Caturday Art: Birthday Gift Grossness?

Yesterday was the birthday of my mom (the furbabies' grandma, also known as Gammy). As always, we're now here to share the weird and wacky doodle I scribbled up as my mom's birthday card. It stars one of my parents' twelve cats, this one being Gilly It also stars some oh so considerate gifts that Gilly may or may not have left in the litter box. I'll be the first to admit that there might indeed be a grossness factor to this one, but I scribbled it up and gave it to my mom regardless.

Wasn't that so sweet of fuzzy Gilly to share those with my mom for her birthday? This probably looks like an absolutely wild thing to throw onto a birthday card, or to draw at all for that matter, but this is sort of just how my family and I work. And we're thinking all of you kitty-loving friends of ours might relate to this doodle in one way or another.

Happy Caturday, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

Many of us have furbabies who enjoy a cozy bed, and who also enjoy making a bed out of their human's clothes. That's why today's pet parenting hack of a tip is to use your old clothes to make a pet bed for your kitty or pup. You can take on old shirt, for example, and stuff it with a pillow or other type of filling. You can sew it shut, or even just safely and securely tie it shut. Not only will the soft filling make this a cozy bed, but it will also smell like you, something that many furbabies enjoy. There are a great many options for creating beds in this manner, using shirts, pants, robes, and so forth. The options are endless, and you can even find ideas and techniques online for creating a variety of such pet beds.

Friendly Fill-Ins

Hello and happy Friday, friends! It's time for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. Are you ready? We sure are, and we'd love for you to join us in the fun. My co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. A fun way to celebrate Christmas in July is _________.

2. My favorite summer activity is _________.

3. When I sleep, my dreams are _________.

4. _________ scare(s) me more than _________.

My answers are below in bold, accompanied by a couple unnecessarily long explanations.

1. A fun way to celebrate Christmas in July is crafting up some festive cards to match the season.

(I'm working on a couple of new Christmas in July doodles as we speak, and I've already been sharing some flashback doodles of this sort lately. You'll even find one below in this post. This is one of the main ways I personally celebrate Christmas in July. I love Christmas, and I love feeling festive, but I'm not the biggest fan of summer and therefore have trouble really getting into the spirit when it's sweltering outside. That's why things like scribbling up Christmas in July drawings, or making some festive food, is the primary way I celebrate the occasion.)

2. My favorite summer activity is staying inside.

(On a not-so-hot summer day, I don't mind being out there walking the dog, or even mowing. Sometimes it really is nice to be outside and get some sunshine. However, with the summer we're having around here, with plenty of days ranging from 90°F to 100°F, I'll opt to stay inside every chance I get.)

3. When I sleep, my dreams are often forgotten.

(I'm not sure whether I forget my dreams, or if I just don't often dream at all. Either way, most mornings, I wake up without a single dream to discuss. On the rare occasions throughout the year that I do remember my dreams, they're usually one of these three varieties: 1) They're about my calico angel Rosie, or another past or current kitty or pup. 2) They're one of those weird dreams where your teeth fall out. 3) They revolve around school, such as forgetting to go to a class for an entire semester, forgetting to study for an exam, getting lost while trying to find a classroom, and you get the idea. Keep in mind that I'm 33 years old and haven't been in a school setting for 11 years.)

4. My furbabies and family getting sick scares me more than myself getting sick.

(This one probably speaks for itself, and I know I'm not the only one with this sentiment.)

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.

***

With Christmas in July upon us, Eddy wanted to share yet another photo with her beloved year round Christmas tree in the background

Eddy wishes you all a festive Friday, if that's your sort of thing!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback Christmas in July doodle stems from just last year. Apparently I felt the need to scribble up some festivities from the Western genre, and so this came about. 

***

Tip of the Day

Today's pet parenting tip relates to the dreaded vacuum cleaner, but at the same time, it doesn't. Especially if you have a furbaby who is fearful of the vacuum, you can do them a favor by using other methods to clean carpets and rugs, when possible. For example, did you know that a squeegee can be used to remove pet hair from carpets and rugs? That being said, there are also actual rug brushes on the market, which can similarly be used to remove hair from carpets and rugs. So, especially if you have a furbaby who is fearful when you vacuum, you can use these alternative, far quieter such methods when possible. Though the vacuum cleaner may not always be avoidable, when it is, such methods as the aforementioned ones can help remove hair from carpets and rugs while causing far less fearful reactions from your kitties or pups.

Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thimble Thursday

Hello and happy Thursday, friends! We're finally back to participating in Angel Sammy's Thoroughly Poetic Thankful Thursday challenge.

As always, our wonderful host shared a photo prompt to help guide our poetic endeavors. This week's prompt is this image here:

I don't think there's a whole lot of explanation I can offer for my poem, as this time around I think my rhyme didn't veer all that far from the photo prompt. At least, I think that's the case. If you'd like to read my poem, which of course includes a kitty, here you go.

Glass House

Penelope was proud to own her first home.
She loved all of its windows that allowed the home to glow.
There were so many windows that Penelope essentially lived in a glass house.
With sunlight the home was constantly and thoroughly doused.

Penelope really quite enjoyed the view and all that natural light,
As did her plants, or at least the ones that had not yet died.
She placed some of the plants on the floor and hung the others high,
Crossing her fingers that all of them would somehow remain alive.

Penelope's cat, Smoke, also loved the endless windows,
As he could watch squirrels, birds, or even just the wind blow.
Penelope was happy her cat could enjoy the great outdoors from inside,
And the mere sight of it made her smile big and wide.

That is, until Penelope realized her cat's new hobby,
Which happened to be more than a little bit naughty.
After all, she had just found her cat attracting endless voyeurs,
As the feline happily played exhibitionist in the foyer

Posing this way and that,
Nothing was being left to the imagination by the cat.
Smoke even started to take a bath right there for all to see.
Penelope noticed, in horror, that the cat had lured to her house roughly the entire city.

That was the day Penelope purchased curtains,
Though their efficacy quickly proved not even remotely certain.
After all, Penelope just now walked into the front room,
And there was her cat Smoke behind the curtain, showing the world his birthday suit.

***

And now we're moving on to Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

As always, Thimble is here to share some gratitude today. This tabby girl realized she hadn't lately shared just how thankful she is for her stripes, so she's proudly showing those off today.

Thimble hopes seeing her mighty tabby stripes kicked your day off to a good start!

***

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

1. A fun way to celebrate Christmas in July is _________.

2. My favorite summer activity is _________.

3. When I sleep, my dreams are _________.

4. _________ scare(s) me more than _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

Today's pet parenting tip is one that relates to that dreaded vet's office. As you all certainly know, it is recommended that your furbaby be seen by a veterinarian at least once a year. But, if you're anything like me, all throughout the year you find yourself questioning this or that about your furbaby. Of course, if you notice any abnormalities that are a concern or that are in need of immediate attention, do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian. Otherwise, sometimes we find ourselves with questions that we know are not emergencies and that are not truly in need of immediate attention, but that do pique our interest. That's why today's tip is to, if needed, keep a little notebook or note sheet handy, such as on a counter or on the refrigerator, where you can write down questions to ask your veterinarian at your furbaby's next exam. Whether it be a general question about food, exercise, grooming, behavior, or anything else, write it down when you think of it. That way, you can take your notes with you to your furbaby's next exam and sort out any questions you have in one fell swoop.

Astrid Adventures to the Vet

Yesterday, pup Astrid had her annual exam at the vet. She is 9 years old, and so she also had some blood drawn and her urine collected for a senior panel. We'll know those results on Thursday. I'm admittedly always nervous until I know that all is well with the bloodwork, but such is life as a pet parent.

Astrid has also been having some occasional stiffness and pain in her hind legs, especially her right leg, in which she was born with an abnormal hip joint. Radiographs were done on that. Inspection of those images led the vet to believe that Astrid may occasionally be suffering from the bones in that hip rubbing against each other, therefore causing pain. So, this pup now has some pain meds to take as needed. She really doesn't mind, as she gets to take that pill in peanut butter, which she loves. In addition to the bloodwork results, we're also waiting on a specialist's observations of the x-rays, just to make sure that what very likely is just some bone remodeling isn't actually something more serious.

And can you believe that Astrid's vet says that, though she lost a tad bit of weight, this pup could stand to lose a bit more? How rude. Pup Astrid topped out last year at 82 lbs, and now she's just under 79 lbs. This slightly chunky girl also has some lipomas, which are benign fatty tumors. She's had these for a couple of years and they've barely grown at all, so the vet isn't worried about them. Even so, with Astrid's history of cancer on her foot a few years ago, her vet keeps a very close eye on all of her lumps and bumps.

Most importantly, just as we do every year, after Astrid's vet visit she got to enjoy what Dairy Queen calls a "pup cup".

This girl loves her some ice cream. Can you tell?

Happy Wednesday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

This Friday is the birthday of my mom (the furbabies' grandma), and so I've been working on scribbling up an image for her card. As I work on the new one, I figured why not share a past year's birthday card? This one stars half of my parents' clowder of a dozen.

***

Tip of the Day

Today's pet parenting tip is a simple one about creating a masterpiece of a memory using your furbaby's adorable toesies. If your furbaby is willing to participate and does not get stressed, you can get non-toxic, pet-friendly paint in order to create some paw art. After finding somewhere in your home where you don't mind making a tad bit of a mess, put some of the pet-safe paint on your furbaby's feet and either have them walk on some paper, or press their paw on the paper yourself. You can then leave the paw prints as-is, or even get creative and turn some of them into flowers or other cute designs. Either way, this is one way to create a simple yet long-lasting memory of your furbaby.

As morbid as it sounds, in the future, you will likely be glad you created these such lasting memories while your furbaby was still with you. We all know that some similar items, such as clay paws, are often created during a time of grief. This is why the aforementioned paw art is one way to create such a memory in happier, healthier times. Again, as morbid as it may sound, you might later thank yourself for thinking ahead about what memories you might want to have after your furbaby is gone. Of course, do take into consideration your furbaby's comfort. If your furbaby is too stressed to participate in paw art, for example, brainstorm and think of other ways to create lasting memories with them. The options are endless.

Tonks Tuesday Outtakes

Today, Tonks has some bloopers to share. They involve the calico herself, and a certain box.

Now, are you prepared for some blurry cuteness? Yes? Okay. Here you go.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is brought to you by your calico yoga instructor.

***

Tip of the Day

We've all seen those chew toys for pups. Puppies, and even grown dogs, often love to chew, and so chew toys can allow them to gnaw on a designated item rather than one that is not ideal or one that is dangerous. But, did you know that there are chew toys for cats as well? Like dogs, some cats love to chew. Chewing is sometimes more common in kittens, but some adult cats are chewers, too. If this is the case with your cat, perhaps look into getting them some feline-friendly chew toys. This could potentially save them from chewing on items that they should not, which could be beneficial to your goods, and also of course to your kitty's health.

Of course, whether a chew toy is for your kitty or pup, it is important to take into consideration the material out of which a chew toy is made, as well as whether it will withstand a particular furbaby's level of chewing. Some toy brands will label whether a chew toy is suitable for powerful chewers, for example. Even so, you know your furbaby best, and so you must decide whether a toy will be able to survive their chewing habits, and therefore whether it might be a hazard. There are a great many pet toys available these days, you simply have to consider a toy's benefits and safety for your furbabies.

Mancat Monday

Hello and happy Monday, friends! It was a busy weekend around here, but we're back and ready for a new week. Evan is here to help us kick that week off right.

Evan and all of us here are wishing you a wonderful day!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

I've gotten quite a few new doodles done lately that I just haven't yet scanned to share. That said, in preparation for some upcoming Christmas in July doodles, here's yet another a flashback one from a couple of years ago. 

***

Tip of the Day

Today's pet parenting hack of a tip is one to help you sleep better at night. Does your kitty or pup ever wake you up during the night, perhaps seemingly bored or hungry? The first step in a case such as this is of course to make sure there is no medical explanation. If your furbaby is indeed healthy, though, and they simply wake you in the middle of the night for some playtime or a midnight snack, then there are a couple of simple things you can do to try to combat this.

First, you can do a bit of a pre-bedtime play session with them. One of the last things you do before you go to bed can be a game of fetch, perhaps a little fun with a wand toy, or anything that your furbaby finds fun and that expends their energy. This will help tire your furbaby out, and will hopefully help satisfy their desire to play so that they can sleep through the night.

Second, in the case that your furbaby wakes you up in the middle of the night out of hunger, perhaps save their last meal of the day for right before bed. Fill their bowl just before you go to bed, so that they will go to bed with a full stomach. If needed and possible, you can also make this nighttime meal their largest of the day, to even further satisfy them and their stomach. In some cases, this is all it takes to help keep those hungry furbabies satiated until their breakfast.

Just like us, our furbabies are not immune to restless nights or a desire for a midnight snack. If a medical concern has been ruled out, then try to find a way to help both you and your furbaby sleep through the night. Satisfying the play or hunger drive just before bed may be all that is needed.

Festive Flashback Caturday Art

Today's Caturday Art post involves a plenty old flashback that yet again hints at some doodles to come. After all, Christmas in July is right around the corner.

Happy Caturday, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

Yesterday's pet parenting hack was about using shower caddies or other similar shelving units to save on floor space when storing pet supplies. Do you know what other shower item could be of use for the furbabies in your life? A shower cap! For example, if your furbaby is in need of a bath and will allow for it, a shower cap could be used on their head to protect their ears from water and potential resulting ear infections. That's not all a shower cap could be handy for, though. A shower cap could even be kept in your car or in your pocket when traveling, and could be used as a makeshift water bowl for your furbaby. If you think outside the box, there are a great many daily items that could be used to benefit our furbabies. Of course, never forget to take into consideration whether certain items are truly safe for your furbaby, and to then proceed accordingly.