This photograph was so appealing to me. Seems like this adorable Pit Bull, Butch, who owns Laurentha must be having a wonderful dream. I just love the smile on his face.
I do wonder what he is dreaming about, though. What do you all think?
Mr. Butch is Pet of the Week on Frequently Feline. Since he shares his home with several kitties, I am sure he is comfortable with his appearance here!
Congratulations to both Laurentha and Butch!
I often wonder exactly what horses are thinking! Or are they actually involved in thought or attempting to scope out their environment and learn about the proximity of others of the same species?
I am sure we could come up with many "translations" of Kim's Quarter Horse Bam's facial expression, but in reality she may just be trying to get a better "whiff" of an odor left by one of her equine companions.
While it appears that Bam is turning up her nose or laughing, this behavior is called the flehmen response (from the German, meaning to curl the upper lip). Horses, felines and other mammals draw their lips back to facilitate the transfer of pheromones and scents into another of their organs, called the Jacobson's Organ.
I have witnessed my cats engaging in this activity often when I am introducing a new food. Initially I thought that it was a negative comment about the product, but in reality it is giving them a higher degree of information. And I took it purrsonally for such a long time.
But don't you think that this is a funny face? If I didn't know better, I would be tempted to think that she might have been commenting on the recent Presidential Primaries!
Have you observed your pets displaying a flehmen response? What did you think it meant? Leave a comment and let us know.
People frequently ask me if it is safe to have a cat at home when a new baby arrives.
Cats and babies can be great pals and in fact many cats adore infants, as this photograph illustrates.
That being said, learning more about prudent precautions, becoming informed about the fascinating myths that surround the relationship between infants and felines, will help in creating a safe and secure situation for them both.
I found an excellent article on this topic that covers all of the above. Feel free to pass this information along to friends who will find it useful.
Cats and Babies: Fact vs. Myth
by Cathleen Chance Vecchiato
Doesn't this baby and kitty look "blissed" out? I sure think so!
Kim and Breeze: Happy horse keeping
Horses are one of our most popular companions. We need to put an end to the slaughter of these magnificent animals. We need your help!
Tuesday March 4, and Wednesday, March 5, approximately 80 FOB's (Fans of Barbaro) will be gathering in Washington, D.C. to lobby for the passage of S. 311 and H.R.503. This is a powerful group and one which has done an amazing amount of work to help all horses
These two bills must be passed in order to finally end horse slaughter once- and for- all. The transportation of horses outside the United States destined to be slaughtered for meat for human consumption in foreign countries must be stopped. The doors to the foreign based horse slaughter plants in the United States have finally shut and we also must close the pipeline of horses being shipped outside our country destined for slaughter. We must have these bills finally passed so that our beloved horses will be protected from the acts of cruelty to which they are being subjected in plants outside the U.S. borders.
You can help! All you need to do is pick up your phone and call the Capitol Switchboard at: 1-800-828-0498 and ask to be connected to your Senators and Representative's extensions. This is a toll free number.
If you wish to call your Senators or Representatives directly, here are their contact links.
U.S. Senate:
You just have to say that you are calling about S.311 when you talk with your Senator's aides in their office, or when you are talking with your State Representative, tell them you are asking them to support H.R.503. Let them know that you are strongly against horse slaughter, and leave a message for your Senator or Representative that you want them to support/ co-sponsor these bills.
It only takes but a few minutes to make these calls. Your voice does count! You can help our horses be safe and protected.
Please share this crucial information with your horse loving friends. Collectively we are a powerful group.Together we can make a difference!
Something is catching the cats' attention!
We are not sure that all of the spraying problems have stopped, but there sure has been a fantastic improvement. I thought that I might have found one little spot where I caught a whiff of that all to well know odor of cat pee, and I thoroughly cleaned the area, just in case it was fresh.
We had suspected that an outside "stranger" tom cat, who was roaming our neighborhood, yowling and calling for a mate, may have initiated the spraying behavior. Thankfully this traveling salesman has vacated the area and no further sounds or threats have been made. Thus the need for defensive action to protect territories is no longer needed.
We also isolated who we suspected might have been the main spraying culprit, as opposed to "peeing" on the bed. Trouble, renamed "Hubble" (for now) to end any negative associations with his name, was isolated to measure his fluid intake. Alone in the bedroom, his marking "deposits" on the new plastic covered mattress was all the evidence we needed.
Just to be sure we isolated Puppy and Lucy separately, with no further inappropriate elimination. Lucy is being treated with Amytryptaline which seems to be calming to her. She has no more evidence of crystals either.
"Hubble" has calmed down significantly. He is doing well on Desmopressin to treat his Diabetes Insipidus,and Amytryptaline to relieve anxiety. His water intake has decreased and his urine appears to be concentrating. Dr. Holder will be testing him tomorrow to monitor his progress.
Hush Puppy is doing great. With the decreasing domination behavior by "Hubble", he is much more relaxed and not as nervous.
We are optimistic that this stressful time has come to an end. Inappropriate elimination is a very complex and difficult problem to deal with. It takes patience and a good deal of detective work, and the support of skilled veterinary care.
More news will be posted as time progresses. We are thankfully beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
This heart warming video uploaded to YouTube by elawwalani, is an incredible tribute to the love and trust that is possible between a lion and his keeper
After being rescued six years ago by his keeper, this African lion is enjoying life, safely residing in a sanctuary in Cali, Columbia.
I am sure that you will be as deeply moved as I was.
Foaling season is upon us again.
I have seen many amazing photographs of mares with their babies, but this one unique picture stole my heart. Thanks to BarnGoddess2 for sharing this very unusual pose of a new mom and her baby, with us.
This mom really looks a bit "tuckered" out, don't you think? But maternity seems rather blissful to me, judging by the look on her face.
There is nothing more miraculous than watching a new foal come into the world. Horse lovers will become addicted to following their favorite mare's progress in their pregnancy and delivery times by visiting MareStare.com
One can join chats and message boards through this web site where sharing excitement and joy is welcomed.
But don't say I did not warn you! One can spend hours waiting for the arrival of a baby!
Enjoy!
