A Moderately Medical Mancat Monday

I again apologize for our weekend absence and for our late posting, friends. Though it might not seem like it, I really am trying to get my work and overall life balanced so that I get back to a routine that allows me to regularly enjoy my passions, which include blogging and all that goes into our posts. That said, I've also been a bit distracted with my poor boy Evan.

Don't worry, because overall Evan is doing well. We're just really trying to find the right cocktail of medications and food to get his urinary issues under control, as well as his strange case of both constipation and diarrhea despite all stool and intestinal tests coming back completely normal. This poor boy of mine is such a tough little guy, and I really hope that we can find him a happy balance with the new medication we're trying (meloxicam), the new frequency of his other medications (gabapentin and prazosin), and the new food the vet ordered (Hill's GI Biome).

Of course, given that it's Mancat Monday, Evan is here to say hello to all of you friends of ours! Except for a couple small bouts of pesky urethral spasms and constipation, Evan had a very happy, playful, and napful weekend, and he hopes you all did as well!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

Keep in mind that, depending on factors such as a cat or dog’s size and health, some furbabies might require special considerations for the setup of their food and water bowls. For example, tall dogs, dogs with deep chests, older animals who have difficulty bending down, and animals with short snouts might do best with elevated bowls that are situated closer to the level of their chest or face. Food and water bowls elevated in this manner can allow for more comfortable eating and drinking, as well as easier chewing, swallowing, and overall digestion. Of course, on the other hand, do ensure that the bowl is not too elevated, especially for small dogs or cats, as having to reach up to eat would be uncomfortable for them as well. So, do be sure to take time to observe your kitty or pup’s dining habits, and to adjust their bowls to ensure they are able to dine comfortably.

Friendly Fill-Ins and an Eddy Fang

Welcome to the Friday edition, friends! We're getting right to the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. I would _________ for _________.

2. The last _________ I attended was _________.

3. I can't relax until _________.

4. I knew I needed _________ when _________.

My answers are below in bold. This week, I decided to make mine all about the furbabies. I also apparently decided to ramble far too much on a couple of them, but what's new.

1. I would do anything for my kitties and pup.

(This one seems pretty self-explanatory, so I'll spare you all my usual rambling explanation.)

2. The last companion animal behavior course I attended was a letdown.

(I was just talking to my sister about this, which is why it was fresh on my mind. It's been over a decade since I attended college, where I got my degree in animal sciences. I remember all the way from freshman year being excited about taking a particular advanced, senior level course in companion animal behavior. After all, that's one of my favorite topics, and gaining advanced knowledge in it was very enticing to me. Then I finally made it to senior year and enrolled in the course, and when I got there it was just a TA teaching incredibly simplistic concepts that were already taught in 101 courses, or in kindergarten. I'm talking stuff like, "If a cat hisses, it's probably mad." It was so bizarre, and it was such a letdown after 4 years of being excited to finally level up to that course.)

3. I can't relax until I've checked on all of my furbabies.

(Before I can truly start my day, end my day, leave the house, sit down to watch TV, or any number of other options, I have to make sure all kitties and the pup are accounted for. I have to do my own little roll call, because I'm admittedly a worrywart and will otherwise convince myself of the worst case scenario if it's been too long since I've seen an innocently snoozing cat.)

4. I knew I needed to start playing fetch with Tonks when she brought me one of her mini soccer balls.

(After some time of losing interest in playing fetch, my calico kitty Tonks picked the habit back up again, and I love it. She'll go find one of her little foam soccer balls, pick it up in her mouth, drop it in front of me, and then look at me with anticipation. The first time she did this, the only thing I could think to do was toss the ball she'd dropped at my feet, and that was the beginning of her fetching obsession. There are rules for throwing it just the way she likes, but if you know those rules, Tonks will play fetch with you for often an hour or longer. It's adorable, and a tad bit exhausting.)

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.

***

Who's ready for an Eddy fix? Oh, you all are? Well, good, because the little lady herself is ready to show off that adorable face of hers.

Obviously, as always, Eddy wanted to make sure you all got a good view of her adorable snaggletooth fang. For anyone who might not know or remember, Eddy came to me as a 10-week-old kitten with neurological issues, including a head tilt and right-sided facial nerve paralysis. Though she's long since healed from the most severe of those issues, she maintained her benign head tilt as well as the facial nerve paralysis, which is why she's always able to show off those little teeth of hers so well.

Eddy and all of us here wish you a happy Friday!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

Don’t forget to regularly clean those food and water bowls! We sometimes might forget about the furbabies’ bowls, such as if they sit out of sight on the floor or in another room. But, do include these in your regular cleaning of dishes. Whether the bowls are metal, ceramic, glass, or plastic, grease or other debris from food, as well as dog or cat saliva, can indeed build up and lead to less than sanitary dining. So, do be sure to clean those bowls.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: A Not-So-Sunday Selfie

It's Thursday, and you better believe Thimble is ready to jump right to Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, this little tabby girl is grateful for her selfie skills. She couldn't even wait until the Sunday Selfie blog hop to share this, because she was just that proud of it.

Thimble hopes this inspired you all to snap selfies of your own! Happy Thursday, friends!

***

Now, 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 would _________ for _________.

2. The last _________ I attended was _________.

3. I can't relax until _________.

4. I knew I needed _________ when _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

Continuing our tips on food and water bowls, also don’t forget to keep each furbaby’s preferences in mind. Just like us humans, our furbabies can indeed have types of bowls that they like more than others. For example, some cats or dogs might not like the ringing sound food makes when it hits a metal bowl, or perhaps even a ceramic bowl. Other cats or dogs might be wary of using a bowl with a design or picture on the bottom of it, as it is possible for them to think that is something sitting in their bowl. Though we might not think such things would matter, do keep these ideas in mind. Especially if your furbaby seems to be wary or hesitant of eating out of certain bowls, try to deduce why (though of course make sure that there is not a medical reason for food aversion!) they are avoiding the bowl and then do your best to remedy it.

Adventures with Astrid: Bathroom Break

Sometimes, pup Astrid takes a page from tabby girl Eddy's playbook. And by that I mean, like Eddy, Astrid will often wait until the second I try to snap a photo to turn away from the camera, change her pose, and so on and so forth. Except in Astrid's case, that often lands me with photos like the glamorous shots below.

Classy, huh? Luckily, Astrid has the opposite of a shy bladder. She's more than happy with anyone and everyone seeing her stake her liquid claim.

Astrid recommends you all follow her lead. If you need a bathroom break, go for it no matter where or when it might be.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

Yesterday, we mentioned the importance of the material out of which a cat or dog's food or water bowl is made. Today, we’re here to remind you that size also matters when it comes to your furbaby’s bowls. As we’re sure you know, make sure the bowl is comparable to the size of the furbaby. A large dog will obviously require a larger bowl, while a small dog or cat might have difficulty eating from such a large bowl.

What's more, when it comes to those kitties, also keep in mind the concept of whisker fatigue. Whisker fatigue occurs when a bowl is too small and the whiskers brush the sides when eating or drinking. This can be uncomfortable for the cat, and can therefore lead to a reluctance to use the bowl. So, try to make sure that a cat’s bowl is wide and also shallow enough to allow for comfortable eating. Like us, our furbabies like to eat and drink in comfort.

Tonks Tuesday and an Evan Update

It's Tonks Tuesday, but can you even see Tonks here?

Tonks has shared her love for those towels before. Those are freshly cleaned towels, warm and straight out of the dryer, so of course Tonks had to intercept them before I could fold and put them away. Oh, and they also happen to be the towels that towel-trained Evan uses to go to the bathroom. Despite her being a clean freak, Tonks still loves those towels when she catches me taking them out of the dryer.

Speaking of my sweet boy Evan, we mentioned yesterday that he went to the vet. He was getting his regular sanitary shave since he's hind limb paralyzed as well as urinary incontinent, but he was also getting his urine checked since he's been showing some mild signs similar to his previous UTI symptoms. Luckily, the vet didn't see any noticeable bacteria when she checked his urine under the microscope. Even so, we sent it out to be cultured just in case, given his complicated history with UTIs and other urinary issues.

What the vet did notice in Evan's urine under the microscope, though, was blood. Yet again. This has been a chronic issue for Evan ever since his urethral blockage back in December. The vet and I discussed the fact that Evan is still clearly fighting inflammation somewhere in his urinary tract. So, in addition to the gabapentin and prazosin that he already takes every day, we're adding the anti-inflammatory meloxicam. We're starting with just a trial run of that to see how it works, but I'm hopeful that an anti-inflammatory could help my boy with these never-ending urinary issues.

That all said, thank you all for the well wishes you sent Evan in yesterday's post, and anytime you've wished him well! Evan and I, and of course all the kitties and the pup, appreciate your friendship so very much.

Oh, and since this is Tonks Tuesday, the little calico lady said she would share some flashback photos of her and her beloved big brother Evan.

Have a terrific Tuesday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Our Tip of the Day

To go along with our foodie doodles, we're continuing on with our foodie tips. We'll now be discussing furbabies' eating and drinking habits. To start this off today, we’re here to remind you to be cognizant of the material out of which your furbaby's bowl is made. When possible, steer clear of plastic bowls. This is in large part because plastic can be easily scratched, and these scratches can harbor all sorts of bacteria and other microbes. This can lead to issues such as feline chin acne. Stainless steel bowls, or even ceramic, are often recommended. If you do use or have to use plastic bowls for any reason, be sure to clean them frequently, and to replace them as needed, such as if you notice scratches. This will help prevent bacterial growth and issues such as feline chin acne. Eating and drinking are of course crucial to our furbabies’ daily lives, so do be sure to pay attention even to details such as the types of bowl they are using.

Mancat Monday: The Horror!

It's Monday, and Evan had plans of getting in some good naps to help him recover from his full night of sleep.

But, something else happened. And that something else is really quite horrible

Evan found out that instead of getting to spend his Mancat Monday in his beloved kitty bed, this morning he'll be snatched up, shoved into a carrier, and during this abduction taken to the vet. 

The horror!

Evan is not only due for his regular sanitary shave at the vet to help combat the side effects of his urinary incontinence, but his urine is also going to be stolen. Evan has a history of many UTIs, and one of his symptoms of those is increased urination, which seems to be mildly happening lately. So, a urine check it is.

Evan hopes you all have a better Monday than his!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

***

Tip of the Day

Let's continue on with our food tips. There is sometimes debate over the health benefits of a dry versus a moist food diet for our furbabies. In some cases, dry food can potentially help keep teeth free of tartar and other such issues. This is not a guarantee, however, as animals on a dry food diet can still end up needing dental cleanings. Nevertheless, in some cases, a dry versus a moist food diet can very well affect the teeth. For example, does your furbaby have painful teeth, or no teeth at all? In this case, a moist food diet is often recommended. There are also special diets formulated for dental health, in the case that a cat or dog might benefit from this.

Not only are the teeth affected by dry versus moist food, though, but also other parts of the body. Moist food, for example, is obviously high in moisture content, and so it is often recommended in the diet of any furbaby who might benefit from taking in plenty of moisture. This would include animals with kidney disease, as well as those prone to UTIs, crystals, and so forth.

It's also important to think of the foods that cats and dogs eat in the wild. They often eat the meat of prey, which is not all that crunchy and which is high in moisture, and which therefore might indicate that moist food is more in line with how they would eat in the wild. Of course, though, sometimes it all comes down to the cat or dog's preference. Some cats and dogs refuse to eat dry food, and some refuse to eat moist food. In such cases, we have to take this into consideration and select foods that they will consume, as food intake is of course crucial.

Friendly Fill-Ins

Hello and welcome, one and all! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins challenge, and we'd love for you to join us. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andmeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. I am looking forward to _________ this month.

2. I am in need of _________.

3. _________ is my go-to _________.

4. When the weather is _________, I _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. I am looking forward to drawing and writing this month.

(I spent a good chunk of my free time in May working on some overdue chores both in the house and in the yard. While that sort of adulting never ends, I did get enough of it done in May that I plan on spending far more of my free time in June drawing and writing. I have missed spending more time on my creative passions, so I am looking forward to prioritizing them again.)

2. I am in need of a staycation.
(I feel like this is something most of us adults need. Sometimes working every day, especially outside of the home at a job that just might not be your favorite, can lead to a tad bit of burnout. And as a homebody who really just wants to be home with her kitties and pup, I will always crave a staycation over a vacation. I hope to take a bit of time off of work sometime this summer for even just a short little staycation.)

3. Spending time with my furbabies is my go-to form of stress relief.

(I love my my kitties and pup. That pretty much sums this one up.)

4. When the weather is hot, I stay inside with the air conditioning.

(I'm not a summer kind of person. I'm just not into extreme heat and humidity. I know a lot of people can't wait for summer, but I'm the kind of person who can't wait for autumn. Cool, crisp weather is way more my speed.)

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.

***

Are you ready for your Friday Eddy fix? Well, you're in for a treat. Today you get to see Eddy's adorable face, and the window nose art that it created.

And Eddy thought some of you might like to see her cute little snaggletooth a little better, so here you go.

Happy Friday, friends!

***

Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is kind of sequel to yesterday's flashback doodle, this time with the kitty looking a little less happy about how their tushy might look in those jeans.

***

Tip of the Day

Today's food tip is all about those carbs. When we think of carbohydrates, things like pasta and bread may come to mind. But, carbohydrates in other forms are also an important aspect in pet food. In a dog or cat's food, carbohydrates often come from plants or grains, such as corn, rice, oats, or wheat. Just as in humans, carbohydrates can serve as a source of energy and fuel for our furbaby's body. That being said, carbohydrates are one aspect of pet food that may hold different levels of importance for cats and dogs.

Dogs are omnivores. This means that, even in the wild, they get their nutrition from both animal and plant sources. For this reason, carbohydrates in the form of plants and grains are of course important in commercial dog food, just as meat products are. 

On the other hand, cats are strict carnivores, and in the wild they gain much of their nutrition and energy from the protein and fat of their prey. This is why plants and grains in commercial cat food is sometimes debated. Some studies indicate that cats in the wild do consume a small percentage of plant and grain carbohydrates, these being from whatever vegetation their prey may have eaten. Regardless, most commercial cat foods do contain carbohydrates from plants and grains, some in far higher percentage than others. This is where reading labels and comparing protein versus carbohydrate levels can be important for cat owners to do.

Not only is it important to consider a cat's strict carnivore ancestry, but it's also important to realize that for cats as well as dogs, a diet with a higher carbohydrate content can potentially lead to digestive concerns, such as diarrhea or flatulence. In addition, just as can be the case with fats and even protein, an excess of carbohydrates in the diet can potentially lead to weight gain. This is all just one more reason why it is so important to research, understand, and discuss with your veterinarian the best diet for your kitty or pup.