In this photo released by China’s Xinhua news agency, Xu Jirong holds his fat cat at home in Qingdao, a coastal city in eastern China’s Shangdong Province, on Thursday. Xu said his nine year old pet weighs 15kg and its waist measures about 77cm
Taken from The Star: 18 February 2006
Pic taken fr The Sun: 18 February 2006
Study on plant that turns cats on
KANGAR, PERLIS INDERA KAYANGAN, MALAYSIA: A herbal plant, which stimulates cats to moan and groan after smelling or eating it, is now being researched for its “oomph” power for men.
Researchers are now trying to determine if the Kucing Galak plant is safe for consumption.
HERBAL AID: Perlis Herbal Park assistant Madiah Bakar showing the Kucing Galak plant in Kangar.
The plant, which grows well anywhere, may be an alternative to Tongkat Ali and ginseng.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said research had begun in a mini bio-technology centre in Sungai Batu Pahat near here under a RM2mil grant from the Federal Government.
“Initial research shows that each time a cat smells or eats the plant, its sex drive increases. We want to research the medicinal value of the plant with a view of introducing it for consumption,” he said.
“We are curious why the plant causes the cats to moan and groan,” he told a press conference after the swearing-in of 15 Kangar municipal councillors yesterday.
Shahidan said initial research showed that the herbal plant was suitable for those suffering from erectile dysfunction or low sex drive.
Therefore, he hoped that the plant could be a better alternative for such purposes.
“Currently, the plant has only been tested on cats. We need to see the reaction on people,” he said, adding that researchers from Universiti Sains Malaysia would be assisting.
Shahidan said the state government would also be allocating RM2mil for research on cultivating fruits such as dragon fruits and grape
Taken from The Star: 18th February 2006
Took the oppurtunity to snap some quick pics of my Akechi, the Munchkin performing some ballads. Enjoy…
Rico: Can i join in as well??
Rico: Ai yah… shy lah since this fellow dance so well…
It had been a week now ever since Lady Yelena, my 6th and only female cat arrived at her new home. She is the most gentle cat compared to my other rascals (hahahaha…). She hardly meows but if she does, one can hardly hear her. It took a few days for the rest of my cats to accept Yelena’s arrival and I must say she, too can be a rascal when it comes to playing. Her favourite toy was the feather. She just go ballistic when she sees me holding the feather stick.
According to my vet, she is approximately 1 - 1.5 years old, a healthy, beautiful young adult female cat. Here are some shots taken:
Yelena: Uuwwaaaahhhhhh……..
Yelena posing with my Akechi
Akechi: Can I join as well?
Yelena: You are trying to steal my limelight, is it??
Is Your Adopted Friend Healthy?
Recon and capture. A fateful road trip home. So you’ve brought the stray of your dreams home. What needs to be done next?
Before letting the stray out and about in your home, you should prepare the room or cage and pet amenities for quarantined. Quarantine is necessary, especially if you have already had pets at home. Also wash your hands before touching other pets.
If it is still within vet office hours, the stray can be sent to the vet for a check-up, vaccinations, de-worming, de-fleaing and sterilization (if it is old enough), while you prepare the above amenities. If the animal appears very frightened or uneasy (but in good health otherwise), you may want to wait for a couple of days before bringing it to the vet.
The common health problems seen in rescued strays are: diarrhea, vomiting, cough, flu, skin problems like fleas, ticks, mange, scabies, fungal dermatitis etc. Outside of vet office hours, you may also perform the following checks to ascertain if the animal is healthy or has a condition serious enough to warrant emergency service.
- Check for any skin wounds, e.g. bleeding
- Observe any limping
- Check breathing (is it stable or not?)
- Watch for any diarrhea or vomiting, coughing or sneezing
- Monitor appetite
- Check the hydration status: inspect color of gums and elasticity of skin.
Serious cases that render emergency and immediate attention include: accidents like being knocked down by a vehicle, exposed fractures, trauma, injury due to jumping off great heights (like out of the window), late stages of urinary infection, severe dehydration.
Basically the rule of thumb for all strays is if the animal is in great pain and suffering, it needs to be sent to the vet immediately. If you have a regular vet, always keep the emergency number or contact ready. Some vets have an after-hours hotline or voicemail that would be responded to in case of emergency.
If the stray seems bright and responsive, outwardly healthy with no visible signs of injuries or illness, you can de-worm and de-flea immediately. For cats above 6 weeks old, a spray or spot-on may be used. Remember to spray liberally, avoiding the eyes and sensitive areas, and rub thoroughly into the fur.
If you wish to bath the cat, check that it is not in distress, as they may succumb to fright. Wait for a couple of days for the cat to get used to its new surroundings. If the stray is a female or found in pair, male and female, the vet can help ascertain any pregnancy. You may then decide on the possibility of being a ‘grandparent’.
When in doubt, or even if the animal seems healthy, arrange for a vet visit as soon as possible to seek a professional opinion and have the rest of the health procedures (e.g. vaccinations, sterilization, micro-chipping etc) seen to. A healthy animal makes a happy vet.
