Thankful Thimble Thursday: Breakfast in Bed

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

Last week, Thimble was grateful for catnip being delivered to her in bed. This week, she's thankful for when she gets to enjoy breakfast treats in bed. Thimble actually gets to enjoy treats in bed all times of day, for which she is even more grateful.

Can you see the treats under her ear and face there? Thimble is the kind of kitty who gets excited by just about anything and everything, and so she offers many happy belly rolls. In this case, she had to do a little jig before she could eat her treats.

Luckily, those treats escaped her ear and she gobbled them up. Thimble hopes you all also get to enjoy some tasty treats today!

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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 plans for June include _________ and _________.

2. I would love to have _________ mentor me.

3. _________ was an aha moment for me.

4. I was not prepared for _________ when I reached adulthood.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

The next series of doodles I'll be working on over the next week or so will be new summertime spooky ones. While I work on those, how about another spooky doodle from the past? This one might not be as summery, but it's just one of those days when this seemed apt enough.

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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, animals with short snouts, and those with conditions such as megaesophagus often do better 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.

Adventures with Astrid and the Antibody Test

We've mentioned multiple times lately how Astrid doesn't take as many long walks as she used to. She is 12 years old, she has arthritis, and a few months back she experienced what was likely a mild form of vestibular disease, which left a residual a head tilt and occasional unsteadiness on her feet. Astrid still chooses to go for decent walks on weekends, though, when both my sister and myself walk her, and often her Gammy and Pawpaw (my mom and dad) join us.

That was taken on a recent weekend walk. In that photo, Astrid stopped and looked back because her Gammy and Pawpaw were straggling behind her. She informed them that they should hurry up.

On a whole other topic, though, we took Astrid to the vet on Monday morning for a quick blood draw. Over the past couple of months, Astrid has been displaying some new and somewhat progressive symptoms that we assumed were just related to her arthritis and residual effects of having had vestibular disease a few months ago. After a sudden realization recently, though, I asked our vet if he could test Astrid for myasthenia gravis. For anyone who doesn't know, myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder that causes various forms of muscle weakness. It can affect muscles in the neck and face, the esophagus, and leg muscles. Dogs can develop an acquired form of this disease.

To give some examples of the symptoms at hand, Astrid's legs have been getting weaker, especially after walks, but also just in general. She's also been experiencing more leg tremors. This is nothing new for her arthritic back legs, but it's grown worse and is now even affecting her front legs. Generally speaking, Astrid has just become a lot more unsteady on her feet, though this is far more noticeable after she's gone for one of her longer walks. Astrid also often hangs her head low, as if her neck is weak. Sometimes she gets stuck with her head down, such as when she eats out of low bowl or sniffs something on the ground. If we lift her head for her, she usually goes back to acting completely normal.

That said, Astrid has also started displaying some symptoms that neither arthritis nor vestibular disease can really explain. For example, she sometimes has trouble swallowing. She'll eat and then sometimes gulp and let out small coughs as she attempts to swallow the food. This issue is far worse if Astrid eats or drinks a lot at one time, or if she eats or drinks out of a low bowl. As a result, we've raised all of Astrid's food and water bowls, which has helped. The problem is that she still tries to steal cat food, because she has not lost her orneriness. Especially because of hind limb paralyzed Evan, some of the cats' bowls simply have to stay on the ground. Sometimes when Astrid steals some of that food, she'll start displaying trouble swallowing. She also had issues swallowing just the other day when she scarfed down a whole can of food and then a whole bowl of dry food in a short time.

Want to know another weird symptom? Lately, Astrid sometimes sleeps with her eyes at least partially open. This is not normal for Astrid. She's never been one of those animals who sleeps with their eyes open even a tiny bit. I've also noticed over the past couple weeks that her eyelids are much droopier than they used to be.

All of the above said, last year, one of my grandma's dogs was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis. Her symptoms included difficulty eating, standing frozen with her head low, and sleeping with her eyes open. During one of Astrid's "episodes" of simultaneously struggling to swallow and standing frozen with her head hanging low, it hit me how much Astrid's symptoms resembled my grandma's dog's before she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis.

I immediately emailed Astrid's vet. Astrid's worst symptoms are relatively new but also relatively progressive, and so I actually hadn't yet even spoken to the vet about all of them altogether. A lot of them we assumed were due to her age, arthritis, vestibular issues, and so on and so forth. The vet and I agree there's easily a chance some of these symptoms are indeed related to those things. But, when I think about it, would the aforementioned health issues cause Astrid to have trouble swallowing, to sleep with her eyes open, or to act like her neck is so weak that sometimes she simply can't lift her own head? If you look at a list of myasthenia gravis symptoms, Astrid has almost all of them, most of which are rather recent developments. When I really thought about all of that, it made me eager to request the same antibody test my grandma's dog had for her myasthenia gravis symptoms. It's just a blood test, and my vet agreed it certainly wouldn't hurt. So, Astrid had her blood stolen on Monday. We might have to wait 10-14 days for the results, but I'm just glad the test is underway.

The vet did note that, though rare, the test can come back with false negatives. I believe this only happens in 2-3% of cases, but it's still possible. If Astrid's test comes back negative, and if her symptoms persist or worsen, I already plan on asking the vet about a trial of the medication typically used to treat myasthenia gravis just to make sure. But we'll cross that bridge only if it looks like we might have to cross it.

I'm sorry for rambling so much, as I so often do, but there you have an odd little update on pup Astrid. Overall, she's doing okay. She has her usual appetite and readily eats her favorite foods (like peanut butter and baked chicken), and she wants to be active and does her best in her current condition. She still has her orneriness, as I mentioned above, so that's definitely good to see.

So, rambling aside, Astrid and all of us here wish you a happy Wednesday!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

For today we have a slightly spooky summertime doodle from a few years ago. Because why not.

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Tip of the Day

Today's tip is quick and simple. And that is, 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.

Whiskered Tonks Tuesday

I just realized I never posted our post for today. So, here it is! (Sorry, Tonks, for delaying your fame.)

It's Tonks Tuesday, so of course the calico herself is here today to bless you with her adorableness.

The camera mainly wanted to focus on some of Tonks's whiskers, but given how majestic those whiskers are, that's fine.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

It's going to be nearly 90°F today, but I'm still in the mood for some spooky fun. So, we have another one of our old summertime spooky doodles from a few years ago.

That doodle was based off of a ghostly Halloween decoration that came out a few years ago. I didn't buy the decoration, but I did scribble it up soon after seeing it. Of course, I added a much-needed kitty.

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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 potential concerns 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.

Disrespected on Mancat Monday

It's Mancat Monday, and Evan is here to say hello. And to announce that he's been disrespected.

Evan is ready to throw this mom of his under the bus. After all, he had a bit of a messy morning, courtesy of his megacolon and its meds, and so his mom had the audacity to give him a bit of a bath. Evan doesn't like baths. And yet, Evan was given a bath and that is why his back legs are wet in that photo. Do you see that? Evan has informed me that this is a betrayal most foul.

Evan hopes your Monday is magnificent and doesn't include the disrespect he's been shown!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

As I've mentioned recently, despite the almost-summer heat, I'm in a spooky sort of mood. So, here's another spooky summertime doodle from a couple years ago. This one stars none other than Evan.

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Tip of the Day

We're continuing on with our food tips, now focusing on eating and drinking habits. To start this off, 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.

In addition to the material of a bowl, we'll quickly note 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.

Friendly Fill-Ins and Eddy's Photo Fail with a Co-Star

Hello and happy Friday, 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 statements, and I came up with the second two.


1. I have trouble pronouncing _________.

2. I tend to confuse _________ with _________.

3. I quit _________ because _________.

4. Currently, I can't get _________ out of my mind.


My answers are below in bold. As you'll see, some them (I'm looking at you, #4) are accompanied by much rambling.

1. I have trouble pronouncing the word edited.
(I said this word just the other day, and for some reason I really struggled with it. And I struggle even trying to say it now. Just making the simple word edit past tense, therefore edited, confuses my tongue so very much. I have to say it very slowly, or else I tend to say it more like editeded, which is decidedly not a word.)

2. I tend to confuse artichokes with anchovies.

(This probably makes no sense whatsoever, especially given that one is a vegetable and one is a fish. But for some reason, ever since I was a kid, I can never remember which one is which. And I even had this confusion just the other day when someone mentioned artichokes. It doesn't help that I never eat either of them, but when I hear one of the words, I have to look up which one it is. I indeed looked it up for this purpose—artichokes are indeed a veggie, while anchovy is a fish. And you all probably know that already.)

3. I quit using Facebook on my phone because I find it toxic.

(I only occasionally use Facebook on my computer these days. I deleted the app from my phone a long time ago, because I personally find some of its use and content toxic in one way or another. I would get Facebook notifications on my phone of all kinds, some of them bothersome, at all hours of the day and night. My phone isn't the best at listening when I tell it not to give me certain app's notifications, so I deleted Facebook from my phone and will never again download the app. The only reason I use Facebook at all these days is for some of the cat groups and such that I'm in, and for that type of thing I just log in on my laptop and then log right back out when I'm done.)

4. Currently, I can't get the roaming neighborhood kitties out of my mind.

(My neighborhood has started having tons of cats roaming. We've always had one or two ferals here and there, but now there are just so many of them. After many recent calls, I've learned that our local shelters and rescues are full up in no small part because it's kitten season, so I just keep putting food out and help the kitties as best as I can. Most of them are feral, some of them running if they so much as see me through a window.

Some of the kitties I see outside are people's pets that they allow outdoors, though I'm not a big fan of this. One major reason I dislike this is the dangers it poses, and I actually found one of these poor indoor/outdoor kitties deceased under a bush in my parents' yard when I was mowing this past weekend. I live just down the street from my parents and more than once had seen this kitty eating the food I put out on my back patio. It wore a collar, but it was a flea collar without any ID. After finally getting ahold of animal control, I found out a lady living on the same street as me had called her cat in as missing, matching the exact description as the poor deceased cat. This was an absolutely horrible experience.

Another recent event is that a very friendly but very not street smart kitten, I'm guessing 7-8 months old or so, started showing up in both my yard and my parents' yard. We got him caught and he's currently sequestered in a bathroom at my parents' house, where he's happily redecorating the room. No one has claimed him, and despite being full up during this kitten season, the rescue group from which I adopted Eddy is going to take him in the next week or so. They are no-kill and I trust them. With our geriatric and special needs furry babies, and with this kitten acting a bit rough toward other cats, sadly neither my parents nor myself can take the kitty in. I'm so grateful this rescue group will adopt him out. He's incredibly friendly and sweet, and I have no doubt he'll adopt out very quickly.)

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.

Blooper queen Eddy is of course good and blurry today. And this time, she even recruited a little help.

I asked Eddy to pose with Thimble behind her. What I got was of course the blurriness of Eddy, with co-star Thimble's ears chopped out of the photo. The reality is that this was mostly or all photographer error, but the kitties are cute either way.

Eddy, Thimble, and all of us here wish you a wonderful day!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

I'm still in a spooky sort of mood, despite it not even being June yet. So, how about another one of our old summertime spooky doodles?

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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.

Thankful Thimble Thursday with the Niphead

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

Today, Thimble is grateful for catnip, especially when it's delivered to her in bed.

That is indeed Thimble rolling around in catnip on my bed. She is easily the biggest niphead in the house. Thimble loves her some drugs.

A catnip session wouldn't be complete without bloopers, of course. Oh, and nipped out Thimble also decided to play with one of Eddy's birthday gifts, that being a toy in the form of a bloody axe.

Thimble hopes all of you kitty friends of hers get to enjoy some catnip today!

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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. I have trouble pronouncing _________.

2. I tend to confuse _________ with _________.

3. I quit _________ because _________.

4. Currently, I can't get _________ out of my mind.

We'll see you tomorrow, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

We're still in the midst of repeating a series of food tips we shared some time ago. We've so far talked about protein and fiber in pet food, and now today we're moving on to fat. Fat, like other nutrients, plays important roles for both us humans and our cats and dogs. Fats are yet another source of energy for the body and its cells, they aid in healthy skin and coat, and they are also important for growth overall.

In pet foods, some fats can come from the protein source, such as chicken and beef. However, there are also other potential sources of fats in our furbabies' food. Fats can of course come from oils, such as fish oils or plant oils. The important thing is to make sure that your furbaby's food includes good quality fat sources, and in a healthy balance. For example, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which often come from sources such as fish or plant oils or chicken fat, are very beneficial, but most importantly so in proper amounts. Less quality fats and oils would include lard and other similar ingredients, and therefore do be cautious if you see these on a pet food label.

Of course, any fats in too large of quantities could lead to health concerns. For example, obesity and pancreatitis can both potentially stem from or be worsened by diets high in fat. For reasons such as these, as we've said before, try to educate yourself on your cat or dog's health and the best nutrition for them, and of course discuss this with a veterinarian as needed.

Floral Adventures with Astrid

Astrid enjoyed a couple of relatively long walks this weekend. She loves when her Gammy and Pawpaw (my mom and dad) join us for our weekend walks, and it always makes her and her poor arthritic legs want to go farther than usual. As always, we let Astrid pick where we walked, and she took us by some pretty sights.

We'll often get nice scenery down by the creek in our neighborhood, but these flowers were simply in someone's yard. And they're quite beautiful.

My dad and sister told me what these plants are during the walk, but I've already forgotten. They might be peonies. Perhaps? I could very easily be wronger than wrong. I have the farthest thing from a green thumb, but Astrid and I agree that these are quite pretty, whatever they are.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

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Flashback Doodle of the Day

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Tip of the Day

Our food talk continues today with a little something known as fiber. Fiber is a very important nutrient that, for one, aids in digestion for not only us humans but also kitties and pups. In terms of digestion, fiber can play more than one role. Depending on the circumstances and the particular type of fiber consumed, it can assist with both constipation and diarrhea. That's not all, though, as fiber can also play a beneficial role in weight loss. Fiber can make food more bulky, and in turn can help a kitty or pup feel full, which can then lead to less gorging and therefore aid in weight loss. Still, though, fiber's roles in a cat or dog's health does not end there. Studies have also indicated that high fiber diets can benefit those with diabetes, such as by helping to control blood sugar. For all of these reasons and more, be sure to educate yourself on your furbaby's fiber intake and overall health and diet, and of course discuss options with your veterinarian.