The swinging is SO CUTE!!
Kitty Cams!
April 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment
National Geographic and the University of Georgia Kitty Cams Project captured the actions of cats wearing cameras on the collars from November 2010 to October 2011.
During that time, 55 cats collected an average of 37 hours of video a piece.
The videos show cats doing all kinds of cat things! Walking around their homes, stalking birds, eating lizards, climbing trees, walking on roofs etc
The goal of the project was to learn about the predatory practices of cats and specifically, how much wildlife they were killing in their suburban environments. Turns out cats aren’t as “bad” as the biologists thought.
During their research, researchers reviewed more than 2,000 hours of footage. They determined that cats do not hunt as much as we thought they did.
“About 44 percent of cats engaged in predatory behavior. We found in suburban areas, they are catching small lizards and small snakes, so that was surprising. They were also eating worms and catching butterflies, things they would never bring home. So without this camera, we’d have no idea what they were doing,” said one researcher.
The younger male cats were more prone to participate in what was called “risky” behavior. Boys will be boys!
Mr. Bill Battles the Remote Controlled Tarantula!
April 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment
This was sent in by Silly Kitty fan Robert… thanks Robert!
Prison Cats
April 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Shelter cats who otherwise might have been euthanized are getting a new lease on life, while at the same time contributing to the lives of prison inmates.
Cuddly Catz prison foster home program was launched two weeks ago at the minimum security prison at Larch Corrections Center near Yacolt, WA.
Inmates participating in the Cuddly Catz program become foster parents for these kitties and live with them around the clock in their cell. Besides performing all necessary cat duties, the inmate’s patient, gentle interaction with their kitties (whose behavioral problems may have led to their shelter surrender) is helping to achieve a major program goal… rehabilitating the cats & the inmate!
One inmate, 28-year-old Joey Contreras said, “When you’re doing prison time, you get set in certain ways and forget what it’s like to have everyday interactions and be compassionate.” His cellmate, 37-year-old Joseph Walter added, “Prison time can make inmates mean”.
The cat’s unconditional love helps to ignite inmate’s more compassionate and gentler side.
An extensive screening process is required for inmates to participate in the program. Since safety for the animals is the program’s top priority, inmate candidates must not have committed a violent crime against animals or humans, be free of any prison infractions for at least six months and will be remaining in prison for at least a year after receiving a cat.
An outdoor prison enclosure was built to give inmates and cats fresh air and room in which to play.
Below is a video from MSNBC about other cat/inmate programs.
Corky the Kitten Gets New Legs
April 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment
After a months-long Facebook campaign that resulted in an outpouring of donations from all over the world, staff members at CATS Cradle Shelter Rescue and Adoption in Fargo, North Dakota were able to arrange a life-saving surgery for Corky the rescue kitten born with leg deformities.
Corky Before Surgery
Our hero Dr. Dan Burchill, basically invented this surgery just for Corky. It took about five hours to correct a rare congenital condition called “Bilateral Arthrogryposis of the Tarsus,” which causes the legs to develop backwards and criss-crossed.
Corky will now go thru weeks of training to use the new legs but is already at a great start… yay!
