Cats

[gr8whitetrukker]

Well i put my companion of 14yrs down today. Looks like she survived the stroke. Kidney failure set in and finished her off. Stopped eating and drinking the last 3 days. Forceful breathing. Couldnt walk or stand. I realized the end of the road was near when she collapsed in her cat box and determined sleeping in her own shit was a better alternative than trying to force the energy to get up
I watched as the vet stopped her heart with a loaded syringe via IV in her front leg. Took all of 30 seconds. Held her lifeless body till she posthumously pissed all over me. Aint even mad.
Not just a cat. That was a friend. That was the most even keeled, social cat i have ever met or owned. Put up with both my kids bs and never clawed or bit. Wasnt scared of anything. A runt only by birth. A giant in life.

Harley
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11 months ago we sent our dear Harley to the after. Today we sent her companion, Jordan on his way as well. The last of an era. He made it to 13 which seems in my mind too soon. Well and seemingly healthy till just 10 days ago. We woke up and found him with many of the same issues Harley had before she died. He couldnt hold his head up, was walking in circles. In a matter of 3 days that downgraded to not being able to bare his weight, eat or drink. He stopped bathing himself. We resorted to feeding him a pureed mixture of food thru a syringe and another syringe full of water. Then the last 2 days he has been imobile and has been moaning with a vacant stare. I think hes partially deaf and vision has been lost. Doctors think a tumor in the brain. He is in a basic vegetative state. I talked my wife and we both decided to do the kindest thing we could do for our friend...this never gets easier.

Jordan and I had a special relationship. I would call him gay and he would just meow. I picked on him because of his fat jewish nose. He curled and hooked things with his paw as precise as a surgeons scalpel. When i called his name he would just stare at me and hook his paw in a limp wristed fashion that always made me laugh. He was pretty feminine for a big ol boy. It was all in good humor tho. Ill miss him. Thats for sure.

 

[Seven]

11 months ago we sent our dear Harley to the after. Today we sent her companion, Jordan on his way as well. The last of an era. He made it to 13 which seems in my mind too soon. Well and seemingly healthy till just 10 days ago. We woke up and found him with many of the same issues Harley had before she died. He couldnt hold his head up, was walking in circles. In a matter of 3 days that downgraded to not being able to bare his weight, eat or drink. He stopped bathing himself. We resorted to feeding him a pureed mixture of food thru a syringe and another syringe full of water. Then the last 2 days he has been imobile and has been moaning with a vacant stare. I think hes partially deaf and vision has been lost. Doctors think a tumor in the brain. He is in a basic vegetative state. I talked my wife and we both decided to do the kindest thing we could do for our friend...this never gets easier.

Jordan and I had a special relationship. I would call him gay and he would just meow. I picked on him because of his fat jewish nose. He curled and hooked things with his paw as precise as a surgeons scalpel. When i called his name he would just stare at me and hook his paw in a limp wristed fashion that always made me laugh. He was pretty feminine for a big ol boy. It was all in good humor tho. Ill miss him. Thats for sure.
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Damn sorry for your loss, trukk. He sure sounds like a good buddy. It's sooo hard to make the decision and it hurts. But, it sounds like it was his time. Part of life, I guess. Jordan is comfortable now and I’m sure appreciates how good you and your family was to him.

 

[Michael Scally MD]

Does your cat know its name? Here’s how to find out.
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/04/does-your-cat-know-its-name-here-s-how-find-out

Give this a shot at home: Say four random words to your cat—separated by about 15 seconds—with the same length and intonation as its name. Then say its actual name. If it swivels its ears or perks up its head, chances are it knows what you call it.

That’s essentially what researchers did in a new study. Japanese scientists played recordings of a cat’s owner saying four words with lengths and accents similar to its name before saying the feline’s actual name. The word hihu (Japanese for “skin”), for example, might precede the name “Kari.”

As the random words—all nouns—played, the cats became less and less interested. But as soon as they heard their name, most moved their ears and heads; a few even got up (above).

The scientists saw similar responses when the cat’s name came after the names of other felines he lived with, or when a stranger spoke the words.

Cats may recognize their names because it’s the word humans say most frequently to them, or because it’s often associated with something positive, like petting or food, the researchers say. Indeed, the only cats that had trouble with the task were those that lived in a cat café, a shop that can house dozens of cats that customers pay to hang out with.

These felines could distinguish their name from random nouns, but not from the names of the cats they shared the café with. Perhaps that’s because visitors call the names of many cats, but only “reward” a few with pets or treats, the scientists speculate.

The findings are the first to experimentally show that cats have some understanding of what we are saying to them, the team concludes today in Scientific Reports. Saito A, Shinozuka K, Ito Y, Hasegawa T. Domestic cats (Felis catus) discriminate their names from other words. Scientific Reports 2019;9:5394. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-40616-4

Trained cats may understand words like “sit” or “jump,” but it could be because humans are using additional cues, such as hand gestures.
The new findings could improve our relationships with our pets, the researchers say; cooing your cat’s name during a stressful vet visit, for example, might help reassure it.

Still, whether cats understand that their name is really their name remains unclear. They may just think it’s another word for “treat.”

 

[Michael Scally MD]

Does your cat know its name? Here’s how to find out.
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/04/does-your-cat-know-its-name-here-s-how-find-out

Give this a shot at home: Say four random words to your cat—separated by about 15 seconds—with the same length and intonation as its name. Then say its actual name. If it swivels its ears or perks up its head, chances are it knows what you call it.

That’s essentially what researchers did in a new study. Japanese scientists played recordings of a cat’s owner saying four words with lengths and accents similar to its name before saying the feline’s actual name. The word hihu (Japanese for “skin”), for example, might precede the name “Kari.”

As the random words—all nouns—played, the cats became less and less interested. But as soon as they heard their name, most moved their ears and heads; a few even got up (above).

The scientists saw similar responses when the cat’s name came after the names of other felines he lived with, or when a stranger spoke the words.

Cats may recognize their names because it’s the word humans say most frequently to them, or because it’s often associated with something positive, like petting or food, the researchers say. Indeed, the only cats that had trouble with the task were those that lived in a cat café, a shop that can house dozens of cats that customers pay to hang out with.

These felines could distinguish their name from random nouns, but not from the names of the cats they shared the café with. Perhaps that’s because visitors call the names of many cats, but only “reward” a few with pets or treats, the scientists speculate.

The findings are the first to experimentally show that cats have some understanding of what we are saying to them, the team concludes today in Scientific Reports. Saito A, Shinozuka K, Ito Y, Hasegawa T. Domestic cats (Felis catus) discriminate their names from other words. Scientific Reports 2019;9:5394. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-40616-4

Trained cats may understand words like “sit” or “jump,” but it could be because humans are using additional cues, such as hand gestures.
The new findings could improve our relationships with our pets, the researchers say; cooing your cat’s name during a stressful vet visit, for example, might help reassure it.

Still, whether cats understand that their name is really their name remains unclear. They may just think it’s another word for “treat.”

Unlike dogs, cats cannot communicate with humans. A dog is able to successfully get an idea across by using all mannerisms available to him including his general attitude. If there is danger, a dog will alert you to it. If a dog wants to go for a walk, he will make that understood. If he is excited you will know it, sad the same. You will feel his shame if he is regretful. You understand the dog because the dog is a successful communicator, lovable- and loving - geniuses of the animal kingdom.

Cats are nasty little critters with empty minds. They have no brain at all it seems, and this is why they are considered funny. They have retched, selfish little hearts. Useful for deception, their chief operation. But the conduct of a cat requires no intelligence at all. It lives in the current moment, pursuing its desires which are often wicked. Deception and trickery, like general thievery, are not communications but tactics.

Scientists should understand this. Maybe they should go back to science school.

Scientists Talked to Cats to Figure Out If They Know Their Own Names
https://gizmodo.com/scientists-talked-to-cats-to-figure-out-if-they-know-th-1833785466

 

[Michael Scally MD]

Feline Hypercalcemia - Chloe [~17 years] seemed to have lost some weight so it was off to the vet. No other symptoms/signs. Initial workup showed hypercalcemia, which at the level found [>15] is indicative of cancer. The workup continued today with more blood work and x-rays.

Chloe is our "tiger cat." She sleeps on my pillow each night. She has this great method of getting my attention by rubbing her nose against my ear. And, likes my company. We joke around that Chloe is more like a dog the way she follows me around. When I come home from an errand she is waiting at the door along with the dogs . [I always have a cat nearby!]

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Chloe passed away this morning. Chloe was my little 'puppy' cat. She followed me everywhere all day. She was always by my side. Whenever I came home, she was by the front door along with the 4 dogs.

 

[Seven]

Chloe passed away this morning. Chloe was my little 'puppy' cat. She followed me everywhere all day. She was always by my side. Whenever I came home, she was by the front door along with the 4 dogs.

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Sorry to hear you lost Chole. She sure did hang in there for a long time. Over a yr with cancer? Shows how much you cared for her and how strong cats are.

 

[Michael Scally MD]

 

[Michael Scally MD]

 

[Michael Scally MD]

 

[Michael Scally MD]

Cats rival dogs on many tests of social smarts. But is anyone brave enough to study them?
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/201...-social-smarts-anyone-brave-enough-study-them

[To find out whether your cat can pass some common tests of social intelligence, try these simplified experiments at home. Make sure your cat is calm and relaxed before you start. … ]

CORVALLIS, OREGON—Carl the cat was born to beat the odds. Abandoned on the side of the road in a Rubbermaid container, the scrawny black kitten—with white paws, white chest, and a white, skunklike stripe down his nose—was rescued by Kristyn Vitale, a postdoc at Oregon State University here who just happens to study the feline mind. Now, Vitale hopes Carl will pull off another coup, by performing a feat of social smarts researchers once thought was impossible.

Toddlers pass this test easily. They know that when we point at something, we're telling them to look at it—an insight into the intentions of others that will become essential as children learn to interact with people around them. Most other animals, including our closest living relative, chimpanzees, fail the experiment. But about 20 years ago, researchers discovered something surprising: Dogs pass the test with flying colors. The finding shook the scientific community and led to an explosion of studies into the canine mind.

Cats like Carl were supposed to be a contrast. Like dogs, cats have lived with us in close quarters for thousands of years. But unlike our canine pals, cats descend from antisocial ancestors, and humans have spent far less time aggressively molding them into companions. So researchers thought cats couldn't possibly share our brain waves the way dogs do.

Yet, as cats are apt to do, Carl defies the best-laid plans of Homo sapiens. He trots right over to the bowl Vitale is pointing at, passing the test as easily as his canine rivals. "Good boy!" Vitale coos.

Carl isn't alone. After years when scientists largely ignored social intelligence in cats, labs studying feline social cognition have popped up around the globe, and a small but growing number of studies is showing that cats match dogs in many tests of social smarts. The work could transform the widespread image of cats as aloof or untamed. It also may eventually offer insight into how domestication transformed wild animals into our best friends, and even hint at how the human mind itself changed over the course of evolution.

That is, if the cats themselves deign to participate.

…


Few species understand what human pointing means, but Lyla aces the test (top)—assuming she’s paying attention.

 

[Seattle23]

The internet mourns after Grumpy Cat dies

Grumpy cat has a net worth of $125 millon

 

[Michael Scally MD]

Researchers strapped video cameras on 16 cats and let them do their thing. Here’s what they found.
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/201...-and-let-them-do-their-thing-here-s-what-they

Ever since video cameras became ultraportable, scientists have strapped them onto animals from sheep to sharks to see how they view and interact with the world around them. But relatively little has been done with cats, perhaps because they’re so hard to work with. Maren Huck is trying to change that.

In a study published this month in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, the behavioral ecologist at the University of Derby in the United Kingdom placed small cameras on 16 cats and followed them for up to 4 years as they prowled their neighborhoods. The use of animal-borne cameras to video-track the behaviour of domestic cats - ScienceDirect

Though the study—co-authored by Samantha Watson, an animal behaviorist at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom—was mostly done to gauge the accuracy of the technology, the duo has already made some surprising findings.

Huck spoke with Science about the challenges of getting cats to wear video equipment and how the research might dispel some common misconceptions about felines.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

 

[Michael Scally MD]

 

[Michael Scally MD]

 

[Michael Scally MD]

 

[Michael Scally MD]

 

[Michael Scally MD]

 

[Michael Scally MD]

 

[Michael Scally MD]

[I think this guy just got taken for a bundle. Great business model – grab one from the back.]

Mr. Huang was initially put off by the roughly $35,000 price. But in a telephone interview from the eastern city of Wenzhou, he said getting Garlic back was worth more than that, even though his parents disapproved. The original Garlic died in January from a urinary tract infection at age 2.

In his first meeting with the new Garlic in August, Mr. Huang found that cloning had not produced an exact copy of his former pet. The clone is missing a patch of black fur that graced Garlic’s chin. Sinogene said that clones might show slight differences in fur or eye color and that an outside firm had proved the DNA matched.

“If I tell you I wasn’t disappointed, then I would be lying to you,” Mr. Huang said. “But I’m also willing to accept that there are certain situations in which there are limitations to the technology.”

Mr. Huang’s deceased cat, Garlic.



Garlic’s clone, Garlic.

 

[Seven]

[I think this guy just got taken for a bundle. Great business model – grab one from the back.]

Mr. Huang was initially put off by the roughly $35,000 price. But in a telephone interview from the eastern city of Wenzhou, he said getting Garlic back was worth more than that, even though his parents disapproved. The original Garlic died in January from a urinary tract infection at age 2.

In his first meeting with the new Garlic in August, Mr. Huang found that cloning had not produced an exact copy of his former pet. The clone is missing a patch of black fur that graced Garlic’s chin. Sinogene said that clones might show slight differences in fur or eye color and that an outside firm had proved the DNA matched.

“If I tell you I wasn’t disappointed, then I would be lying to you,” Mr. Huang said. “But I’m also willing to accept that there are certain situations in which there are limitations to the technology.”

Mr. Huang’s deceased cat, Garlic.

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Garlic’s clone, Garlic.

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