Nov. 4/2026

Weird Ways Cats Say 'Thank You' To Us

By Sheri Radford  

Sept. 15/2025 

Dogs are renowned for being loving & loyal to their owners, while all too often, cats get viewed as aloof & uncaring. The truth is that cats can be fiercely devoted to their human companions, but these furry little weirdos show their gratitude & affection in ways we sometimes misunderstand. The onus should be on us, then, to learn to correctly interpret their loving actions, body language, & vocalizations.

Whenever a cat brings home a dead animal, many pet owners freak out, not recognizing the mouse or bird as the gift that the cat intends it to be. The cat is trying to say "thank you" or "I love you" by sharing a meal with you & perhaps even attempting to teach you how to hunt, the way a mother cat educates her kittens. Similarly, an indoor cat may present you with a beloved toy as a substitute for the gift of a dead prey animal.

When your cat licks you, that little sandpaper tongue can feel uncomfortable, especially when the target of the enthusiastic licking is your eyelids or hair. However, this grooming behavior demonstrates that your cat cares about you & wants to mark you as part of its social group. 

Other odd ways cats may show gratitude & affection

A cat might knead its favorite human as a demonstration of thankfulness & love. This "making biscuits" on your chest or thighs can be painful, given the sharpness of a cat's claws, & it definitely ruins delicate clothing, but kneading is an extremely positive feline behavior. The soothing repetitive action helps a cat relax & show love while creating a cozy nest filled with its own pheromones — thanks to the scent glands in the paws — & it may remind the cat of the peaceful days when it was a nursing kitten, kneading its mother to stimulate the flow of milk. 

A cat that puts its butt in your face, similarly, is paying you a great compliment, demonstrating how much it loves & trusts you. Unfortunately, it's a message many people misinterpret — most likely because it involves a close-up view of a furry derriere. Love bites are sometimes signs of feline affection, though these gentle bites may quickly escalate into real bites that break the skin. The key is to learn your cat's specific body language so you can distinguish between a love bite that indicates "play with me more" versus one that says "stop playing with me now." 

Cute ways cats convey 'thank you' & 'I love you'

Cat bunting (also known as headbutting) is one of the sweeter ways that your pet may be communicating love & gratefulness. Cat faces have many scent glands, so when a cat rubs its face on you, it's depositing its pheromones & marking you as a beloved member of the family. Common cat noises, such as purring, trilling, chirping, & meowing, can also be signs of affection. These feline vocalizations can express everything from "hello" & "feed me" to "thank you" & "I love you." Your cat may also be sending you positive messages by following you around the house or curling up to sleep near you.

One sign of feline affection that humans frequently misunderstand — or don't even notice — is a cat's slow blinking. Direct eye contact followed by a deliberately slow blink indicates love, trust, & relaxation. When your cat gives you a slow blink, mirror the loving message by doing a slow blink in return. 

Also commonly misunderstood is the "tummy trap." A cat may expose its belly to you to signal trust, affection, & gratitude, but far too many people interpret this enticing fuzzy kitty tummy as a request for a belly rub. While it's true that some cats do enjoy belly rubs, an exposed tummy is more likely your cat's way of indicating it trusts you so completely that it feels comfortable exposing its vulnerable stomach area to you. It's worth taking the time to learn to interpret your kitty's individual quirks so you can say "thank you" & "I love you" back in ways your pet can understand. 

Read More: https://www.cuteness.com/1962015/weird-ways-cats-say-thank-you-to-us/

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Oct. 28/2026

                             

Is it a boy or a girl? For alligators, it may come down to one degree

by Savannah Peat, University of Georgia

Is it a boy or a girl? For alligators, it may come down to one degree

The future of the alligator species could come down to a one- or two-degree temperature difference, according to new research from the University of Georgia. The findings are published in the Journal of Experimental Biology.

A small change on the thermometer could determine whether a gator develops as a male or female. And that could have ramifications for alligator populations as temperatures rise.

Typically, incubations at cooler temperatures (think 86 to 88 degrees Fahrenheit) & hot spells (97 degrees Fahrenheit & above) result in more female gators. Moderate temperatures (90 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit) yield more males.

But these trends largely reflect controlled experiments in laboratories in which alligator eggs are incubated under constant temperatures.

Nests in the wild don't experience constant temperatures; instead, temperatures fluctuate due to heat waves or just going from day to night.

The present study gives scientists a better understanding of real-world nest conditions.

"For population health & stability, I think it means that those small differences are really important," said Benjamin Parrott, senior author of the study & an associate professor in UGA's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory & Odum School of Ecology. "Whenever a population is out of balance, it can impact population growth. Whenever you start to lose females, then the population can really get in trouble."

Hotter weather could skew gator hatchlings female

The researchers collected 146 alligator eggs from 7 nests in South Carolina. They incubated the eggs under 5 different temperatures, averaging 86 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit, with small daily fluctuations (around 5 degrees) to simulate realistic nest conditions. They then identified the resulting sex of the alligators & used that to create a new model that connects offspring sex with incubation temperature.

Their new model closely matched previous sex outcomes at cooler temperatures. But at higher temperatures, even a change of one or two degrees made a big difference in whether alligator embryos developed as male or female.

"We know from monitoring nests that these temperature cycles fluctuate. But we also know that a small difference can lead to mostly males or mostly females being produced," Parrott said. "That's really relevant for how the environment is going to be changing in the near future. If temperatures are biasing sex ratios, that's a big issue."

The eggs' swap back to a female outcome occurred at a lower temperature threshold than anticipated. Whereas some previous models expected the flip to happen around 97 degrees Fahrenheit, the new model suggests that sex was more likely to be female starting at 93 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures between the 2 female-producing ranges still produce mostly males.

Previous studies also found temperatures above about 94 degrees Fahrenheit could hurt alligator embryos, with survival oftentimes limited at 97 degrees Fahrenheit. The present study, however, found that not only did short spurts of high temperatures (up to 96 degrees Fahrenheit) not harm the embryos, but they increased the likelihood of embryos developing as females rather than males.

"This work is important because it's trying to ensure that we have an accurate tool to be able to say, "Okay, here's a nest temperature. What sex will the alligators from this nest most likely be as a result?" We're able to know better what to expect," said Karin Ebey, lead author of the study & a doctoral student in the Odum School.

New model helps predict sex more accurately, easily

The model is the first of its kind to predict how incubation temperatures determine a creature's sex while accounting for daily temperature fluctuations. By better reflecting natural weather patterns, it could help researchers more accurately predict alligator sex ratios in the wild. Researchers say the method could also eventually be applied to other critters.

"Alligators are predators, but they are also ecosystem engineers. They're important to the environments they reside in," Ebey said. "Alligators are an abundant & well-studied species, allowing them to serve as a model for other crocodilian species.

"We're hoping what we learn in alligators can also inform conservation efforts for other species of crocodile."

Understanding how temperature impacts these reptiles is increasingly important as global temperatures change.

"It's one step forward, & it's a great tool, but we still need so much more research to be able to properly predict sex ratios in populations of sea turtles, alligators, crocodiles or freshwater turtles," Parrott said. "How are those populations going to respond to different environmental conditions? We still have a long way to go."

This study was co-authored by Christopher Smaga & Mathews Nascimento, graduates of the Odum School, & Thomas Rainwater.

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Oct. 21/2026

                          

Some Monkeys Seem to Become Germophobic After Living Through a Disease Outbreak, Just Like Humans

By Sara Hashemi 

Smithsonianmag.com

Oct. 28/2026 

In early 2020, while humans were sanitizing their groceries & obsessively washing their hands to avoid Covid-19, some Japanese macaques in Texas were dealing with their own outbreak in similar ways. After experiencing the spread of a deadly disease at their sanctuary, the monkeys seemed to become germophobic.

In a study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science on October 21, scientists found that macaques that had experienced the outbreak became more wary of food that appeared contaminated. The findings could help researchers pinpoint the evolutionary origins of disgust, which is at the center of what researchers call the behavioral immune system—a collection of strategies that animals use to evade pathogens.

“We can show now, in non-human primates, that this is the same for them,” says study co-author Federico Rossano, a cognitive scientist at the University of California, San Diego, in a statement. “Even with no knowledge of how disease is transmitted, being exposed to others getting sick & dying changes the likelihood of engaging in behaviors that potentially could lead to some form of sickness.”

The study began with an outbreak of simian retrovirus (SRV) among Japanese macaques at the Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary in southern Texas. SRV causes an AIDS-like immunodeficiency & spreads through scratches & bites. Once a monkey is infected via contaminated bodily fluids, the disease “can take a rapid progression, where about 3 to 4 weeks after you initially get infected, you might die,” says study co-author Stephan Kaufhold, a cognitive & behavioral scientist at UC San Diego, to Jonathan Lambert at NPR.

The sanctuary responded to the outbreak by separating, testing, & quarantining groups of monkeys. That created 4 groups: 3 that experienced the outbreak either by getting sick or witnessing others become ill, & one that hadn’t.

To see how those experiences affected the animals, the researchers set up an experiment where the macaques received 2 plates of grapes, a rare treat. On one plate, a red grape sat on a clean surface, while on the other, a grape sat atop epoxy-coated macaque poop. (Previous research suggests these animals will still eat a high-value snack if it’s presented with poop.)

They repeated this experiment across nearly 200 successful trials among 55 sanctuary-born monkeys. Animals that experienced the outbreak ate the contaminated grape in 47% of trials, whereas those that didn’t experience the outbreak consumed it in 79% of trials.

The macaques that lived through the outbreak avoided the contaminated grape more often than those that didn’t witness the illness’ effects, even though they didn’t know how the disease spread. And in the case of SRV, feces has nothing to do with transmission.

“The monkeys see disease & sick individuals & increase their overall sensitivity, even for a transmission route that is completely unrelated to how the disease actually spreads,” Kaufhold tells Ryan Green at the New York Times. What’s more, monkeys from the exposed groups behaved similarly regardless of whether they had been infected; seeing another individual go through the disease was enough.

In a different experiment, the researchers tested 54 macaques of multiple species from various backgrounds—sanctuary-born, zoo-born, laboratory-reared animals & former pets—to see how upbringing might influence their behavior. Analyses revealed that former pets were much more likely to eat the contaminated food than sanctuary-born macaques raised by their moms.

“One possibility is that these monkeys didn’t have the opportunity to learn typical avoidance behaviors from their mothers & other macaques early in life,” Kaufhold explains in the statement. “Even after living with other monkeys for several years, that early experience may still shape how they respond to potential sources of disease.”

While the study didn’t directly look at disgust, the researchers suspect the animals’ post-outbreak avoidance could have something to do with the emotion. “The possibility that things like disgust are influencing the behavior of other species, & especially species like primates, it’s definitely a possibility worth considering,” says Andrew MacIntosh, a biologist at the Canada-based conservation charity Wilder Institute who wasn’t involved in the study, to NPR.

“It seems plausible that past exposure to outbreaks could make individuals more cautious or risk-averse,” he adds, though he would like to see more research to confirm that. Still, one thing is clear: Many of us want to avoid eating a poop-contaminated grape.

Some Monkeys Seem to Become Germophobic After Living Through a Disease Outbreak, Just Like Humans

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Oct. 14/2026

                           

Black Bear Gets Caught Red-Handed Breaking Into A Home For Snack Time

By Katy Kroll  

Oct. 1/2026 

We all know bears love food. From Winnie the Pooh's endless desire for honey to Yogi Bear stealing picnic baskets, the running jokes about bears' love for snacks abound. There's a reason for that stereotype, as real-life bears are known to forage for food around backyards & campgrounds. But wait till you see this black bear who got caught red-handed on camera breaking into a Lake Tahoe home to grab a few snacks! 

In August 2026, some vacationers came back to a surprise at their California cabin — a hungry black bear had broken in & stolen some snacks. In the surveillance clip, you see the bear on the porch casually ripping out a window screen before pulling itself up & disappearing inside, only to come back out with a pack of brioche buns in its mouth. A report by the Sacramento Bee shared that the unexpected visitor also ate some croissants & steaks out on the porch & then wandered back off into the woods.

"I too like brioche buns," said someone on the ABC News X post. Meanwhile, another person added, "Am I the only one who finds those fluffy creatures cute?🥰 If they weren't so dangerous, I would pet them all day! 😆" Forget the picnic basket — this bear went straight for the kitchen!

Black bears are natural foragers

Black bears are basically opportunistic omnivores, meaning they'll eat whatever is available instead of sticking to one favorite meal. A bear might munch on berries, roll a rotten log for insects, or happily snack on unattended people food left behind at a campsite, making them the ultimate foragers. For the most part, black bears eat a plant-based diet, though they do eat smaller animals & fish. The time of year plays a big role in a black bear's daily food hunt. In spring, they often focus on vegetation & scavenge dead animals after emerging from their dens after a long winter. Meanwhile, summer means plenty of insects, nuts & berries, & other easy-to-find snacks. 

In fall, when bears enter an intense period of eating before winter, they can spend much of their day searching for calorie-rich foods to build up fat reserves for hibernation. Of course, sometimes, a bear's idea of a buffet suspiciously looks like someone's backyard when unsecured garbage, bird feeders, & other household goodies can provide an easy meal, which is why bears occasionally wander into neighborhoods. To a hungry bear, a yard can seem like a convenience store, especially when natural food is harder to find, so keep that in mind & just let them pass through with little fanfare.

Read More: https://www.cuteness.com/2267836/black-bear-breaks-into-home-and-steals-snacks/

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Oct. 7/2026

                           

Why Do Dogs Like Squeaky Toys?

By Jennifer Coates, DVM

Published Apr. 2/2026

Watching your dog play with a new toy is certainly entertaining, but why do dogs like squeaky toys so much? And if your dog couldn’t care less about them, are they missing out? 

Understanding what drives your dog’s preferences can help you choose better toys & keep playtime as entertaining (& safe!) as possible. 

3 Reasons Why Dogs Like Squeaky Toys

Squeaky dog toys tap into some of a dog’s most deep-seated instincts & desires.  

1. It Triggers Their Prey Drive 

Dogs descend from predators. Even the most pampered pooch has an instinctive predatory sequence that involves hunting, stalking, & catching prey.  

When the hunt is successful (from the dog’s point of view), their prey often lets out a high-pitched sound, which squeaky toys effectively mimic. For many dogs, a toy that makes that noise when it’s bitten is simply irresistible because, to them, it means “I caught something!” 

2. The Sound is Immediately Rewarding 

Dogs can quickly develop strong associations between sounds & rewards—that’s the foundation of clicker training, after all.   

When it comes to chewing on a squeaky toy, each bite produces an instant, rewarding sound indicating success, which keeps dogs coming back for more. 

3. People Reinforce the Behavior 

Squeaky toys are also hard for people to ignore. If you give your dog attention when they’re making noise with a toy, you are providing them with another type of reward, making it more likely they’re going to grab a squeaky toy in the future. 

Are Squeaky Toys Good for Dogs?

Yes, squeaky toys for dogs offer benefits that go beyond simple entertainment. 

Mental stimulation: Boredom in dogs is a real problem, & good toys can provide relief. The best options for keeping dogs engaged for as long as possible produce rewards like squeaks or small treats.  

Stress & anxiety relief: When dogs are stressed or anxious, they need a way to release energy & soothe themselves. A play session with a squeaky toy can do both.  

Provides an outlet for normal behavior: Dogs are natural chewers. Supporting teething puppies is important, but chewing is a natural behavior throughout a dog’s life. A squeaky toy that rewards chewing with noise provides positive feedback. 

The Best Squeaky Toys for Dogs

The best squeaky toy depends on your dog’s size, play style, & how aggressively they chew. Here are five good options: 

GNAWSOME Squeaker Bone Dog Toy: A durable, spiky rubber bone that has a satisfying squeak & comes in 2 sizes. 

FuzzWoof FluffBunny Squeaky Plush Dog Toy: A stuffing-free squeaky toy made with tear-resistant fabric & triple-stitched seams. 

Hartz Dura Play Ball Squeaky Latex Dog Toy: A bacon-scented, latex squeaky ball that is available in 2 sizes & great for games of fetch. 

Frisco Monkey Plush Rope Squeaky Dog Toy: Combines the appeal of a rope toy & a squeaky toy. A good option for dogs who like both tugging & chewing.

Ethical Pet Fun Sloth Squeaky Plush Dog Toy: An adorable plush option for dogs who love carrying their toys around & giving them a good squeak. Available in 2 sizes. 

Always supervise your dog with any new squeaky toy before letting them play with it alone. 

And there’s no need to worry if your dog doesn’t like squeaky toys. You can meet all your dog’s needs in other ways, including quieter puzzle feeders, chews, & other types of dog toys. 

Safety Tips for Dog Squeaky Toys

Squeaky toys are great for most dogs, but they do come with some risks. Here’s what to keep in mind. 

Always Supervise Your Dog With a New Squeaky Toy 

Aggressive chewers can destroy squeaky toys & swallow the squeaker or other parts. If your dog eats their toys, it can lead to dangerous gastrointestinal obstructions that often require surgery to correct.  

Watch your dog the first few times they interact with any new toy to ensure it’s safe for them. 

Match the Toy to Your Dog’s Size & Chewing Behavior 

Large dogs who are powerful chewers need durable toys that don’t fit completely in their mouths. Meanwhile, small dogs & careful chewers can get frustrated with toys that are too big & too tough. 

Rotate Toys to Maintain Interest 

Dogs can become bored with toys that are always left out. Rotate through a selection of squeaky toys to help keep your pup interested. 

Inspect Toys Regularly 

Check all of your dog’s toys, including their squeaky toys, for tears, loose parts, or damage before each play session. A toy that was safe yesterday may not be safe today, so always keep a few replacements on hand. 

Dog Squeaky Toys FAQs

What do dogs think when they hear a squeaky toy?

When a dog is chewing on a toy & hears a squeak, they likely think it sounds like a small prey animal that has been caught. This triggers excitement & the urge to continue biting or shaking the toy.  

Are squeaky toys stimulating for dogs? 

Yes, squeaky toys are both physically & mentally stimulating for dogs. The sound provides immediate feedback that reinforces chewing behavior, & the toy's interactive nature keeps dogs engaged. 

Why do dogs rip out the squeaker from toys?

Some dogs are driven to find the source of the squeaking noise & will destroy a toy in the process. Ripping a squeaker from a toy can be seen as part of a dog’s natural predatory sequence.  

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Sept. 30/2026

                      

Thinking Beyond the Dog: Guard Llamas

By Anna O'Brien, DVM

July 26/ 2013

Today I’d like to tell you folks about a neat niche industry that I wasn’t aware of until I started practicing: guard llamas. I first came across a guard llama at a client’s alpaca farm. Amongst the alpacas, I spied a much taller, & much more serious, llama. Thinking he was just a fellow camelid, I was quickly corrected by his owner. “That’s our guard llama.”

Guard llama? Who ever heard of such a thing?

As it turns out, guard llamas are commonly employed out west on sheep & goat farms where predation, especially from coyotes & feral dogs, is a major problem. Alpaca farms, although much smaller venues than sheep farms on the range out west, also have problems with canids, usually in the form of neighbors’ unleashed dogs.

So why pick a llama over a guard dog, with breeds tailored specifically for guarding livestock, such as the Great Pyrenees, Komondors, Akbash, & Anatolian Shepherds? As it turns out, there are many great reasons. Llamas are naturally aggressive toward coyotes & dogs. If they see a predator, they will make a distinctive alarm call & will either run after the predator or gather the flock & stand between the flock & the predator. Although llamas may lack the snarling, growling appearance of an aggressive guard dog, the image of a 600-pound llama running in your direction with ears back should be enough to discourage intrusion!

In 1990, researchers from Iowa State University surveyed sheep farmers in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, California, & Oregon regarding their experiences with guard llamas. Respondents reported an average loss of 21% in sheep annually before getting a llama, & 7% loss afterwards. 80% of the respondents considered their guard llamas as “effective” or “very effective.”

Other than being good at their job, guard llamas have other perks. Firstly, they don’t need to be specifically trained as a guard animal nor do they need to be raised with sheep, as guard dogs require. Llamas aren’t as susceptible to traps & poisons as guard dogs are given their size & generally less inquisitive nature, & “accidents,” meaning a guard animal going after the animals he is supposed to be protecting, are virtually non-existent. Additionally, llamas can eat the same feed as the sheep, be treated with the same medications, vaccinated & dewormed the same way, & can live out on pasture with the sheep. Llamas also have longer life spans than dogs of any breed, frequently living over 20 years.

Donkeys are also sometimes used as guard animals & have most of the same perks as guard llamas over guard dogs, although donkeys are less popular than llamas in this pursuit. Although some donkeys are aggressive to dogs & coyotes, others are complacent, so choosing the right kind of donkey is important for the job at hand.

It is recommended that only one llama be used to protect a flock. A group of llamas will often form their own “clique” & ignore the sheep, goats, or alpacas, which is obviously not conducive to protecting them. Being herd-oriented animals, using a single llama entices him to understand that the sheep/goat flock is now his own herd, & the large size disparity between the llama & the small ruminants encourages dominance in the llama. There are many reports of guard llamas out west becoming very bonded to the small ruminants that they guard.

My first experience with a guard llama gave me the impression he was just a freeloader. He didn’t appear “on guard” or vigilant. In fact, he looked a little too laidback. I was skeptical. However, at a visit to another alpaca farm, while taking care of some young stock, I heard a noise. Inquiring what it was, the client looked up & explained it was the guard llama & that he had heard something so he was raising the alarm. I looked over my shoulder & sure enough, I could see the llama at the perimeter of the pasture, ears up, pacing back & forth, his attention completely centered on whatever was in the woods beyond the fence.

After that, my opinion changed. I was impressed. Guard llamas? Yes, now I’ve heard of them. And I’m a fan.

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