Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Blurry Photo Fails

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 15andemeowing came up with the first two fill-in statements, and I came up with the second two.

1. My to-do list for September includes _________ and _________.

2. _________ grade was my favorite year of school.

3. I have a lot of respect for _________ because _________.

4. _________ made me stop _________.


My answers are below in bold, of course accompanied by my usual rambling that no one is required to read.

1. My to-do list for September includes doing neglected yard work and scribbling up Halloween doodles.

(I didn't get nearly enough yard work done this spring. Then, when the summer heat hit, I had no interest in going outside to do anything besides the occasional mowing. Now that it's cooling down out there, though, I realize I really do need to get out there and cut back a lot of overgrowth in my yard and all that other outdoor jazz. Oh, and you better believe the Halloween doodles will be getting drawn very soon. Though I make no promises, I'd love to share 31 days of Halloween doodles again this year. Or at least close to it. We'll see how that goes.)

2. 16th grade was my favorite year of school.

(I know this isn't even a real "grade" in school. But, I really want my answer to be my senior year of college, simply because I was so ready to be done with school. I've always loved learning, and due to no one's pressure but my own, I always got good grades. Even so, I hated school. I never liked being forced to learn only this or that, and only in this way or that way. I hated homework, as most of it seemed needlessly time-consuming and silly rather than helpful. So, when I got to my senior year of college, I was ecstatic to be at the end of my school years.)

3. I have a lot of respect for animal rescuers because they're doing an honorable but difficult job.
(Especially because of some of the strays and ferals in my neighborhood, I've been in contact with multiple rescue groups in my area throughout the years. Even with just those instances here and there, it's obvious these rescuers are doing a draining job out of nothing but the kindness of their hearts. They love animals, and that drives them to work day in and day out for the innocent creatures of this world. I have so much respect for that, and I hope to someday be able to do far more volunteering with animal rescue groups.)

4. Evan's urinary blockage made me stop giving my kitties' Temptations treats.
(I have no clear evidence that Temptations cause urinary blockages. However, quite literally while Evan was hospitalized with a urinary blockage at the end 2022, someone posted an article online about how Temptations might be linked with urinary blockages in cats. I wouldn't have thought much of it, except for the fact that I had just started regularly giving Evan Temptations a couple months before. I had always given them Friskies Party Mix before that, but thought I'd change things up. After reading that article, though, and given the timing of Evan's blockage, I stopped giving Temptations and went back to Friskies Party Mix. Though he has a number of other urinary issues, Evan has not had a blockage since.)

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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And now it's time for the Pet Photo Fails Blog Hop, hosted by none other than Melissa and Mudpie of Melissa's Mochas, Mysteries, & Meows.

For today, blooper queen Eddy went all out. She is indeed an oft blurry gal, and she doesn't disappoint in today's outtakes.

And as if that one wasn't blurry enough, how about this one?

That's my girl Eddy. When I ask her for a cute photo shoot, I most often get that. But that's okay, because she's my sweet, sassy, adorable little lady, and she's in charge.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

My angels Rosie and Sammy will be celebrating their heavenly birthday on Monday, September 1st. This weekend I will be drawing their birthday doodle for this year, but for today, how about their birthday doodle from a couple years ago?

If you're curious, I've gotten into the habit of making Rosie and Sammy's birthday doodles Harry Potter-esque, which explains the color choices in that there doodle. After all, as a kid, Rosie and Sammy were my reading buddies. My sweet Sammy passed from an undetected heart condition when he was only 5 and I was only 10. I never got to read Harry Potter with him, but I started reading it soon after his passing, which helped me during my grieving process. My Rosie, though, lived to the blessed age of 21, and so she was often by my side as I read every single Harry Potter book from the time I was 10 until I was 18. What's more, in the Harry Potter series, the magical school known as Hogwarts always starts on September 1st. As a kid, it excited me so much that this date was shared with my Rosie and Sammy's birthday. I don't know if any of that made sense, but it's why I often incorporate magical whatnot into my angels' birthday doodles.

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Tip of the Day

Today is our last tip relating to those feline vet visits. This tip is actually far more of a general one, though, and it's to remember your veterinarians, vet techs, and all of the staff at your vet clinic on special occasions. Whether it be Christmas, Veterinarian Appreciation Day (June 18th), Veterinary Technician Week (the third week of October), or another similar day, do consider sending some appreciation to those at your veterinary clinic. You can send a simple card, some flowers, a basket of goodies, or anything that demonstrates your appreciation for all they've done for your furbaby and yourself. Sometimes, being a veterinarian or veterinary staff member is a thankless job, or one that is forgotten in the shuffle. So, if you appreciate what your veterinary clinic has done for any and all of your furbabies, then do consider being one of those grateful customers who expresses their appreciation.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Blurry on a Blanket

Hello, friends! Things have been a bit chaotic around here lately, and while I intend on creating a post for Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, to honor all of the angels in my life, I haven't created that post yet. I don't want to rush it. So, that will come later, and today will be a typical Thursday post.

That means Thimble is of course here and ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

 Today, Thimble is grateful that she's cuter than cute even in blurry bloopers.

This cute girl found out that Eddy will be sharing bloopers for tomorrow's Pet Photo Fails Blog Hop. And so, Thimble wanted to partake as well. After all, she knows she's downright adorable even in these outtakes.

Thimble especially loves posing, blurry or not, on her beloved fleece blankets. This is one of Thimble's new favorite blankies, as she finds it to be just her style.

As always, Thimble says you are welcome to give her belly a rub or a tickle, or both. This tabby girl truly, genuinely loves her a good belly rub or tickle.

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Now, let's 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. My to-do list for September includes _________ and _________.

2. _________ grade was my favorite year of school.

3. I have a lot of respect for _________ because _________.

4. _________ made me stop _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip relating to taking your cat to the vet is in regard to nonrecognition aggression. In relation to vet visits, nonrecognition aggression is typically when one cat goes to the vet, and when he or she returns home, one of the other resident cats does not recognize them. This is typically because the returning cat smells unfamiliar, with odors from the vet. Though it can be a disconcerting and scary thing to witness, nonrecognition aggression is not terribly uncommon. What's more, there are ways to potentially prevent it, and to help your cats recover from it.

One way to combat nonrecognition aggression is to take your cats to the vet together. This way, neither of them will come back home smelling differently than the other. This method is easiest if both cats travel well and can safely visit the vet together. So, if nonrecognition aggression is a concern in your home and it's a viable option, do consider taking your cats to the vet together to prevent future aggression between them.

There are other options to help prevent nonrecognition aggression. One is to use a synthetic pheromone spray, or a diffuser, to help keep all cats as calm as possible. Yet another option is to gently wipe down the cat returning home from the vet, in order to remove as much of the vet clinic smells as possible. Similarly, when a cat returns home from the vet, you can also wipe them with one of their usual blankets from home, to help transfer their usual scents back to them. Of course these are not fail-safe methods, but they can potentially help prevent nonrecognition aggression between cats.

All of the above being said, sometimes nonrecognition aggression might occur despite your attempts to prevent it. If it does occur, first and foremost, separate the cats who are involved in order to keep them both safe. Then, reintroduction might be similar to how you introduce two unfamiliar or new cats to each other. Slowly and safely allowing them to sniff, see, and then interact with each other might take some time, but your kitties can indeed return to one big happy family with time and patience.

Adventures with Astrid: Action Shots

Astrid's most recent episode of vestibular disease has improved quite a bit. She's far from the level of steady on her feet that she was even back in July, but she's at least not as constantly wobbly as she was the first couple weeks of August. She's especially steady on her feet when she goes for walks, as pavement seems to be what she's most confident walking on. She's also quite fast when she hits the pavement, which is why today's shots of Astrid are a bit blurry.

This Friday, Eddy will of course be sharing some bloopers for the Pet Photo Fails Blog Hop, so Astrid decided it was fine if I shared some blurry shots of her this week as well.

Walking too long, especially in the summer heat, causes Astrid's vestibular symptoms to flare a bit. So, we're giving the poor stir crazy girl some short little jaunts here and there. We also take her into the back yard quite a bit. The weather is finally cooling down, at least for now, which Astrid absolutely loves.

We don't know if Astrid will continue to improve even more, or if this particular vestibular episode has left her a bit more permanently wobbly. That can happen with some vestibular episodes, so we shall see what a couple or a few more weeks does for the girl. I especially can't wait for the weather to cool down even more. After all, not only does Astrid love colder temps, but her vestibular symptoms give her less trouble when it's cooler out.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle is a rather random one from a series I scribbled up many years ago.

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Tip of the Day

Can you believe we're still blabbing on about taking your kitty to the vet? Indeed, we still have a few more tips to offer in this series. Some of our very recent tips have been about ways to safely get an anxious or aggressive cat to the vet. These tips included leaving the carrier out at all times, putting treats and toys in it, using Feliway spray in the carrier, administering sedatives to your cat if needed and prescribed by your vet, and using a towel or thick gloves to load a potentially aggressive cat into a carrier. Sometimes, though, even with all such measures being taken, a certain cat might still be difficult or unsafe to easily take to the vet. This might be the case for semi-feral or otherwise aggressive cats. In addition, some cats become so anxious that it's potentially unsafe for them to make the trip to the vet, such as if it causes them to open-mouth breathe or other respiratory distress.

If any of the above descriptors match your cat and taking them to the vet is extremely difficult or unsafe, then consider discussing with your veterinarian the possibility of scheduling an at-home vet visit. Some veterinary clinics do offer visits in your own home, especially if that reduces any dangers related to taking your cat to the veterinary clinic itself. In some areas, there are even veterinarians who specifically practice as mobile vets. So, if your cat becomes distressed or dangerous when it comes time to get in a carrier or travel to the vet clinic, consider the option of having a veterinarian come directly to your home. This might not always work, but it's worth a try if other options are not easy or safe for you and your cat.

Tonks Tuesday: Peek-a-Boo!

I've mentioned before how Tonks is my kitty who loves to burrow under blankets, towels, and just about anything under which she can hide. She's startled me more than once, when I've gone to grab a blanket or towel or something of the sort, only for it to move, or for a calico head to peek out. Tonks's favorite game is indeed peek-a-boo.

Don't worry. Tonks knows she's adorable. You're still free to tell her, though. You're also free to boop that nose. Tonks truly loves a nose boop.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I plan on starting on some new Halloween doodles soon, but for now, how about this old not-so-spooky summertime doodle?

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Tip of the Day

We hope you're not getting bored with our tips on feline vet visits, because we still have some more for you. Today's tip is to, if needed, take precautions for the safety of both yourself and your kitty, namely when it comes time to load a kitty up. We're primarily referring to how to safely get an anxious or aggressive kitty into a carrier. We've already given tips on using methods such as leaving the carrier out, putting treats or toys in it, using Feliway, and even using sedating medications if needed. That all being said, for some cats, some or all of the aforementioned methods simply won't work. Even sedatives can be overridden if a cat becomes agitated enough. In such cases, it is important to take precautions to keep you and your cat safe when it comes time to get said kitty in a carrier.

When getting an anxious or aggressive cat into a carrier, a simple towel or blanket could potentially be your best friend. Wrapping your cat in a towel, and putting them in the carrier when they are thus confined, can potentially keep those claws and teeth in check. At the same time, make sure that you have the sufficiently sized carrier placed in a way that loading the cat is as easy as possible. This may mean using a top-loading carrier, or placing a front-loading carrier on its back side so that the door faces up. If a towel or blanket is not enough protection, then you can also look into using thick gloves specifically designed to keep kitty teeth and claws from penetrating, thereby keeping your hands and arms safe.

Some cats are simply less willing to visit the vet and are overall less amenable than others. Differences in personality are part of what make kitties so unique, after all. That being said, if your cat is one who is anxious, aggressive, or otherwise difficult to handle, always take precautions to keep everyone involved safe when vet appointments roll around. When in doubt, of course discuss with your veterinarian the best options for handling your cat.

Mancat Monday: Evan and the Antibiotics

It's Mancat Monday, and Evan is spending the day in his favorite bed. It's the bed he got for his birthday this year, and he especially loves when I toss a blanket in it for extra coziness.

Evan deserves a nap in his favorite bed. After all, he had an eventful end of last week. Nothing horrible or new, but on Friday I noticed that he was starting to show early signs of a UTI. I also found a sore around his private parts that would indicate he has urine scald, which has happened more than once for this urinary incontinent little guy, despite all my efforts to keep him clean and dry. I emailed our vet, and within a couple of minutes he'd responded saying that he'd prepare some antibiotics for me to pick up. That would take care of any potential UTI, and would also take care of the sores from urine scald. Evan has been on those antibiotics since Friday evening, and he and his back end are already acting and looking much better.

I appreciate Evan's vet so much. Being a hind limb paralyzed cat with urinary incontinence and various other issues, Evan is at a significantly heightened risk of UTIs. His vet knows this and is willing to prescribe antibiotics without Evan having to be seen and checked every time he starts showing symptoms. We still have his urine checked periodically, but I feel blessed to have a vet that trusts me to monitor Evan and request antibiotics when he starts showing symptoms.

Happy Monday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I recently re-shared a couple of doodles of my kitties and pup that served as fan art for one of my newer favorite series of books. I haven't re-shared Evan's doodle in this series, though, probably because I know it looks a little odd, what with Evan wearing a cape and heart boxers, siting on a rock surrounded by mushrooms.

The books series upon which this doodle is based is called Dungeon Crawler Carl. These books are in my favorite genre, that being fantasy. What's more, they star a man named Carl, who happens to wear magical heart boxers, and who's accompanied by his talking Persian tortie cat named Princess Donut. The series is wild and crazy and full of pure chaos, and I enjoy it so very much.

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Tip of the Day

We still have some tips all about taking that kitty to the vet. Today's tip is to, if needed, discuss with your veterinarian medications that might help calm a cat who becomes especially anxious, or even aggressive, when it comes time to visit the vet. Some cats are calm and collected, even at the vet. Other cats, however, simply become reactive when they see a carrier, when they get into a car, when they visit a veterinary office, or when they meet strangers. If you have tried the usual tricks—which of course include leaving the carrier out at all times, using Feliway, using treats to coax and distract, and so forth—yet your kitty still becomes anxious or difficult to handle, then there are some potential sedating medications that could be given when it comes time to visit the vet. Your veterinarian would be able to determine if or which sedatives might work best for your particular kitty, given said kitty's behavior as well as health. So, be upfront and honest with your veterinarian regarding the ease and safety of getting your cat in a carrier and to the vet. Your vet can of course also witness how your cat acts when visiting the clinic, and with all of those facts, the two of you can discuss potential options for making vet visits as easy and safe as possible for you, your cat, and the veterinary staff.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Adorable Face

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. I wish I could believe that _________, but I don't.

2. I am all _________ed out.

3. I'm very picky about _________.

4. I don't mind _________ as long as _________.

My answers are below in bold.

1. I wish I could believe that most people are good, but I don't.

(I don't like saying this, but I think we've all seen evidence that would indicate a lot of people are not good. Many people choose evil, as we often see in the news or even firsthand. It's a choice far too many people make, and it's such a disheartening reality.)

2. I am all summered out.

(It's hot. It's humid. I'm not a fan of either. Is it autumn yet?)

3. I'm very picky about the texture of food.

(I feel like such a child saying this, but I do find myself struggling to eat foods with certain textures. I'm not a fan of a lot of sautéed foods, most especially onions, because I feel like I'm eating worms. I also cannot stand eating cooked oatmeal, as I find it too gooey and gummy, though I love overnight oats that have only sat soaking in milk. The texture of mushrooms is also a no-go for me.)

4. I don't mind hot days as long as I can stay in the air conditioning.

(I'm really not a fan of summer, as I mentioned in #2 above. Heat and humidity are simply not my thing, as I also said above. The only time I don't mind these hot days is when I can just stay inside where the air conditioning keeps it cool. I always end up outside at some point, though, whether it be going to and from work or taking pup Astrid outside. So, with that said, I'm really just ready for autumn.)

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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Today, your Eddy fix puts the adorable girl's adorable snaggletooth on full display. Actually, it puts her entire adorable face on display.

For anyone who doesn't know or might not remember, Eddy came to me as a kitten with neurological issues. When I adopted her, she would spin in circles, fall to the side when running, and she had a right-sided head tilt with right-sided facial nerve paralysis. With some drugs and TLC, Eddy recovered from the acute neurological issues she developed at the rescue from which I adopted her, which they believed were due to either an infection or an injury. She no longer spins or walks crooked, though she has maintained a mild head tilt and facial nerve paralysis. But, that gives us adorable shots like these.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I truly hope to hook up my scanner this weekend and prepare and upload a bunch of my newly completed but sorely neglected doodles. For today, though, how about an old one from back when I was painfully trying to improve my skills at drawing architectural elements.

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Tip of the Day

We're still in the midst of our series of tips on taking that kitty of yours to the vet. Today's tip on this topic is a plain and simple one, and that is to take with you to the vet your kitty's favorite toy(s) or treats. This might not work for all cats, but in some cases, toys or treats can make for great distractions or positive reinforcement during your cat's exam or vaccinations. That being said, though, do try to choose wisely when it comes to what you take as a distraction. For example, does your cat get hyperactive or even aggressive when under the influence of catnip? If so, try to avoid toys laced with catnip, and avoid taking anything else that might cause a problem rather than assist during the vet visit. So, all in all, consider whether a simple toy or some treats might help your cat make it through a vet visit. If so, pack those so that they can go along.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Fleece Blankets and Furrowed Brows

Hello, friends! Thimble is of course here and ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is grateful for fleece blankets. She especially loves ones that are almost as cute as her.

This is another case where I don't know how or why Thimble looks so disgruntled. When this photo was snapped, she was purring and incredibly happy. Despite being one of the happiest cats I've ever met, Thimble is also known in our family for her furrowed brow. Either way, she of course looks downright adorable.

Thimble hopes you all have a fleece blanket on which to nap today!

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And now we have the fill-in statements for tomorrow's Friendly Fill-Ins challenge. My amazing co-host Ellen of 15andnewing came up with the first two, and I came up with the second two.

1. I wish I could believe that _________, but I don't.

2. I am all _________ed out.

3. I'm very picky about _________.

4. I don't mind _________ as long as _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip for taking your cat to the vet is to consider using a pheromone spray, such as Feliway. A synthetic pheromone such as this can potentially have a calming effect for your cat. One idea is to spray the pheromone into your cat's carrier, or onto a blanket placed in your cat's carrier. This could potentially help make the experience of getting into the carrier more calm for your cat, as well as potentially make the car ride and time at the vet a calmer experience. Also consider taking the pheromone spray with you to the vet, where you can spray it in the air in the exam room, or again spray it on a blanket or toy you might have brought along to the vet for your cat. Of course a pheromone spray isn't always guaranteed to work, and it might not work the same for every cat, but it definitely wouldn't hurt to try it in case it might help your kitty feel calm and soothed.