The Keepsake Journal

The Unwritten Rules Pets Expect...wait...Demand that We Follow! Part 2
The Unwritten Rules Pets Expect...wait...Demand that We Follow! Part 2
The Unwritten Rules Pets Expect Humans to Follow Continued... Rule #4: Fresh Food...Full Bowl Please You may think filling the food bowl is enough. Nope.  You may think that having... Read more...
The Unwritten Rules Pets Expect...wait...DEMAND...that We Follow! PART I
The Unwritten Rules Pets Expect...wait...DEMAND...that We Follow! PART I
The Unwritten Rules Pets Expect Humans to Follow Every pet household has rules. Not the official ones. Not the rules we create. No. I'm talking about the rules. Their rules. ... Read more...
Neyland Took the Ole "You're my human" a Tad Seriously
Neyland Took the Ole "You're my human" a Tad Seriously
My cats have always been like dogs. They greet me at the door. They follow me from room to room and are typically always with me. They're attached to me.... Read more...
When Your Pet Knows Your Routine Better than You!
When Your Pet Knows Your Routine Better than You!
I totally understand a pet's need for routine. After all, if you're an indoor pet, your world is fairly small and manageable, right! And...you like it that way. Water is... Read more...
When the Cat Picks the Movie: Toku, Dr. Dolittle, and the Mystery of On-Screen Fascination
When the Cat Picks the Movie: Toku, Dr. Dolittle, and the Mystery of On-Screen Fascination
I have a video of Toku watching Dr. Dolittle. Now, keep in mind, I don’t mean “glancing at the TV while vaguely aware something is happening.” No. I mean fully locked... Read more...
The Day the Toy Mouse Blinked Back: A Very Real Lesson in Cat Instincts
The Day the Toy Mouse Blinked Back: A Very Real Lesson in Cat Instincts
If you’ve ever had a cat with a favorite toy, you know how this goes. That toy becomes everything. It is everything. Entertainment. Prey. You name it!  For Toku, it... Read more...
Into the Woods: What My Childhood Dogs Taught Me About Adventure, Loyalty, and Quiet Protection
Into the Woods: What My Childhood Dogs Taught Me About Adventure, Loyalty, and Quiet Protection
Some of my best childhood memories don’t involve screens, schedules, or even other people for that matter. I was a little squirt in the 70's, so they involved...get ready for... Read more...
Toe Floof vs. Traction: Should You Trim the Fur Around Your Cat’s Paw Pads?
Toe Floof vs. Traction: Should You Trim the Fur Around Your Cat’s Paw Pads?
If you’ve ever lived with a long-haired cat, you know the magic of “toe floof.” Those soft, feathery tufts of fur that spill out between their toes? Adorable. Elite. Instagram-worthy.... Read more...
Wait…Since When Do Cats Play Fetch? (A Story About Neyland Rewriting the Rules)
Wait…Since When Do Cats Play Fetch? (A Story About Neyland Rewriting the Rules)
I always thought fetch was strictly a dog thing. You know — tennis balls, slobber, enthusiastic sprinting, repeat. Cats? Cats observe. Cats judge. Cats may bat something around for a... Read more...
When They Choose You: The Unexpected Ways Pets Decide You’re Theirs
When They Choose You: The Unexpected Ways Pets Decide You’re Theirs
I didn’t plan on keeping them. Ms. Cuddles and Cali started as strays — two cats I began feeding with every intention of eventually finding them good homes. I already... Read more...
Why Pets Always Choose the Most Ridiculous Places to Sleep
Why Pets Always Choose the Most Ridiculous Places to Sleep
If you’ve ever owned a pet, you’ve probably made the same well-intentioned purchase: A comfortable, well-designed pet bed. Soft. Supportive. Perfectly placed. And completely ignored. Because pets, as it turns... Read more...
Poppy vs. the Bee: What Pet Owners Should Know About Allergic Reactions in Dogs and Cats
Poppy vs. the Bee: What Pet Owners Should Know About Allergic Reactions in Dogs and Cats
Last year, my cousin’s dog, Poppy, learned the hard way that bees and curious noses don’t always mix. One minute, Poppy was happily exploring the yard like any adventurous pupper.... Read more...