I know it doesn't have anything at all to do with cats, but I still thought this article about how a type of giant rat in Africa defends itself against predators was fascinating.
Simple enough: chew on poisonous plant, coat hairs along your back with your poisonous saliva, stand back and wait for anybody who tries to grab you along your back to get the unpleasant surprise of their lives. It's apparently not enough toxin to kill, yet enough to give the predator a memorably bad experience so as to deter further predation.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Health Officials Issue Warning on Rabid Bats
Gleaned directly from our own Los Angeles Times:
"In the wake of a recent uptick of rabid bats in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, health officials are warning the public not to handle bats or other wildlife.
"Twelve rabid bats have been found scattered across Los Angeles County since the beginning of the year, numbers that are above normal.
"Typically, about eight to 10 rabid bats are found each year, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Heath.
snip
"These numbers do not mean that the public should become alarmed. Most bats do not have rabies," Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, said in a statement Friday. "However we want everyone to be aware of what they should do if they see a bat on the ground, or if they or their pets come into contact with a bat."
~~~~~
Read the rest of the article at the link.
"In the wake of a recent uptick of rabid bats in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, health officials are warning the public not to handle bats or other wildlife.
"Twelve rabid bats have been found scattered across Los Angeles County since the beginning of the year, numbers that are above normal.
"Typically, about eight to 10 rabid bats are found each year, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Heath.
snip
"These numbers do not mean that the public should become alarmed. Most bats do not have rabies," Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, said in a statement Friday. "However we want everyone to be aware of what they should do if they see a bat on the ground, or if they or their pets come into contact with a bat."
~~~~~
Read the rest of the article at the link.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
10 Bats Test Positive for Rabies in Moorpark
Here I go again with another rabies post - but we can never do enough to get the word about this very real deadly disease threat in our own neighborhood. Moorpark, like much of Los Angeles County, has a bat rabies problem. And these rabid bats can and do get inside people's homes on a regular basis. So this report from the Sacramento Bee comes as absolutely NO surprise. Well, other than that we have to find out about this from a newspaper up north.....
This serves as a reminder that we need to keep our cats (and dogs) current on their rabies vaccinations at all times and regardless of their lifestyles. Rabies vaccine is extremely safe and highly effective, so there is no medical justification for not giving it (other than recent fever or physical debilitation).
And of course annual rabies vaccinations are an important time for your cat to get its annual or semi-annual physical exam to ensure that all its health needs are being met.
Read more about rabies at CDC's web page.
This serves as a reminder that we need to keep our cats (and dogs) current on their rabies vaccinations at all times and regardless of their lifestyles. Rabies vaccine is extremely safe and highly effective, so there is no medical justification for not giving it (other than recent fever or physical debilitation).
And of course annual rabies vaccinations are an important time for your cat to get its annual or semi-annual physical exam to ensure that all its health needs are being met.
Read more about rabies at CDC's web page.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Prison Possible in Cats' Deaths
Animal abuse seems to know no bounds. I support harsh punishment for those who deliberately harm pets. Such people are often just a short step away from doing the same thing to humans.
I try not to read too many of these sorts of stories - they make me almost physically ill.
From the Omaha World Herald:
A Nebraska City man who police say strangled two of his family's cats now faces a possible prison term.
Police arrested Eric Inman, 47, last week after they found the pets buried in the back yard of his residence. He has since been charged with two felony counts of animal cruelty, which carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
A veterinarian who examined the cats determined they died by strangulation, said police Capt. Lonnie Neeman.
"We have animal neglect calls about every day, but we've never had anything quite like this before," he said.
snip
~~~~~
Read the rest of the story here.
I try not to read too many of these sorts of stories - they make me almost physically ill.
From the Omaha World Herald:
A Nebraska City man who police say strangled two of his family's cats now faces a possible prison term.
Police arrested Eric Inman, 47, last week after they found the pets buried in the back yard of his residence. He has since been charged with two felony counts of animal cruelty, which carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
A veterinarian who examined the cats determined they died by strangulation, said police Capt. Lonnie Neeman.
"We have animal neglect calls about every day, but we've never had anything quite like this before," he said.
snip
~~~~~
Read the rest of the story here.
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