Caturday Art

Today's doodle is yet another one that gives away just how seasonally confused I can get. Actually, more specifically, this doodle was inspired by the state of my house last week.

As I struggled to bring myself to take down my Halloween decor last week, I at the same time couldn't decide whether to go all out Thanksgiving, or to just go right to decking the halls for Christmas. There was a point during these deliberations when my house looked as if a holiday war was waging on. Christmas largely the won the battle, in case you were wondering.

That there above really isn't far from what my house very recently looked like. The main difference between that doodle and my home would be the number of cats. There was way more than one cat helping me pack away Halloween and deck the halls for the next holiday. I'm always being snoopervised by many sets of eyes.

That there seasonally confused doodle is indeed what we're sharing for Athena's always fun Caturday Art Blog Hop today.

Happy Caturday, friends!

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Tip of the Day

Many Thanksgiving dinners include bread, rolls, biscuits, or other doughy goods. That being said, be cautious and aware when baking bread around dogs and cats. If a pup or kitty consumes unbaked bread dough, especially that which contains yeast, serious side effects could result. For example, unbaked break dough can expand inside the warm intestinal tract, which can in turn result in life-threatening bloat, twisted stomach, and other potential issues. Yeast in unbaked bread dough not only can result in bloat, though. It can also ferment. Such fermentation produces alcohols, which can then be absorbed into the bloodstream and result in alcohol poisoning. Needless to say, unbaked bread dough can be very dangerous, or even deadly, if consumed by a cat or dog. So, never leave unbaked bread dough unattended. Keep your kitty or pup out of the kitchen, or do whatever else you must to keep your kitty or pup from giving that dough and other dangerous Thanksgiving feast foods a taste test.

Friendly Fill-Ins

Hello, friends! Who's ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins? If you'd like to participate, I'll share the fill-in statements again below. Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I have been _________ for _________.

2. Have you _________?

3. I always _________ this time of year.

4. The world could use more _________.


I filled these in myself, and my answers are below in bold.

1. I have been an animal lover for three decades.
(I'm three decades old, and I've loved animals for all three of them. I was blessed with a childhood filled with furry friends, as well as friends with feathers and fins.)

2. Have you cuddled a cat today?
(If not, you need to get right on that.)

3. I always feel festive this time of year.
(The last quarter of the year is by far my favorite. I enjoy Halloween and all it offers, and then I do the same with Christmas, all the way through the Twelve Days of Christmas, which actually begin on Christmas Day. Once I could finally bring myself to put my Halloween decor away last week, I was suddenly in the major Christmas spirit. I've already started decking the halls, watching festive films on the TV, and all that festive jazz. Doodling in my sketchbook also makes me feel incredibly festive, because this time of year I feel inspired to doodle all sorts of holiday things. Tomorrow's Caturday Art doodle is even a mashup of the three major holidays in the last quarter of the year.)

4. The world could use more unconditional love.
(We really could learn a thing or two from our furry friends, unconditional love being one of those things.)

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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Can you believe that your Eddy fix today isn't blurry? It is, however, an extreme closeup.

Doesn't Eddy have such a lovely tabby stripe and fur and whiskers? It should be obvious that she does, with a shot that up close and personal.

Eddy and all of us here are wishing you a happy Friday!

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Doodle of the Day: Flashback Friday

I was going through last year's November doodles and discovered the one below. I feel like I had a particular reason for drawing this one, but now I can't remember what that reason was, and I made no comments on it when I posted it last year. Either way, though, it sort of sums up the vibes I'm feeling today. After all, it's one of those brisk autumn days when you just need to cuddle up with some kitties and enjoy some hot cocoa and a good book.

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Tip of the Day

A discussion on Thanksgiving dinner foods would not be complete without noodles, would it? If noodles are part of your holiday meal, it could likely be considered safe to feed your furbaby a small amount of plain noodles. Noodles can be a good source of energy in the form of carbohydrates, but of course they are best enjoyed in moderation for your furbaby. That being said, as always, also do consider any ingredients added the noodles. As we've indicated in many previous tips, refrain from feeding your pup or kitty noodles that include garlic or onion, for example, or that include any fatty or other sauces that might lead to gastrointestinal upset, pancreatitis, or other issues. So, if your furbaby fancies a taste of pasta, as long as it's plain, they can enjoy that little taste.

Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

We've made it to Thursday. Whew. That means we've reached Thoroughly Poetic Thursday, hosted by none other than Angel Sammy.

As our always, our host shared a photo prompt to help us get poetic. This week's prompt is this entertaining image here:

Truth be told, the first thing I thought of when I saw that image was the movie Home Alone. In that movie, there's a misunderstood, lonely old man who lives next door. So, I sort of went with that thought for my insanely long poem this week.

Snow Day

It snowed all through the night and into the morn.

School was even canceled thanks to the blustery storm.

That fact made little Joey happier than happy,

Because it meant he could stay home with his black cat Scrappy.

By late afternoon, Joey and Scrappy had grown bored inside.

They let this be known with perfectly dramatic sighs.

Though she had discouraged it in the morn as the snow piled higher than high,

Joey's mother finally suggested Joey and Scrappy bundle up and play outside.

Neither Joey nor Scrappy argued that.

They were a snow-loving boy and his snow-loving cat.

Bundled up and ready to play,

Joey and Scrappy headed out to enjoy the snowy day.

They of course started with building a man out of snow.

When they finished, a smile lit Joey's face all aglow.

Scrappy, though, he was not happy, no.

The cat hissed at the snowman in a manner quite loud.

He then let out a much less than happy sort of meow.

Joey nodded and said, "Yeah, you're right, Scrappy.

This snowman also makes me unhappy."

So the boy and the cat set out to fix the snowy figure.

They started off by packing on more and more snow to make it bigger.

Then they grabbed some little twigs and of course gave it whiskers.

Last but not least, they turned their attention to the snowy head up top,

Onto which two pointed ears of snow they of course did plop.

"There," Joey said, a great big grin on his face.

"I think our snowkitty would easily win first place."

Scrappy the cat let out a happy mew and purrs upon purrs.

He rubbed against the snowkitty, leaving behind his black furs.

Next the boy and his cat turned to the garage,

And from it the Christmas decor they did quickly dislodge.

The festive holiday was not far off at all,

And so Joey and Scrappy began to happily deck the outdoor halls.

Then, just like that, Scrappy snapped his attention elsewhere.

The house next door was where Joey saw that his cat now stared.

Curious what his feline friend did see,

Joey turned and saw Old Man McGee.

That particular neighbor was a curmudgeon with a chronic frown on his mug.

The old man's favorite words were probably, "Bah! Humbug!"

He was also nothing if not a tad bit unorthodox,

Which was probably why he was shoveling snow in a bathrobe, slippers, and socks.

At the strange sight of Old Man McGee,

Joey shook his head and whispered, "Sheesh."

Scrappy, though, pranced over to the snow shovel by their own front door.

He then chirruped, meowed, and smacked a paw at the shovel with great force.

Joey looked at his parents' driveway and sidewalk covered in snow.

"Should I?" he asked. "I guess so."

Joey picked up the shovel and began removing the snow in front of their house.

Scrappy gave a shriek far louder than that of even the biggest mouse.

"Scrappy, what on earth was that?"

Joey covered his ears as he addressed his cat.

The cat plopped himself in front the shovel in Joey's hands.

Scrappy glanced over at Old Man McGee, and Joey did understand.

"I don't think so, Scrappy," Joey said.

"Old Man McGee is mean, and he's older than dead."

Scrappy slapped a paw at Joey's leg.

He hissed and growled at everything Joey then said,

At least until his words were, "Fine. All right. I get it."

Scrappy now purred instead of offering his boy a slap or a hit.

Hanging his head and drooping his shoulders,

Joey dragged his feet and shovel to Old Man McGee's, one house over.

The old fellow did not even notice Joey and Scrappy approach.

He was too busy shoveling the other side of the driveway in his bathrobe.

Taking the opportunity to avoid a conversation with the scary old man,

Joey began secretly shoveling the other side of the driveway where he did stand.

The boy had half the driveway and the sidewalk done before Old Man McGee turned around.

The wrinkled face then looked at him with both a scowl and a frown.

"What are you doing?" Old Man McGee snapped.

"Helping," was Joey's nervous answer to that.

Joey smiled and added, "We thought it was a good idea, me and my cat."

"I don't need help," the old fellow growled. "No, no, no."

"We thought otherwise," Joey said, "since you're out here in, well, a robe."

Night had nearly fallen, and it was growing colder than cold.

The old man in his robe really was being quite bold.

"I didn't ask for help and don't want it," the old man grumbled.
"I'm not paying you for help I didn't want," he added in a mumble.

Joey hid a frown and instead smiled and shrugged.

The old man grunted and said, "I'm going to get myself hot cocoa in a mug."
The old man turned on his slippered heels.
Then he quickly added, "I'll bring you some cocoa, if you stay here."

Joey considered running away to his home,
But he ultimately couldn't turn down a cup of hot cocoa.
Old Man McGee quite quickly returned with a tray and three mugs,
Hot cocoa in two, and warm milk for Scrappy in the third one.

Also on the tray was a plate of gingerbread cookies.
Joey thought maybe this old man wasn't really all that kooky.
After taking a gingerbread bite and smiling wider than wide,
Joey said, "These are delicious, and that's no lie!"

"I quite enjoy baking," Old Man McGee did admit.
He continued, "Making Christmas cookies is my absolute favorite.
I make dozens of cookies every single year.
I never have anyone to share them with, though, I fear."

That conversation quickly came to a very happy end.
With Old Man McGee, Joey and Scrappy's time was then quite often spent.
They soon put up the old fellow's Christmas decor,
And even built for him a snowkitty to see from his windows and door.
They also never failed to shovel Old Man McGee's snow,
And afterwards they of course always feasted on cookies and hot cocoa.

***

Up next is, of course, Thimble and her Thankfuls.

Thimble has a great many things for which she is thankful this week. She is, as always, grateful for her favorite window seat and the sun puddles it provides. Thimble is also feeling quite thankful for her forever home, and the warmth it provides on these cold, winter November days. And, obviously, Thimble (and this here mom of hers) is also beyond grateful for her adorable face and its adorable nose and its adorable eyes and its adorable everything all around.

We're also, as always, so very thankful for all of you!

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Last but not least, we have for you the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. Ellen of 15andmeowing is the mastermind behind the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I have been _________ for _________.

2. Have you _________?

3. I always _________ this time of year.

4. The world could use more _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Tip of the Day

Continuing on with our Thanksgiving dinner tips, yet another common holiday dish is white potatoes, such as mashed potatoes. When it comes to feeding your furbaby white potatoes, those that are cooked and plain can be a reasonable treat in moderation. When additional ingredients are added, though, then you have to start being extra cautious about offering potatoes as a treat. For example, butter or sour cream might cause gastrointestinal distress, especially for cats and dogs who are lactose intolerant. In addition, as we've said before, added ingredients such as garlic, onion, or excess salt can potentially be dangerous if consumed by a kitty or pup. So, you  can let your furbaby try out those mashed potatoes, but first make be sure to take into account how they're prepared.

In addition to white potatoes, Thanksgiving is also often a popular time for sweet potato dishes. If plain and simple, sweet potatoes can make for a great treat for a kitty or pup. They are a great source of fiber and vitamin A, as well as vitamin C, potassium, and a variety of other beneficial nutrients. Plain steamed, baked, or mashed sweet potatoes would be a great treat to allow your kitty or pup during that Thanksgiving dinner. That all being said, though, do be cautious of dishes such as sweet potato casserole. These altered versions of sweet potato often contain added sugar, sugary marshmallows, and other potential seasonings or ingredients that could be unhealthy or lead to gastrointestinal side effects. So, sweet potatoes are a great treat to offer that furbaby in your life, but do be sure it's of the plain and healthy variety. Just as with white mashed potatoes, make sure you know how sweet potatoes are prepared prior to letting your furbaby have a taste.

Woof Woof Wednesday

Astrid didn't want to take one of her usual pouty puppy window shots for today. She actually refused to even sit up or look interested in her photo shoot whatsoever. That's why we have this for you today:

Nothing like a big ol' snout shot, huh?

Happy Wednesday to all!

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Doodle of the Day

Today's doodle is brought to you by the seasonal confusion I always have this time of year.

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday we discussed whether it was safe to feed your furbaby a taste of that Thanksgiving turkey. Another food you might find on the Thanksgiving table is ham. Is this safe to feed your furbaby, though? Ham, like turkey potentially can be, is often high in fat. Ham is also often processed or treated, and can possibly contain high amounts of salt. These factors can lead to any number of issues, such as gastrointestinal distress or pancreatitis, if consumed in excess by your kitty or pup. And, just as we've said of other Thanksgiving foods, also be aware of other potentially concerning ingredients added to ham, such as onion and garlic. While very small amounts might not have an effect for some furbabies, do be aware of the potential side effects that fatty, processed, treated, or seasoned ham can cause.

It's also worth noting to be aware of the contents and preparation of chicken, beef, and all meats served at your Thanksgiving dinner. These can all potentially contain problematic fat, or additives such as onion, garlic, salt, and so forth. To prevent pancreatitis, gastrointestinal distress, or other issues, either refrain from giving your furbaby a taste at all, or give treats only in moderation and only when you are certain that the food contains no potentially dangerous components.

Tuesday with Winky

You know who hasn't gotten to star in a post here in some sort of eternity? If you guessed that this post's title gives it away and the answer is Winky, then you are correct!

Despite what some folks believe, black cats are more than photographable. That doesn't mean I won't admit that I often struggle photographing black cats, but that's because my knowledge of photography and camera settings in general leaves a lot to be desired. When Winky recently sat at a perfect angle in the sunny window, though, I snapped today's shots. I was admittedly happy that it turned out the way it did. I love when I get a decent shot of our resident house panthers, because it helps prove that a camera can of course capture their beauty, even when the camera is wielded by a complete novice.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Doodle of the Day: Flashback Tuesday

We had us a tad bit of a snowstorm yesterday. For today's flashback doodle, I wanted to see if I had anything in my sketchbook from last autumn that might relate to that. I found exactly what I was looking for, and so today's flashback doodle is this one from last November:

It would appear that we had a snowstorm right around this same time last year. Mother Nature, you really need to get your act together. Is it autumn? Is it winter? Make up your mind. Please.

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Tip of the Day

Our series of tips relating to Thanksgiving food safety of course must include a little discussion on turkey. Is it safe to feed your kitty or pup some Thanksgiving turkey? Turkey bits fed in moderation can be a safe and delicious treat, but only as long as excess fat and bones are removed. Fat can lead to pancreatitis, among other potential issues. Bones are a choking hazard, and of course can also lead to perforation or obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract. Also keep in mind whether any additional ingredients, seasonings, or other additives were used when cooking the turkey. For example, onion, garlic, or excess salt on the turkey could potentially lead to gastrointestinal upset or other dangers. So, you don't have to skip giving your furbaby a taste of that Thanksgiving turkey, but do be sure you offer treats only in moderation, and that you take precautions for the health and safety of your furbaby.

Mancat Monday

You're looking a little on edge there, Evan. Did you snort some nip today?

I'll take that as a yes.

Evan and all of us here are wishing you a niptastic and marvelous Monday!

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Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

In yesterday's Thanksgiving tip, we mentioned how it might be best to keep those pecans and that pecan pie out of your furbaby's reach. Today, we're giving a reminder to be cautious with all nuts, especially if you're not sure how they might affect your furbaby. Almonds, walnuts, pistachios, macadamia nuts, and other nuts can all potentially lead to gastrointestinal upset, some potentially causing more severe reactions than others. The possibility and severity of a reaction also might depend on your particular furbaby, and their particular gastrointestinal tract. Some nuts, such as walnuts, macadamia nuts, hickory nuts, and the previously mentioned pecans, can also contain a toxin that affects the nervous system, especially if they become moldy. For reasons such as these, to be on the safe side, it is best to simply keep any nuts, and dishes containing nuts, out of your furbaby's reach. As always, it's better to be safe than sorry!

Guest Sunday Selfies

We have yet more guest selfies for you on this Sunday. In this current series, we're introducing you to all 12 of my parents' cats. Today, you're going to meet Fizzgig.

We've introduced you to Fizzgig before, but I'm fairly certain it's been over a year since she last starred on our blog. Fizzgig is 3 years old, and she's been with my parents since she was roughly 3 days old. At the ripe age of 1 day old, she was found abandoned in the middle of a gas station parking lot. That gas station is in the tiny hometown of my parents, and the tiny kitten ultimately ended up in the hands of an old animal-loving family friend. Knowing my parents loved cats, and that calicoes held a special place in my mom's heart, she called them about this kitten. Within two days, the then 3-day-old kitten was headed to her new home with my parents.

Fizzgig was a very vocal kitten. Though I'm loathe to word it this way, she was a very bossy little 3-day-old calico. She remained bossy, if I'm being honest. As a tiny kitten, she would loudly and proudly scream and holler whenever she wanted fed, held, and all that jazz. That's how she got her name. Fizzgig is a fuzzy critter of a character in the old movie Dark Crystal, and this character was known for screaming and hollering. Funny enough, though adult Fizzgig is far from mute, she is no longer all that vocal.

So, who is Fizzgig in a nutshell? She is a very sweet yet nonetheless sassy calico. If there's a fight going on between any of my parents' 12 cats, there's a good chance Fizzgig is involved. She probably starts the most fights in their house. That's despite her being one of the smallest cats in the house.

Fizzgig is generally social with people. She does not hide when strangers show up at my parents' house. She is also great at giving face nuzzles and cuddling in general. That being said, do not pick Fizzgig up. Though she was raised and held by humans as early as her first day of life, Fizzgig does not like being held. And she'll let you know that she does not like being held.

Fizzgig can be a very active little lady. She loves to bring you her favorite toys as gifts. Her active nature can also make her a great source of bloopers.

That slightly blurry photo is not much of a blooper, especially not when compared to the one below.

That horrifying blooper actually reminds me of Fizzgig's namesake character from Dark Crystal. When that character is having one of its screaming fits, it looks a little like that blooper of Fizzgig. Sort of.

How about a fun fact or two about Fizzgig? All of my parent' cats of course love both of my parents' cats. That being said, my dad is one of those people who animals just automatically love, even when they first meet him. The majority of my parents' cats are admittedly daddy's girls and daddy's boys. All of the above said, though, Fizzgig is the one true momma's girl in my parents' house. She absolutely adores my mom. That might be because my mom is the one who bottle fed her the vast majority of the time when she was a tiny kitten.

Another fun Fizzgig fact? This calico girl has a designated blanket that she suckles. This blanket has to be beside my mom in bed at night or Fizzgig will pace and chatter relentlessly. I'm told she suckles this blanket every single night.

We all hope you enjoyed meeting Fizzgig today!

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Doodle of the Day

It's that time of the year when the weather and the stores have me all confused which holiday to root for. Perhaps that's why I keep feeling compelled to scribble up holiday mashup doodles. You know, like this one here:

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip in our Thanksgiving series is about none other than pie. As we've said on many occasions over time, plain pumpkin contains fiber and other nutrients that can have benefits for our furbabies and their health. That being said, though, not all components of Thanksgiving pies are as equally beneficial. For example, another popular Thanksgiving dessert is pecan pie, but do be cautious with this around your furbabies. Pecans are not particularly safe to feed your pup or kitty. One reason is simply that pecans can cause an upset gastrointestinal tract, and could also lead to bowel obstruction. Also take into consideration any other pies you make and what ingredients they contain. For example, chocolate pies or those containing raisins are of course dangerous to cats and dogs. What's more, when it comes to any kind of pie, whether it be pumpkin, pecan, or another, added sugars and other potential added ingredients can be less than ideal for our kitties and pups to consume. So, when you're making or eating those Thanksgiving pies, keep dangerous ingredients and the final products well out of reach of your furbaby.