Feline Friday

WINK, WINK!

Feline Friday

Raleigh wanted to let you all know he managed to extricate himself from under the living room settee. (If you missed our WW post, check it out here.)

Peach tabby cat hanging out on a perch on a catio for Feline Friday.

He decided yesterday to hang out on the catio instead of in the house.

Raleigh will be participating in the Feline Friday blog hop hosted by messymimi’s meanderings. To join, click on the badge below.

Friendly Fill-Ins

The Friendly Fill-Ins blog hop is hosted each Friday by Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs). They publish the fill-in sentences on their blogs each Thursday. To participate in the hop, click on the badge at the left. I was fortunate to have help from Lisbeth this week. We both used teal italics to fill in. Any explanatory information is in parentheses.

1. Lisbeth: The older I get, the more meals I get. (Lisbeth gets to finish any food left behind by the other Kitties Blue at breakfast and dinner. She turns 15 on Monday. I hope you all will be here to help us celebrate.)

2. I frequent my home as opposed to any other place. (It is my favorite place to be.)

3. Back in my day, we were not allowed to wear pants or shorts at school. (We couldn’t even wear them for after school activities like football games. The Dress Code Rules were endless.)

4. I hope to get more opportunities to spend time in the swim/spa during these last few weeks of summer.

That’s it for today. Thanks for stopping to see us. We will be back tomorrow with some Caturday Art.

TALI’S TOE BEANS & FILL-INS

Feline Friday

A white and calico kitten shows off her pink toe beans with one black dot.

Gibb’s has been sharing his toe beans with you quite often. Now, it is Tali’s turn. Though, Gibb’s beans are all pink; Tali has that one little black dot.

Tali will be participating in the Feline Friday blog hop hosted by messymimi’s meanderings. To join, click on the badge below.

Friendly Fill-Ins

The Friendly Fill-Ins blog hop is hosted each Friday by Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs). They publish the fill-in sentences on their blogs each Thursday. To participate in the hop, click on the badge at the left. I completed all the fill-ins this week without any help from Kitties Blue. I used teal italics to fill in. Any explanatory information is in parentheses.

1. New reading lights for the bedroom, which Dad Tom installed yesterday, was money well spent.

2. The purchase of the original reading lights six years ago was a big waste of money.

3. If I became famous, it would most likely be because of something I wrote.

4. A Tonette permanent that gave me an afro when I was five years old was the worst hairstyle I’ve ever had. (Afros weren’t really a thing in the 1950s.)

Thanks for visiting today. We’ll be back tomorrow with some art.

SUMMER’S MUST HAVE FOR YOUR PET

Review: Cooling Thermochromic Tech Pet Mat by Rywell

Disclaimer: Kitties Blue received one Rywell Cooling Thermochromic Tech Pet Mat free of charge in exchange for our fair and honest review. I received no additional remuneration.

The weather in the Northern Hemisphere has been almost unbearably hot this summer. If you are uncomfortable, just think how your furry housemate feels.

I am quite familiar with warming pads/mats for pets. In fact, Kitties Blue have several. I had never heard of cooling mats, however, until I was contacted by Rywell. They offered Kitties Blue the opportunity to try their Cooling Thermochromic Tech Pet Mat, which sounded like a great idea to me.

They gave me the choice of which size mat I wanted (S to XXL). I selected the medium (30″L x 20″W x 0.6″Th), as I knew it would be large enough even for 20-pound Cooper Murphy. (See the bottom of this post for all size dimensions.)

I originally had planned to use the mat on the catio. Even though it is under roof and equipped with two ceiling fans, it gets extremely toasty there. Unfortunately, we started having some rain almost every day along with some severe storms. With all sides being comprised of screen, the tiniest amount of wind causes the catio to get very wet. Consequently, I moved the mat to the bedroom, so the kitties would have help cooling off after coming inside.

Cooper Murphy and Gibbs were the first to try it and use it most often.

Orange tabby cat loafing on the Rywell Pet Cooling Mat.

White and black kitten sprawled on a Rywell Pet Cooling Mat.

Mat Composition

With the same Arc-Chill 3.0 surface used in cooling blankets for humans, the surface immediately starts cooling on contact, which I can affirm. The mats top is a soft, quilted surface consisting of 65 percent Arc-Chill nylon fabric and 35 percent polyester with 0ne-way moisture wicking. The strong non-slip, polyester bottom is waterproof. The non-slip surface keeps it from sliding on rugs and carpet, tile and wood floors and car seats. The mat also is perfect for kennels or pet carriers as it has 180g of a soft, cloud-like polyester fill.

Harmful & Chemical Substance Free

Most importantly, the mat is, OEKO-TEX certified. According to Wikipedia, OEKO-TEX is a globally recognized certification system managed by the International Association for Research and Testing in the Field of Textile and Leather Ecology. It verifies that products, from raw materials to finished goods are produced under safe, environmentally responsible conditions and free from harmful chemicals and substances. This guarantees the mats safe for human use as well as for our pets.

Before reviewing I wanted to check the claim that the mat is fully machine washable. I wash everything in cold water and did the same for the mat. It recommends drying on a cool setting, which I also did. It came out looking just as good as when it arrived and works just as well.

Some Additional Cooling Mat User Photos

Tali, Lisbeth and Kizmet also have discovered the comfort of the Rywell Cooling Mat.

White and calico kitten sprawled on a Rywell Pet Cooling Mat.

Grey cat sprawled on a Rywell Pet Cooling Mat.

Black and white cat with upper body on a Rywell Pet Cooling Mat.

In Conclusion

The Rywell Cooling Pet Mat is perfect for your feline, dog, rabbit, guinea pig or maybe even yourself. (I have been tempted on several occasions to steal it away for myself.) It offers an excellent cool down after time spent on the catio or a walk, in a sunpuddle, a vigorous play session or just a case of the zoomies.

I am extremely happy with this product as are Kitties Blue. We all recommend it and thank Rywell for the opportunity to try it.

Available Cooling Mat Sizes

Small: Dimensions 24″L x 18″W x 0.6″Th
Medium: Dimensions 30″L x 20″W x 0.6″Th
Large: Dimensions 36″L x 27″W x 0.6″Th
Extra Large: Dimensions 44″L x 32″W x 0.6″Th
Extra-Extra Large: 59″L x 40″W x 0.6″Th

Where to Purchase

The Cooling Mats are available at Rywell and Amazon.

Thanks for joining us today. You can find Kitties Blue at Messymimi’s Meanderings for Feline Friday. Click on the link to go there now.

July 31, 2026 by Janet Blue Feline Friday Kitties Blue Product Review 11

CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS?

Feline Friday

A grey cat with a bewildered look on her face as if to say, "explain this" sits in front of a tv playing a soccer game.

Kizmet is a huge sports fan, but like her humans, she knows very little about soccer. Unfortunately, we could not explain it to her.

Kizmet will be participating in the Feline Friday blog hop hosted by messymimi’s meanderings. To join, click on the badge below.

Friendly Fill-Ins

I was fortunate to get some help from Calista Jo this week, as I had no idea how to fill in #2. We both used teal italics for our completions. Any explanatory information is in parentheses.

1. Angel Food is my favorite kind of cake. (I cannot remember the last time I had some.)

2. Calista Jo: The best part of my week was staying out late on the catio, as I refused to come in at dinner time. (Kizmet does that all the time and gets away with it, so I thought I’d give it a try.)

3. I usually stay to myself in a room full of strangers.

4. If I opened a restaurant, it would be called There’s Pie! and would serve pie.

Thanks for visiting us today. We will have some Caturday Art tomorrow.

July 24, 2026 by Janet Blue Feline Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins 11

MORE TOE BEANS & FILL-INS

Feline Friday

If I am sitting, my lap is filled with one or more cats at least 80 percent of the time. The usual occupants are Gibbs, Calista Jo, Tali and Kizmet.

A sleeping white and black kitten showing off his pink tor beans.

Here is Gibbs. Once again, he is sharing his pink toe beans with you.

Gibbs will be participating in the Feline Friday blog hop hosted by messymimi’s meanderings. To join, click on the badge below.

Friendly Fill-Ins

I did get some help from Calista Jo with the fill-ins this week. We both used teal italics for filling in. Any explanatory information is in italics.

1. If I were to start a museum, it would be a museum of cats! (No surprise there!)

2. Calista Jo: If I see Mom paying more attention to any of the other Kitties Blue one more time, I am going to lose my mind. (Calista Jo really is not a fan of any of her housemates, but this is probably an exaggeration. I just could not think of anything else.)

3. That alligators lived at the bottom of swimming pools is the strangest thing I believed as a child. (I did not come up with this on my own. My uncle told me they were there!)

4. If my life had a mascot, it would be a panda or a cat.

As always, the Kitties Blue and I want to thank you for visiting today. We will return tomorrow with some Caturday Art.

July 10, 2026 by Janet Blue Feline Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins 15

REGAL RALEIGH & FILL-INS

Feline Friday

A peach and cream tabby feline lounging on a red couch and looking regal.

Raleigh was lounging on the catio when I snapped his photo. The catio and background were not very attractive. So, I transferred him to this sofa. He looks rather regal, don’t you think?

Raleigh will be participating in the Feline Friday blog hop hosted by messymimi’s meanderings. To join, click on the badge below.

Friendly Fill-Ins

None of the gang volunteered to help me this week, so I did all the filling in myself. I used teal italics to do so. Any explanatory information is in parentheses.

1. I tend to forget the Kitties Blue birthdays, as there have been and are so many of them.

2. I celebrate the 4th of July by watching A Capitol Fourth on PBS. (This year it will be airing on Friday, July 3, at 8 p.m. ET and will repeat on the 4th.)

3. I was a fan of Seinfeld before it became popular.

4. I see a limited number of years left in my future.

That’s it for today. Thanks for joining us. We ‘ll be back tomorrow with some Caturday Art.

July 3, 2026 by Janet Blue Feline Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins 14

LISBETH, FILL-INS & A POEM

Feline Friday

Lisbeth, unlike Kizmet, is not a social butterfly. Yesterday, we had HVAC technicians in the house servicing our mini-splits. That made Lisbeth very nervous. First she hid in the Peloton room with me. When I finished riding, I closed the door so she could stay inside and feel safe. When the workers left, she was still unsure of what to expect. She found her way to the Cattasaurus in the bedroom, which is an exceptionally good hiding place. She had never been in it previously. I expect we will find her there more often in the future.

White and black cat hiding in a Cattasaurus for Feline Friday.

Lisbeth will be participating in the Feline Friday blog hop hosted by messymimi’s meanderings. To join, click on the badge below.

Friendly Fill-Ins

The Friendly Fill-Ins blog hop is hosted each Friday by Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs). They publish the fill-in sentences on their blogs each Thursday. To participate in the hop, click on the badge at the left. I was fortunate to have some help from Stinky this week. We both used teal italics for filling in. Any explanatory information is in parentheses.

1. My summer bucket list includes time in the swim/spa and more yard work, as it never ends.

2. The summer of 1965 when I spent time studying in Paris and touring Europe was one of the best summers that I ever had. (Also, it was one of the worst, as my mother died while I was away.)

3. Stinky: I’m getting ready for my next adventure with Periwinkle by researching fun locations.

4. The heat and humidity immediately makes me grumpy!

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday on Friday

I skipped writing a poem yesterday, so we could belatedly celebrate Kizmet’s birthday. So, I am sharing it today. The weekly poetry challenge is hosted by Teddy and Angel Sammy at Two Spoiled Cats. Here’s the inspiration photo they provided for this week followed by my poem.

A huge man squished into a too small airline seat with a small man sleeping in front of him.

Frustrations of Flying

Flying used to be fun!
Now, it’s a pain in the bum
and the knees and shins as well.
I swear I am in airplane hell!

With tiny seats packed in so tight,
it makes for a totally miserable flight.
Even if the guy in front of me wasn’t a jerk,
this cramped space would still hurt.

I have found it does no good to complain.
So, next time I travel I am taking the train.
It may take longer to get to my destination,
but anything is better than this frustration.

Angel Sammy is the official poet at Two Spoiled Cats. We know he transmitted his poem for this week to Teddy yesterday. So, you may have already read it. If not, click on the poetry badge to do so now. While visiting, check out the inspiration photo for next week and join us in writing some poetry. It can be loads of fun.

Thanks for visiting today. We hope you enjoyed our post and will join us again tomorrow. for some Caturday Art.

June 26, 2026 by Janet Blue Feline Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins Poetry Thoroughly Poetic Thursday 15

INTERNATIONAL BOX DAY FUN & FILL-INS

Feline Friday

International Box Day badge.

I had planned to share a photo of Raleigh and Cooper Murphy today, but that was before I realized that today is International Box Day. So, you have to wait for that one until Monday.

Instead here are the whippersnappers enjoying a box.

Collage of two kittens enjoying a box on International Box Day 2026.

Gibbs and Tali will be participating in the Feline Friday blog hop hosted by messymimi’s meanderings. To join, click on the badge below.

Friendly Fill-Ins

The Friendly Fill-Ins blog hop is hosted each Friday by Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs). They publish the fill-in sentences on their blogs each Thursday. To participate in the hop, click on the badge at the left. I completed all the fill-ins without any help from Kitties Blue and used teal italics for filling in.

1. Let’s bring back kindness and taking personal responsibility for our actions.

2. Spending too much time staring at a screen of some type is the new norm for many individuals.

3. I appreciate that my local area has a variety of recreational opportunities, especially the Roanoke River Greenway which offers miles and miles of bike/walking paths.

4. Summer heat and humidity is my least favorite part about where I live.

Thanks for stopping by to see us today. We’ll be back tomorrow with some Caturday Art.

June 19, 2026 by Janet Blue Feline Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins International Box Day Kittens 12

TWO HANDSOME GINGERS & FILL-INS

Feline Friday

Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to spend a couple of hours with the two ginger, tiny terrorists. They, however, are not so tiny anymore. I had hoped they might remember me, but they did not. It took them a little while to warm up to me, but they eventually did.

A collage with three handsome cats: a ginger and white tabby, a ginger tabby and a white and brown tabby.

Clockwise from the upper left corner: Oscar, Oliver, Oscar & Oliver, older brother Winston.

They also have a older sister named Allie.

I cannot believe how big and handsome these two have become. They were such little imps. Here’s a bit of a reminder.

handsome ginger tabby kitten

Handsome ginger and white kitten.

Like Gibbs and Tali, they both find water fascinating. They taught themselves how to turn on the kitchen faucet, which their mom, Pam, has to keep fastened with a zip tie.

The boys will be participating in the Feline Friday blog hop hosted by messymimi’s meanderings. To join, click on the badge below.

Friendly Fill-Ins

The Friendly Fill-Ins blog hop is hosted each Friday by Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs). They publish the fill-in sentences on their blogs each Thursday. To participate in the hop, click on the badge at the left. Stinky kindly completed fill-in #3 this week. I used teal italics to complete the sentences. Any explanatory information is in parentheses.

1. I’d like to learn how to play backgammon.

2. Something I tried to make that was an epic fail was one of Cat Scout Sammy’s (Ellen’s now angel) Easter craft projects at Scouts. (We were supposed to cover plastic eggs with strips of cloth. I never could get the strips to stick.)

3. Stinky: I want to design an epic adventure for Periwinkle and myself. (If anyone has any suggestions, please let Stinky know in the comments.)

4. A variety of flavored twizzlers is a special treat I get from The Cheese Shop in Stuarts Draft, VA. (It is Virginia’s largest Amish-style bulk foods store.)

Thank you for stopping by to visit today. We will be back tomorrow with some Caturday Art.

June 12, 2026 by Janet Blue Feline Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins Kittens 11

HAPPY BIRTHDAY & FILL-INS

Feline & Flashback Friday

On June 1st, I received a note from our vet wishing Audrey a happy birthday. Then on June 3rd, I received one wishing Raleigh a happy birthday. Obviously their birthday is the same day, and I never knew the exact date. Usually our vet will assign a date based on what their physical development is when I take them in for the first time. So, it would seem that is somewhere at the beginning of June.

Their Gotcha Day is July 26, 2022. Today for the Feline Friday blog hop, I am sharing a photo taken the day after they arrived here.

At that time, we had not named them and were calling then Kitten #1 and Kitten #2. As this is somewhere close to their date of birth, I asked Cooper Murphy to bake them a cake.

I think Cooper Murphy outdid himself with this cake. Mau definitely would be proud of him.

I hope you will help us celebrate and join us for some grilled shrimpies, cake, beverages and nip ice cream.

Today we are joining the Feline Friday blog hop hosted by messymimi’s meanderings and also the Flashback Friday blog hop hosted by the Five Sibes. To join one or both, click on the appropriate badge below.

Friendly Fill-Ins

The Friendly Fill-Ins blog hop is hosted each Friday by Ellen (15 And Meowing) and Lorianne (Four-Legged Furballs). They publish the fill-in sentences on their blogs each Thursday. To participate in the hop, click on the badge at the left. I was left to do all the fill-ins myself this week. I used teal italics to complete the sentences. Any explanatory information is in parentheses.

1. My plans for June include getting together with my friend Mary Jane and my friend Tammy. (They are both school nurses and are now off for the summer.)

2. Flying alone to France at age 16 to tour Europe and attend a summer program at the American College in Paris without knowing any of the other participants is the bravest thing I have ever done.

3. I swear by living with multiple cats as a cure for loneliness.

4. As if Trump wasn’t bad enough, most of his appointees also are idiots.

Thanks for stopping in today. We’ll be back tomorrow with some Caturday Art.

June 5, 2026 by Janet Blue Audrey & Raleigh Birthday Feline Friday Flashback Friday Friendly Friday Fill-Ins 23

Feline Friday

Feline Friday

Friendly Fill-Ins

Feline Friday

Friendly Fill-Ins

Review: Cooling Thermochromic Tech Pet Mat by Rywell

Disclaimer: Kitties Blue received one Rywell Cooling Thermochromic Tech Pet Mat free of charge in exchange for our fair and honest review. I received no additional remuneration.

Mat Composition

Harmful & Chemical Substance Free

Some Additional Cooling Mat User Photos

In Conclusion

Available Cooling Mat Sizes

Where to Purchase

Feline Friday

Friendly Fill-Ins

Feline Friday

Friendly Fill-Ins

Feline Friday

Friendly Fill-Ins

Feline Friday

Friendly Fill-Ins

Thoroughly Poetic Thursday on Friday

Frustrations of Flying

Feline Friday

Friendly Fill-Ins

Feline Friday

Friendly Fill-Ins

Feline & Flashback Friday

Friendly Fill-Ins

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Allie & Mau
Married: July 23, 2016

Angels Astrid & Sampson “Sampy”
Married: June 23, 2016