How Well Do You Know Your Cat?

photo and article from National Geographic

Domestic cats, no matter their breed, are all members of one species. Felis catus has had a very long relationship with humans. Ancient Egyptians may have first domesticated cats as early as 4,000 years ago. Plentiful rodents probably drew wild felines to human communities. The cats' skill in killing them may have first earned the affectionate attention of humans. Early Egyptians worshipped a cat goddess and even mummified their beloved pets for their journey to the next world—accompanied by mummified mice! Cultures around the world later adopted cats as their own companions.

Like their wild relatives, domestic cats are natural hunters able to stalk prey and pounce with sharp claws and teeth. They are particularly effective at night, when their light-reflecting eyes allow them to see better than much of their prey. Cats also enjoy acute hearing. All cats are nimble and agile, and their long tails aid their outstanding balance.

Cats communicate by marking trees, fence posts, or furniture with their claws or their waste. These scent posts are meant to inform others of a cat's home range. House cats employ a vocal repertoire that extends from a purr to a screech.

Domestic cats remain largely carnivorous, and have evolved a simple gut appropriate for raw meat. They also retain the rough tongue that can help them clean every last morsel from an animal bone (and groom themselves). Their diets vary with the whims of humans, however, and can be supplemented by the cat's own hunting successes.

How Well Do You Know Your Dog

photo and article found on National Geographic

Dogs were probably the first tame animals. They have accompanied humans for some 10,000 years. Some scientists assert that all dogs, domestic and wild, share a common ancestor in the small South Asian wolf.

Today humans have bred hundreds of different domestic dog breeds—some of which could never survive in the wild. Despite their many shapes and sizes all domestic dogs, from Newfoundlands to pugs, are members of the same species—Canis familiaris. Although they have domestic temperaments, these dogs are related to wolves, foxes, and jackals.

Domestic dogs still share many behaviors with their wild relatives. Both defend their territories and mark them by urinating on trees, rocks, fence posts, and other suitable sites. These scent posts serve notice to other dogs that an animal is occupying its territory.

Many pet dogs also bury bones or favorite toys for future use, just as their wild relatives sometimes bury a kill to secure the meat for later feasts.

Dogs communicate in several ways. Scent is one method, another is physical appearance. Body position, movement, and facial expression often convey a strong message. Many of these signals are recognizable even to humans, such as the excited tail-wagging of a happy dog or the bared teeth of an angry or threatened animal. Vocally, dogs communicate with a cacophony of sounds including barks, growls, and whines.

Domestic dogs serve as more than companions; many earn their keep by working hard. Dogs herd livestock, aid hunters, guard homes, and perform police and rescue work. Some special animals even guide the blind—a poignant symbol of the dog's longstanding role as man's best friend

Expedition Wild

I think this might be a new show for Toby and I this spring! Looks like it will be both educational and fun!


About Expedition Wild

Can a man teach his 800-pound grizzly bear best friend, raised in captivity, to fish like its wild cousins? Naturalist Casey Anderson ventures into the Alaskan wilderness to study the biggest bears on the planet — and pick up fishing tips for his bear pal.

Brutus the grizzly bear enjoys his 25,000-calorie breakfast — 35 pounds of treats such as raw chickens or carrot cake — but when his human best friend, naturalist Casey Anderson, presents him with a fresh, flopping fish, Brutus is confused and uninterested. Raised by Casey from birth, Brutus is used to having his food delivered. Now, Casey sets off on an adventure to the Alaska wilderness to observe Brutus’ grizzly cousins salmon fishing, hoping to gain new insight into their technique and teach it to his six-foot, 800-pound, furry friend.

Cats

Click on the photo above to see how well you know your cat!

Photo and quiz from National Geographic.

Brutus the Bear

Photo courtesy of Casey Anderson/National Geographic/ZooToo News

Can you imagine rolling over in bed and laying next to you is an 800 lb Grizzly Bear! I thought Toby hogged the bed, I can only imagine this guy! Casey Anderson of Montana adopted a Grizzly Bear he now calls Brutus when he was just two weeks old. Brutus, then just a cub was born into a wildlife facility,which offered the captive bear only a death sentence, given it's propensity to keep the grizzly population at a low, manageable level. Casey took him home and with the help of his family and friends bottle fed Brutus until he was old enough to eat on his own. The rest is as they say on the books, or shall I say books, television, movies, and Internet! Brutus is now recognized as a Grizzly Ambassador! Casey has since opened the Montana Grizzly Encounter, a facility that now houses five resident grizzly bears and gives Brutus the life he deserves. For more information about this post you can visit ZooToo News. You can also go to Brutus the Bear's personal website, or the Montana Grizzly Encounter site. You can currently catch them on the National Geographic Channel, with their show

Expedition Grizzly.