Thoughts on Monday

Want to know mancat Evan's thoughts on Monday?

That's Evan thought on this thing called Monday. How about you?

Though it may be Monday, we hope you all have a magnificent day!

***

Doodle of the Day

We're finally sharing the first doodle in our newest series. It's sort of a gothic or spooky winter series, which I've really been enjoying scribbling up. This new series was pretty heavily inspired by a similar series of doodles from last year, and we're still sharing flashbacks from that older series. They'll probably all look alike, but that's because it's a style I really enjoy, and so that's that. Anyway. Here's the first doodle in the newest series.

***

Tip of the Day

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Valentine's Day!

Though this here human isn't a big fan of Valentine's Day, mancat Evan wanted to share some handsome shots of himself today. In honor of this day of love, Evan chose a couple of his favorite, most irresistible shots and poses to share with you all.

Just look at Evan glowing! How about another pose?

Isn't he so handsome?

Oh. Yikes. That one's a bit more intense, perhaps even a tad bit scary. Regardless, isn't Evan so manly? Isn't he such a hunk? This here human thinks so. And no, I'm not biased.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Those are flashback Valentine doodles from 2019 and 2020, respectively. Like the furry pals in the doodles, we hope you all have good friends and tasty food to make your day extra special!

***

Tip of the Day

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

A Cute Couple's Caturday Art

I decided to change our plans a bit and share a spiffed up flashback doodle for this week's Caturday Art. I was going to share the first doodle in our new winter series today, but then I decided I'd go ahead and share a Valentine's Day doodle from last year for this Caturday before Valentine's Day. I didn't scribble up any new Valentine doodles this year. Like I mentioned yesterday, Valentine's Day really just isn't my favorite holiday. Also, I was too excited to work on our newest series of winter doodles to stop and scribble up any Valentine doodles. So, anyway, today and tomorrow we'll share flashback Valentine's Day doodles from last year in order to be a tad bit festive.

Now, let's start with the plain and simple doodle we shared last Valentine's Day, which was this one here:

Why was this the doodle we scribbled up for Valentine's Day last year? Because at our house, mancat Toby has always had a huge crush on pup Astrid. Whether Astrid wants it or not, Toby showers her with all sorts of love. He rubs on her, he licks her, and if she tries to get away, he chases her and then loves on her some more. That's why we're sharing this flashback doodle of the cute couple in honor of Valentine's Day tomorrow. What's more, we found some fun effects to apply to it for today's pre-Valentine's Day Caturday Art Blog Hop. So, let's share those other versions of this doodle now.

We'll start with some simple filters I found to apply to the Valentine's Day doodle. I don't do much digital art, so I went a bit wild experimenting, but at the same time the alterations are certainly nothing fancy whatsoever.

After playing around with filters, I thought I might try to find some Valentine frames to use on the doodle. Again, they're nothing even remotely fancy, but I had fun playing around with them.

Next up, we found some animated effects to apply to this Valentine. Want to see them?

How about this flashy one?

And how about another flashy one?

Was that a wild array of Valentine shenanigans or what? I'm not sure how I feel about those animated versions of the doodle, as they're a tad bit dizzying. Believe it or not, I tried a few other animated effects that were even more dizzying than these. Since it hurt for me to look at those, though, I didn't think it right to make you look at them. Anyway. I hope you enjoyed the flashback Valentine doodle in some way, shape, or form.

On Monday, we'll share the first doodle in our newest series. As I mentioned a couple times this past week, our newest series is going to include somewhat gothic winter doodles. These were inspired by a similar series of doodles I scribbled up last year, and which we've been sharing as flashback doodles. I've really been enjoying creating this newer version of them, as they're of a style I really enjoy drawing.

Anyway. Happy Caturday! And happy Valentine's Day weekend!

***

Tip of the Day

Our current topic of conversation stems back to the fact that it is National Cat Health Month. Yesterday, in our tip regarding diet, we made a comment on the fact that your kitty's weight will indeed help determine the best diet for them. Today's tip is a continuation of that topic of weight. If your cat is overweight, for example, then portion control is of course important, as is the type of food, frequency of feedings, and other such factors. There are weight loss cat foods on the market, these often focusing on high protein intake, but do be sure to discuss with a veterinarian your kitty's weight and the best diet to help them live a healthy, fit life. Similarly, if a cat is underweight, such as due to an illness, diet can play a large role in increasing their weight and overall health. Again, discuss with a veterinarian what type and quantity of food to feed your cat in order to achieve an optimal weight.

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

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

Friendly Fill-Ins

Happy Friday! Would you like to join us for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge? If so, please do! Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. Years ago, I had a _________.

2. I used to want a _________, but now I don't.

3. I have just recently become interested in _________.

4. I wouldn't be where I am today without _________.

My answers are below in bold, accompanied by some painfully long explanations. Feel free to skip all the rambling.

1. Years ago, I had a negative opinion of ebooks.
(I used to be all pompous toward the concept of reading books that were digital and not physical. Then, a few years ago, my parents got me an Amazon Kindle for Christmas. I hesitantly loaded it up with some ebooks, and now I love reading them. Ebooks really are so convenient, as well as cheaper than physical books. Don't get me wrong, I still buy physical books, read them, and have shelves upon shelves full of them. But, I admittedly read ebooks far more often than I read physical books these days. I never thought I'd say that.)

2. I used to want a career as a veterinarian, but now I don't.

(I'm fairly certain I've mentioned this before. For essentially all of my childhood, I wanted to be a veterinarian. Then, as I approached my college years, I thought about it more and had to admit to myself that euthanasia and other devastating procedures were not something I wanted to fill my days with. I of course still love animals more than I could even put into words, I still studied animal sciences in college, and I still worked directly with animals in multiple jobs I've held as an adolescent and as an adult. One of my jobs right out of college was as a veterinary assistant, and after assisting with more than a few euthanasias, I was glad I had not pursued a career as a veterinarian. Helping animals is immensely rewarding, but I know that I would have eventually burnt out. I admittedly feel more of an emotional attachment to animals than I do to most humans, and so I believe dealing with sick and dying animals every day would have ultimately worn me down. Kudos to all veterinarians out there.)

3. I have just recently become interested in the true crime genre.

(I've always enjoyed reading and watching tales of suspense, thriller, crime, and all that jazz. That being said, I used to consume that type of thing only in the form of fictional tales. I've always been a fan of fiction above all else. Nowadays, though, I've discovered that I am highly intrigued by true crime stories. I have been binge watching crime documentaries of all types, and it's made me realize that I think I would have really enjoyed studying criminology and forensics in college. There's just something so intriguing about getting to the bottom of crimes. It's like they're puzzles to be solved, and putting all the pieces together must feel so rewarding. It also surely must be rewarding to seek the rightful form of justice for the victims and the criminals.)

4. I wouldn't be where I am today without my family.
(Both my human and my furry family members have impacted my life greatly. I'm not a social person and so I'm not close to very many people, but I am close to my parents, my sister, and some of my extended family. I was one of the lucky kids of the world who was raised in a safe home with a close-knit family, and of course I was also beyond blessed to have my unconditionally loving cats and dogs. Without my supportive family and without my beloved furry family, I don't know where I'd be today.)

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.

***

Today, Eddy wanted to share with you all another view from her favorite window.

Wait a second. That's not what the view out the window looks like right now. Those trees aren't all dry and brown like when Eddy snapped that photo. These days, the trees look like this:

Is the world all white where you live, friends? We've gotten quite a bit of snow this week. It snowed all day at least 2 or 3 days this week. It wasn't always heavy snow, so we don't have feet of it on the ground, but we do have a decent amount nonetheless. It's also cold outside. We've had some days where the temperatures dipped below 0°F. That always makes us worry for kitties and other animals living outdoors, and we've been thinking a lot about those little critters lately. We have a shelter with food and a heat source in our yard, but we know there are animals all over having to endure the cold, and we purr and pray for them.

Sending you all warm wishes!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Instead of posting one of our flashback wintry doodles, today we're sharing a Valentine-esque doodle from last year. I admittedly did not scribble up any new doodles for Valentine's Day this year, because it's really just not my favorite holiday. I was also too excited for some of the new doodles I'm working on to do any for Valentine's Day. So, today and Sunday, we're sharing a couple of the Valentine doodles we created last year.

***

Tip of the Day

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

Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

We're feeling poetic today, just like we do every Thursday thanks to Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge.

Every week, our host shares a photo prompt to help guide us. This week's prompt is this intriguing image here:

I can tell that is some sort of wild limousine, at least I think. Truth be told, though, when I first saw that image, it immediately made me think of a bullet train. So, I went with that literal train of thought, also decided to turn the idea a bit wintry, and then ended up with the silly, weird, and wacky rhyme below. My poem this week makes little to no sense, but what's new.

Snow Day

Rosie and Sammy were two cool cats.
They were too cool for school, and that's a fact.
That's why the two wanted the day off of school.
They wanted a day to be free and to stay cool.

This all began one night in the season of winter.

There was no snow, though, even with cold air that did blister.
"We need some snow," Sammy said.
The two of them stood, thinking, nodding their heads.
Rosie stated, "Indeed. A snow day is exactly what we need."

The two cool cats stood outside and looked to the sky.
Sammy asked, "Do wishes upon stars come true, or is that a lie?"
Rosie shrugged, saying, "Surely it couldn't hurt to give it a try."
And so the two wished upon the stars, including one that flew by.

The two cool cats began walking back home.
As they did, Sammy said, "Maybe we'll wake up to a world full of snow.
Maybe we'll get that snow day, you just never know."
Before they made it far,
They heard something much louder than a car.

There was a chugging and a choo-chooing.
The two cool cats turned around and did not believe what they were viewing.
It was a train, somehow running without railroad tracks.
What's more, snow fell around it, and on the ground snow began to pack.
The cars of the train were already filled with piles of a snow, if you can believe that.
One of the cars even boasted a snow figure built to look like one cool cat.

The conductor leaned out of the window of the train's pilot car.
"Hello to you!" he shouted, his voice reaching near and far.
The conductor wore a spiffy hat,
And to Rosie and Sammy he also looked like a cool cat.

The conductor again spoke to speechless Rosie and Sammy.
He asked, "Were you two the ones who summoned me?
After all, I got an urgent call about a snow day request,
And so of course I headed this way with the Snow Day Express."

Finally able to speak, Sammy said, "The Snow Day Express. That's the name of this train?
It makes it snow? That thought hurts my brain."
"Don't let it boggle your mind," the conductor replied.
He added, "The Snow Day Express is simply just a pleasant surprise."

As Rosie and Sammy stood watching the air and ground fill with snow,
The conductor said, "I just need confirmation of delivery before I go.
Would you mind signing this here delivery form?
Then I'll leave you to enjoy your snow day, hopefully while staying warm."
It was Rosie who managed to budge from where she stood like a statue.
She signed the delivery form, just as the Snow Day Express conductor asked them to do.

The snow continued to fall, fall, and fall.
It was already beginning to cover the world in a white blanket quite tall.
Smiling at the sight, the conductor waved and said, "Happy snow day to you!"
And then the Snow Day Express chugged away, while around it snow swirled and flew.

Shocked, Rosie and Sammy went home home and did their best to doze.

The next morning, the two cool cats woke up to the news that their school was closed.
Rosie and Sammy jumped and cheered before bundling up to go play in the snow.
Over an entire foot of the fluffy white stuff had fallen,
And from the sky it was still floating and falling.

The two were amazed that their wish had been granted,
And to have learned of the Snow Day Express, which surely was enchanted.
They kept the idea of the magical train in the back of their minds.
After all, the two cool cats would surely want another snow day sometime.

For anyone who might not know, Rosie and Sammy were my childhood kitties, and they were also littermates. Sammy sadly only lived to 5 years of age and passed away when I was 9 years old, but Rosie lived to 21 years of age and was with me until I was 26 years old. The two of them spent many snow days at home with me, so it only felt right to let them star in this random snow day sort of poem.

***

Now we're happy to participate in Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

As always, Thimble the adorable tabby is here to give some thanks. And today, Thimble is grateful that she's adorable even when distracted. See?

Thimble says doesn't need to look anywhere near the camera to look cute. Don't you agree? I agree, and it's not because I'm biased.

***

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

1. Years ago, I had a _________.

2. I used to want a _________, but now I don't.

3. I have just recently become interested in _________.

4. I wouldn't be where I am today without _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

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

Woof Woof Wednesday

We still have some photos to share from the day we put together our new cat tree. This time around, it's pup Astrid who wants to share her participation in the cat tree construction.

Astrid may or may not have gotten a bit nervous when Evan started tearing away at the base of the cat tree, which was captured in a bit of a blurry blooper.

How about another blooper with a distracted dog, a blissed out orange tabby, and a blur of a calico?

Happy Wednesday, friends!

***

Doodle of the Day

This is essentially the final doodle in our sort of classic winter series. Though, our illustration for tomorrow's poem could also fit into this genre of doodle, so I guess there's technically one more after this one. Anyway, here's another cold winter doodle.

***

Tip of the Day

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

Brave Tonks Tuesday

What Tonks is sharing today could be considered yet another blooper. After all, the lighting and just general quality is all off. But, Tonks wants you all to know just how brave she is.

Do you see Tonks relaxing on the chair there? And do you see that vacuum cleaner? The vacuum is running in this photo. It's full on running as loudly as it can, ready to suck up all sorts of cat hair and other debris, and Tonks just doesn't care. She's one of the only cats I've ever met who just does not care even a single ounce if a vacuum cleaner is running, not even if it's running just a foot away from her. Isn't Tonks such a brave girl?

If you look at the photo and see artificial pine needles strewn everywhere, you could probably guess that this photo was taken right after we finally took down our Christmas tree a couple weeks ago. Those pine needles go literally everywhere. You can even see some on the cat tree on the left, as if it doesn't already have enough problems.

Anyway. What do you kitty friends of ours think of vacuums? Are you like Tonks, and even pup Astrid, and just don't care about them? Or are you more like Eddy, Toby, and Winky here and run away because surely the vacuum intends to eat you? Or perhaps you're more like Evan and Thimble, who don't mind the vacuum as long as it remains across the room from them. So, what do you all think of the vacuum cleaner?

Have a terrific Tuesday!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Here's another doodle from last year's sort of gothic winter series. I'm having fun planning and sketching the new series of doodles that's more or less inspired by these old doodles, and we'll start sharing the new ones probably this weekend.

***

Tip of the Day

February is not only Spay/Neuter Awareness Month and Pet Dental Health Care Month, but also National Cat Health Month. We've already given tips on the first two, so now we're of course moving on to some tips for keeping those kitties healthy. Our first such tip is to take your cat to the veterinarian for a checkup on an annual basis at the least. In general, a health check is recommended at least every 6 to 12 months. More regular vet visits are of course recommended for any cats with known illnesses, such as kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and cancer, among others.

Visits with the veterinarian do not always just simply mean a quick exam, though. Depending on your furbaby's health, lifestyle, and any other important factors, you will of course have to take into consideration vaccinations, blood work, urinalyses, fecal exams, and so forth. Your veterinarian will be able to discuss and offer recommendations on how and when to proceed with these. For example, discuss with your veterinarian your cat's risk for certain illnesses, and discuss any related vaccinations. When it comes to blood work and urinalyses, these are often recommended at least yearly for seniors cats, such as those who have reached 7 or so years of age. This could allow for early detection of certain diseases. More frequent blood work is of course recommended for those with known kidney disease, diabetes, and a variety of other diseases.

The long and short of this tip is that your cat should be seen by a veterinarian at least once a year, or more frequently if needed. A veterinarian's exam, as well as blood work and other tests, can help reveal any issues that might be arising, whether or not your kitty is showing any signs of illness. Cats are professionals at hiding disease, so exams and tests could, quite literally, be lifesavers.