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Cats and hairballs are simply a fact of life... if you're a cat

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

Cats are often praised for their elegance and independence, but pet owners know they come with a few less glamorous realities. One of the most common and messy of these is the hairball. While the sight and sound of a cat hacking up a hairball may be unpleasant, the issue is natural and usually harmless. Still, understanding what hairballs are, ...Read more

What to do when your dog does the booty scoot

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

When a dog suddenly scoots its rear end across the floor, many pet owners respond with laughter, confusion, or mild horror—especially if it’s happening on a freshly cleaned carpet. The behavior, commonly referred to as “boot scooting,” may look comical, but it often signals that something is bothering the dog’s backside. While an ...Read more

'Organs-on-a-chip' is one of many alternatives to animal testing

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

There’s one area of surprising agreement in the often adversarial relationship between conservatives and the scientific community: the need to phase out animal testing in biomedical research.

The new leaders of both the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration have said they plan to reduce their use in federally ...Read more

This entrepreneur has scientific approach to a better cat toy

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

In the basement of a ranch-style home in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, Allison Zank is hard at work in her laboratory.

Oils are being heated in a water bath. Botanical substances are awaiting extractions and infusions. There’s a white board diagramming the molecular makeup of pheromonal compounds such as actinidine and civetone.

Elsewhere in ...Read more

Matt Stone/Boston Herald/TNS

Expert in Karen Read retrial testifies John O'Keefe's injuries are dog bites

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

DEDHAM, Mass. — A medical doctor testified in the Karen Read murder trial that she believes wounds to John O’Keefe’s arm were “inflicted by a dog.”

“There are multiple groupings of wounds,” Dr. Marie Russell said as she used a laser pointer to indicate on a photograph of O’Keefe’s arm each wound grouping: to the upper arm, to ...Read more

Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group/TNS

Why cats are orange (and tortoiseshell and calico)

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

Nine thousand years ago, humans began domesticating cats. Nine hundred years ago, before the advent of intentional cat breeding, a genetic mutation gave rise to the first orange cat. Days ago, Stanford Medicine researchers revealed exactly which gene created the fuzzy fodders for Garfield, Puss In Boots and Toulouse from "The Aristocats," to ...Read more

Cat's Meow

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

New research suggests some cats may actually have what it takes to serve as therapy animals.

An international research team found that certain cats possess specific behavioral traits that make them suitable as therapeutic companions.

These cats tend to be more social with both humans and other cats, more attention-seeking and more tolerant of ...Read more

Helen H. Richardson/THE DENVER POST/TNS

Turning to animal communicators to talk to pets -- both dead and alive

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

DENVER — Josh McGirk was skeptical about animal communicators.

The south Denver resident loved his four-legged family members and was at his wits’ end after adopting a new cat, Amelie, who his two other cats were terrorizing.

He heard mixed reviews about people who claimed to be able to communicate with pets, but Amelie’s separation ...Read more

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi mourning death of beloved rescue dog

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are mourning the loss of their rescue dog.

The former talk show host and her wife's beloved Beagle-Chihuahua mix, Augie, sadly passed away on May 15.

The couple took in the pooch more than a decade ago.

Sharing a series of photographs of Augie chilling around their home, Ellen wrote on Instagram on May 16: ...Read more

Julia Roberts' beloved dog dies

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

Julia Roberts' beloved dog has died.

The 'Pretty Woman' actress adopted Myrtle from a rescue centre as a pup in 2006 but she revealed on Friday (16.05.25) that the pooch, who she hailed a "legend", had passed away.

Sharing a photo of her dog on Instagram, Julia, 57, wrote: "Our Myrtle. A Legend. 2006-2025 [crown emoji] (sic)"

Jennifer Aniston...Read more

Taking the Kids: And the Pets

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

The VIP was greeted effusively by the hotel staff and found special amenities and treats in her hotel room.

But at the newly renovated Radisson Hotel Salt Lake City Downtown, this VIP was our 12-pound rescue pup Loni, who found a dog bed, toy, dog biscuits and ...Read more

The Transylvanian Hound continues to captivate

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

The Transylvanian Hound, known in its native Hungary as the Erdélyi Kopó, is a storied breed with deep roots in the Carpathian Basin. Once a prized hunting companion for the nobility of medieval Europe, this ancient scent hound is renowned for its agility, endurance, and keen nose, making it an exceptional hunter across rugged terrain.

The ...Read more

Tips on how to prepare for a natural disaster with your pup

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

Environmental emergencies and disasters affect all areas of the country and world. Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and wildfires are the most common ones among others such as chemical and water breeches.

Every household should have a plan of action in case of an emergency for both you and your pets. The American Kennel Club offers tips on ...Read more

Rebecca White/New York Daily News/TNS

Little Maltese dog plucked from East River adopted by NYPD savior

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

NEW YORK — A small white Maltese found struggling to stay afloat in the East River six weeks ago has a new owner — one of the NYPD Harbor Unit cops who plucked him from the water.

Police Officer Jared Desalvo opened his home to the small dog, now named Hudson, after picking up the adorable pooch at the Animal Care Centers of NYC’s Queens ...Read more

More than extra pounds: How obesity shapes a dog’s health at the cellular level

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

The bond between a dog and its owner can be so strong that a loving owner might do things that aren’t healthy for their dog out of a desire to please their pup. For instance: A common way we get overweight dogs is from overfeeding them, whether through putting too much in their bowls or handing out too many treats, because that bond is even ...Read more

Jerry Zezima/Jerry Zezima/TNS

How to be walked by your dog

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

I may be barking up the wrong tree, but as a human who has been owned by several canines, I am in a good position — standing, running or being yanked in several directions at once — to pass along my expert tips on walking a dog.

Tip No. 1: You do not walk a dog. The dog walks you.

I have been reintroduced to this pet project since Opal, a ...Read more

Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group/TNS

Dog data may help track dangerous disease for humans

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

SAN JOSE, Calif. — For man’s best friend, pet owners often go to great lengths – whether that’s doggy day care and specialty pup chow, or late nights at the vet running tests that drain bank accounts.

Now, a new study by researchers from UC Davis and UC Berkeley has found a way our canine companions can help us, offering a unique ...Read more

Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group/TNS

Dog data may help track dangerous disease for humans

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

SAN JOSE, Calif. — For man’s best friend, pet owners often go to great lengths – whether that’s doggy day care and specialty pup chow, or late nights at the vet running tests that drain bank accounts.

Now, a new study by researchers from UC Davis and UC Berkeley has found a way our canine companions can help us, offering a unique ...Read more

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne to open animal rescue centre after Black Sabbath reunion gig

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon are planning to open an animal rescue centre after Black Sabbath's reunion gig.

The veteran rocker has admitted he will be retiring from performing after the 'Back To The Beginning' gig in his home town of Birmingham, England in July because he wants to spend more time with his family while Sharon is hoping to ...Read more

Tips on dog-friendly gardening

Pets / Cats & Dogs News /

It is that time of the year when people are starting to tend to their gardens again. While we love filling our homes with our favorite plants and flowers, some of them can be dangerous to our furry friends.

To help keep your garden dog-friendly, the American Kennel Club offers the following advice.

Pick your plants carefully. From ...Read more