Tag: animals

Badgers–Scent Glands (Badger Article 2)

Badgers 2 article
~ McPusspusses ~ 2 Comments

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.

Badgers in Winter…(Badger Article 3)

Badgers article 3 Picture2
~ McPusspusses ~ Leave a comment

Badgers slow down so much that they can happily go into a deep sleep for days or even weeks during times of harsh weather. This sleep state, torpor, requires a significant sound for awakening, unlike hibernation’s deeper state.

Badgers build up reserves of fat during the autumn when there is plenty of food to eat. Fallen fruit, nuts, plus berries, combined with insects, worms, plus carrion, supply badger body fats to slumber for weeks, thus there’s zero worry for waking to eat. Badgers experience winter lethargy during this time period. As they rest, their bodies continue to function by using the energy in those fat reserves.

The UK experienced a mild autumn; thus, the badgers could fatten for winter. Our visiting badgers have been coming every night through December still. Following a dry summer, badgers require nourishment and hydration to survive the winter.

Whole family groups of badgers can make themselves comfortable deep underground in their sett, which provides shelter from rain and protection from extremely cold conditions. They collect bedding materials such as dry grass and fallen leaves to wrap themselves in.

During periods of exceptionally cold weather, badgers will often use a latrine inside the sett, rather than venturing outside. Foraging may occur even in snow, though winter activity fluctuates unpredictably.

Badger article 3 Picture3
Badger article 3 Picture3

Why Animal Testing is Illogical

~ Mr. Breeze ~ 1 Comment

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 7 – 13

December
~ Truman ~ Leave a comment

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

Call Me the Breeze

~ Mr. Breeze ~ Leave a comment

Purrrr, It’s Mr. Breeze here. Since I’m going to be writing for The Anipal Times I thought it would be a fine thing to post an intro.

In 2007 when I was a few months old I escaped from my home and got lost. I was begging at random doors for food. Then I met a stripey cat. She was eating all kinds of stuff so I followed her home. I hung out under da pine tree watching her humans barbecue. They fed me grilled shrimp because I was getting skinnier by da day. I named myself “Mr. Breeze” because I blew into their yard.

Da stripey cat’s humans called around everywhere trying to find my family. Da lady walked me around da neighborhood asking everybody if I was theirs. No dice. Who doesn’t look for their sweet panfur???

Da lady had been in a car accident and didn’t feel she could make a 20 year commitment to a young cat so she gave me to a rescue along with a ton of cash. I was kind of sad but da rescue lady was very nice and I made lots of barn cat friends.

A couple of months later da rescue lady to a pet expo.Da rescue lady was holding me like a baby, cooing and tickling my belly. MOL!! Suddenly da lady and my daddy showed up. I was so happy to see them and they adopted me right away. I was so happy to see my pine tree again. And then we went inside and there was the stripeycat and a spicy black cat. Their names were @sisfurcats Bugs and Chilipepper!

When I was young I liked to play sticks wif da lady. I liked to hang out on da front porch looking handsome for da neighbors. I sometimes hunted. I climbed trees like a big panfur. I even liked to play in da snow!

As it turned out, I was very photogenic. Dis photo motivated da lady to get me social media accounts. In 2009 I landed on twitter and found lots of anipals here! I even started my own bloggy, Call Me The Breeze.

I was invited to DJ at Frugal Dougal’s #pawpawty in 2009. I made friends there who are still friends to this day. I’ve been DJing at #nipclub on X since the start in 2010. I am involved with the sporadic #NipclubExtra on X and the blog. I also DJ at #pawgaritaville on X and help with the blog. I run #chilipawty on X and the blog (with lots of help from @tweetingtruman and many others) and I help @GeorgetheDuck out with #catmaseve on X and the blog. I love music! It’s a huge bonus that some pawties benefit animal charities.

I’ve also helped da lady learn Photoshop and GIMP.

I loved my sisfurs Bugs and Chilipepper. I was especially sad when Chilipepper went OTRB. I walked around da house crying for her. When Bugs went OTRB da vet gave me my very own kitten, @sisfurcats Ragamuffin. (2016)

I loved to snuggle my daddy. And I trained da lady to give me treats when I held out my paw. I loved to meet new people and give them headbutts. I even got to meet some of my [@kittehboi483] Pokémon GO pals in da park. I wasn’t keen on the car but so many scritches!!

In 2024 I went OTRB after a long illness. @Sisfurcats Ragamuffin still misses me. And of course my humans do too. My mommy wants to get an older cat for her. Hopefully they can become friends. I’ve been talking to the Cat Distribution System about it.

I still hang out wif my pals on twitter/X. DJing, of course. I like learning about new (to me) music to make playlists for pawties.
I make graphics with GIMP, and and enjoy learning how to use effects for pawty banners. Check out Put Your Paws in da Air for some of my work
I’m learning to make AI images with NightCafe Studio. It’s tempting to let @nightcafestudio design the pawty banners, but I like using GIMP too.
I’m still blogging for #pawgaritaville, #nipclubextra, #OwensBlackpaw, and #catmaseve.
I have fun putting ChatGPT through its paces. I sporadically post interesting conversations on my Just Some AI blog.

I make da lady read LOTS of books! Dis da books I making her read.

My favorite book is “Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?” by Caitlin Doughty. This humorous book answers questions like “Why Don’t Animals Dig Up All The Graves?” and “Can I Give Grandma A Viking Funeral?” Makes a perfect gift for morbid children.

I’m glad you could join me on The Anipal Times. We are going to have so much fun!

McPusspuss Musings-Introduction

~ McPusspusses ~ 4 Comments

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

~ smokeypulkkinen ~ 2 Comments

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.