Friendly Fill-Ins and Adorable Eddy

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. _________ is my kryptonite.

2. _________ is the thing I misplace the most often.

3. _________ was when I realized _________.

4. I wish I had learned _________ sooner.


My answers are below in bold. I tried to keep my accompanying rambling to a minimum this week. I tried.

1. My furry family is my kryptonite.
(I would do anything for my kitties and pup.)

2. My cell phone is the thing I misplace the most often.
(My keys come in second place. In third place is the TV remote, which loves to disappear into alternate dimensions despite having just moments ago been sitting right next to me on the couch.)

3. Adopting Evan was when I realized that I always want to share my life with specially abled animals.
(There are indeed challenges to sharing my life with hind limb paralyzed, urinary incontinent, megacolon Evan. But it's all so worth it. He's beyond special. He's my little hero, as I've said many times before, and thanks to him I know I will always want to share my life with special kitties like him.)

4. I wish I had learned to do what I love sooner.
(I'm grateful for the degree I earned in college and all of the jobs I've had. That said, I wish I'd learned sooner that it's important to keep hold of my true passions and desires in life. I didn't enter a field related to my true creative passions, namely drawing and writing, and so they got put on the back burner for years. Now I'm trying to make up for lost time.)

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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You're ready for your Eddy fix, aren't you? We know you are. So, here's the adorable little girl. And her whiskers. And her adorable little snaggletooth.

Eddy and all of us wish you a happy Friday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I recently stumbled upon this witchy sort of springtime doodle from a couple years ago, so here you go.

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Tip of the Day

Today's National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip regards none other than topical preventatives. First and foremost, always ensure that you are giving preventatives specifically formulated for the species at hand. Just one reason for this is that some flea and tick preventatives formulated for dogs are toxic to cats. Many such canine preventatives contain pyrethrin/pyrethroid, to which cats are highly sensitive. Pyrethrin/pyrethroid poisoning can result in excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty walking, or seizures, just to name a few. So, never apply dog preventatives on your kitty.

Also, be careful if your cat lives in a household with a dog who receives preventatives. In such a case, try to look for canine preventatives that do not contain pyrethrin/pyrethroid, or keep the dog and cat separated for a safe amount of time after application. Ask your veterinarian for information on how to keep both your kitty and pup healthy and safe, yet also protected from pests. It's also worth noting that some other forms of flea, tick, or other pest preventatives, such as sprays, may contain pyrethrin/pyrethroid. Always check the label, and only use products that you are certain will not harm your kitties or pups. Again, ask your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns regarding a product's safety.

In addition, know your cat or dog's weight and select preventatives accordingly. Administering a medication intended for a cat or dog larger than yours could have negative effects for the furbaby. Also be aware of their age, as some kittens or puppies, for example, may not yet be of an age deemed safe for the application of some preventatives. What's more, also always take into consideration your furbaby's overall health status. If your cat or dog suffers from any ailments, always discuss with your veterinarian the safety of giving a preventative. While we of course want to keep our furry family members safe from fleas, ticks, heartworms, and all sorts of infestations, it is important that we do so safely.

Thankful Thimble Thursday: Beauty and Bird TV

It's time for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop, and Thimble is more than ready.

Today, the adorable little tabby is yet again grateful that, well, she's adorable.

You'd probably like to see that cute little face closer up, wouldn't you? Well, here you go.

Thimble is also thankful for the window view she had in those photos. There were lots of birdies up in the trees, and she had a lovely time spying on them. So, it's her obvious beauty and enthralling Bird TV that Thimble is sharing for today's gratitude. And she hopes you all enjoy those things as well!

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Now, of course, 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. _________ is my kryptonite.

2. _________ is the thing I misplace the most often.

3. _________ was when I realized _________.

4. I wish I had learned _________ sooner.

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 National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip is one that relates to our previous tips on pesticides, but is also one upon which we failed to expand. The type of pesticide of which we speak today is none other than mothballs. Mothballs come in a variety of forms, and typically release gas vapors intended to repel or kill moths, or other pests. When it comes to our furbabies, mothballs can cause toxicity via inhalation, skin contact, or ingestion. Dogs are perhaps the most likely to ingest mothballs, but cats are more sensitive to their effects. Old-fashioned mothballs are the most dangerous, as they contain naphthalene. More modern mothballs are typically formulated to be less dangerous to kitties, pups, and ourselves, but they can still pose risks. Mothball poisoning can result in vomiting, lethargy, difficulty breathing, or even failure of organs such as the liver or kidneys.

For the sake of your kitty or pup, it is likely best to avoid the use of mothballs altogether. There are alternatives to ridding your clothes or areas of the home of moths. Some of these methods may require more laborious cleaning and may indeed be more time-consuming than simply tossing in a mothball, but the health of your furbaby is well worth the effort. If you do use mothballs, though, of course ensure your furbaby's safety by keeping them well out of their reach.

Adventures with Astrid...and a Feathered Friend

In part because she's not a fan of warmer weather, and also in part because her 12-year-old legs just aren't what they used to be, pup Astrid hasn't been asking for as long of walks as she used to. That's okay, though, because we still have happy little adventures.

Astrid heard and saw a little something ahead in the photo above. Can you guess what it was?

It's not the easiest to see, but ahead of Astrid in that second photo is a female duck. There were actually multiple ducks as well as some geese hanging out here when we walked by, but that particular duck was the loudest and also the least afraid of Astrid, so it stuck around longer than the others. Despite how interested she looks in these photos, Astrid is actually very good with and kind to wildlife (except opossums, who are her greatest enemies in the whole world, but that's a story for another day). When she was young we had to train her to not chase squirrels and rabbits, but nowadays Astrid coexists with wildlife very well and doesn't chase them (except opossums, ahem). Even so, she was still very intrigued by her new feathered friend.

Astrid and all of us here wish you a wonderful Wednesday!

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Doodle of the Day

Astrid's birthday was back on February 20. I always like to scribble up a birthday doodle for each furry baby, but I didn't finish Astrid's until the night of her birthday. That means I didn't share it here on our blog on her actual birthday, and I just recently realized I still haven't shared it. So, today you get Astrid's belated birthday doodle. As a bit of an explanation, on none other than Astrid's birthday, my sister and I saw the first Harry Potter movie in theaters for the first time since we were kids. In my excitement, I decided to scribble up a Harry Potter-esque doodle for Astrid's birthday. That means this drawing probably makes no sense whatsoever, but here it is anyway.

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Tip of the Day

After yesterday's National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip on paint products, we wanted to also give a PSA on the dangers of certain glues. If we're to be honest, the primary danger of glue isn't necessarily poisonous effects. Nevertheless, we still want to warn of the life-threatening hazards of glue. Some glues, such as glues for wood or construction, as well as heavy-duty glues such as Gorilla Glue, can lead to severe side effects. Ingestion of these glues can cause symptoms such as gastrointestinal distress, vomiting, and decreased appetite. What's more, though, is that these types of glues can contain diisocyanates, which can mix with stomach acid and then expand. This can then lead to bowel obstruction. Bowel obstruction is nothing to take lightly, and often requires surgery. Needless to say, if your kitty or pup gets into glue, especially heavy-duty glue that contains diisocyanates, seek veterinary care immediately. Of course, to prevent such emergencies, take no risks and be sure to hide away any and all glues someplace where your furbaby cannot reach.

Tonks Tuesday with Evan and an Alphabetical Announcement

It's Tonks Tuesday, and today Tonks wanted everyone to know how much she loves her brother, Evan. Evan is actually the only cat in the house that every other cat likes and gets along with. A lot of the female cats in the house don't get the along all that great with each other, and our housemate Toby also picks on all the girls. But, when it comes to Evan, all the other kitties generally like him. For Tonks, that started way back when she was a kitten. See?

After recently stumbling upon that adorable photo above, I decided to see how many photos I've snapped of Tonks hanging out with Evan over the years. Here are just a few of them that I found...

I always find it funny how Tonks will give a little smack or hiss to most of the other kitties in the house whenever she passes them, yet when it comes to Evan, she'll stop and hang out with him or initiate play. Tonks and her littermate Winky can't even look at each other across the room without exchanging a hiss or at least a glare, but Tonks is totally fine with Evan body slamming her to the ground repeatedly while they play.

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Tonks also wanted to share her love for her brother today because she's helping me finally announce our April A to Z Challenge theme, and it is heavily influenced by Evan.

I'm going to try to make this quick, because otherwise I'm just going to ramble. As always, So, after dragging my feet in fear that others wouldn't enjoy my weird and wacky plans for April, I finally decided to just go for it. So, as I've mentioned a gazillion times before, I love the fantasy genre. Fantasy has always been a form of escape from reality for me, both in terms of reading and writing. I've been writing all sorts of fantastical stories over the years, and most recently I've been working on yet another such tale, this one starring an orange tabby who, like my Evan, is hind limb paralyzed. The name of this fictionalized kitty inspired by my own boy is Hobo. He has that name for a reason, in case you were curious. Anyway, for this year's April A to Z Challenge, I'll be sharing illustrations of Hobo going on his weird and wacky adventures.

Since Evan inspired all of the craziness rather inarticulately explained above, he's starring in today's brand new doodle. And in said doodle, he's hanging out with one way I might envision my current writing work-in-progress if it were actually a book.

I'm sorry if none of the above made sense. I quite frankly never know how to explain my weird writing projects or my freakish obsession with the fantasy genre. Even so, if you're interested in learning about a hind limb paralyzed cat going on fantastical adventures, that's what we'll have for you in April.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Tip of the Day

We've given past tips on the dangers of paint products, but we're going to repeat this for National Pet Poison Awareness Month. Unsurprisingly, paint, varnish, and other similar products can be toxic to our furbabies. Lead paints can of course cause lead poisoning, which can cause a variety of severe symptoms, including those of the gastrointestinal and neurological systems. Lead can also be detrimental to red blood cells, brain function, and other important processes in the body. Oil-based paints can also be dangerous, potentially causing diarrhea as well as having serious effects on the lungs. They may also contain heavy metals and thereby cause symptoms similar to those of lead paint toxicity. Products such as varnish can also have similar negative side effects as paint.

Also keep in mind that paint and paint products can emit dangerous fumes, as we're sure you all know. Especially without proper ventilation, inhalation of the fumes can cause irritation of the lungs or symptoms such as dizziness. To avoid emergencies related to the ingestion or inhalation of paint or other paint products, of course keep these items well out of reach of your furbabies. Try to keep your furbabies safely out of areas that are being painted. Should ingestion or inhalation of paint products occur, do not hesitate to seek veterinary assistance.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Ginger boy Evan is here to wish you all a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Wishing you all lots of luck today!

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Tip of the Day

We haven't reached the end of National Pet Poison Awareness Month yet, so we'll keep these tips coming. Today's tip on potentially poisonous household items relates to batteries. If a dog or even a cat bites a battery or ingests it, the acidic or alkaline components could leak out and enter their gastrointestinal system. This material is corrosive in nature, and can therefore cause serious side effects, including oral ulcers, vomiting, other various signs of gastrointestinal distress, and even fever. Due to the corrosive nature of battery components, vomiting should not be induced in the case of ingestion, as this will cause further damage. Immediate care can include rinsing out your pup or kitty's mouth with lukewarm water to remove as much of the battery material as possible. Of course, quickly follow that up with immediate veterinary care. To prevent such emergencies, keep all batteries tucked safely away where curious furbabies cannot get to them. As always, it's better to be safe than sorry!

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Continued Window Whiffies

Hello, friends! We're ready for the Friendly Fill-Ins, 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 enjoy talking to _________.

2. _________ is something kind I did recently.

3. I wish I could _________ without any repercussions.

4. I've been complimented on my _________ but criticized for _________.


My answers are below in bold.

1. I enjoy talking to my dad about books.
(Obviously I talk to others in my family about all sorts of things and enjoy it. That said, my dad is the only other person in my family who truly reads, and we happen to enjoy the same types of books. So, he's my go-to for talking about books, and I love those conversations.)

2. Putting extra food out for newcomer neighborhood kitties is something kind I did recently.
(I wish I could think of something kind I've gone out of my way to do for a fellow human recently, but nothing is coming to my mind. I don't socialize much, as I prefer to be home with my furry babies, and so perhaps that's part of it. That's terrible, I know. That said, I do love being kind to animals. Recently, there has been a significant increase in the numbers of strays, ferals, and owned but outdoor kitties in our neighborhood. That breaks my heart, and I do my best to help them. I've therefore added some more feeding areas to my yard and started putting more food out. I've been buying more cat food than I ever have in my life, but I want the kitties who find my yard to know it's a safe place to enjoy a meal. I also really want to start trapping some of the ferals and getting them neutered.)

3. I wish I could steal animals from unworthy owners without any repercussions.
(Theft is a crime, of course. And I guess it's not really my place to judge others on their pet parenting. That said, I've known and met others who just don't seem like they deserve dogs, cats, or other companion animals. I'm talking about those kinds of people who don't properly take care of them, who stick them outside in poor conditions, don't give them meaningful attention, don't give them vet care, and that sort of thing. I wish I could steal those animals so that they could find homes with true love.)

4. I've been complimented on my pet parenting but criticized for poor communications skills with fellow humans.
(My vet has told me more than once that I'm a good pet parent, especially when I'm there with extra special Evan. I'm far from perfect, but I do my best. On the other side of things, I'm not so great with humans. Especially when it comes to responding to texts/messages, returning calls, just generally socializing, and that sort of thing, I'm pretty garbage. I honestly find those things a bit overwhelming, and especially my family members will call me out on it.)

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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It's Friday, which means you get yourself an Eddy fix. Today, just like last week, this girl is enjoying some window whiffies. 

We've been having some warmer weather, which the kitties love. When it gets over 70°F, that's honestly too warm for myself, as I much prefer cooler temperatures. But, the kitties seem to enjoy the window whiffies, sun puddles, and all that warm weather jazz.

Happy Friday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle relates to how I feed lots of ferals and other kitties outside, and said doodle doesn't even star a cat. This drawing instead stars a certain critter who also shows up every day/night to eat the kitty food I put outside. And that critter looks a little something like this.

Honestly, I don't mind feeding opossums. They're amazing animals who do a lot for the environment, such as by eating ticks, just to name one example. As long as they don't abuse the kitties I care for outside, they're welcome in my yard. Sometimes I even put extra food out just for the opossums, especially if it's the time of night they usually show up.

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Tip of the Day

Today's National Pet Poison Awareness Month tip is about essential oils. There are a wide variety of essential oils on the market, and there are also a wide variety of reactions your furbaby might display if exposed to certain essential oils. Some essential oils can indeed be poisonous to our kitties or pups, kitties typically being especially sensitive to them. Depending on the type of oil and its concentration, exposure to and ingestion of an essential oil can lead to potentially serious side effects, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty walking, just to name a couple.

To prevent any accidental toxicity or emergencies, it might be best to simply prevent your furbaby from coming into contact with any essential oils, to ensure that your furbaby does not come into contact with one containing a toxic ingredient. This would mean refraining from putting essential oils on your kitty or pup, or placing essential oil diffusers anywhere near where your furbaby can reach. Also keep in mind that essential oils and their fragrances can also potentially cause respiratory irritation, with symptoms such as ocular discharge, nasal discharge, or signs related to asthma. When in doubt, keep essential oils, essential oil diffusers, and any other similar products well away from your furbaby, as their health and safety is not worth the risk.

Thankful Thimble Thursday in the Sun

It's Thursday, and Thimble is more than ready for Angel Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

Today, Thimble is grateful that we're having some lovely, sunny weather. She's thankful for sun puddles, and also of course for her adorableness, big ears and all. See?

Thimble hopes you're all enjoying some sunshine like she is. And, as always, Thimble hopes that seeing her cuteness helped brighten your day!

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And 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. I enjoy talking to _________.

2. _________ is something kind I did recently.

3. I wish I could _________ without any repercussions.

4. I've been complimented on my _________ but criticized for _________.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

Today's flashback doodle stars Robokitty. The idea of Robokitty began when Thimble was a kitten, because back then she had such a robotic, almost grating meow. Though her meow isn't quite as severely robotic now that she's older, it's still Robokitty worthy. All that said, here's a doodle I scribbled up a couple years ago of none other than Robokitty.

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Tip of the Day

We have yet more random safety tips for National Pet Poison Awareness Month. Today's tip is to keep that hand sanitizer out of the reach of your furbabies. Hand sanitizer contains alcohol, which means that, especially if ingested in large enough quantities, it can indeed lead to alcohol poisoning. More than likely, hand sanitizer will neither smell nor taste enticing to your kitty or pup. But, some furbabies may simply have strange or unprejudiced tastes, and so keeping any potentially toxic items out of their reach is of course crucial. Keep this in mind not only when it comes to hand sanitizer. Some items can contain toxic ingredients that you might not expect, and some furbabies might not be picky about what they put in their mouths. So, never leave anything questionable within their reach, because it is indeed always better to be safe than sorry.