Showing posts sorted by date for query water fountain. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query water fountain. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Wednesday, 8 January 2025

**THE BBHQ MIDWEEK NEWS ROUND-UP** Fudge and Melvyn's Hotspot, Smooch Tries To Redeem Last Week's Catnip Failure, What Was Parsley Looking At?, and Melvyn's Modelling This Weeks Top Pick Bandana **EXTRA EXTRA!!!** The BBHQ Annual Catmas Card Parade

The Midweek News Round Up Banner ©BionicBasil® Frost Garden Winter 24

Pawesome Greetings Furbulous Furiends

Welcome to the BBHQ midweek news round-up!

Well, after a forecast of Snowmaggedon hitting BBHQ on Caturday evening, we are very delighted to inform mew, that Snowmageddon was, in fact, nothing more than a brief sprinkling of the white stuff, which lasted about as long as a Sunday Lunch at BBHQ, in other words, gone in a flash.

However, it did begin to rain on Sunday, and Cat Dad had to go to work at midnight to stop the water from flooding the business again, as the runoff from the hills quickly built up and was creeping its way, rather fastidiously and resolutely, towards the building. 

And even though we have custom flood defences installed, there is still no guarantee that water won't get into the building. So thank cod for Cat Dad, the water pump and Nanny's front garden being the recipient of said water. (The lawn is much lower than the house, so there is no risk to Nanny's house at all.)

Today, Monday, a lot of the local villages are flooded, so it's pretty much a cluster fluff of a start to the New Year for a lot of peeps. And there was snowmageddon, but just not here, which, given the lack of snow ploughs, gritting lorries and the like in the U.K., we feel so sorry for the communities affected. 

The P.A. reckons we're now headed back into a modern version of The Middle Ages... but that's a story for another day.

And now we're sharing this... if mew've ever wondered, which we doubt mew have, but if mew ever have wondered what the P.A. keeps her pens in on her desk at BBHQ, here it is:

The BBHQ Midweek News Round-Up ©BionicBasil® The Pen Pot on The P.A.'s Desk

Guess which pin is her favourite?  That won't be hard! MOL

And then guess which is her second favourite? We'll give mew a clue, it's yellow! MOL

Also, mew maybe wondering - we doubt it very much again - what kind of pens are in said pen pot? The P.A. loves fountain pens, aka ink pens, they are her absolutely favourite thing to write with. And each one has a different coloured ink; blue, black, green, purple, pink, and turquoise, so there mew have some totally useless info about pins, pens, pen pots and coloured ink. Mew're welcome! MOL

Anyhoo, let's look at today's headlines. 

The Midweek News Round Up Divider ©BionicBasil® Frost Garden Winter 24

First up in the news

 Fudge and Melvyn's Hotspot


The BBHQ Midweek News Round-Up ©BionicBasil® Fudge and Melvyn's Hotspot

    It was really cold and damp on Monday so Melvyn didn't want to model and decided to spend his day in varying locals in front of the woodburner. Fudge popped in and out, sometimes getting right in front and stealing the best of the warms!

That's so Fudge! MOL

The Midweek News Round Up Divider ©BionicBasil® Frost Garden Winter 24

Next up in the news

 Smooch Tries To Redeem Last Week's Catnip Failure



The BBHQ Midweek News Round-Up ©BionicBasil® Smooch Tries To Redeem Last Week's Catnip Failure 1

Mew may remember last week when we tried Jessie's Catnip, the extra strong one, and Smooch, the fluffing lightweight, couldn't take the pace and ended up zonked out on the Shroom.

Well, he said, and I quote, "Dude, I was off my game, still recovering from all the festive pawties, but now that's out of the way, I'm ready to take the challenge again!!!"

So I laced a catnip cushion with Jessie's Extra Strong Catnip and tossed it to him, which he quickly grasped between his paws and refused to let go. 

Several minutes later, the cushion was slobbered all over and wet with drool, and then Smooch said. "Dude, I need to go and lie down for a bit!"

Yep, No Redemption Here!

The BBHQ Midweek News Round-Up ©BionicBasil® Smooch Tries To Redeem Last Week's Catnip Failure - Yep, No Redemption Here

Even Fudge couldn't believe it! MOL

The Midweek News Round Up Divider ©BionicBasil® Frost Garden Winter 24

In other news...

 What Was Parsley Looking At?


The BBHQ Midweek News Round-Up ©BionicBasil® What Was Parsley Looking At

On Caturday, Cat Dad and the P.A. had to deal with a fallen branch off the deodar (pine/cedar) tree along the back fence. The heavy branch snapped off early on Thursday morning, just as Cat Dad was headed off to work.

Anyhoo, the chainsaw came out on Caturday afternoon, and Smooch, who spends a lot of his time outdoors when the P.A. is home, said, "Fluff this for a game of soldiers; it's too cold for me to snoopervise!" Then he turned to Parsley and added. "Dude, mew're in charge. I'm going for a snooze!"

So Parsley was the only one outside while the tree was safely cut up into logs and stored, and in the photo, he's watching Cat Dad head towards the tree, chainsaw in hand.

Luckily, it didn't cause any damage and was pretty straightforward to remove from where it had landed over the top of the fence and partly in a conifer.

Finally this week

Melvyn's Modelling The Top Bandana Pick


Last week, the winning vote was for Zero Fox Given, so here's Melvyn doing what he does best! MOL

The BBHQ Midweek News Round-Up ©BionicBasil® Melvyn Modelling The Zero Fox Given Bandana

He had the purrfect amount of catitude today and even said, "Meowmy, it should say Zero Fluffs Given!" MOL

The P.A. replied. "Melvyn, leave that with me, I can make that happen!"

So watch this space for Melvyn's design request.

There were no distractions on the catwalk this week, except for Were-Dee-Go aka W.D.G., the invisible monster who usually lives behind the sofa in the sitting room. However, in recent weeks, he's actually made it into the kitchen, and today, he had a new spot. Watch the video to find out where W.D.G. is this week! MOL

Check out Melvyn's videos on your preferred social media channel:




Which one is your favourite this week?


Which one should he model next?


Here's the bandana collection for January. 

The BBHQ Midweek News Round-Up ©BionicBasil® January 2025 Bandana Collection

The January Collection

In clockwise order:

1. Off To Space

2. Zero Fox Given

3. Smart Cats

4. Owl at The Moon

Tell us your top pick for next week in the comments!

The Midweek News Round Up Divider ©BionicBasil® Frost Garden Winter 24

EXTRA EXTRA!!!


The BBHQ Annual Catmas Card Parade


We've made a quick video of all the cards sent by our epically epic blogging furiends from all over the world. 



Aren't they furbulous?

Thank mew so furry much to everypawdy who sent us a Catmas card by snail mail or email; we absolutely loved every single one. They have been dotted around the kitchen and sitting room at BBHQ, where we can see them in all their epic festiveness and enjoy the Catmas vibes. 

We took them down today, Monday 6th, ready for them to go into the BBHQ Catmas Card Archive, but before we did, they were placed on the kitchen island so we could video them for mew to see.  

We hope our snail mail Catmas card made it safely to all recipients, although we do know the ones that went to Canada are probably lost forever due to the postal strike.

The Midweek News Round Up Divider ©BionicBasil® Frost Garden Winter 24

That's us done for today. Amber will be back on Friday with another meowvellous book, and if mew missed any other posts, here are the links:

 Melvyn & Fudge's Last Festive Hoorah Selfie

Amber's Latest Book Review

Check out the latest episodes of The Purrminator, as tomorrow we'll be back with Chapter Eight - FINALLY - in Melvyn's epically epic origin story:







Wishing mew a most furbulous day, and remember to always...
Stay Fluffy Banner ©BionicBasil® Frost Garden Winter 24

Wing Commander Basil & The B Team 













Don't furget to subscribe and never miss another post! 

Graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com 
Music - Soundstripe Licence - Artist Reveille  Track: Wintery Mix 

Tuesday, 11 July 2023

**GUEST POST** Is Your Cat Overeating? Here's How You Can Help! Top Tips from Closer Pets UK

Guest Post Banner ©BionicBasil®

Tuesday Greetings Fluffy Furiends and Cat Pawrents

Welcome to a special *sponsored guest post* at BBHQ. Today our pawesome sponsors are:


And they are sharing some epically epic advice about how to help us cats if we get a little chubby or overweight to keep fit and trim, in today's post about:

Is Your Cat Overeating? Here's How You Can Help! 


At some point in our lives, some of us may pack a little bit of timber on, and our girth expands. I, Celestial Basil, did go through a chonky phase in 2008/2009. Mew can see me by clicking here, I called it my bulking phase, and whilst I wasn't a supurr-chubb-bub, I was a heavyweight, though I did lean down not long after that.

Amber, however, did get rather chubb'a'licious. She really packed some timber on and was like it for quite a while, although she has refused to share any evidence of her chubb-a-liciousness! MOL

Anyhoo, let's dive into the post before Amber starts getting a little hissy!
Summer Banner  ©BionicBasil® 2023

How To Stop Your Cat Overeating

Have you noticed your cat is gaining weight? Do they always seem to be side-eyeing their food bowl or meowing for more? Are they a little… ‘rounder’ than they used to be?

Our feline friends have always had a remarkably good memory when it comes to feeding time and often like to manage their own food intake. But sometimes they can overeat or gain excess weight.

Our furry companions don’t naturally eat too much, so what has changed? How can you stop your cat overeating?

This article discusses everything you need to know about overeating in cats. It will also provide some actionable tips to ensure your cat has a purrrfect life!

royalty-free image. Image credit - httpsunsplash.com@kat_von_wood
Royalty-free image. Image credit - https://unsplash.com/@kat_von_wood

Why is your cat overeating?

Cats don’t naturally overeat. Sure, rustle a bag of their favourite treats and they’ll appear in a (furry) flash.

But they seem to view meals differently they seem to know exactly when enough is enough and generally have the willpower to stop there.

Until they don’t.

There are a few reasons why a cat might overeat. They include:

Stress

Our feline friends are incredibly sensitive and the smallest thing can stress them out.

Some cats lose their appetite altogether. Some will go the other way and will eat more because it’s familiar and comforting (we’ve all been there!).

Change in environment

Changing anything, from moving house to simply switching the wallpaper next to their food bowl, can cause pets to overeat. Anything out of the ordinary can cause a change in cat behaviour.

Boredom

Boredom affects everyone in different ways. One way for anyone to alleviate boredom is to eat something, just for something to do.

Cats do it, and hands up! their humans do it.

Medical issues

Medical issues such as hyperthyroidism, diabetes or certain medications can disrupt a cat’s appetite, so they eat too much.

But if your cat is overeating without an obvious cause, it may be worth looking into with your vet.

Summer Divider ©BionicBasil® 2023

How to stop your cat from overeating

The good news is you can generally stop your cat from overeating using some simple tips.

As you’re providing the willpower on behalf of your kitty, there’s every reason that one or more of these tips could stop your cat overeating for good!

Food choice: Choose a high-quality cat food lower in calories

Cats are known for being picky eaters. Quality is everything especially if you feed them ‘complete’ cat food with everything in it.

Meals made from better quality ingredients and fewer filler ingredients will not only taste better, but will also provide more nutrition from better quality sources. Win-win!

Stop free feeding: Switch to a regular feeding schedule

Cats are creatures of leisure, and some therefore love being able to eat graze whenever they like. Others prefer set mealtimes and a regular routine.

If you currently free feed your cat and let them lunch whenever they wish, try them on set mealtimes. This allows you to control their portions and monitor them.

If you’re not around during the day, use an automatic cat feeder. Divide the portions before you leave home, set the timer and the feeder will take care of the rest.

Some automatic cat feeders are designed specifically for wet food, so if your cat prefers wet to dry, you can still use this method to monitor their food intake.

If you have multiple cats, a microchip cat feeder might be the perfect solution. This ensures that only the cat with the correct microchip can access the food. It’s also a great method for cats who require weight management or medication at set times.

Minimise stress: Give them a life they understand

Minimising stress is essential for everyone four legs or two. As cats are so susceptible to worry, we need to minimise it as much as possible.

Keep environmental changes modest, try to maintain a routine, introduce them to any changes you make so they understand it’s not a threat and provide somewhere safe and warm for them to hide or sleep.

Create a routine: Comfort in predictability

Have you noticed how cats like to sleep at the same time, wake at the same time, eat and drink at the same time and sit on your lap at the same time (usually during that important Teams call!)?

They’re creatures of habit. The comfort of routines and knowing exactly what will happen and when makes them feel comfortable. Work with that.

The routine can include when you/they wake up, your morning routine, mealtimes, when you play, when you have lap time and everything your cat does on an average day.

Water: Fresh, clean water at all times

Anything you can do to encourage your cat to drink more is a good thing. They’re incredibly smart, but sometimes even they miss the obvious.

The lack of water can lead to medical complications, which can add stress and can result in an overeating cat.

Nobody wants that, so make sure there is always fresh water around. If your cat turns their nose up at a water bowl, try a cat water fountain instead. That’s sure to work!

Make time for fun and exercise: Who doesn’t love to play?

Making time for fun and exercise will destress you as much as your feline companion.

You’ll both benefit from playing, chasing, hiding or watching your friend destroy their latest toy or hunt a feather on a string.

Play is one of the joys of having a cat in the family and taking time out each day to play is good for everyone.

Plus, it helps your little loved one burn off those excess calories and get back into a condition you’ll all be happy with!

Stop your cat overeating

In many ways, our cats are like us. They like routine, they like as much predictability in their life as they can manage and they like to minimise stress as much as possible.

Also, like their humans, cats can turn to food if they aren’t happy.

It’s our job as pet parents to ensure our cats have the healthiest life possible. The good news is that by following our top tips, your cat’s overeating should be a thing of the past!

Summer Banner  ©BionicBasil® 2023

Many thanks to Closer Pets UK for sharing this totally terrific post with us today, and do check out their furbulous website, as they have some pawsitively pawesome products!

And if mew need to refer back to any of the info, we'll be putting a purrmanent link on our Tops Tips for Cat Pawrents page, on the top menu.

We'll be back tomorrow with the Midweek News, so do join us then, and get ready to see Melvyn strutting his stuff on the BBHQ catwalk.

In the meantime...
Summer Stay Fluffy  Banner  ©BionicBasil® 2023

Wing Commander Basil & The B Team 





Summer Banner  ©BionicBasil® 2023
BBHQ Disclosure:
*sponsored guest post*
 Please be advised that we did receive remuneration for sharing this post with mew today.
Summer Banner  ©BionicBasil® 2023

Don't furget to subscribe and never miss another post! 
Summer Banner  ©BionicBasil® 2023
Graphics created with paid licence www.canva.com