CatDogBlog

The cat’s name is “Ponta” and he is the star/idol of the local dog cafe!
The announcer says that the cat loves to hang out with the dogs at the dog cafe, and that the white dog (Satsuki) is Ponta’s special friend. The owner said, “When Ponta comes in, Satsuki is sweet and very gentle.” The grooming is so cute my heart actually hurts!

Since in 2005 most of the thousands of animals rescued after 80% of New Orleans was flooded have found their way back to their owners or to new homes across the country.

But the city’s only animal shelter, which operates out of an old coffee warehouse without air conditioning or drainage, is still full of hundreds of pets awaiting adoption.

Some are strays found wandering through the rubble of abandoned homes. Others were given up by owners unable to care for them because of the stress of living in tiny trailers while they rebuild their homes, among other reasons.

“People are still getting their lives together,” explained Gloria Dauphin, the assistant director of the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). “Housing is a big, big issue and renting with an animal is next to impossible.”

Tails wagging and tongues lagging, the dogs follow people walking by the rows of cages with bright eyes, yipping and begging for some attention. Cats meow and stick their paws through the bars, ready to play and purring at the scratch of an ear.

Between 2,000 and 3,000 animals died in the floods or in the hot, lonely days after evacuees were barred from taking their pets or returning to find them.
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Favored cat toys mimic predatory acts that cats would perform if they were to hunt for their food. Although your cat may not need to “hunt”, they still enjoy the actions and movements involved with the process of hunting from which they create a form of play. Cats love to chase, pounce, capture, carry, bite and roll around with good cat toys.

Features to consider in cat toys:
* Style
* Shape
* Ability to move/flutter/fly
* Ability to make sounds
* Safety – no parts that can be swallowed
* Durable
* Interesting to the personality of your cat

Ideal choice of cat toys:
* The ideal choice of cat toys will depend on your cats toy preference. Offer a variety and rotate cat toys often. If you don’t yet know your cats preference, some good initial choices is a feathery flyer, some round crinkle balls, and something stuffed with catnip.
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Chewing is a natural behavior for dogs and you need safe dog chew toys to direct this behavior to appropriate items (and not your shoes or furniture!) Here are some tips to help you choose the safest and best dog chew toys.

Desirable features in dog chew toys:
* Size – large enough that your dog can’t “swallow”
* Safe
* Durable
* Easy to clean/wash
* Guaranteed

Ideal choice for dog chew toys:
* Super durable rubber toys such as Nylabone and Kong brands are safe, durable and come in a variety of sizes and shapes. They can be loaded with treats, which can keep a curious puppy or dog busy for hours. Many also come with a guarantee. Use as directed.
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Dogs get jealous when jilted, suggests a new study that found canines feel especially intense jealousy pangs when in a “love triangle” involving their owner and another, more recently introduced, person or animal.

The finding suggests dogs may also experience pride, embarrassment, shame and other secondary emotions outside of basic emotions such as anger, anxiety and surprise. Scientists previously thought only humans and chimpanzees showed behaviors linked to secondary emotions.

A genetic propensity for jealousy may even run as deep as a dog’s ancient wolf ancestors.

“I would definitely think you would find jealousy in wolves,” said lead researcher Paul Morris. “For example, sexual jealousy would be an extremely powerful motivator in the wild state. Jealousy would also relate to position in hierarchy and alliances between animals within a pack.”
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A motorist knew something was very wrong when her SUV began meowing.

A 4-month-old kitten had climbed into a hole behind the vehicle’s glove box on Sunday and made its way behind the dashboard, said the township’s animal control officer, Dan McDonald. The woman said she had left her car windows open because of the warm weather, and that’s when the stray, a gray tabby, sneaked inside.

McDonald helped dislodge the female kitty with the help of Steven Hodes, a veterinarian.

“She was driving around town and she was hearing something meowing,” Hodes said of the driver, whose name was not released.

McDonald said he tried to reach his hand inside the dashboard to grab the cat, which only crept further back into the dashboard.

“All you saw was maybe a little bit of fur,” McDonald said.

McDonald was able to hold the cat’s foot while Hodes slipped a needle into the limb and injected the kitten with ketamine, an anesthesia that made the feline drowsy. Then he lifted her to freedom.

This cat owner is making the kitty work for the food! Fun or poor cat?

A dog’s wet nose is not the best barometer for health and should not be relied on. Although most people say a healthy nose should be “cold and wet,” it is actually more appropriate to describe it as moist.

A wet, runny nose is a sign of trouble and should be checked out by a veterinarian. By the way, a normal moist nose doesn’t always mean a dog is healthy; if your dog has a moist nose but seems lethargic, or in discomfort or pain, consult your vet.

Conversely, a dry nose doesn’t always signal illness. Dogs just waking from sleep often have a warm, relatively dry nose. And, some dogs, like bulldogs, just have dry noses that even chap and crack.

Despite what many people think, you cannot determine your dog’s temperature by feeling his nose. A warm nose does not mean your dog has a fever. Only a properly used thermometer can tell you that.

So remember, if your dog shows discomfort, lethargy or loss of appetite, you’ll need to have your local vet examine him, regardless of the condition of his nose.

If you see a nasal discharge, swelling, or detect unpleasant odors emanating from your dog’s nose, or if he has difficulty breathing, get him checked out right away. It could mean the presence of a foreign object, tumor or infection.

Kittens just cannot stop attacking mirrors.

Huh?! Where did the cat behind the mirror go?

The owners description sums it up really. “A Sweet Tired Kitten. Realy Nice & Cute Cat! [-.-]Zzz” Yep, adorable alright…