Glow Kitty

Researchers found a way to clone pet cats five years ago. Now they can play a trick on their genes to change their color.

All I know is that it would be great if my cats glowed at night, then I'd know where to step when I'm heading to piddle in the middle of the night!!

Cloning Gene Modified Cats

Tom & Jerry: Friends at Last?

Scientists in Japan have created a genetically modified mouse which is unafraid of cats.

Genetically mutated mouse

Your Studio Mascot: Enter Today!

Do you or friend work in a animal friendly environment?

Those of you who work from home are often visited by your four legged friend and that can be a welcomed interruption at times; there are larger companies who actually allow animals into the offices to boost morale.

I thought it would be fun to feature studios or offices that not only admit animal mascots into their work environment, but encourage it.

If you've got a Studio Mascot that you'd like featured on our site, please visit YSM now for more info.

Please Note: We do have a pretty wicked sense of humor, but if the submission is in anyway distasteful, we reserve the right to refuse. For the love of Pets, no Michael Vick re-enactments.

Your Studio Mascot

Jerboa: A Mickey Mouse of the Desert Just Captured

Filmed in its natural habitat for the first time as part of a project to save it from extinction, the Jerboa is a comic quality and conservationists are anxious to save it from a tragic end.

A scientific expedition to the Gobi desert in Mongolia has now succeeded in capturing video footage of the nocturnal and little-known animal.

I can't wait to illustrate this little guy!

Read more on TimesOnlines

Detect Common Kitty Diseases Thru Cat Litter

I know I could have used this to determine that my cats were on their way to "college."

Seemingly, it's now possible to monitor the health trends of your cat and provide an early detection of potential health problems. Health Meter Cat Litter claims to work by absorbing liquids quickly and amplifying the natural colors (normally microscopic) present in blood and bilirubin. This allows you to see abnormal color changes present in the urine in some diseases states. This process is similar to the way the pixels on your television concentrate to make a visible picture.

Health Meter Cat Litter

Interesting. I'm not endorsing this product, but I may sure try it when one of my pussycats is feeling malaise.

Baffling Routine in UK:Sgt Podge

Sgt Podge in the UK has now forced his owner to pick him up after a night's prowl.

Apparently, he found a woman who fed him sardines and decided that he should continue his trick-or-treat rounds on a nightly basis to snag more goodies. The next morning, his human mum picks him up at the exact location within the exact time (give or take 10 minutes).

Can we say, "Spoiled?"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/dorset/7092301.stm

Pet Antics: Pip's Butt

Often, when we're walking up the stairs, Pip will lead and stop -to show us hit butt. It's actually very cute and he'll thwap his tail back and forth. I took still shots then pieced them together in an animation program -pretty easy.

You Wild Thang

You Wild

Morph yourself into an imperiled animal of your choice and enter the YouWild.org Hall of Fame. This will help raise awareness and protection of endangered wildlife and the habitat it needs to survive.

Voted by Reader's Digest as America's Best Wildlife Charity, YouWild.org offers a fun way to learn about imperiled wildlife and hope to encourage folks to help save these beloved critters and protect our vanishing wild places.

Designer Kittens

Starting at $22,000, you too can have a designer pussycat. The Ashera, a mix of an African Serval, Asian Leopard and a domestic cat, is a popular designer kitty.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/11/01/lifestyle/
designer_cats/index.htm?
postversion=2007110212

For now, I think we'll stick with our domestic tabbies.

Humor: Mean Kitty

I found this the other day and thought it was incredibly charming.

Why Do They Have to Be So Cute??

Chardonnay (nickname: NayNay) is the quintessential cute cat. I've grown up with dozens of cats -all of 'em good cats and pretty cats, but I swear someone from Hogwarts charmed this cat.

We need to put a CatCam on him to show you some of his cute antics -wait, perhaps the cam should go on me! I've always said that I wish I kept a camera on my belt that snapped photos of the cute moments -fleeting as they are.

Take a look at this CatCam -hilarious!!

Studio Cat

Pip, the solo studio cat sleeping with his head positioned in the fax.



I wish I could say that all of my cats were studio cats... Alas, this isn't the case. There are hierarchy issues among the pride that has forced Pip to become isolated until he can accept his position at the bottom of the poll. Let's just say, he's got "Little Cat Syndrome."

I don't think "solution" is working as he's been in my studio since October, out for a week in December (it was Christmas, after all), back in for a few more months, out for the month of May, and now in again. Also, this make-shift solution belies the facts:

1) is the amount of hair that I have to deal with in my studio -it's becoming a real nuisance;
2) he simply needs to be king of his own domain.

We think he's got Ocicat in him and not knowing much about that breed, it's obviously different than your common brown nose tabbies. After months in isolation, he isn't changing his ways. He immediately runs to Chardonnay and tries to make him his wife. While NayNay is a male, we laughing joke that he plays all the girl parts -I guess Pip thinks that's okay, too. Argh. Sadly, I think Pip needs a new home with no other 4-legged dependents running around.

It's too bad, because Bacchus used to be a Mama's Boy and he's depressed because he no longer gets to be sitting close to me while I work. Now when he needs anything, he runs to Andrew. (*sniff)

UPDATE: I'm reading Cat vs. Cat and it looks like we may be able to resolve our issues after all. Patience I've got, it's the potential upheaval that may be problematic with house guests.

Does your kitty look like Adolf?

Kitlers... while a warped, but appropriate call for those who secretly feel their little feline has a Hitler mustache, this site is for you.

I scrolled thru many a kitty and found this one alarmingly close. Sure, the mustache should be a little bigger, but compared to the rest, he's got the classic Adolf comb-over... poor cat.

The Cat That Looks Like Hitler
http://www.catsthatlooklikehitler.com/

My cat Chardonnay, however, would be part of the Aryan race.

A Labra-foal?

You've heard of Labradoodles, right? Well, riding on the tails of hybrids, I thought it would be fun to create our own hybrid of dog and horse.

If you're not hip to that idea, then you might warm up to a Shetland pony who thinks he's a dog. He doesn't canter thru fields, but chases sticks and licks bones.

The video is oh-so-cute.

-Reuters

Human Zoo Cages

In Australia, humans and a pscyhologists are caged together. It is hoped the research will increase the well-being of apes kept in enclosures.

Reuters Video

Stem Cells Helping Muscular Dystrophy in Dogs

"Two dogs that were severely disabled by the disease were able to walk faster and even jump after the treatments."

How cool is this? Need I say more?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061116/ap_on_he_me/stem_cells_dystrophy

Party for Animals: October 8

Humane Society Legislative Fund is announcing a drive: Party for the Animals day this Sunday, October 8, with less than one month away from the 2006 midterm elections. All parties can dial in to the nationwide conference call on October 8 at 7:30 p.m. EST and hear from advocates working to pass state and federal initiatives to advance animal protection issues.

If you live in Raleigh, you can join the already formed party on NCState's Campus:
http://www.partylaunch.com/partyanimals/parties/index.cfm?e=wolfpack

Or can join your own local party by finding your city & state here:
http://www.partylaunch.com/partyanimals/findparty/index.cfm

Of course, if you can't make it, you can always contribute a donation to the organizer of your local party so that she can make her goal.

Loss of Pet

Unfortunately, it's inevitable, the loss of our beloved pet -the little guy who was a part of our family for so long.

Here's a grief resource to help you understand the process as well as factors of complicated grief, including euthanasia.

http://www.argusinstitute.colostate.edu/famtoc.htm

H. Katrina Pet Remembrance Day - August 28

Hurricane Katrina Pet Remembrance Day - August 28

North Shore Animal League is planting a tree in remembrance of the pets lost and rescued in Hurricane Katrina.

You can take a photo journey and donate here:

http://www.nsalamerica.org/feature/katrina_year/remembering_katrina/

Are You a Young, Technologically Savvy Pet Owner?

If so, Purina is doing a good job of keeping you and your pet fed. From serious discussions on podcasts to whimsical barktones, Purina is just a paws reach to keeping you mobile.

While cellphone wallpaper isn't necessarily news on the frontlines of marketing, I think Purina dialing into the hands of grandpa's grandkid is definitely a good way of keeping the traditional connection of family and pets leashed.

Purina
http://www.purina.com/downloads/Podcasts/Index.aspx