Sept. 14/2022

 

New Evidence Suggests That Even Spiders Have Dreams

"A behavioral ecologist has made a fascinating discovery that could challenge what we know of arachnids. When Daniela Robler conducted an experiment in her home which involved keeping & observing jumping spiders in clear plastic boxes on her windowsill, she couldn't have imagined what she'd find. She had become suspicious that something interesting was going on when she went to check on them one evening only to find the spiders suspended motionless beneath the lids of their boxes. 'I had no idea what happened,' she said. 'I thought they were dead.' It soon became apparent, however, that the arachnids were simply sleeping, so she set up a camera to watch them all night long & that's when the magic happened. In the recordings, the spiders could be seen twitching during brief periods of time. 'They were just uncontrollably twitching in a way that really looked a lot like when dogs or cats dream & have their little REM phases,' said Robler. What she discovered was that spiders, too, seem to experience periods of REM sleep & could in fact be capable of  experiencing dreams in much the same way as other animals do. 'It wouldn't surprise me at all if (jumping spiders) have dreams,' said behavioral ecologist Lisa Taylor. 'They live in such a rich sensory world, & we know they have amazing cognitive capabilities & memory.'"

Flying Cow N.S. 

Aug./Sept. 2022

facebook.com/flyingcownovascotia

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Sept. 21/2022

 

Queen’s beloved horse Emma bids farewell to late monarch at Windsor Castle

"Queen Elizabeth II’s beloved horse, Carltonlima Emma, bid farewell to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch as the Queen’s coffin processed through Windsor Castle on Monday.

Many of the Queen’s 4-legged friends, including her 2 corgis Sandy & Muick, made a special appearance at Windsor during the funeral procession. The black fell pony, nicknamed Emma, stood on the grounds as the Queen’s coffin made its way up the Long Walk to St George’s Chapel.

The horse was accompanied by Terry Pendry, the Queen’s head groom, who has held the position for the past 25 years. The Stud Groom bowed his head as the State Hearse passed by, while Emma stood reverently by his side.

The fell pony showed off her luxurious black coat as she was dressed in a black riding blanket, adorned with the Queen’s cipher. Emma was commonly known for being the Queen’s favourite riding horse, according to Pendry, who said in 2020 that 'Emma has been a wonderful servant to Her Majesty & is still going strong at the age of 24 as one of The Queen’s riding ponies”.

Queen Elizabeth has served as a patron of the Fell Pony Society since 1982. In honour of her 90th birthday in 2016, the Fell Pony Society surprised the Queen with a lineup of 120 fell ponies.

In 2020, Vanity Fair reported the Queen was “riding daily” at Windsor Castle while isolating with Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh amid the Covid-19 pandemic. 'She is riding out every day & is making the most of this time,' a source said.

This past April, the Queen marked her 96th birthday by posing with 2 of her all-white fell ponies, Bybeck Nightingale & Bybeck Katie, for a new portrait. Photographer Henry Dallal snapped the new portrait of the Queen in March on the grounds of Windsor Castle, against a blooming magnolia tree.

Horse racing was also a big sporting fascination of the Queen, who rode her first horse at the age of 3. The Queen is believed to have owned nearly 100 horses, from which she is estimated to have earned around £7m from prize money over the years.

Following her death on 8 September, there was much speculation over who would inherit the Queen’s troop of horses, considering the Queen herself inherited her father King George VI’s stock when she ascended the throne in 1952. But according to royal author Claudia Joseph, Princess Anne & her daughter, Zara Tindall, are expected to make the decision as to what happens next to the Queen’s horses.

Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest on Monday in a private burial service after her state funeral that took place in Westminster & Windsor came to an end.

The Queen’s coffin has been placed in the George VI memorial chapel in St George’s Chapel, at Windsor Castle, alongside her husband Prince Philip & her parents – King George VI & the Queen Mother."

Meredith Clark

9/19/2022

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Sept. 7/2022

 

Which Cat Breeds Have the Longest Life Span?

"Perhaps the biggest heartbreak pet owners face is that we will generally live longer than our best friends. But with good nutrition, regular visits to the veterinarian, (& of course, lots of love), we can extend the lives of our pets. While the average lifespan of cats will vary depending on genetic factors, conditioning, diet, & access to healthcare — some breeds are celebrated for their long lifespans.

Genetic characteristics that influence a cat’s lifespan

Although the median longevity for a cat is 14 years, there are other characteristics that influence your cat's average lifespan.

Veterinary Epidemiologist Dan G. O'Neil of the Royal Veterinary College identified these factors in a review of dozens of studies within the VetCompass research database:

Crossbred cats (aka mixes) live longer than purebred cats: 9-17 years versus 12.5 years

Cats with lower body weight will often live longer

Cats who have been neutered or spayed will typically live longer, too

Females will usually outlive males by 2 years

'By far the most comprehensive study of more than 4,000 cats with complete longevity records, median longevity of females was 2 years — or about 15% greater — than the longevity of all males (15 years versus 13 years). In that study as well as in the earlier ones, the impact of neutering on lifespan extension was greater than the impact of sex, however,' writes O'Neil.

O'Neil's research also identified common health risk factors that compromise the longevity of your cat, including:

Trauma

Renal disorder

Neoplasma

Mass lesion disorders

So, again, regular visits to the veterinarian will be a crucial component for your moggie's health & longevity.

10 cat breeds that live the longest

Even though the majority of cats are mixes, according to the ASPCA, your cat will share the genetic traits of several breeds. Who knows? If your kitty is crossbred with a ragdoll & Burmese, you may have a cat with a dozen lives, instead of 9!

Burmese: 18-25 years

Ragdoll: 15-25 years

European shorthair: 15-25 years

Balinese: 18-20 years

Bombay: 18-20 years

American shorthair: 15-20 years

Siamese: 15-20 years

Russian blue: 10-20 years

Persian: 15-18 years

Japanese bobtail: 15-18 years

Burmese

A Burmese named Kataleena Lady is among the oldest cats on record, living a whopping 27 years. Originally crossbred between a Burma & a Siamese cat, the Burmese enjoys one of the longest average lifespans among cats: between 18-25 years.

Burmese

Ragdoll

Known for their luscious, silky coats, ragdolls get their name from a particularly cute characteristic. Many parents report their ragdolls to go completely limp when relaxed — hence, the term "ragdoll." And with an expected lifespan of 15-25 years, ragdolls will have lots of time to unwind.

Ragdoll

European Shorthair

Recognized as one of the oldest European cat breeds, the European shorthair is known for being a skilled mouser who loves nothing more than to chase grasshoppers, mice, & butterflies through fields & barns. With a 15-25 year average lifespan, they'll catch a lot of mice, too.

Balinese

Truly a beautiful moggie, the Balinese is the result of a genetic mutation from a Siamese cat that produced a longer, fuller coat. This aristocrat is renowned for their good looks & intelligence — 2 qualities which you will enjoy over the course of their 18- to 20-year lifespan.

Bombay

Resembling a tiny panther, the jet-black Bombay was originally crossbred between a black American shorthair & a Burmese. The Bombay cat is famous for perching on window sills, bookshelves, & other high places where they can survey their territory. Since they enjoy an average lifespan of 18-20 years, a Bombay cat will see quite a bit of the world go by.

American Shorthair

The aptly-named American shorthair is a true original. No, seriously — there are records of this breed crossing the Atlantic on the Mayflower. In fact, like their European cousins, the American shorthair is such a talented mouser, they were mainstays on trans-Atlantic voyages as working cats who chased down rodents & other vermin. Look forward to yours living an average of 15-20 years.

         

                           

Siamese

While there is controversy about the first, distinct cat breed, many historians attribute that honor to Siamese cats. It's generally believed the Siamese originated in Thailand during the 14th century, where they make the earliest appearance of any cat breed in ancient texts. Expect the oldest-living breed to live to old age, between 15-20 years.

Russian Blue

You'll also have lots of time to cuddle your Russian blue. This regal cat is celebrated for their bright green eyes & blue-gray coat — that does not shed, by the way. Russian blues generally live for about 10-20 years.

Persian

Believed among the world's oldest cat breeds, the Persian won "Best in Show" during the first-ever cat show in 1871. Another fun fact about Persian cats: Marilyn Monroe was mother to a white one named Mitsou. You can anticipate yours to live a healthy 15-18 years.

Japanese Bobtail

A truncated, bushy tail (similar to a rabbit) is the sign of a Japanese bobtail. Similar to the Siamese cat, this breed first made an appearance several centuries ago in Kaempfer's Japan, a historical book written by Dr. Englebert Kaempfer in 1701. Look forward to your Japanese bobtail living between 15-18 years.

In summary

It's not uncommon for cats to reach the age of 14 or older, yet, some breeds stand out as living longer. While there are no guarantees that your kitty will live into their late teens or early 20s, like many cat breeds on this list, providing yours with a healthy, balanced diet & regular vet check-ups — will all go a long way towards having a life-long companion."

Ryan Tronier, B.Sc

Jan. 28/2022

cuteness.com

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