fun birthday tip for those kitties in your lives. Want to know an easy way to prepare a cake for you kitty on his or her birthday? Simply take their favorite paté style moist food and dump it out of the can upside down onto a plate or into a bowl, so that it maintains its shape. Then, decorate this with some of their favorite treats. You can sprinkle some delicious hard kibbles on top, or even decorate it with some tasty tuna or chicken, or maybe even some cheddar cheese. You can even add a dollop of yogurt on top, if that's your kitty's kind of thing. The options are endless (just stick with safe foods!), and you will have yourself one happy birthday kitty!

Friday, April 14, 2017

L is for...

Where to start off this fun and fantastic Friday? Well, let's begin with the A to Z Challenge! Today we honor the letter L. This lovely letter actually gave us a number of options for animals to add to our A to Z Menagerie. There are llamas and lobsters, and of course lions, and leopards, and lynxes. But, none of those are what we decided to add to our alphabetical animal collection. Want to see what we did choose to doodle?


A lemur! We're kind of loving how a lemur's tail is much like that of certain tabbies around here. We just love those ringed tails.

So, there's a lemur for you. Now, though, we move on to one of our favorite parts of the week. And that's the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, hosted by none other than 15andmeowing and McGuffy's Reader.


Our hosts gave us some fun and festive fill-ins this week!

1. An Easter (or Passover) tradition I have is _________.
2. My favorite flavor of ice cream is _________.
3. One of my favorite Easter/Passover memories is _________.
4. My favorite Spring flower is ________.

Here's how I fared with those:

1. An Easter tradition I have is going to Easter morning Mass at church.
(I've always loved Easter morning Mass. I love when it's a beautiful Spring morning, the sun is shining and birds are chirping, and everyone fills up the church to celebrate. I go to church every week, but I get to Mass extra early on Easter, since the church always ends up filled wall to wall that morning. It's quite a sight to see.)

2. My favorite flavor of ice cream is vanilla.
(Boring, huh? Honestly, though, I've always thought that vanilla ice cream is perfect because, not only does it have a delectably rich and smooth taste itself, but it also allows for so many possibilities. After all, you can spruce up vanilla ice cream with just about anything. You know, like chocolate, peanut butter, and caramel, and don't forget about warm brownies and cake, and even cookies, and apple pie. Oh, and who doesn't love vanilla ice cream with some candy on top? By the way, did you know that gummy bears are delicious with vanilla ice cream?)

3. One of my favorite Easter memories is when my birthday fell on Good Friday. Twice.
(Good Friday, the Friday immediately before Easter, is meant to be a day of sacrifice. As a Catholic, I observe fasting and abstinence on Good Friday. This means no meat, no snacks, and really just not much indulging for the sake of sacrifice. So, when my birthday fell on Good Friday, that meant no pepperoni pizza for dinner like every other year, and no evening feasting on cake and ice cream. Yet, I consider that a good memory? To be honest, I really did enjoy both times – in 2007 and 2012 – that my birthday fell on Good Friday. There's something humbling about forgoing the usual birthday cake and other treats on the big day itself. I felt like such a big girl, when I realized that it wasn't the cake or the ice cream, not even the pizza, that made the day special. It's nice when life throws you lessons like that.)

4. My favorite Spring flower is the daffodil.
(Daffodils are not only lovely, but they are also one of the first plants that bloom come Spring. It's as if daffodils are the heralds of Spring, and that's probably why I always feel so excited when I see my first one bloom each year.)


Okay, now it's Eddy's turn! She's been an active girl this week. Just like every week. And every day, and every minute of every day. She did sort of pause during one of her daily rolls on the living room rug recently, though, and so I took advantage of that and snapped a shot of her.


It's not like she looked at the camera or anything, but beggars can't be choosers. Do you like how she tries to camouflage herself on this busy rug? She's almost gotten stepped on this way a few times, the poor girl.

Don't worry, though, that moment of stillness there didn't last long.


And a-rolling she goes.


Woohoo! That's more like it. Blurry Eddy for the win!

We're wishing everybuddy a beautiful day!

Oh, and for a little P.S.: Tomorrow is a certain orange tabby's birthday, so feel free to stop in tomorrow and help us celebrate!



***
Our Tip of the Day:
Are you ready for us to sound like a broken record? Good, because here it goes. Holidays sure can be fun and festive, but they can also pose many dangers for our furbabies. This Easter, please don't forget about your pups' and kitties' safety and comfort. If you're having company or hosting an Easter celebration, be sure to keep your furbaby away from any chances of escaping through the front door, as well as safe from any increased foot traffic in the house. Also of course be cognizant of other Easter dangers, such as chocolate and other candy, and flowers such as lilies, daffodils and tulips. Even consider the danger of Easter basket fillers, such as fake Easter grass or confetti. Easter can indeed be a fun and lovely holiday, but don't forget the risks as well!

Thursday, April 13, 2017

K is for...

Who can guess our K contribution to the A to Z Challenge?


If you guessed kangaroo, you're right!

Now, Thimble told me that I couldn't take too long today on the A to Z Challenge today. Why? Because, well, Thursday is her day to show off just how cute she is. Duh!


When Thimble found out that Evan got to show off his whiskers on Monday, she decided that she simply had to show off hers as well.


Thimble wasn't about to let Evan best her in the whisker department, so she gifted you with these shots!

Of course, we wouldn't want to miss out on the fantastic Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.


Thimble is thankful for her trusty whiskers, for her beloved windows, and for beautiful Spring days. And, as always, all of us here are thankful for our family and friends!

Have a beautiful day!



***
Our Tip of the Day:
Does your kitty tend to scatter litter everywhere? If so, there are some potential solutions to prevent litter from scattering too far from the box. If your kitty is physically fit and does not suffer from mobility issues such as arthritis, then one potential fix is to get a box with higher sides, so that the litter is less likely to fly from the box with your kitty. Another option is to get some sort of second, larger container in which to put the litter box. You can try using a large storage container, a large boot tray, or anything similar, and place the litter box inside of it. This way, the litter is more likely to stay confined to that area rather than continue its path along the floor and throughout the house. Of course, there are also litter mats available on the market, which can be placed outside of the litter box and which are designed to trap litter rather than allow it to scatter across the floor beyond. And, of course, it never hurts to leave a broom and dustpan nearby, so that you can sweep up loose litter each time you scoop the box. Our kitties may be litter enthusiasts, but that doesn't mean it can't be contained!

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

J is for...

The alphabet is telling me that today is J's turn in the A to Z Challenge.


So we added a jellyfish to our A to Z Menagerie!

We may not live near the ocean or get many visits from jellyfish friends, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy us some window whiffies!





***
Our Tip of the Day:
Spring is here, which means summer is just around the corner, which means lots of fun in the sun! That being said, today's summery tip is a bit on the yummy side. Especially in the heat of summer, your pup (and perhaps even some kitties out there!) might like a nice, cold treat. Rather than risk an upset gastrointestinal tract by sharing your own ice cream or other frozen treat, though, consider making some cold treats that your pup can have all to his or herself. There are number of ways to do this, with a variety of safe ingredients and flavors. You can choose a base such as mashed banana, pumpkin, or sweet potato, or even plain, low fat yogurt. To that, you can add flavorful ingredients such as peanut butter, pureed fruits or veggies (such as apples, strawberries, or carrots), or even cheddar cheese or moist dog food. Of course, some other delicious additions could be plain ground beef, chicken, or chunks of your pup's favorite treats. Whatever concoction of ingredients you choose for your furbaby to enjoy, all you have to do is blend it all together, pour the mixture into an ice cube tray or other similar mold, freeze it, and then let them enjoy some delicious frozen goodies on a hot day (or anytime!). While these treats may seem more geared toward those pups in our lives, if you think you know a kitty who would enjoy a frozen treat, you can certainly use similar, safe ingredients that they might enjoy in this way.