Pets in the paper – are there any?
There is only one animal story in The Oklahoman. And guess what? I can’t even find it on our Web site! So, I’m sorry to say, here’s the only link, and it’s to another site. Let’s hope we do better tomorrow!
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pet Show – fashionista fidos
Listen to Pet Show! Our guest today was Meagan Key, a spokeswoman for fashion designer Kayne Gillaspie of Norman. Last week Kayne hosted a fundraising event called “Fashion with a Heart” to benefit the American Heart Association. Part of the show was dogs modeling Kayne’s newest line, Kayne9. And as if pups strutting in ostrich-feather boas weren’t great enough, the show raised $5,000 for the American Heart Association.
In honor of Hug Your Cat Day - which is Friday for those of you with feline friends – we talked lots about cats today. Bryan gave us interesting pet news, including a story about a tiger that killed its keeper in New Zealand and a cat with wings in China. And Dawn shared some great tail tips for Hug Your Cat Day. These come from SeeFido.com.
Playing in the home: All cats need to spend time outside to get their exercise, but often times we want them inside to avoid them from getting hurt etc. Whatever the reason to keep your cat in the house, your cat will appreciate it, as long as it’s always kept busy. Cats that never leave the house need for their owners to dedicate more time everyday to play with them, otherwise the cat will get very bored and this can cause stress.
Hunting game: When cats are outside they love running after anything that moves, like an insect, or a dry leaf blowing in the wind etc. So there are many different games that you can invent to give your cat the opportunity to “hunt” without even stepping out of the house. As with all games, the cat must learn that there are certain rules. The most important rule is that the cat does not use your hands or feet as it’s hunting objective. Cats have very sharp claws and they grow as the cat grows making them very dangerous. It is not fun to have an adult cat scratch you with it’s claws and it can really hurt you.
Safe play: Before you begin to play a game with your cat, make sure to check everything, avoiding at all costs that your cat, you, or anyone else gets hurt. Make sure to always follow these guidelines when playing with your cat:
- Never use toys that break easily since this could really hurt your cat, kitten and even you.
- Never “hit” your cat with your hand or with its toys, and never “drag” the cat, even if this is done gently and as a game.
- Don’t play with the cat’s toys (if you are not intending on playing directly with the cat) because it can get very mad about you touching its stuff.
- Stay away from pools, wells, or bathtubs as the cat could drown if it does not know how to swim. (Little kittens generally cannot climb out of water that covers their head).
- Cats become easily afraid when they hear loud noises. Make sure, when there is a party (like New Year) to leave the cat inside the house or in a distanced room. Fireworks or a balloon that pops can really terrorize a cat.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Wonderful zoo photos
Boston.com, the Boston Globe’s Web site, has a wonderful photo gallery of pictures from zoos around the world. Lions, tigers,, leopards, bears, foxes, primates, frogs, hippos, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, dolphins, kangaroos, camels and plenty more are featured in the gallery. Many of the pictures are of babies. Here is my favorite, of a cute Chinese leopard cub growling at photographers.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Pets in the paper
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- - Despite killing man, big cat to stay alive. (Broken Arrow)
- - Closings force grehounds to retire. (National)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Chimp nurses tiger cubs
Far be it from me to engage in hyperbole, so I won’t say this is the cutest video ever. But I dare you to find a cuter one.
Seems a 3-year-old chimpanzee has learned to help her keeper nurse two young male white tiger cubs in Florida. If there is anything cuter than tiger cubs, it is a chimp nursing tiger cubs. Enjoy.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Pets in the paper
- - Big cat injures sanctuary volunteer. (Broken Arrow)
- - Aquarium in Jenks displays fish fo the toothy variety.
- - A doggone wacky holiday in Norman.
- - Amid financial crisis, pets still faring well. (Nation-wide)
- - Disabled cat ready to get rolling in Norman.
- - Pet Tales: Goofy tale. (Oklahoma City)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Tigers use training to escape flames
Three Siberian tigers, using their circus training, jumped over a wall of flames to safety recently after the truck they were riding in caught on fire in Germany.
The tigers were trained to jump through hoops of fire and 
used that experience when their ringmaster ordered them to jump over the wall of flames in the truck, said circus owner Daniel Renz.
Rescuers saved three other tigers left behind in the 43-foot wagon during the fire. Circus workers coralled the tigers on the highway and police closed the road to traffic.
Renz said one of the tigers suffered some smoke inhallation, but the other five were in good condition. The circus was scheduled to go on as planned Thursday, but the six tigers involbed in the fire will get a rest while some of the show’s other tigers perform.
Renz said an overheated suspension system on the truck is suspected as the cause of the fire.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
