Cat predicts 50 deaths in RI nursing home

Dr David Dosa, a geriatrician and assistant professor at Brown University, said that five years of records showed Oscar rarely erring, sometimes proving medical staff at the New England nursing home wrong in their predictions over which patients were close to death.

The cat, now five and generally unsociable, was adopted as a kitten at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre in Providence, Rhode Island, which specialises in caring for people with severe dementia.

Dr Dosa first publicised Oscar's gift in an article in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007. Since then, the cat has gone on to double the number of imminent deaths it has sensed and convinced the geriatrician that it is no fluke.

The tortoiseshell and white cat spends its days pacing from room to room, rarely spending any time with patients except those with just hours to live.

If kept outside the room of a dying patient, Oscar will scratch on the door trying to get in.

When nurses once placed the cat on the bed of a patient they thought close to death, Oscar "charged out" and went to sit beside someone in another room. The cat's judgement was better than that of the nurses: the second patient died that evening, while the first lived for two more days. 

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Cat torture raises fears of escalation By Trevor Wilhelm, The Windsor Star

The case of two unknown men who relentlessly tortured a cat until she drowned in her own blood has sparked fears the perpetrators could turn their aggression toward people.
Animal cruelty officers were so disturbed by how the cat suffered repeated kicks and stabs -- while slowly dying as blood filled her lungs -- that the humane society gave Crime Stoppers $500 above the regular tips reward.
"It's one of the most horrific things I've seen," said field operations manager Nancy McCabe, who has worked at the humane society for 28 years. "This is extremely upsetting and I encourage anyone who has any information to please come forward and help us bring justice to these two individuals.
"This is a huge concern. It has been proven that these people graduate. Maybe the next thing they'll go after could be a child or a young adult. It's very disturbing."
McCabe said it's possible someone is missing the cat, which was three or four years old.
The long-haired orange, black and white calico had been spayed and declawed.
"Obviously someone owned this cat and they took the time and expense to have the cat spayed and declawed," said McCabe. "So it would even help if someone came forward to tell us where the cat came from."
The cat was discovered Friday in the pool area at Atkinson Park on Riverside Drive West. Someone saw two men repeatedly kicking and stabbing a plastic bag around 4 a.m. There turned out to be a cat inside. The witness called the humane society later that day around 9:30 a.m.
When McCabe set eyes on the cat's broken and bloodied corpse, she was stunned.
"The cat had numerous puncture wounds over its entire body," she said. "It was extremely disturbing to see the torture that this cat endured. I don't understand people. To do something like that to a defenceless animal is just outrageous."
An autopsy revealed that in addition to being stabbed numerous times, the cat suffered four fractured ribs while it was still alive. The human society said this case is particularly disturbing because the cat appears to have been alive throughout the attack, dying slowly as blood filled her chest.
Retired psychologist Dr. Robert Carom said such "uncontrolled violence" is a frightening sign of what the perpetrators are capable of.
"That's why parents should certainly jump whenever their children are caught doing something like that," he said. "There's no doubt this would indicate there's a very good probability he would act out anti-socially. Sometimes when they do this behaviour, they're acting out their own personal frustrations, indicating they have a lot of violence inside of them. It is definitely on the list of syndromes you look at when you're looking at potentially violent behaviour."
Carom, who has worked for Corrections Canada, said he's dealt with such offenders first-hand.
"I've certainly seen people that are highly aggressive with aggressive criminal behaviours that did this kind of thing in childhood," he said. "There was no restraint or control. And people didn't think it was that harmful because it wasn't done to a human. But quite frankly, an animal is far more vulnerable."
Crime Stoppers police co-ordinator Tim Murphy urged people to call in if they have any information about this crime or any other. No detail is too small, he said.
"Any investigation is like a big jigsaw puzzle," said Murphy. "A small piece could be the piece that solves the puzzle. No matter how minor you think it is, call it in."
The humane society's $500 will be added to the regular Crime Stoppers award, which usually ranges from $50 to $1,000, depending on the information.
You can call Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477 or the humane society at 519-966-5751.


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Norfolk cat found frozen in snow survives

A cat found frozen in the snow has made a miraculous recovery.

Annie, a 13-year-old tuxedo cat, disappeared during snowstorm in early December on the day her family was moving. After Annie had been missing for five weeks, her family feared the worst.

This past weekend, Animal Control officers received a call regarding Annie.“Basically, when I picked her up, she had no signs of life. She was stiff, she was unconscious, cold to the touch and not responding to anything,” said Hilary Cohen, a Norfolk Animal Control officer. Yet Annie started to move about once she was inside the cruiser.

“I realized driving down the road that her whiskers started twitching, and I realized we needed to work on this cat right away,” said Cohen. Annie received fluids and heat therapy for nourishment. She also was treated for frostbite. The cat is recovering nicely and expected to go home some time next week.

“She had a strong heart and a strong will to live that was just incredible,” said Alison.
 

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Fee waivers boost cat adoptions

In December 2008, April Harris, shelter operations manager for Salt Lake County Animals Services in Utah, attended a training session at the Wisconsin Humane Society, where she learned that a no-fee adoption program was helping move more cats from the shelter and lessening the need for euthanasia.

By June, Harris' facility had launched a similar program.

"In the first month, adoptions just skyrocketed," Harris said. The number of cat adoptions at the Salt Lake City shelter increased from 702 in 2008 to 1,038 in 2009, through Dec. 15, she said. Euthanizations have decreased to 2,356 cats from 2,778 in 2008.

An increasing number of animal shelters across the USA are promoting adult cat adoption with similar no-fee programs or special promotions to address their cat populations, said Emily Weiss, senior director of shelter research and development for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal.

"Cats, especially adult cats, are at tremendous risk at shelters around the country," Weiss said. "In almost any part of the country, cats are much less likely to leave a sheltering facility alive."

Harris said shelters have not found it necessary to hold similar promotions for dogs, because dogs — and even young cats — are more popular than adult cats.

"The public just views cats differently than they do dogs," she said.

Harris said her shelter made up for the loss of the $65 cat adoption fees primarily by increasing adoption fees for more popular dog breeds. A sliding scale for dog adoptions was developed: Fees range from $45 to $295.

Shelters in states including Utah, Wisconsin and Kansas have launched ongoing programs to waive adoption fees for older cats. Others places try short-term fee waivers or special adoption events.

What some facilities are doing:

• Austin. The Town Lake Animal Center waived adoption fees for cats older than 5 years during the peak kitten months of June through August, increasing adoption rates by 27%, according to an ASPCA study. Dorinda Pulliam, shelter director, said the center will continue the program.

• Walnut Creek, Calif. Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation began month-long free-cat promotions in the summer of 2006 and has continued them yearly, according to the ASPCA study. The promotions waived fees for cats 6 months of age and older. As a result, the average stay for cats in the facility dropped to 3.3 weeks from 6.6 weeks.

• Portland, Maine. The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland holds a no-fee promotion twice a year, the ASPCA reports. During the program's first year in 2006, the shelter showed a 12% increase in cat adoptions during the months fees were waived.

• Charleston, S.C. The Charleston Animal Society has held two weekend-long "Feline Frenzy" promotions in which it waived the adoption fee for adult cats, said communications director Kay Hyman. She said the events, held in May and October, dramatically increased the number of cats adopted. During the first three-day event in May, she said, 148 cats were adopted, compared with 20 felines the previous weekend.

Some shelters try short-term fee waivers instead of ongoing programs because there is concern about losing revenue, Weiss said.

"The cost to care for a cat per day can be significant," she said. "Even with an adoption fee for $100 you're likely not offsetting the cost of care for a cat."

Angela Speed, of the Wisconsin Humane Society, said its waiver program has been successful since it began in 1998. The program not only allows the shelter to adopt out cats at a faster pace, it also reduces illness, helping the shelter avoid additional medical costs. It also lets pet owners find other ways to spend the money they would have paid in adoption fees, she said.

"Instead of putting that $35 toward adoption fees, they're putting it toward treats and litter boxes and toys for the animals, which increases that animal's quality of life," Speed said.

And although the adoption fees are waived, Harris and Speed said potential pet owners are still required to fill out forms and meet with a counselor to ensure the pet is a good fit for the family.

"If you can make it happen it's definitely worth it," Harris said. "You'll save so many more lives."

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Actor who was the voice of cartoon Top Cat dies

The hollywood actor known to TV viewers around the world as the voice of Top Cat has died at the age of 91.

New Yorker Arnold Stang forged the cartoon character's distinctive tones in the very first Top Cat in September 1961.

He went on to record 30 classic episodes featuring T.C. and his gang of streetwise chums, including Bennie The Ball, Choo-Choo and Brain.

Pals said the star, who died of pneumonia at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Massachusetts, was every bit as sharp in real life as the character he played on screen.

Known for his distinctive nasal voice and nerdy looks, he once described himself as "a frightened chipmunk who's been out in the rain too long". As for his squawky voice, he quipped: "I'm kind of attached to it... it's a personal logo."

Stang also voiced dozens of other cartoons and TV commercials and had a distinguished movie career, starring opposite Frank Sinatra in 1955 film The Man with the Golden Arm.

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Christmas Can Be A Hazardous Time For Your Pets Says The Humane Society of Canada

December 13, 2009, TORONTO – Family, friends, parties, decorations, food. Christmas can be a wonderful time of year. However, many of the same things that make the holiday season an enjoyable time for humans, make it a dangerous time for pets.

 “There are many seasonal items that pose a potential risk to our animal companions,” says Al Hickey, Humane Society of Canada (HSC) Western Regional Director. “It is important for that people fortunate enough to share their homes with pets are aware of these hazards and take steps to “pet-proof” their homes to ensure their ‘best friends’ are not put in a position where they could suffer.”

To assist people in protecting their pets during the holidays, the Humane Society of Canada has put together a list of some common holiday hazards that people should be made aware of. Festive items not on this list should also be evaluated for any potential risk. “In this situation, take the precautionary, ‘better safe than sorry’ approach,” says Michael O’Sullivan, HSC Executive Director whose family includes young children and several dogs and cats.

Five Common Christmas Hazards That Can Be Dangerous to Pets

1. Christmas Tree: Problems can occur when pets have access to the Christmas tree. Cats may want to climb the tree while dogs may knock it over. It is a good idea to safely secure the tree at the top and bottom. If your tree is real, don’t allow animal companions to drink from the tree reservoir and don’t use tree preservatives in the water. Evergreen needles that have fallen from the tree should be immediately cleaned up, as they can be harmful if ingested. 
   
2. Decorations: Glass ornaments, which can shatter into tiny, sharp pieces, should be avoided wherever there are pets. Tinsel and ribbon, which can cause gastrointestinal blockages, should also be avoided. Avoid using food decorations, such as popcorn garlands – the string is a choking hazard, and the tree might be knocked over. Liquid, bubbling lights shouldn’t be used, as the liquid is a harmful chemical.
3. Electrical Cords, Fire, and Candles: Electrical cords can harm animals or cause fires. Electrical cords and wires should be inaccessible to pets. Consider using extension cords that can shut off the flow of electricity when a fire hazard is detected. A fire in the hearth or woodstove, and lit candles make for a cozy atmosphere, especially around Christmas; however, it is important to take the necessary precautions to ensure that pets are not hurt by fire or accidentally start one. Candles should never be left unattended; pets can easily knock them over. Fireplaces should have screens or doors that fit snugly, and minimize the risk of shooting embers. 
   
4. Food: Many people indulge in rich and sweet foods at Christmas. Unfortunately, some pets are also given human food treats that can be harmful, and even fatal, to animals. Candies can make pets sick. Chocolate and onions are toxic to animals and must be off limits to pets. Bones, particularly chicken and turkey bones that are brittle and can splinter and lodge in an animal’s throat or intestine, must be avoided. 
   
5. Toxic Plants: There are numerous kinds of plants that are associated with Christmas and which are also harmful to animals. The toxicity varies with each type of plant; some have a low toxicity while others are very toxic and can result in death. Avoid plants that can harm pets. Some common festive plants that are toxic are listed below. For more information on plants that are harmful to animals check with your veterinarian, search the Internet and/or contact The Humane Society of Canada at 1-800-641-KIND (5463).
   

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Tax deductible cats and dogs: Bill would let pet owners deduct cost of care

 

 

NAPLES — Pets could soon pay for themselves if a bill that allows owners to deduct the cost of caring for their animal’s passes.

If approved, the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act would amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax deduction of up to $3,500 per year for pet care expenses, including veterinary care, according the House Resolution 3501.

“I think it’s great,” said Stacey Huber a veterinarian at Animal Oasis Veterinary Hospital.

Huber, who learned about the bill through a reporter, said veterinary care has gotten expensive for people and, many times, pet insurance doesn’t cover some of the expenses.

If approved, Huber said this tax deduction could help pet owners who have pets that have illnesses and diseases and need long-term treatment.

The tax deduction could be nearly as much as a deduction for a child.

Last year, a taxpayer could claim a qualified child, who is 19 or under 24 and a full-time student, as a dependant for $3,500. In 2009, the deduction will climb to $3,650, according to IRS spokesman Mike Dobzinski of Plantation.

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Esquimalt may restrict feline fertility - Bylaw would require spaying or neutering

Esquimalt is considering a bylaw that would make it mandatory for cats over the age of five months to be spayed or neutered. A draft of the bylaw will be at council on Oct. 13.

The cat Spay and Neuter Action Committee gave a presentation Monday night about the ongoing problem of unneutered felines procreating. A female can easily have three litters a year, they said.

North Saanich and Central Saanich have a spay-and-neuter bylaw, as do seven other municipalities in B.C.

Education alone doesn’t make a difference, said Anna Becker of the action committee. “We’ve been doing that for 30 years and the cat population in Victoria is still growing.” Several animal-advocacy groups, including the SPCA, are in favour of the bylaw.

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Kitten rescued from busy roadway finds a home

CALGARY -- A kitten that was found wandering along a busy Calgary roadway and had bystanders scrambling to rescue her from under the hood of a car in the bone-rattling cold, has found a home.

Tanya Marzoff said on Tuesday that her 17-year-old daughter Ali claimed the feline as her own moments after the dramatic rescue, but said the kitten found her way into many hearts during the ordeal on Saturday, a day in which temperatures reached -40 C with the wind chill.

Ms. Marzoff was the first driver to stop when the kitten was spotted in the middle lane of the busy street.

"She obviously needed a home and we are going to do everything we can to make her feel like she's part of our family. But everyone really wanted to help."

The family has named the kitten Honda, after the vehicle she was rescued from.

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Russell Brand to get cat a passport to visit Katy Perry

British comedian Russell Brand, of Forgetting Sarah Marshall fame, said he would not live with girlfriend "I Kissed a Girl" songstress Katy Perry in the USA because "someone has got to feed" his cat, Morrissey, according to OK! Magazine:

 "You can't just send him the occasional postcard saying things are going well. I've got to look after him. He hissed at me yesterday. I tried to explain to him but he doesn't understand concepts such as international travel and work ... I am getting him a pet passport which means he can travel around as much as he likes. Unfortunately, they don't do photos. I was really looking forward to that."

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Exotic cat advocate named Hero of the Year

A local hero to exotic cats is the new Animal Planet Hero of the Year, announced Friday night on the Animal Planet cable channel.

Scott Lope of Tampa's Big Cat Rescue says he's thrilled to win the award, which started with more than 4500 entries. A panel of judges chose the top ten, then it was up to the public to choose the winner through on line voting.

President and General Manager of Animal Planet, Marjorie Kaplan says "Lope epitomizes what it means to be a responsible member of the animal kingdom."

For more than ten years, Lope has overseen the daily operations of Big Cat Rescue, a sanctuary for big cats that have been abandoned, abused or rescued from fur farms.

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Two kittens rescued after thrown from vehicle during rush hour by WWLTV.com

Someone threw two kittens from a moving vehicle during busy rush hour traffic on Clearview on Thursday, according to the Humane Society of Louisiana.

The organization heard of the incident from Metairie resident Alyne Pustanio. Pustanio said she was returning home from work Thursday when a car swerved unexpectedly in front of her. She said she noticed drivers swerving to miss three grey Wal-Mart bags.

“To my shock and horror there were two tiny grey kittens in the middle of the street,” Pustanio told the Humane Society. “When I had laid eyes on them, and thought they were bags, I actually saw them hit the ground in the middle lane.”

Pustanio said she pulled into a turning lane, rescued the kittens and then treated them for minor injuries after returning home.

"The criminal activity of throwing kittens into moving traffic obviously has not abated,” said Jeff Dorson, executive director of the Humane Society. He said this is the third or fourth time this has happened in as many months.

“Our continued hope is that a perpetrator will finally be caught and prosecuted, so that we can get some relief from these types of crimes,” Dorson said. “But until then we are asking drivers and passengers to have their cell phones ready or carry with them a piece of paper and pen to jot down the license plate of any vehicle that is involved in this type of vicious crime.”


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Pet therapy: Recovering with four-legged friends requires less pain medication

ScienceDaily — Adults who use pet therapy while recovering from total joint-replacement surgery require 50 percent less pain medication than those who do not. These findings were presented at the 18th Annual Conference of the International Society of Anthrozoology and the First Human Animal Interaction Conference (HAI) in Kansas City, Mo.

"Evidence suggests that animal-assisted therapy (AAT) can have a positive effect on a patient's psychosocial, emotional and physical well being," said Julia Havey, RN, study presenter and senior systems analyst, Department of Medical Center Information Systems, Loyola University Health System (LUHS). "These data further support these benefits and build the case for expanding the use of pet therapy in recovery."

Animal lover Havey, and colleague Frances Vlasses, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, began raising puppies to become assistance dogs more than a decade ago through a program called Canine Companions for Independence (CCI). The non-profit organization provides highly trained assistance dogs to people with physical and developmental disabilities free of charge.

Skilled companion dogs are trained to work with an adult or child with a disability under the guidance of a facilitator. Disabilities served include cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, autism and Down's syndrome. A skilled companion also can serve as a social bridge to people who are not used to relating to a person with disabilities.

Hearing dogs are trained to recognize and alert partners to various sounds, such as a doorbell, alarm clock or smoke alarm. The average service life of each dog is eight years. After that time, the dog retires to live out its golden years as a pet.


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Santa Monica, San Francisco ban cat declawing; L.A., Beverly Hills, Berkeley to have final votes this week

With a state-imposed deadline drawing closer, California cities are in the midst of making final decisions on whether to ban cat declawing within their borders.

The Los Angeles, Beverly Hills and Berkeley city councils are scheduled to have final votes at their Tuesday meetings on ordinances that would ban animal declawing. All three had voted unanimously in favor of bans on first readings of the measures.

The Santa Monica City Council voted last week 5 to 1 to adopt an ordinance banning cat declawing. Under the new ordinance, which takes effect Dec. 10, onychectomy (declawing) or flexor tendonectomy may be performed only to address a medical condition of the cat. Violations would be a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine, six months in jail, or both.

Santa Monica City Councilman Kevin McKeown, in an earlier interview, said there had been an "outpouring of support" in favor of the ban, and added, "I think it's important that the council try to make our laws reflect the values of our community."

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Cat cams tell all about what cats do during the day

Ever wonder what your cat does while you're at work? Wonder no more. The felines are on adventures.
  
The curious crew at Purina's Friskies brand cat food armed 50 cats with camera cams. They wore the digital cameras attached to their collars and photos were taken every 15 minutes.

If you're like the owners surveyed by Friskies, you probably thought your cat spends most of its time sleeping. Wrong. They're top three activities are looking out the window (21.6%), being in the livingroom (12.7%) and being with other animals in the house (11.8%).
 
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Immigrant allowed to stay in Britain, thanks to pet cat!

LONDON - An immigrant in Britain, who was about to be deported, has been allowed to stay in the country after a court ruled in his favour - just because he and his girlfriend had bought a pet cat.


The Asylum and Immigration Tribunal ruled that sending the Bolivian man back to his homeland would breach his human rights because he was entitled to a “private and family life”.
The court said that the joint ownership of a pet was evidence that he was fully settled in this country.

The Bolivian’s identity has not been disclosed and even the name of the pet cat was blanked out in official court papers to protect its privacy.

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Our Feline Friends - All About Companion Cats

Are Tigers 'Brainier' Than Lions? by Science Daily

A wide-ranging study of big cat skulls, led by Oxford University scientists, has shown that tigers have bigger brains, relative to their body size, than lions, leopards or jaguars.

The team investigated the relationship between the skull size – the longest length between the front and back parts of the skull – of a large sample of tigers, lions, leopards and jaguars and the volume inside the cats’ respective craniums. The researchers report their findings in this month’s Biological Journal of the Linnean Society.

'What we had not expected is that the tiger has clearly much bigger relative brain size than do the other three species, which all have similar relative brain sizes,’ said Dr Nobby Yamaguchi of Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), an author of the report with WildCRU Director Professor David Macdonald.

‘When we compare the two biggest species, on average the lion has a bigger skull than the tiger based on the greatest length of the skull. However, the tiger has bigger cranial volume than the lion. It is truly amazing that tiny female Balinese tiger skulls have cranial volumes as large as those of huge male southern African lion skulls.’

It has sometimes been assumed that social species, such as lions, should have larger brains than solitary species, such as tigers, because of the need to handle a more complex social life within groups or prides. However, despite a few studies suggesting a relationship between big brains and sociality in mammals, evidence for the link is far from clear.

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'Lonely Cat Lady' Is Not So Catchy by Rebecca Dube

We call them crazy, but a new doc explodes the ugly stereotypes about women who are friends with felines.

 What makes a crazy cat lady? Is it the number of cats, the amount of cat-hair-covered sweaters she owns, or simply the intensity of devotion between female and feline?

A new documentary explores the world of four CCLs (crazy cat ladies) and explodes some of the uglier stereotypes that cling to these women like the faint stench of cat urine.

The appropriately titled Cat Ladies, which will air in Ontario on TVO Sept. 23, 27 and 30, documents the lives of Margot, a receptionist whose life revolves around her three cats; Diane, a former banker who shares her home with 123 felines and fears that her life is slipping out of control; Sigi, who pursues cat rescuing with the grim determination of a soldier; and Jenny, 35-year-old woman with 17 animals who is fighting the siren call of full-fledged cat-ladydom.

It's an emotional story about solitude and love, but it's also a tale of the nasty undercurrent of misogyny that runs through our culture.

"The stereotype is so dismissive," director Christie Callan-Jones says. "I was surprised at their feistiness, their independence. They chose to buck social trends. I thought it would end up being this film about sad lonely women but it's really not. These women are more than who you think they are."

Throughout sexual maturity, women are referred to in feline terms - from sex kitten to cougar, and of course there's the popular vulgar slang for female genitals. Only when they step out of line are females referred to in canine terms, as bitches. Women are expected to identify a bit with cats, but there's an invisible line that, when crossed, triggers the cat-lady stigma. Tellingly, there's no corresponding crazy dog man (or woman) stereotype.

"It's this idea about male appreciation," producer Jeanette Loakman says. "Dogs are faithful, and they're obedient. If you have a lot of cats you're uncontrollable and unpredictable. You're not going to be obedient."

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Cat Gives Birth To Polydactyl Kittens

An Ohio woman found out that her cat had given birth to some unusual kittens, two of them have six toes on their back paws and one has seven toes on it's front paw.

Cats that are polydactyl have special abilities other cats do not, such as catching items with just one paw or in some cases opening certain latches.

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It just so happens that here at Jazzpurr we have two cats that are polydactyl! Their names are Spooky and Elly. Read more about Spooky and Elly here

Top 10 Cat Quirks by Animal Planet

Purring

To cat lovers, nothing is more satisfying than a deep and resounding purr emanating from their cat as they scratch behind their ears or rub their belly. Cats may purr for a variety of reasons, but this behavior almost always indicates utter contentment on the part of a feline. Purring may also have beneficial powers, such as pain relief and the promotion of healing in injured animals. But the most important role for purring is probably between a mother and her kittens. Newborn cats are able to purr within the first few days of life, and this behavior may help mothers bond with and keep track of her litter.

The Sideways Hop

This particular cat quirk can be alarming upon first sight, so try to remain calm if you notice it in your cat. Called the "sideways hop," it's a special favorite of the young and playful. It usually begins with a fluffed-up tail and all four legs stretched taut. Then, the cat will arch its back, turn its body sideways, and bounce toward you or whoever may be the "target." Keep in mind that the sideways hop is rarely an aggressive maneuver, but you are expected to play along. According to feline etiquette, the best response is to get down on all fours and perform a similar hop in return.

Water Snobbery

In addition to food, most cat guardians graciously provide a bowl of fresh water each day for their cats. However, this is a futile effort. The water bowl is almost always the last choice of liquid libation for felines. For reasons not well understood, cats will pursue all other aqueous options, including toilet water and algae-filled plant run-off, before drinking the fluid in their water bowls. Some attribute this tendency to a preference for running water, citing the ubiquitous pre-drink paw-swirl behavior as an example of cats' desire for beverages that move. But this explanation seems unlikely considering cats' top choice for thirst quenching: whatever water happens to be in their guardian's glass.


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Dogs Chase Efficiently, But Cats Skulk Counterintuitively

A Duke University study suggests that evolution can behave as differently as dogs and cats. While the dogs depend on an energy-efficient style of four-footed running over long distances to catch their prey, cats seem to have evolved a profoundly inefficient gait, tailor-made to creep up on a mouse or bird in slow motion.

"It is usually assumed that efficiency is what matters in evolution," said Daniel Schmitt, a Duke associate professor of evolutionary anthropology. "We've found that's too simple a way of looking at evolution, because there are some animals that need to operate at high energy cost and low efficiency."

Namely cats.

In a report published online Nov. 26 in the research journal Public Library of Science (PLoS), Schmitt and two former Duke co-researchers followed up on a scientific hunch by measuring and videotaping how six housecats moved along a 6 yard-long runway in pursuit of food treats or feline toys.

Long-distance chase predators like dogs can reduce their muscular work needed to move forward by as much as 70 percent by allowing their body to rise and fall and exchanging potential and kinetic energy with each step. In contrast, the maximum for cats is about 37 percent and much lower than that in a stalking posture, the report found.

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