Caturday Art

Today's doodle for Athena's Caturday Art Blog Hop is a new one, but it might not look like it to those who have seen a lot of our older doodles. After all, I've scribbled up at least one doodle very similar to this one in the past. Actually, I think I might have shared that older doodle as a flashback somewhat recently. I've simply always felt really inspired by this type of imagery, and so I felt compelled to recreate it in my more current style. So, here you go.

How about a fun little tidbit? When I see and draw this kind of image, it always makes me think of a quote from C.S. Lewis's book The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, in which a wise, talking lion tells a scared little girl, "Courage, dear heart."

Happy Caturday, friends!

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip on taking that kitty of yours to the vet is about selecting the best kind of carrier for your cat. There are a number of considerations to make when it comes to carrier type. The size of your cat, the size of the carrier, how willing your kitty is to enter a carrier, your cat's behavior while in a carrier, and the material out of which a carrier is made can all play a role in the kind of carrier you might want to use.

To go into a bit more detail, let's start with the size of your kitty. For example, take into consideration the comfort of a large cat when selecting a carrier. A small carrier will of course be less than cozy for a large cat, not to mention that it might not be easy to get a large cat into a small carrier in the first place. At the same time, though, it is important to make sure that you can carry your cat's carrier with relative ease. This is especially crucial for emergency cases, when you might need to move quickly and therefore won't want to have difficulty transporting a cat-filled carrier.

Another consideration to make is how easy it is to get your cat into the carrier. Yesterday, we mentioned some tips on getting your cat used to the carrier. Those all being said, some cats may simply not be the easiest to coax into a carrier. With this in mind, consider what type of carrier will be easiest for you, your kitty, and your particular situation. If your cat is difficult to get into a carrier, for example, a top-loading one might be easier than a front-loading one. Then again, if it's possible and safe, you could set a front-loading carrier on its back end in order to load your kitty in through the door while it's standing up in that manner. Also keep in mind how sturdy a carrier is and how easily this might make it to load a kitty inside. Mesh or other flimsy carriers, for example, could collapse as you try to load a difficult cat inside, making the task even more challenging.

Yet another consideration to make is how your cat acts inside a carrier, and how details such as carrier material might be affected. For example, is your cat a digger while in their carrier? If so, a mesh carrier may not be the best option for them, especially if they are an insistent digger who might tear a hole in the mesh or dig at the zipper and escape. Also take into consideration if your kitty has a nervous bladder or nervous bowels. If your cat is known to urinate or defecate in the carrier, consider what type of carrier might be best able to withstand this and to be cleaned afterwards. A plastic carrier might be a good option in this case.

There can be a great many considerations to make when selecting a carrier for your kitty. Those we mentioned above are just some considerations you might need to make. It all depends on your particular furbaby, their personality and behavior, as well as on you and your capabilities or preferences.

Friendly Fill-Ins

Happy Friday, friends! Who's ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge? We sure are. If you'd like to join in, please do! My co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. I used to love playing _________ as a child.

2. When it _________ I _________.

3. _________ was the moment I realized _________.

4. _________ is a simple pleasure that I really enjoy.

My answers are below in bold.

1. I used to love playing with my furry friends as a child.

(And I also love playing with my furry friends as an adult. So there's that.)

2. When it is autumn, I will be very happy.

(Autumn offers my favorite weather and one of my most favorite holidays. Come on now, autumn.)

3. Bringing Evan home was the moment I realized I will always want to share my life with specially abled furbabies.

(First bringing home my hind limb paralyzed Evan was a bit nerve-wracking, I will admit. I didn't know if my house was fully ready for him, and I didn't know how he would adapt. He had very few issues, though, resilient as he was and still is. As I watched him get excited over his new home, and as he and I bonded more and more every single day, I realized that sharing my life with specially abled kitties or even pups is something I will always want to do. It is so rewarding.)

4. Stickers are a simple pleasure that I really enjoy.

(I collected stickers as a child. Big stickers, little stickers, sticker sheets, sticker books, and just all the stickers. And—guess what?—I collect stickers as an adult as well. I actually use them these days, though, unlike when I was a kid and sort of just hoarded them. I use my stickers in my planner, which is where I obviously put all of my plans, but also lists, thoughts, some doodles, and apparently lots of stickers to boot. I'm just a full grown adult who plays with stickers. Totally normal.)

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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Are you ready for your Eddy fix? This girl found out that this week Evan showed off his cute little nose and that Thimble showed off her pretty little whiskers, so she wanted to do the same.

Have a fantastic day!

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Freaky Flashback Doodle of the Day

How about another spookyish doodle from the summer of 2019?

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip on taking your kitty to the vet is one that we're sure all of you have heard, and that is to get your kitty used to the carrier. The first and foremost way to do this is to keep the carrier out, in sight and accessible all the time. If the carrier is tucked away, then it very well may simply become a source of fear when it comes out once a year. Keeping it out at all times can help combat this.

What's more, try to make the carrier a place of comfort or fun. For example, place a cozy blanket in the carrier, so that it can perhaps be seen as a place to snooze. You can also place toys in the carrier, as well as treats. Or, you can try to use the carrier as a feeding station, such as by putting one of your kitty's bowls of food in there. These methods can help your cat associate the carrier with things that are cozy, fun, or commonplace, in turn helping it to be seen as less of a threat. All in all, help your kitty get used to the carrier by turning it into a place where good things happen, rather than simply a place in which once a year they're locked up and taken somewhere unfamiliar.

Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

Happy Thursday! As many of you probably know, this is the day of Angel Sammy's fun Thoroughly Poetic Thursday challenge.

Our host always shares a photo prompt to help guide our poetic endeavors. This week's prompt is this fun one here:

I was honestly quite excited to see a prompt like this. As I've recently mentioned, I'm already eager for autumn and Halloween, and I'm starting on some spooky doodles because I just can't help myself. And I must say, these boots of a rather witchy style made for a perfect prompt for that. In addition to that spooky inspiration, my poem ended up also relating to a rather random movie. Has anyone ever seen the 1989 movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids? I watched that all the time when I was a kid myself, and somehow it popped into my mind while I was working on this poem. So, here's the weird result:

Honey, I Shrunk Myself

There once was a little old lady.
The folks in town thought she was quite crazy.
The truth was that she was just a little bit witchy.
All sorts of potions she was always mixing.

This witchy gal also quite enjoyed fashion.
Of course, having a unique style was her passion.
She oft wore none other than a pointy hat,
And custom-made boots in which she oft found her cat.

This cat of hers was bright and orange and named Honey,
Because despite the claws that came out when you rubbed her tummy,
The witchy woman's feline friend was really quite sweet and funny.
There was scarcely a cat with a disposition more sunny.

The folks in town thought Honey was the old woman's feline familiar.
Really, there was some truth to those murmurings and whispers.
Honey was really quite helpful to the little old lady,
Offering listening ears when the witchy gal set to potion making.

On one particular night, Honey sat and watched as the old lady worked.
They enjoyed the great outdoors, the full moon overhead just a perk.
The witchy gal read a certain page in one certain book,
And a sip of a potion as bright and orange as Honey she took.

"This is supposed to bring us good luck," the woman told the cat.
She smiled, looking up at the moon as she straightened her hat.
But then something strange began to occur.
Suddenly, the little old lady became even littler.

In fact, the witchy gal shrank right down into her boot.
From that deep, dark cavern, she said, "Well, shoot.
I grabbed the wrong brew, didn't I?
There was indeed a shrinking potion nearby."

It was quite an unfortunate mix-up,
More than just a tiny little hiccup.
The literally little old lady's cat looked into the boot with eyes wide in her head.
"Honey, I shrunk myself," the tiny old lady quite obviously said.

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Now, how about we give some thanks on this day of Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop?

As always, Thimble is here today to share some gratitude. So, what is Thimble thankful for today?

Whiskers! Thimble is so very grateful for her adorable whiskers.

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Last but not least, let's 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. I used to love playing _________ as a child.

2. When it _________ I _________.

3. _________ was the moment I realized _________.

4. _________ is a simple pleasure that I really enjoy.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Tip of the Day

Since I seem to live at the vet these days, what with Evan's regular sanitary shaves as well as plenty of other kitties in the house due for their annual exams in the summer, I figured we'd repeat an old series of tips on how to get that kitty of yours to the vet. In addition, National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day is coming up this month, so why not. We'll start this series with the simple tip to socialize and get your kitty used to interaction at an early age, if possible. Getting your cat used to people is ideal for helping them cope with future outings to the vet. This of course may not always be possible, depending on a particular cat's age and personality at the time of adoption or rescue. However, when possible and safe, start socializing your cat around people, even simply visitors to your home, when they are young.

What's more, try to get your cat used to hands-on checks. If it's safe for both you and your cat, you can get in the habit of looking in your cat's ears, having a look at their mouth and teeth, and so forth. This of course can help them get used to all that goes on when they're at the vet's office, while at the same time also helping you check for abnormalities that might need to be addressed. All in all, starting early with socializing and hands-on interaction, when it's a safe option, can possibly help your kitty feel more comfortable about getting examined during their trips to the vet.

Woof Woof Wednesday

How about a good ol' closeup shot of pouty pup Astrid's nose?

We shared with you a couple months ago how Astrid took a chunk out of her nose when trying to toss around her food bowl, because she seems to really enjoy doing that. Her nose has to yet fully regain that little chunk of missing nose. Can you tell in this photo? You probably can. It's pretty darn obvious. At least Astrid doesn't seem to care. Poor pup.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Freaky Flashback Doodle of the Day

Part of me thinks I might have already shared the following flashback doodle this summer, but part of me also isn't sure that I actually did. Either way, I really want to share it again leading up to the new sort of spooky series I'm working on, so here it is.

I remember feeling really inspired to create this drawing back in the summer of 2019, after seeing a certain piece of Halloween decor at a store. That piece of decor looked a lot like the typewriter in the doodle, all the way down to the bony little hand. And so, I scribbled it up in my sketchbook.

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Tip of the Day

Today is the last tip in our series on decorating your house around your furbabies. What we're talking about today is flooring. When purchasing, designing, or renovating a home, be sure to take your furbabies into consideration when it comes to details such as flooring. For example, carpeting might require extra cleaning efforts if you live with furbabies prone to vomiting or other accidents on the floor. A better option in such a case might be a hard surface flooring. Some of the easiest floors to clean and maintain with furbabies include tile and laminate floors. Of course, hardwood is another option. When it comes to this, though, do try to ensure that the type of wood used on your floors is indeed hardwood. For example, oak, maple, walnut, and cherry are all hardwoods that are resilient, as well as able to be refinished relatively easily. On the other hand, try to avoid softwood flooring when living with furbabies, whose paws and claws can far more easily cause damage to less resilient woods. Softwoods include pine, cedar, and redwood, all of which might not be able to hold up against the pitter-patter of clawed furbaby paws. All in all, if you are blessed enough to share your life and home with furbabies, you may indeed need to consider how to best decorate your home to suit both you and your furbaby.

Tonks Tuesday

It's Tuesday, so would you like a dose of Tonks? Yes? Good. Here's the bright and shiny calico for you.

Tonks wishes you all a terrific Tuesday!

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Doodle of the Day

How about another random doodle I recently finished starring some bookworms and their feline friends?

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Tip of the Day

We're in the last stretch of our tips on how to decorate your home around your furbabies. Yesterday's tip involved helping give your kitty or pup a window view by putting a cat tree, couch, or chair beside the window. Today's tip takes this concept in another direction, and involves looking into ways to make your home even more accessible to and traversable by your feline furbabies. For example, there are cat shelves on the market that can be placed along your home's walls, and which can be placed in ways that allow your kitty to not only rest on the shelves, but to also to travel the perimeter of a room by way of those wall shelves. There are plenty of other similar features available on the market as well, including walkways, bridges, ladders, and all sorts of items that can allow your furbaby to travel throughout the house in this fun, unique way. If interested, you could intersperse such wall shelves or walkways throughout the house. Or, if you have the space and ability, you could dedicate one room in the house to this, so that said room is some semblance of a playroom or jungle gym for your kitty. In the wild, cats often travel or sleep on elevated surfaces, such as trees or mountains. That's why many cats enjoy setups such as wall shelves or walkways, as this can mimic the environment of their wild ancestors.

A Swoony Mancat Monday

It's Mancat Monday, and Evan is here to make you swoon. Are you ready?

Aren't Evan and his nose downright adorable? Definitely adorable. And I'm totally not biased.

Evan and all of us here wish you a magnificent Monday!

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Doodle of the Day

Today's doodle is another library one, and it's also a bit of concept art for some of the weird and random stories I'm writing, and it's also me trying to continue practicing drawing humans that are definitely not my forte, and so on and so forth.

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Tip of the Day

For today's tip on how to decorate your home around your furbaby, we're here to remind you to make sure your kitty or pup has a safe window view. Indoor cats and dogs are of course safe from the dangers of an outdoor life, but it is still important that they get the mental stimulation provided by a view of the outdoors. To allow for this window view, try putting pet-friendly furniture near the window. Placing a cat tree beside the window is a perfect option for cats, for example. Of course, though, you can even simply position a couch, chair, table, or other pet-safe piece of furniture so that a window view is possible for your kitty or pup.

There are a couple of other considerations to make when it comes to window views for your furbabies. First, if it's possible and safe, you can try to feed birds or squirrels in view of the window, so that your kitty or pup can have the added mental stimulation of having wildlife to watch. What's more, make sure all windows are securely closed and safe from potential escapes. Also make sure that any nearby window blinds or curtains do not pose a risk to the safety of your cat or dog. It is important to ensure your indoor cat or dog has a window view in order to keep them happy and sharp, but it's equally important to ensure their safety.

Sunday Selfie

I've gotten lazy and have grown accustomed to almost exclusively using the camera on my phone to snap shots of my furbabies. But I actually do a have a real camera that I quite enjoy using, and that takes much better photos than my phone. So, I pulled out that camera just yesterday and chased the furbabies around with it. Evan was the first to willingly pose, and he snapped this selfie while I dusted off my camera skills.

Tomorrow being Mancat Monday, you'll be seeing Evan yet again. He'll be sharing quite a cute shot, so be prepared to swoon.

Happy Sunday, friends!

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Freaky Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's doodle is pretty much just the sequel to yesterday's flashback, and it yet again depicts the fact that I'm ready for autumn and spooky season already.

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Tip of the Day

Yesterday we gave the tip of using couch and chair covers, or spare blankets on furniture, in order to help protect against accidents or shedding. Today's tip relates to this, and it is to select covers and blankets that might most easily mask your particular furbaby's hair. This can also go for upholstery, rugs or carpets, and even your clothing. You can try to match such things to the color of your furbaby, such as white or light items if your kitty or pup is white, or black or dark items if your furbaby is black. Then again, you can also opt for blankets, rugs, and clothing with varied patterns, as a busier design can indeed more easily hide furbaby fur that has been shed. Our furbabies' hair can indeed find its way onto nearly anything, but you can help mask it throughout your home or on your person by selecting items that will best hide it.