by Barbara George,Tellington Ttouch Behaviourist There is an amazing range of cat beds, and patterns for making your own, in an enormous range of styles, sizes, designs, and colours. So why do cats prefer the box or bag the bed came into the bed itself? A cat’s natural instinct is to be safe, and to know what […]
Feline Infectious Peritonitis
by Barbara George, Tellington Ttouch Behaviourist Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a devastating disease affecting all cats, small and big. There is no reliable vaccination and cure, only treatment options for the remaining time left. This is article is intended as a starting-point, there are excellent and detailed articles available on the Internet. FIP is the result of […]
What dogs see when they watch television
Ilyena Hirskyj-Douglas, PhD candidate, University of Central Lancashire Dog owners often notice their pets watching televisions, computer screens and tablets. But what is going on in their pooch’s head? Indeed, by tracking their vision using similar methods used on humans, research has found that domestic dogs do prefer certain images and videos. This research indicates […]
How do Cats Drink?
by Barbara George, Tellington Ttouch Behaviourist We know they stick their tongues out, touch the water and bring it back into their mouths. Actually, it’s more complex that that. Cats employ some rules of physics in drinking by creating a balance between the principles of gravity and inertia. The cat will stick out her tongue with the tip […]
African elephants in literature – lessons in exploitation and compassion
Questions crucial to our understanding of our place in the natural world. Dan Wylie, Professor of English, Rhodes University About 15 years ago I was in a Minneapolis conference centre, about to deliver a paper on elephants in Southern African fiction, when I encountered a curious local in an elevator. When I told her that […]
We desperately need to store more carbon – seagrass could be the answer
Marianne Holmer, Professor of Biology, University of Southern Denmark According to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, urgent and unprecedented changes are needed to avoid a climate change catastrophe. Although efforts are already being made to reduce the production of greenhouse gasses, they are by most estimations not enough. It is therefore critical that […]
Life Stages of Cats
by Barbara George, Tellington Ttouch Behaviourist As kittens grow to adult, then become seniors, their needs and outlook on life changes. In order to understand these changes, we take a broad look at the different life stages in cats. For information on your specific cat please consult your vet, as all cats are different and will exhibit characteristics […]
Cat Breeds – NORWEGIAN FOREST
by Barbara George, Tellington Ttouch Behaviourist The Norwegian Forest Cat, along with the Siberian Forest Cat, is the second largest breed of domestic cat, after the Maine Coon. They are the official cat of Norway, and still closely resemble their forest-dwelling ancestors. Wegies are gentle cats, affectionate, patient cats who enjoy the company of people, other cats and […]
An unprecedented synthesis of current knowledge on animal consciousness
Muriel Dunier, Director of Research, INRA and Pierre Le Neindre, Researcher, INRA In 2012, scientists from all walks of life, including the famous physicist Stephen Hawking, spoke with one voice to say that animals were endowed with consciousness. In their Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness , they affirmed that “humans are not the only ones to possess the neurological substrates […]
Training and Playing with Deaf Cats
by Barbara George Tellington Ttouch Behaviourist A frustrated cat typically uses aggression as the means of communication, and deaf cats are no different. Deafness can be isolating, as he does not necessarily understand or participate in the activities in the home, may miss feeding times, and misunderstand the signals and movements of people and other pets. To […]