Adventures with Astrid, Feathered Non-Friends, and the Letter N

Hello and welcome to another day of the April A to Z Challenge!

My daily preface to this year's alphabetical challenge is that some of my favorite things in life are cats, drawing, writing, and the fantasy genre. And so, my A to Z contributions this year will be illustrations for a weird and wacky fantasy story I'm currently writing. This story co-stars a hind limb paralyzed orange tabby cat named Hobo, and this month you'll get to go along on some of his adventures.

Today we've reached the letter N, which is quite tame and simply stands for the night sky.

For being a relatively common letter, I struggled with N. Though it doesn't play a huge part in the story in and of itself, the night sky is mentioned for certain reasons, and so there's Hobo doing a little stargazing.

***

For today's adventure with pup Astrid, she wanted to share something she saw in the creek near our house on a walk the other day.

It might be difficult to tell in that photo, but that there is Astrid with her head shoved through the grates of a bridge. After all, there was a heron more or less flogging some geese who apparently didn't give him enough personal space.

The heron was not interested in being harassed by the geese, and he told them exactly that. That there photo was snapped after their rather loud altercation, which is what got Astrid's attention and made her watch them for quite a few minutes. Luckily, all the feathered individuals involved went about their way in peace after the heron set some boundaries.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Tip of the Day

 

We're back to our tips on parasites that can affect our furbabies. Two days ago we gave a tip on Giardia, and the parasite of today is very similar to this. Today's parasite is coccidia, which is another single-celled protozoa that can infect the intestinal tract. Coccidia is similar to Giardia in more than just that regard, though. Just like Giardia, coccidia most commonly causes diarrhea, and is passed in the feces. It is also possible for a furbaby to become infected with coccidia if they ingest an infected rodent.

Also just like with Giardia, sometimes a cat or dog will show no signs of infection even if they have coccidia in their intestinal tract. Young kittens or puppies, geriatric furbabies, and those otherwise medically compromised are at the highest risk. In compromised cats and dogs, diarrhea caused by coccidia infection can lead to dehydration and other complications, which can be life-threatening.

Like the broken record that we are, we're of course reminding you again to keep an eye on your furbaby when outdoors, and to keep their environment as sanitary as possible. As we said earlier, ingesting the feces of another animal infected with coccidia can lead to infection. Also ingesting debris or water near where such an animal defecated could lead to an infection with coccidia.

And, again, if your furbaby has diarrhea, seek veterinary care as soon as possible. Take a fecal sample to the appointment, so that your veterinarian can do a test for coccidia and other parasites. When a diagnosis is made, discuss with the veterinarian the treatment options. Give prescribed medications, which may include antibiotics, probiotics, or another, and do so for as long as the veterinarian prescribes. Stopping medications early, even if symptoms subside, can result in a recurrence. Then again, if a treatment plan is not working, discuss that with your veterinarian as well. Diarrhea, among any number of symptoms, is not to be taken lightly, so do your best to stay on top of it.

Happy Birthday, Evan! (...and the Letter M)

Let's start with...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EVAN!

Indeed, my sugary sweet (and sometimes sassy) boy Evan turns 12 years old today. As I've said so many times before, he's my little hero. Evan may be hind limb paralyzed, and he may battle urinary incontinence, megacolon, and a plethora of other health issues, but he's such a trooper, and I love him so much.

Those photos were snapped just this morning, and that's the birthday boy's new bed. The silver vine stick and little alligator toy behind him are also new for his birthday. The alligator is admittedly an inside joke, because especially when he was younger (and still occasionally to this day), Evan sometimes enjoys taking little (or big) nibbles of humans, other cats, and sometimes even pup Astrid, which has often gotten him compared to an alligator.

Evan, I hope you have the happiest 12th birthday! I love you so much!

I also just realized that I failed to scan his new birthday doodle for this year. So, he gets a little flashback doodle to celebrate.

***

Now we're ready to partake in today's edition of the April A to Z Challenge.

I'm a broken record and so am again here to say that some of my favorite things in life are cats, drawing, writing, and the fantasy genre. And so, my A to Z contributions this year will be illustrations for a weird and wacky fantasy story I'm currently writing. This story co-stars a hind limb paralyzed orange tabby cat named Hobo, and this month you'll get to go along on some of his adventures.

Today we're at the letter M, which stands for "mom", as in Hobo's human mom. Her name also starts with M. I somehow can't remember exactly how I came to the name, but in the story I've been calling her Munroe. I've tried changing her name a couple of times, but now nothing seems to fit but Munroe. So, for reasons I don't even fully know, Hobo's human of a mom is named Munroe.

I scribbled up this doodle of Hobo's human something like a year ago, when I'd barely even started writing the story. I also drew her right after I got a bunch of new markers in various orange hues, which is in no small part why she ended up a redhead. I'd also never tried drawing hazel eyes, so her peepers were another experiment.

I mentioned earlier this month how drawing anything human honestly stresses me out. Drawing cats is the easiest and most enjoyable for me, closely followed by dogs. Humans, though, take me forever to draw, and the entire time I'm stressed beyond belief. Drawing anything humanoid just doesn't come naturally to me whatsoever, and especially since I was trying to make her more detailed than I'd ever drawn a human before, it took me a relative eternity to scribble up that there lady named Munroe.

***

Tip of the Day

For today's tip, of course in Evan's honor, we'd just like to remind you all that special needs animals—or specially abled, a term that I find far more accurate—can still live happy, healthy lives in which they thrive. Specially abled animals can include those of all wonderful types, such as those with physically special attributes, like Evan. In addition, special abled animals can include those with known medical diseases or anomalies, such as diabetes, kidney disease, disorders of the thyroid, deafness, blindness, and cerebellar hypoplasia, just to name a few.

That all being said, if you are ever thinking of adopting, fostering, or even sponsoring an animal, don't forget those who are specially abled. Many of these animals are passed over at shelters, or even, sadly, euthanized. They are often deemed "imperfect" or "unadoptable", when the exact opposite is the truth. These animals may be different, yes, and they are indeed special. That being said, they also have so much much life, love, and lessons to offer.

Of course, though, we also have to note that when it comes to adopting a specially abled animal, always do your research, take all factors into consideration, and decide whether it is wise or possible for you to bring home a specially abled furbaby. Especially depending on their condition, these special furbabies can often of course live happy, healthy, long lives. But, again depending on their condition, their care may take additional effort, resources, and financing.

So, all in all, don't forgot those specially abled furbabies out there. They have so much to offer, and they can teach us all so much.

Mancat Monday with a Belated K and an L

This weekend and time in general really got away from me and I failed to get Saturday's April A to Z Challenge post up. So, today you'll get two letters.

To begin, let's yet again repeat our A to Z prologue. So, some of my favorite things in life are cats, drawing, writing, and the fantasy genre. And so, my A to Z contributions this year will be illustrations for a weird and wacky fantasy story I'm currently writing. This story co-stars a hind limb paralyzed orange tabby cat named Hobo, and this month you'll get to go along on some of his adventures.

On our missed post on Saturday, we were supposed to share the letter K. So, it belatedly stands for K9. As in, a K9 unit of law enforcement.

You already met that dog there, whose current-but-maybe-not-actual name is Pyg. And on Friday you met Jerry the ogre, who is an officer of some variation of the law. Pyg is one of his co-workers, and Hobo considers this canine officer a good friend.

Now, how about the letter L? Today, it stands for landlord. Hobo's human's landlord happens to be a goblin, because why not.

As the state of Hobo and his human's home might give away, that there goblin isn't all that great of a landlord.

***

Now, how about some Mancat Monday goodness? Today, Evan is coming at you from his prison cell.

On Friday, Evan went to the vet for his regular sanitary cleaning and shave, and also for a urine recheck and some bloodwork since he's on an NSAID.

Luckily, everything came back looking good for Evan. His recent UTI is gone, at least for now, and his bloodwork looked great.

Those photos were taken after I picked Evan up at the vet to go home. He's always a sad, pouty little thing on the way to the vet. On the way home, though, he's always so very happy. He purrs, cuddles through the carrier, and all that adorable stuff.

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

***

Tip of the Day

Today we're talking about another intestinal parasite. This time, though, it's not a worm. The parasite we're talking about today is Giardia, which is a single-celled protozoa. In short, Giardia causes diarrhea in cats and dogs, as well as humans. Diarrhea caused by Giardia is often very malodorous, sometimes somewhat green in color, and may contain mucus or blood.

How does a cat or dog become infected with Giardia? It is passed in the feces of infected animals. This means that eating the feces of an infected animal, or eating grass or other debris near where an infected animal has defecated, can result in infection with Giardia. Drinking water near where infected animals have defecated is another way that Giardia can be passed from animal to animal.

This all being said, many healthy animals can have Giardia present in there intestinal tract and not show symptoms. It more commonly becomes a problem in very young, very old, or otherwise sick animals. It is also more common in highly populated areas, such as in a shelter. If diarrhea resulting from Giardia is severe enough, the situation can become life-threatening, due to dehydration and other complications.

So, though we can't always put protective bubbles around our furbabies, do your best to help prevent Giardia from affecting your furbaby. Try to keep them from ingesting the feces of other animals, of course, or from ingesting grass or water in areas where other animals may have defecated. Also be sure to keep their feeding, sleeping, and play areas, especially those outdoors, sanitary.

If you do notice your kitty or pup has diarrhea, do not hesitate to take them and a fecal sample in for an exam by a veterinarian. Especially if your furbaby is very young, geriatric, or sick, do not hesitate to have them seen if they are displaying diarrhea. Your vet can test a stool sample for Giardia, as well as for other parasites. Of course, also be sure to administer medications and follow other treatments that your vet prescribes for your furbaby. Also, as we always say, never hesitate to ask your veterinarian about any concerns you have regarding Giardia and your furbaby's risk, treatment, or prevention.

It is also worth noting that, though nowadays is is believed not as prevalent as originally thought, it is still possible for humans to get Giardia from cats and dogs. For this reason, always be sure to wash your hands after cleaning up their waste, especially if they are known to have Giardia. Giardia is not something to take lightly, neither in our furbabies nor ourselves.

Friendly Fill-Ins, Adorable Eddy, and the Letter J

Hello, friends! 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. Once in a while, I manage to _________.

2. The weirdest thing in my home is _________.

3. I wish I had access to _________ so that I could _________.

4. It's never too late to _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. Once in a while, I manage to check everything off of my daily to-do.
(My long-term to-do list is still thoroughly incomplete. But, I often make daily to-do lists for myself, and there are the occasional times where I manage to check everything off of it. I love those days. There's just something about checking off every box on a to-do list.)

2. The weirdest thing in my home is my sketchbook.
(I feel like my contributions to this year's April A to Z Challenge are evidence enough of this fact. Those drawings are based off of a story I'm writing, so the Word documents on my computer are also some of the weirdest things in my home.)

3. I wish I had access to a degree in veterinary medicine so that I could diagnose and treat my furry family myself.
(I'm really happy with our regular vet. That said, sometimes I wish I had a veterinary medicine degree so that I could fully take care of my kitties and pup at any given moment. Having easy access to all the medications they need and that sort of thing would be so very helpful. Sure, I could go back to school for that vet degree, but the reality is that would be an incredibly stressful and even more expensive endeavor that doesn't currently align with my ultimate goals. So, at least we have a wonderful vet.)

4. It's never too late to work toward your dreams.
(I almost put that it's never too late to panic, as I've heard that quote before and I sometimes feel that sentiment all the way down to my soul. But, let's instead go for it never being too late to work toward your dreams. Not everything will be perfectly attainable in every season of life, but it's always possible to reach for those dreams in some capacity.)

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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Now, of course, we have today's edition of the April A to Z Challenge. 

I'm yet again here to explain that some of my favorite things in life are cats, drawing, writing, and the fantasy genre. And so, my A to Z contributions this year will be illustrations for a weird and wacky fantasy story I'm currently writing. This story co-stars a hind limb paralyzed orange tabby cat named Hobo, and this month you'll get to go along on some of his adventures.

So, we've reached the letter J, and that stands for Jerry. This is one of those perhaps especially odd doodles for this month, as Jerry is an ogre. That doesn't bother Hobo, though.

Jerry is an officer of some sort of law, hence his uniform and badge. And his badge is indeed shaped like a gravestone, for a reason. Oh, and Jerry the ogre is not the last unorthodox character you'll be seeing this month. This upcoming Monday's post will involve another different sort of someone, just to name one weird upcoming example.

***

Now, who's ready for their Eddy fix? Oh, you all are? Well, here go you.

Just look at that face. And those gorgeous eyes!

And that snaggletooth!

Not many people get to see Eddy outside of photos, as she's easily my most skittish cat and hides whenever anyone comes to my house. But, at least I can share her adorableness with others through photos.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Tip of the Day

 

A couple days ago, we talked about ear mites. These mites are not the only kind that can infest our pups and kitties, though. As many of you likely already know, there are other mites that can affect the skin of our furbabies.

There are a number of different mites that can affect our pups or kitties. In dogs, mites that cause sarcoptic mange are perhaps most common, and are also highly contagious between dogs and also to humans. Mites that cause demodectic mange are perhaps a bit less common, as a healthy immune system can often suppress them, and they are also far less contagious. Cats have certain mites that more commonly affect them, such as cheyletiella mites and mites that cause notoedric mange. Both of these are contagious, similarly to the mites that cause sarcoptic mange.

No matter the species of your furbaby, they can potentially be affected by mites. Depending on the type of mite, as well as the pup or kitty's overall health and the severity of the infestation, you might see a variety of symptoms. When it comes to mites and mange, keep an eye out for itching and scratching, hair loss, scabs or scaly skin, and discoloration of the skin, just to name a few.

If you think you see any signs related to mites, or signs of any dermatological issue, have your furbaby seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Not only is itching and scratching uncomfortable, but lesions and secondary infections can result. Left untreated, mites and their side effects can become a risk not only to your furbaby's comfort and happiness, but also to their health.

All of that being said, keep in mind that treatment for mites will likely not only include medications prescribed by your veterinarian. Mites will also need to be eradicated from the environment. You may need to pitch bedding and rugs, or at the very least efficiently wash them in hot water. Do whatever it takes to ensure that your furbaby and their environment is as sanitary and safe as possible, so that they can live a happy, healthy life.

Thankful Thimble Thursday with Sunshine and the Letter I

We're getting well into the April A to Z Challenge.

Our preface for our A to Z contributions hasn't changed, and so I'm again here to say that some of my favorite things in life are cats, drawing, writing, and the fantasy genre. And so, my A to Z contributions this year will be illustrations for a weird and wacky fantasy story I'm currently writing. This story co-stars a hind limb paralyzed orange tabby cat named Hobo, and this month you'll get to go along on some of his adventures.

Today we've reached the letter I, which stands for ink.

I won't get into the weird details here, but believe it or not, ink plays a significant role in the wild and wacky journey Hobo and his human go on in this story. And there's a reason Hobo isn't all that happy to see that ink.

***

Now, of course, Thimble is more than ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is beyond grateful for none other than sunshine.

We recently had a number of weeks of mostly cloudy days. Then, over the past couple of days, we've had lots and lots of sun. Thimble happily hunted down all the sun puddles and basked in them.

Thimble hopes you're all enjoying some sun puddles as well!

***

And now we'll share 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. Once in a while, I manage to _________.

2. The weirdest thing in my home is _________.

3. I wish I had access to _________ so that I could _________.

4. It's never too late to _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

 

Our parasite talk today is all about ticks. These nasty little guys can find their way onto your kitty or pup (or yourself) from wooded areas, shrubs, and tall grass. They can make their way into your yard, especially (though not limited to) if you live near a wooded or other similar area. This means that animals who go outdoors can always be at risk of ticks. Then again, it is not impossible for animals with limited outdoor activity to pick up a stray tick as well.

Ticks pose more danger than one. First, to put it simply, they suck your furbaby's blood. It would most likely take a good deal of time for a tick to cause anemia in their host, but this is still something to keep in mind. What's more, ticks can transfer dangerous, sometimes life-threatening diseases to a cat or dog (or human, or other animal). Lyme disease is one such disease, and it can cause swelling, pain, and arthritis in the joints. Another disease that ticks can transmit is Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can result in fever as well as lameness, similarly to Lyme disease.

Obviously, for reasons such as those listed above, you certainly don't want ticks on your furbabies. Especially if your furbaby goes outdoors, and most especially if they visit areas with lots of trees and tall grass, the best way to protect them from ticks is by way of preventatives. There are indeed preventatives on the market that cover ticks, often while at the same time preventing against other parasites we've already discussed, such as fleas and intestinal worms. So, discuss these options with your veterinarian. Again, as we've said before, it is always safest to purchase quality products, such as those offered at your veterinarian's office.

We'll also take this time to note that, if you see a tick on your furbaby, don't just start pulling at it. Ticks can attach themselves, especially their heads, very securely to an animal's body. This means that if you pull on them, you might very well remove their bodies, all while leaving their blood-sucking heads still on your kitty or pup. For this reason, if you see a tick on your furbaby, assess the situation and determine if you know how to or are able to remove it safely and in its entirety. There are some tricks and even products, such as tweezers specifically designed for tick removal, that can assist in removing a tick completely. However, if you are not positive that you can manage this, as it is not always an easy thing, then contact a veterinarian and seek assistance in removal of the tick.

How about a bonus tidbit? Possums are known to be incredibly efficient tick-eaters. It has even been said that one single possum can consume over 5,000 ticks in one season. So, if you have possums in your yard, leave them be. They could very well keep that tick population down, leaving your furbaby and yourself safer for it.

Adventures with Astrid and the Letter H

We're of course ready for another alphabetical day in the April A to Z Challenge.

I'll yet again say that some of my favorite things in life are cats, drawing, writing, and the fantasy genre. And so, my A to Z contributions this year will be illustrations for a weird and wacky fantasy story I'm currently writing. This story co-stars a hind limb paralyzed orange tabby cat named Hobo, and this month you'll get to go along on some of his adventures.

Today we're at the letter H, which stands for Harold. Now, this is one of those doodles that, while quite simple in composition, is not only downright weird but also a bit complicated to explain. After all, Harold is a goat, but not a true goat. He's a tattoo that ends up on the palm of Hobo's human, but not because she asked for it or sought it out. None of this makes sense, and I'm fully aware of that. So, meet Harold.

Though he's a tattoo, Harold does indeed enjoy screaming just like those real, in-the-fur goats out there. It's quite inconvenient for Hobo and his human at times.

Also, I drew that doodle something like a year ago. Some of the other doodles you're seeing this month were also scribbled up many, many months ago. That's how long ago some of the ideas for this wacky story came to me. As for that there doodle, I wanted to envision what Harold might look like. I get quite stressed when drawing anything human, including hands, so creating the above just about did me in.

***

Now, of course, you get to go on a little adventure with none other than pup Astrid.

Those two photos make it look like Astrid just struts and strolls her whole way through her walks. To be honest, though, most of her walks looks like this:

Astrid loves to stop and sniff, well, everything. I always tell her that she doesn't have to sniff every single blade of grass, but she thoroughly disagrees with me.

I always try to be patient and let Astrid sniff to her little 12-year-old heart's content, but that often means that we'll stand in one spot for many, many minutes. Sometimes Astrid and her arthritic legs will only want to go around the block, but we'll still be gone for over half an hour because her nose simply can't let anything go without a good sniff.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

We're in the midst of tips regarding parasites and their prevention. We have so far covered heartworms, fleas, tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. Now, today, it's all about those ear mites.

As is probably obvious, ear mites affect the ears, living primary in the ear canal. For what it's worth, ear mites are more commonly seen in cats, making dogs the luckier, less typical victims of these buggers. Ear mites can be spread directly from cat to cat.

Now, what will you notice if your cat, or dog, has an ear mite infestation? Your furbaby's ears will itch, they will scratch at them, there can therefore be inflammation in the area, and they may even shake their heads or hold their ears low due to the irritation. You also may see dark, brownish debris in the ears, which is commonly described as resembling coffee grounds.

If you do see any of the above symptoms in your kitty or pup, have them seen by a veterinarian. Ear mites can ultimately lead to secondary ear infections and other similar issues, so taking care of them is of course best for your furbaby's health and happiness. Your veterinarian can test for ear mites by swabbing the ears and looking at the debris under a microscope.

When it comes to treatment, it is of course best to use medications prescribed directly by your veterinarian. There are drops or other treatments that can offer a relatively fast-acting eradication of the ear mites. In addition, there are monthly preventatives that cover ear mites. These can typically help take care of existing mites, as well as prevent a future ear mite infestation. Discuss any and all such options with your veterinarian, especially if your furbaby is largely outdoors and potentially more susceptible to such infestations.

Evan's Bald Bum and the Letter G

It's of course time for another day of the April A to Z Challenge.

To again repeat this year's A to Z explanation, some of my favorite things in life are cats, drawing, writing, and the fantasy genre. And so, my A to Z contributions this year will be illustrations for a weird and wacky fantasy story I'm currently writing. This story co-stars a hind limb paralyzed orange tabby cat named Hobo, and this month you'll get to go along on some of his adventures.

Today we've reached the letter G, which stands for gnomes. Because, indeed, Hobo becomes quite good friends with some gnomes.

Those two particular gnomes are named Nilda and Bartleby. I actually gave them those names for a couple of specific reasons, but that's a story for another day. You'll be seeing some of the other unorthodox new friends Hobo makes as we continue our way through the alphabet.

***

Now, since Tonks and her littermates Winky and Flitwick starred in yesterday's post for their birthday, Evan asked to star in today's. He's used to bestowing you all with a magnificent Mancat Monday post, and he's sure you all missed seeing his handsomeness yesterday.

Speaking of handsomeness, Evan wanted you all to see how spick and span he looked after his most recent bath and sanitary shave from our vet clinic's groomer.

Just look at that clean, baby soft bum! Evan is going in for another bath and sanitary shave this Friday, and he's also having his urine rechecked that day, as the poor boy is currently on antibiotics for yet another UTI. He seems to be feeling great right now, though, and I'm beyond grateful for that.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

***

Tip of the Day

 

After yesterday's discussion on tapeworms, we thought we'd briefly discuss a couple of other similar intestinal parasites, these being roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. We won't go into all of the science for each of these worms, but we will touch on the basics of such infestations. So, if you're interested in these wormy parasites, read on.

Depending on the worm, cats and dogs can potentially become infected with the aforementioned worms as kittens or puppies, such as in utero or from their mother's milk. Worms can also find their way to a cat or dog's intestines by the ingestion of a rodent or other carrier of the parasite, or by ingesting the parasite in certain stages of its life cycle elsewhere in the environment. Symptoms of such an infestation can include diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, a potbellied appearance, and sometimes even sight of the worms in your furbaby's feces.

If you think your kitty or pup might have intestinal worms, such as if they are a young puppy or kitty with a potbelly, if you see worms in their feces, or if you see any other potential signs, of course take your furbaby and a stool sample to be examined by a veterinarian. Parasiticides can be used to eradicate these intestinal parasites. Just as with tapeworms, though, it is important to use preventative measures to keep your kitty or pup clear of them from then on. Keep their environment clean in order to prevent growth of the worms in the environment. In addition, if your furbaby goes outdoors, monitor them and try to ensure that they are not ingesting prey that are potential carriers of intestinal parasites, such as rodents. If needed, such as if your cat or dog is largely outdoors, discuss with your veterinarian the potential for keeping your furbaby on regular preventatives that cover intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms.