All articles tagged with #cats
Loudoun County health officials warn residents who may have had contact with a rabid cat in the South Riding area to seek medical advice promptly, after one person had contact with the animal before it tested positive and was euthanized. The cat and nearby kittens were observed in the area, and authorities emphasize immediate care for potential exposure, vaccination reminders for pets, and ongoing regional awareness of rabies risk.
Jaylen Brown’s cat-loving post adds to ongoing Celtics trade chatter tied to Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors; Boston reportedly remains open to offers, but no deal is current, and the post appears more playful than a substantive signal.
A veterinarian explains that while cats can get viral infections (including FIV), cat viruses generally don’t infect humans, with rabies as the primary exception; concerns about COVID-19 and novel influenza strains exist, but there’s no evidence that cats commonly spread these to people.
Vietnamese authorities rescued around 400 cats during a crackdown on a cat-meat trafficking ring, in what appears to be one of the country’s largest animal-rescue operations tied to illicit wildlife trade.
Vietnamese police, with an animal-welfare group, dismantled a cat-theft ring, rescuing over 400 live cats (and about 80 dead preserved on ice) and arresting nine suspects; some pets have already been reunited with owners, while the investigation continues.
A stray cat crashed the final scene of a Romeo and Juliet ballet in Turkey, curling up beside Romeo as Juliet wailed, while backstage footage shows onlookers laughing and the cast staying in character.
Pets can suffer seasonal or environmental allergies, typically manifesting as itchy skin and hot spots rather than human-like sneezing; diagnosis starts by ruling out infections, mites, and fleas, since many itchy pets aren’t allergic. At-home tests advertised for pets are unreliable, and a veterinary dermatologist may perform intradermal skin testing to identify culprits. Treatments range from anti-itch medication and shampoos to new targeted drugs; allergen-specific immunotherapy can desensitize the immune system but costs about £1,000 ($1,300) and may take a year, with possible side effects. Keeping a diary of symptoms, noting seasonal patterns, and considering lifestyle changes can help identify triggers. Advances in therapy may shorten the timeline in the future.
Cats can’t taste sweetness because their Tas1r2 sweet-receptor gene became a nonfunctional pseudogene tens of millions of years ago as felids became obligate carnivores; this loss is shared across several carnivore lineages and explains why cats ignore sugary foods, while they retain other tastes such as bitter, sour, salty, and umami.
Researchers, including Louise van der Weyden, study feline cancers to reveal genetic similarities with human cancers, shedding light on the “black box” of feline oncology and informing cross-species cancer biology.
Pixie, a 49-gram premature kitten, and Puck, a 60-gram second premie, were rescued by neonatal kitten expert Hannah Shaw and kept in isolation while receiving intensive care. When they finally met after two weeks, Pixie’s lead helped Puck gain confidence and the pair formed a strong sibling-like bond. Now about two months in, they’re thriving and have a forever home together.
A study of over 1,400 university students and staff across 20 institutions found that individuals with high emotionality—a Big Five trait describing intense feelings—are more interested in cat-based stress-relief programs than dogs. Cat interactions lowered cortisol after about ten minutes, offering fast emotional regulation, and the results held across roles (student or staff) and demographics, suggesting campuses should consider including cats in animal-assisted interventions to reach those who respond best to feline contact.
Wizards of the Coast unveils the Cats Are the Best Superdrop for Magic: The Gathering, releasing June 15, 2026 on MagicSecretLair.com; pre-queue opens at 8 a.m. PT and the sale starts at 9 a.m. PT, with some cards previewed at MagicCon: Las Vegas and free shipping on single orders over $99; more cards to be revealed ahead of release—sign up for updates to stay in the loop.
Blueberry, a 1-year-old munchkin cat rescued by Out of the Woods Rescue, battled severe allergies and secondary infections before vets found two large mouth masses that required full mouth extractions. Now toothless but thriving, she’s bonded with her foster brothers and is seeking a patient family to love and manage her chronic conditions.
Ikea’s PS 2026 Easy Chair is a $200 inflatable armchair built around a tubular frame with a dual-chamber air seat, pumped by a foot pump and wrapped in a fabric layer for comfort. Weighing about 8 kg (18 lb) and packing into a six-inch-thick box, it marks Ikea’s return to inflatable furniture after earlier failures and has reportedly withstood cat testing as well as human testing, signaling potential future air-filled products beyond this chair.
Amazon Prime Video’s Kevin is a chaotic yet heartfelt eight-episode animated coming-of-age about a tuxedo cat who leaves his owners for a shelter, navigating independence alongside a quirky animal ensemble in a distinctly New York setting, with a star-studded voice cast led by Jason Schwartzman and Aubrey Plaza.