Internet photo of male and female Eastern Bluebirds
We are blessed to have Eastern Bluebirds spending a great deal of time in the yard this year. It is probably because V has discovered that they love mealworms and is mixing them into the feeders. We have waited years for Bluebirds. V even put a Bluebird house, perfectly positioned on the big maple out front, so that we can watch it when doing dishes. Last year a male came and checked it out but never moved it. I wonder if he will try it again this year?
Now that Noel can no longer get on the counter unless Mommy picks her up (which means that she can’t get into the herb window above the sink without assistance), Mini is deciding whether sunning in the herb window is her thing. I think the court is still out on that decision.
P.S. Noel still takes her meals in the herb window. She jumps on a low cabinet in the dining room, into the pass-through window from the dining room to the kitchen, then gets onto the kitchen table, and screams until she is picked up (see pic below) and placed on the kitchen counter so that she can get into her herb window. For those of you that think cats on the counters are disgusting; we wipe down all our counters/tables every day with antibacterial agents. If you can’t stand the idea of cats on your counters, then don’t allow it. Here at the zoo we protect ourselves and try to minimize the possibility of issues with clean sponges, antibacterial wipes, and healthy animals.
Do you have a snuffle? They are mats that are perfect for hiding treats in so we have to work at finding them.
Jolie is absolutely obsessed with nose work; Charles, not so much.
Snuffling is a brain game. This is like dog scent hide-and-seek. Since dogs have millions (or more) scent receptors than we do, this is a great way to activate that part of their brain. According to The Dog People at Rover.com, the scent-processing part of a dog’s brain is about 40 times larger than in humans, making it about 1/8th of a dog’s total brain space.
Snuffle mats have a lot of benefits:
Slow down a fast eater
Encourage reluctant eaters
Help anxious or bored dogs burn energy and distract them
Help with cognitive decline/dementia
Do you want to learn more about using a snuffle mat? Check out this info from RUFFLE SNUFFLE, they say they are the original.
Noel stares at us from the window in the kitchen. She sits on the kitchen table while we are watching TV in the living room and starts to throw things on the floor, eat napkins, and chew on anything on the table (like the plastic windows of envelopes). She has actually figured out how to open the lid on the dog treat containers. Lately I have left the food processor on the table because I use it a lot, so she now likes to bat at it to make noise. MEOW OUT LOUD!!!
This can go on for hours (this picture is 10 minutes after the first one). Even if you give her a snack she will start up again a few minutes later.
Why aren’t you paying attention???? Why aren’t you feeding me more snacks??? Why, why, why, why, why??
If I ignore her long enough she actually comes into the living room, jumps up on the coffee table, and tries to get in my face about her need for more food. “Meow, meow, meoooooww, meooooow!”
Please note that lately, she is weighing in much too heavy for someone almost 16 years old; so don’t think she is malnourished.
PS: She sings at 3 AM for at least 20 minutes and again, of course, when I get up at 5ish if I am not fast enough to the kitchen food bowls. Sometimes she does this in the middle of the day but mostly that is her sleep time.
DogDaz Zoo 