Fat Cats? Not With These Toys

Playtime products to motivate overweight felines.

Help your overweight feline maintain a healthy mind and body by encouraging him to play. Cat play with appropriate toys promotes exercise, hones natural skills, alleviates boredom and stress -- and is just good fun for both you and your kitty. So when purchasing toys, think about those that promote independent play and animal-human relationship building.

Whether your pet is overweight or not, feline experts strongly recommend selecting toys that enhance your feline's natural instincts to hide, run, chase, bat, scoop, pounce and jump -- the same skills that make cats great hunters.

According to author and certified animal behavior consultant, Pamela Johnson-Bennett, "as predators, cats need to hunt. But, as an indoor cat matures, he can lose his desire to hunt because he can easily leave the couch and walk over to the food bowl."

Furthermore, Johnson-Bennett notes that far too many times her clients tell her that their cats refuse to play with their basket full of toys. Johnson-Bennett advises owners to make their cats' toys come alive by using foraging toys, such as the Funkitty toys from Premier. "Have your pet work for food by hiding foraging toys, around the house. Allow him to do the job he was born to do," advises Bennett.

After "Tiger" McDowell was diagnosed as being extremely obese, his veterinarian prescribed a change of diet and more play. His owner, James McDowell, slowly increased their playtime to three or four times daily. James McDowell uses a laser toy to keep Tiger running around the house and catnip spray to freshen up fishing poles and other toys to make them more appealing.

"He lost a good amount of weight, is energetic and seems happier. Now, I am challenged coming up with activities that keep his interest," says his owner. "I think I am going to introduce him to walking on a leash."

Before buying any toy, also make sure that toy is age and activity appropriate. A soothing toy like a tunnel is a better choice for an older pet while an activity center is an ideal purchase for a younger cat.

Also, when considering cat toys, buy toys that are well made and safe. Make sure the toys have no easily breakable parts. Rotate them weekly to keep a cat's interest. And last but certainly not least -- always follow all directions, including those providing for supervision.

Planned feline play will contribute to your cat's health and longevity as well as creating a stronger bond between you and your cat.
What toys do you use to keep your cat active? Tell us below!

Hey, nice ball!

There's nothing more FUN than a dog with a ball!

 

According to Guinness World Records, the world record for the most tennis balls held in the mouth by a dog at one time is five. Augie, a golden retriever owned by the Miller family in Dallas, Texas, USA, successfully gathered and held all five regulation-sized tennis balls on July 6, 2003.

Dogs Were Man's Best Friend Even 9,400 Years Ago

PORTLAND, Maine -- Nearly 10,000 years ago, man's best friend provided protection and companionship - and an occasional meal.

That's what researchers are saying after finding a bone fragment from what they are calling the earliest confirmed domesticated dog in the Americas.

University of Maine graduate student Samuel Belknap III came across the fragment while analyzing a dried-out sample of human waste unearthed in southwest Texas in the 1970s. A carbon-dating test put the age of the bone at 9,400 years, and a DNA analysis confirmed it came from a dog - not a wolf, coyote or fox, Belknap said.

Because it was found deep inside a pile of human excrement and was the characteristic orange-brown color that bone turns when it has passed through the digestive tract, the fragment provides the earliest direct evidence that dogs - besides being used for company, security and hunting - were eaten by humans and may even have been bred as a food source, he said.

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Winter jacket saves small dog from owl

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL -- An Illinois man credited his Chihuahua's winter jacket with saving the small canine from a great horned owl attack.

George Kalomiris said he was walking the 4-pound dog, Chico, in the early hours Wednesday in Crystal Lake when the owl swooped out of the darkness and tried to grab the canine.

Kalomiris said the owl could not get a good grip on Chico because of the dog's puffy winter jacket. He said the dog suffered scratches to his head and a puncture wound, but quickly recovered from the injuries.

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Poodles in a car

From an excellent collection at Flickr by J Van Noate, Antique Dog Photos

Tuesday - feels like Monday - I could sleep .....

via The Daily What

Yeah, I tried to get out of jury duty, too

Boston resident Sal Esposito recently got called in for jury duty. He might have some problems performing this required task, though, as Sal is a cat.

The problem arose after owners Anna and Guy Esposito listed him on the last U.S. Census under "pet."

Anna filed for his disqualification of service. He was not "too old," "ill," or a "convicted felon," so she filed that he "cannot speak English."

The jury commissioner denied this request.

Source

Note: cat in photo is NOT Sal Esposito.

Got lots of time to waste? Cat video collection

From cute to curmudgeonly, sappy to scary, tame to thrilling, and more, here's Gawker's compilation of the 2010's best feline-focused video offerings.

OK, so their video will only take 90 seconds of your time.

If you have lots of time:

• 1) Bipedal Cat Sees Your Every Move
• 2) Surprised Cat
• 3) Vicious Alligators Bitch Slapped by House Cat
• 4) Cat Playing Hockey? Cat Playing Hockey.
• 5) Here Is a Video of a Bunch of Cats and Dogs Eating Peanut Butter
• 6) Watch a Cat Try to Play Duck Hunt
• 7) Cats Play Patty Cake to Pass the Time
• 8) App Turns iPhone Into Expensive Cat Toy
• 9) Fainting Kittens Have Population Laughing, Crying
• 10) Tiny Kitten Freaks Out
• 11) Watch One Cute Cat Massage Another Cute Cat
• 12) Adorable Kittens Hide Adorable Secret Kitten
• 13) Shameless Kitten Dares Us Not to Laugh
• 14) Cat Makes an Accidental Swan Dive
• 15) IKEA Let Loose a Herd of 100 Cats Into Store to 'See What Happens'
• 16) Cute Cats Can Jump (Especially When They're Scared)
• 17) Cat Takes On Snake in Epic Battle Royale
• 18) Cat Is Mesmerized by Owner's Booty Dance
• 19) Big Bully Cat Bitch Slaps Cute Innocent Kitten in Jealous Rage
• 20) Here Is a Cat Who Is Not Happy to Be in a Bike Basket
• 21) The First Movie Filmed By Cats, Supposedly
• 22) Cats Playing Soccer? Cats Playing Soccer
• 23) The Most Intense Cat Fight You Will Ever See
• 24) Gary the Cat Has an Existential Crisis Inside an Ice Cream Container
• 25) iPad Proves Ideal Cat Plaything
• 26) The One Cat in the World Who Doesn't Like Watermelon
• 27) Go Go Gadget Cat Legs!
• 28) Adorable Kitten Does Not Want to Be Woken Up

Have fun!

Baby, it's cold outside!

But Gizzy is nice and toasty (and absolutely adorable!)



via Crocheting in Georgia

Pet Ferret Bites Off 7 Fingers Of Infant

GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. -- A 4-month-old boy had seven of his fingers gnawed off by a pet ferret in Grain Valley.

Police and firefighters responded to a home in the 200 block of Young Street Monday morning after an animal bite call. Grain Valley police Chief Aaron Ambrose said it was much worse.

Video: Ferret Bites Off Fingers Of Infant

"Upon further investigating, they learned that the infant's fingers had been taken off by the family's pet ferret," Ambrose said.

The police report said the boy was in a rocker when his parents fell asleep, one parent in the bedroom, the other in the same room the bites occurred. The ferret bit off all but the boy's two thumbs and one pinky, the report said.

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Sleepy, sleepy Monday morning

Rusty yawns

Romeo yawns

Let's go back to bed!

from Flickr, corsi photo

Coondog Cemetery

In a small, grassy meadow, deep in the rich, thick wilderness of Freedom Hills, Key Underwood sadly buried his faithful coondog, Troop. They had hunted together for more than 15 years. They had been close friends.

The burial spot was a popular hunting camp where coon hunters from miles around gathered.

Out of one hunter's devotion to his faithful coonhound was born the "Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard," which has became a popular tourist attraction and is the only cemetery of its kind in the world.

Other hunters started doing the same when their favorite coon dogs died. Today more than 185 coon dogs from all across the United States are buried in this spot in Northwest Alabama.

A witness and a member of a local coon hunters' organization must verify the deceased was a coon dog before burial is allowed.

"We have stipulations on this thing," says Janice Williams, the secretary/treasurer of the Friends of the Coondog Cemetery, and caretaker of the Coon Dog Cemetery. "A dog can't run no deer, possum -- nothing like that. He's got to be a straight coon dog, and he's got to be full hound. Couldn't be a mixed up breed dog, a house dog."

website

Source

Video: How To Wrap A Cat For Christmas

via MetaFilter

Dogs Are Santa's Favorites

An AP-Petside.com Poll, conducted October 13-20, 2010, by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Corporate Communications, found that 53 percent of pet owners plan to get their animals a present this holiday season. Of these, fifty-six percent of the dog owners say they'll buy their pets a gift this Christmas, but only 48 percent of the cat owners plan a gift.

Also interesting: women (56 percent) are somewhat more likely than men (49 percent) to buy their animals a gift. The poll also showed that renters (66 percent) are more apt to pamper their pets than homeowners (49 percent). And while fewer than half of those who attend religious services weekly or more often say they plan to buy their pets a gift, 60 percent of those who never attend services do.

And while we're talking about Christmas gifts for pets, don't forget to get yours, at i-pets.com.

Winter Pet Safety

What a great idea!

Morton® Safe-T-Pet™ Ice Melt was developed with veterinarians to be safer for your furry friends. It's completely salt and chloride free - so it won't irritate pets' paws or stomachs. Morton® Safe-T-PetT Ice Melt is also non-toxic, and it won't irritate skin, so it's better for people and plants, as well as paved surfaces.

Pet and people friendly: Veterinarian approved, chloride-free, non-toxic

Safer for environment: Better for plants and concrete than regular salt

Easy to see: Colored pellets provide clear visibility

***
To celebrate Morton Salt’s new Facebook Fan Page, they have launched a contest, “What’s Your Morton Salt Secret?” They’re looking for readers to share a photo of their best nifty tip, trick or use of Morton Salt.

The grand prize winner will receive a $1,000 AMEX gift card and a Morton Salt prize pack. Morton Salt will also be awarding four Runner-up winners and six Sweepstakes winners with prize packs!

You can enter the contest here

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Please check before inserting foot

via Cute Overload

Another celeb Frenchie fan

Ashley Olsen touched down at Los Angeles airport with her adorable traveling companion.

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Very CUTE (& the dog, too)

Actor Gilles Marini and his French Bulldog Mila.

via People Pets

Too many turkey days - must sleep now!

A Squirrel's Guide to Fashion

In the early 1940s, a woman in Washington, DC, adopted a squirrel after she found the critter orphaned in a tree. The squirrel, dubbed Tommy Tucker by the family -- of which he soon became a part -- accompanied the lady of the house on shopping trips, visits to the local children's hospital, and the like. She also, it turned out, enjoyed dressing him up in specially made outfits.



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via The Pet Museum