February 24 is World Spay (and Neuter) Day

 

World Spay Day, held annually on the last Tuesday of February (Feb. 24, 2026), is
a global campaign dedicated to promoting the sterilization of pets and community animals to reduce overpopulation and suffering. It encourages veterinarians and pet owners to spay/neuter, preventing unwanted litters, reducing shelter overcrowding, and improving long-term health, such as preventing certain cancers and reducing behavioral issues.

Mr Kozmo goes into the vet around 3 times a yearforchecks on his Thyroid. On his last visit I asked some of the questions about Spaying and Neutering Ihear frequentily.

 

Shouldn’t a female cat/dog have a litter before being spayed?

Allowing a female cat or dog to produce a litter does not have any benefits to the animal. Animals who go through heat cycles and pregnancy are at higher risk for uterine and mammary problems, including mammary cancer, which can be fatal. There are health risks to the mother during the pregnancy and when giving birth. Proper pre-natal care, emergency care for birth complications, and proper newborn care are expensive and time-consuming. 

 

Will my pet become fat and lazy once he or she is fixed?

No. Your pet will actually benefit from spaying or neutering, because he or she will lead a healthier and longer life. Pets become fat and lazy as a result of overeating and a lack of exercise, not from spaying or neutering. Furthermore, spaying a female eliminates the possibility of her developing uterine and/or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the chance of breast cancer. Neutering a male eliminates the risk of testicular cancer. 

 

 Will spay/neutering change my pets personality?

Generally, spaying or neutering your pet will not change its personality. If there are any effects on behaviour, they tend to be positive (reducing unwanted behaviour). Spaying or neutering will not change your pet’s affection level or playfulness.
For females, there is typically no change at all. For males, there may be a reduction in some aggressive and roaming behaviours. If you have more than one pet, you will find they often get along much better if they are all spayed or neutered.

 

February 23, National Dog Biscuit Day

 National Dog Biscuit Day

OOoooOoOooOoooooo

Cookies! 

(in my bestest Cookie Monster Voice)

Today is Dog Biscuit Day and Mom told Nutmeg she would make some homemade cookies for her!

 

Mom has not made cookies since Cinnamon went OTB as Nutmeg is not Food/Treat motivated (she has some allergies and many things upset her tummy), but lately she has been expressing interest. Mom thought she would try an new recipe that has only oats, bananas and peanut butter, all things that she can eat!

Oh Boy! I can't wait!

 This is a super simple recipe

 

 Mom dumped everyting into the food processor, (she DID peel and slice the bananas...)

 

 After about 2 minutes, she had the PURRFECT dough.

 

It made 2 purrfect balls! And Mom rolled it out!

 

And she cut out stars! 

 

 

 

And she put them on the cookie sheet. Then they went into the oven. 

The recipe did NOT say how thick to make the cookies. Mom made them different thicknesses so she could "tweak" the recipe if Nutmeg liked them.

 As you can see, the cookies came out different colors. 

 

Furrst,  Nutmeg got one of the darker brown ones,

 

 

And then one of the light brown ones...

 

She says these cookies are the best!  

Here is the link to the recipie! 

Mom says when she makes these again, they will be the thicker depth and she will cook them for less time. 

 

Oh Yes! The weather was warmer today, this morning it was -5C (23F) and Nuts got to go for a walk with Mom! 

Mom says they will go for one later this afternoon (right now it is 5c (45f)). 
 

Hands down, Nuts says this is the best day this Month! 

February 20th is Love Your Pet Day!

Love your Pet Day!
 

We pets and our Peeps celebrate Love Your Pet Day to honor the bond between humans and their pets. While it may seem to focus on pampering and giving extra attention to all animals, from dogs and cats to birds and reptiles, by providing treats, extra playtime, or cozy cuddles, it is much, much more! Especially for YOU PEEPS! Us pets can increase fitness, lower stress and bring happiness to our Peeps! 
Mom says sometimes we are brats. But we know that even if we are, she forgives us! So today we are going to cuddle and purr and snuggle and let our Peeps know how much we love them!

Marv Cuddles

Please tell us what YOU will do for YOUR PEEP today!

February 17, Chinese New Year, Year of the Horse

 

Chinese New Year, Year of the Horse

2026 is the Year of the Horse—a powerful symbol of vitality, bold leaps, and good fortune for those ready to take on new challenges. 

Horse and the 12 Zodiac Animals (Origin Story)

Chinese culture has an origin story that explains why the 12 zodiacs are represented by these 12 animals, and in this order. Horse is 7th of the zodiacs because that’s its place in the celestial race.

The race was organized by the Jade Emperor, who ruled over the heavens in Chinese legend. By his imperial decree, the first 12 animals that made it across the river would receive this eternal honor.

Horse was a crowd favorite, but because it was dawdling for the onlookers’ adoration and fanfare at the starting line, Horse didn’t start the race until it was too late to win the way everyone expected. However, it still beat the Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig to the finish line. 

Horses are some of the most passionate and charismatic leaders, performers, and activists the world has ever seen. Here’s a list of famous Horses:

  Joe Biden: November 20, 1942, Water Horse

    Mike Tyson: June 30, 1966, Fire Horse

    Jackie Chan: April 7, 1954, Wood Horse

    Kobe Bryant: August 23, 1978, Earth Horse

    Emma Watson: April 15, 1990, Metal Horse

    Clint Eastwood: May 31, 1930, Metal Horse

    Greta Thunberg: January 3, 2003, Water Horse

    Cindy Crawford: February 20, 1966, Fire Horse 

Mom has spent a lot of time living in cities that have large vibrant Chinatowns and Chinese New Year is always a humongous celebration. She worked in a Chinese Restaurant for a while and worked a couple of New Years. She said it is a major Spring Festival, It is a time for family reunions, honoring ancestors, and rituals to attract good fortune, featuring red decorations, fireworks, dragon dances, and traditional, symbolic, festive meals. A

One of the things Mom says she misses the most is the Dragon and Lion Dancers as thy parade EVERYWHERE!

Here is a YouTube Video teaching Kids about Dragon Dancing!

 Tonight Mom will make some traditional Chinese dishes and she says she will make us some stir fried salmon and broccoli! 

 

Now, I'm off to practice doing a LION Dance!

May the colorful celebrations drive all the dullness away from your life. Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Today we are pawticipating at Comedy Plus at HAPPY TUESDAY! THNX SANDY!

Super Bowl! February 8th!

 

It is Super Bowl Sunday!

Do you know waht that means?  THE CUTEST SHOWDOWN IN SPORTS PUPPY BOWL XXII RETURNS ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8 AT 2PM ET/11AM PT 

This year’s three-hour sports spectacular includes a record-breaking 150 dogs from 72 shelters across the United States, Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands and will feature heartwarming adoption stories and show-stopping matchups. Referee Dan Schachner returns for his 15th year to oversee the action, ensuring fair play as these furry athletes compete for championship glory and their forever homes. 

“Puppy Bowl XXII celebrates the spirit of the underdog with a gameday celebration that combines the excitement of a sports matchup with uplifting adoption stories,” said Joseph Boyle, Head of Content, Discovery Channel. “By introducing new segments like our senior spotlight and enhancing fan-favorite elements, we are creating a deeper connection to our audience and delivering the most entertaining sports spectacular on television.” 

We will be watching...Will YOU!?!?

 And The Opposing Quarterback

 

February 2 is Ground Hog Day!

It's Ground Hog Day!

Are you guys waiting to see what happens with baited breath!?!

Out here in the middle of nowhere in the Great White North, we have had a REALLY, REALLY, REALLY MILD winter! 

This is a good thing.

Our poor Mom took a fall on the ice last month and has had to "Crutch" it. Alex was in the Arctic (well, Edmonton which is very much like the arctic in winter) until this last week. Mom was lucky. It did not snow, even if it was chilly, the roads (and sidewalk) were dry. Our Mom did everything she always does (except the grocery stores - too much walking). 

Enough about Mom. She says she is grateful that she is mobile and can get from A to B (even if it takes longer and requires rest stops).  

Some ground Hog Day History!

Some things you might not know about Punxsutawney Phil (the FAMOUS Groundhog)

1. The original groundhog was named Punxsutawney Phil, and according to legend, every summer his life is extended by seven years.
2. If you think Punxsutawney Phil’s name is confusing, try saying his full name, which is "Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinary."
3. After comparing temperatures in the US from 1988 to 2012, the National Climatic Data Centre determined that Phil’s accuracy is only 39%, which is worse than chance.
4. Groundhogs can tell when winter is ending but their shadows have nothing to do with it. Because they hibernate, they can tell when winter is over and it is time to come out of their burrows.
5. Punxsutawney Phil tells the Inner Circle president his prediction in “groundhogese.” It is then told to the vice president, who chooses the correct scroll – the one indicating six weeks of winter or the one saying spring will come early.
6. Punxsutawney Phil lives with his wife Phyllis and 2 other groundhogs in the children’s section of the Punxsutawney Memorial Library.
7. In 2004, 32 six-foot “Phantastic Phils” were installed on sidewalks in Punxsutawney. 

Here is a link to the Map that shows where the 32 Phils are located!

Happy Groundhog Day! 

Oh Yeah! 

Here's Kozmo talking to our local prognostigator (Miles the Marmot) getting his autograph for his lady Love Katie!

 

January 24, Change a Pet's Life Day

Today is Change A Pet’s Life Day. It started in 2009 when Hill’s Pet Nutrition offered to pay the adoption fees for 3,000 pets in shelters around the United States. The event caught on, and shelters began getting in on the action by organizing pet adoption events and lowering adoption fees around January 24th.

You don't have to spend a lot of money or volunteer time to make a change. Peeps can:
Foster for a local shelter. Fostering can be an amazing experience! Fostering saves  lives. Shelters can  use a foster when they become to crowded. Sometimes fostering is purrfect for an animal that gets stressed with other animals and it is essential for socializing babies! And most organizations are flexible on time commitments. 

Atour house, we are all rescues and we KNOW that our lives were changed for the better! Today is a reminder that supporting animal welfare can happen any day, from giving your own pet extra pampering to making a significant impact on a homeless animal's future

  

January 22, Answer Your Cats' (and Dogs') Questions Day!

Now this has been Answer your Cats' Questions Day as long as I, Marvelous Marv, can remember, but our hairy slobbery sister has a question that she wanted answered and I told her that she could ask it today!

 Mom,  why don't people like me jumping up when I am greeting them? 

Nutmeg! Jumping is NOT good!

Not only do you invade people's space, but your paws are dirty, your nails are long (and scratch).

You are not a heavy dog, but 25 pounds of dog, pushed by those 2 paws, well, sweetie, you knocked me down, think of what you could do to some other poor little old lady! Not only is it uncomfortable, but for me, now that I can't balance very well, its scary. 

Why DO you jump?

Mom, because I am a dog, I NEED to get closer to your face for nose-to-nose contact, this is how puppies greet their mommies, plus you know seeing people always makes me happy and excited to see them! AND, I get a kick out of how people react!  

Well, I think you like getting excited and you want attention! AND that gets reinforced when the people you jump on react, and the poor people you jump on inadvertently reward it with petting, eye contact, or vocalizations, even negative ones! 

Well Sweetie, it's a BAD habit and one we will have to stop. Your pal Val (who takes you for walks when I can't) and me are working on 4 on the floor I found out how it works at the American Kennel Club! But if any of our blogging friends have a solution, we would LOVE to hear it! 

OK Mom! If it involves Cookies, I'm all in!

Now this is the kind of Jumping that's OK!

January 21 is Happy Hugs Day!

It was a hectic time this last week! Getting ready for the MSCS AGM became super stressful when my laser printer kept going offline... 

• 75 pages of the Essential Digital Skills for Senors - 5 - m73 page double sided packages to be printed (full color)
• 25 copies of the Agenda Package
• Grant Reports
• Program Progress Reports 

and the Laser Printer kept stopping! 

Marv thinks he is my in‑house tech support! This is both hilarious and catastrophic in equal measure.

Picture this scene:

• He strolls across the keyboard with the confidence of a seasoned IT consultant
• Opens seventeen windows you didn’t know existed
• Toggles airplane mode for reasons known only to him
• Sits directly on the printer because “warm box good”
• Leaves a fine layer of floof on every vent, port, and button

And when the printer goes offline again, he gives you that look:
“Human, clearly you broke it.”

 Honestly, though, he’d probably fix the problem by accident. One well‑timed tail swipe and suddenly the printer is back online, the static IP is perfect, and Windows 11 is behaving. He takes full credit, of course. And he DEMANDS hugs...No photos though, so I guess I can never prove it really happened...

I wish he would learn to use the vacuum cleaner... 

Today I shall be reassigning the printer to a static port...how it 'lost" that assignment, I shall never know. 

And YES!

Marv got HUGS!!! 

 

January 14, Dress Up Your Pet Day

 

Hi Guys! 

We apoligize that we did NOT get any of our purrsonal comments on the post for Kiss a Ginger Day! Us Cats spent loads of time kissing our Ginger! (Our Mom - she has RED hair - more white than red now, as she is older than dirt...) 

 

I promise! A KISS not a BITE!

But I digress...

on to WHY we did not post! It has been a very mild winter here, this is a good thing as Alex has been away for the last 6 weeks working in Edmonton. Mom has only had to shovel the snow 8 times! Alex was even was gone over Christmas! When Santa delivered the candy canes on Christmas Eve, he asked us when Alex was getting back as he needed Alex's help at the Mill. (Santa smells just like Alex's friend T who lives up the street. T's dog Margaret is Nutmeg's sisferr). 

We will be clebrating both Christmas and his and Mom's birthdays when he gets back in about 2 more weeks...

 

Alex's Gift pile for Christmas and Birthday from US!

 

BUT I digress...On Saturday it was cold and it rained ice all day and the roads were ice. You could have played HOCKEY on the streets. Mom was out with the "Rolls", she had her chains on her boots and was taking Nutmeg for her 3rd walk of the day when one of the Crampons (The one on her good leg) ripped apart!

 

 Mom went one way, the Rolls went another, and Mom fell on her left side! Nutmeg was beside herself! Mom was stunned but she did manage to get herself back up on her feet and back home. She is bruised and her bad leg is very sore. Mom still had her crutches, so she is back using them for about a week (the major deep bruising should be gone by then). 

So Mom spent Sunday with her leg up and with a heating pad and her Tenns vibrating thingies on. She left her computer alone and we totally missed getting a Kiss a Ginger Day post out!

 

AND as I don't want to miss dressing up, I insisted that Mom make me a RAPPER for Dress Up Your Pet Day! 

Just call me NICE!

 

Boom! Cha-a-luck-a Luck-A!

 Boom! Cha-a-luck-a Luck-A!

Dooo! Dooo! Dooo!

Dooo! Dooo! Dooo! 

Yo, NICE on the mic with my sideways cap,  
Struttin’ through the house with my kitty-cat snap.  
Paws so smooth and my is swagger's so fly—  
I'm the coolest little rappurr under any sky!!!

 

Yoooooooo Have an AWESOME DAY! 

January 12, Kiss a Ginger Cat Day

 

January 2, Pet Travel Safety Day and Happy Mew Year

 

Traveling with pets in the mountains (and almost everywhere in winter in the Northern Hemisphere) requires focus on safety, warmth, and hydration, using secure crates or harnesses for restraint, bringing blankets and extra food/water, keeping trips short if needed, protecting paws from road salt with booties/coats, and crucially, never leaving pets unattended due to rapid temperature swings and the risks of hypothermia or frostbite. 

Always have an emergency kit with essentials, and ensure your pet is comfortable and secure, even for short stops.

During the Drive

Secure Them: Use a secured crate or a safety harness/seatbelt tether; never let them roam loose or sit on your lap.

Stay Warm & Hydrated: Provide water at stops, bring blankets for warmth, and ensure the car's heat is adequate.

Paws Protection: Use pet booties or paw wax to protect against ice and salty slush; avoid letting them drink from puddles. Especially near the roads! Most road clearing now uses chemicals too and these are poisonous.

Short & Sweet Breaks: Take frequent, short potty and exercise breaks, but keep them short to minimize cold exposure.

Never Leave Unattended: A vehicle's interior can quickly become dangerously cold or hot, even in winter. 

Emergency Preparedness

Stuck in Traffic: Pack extra food and water, plus blankets, in case of unexpected delays or getting stuck.

Know the Signs: Watch for shivering, lethargy, or disorientation, which can signal hypothermia.

The above tips are from the BC SPCA, BCAA (BC Automobile Association). 

This is a TERRIFIC Video about cold weather travel!

AND it's MEW YEAR!

As far as I'm concerned, EVERY DAY is My day! And I don't know too many cats that don't think that!

 Happy Mew Year on January 2nd makes it EXTRA SPECIAL for me! After all yesterday - New Year's Day - seems to be all about the Peeps! Mom says on Mew Year we get 3 wishes each!

Today, I expect my Peep to make the day ALL ABOUT ME! And I want:

A NEw Nip Nanner!

A nice box of Oat grass from the health food store

And Kozmo to feel more like his happy-go-lucky self! I miss my play buddy! I can't remember the last time we played "Great Thundering Herd" or "Bed Monster"!

The new medicine he got from the vet for his joints has not been successful. He can't have pain meds as they react with his Thyroid meds and He has found the cold and wet purrticularly hard this winter. He spends his time sleeping on the sofa or on the bed...

Happy 2026, January Badges and Jokes with Precious

 I can't believe another year has come and gone! 2025 went by so furry quickly! Much like the world, things have changed here in  the middle of nowhere too! Something have been incredibly wonderful and something have been incredibly sad, but we are grateful that we areall happy and healthy! Onto the Badges!

 

 We are also so glad to be back with you this year! We are over the moon that Mr Terry is keeping our favorite space on the interwebs going! Yeah! 

Now Onto January!

This month Nutmeg is taking on learning how to be the best dogthat she can be!

And she is all about the WALKS! Mom still takes her out with the "rolls" when Alex is out of town (right now he is surviving the brutal cold and snow in Edmonton, AB). In the snow that can be difficult as the "rolls" has no treads and no suspension...but Mom does have spikes that she can put on the bottom of her boots. When it snows, Nutmeg does not get the 3-4 kms a day that she is accustomed too. Nutmeg has scheduled her walks for 7:15 am, 11:00 am and 3:30 pm - EVERYDAY! Mom is ever so happy when Alex is home!

And our Badge for the First Day of the Year!

  We hope you are having an EXCELLENT New Year's Day! Mom's friend Mary will be over again today and Mom and her are going to Binge watch the Reacher TV show! We are are looking forward to the treats and skritches! (Mary is the best skritcher EVER)!

Quote from Susan Easterly

A Continuation from the Jokefest Yesterday...

What!?! You think you can do better Jo Jo?

She said YES!

And she called up her bestest furrend Precious on Zoom. We have been purraying for Precious and her 2 days at the hospital and we are glad to hear that she is A-OK!

Funny, the jokes I've heard about Zoom aren't remotely funny...

I ran and got Kozmo - then they told another joke!

Then they watched the sheep!!!

Kozmo and I were shocked (NOT about the sheep doing Zoom-Baa) that Precious and Jo Jo were so funny!

What do you guys think?