Curly-Tailed Cats Communicate with an ‘Accent’
A genetic mutation makes some cats’ tail curl over their back, giving them something akin to an accent when they communicate with other kitties.....»»
Researcher: Big cats eat more monkeys in a damaged tropical forest, which threatens survival of primate populations
Monkeys are not usually a popular menu item for big cats. Primates are, after all, hard to catch: living in the canopies of large trees and rarely coming down to the ground. Jaguar and puma have varied diets and will normally hunt the species that ar.....»»
NASA"s Deep Space Optical Comm demo sends, receives first data
DSOC, an experiment that could transform how spacecraft communicate, has achieved "first light," sending data via laser to and from far beyond the moon for the first time......»»
Protecting native fauna from housecats
Fans of the musical "Cats" will know that the naming of cats is a difficult matter, and that cats have three different names. The same is true of cats in New Zealand—there are three types: companion or pet cats that live with people and rely on the.....»»
More than meows: How bacteria help cats communicate
Many mammals, from domestic cats and dogs to giant pandas, use scent to communicate with each other. A new study from the University of California, Davis shows how domestic cats send signals to each other using odors derived from families of bacteria.....»»
For freshwaters, these pets are high-risk invasive species
Unwanted pets are often released as soon as they become a nuisance. Not just dogs and cats, but also exotic freshwater species. This contributes significantly to the spread of invasive species. Well known examples include the goldfish and pond slider.....»»
Cheetahs become more nocturnal on hot days. Climate change may up conflicts among Africa"s big cats.
Cheetahs are usually daytime hunters, but the speedy big cats will shift their activity toward dawn and dusk hours during warmer weather, a new study finds......»»
Education is key to curbing antimicrobial resistance in cats, study says
Better education for cat owners, more communication from veterinarians, increased drug choices and cheaper, rapid diagnostic tools can help improve antimicrobial use in cats, which has important implications for rising antimicrobial resistance in ani.....»»
NASA Goddard"s "spiky" antenna chamber: Signaling success for 50 years
On any given day, NASA's networks may communicate with more than 100 space missions. Whether the mission keeps the lines of communication open with orbiting astronauts or peers deep into the cosmos, those dozens of satellites all have one thing in co.....»»
Everyone Was Wrong About Why Cats Purr
Cats purr when they’re happy and kittens purr so their mothers can find them. But it turns out purring may be more like a snore than a smile......»»
Genome sequencing project reveals new secrets about cat evolution
Researchers at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) and an interdisciplinary team of collaborators have uncovered new information about the history of cat evolution explaining how cats—including well-known specie.....»»
Genomic insights reveal evolutionary history of clouded leopards, inform conservation
Both ecologically and morphologically, the clouded leopards known as Neofelis nebulosa are a distinct lineage of big cats. These species are threatened due to human activities of targeted hunting and habitat loss. Evolutionary biologists seek to unde.....»»
People who communicate more, show expertise are more likely to be seen as essential team members: Study
A new study sheds light on the vital role of communication and expertise within organizations, revealing their impact on group performance. Researchers examined how individuals become part of communication networks and the effect of selection process.....»»
Do people everywhere care less about their cats than their dogs?
Do canines get more care? Some studies have suggested pet owners are less emotionally attached to and less willing to finance care for cats than dogs, possibly because of cats' behavior: cats may be perceived as caring less about humans and needing l.....»»
The impact of man-made noise on magpie behavior
Human noise pollution is taking its toll on the iconic Australian magpie, affecting the songbirds' ability to forage for food, communicate and respond to alarm calls—but smart birds are less affected than others......»»
Sharing visual teaching categories through language
Category learning is a broad term that describes how people learn to classify things around them into various groups. We learn to visually distinguish between cats and dogs, for instance, or to identify specific dog breeds......»»
We now know how cats purr—why they purr is still up for debate
Studies of excised cat larynxes reveal role of connective tissues embedded in vocal folds. Enlarge / "They excised what, now?" Puck is nonetheless intrigued by new findings about the mechanisms behind a cat's purr. (credit: Jenni.....»»
Feather-tailed possums in New Guinea were originally Aussies, according to fossil study
Analysis of Riversleigh fossils has revealed fascinating new facts about a tiny possum's ancestors. Scientists have long known that the miniature feather-tailed possums in Australia and the island of New Guinea—members of the marsupial family Acrob.....»»
The cat larynx can produce purring sounds without cyclical neural input
A recent investigation led by voice scientist Christian T. Herbst from the University of Vienna, published in Current Biology, delivers novel insights into how cats produce their purring sounds. A special "pad" embedded in the vocal folds might expla.....»»
Human evolution: Hominins challenge giant hyenas for carcasses in Prehistoric simulations
Hominins—the group that includes humans and our extinct relatives—may have been capable of competing with giant hyenas for carcasses abandoned by saber-toothed cats and jaguars during the late-early Pleistocene era (approximately 1.2 to 0.8 milli.....»»
What"s the carbon footprint of owning pet fish? An expert explains
While the environmental impact of having dogs and cats as pets has been examined to some extent, the impact of keeping pet fish has remained unexplored—until now......»»