Hello! Dis is Bart! We are TJ and Bart, and we are ready with a new article for the Anipal Times!
Dis is TJ! We take our duties as writers seriously. And we have a vewy important topic today. Walking in da cold.
Bart: Dat’s wight, TJ. Now we live in Florida, so it does not get too cold here too often. But sometimes it does.
TJ: Dis also for our pals who really have to go through da cold so much during the winter. Dey have real winters. Dis is an important topic!
Bart: Dis is also weally for our humans. Because dey walk us, after all.
TJ: And they don’t walk us any differently than! Man, it is cold outside! Why do they go so slowly?
Bart: Dis is so twue! You know we are low to the gwound! Our pwivate parts are touching the gwass!
TJ: Sowwy if that is too stwong for da readers out there, but dis is an important issue for us doggos! Humans, get da lead out!
Bart: You don’t want to be out dere, wight? Well, we don’t want to be out dere either!
TJ: And yoooose humans are supposed to be da smart ones. If we go inside, then we will all get warm! What is so hard about dat?
Bart: But we also have to have patience with our humans.
TJ: It’s difficult sometimes, though, Bart. Cats have it so good! They can go in da stinky box inside!
Bart: And then da humans clean it. Cats are lucky!
TJ: In da meantime, humans, understand! Faster walks, and less time outside when it is cold!
Bart: Dat’s wight!
TJ: Dis concludes our article. We hope dis helps!
Tag: animals
Barnaby the Beagle
Barnaby the beagle wasn’t a fan of freezing weather. The world outside the kitchen window had traded its cheerful autumn colors for white and grey. He was a hound of the field, chasing scents across sunny meadows, not shivering his paws off in the icy air.
This morning, the frosty glass looked cold. Barnaby sighed, a huff that ruffled the fleece throw he was lying on. Barnaby needed to go outside and was gently but firmly guided into his little blue coat with a hood he hated. His human pulled on his leash for him to come along. This morning, the frosty glass looked cold.
Outside, the snow was deeper than his legs were long. He plunged his nose into it, expecting the familiar scent of rabbits. It smelled only of clean, sharp ice.
Then, an unfamiliar scent drifted on the wind. Faint but distinct. It cut through the cold with a warm, sugary hint of something delicious. Barnaby’s ears perked up with the usual droop replaced with focused attention. He followed the trail, his little legs working hard, nose to the ground.
He led his human on a winding path to the edge of the local park, right up to a snow-covered picnic table. There, half-buried in the snow, was a bright red mitten. Tucked inside the mitten was a small, foil-wrapped chocolate bar, likely forgotten by a visitor.
Barnaby nudged the find with his nose, let out a satisfied “A-roo,” then looked up at his human with shining eyes. Freezing weather, he decided, might have its charms after all. Especially if it involved hidden treasure.
Badgers–Scent Glands
Why you see a badger pop its bottom down on the ground…
Scent plays a pivotal role in group and territory maintenance. Valuable tools in the act of scent-marking are the subcaudal gland (SCG), which is close to the anus, and the paired scent glands located just inside the anus—anecdotal observations suggest that scent glands between the toes (i.e. interdigital glands) may also be used when marking objects, such as trees, near the sett.
Arguably, the most important scent-marking tool is the subcaudal gland, which is used to mark objects in the territory and other members of the clan, which is a process known as allomarking.
The SCG comprises a pouch, the subcaudal pouch (SCP), that’s divided into two sections by a membrane. Several layers of sebaceous glands line the SCP, and these glands secrete an oily lubricant onto the skin and hair, as do apocrine gland cells. It opens to a horizontal slit, two to eight centimetres (about 1-3 in.) wide, between the base of the tail and the anus. The gland secretion is predominantly a composition of unsaturated fatty acids and water, with the consistency of a margarine-like paste. The bacteria partly generated the secretion’s odour in the pouch. Each fatty acid has its own characteristic smell. Chemical analysis of the SCP has shown that the bacterial component and fatty acid composition vary from badger to badger, suggesting each individual has its own unique scent.
What activity occupies them during this season?
Through winter, badgers are a lot less active. Badgers do not truly hibernate, but may enter a state of torpor during freezing or snowy periods. During torpor, the badgers will remain in the sett, often for periods of several weeks, and metabolise fat reserves accumulated during the summer and autumn.
There is usually a marked decrease in a badger’s body temperature during the winter and early spring, being between 2C and 9C (3.6-16.2F) lower from November to April than it is from May onwards. This decrease in body temperature allows for greater “fuel economy,” prolonging their fat reserves when food is scarce or buried under snow.
During periods of exceptionally cold weather, badgers will often use a latrine inside the sett, rather than venturing outside. Though foraging activity fluctuates unpredictably during winter, badgers may forage, even in the snow.
Why Animal Testing is Illogical
Animal testing is illogical. Although humans and many other species have similar DNA, and though most organ systems are similar, subtle differences make using animal models to test food, drugs and cosmetics unreliable. Here are just three ways animals don’t react the same as humans.
Rats are known to be more resistant to a certain mushroom toxin than humans. Some mushrooms, notably the Fools webcap, contain a nephrotoxin called orellanine. Rats can eat mushrooms that are deadly to humans.
Feeding a food to animals is not a valid test.
In 2006 a new immune system boosting drug, TGN1412, which had been successfully tested in animals, went to human trials. The subjects were only given the equivalent of 1/500th the safe dose for “non-human primates,” macaques. A single amino acid difference between macaque and human DNA caused violent immune system reactions in humans. Within 90 minutes of the injection, the test subjects suffered searing pain. Within a few hours they suffered multiple organ failure. On a positive note, all the test subjects survived.
Giving a drug to animals is not a valid test.
Dogs and cats don’t usually get poison ivy. Most humans are highly allergic to the active ingredient, urushiol oil. Non-primate species can walk through poison ivy and at most get some irritation.
Applying cosmetics to an animal’s skin is not a valid test.
Fortunately, modern medicine has a number of alternatives to animal tests. One promising technology is Organ Chips, tiny devices about the size of a USB memory stick that contain living human cells.
Lots of drugs don’t make it through the animal trials, but who knows whether the drug companies have thrown away the Magic Bullet simply because it didn’t work on animals?
Animal Holidays and Observations December 28-January 3
The only December Animal Monthly Observation is:
National Cat Lovers Month
Daily holidays during the fifth week include:
• Dec 28: Endangered Species Act Day
• January 2: National Pet Travel Safety Day
• January 2: Happy Mew Year for Cats Day
Animal Holidays and Observations December 21 – 27
The only December Animal Monthly Observation is:
National Cat Lovers Month
Daily holidays during the fourth week include:
• Dec 27: Visit The Zoo Day
Animal Holidays and Observations December 14 – 20
The only December Animal Monthly Observation is:
National Cat Lovers Month
Daily holidays during the third week include:
December 14 – January 5, 2026: Christmas Bird Count Week
• Dec 14: Monkey Day
• December 15: National Cat Herder’s Day
Animal Holidays and Observations December 7 – 13
The only December Animal Monthly Observation is:
National Cat Lovers Month
Daily holidays during the second week include:
• December 9: International Day of Veterinary Medicine
• December 9: National Llama Day
• December 10: Festival for the Souls of Dead Whales
• December 10: International Animal Rights Day
• December 10: National Day of Animal Rights
• December 11: Holiday Food Drive for Needy Animals Day
• December 13: National Day of the Horse
McPusspuss Musings-Introduction
Hello and welcome to our column.
We are angel Angus McPusspuss and Furgus McPuspuss.
Both of us were older stray tomcats that found our forever homes late in life.
I, Angus, had a very special fox friend who led me to my pawrents’. Hunger drove me to join the foxes’ nightly food runs. One fox always made sure I had some food. Mummy and the neighbor, upon observing me, attempted everything to locate my owners, yet I possessed none, plus my chip held no registration. Mummy started feeding me more and inviting me inside, but it took me some time to be brave enough to move in. Even when settled in my home, I would still go out every evening and sit with my special foxy friend.
Because I moved in just before Storm Angus hit, my pawrents, following Scottish links, gave me the surname McPusspuss. I had been called Pusspuss when living outside.
When my time sadly came to go over the rainbow bridge, I guided Furgus to my pawrents. The rescue trapped him because of his poor state following a decade of living on the streets. He hissed and swiped, revealing his fear. No one was giving him a chance until my pawrents did. When secure and cherished, he unwound. Now, he desires laps frequently and bedtime cuddles. Furgus gets to enjoy his later years with so much love. Furgus continues the McPusspuss family name and was called Furgus as a link to our pawrents’ love of Deacon Blue (Fergus sings the blues).
We will write articles on the weather (I am #weathercat), nature, and more specifically on badgers, as Mummy is on the committee of the Badger Protection Group.
We will have wonderful guest writings for our column by Angel Alma. Alma and her mum are special friends to us.
My Story of Being Adopted as an Older Cat
When most people think of adopting a cat, they think first of kittens—tiny, cute, playful, and entertaining. But there is another beautiful and often overlooked population in shelters and foster homes that is just as deserving of love and attention—older cats.
Here is my story. While I am not a senior cat–approximately four years, seven months old–I am an older cat. I was handed over to Fairview Lodge Animal Shelter about two years, seven months ago. My history before that is unknown. I was at the shelter for about two years until I was brought into my foster mummy’s home to get more one-on-one care. The Fairview shelter is really for larger animals like horses and farm animals, and not for cats. My foster mummy was loving and caring towards me. I love my foster mummy.
I did not get along with one of the other cats, though. My foster mummy thought it would be good for me to find my own home. I was put up for adoption, with my bio and photo put on Instagram. Mummy saw my picture on Instagram. She wanted to give a home to an older cat who really needed a home. I had been at my foster mummy’s home for seven months when I met mummy. I hid from Mummy due to Barbara, another cat, being in a large crate in the room. She had an injured leg that was healing, so she couldn’t be moved to another room. Barbara is a very outgoing and friendly cat, and it upset me to be in a room with her. Mummy said that she understood that I didn’t know her and I might be shy.
My foster mummy said to me, “Don’t you want to go to your new home?” I willingly went into the carry box and was taken to my new mummy’s home. She was given medicine for my weepy eyes and promised support in case I had trouble settling in. I was brave and didn’t cry in the car. Mummy knows that there is nothing better than gaining the love and trust of a kitty, so she wasn’t worried about me being shy. After only three days, I wanted to get out of my bedroom, so I was let out to do a little exploration. I enjoyed that. Then Grandma went away for a few days, and it was just Mummy and me. I was fully settled in by the time Grandma returned. I love it here in my new home.
The Anipal Times 