Write a commentDear readers, Since we are, unfortunately, short on questions for this week’s column, we have decided to assign our readers to complete two activities: one is fun and one is a job.
First, the job.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers from both houses of Congress has just introduced the Animal Welfare in Agricultural Research Endeavors (AWARE) Act (H.R.746/S.388) which would require animal agricultural research at federal facilities, to meet the standards for animal care established by the federal Animal Welfare Act. Perhaps you saw the investigative report published by the New York Times on Jan. 19 concerning the treatment of farm animals at the federal US Meat Animal Research Center. Read it online at your peril. This legislative fix is long overdue but welcome. To assist with the lobbying effort for the passage of the AWARE Act go to www.ASPCA.org and visit the Advocacy Center for information about how to do it. Thanks for that.
Now for the fun part.
You know how sometimes you are searching for something like, say, how to prune a tomato plant and an hour later you find yourself watching cat videos? Or even say, pain relief for casts and an hour later there you are again watching cat videos? Well, now you can blame the Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine. Go to http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/feline_fun/. There are cat songs, cats in the movies, cat videos galore and fun facts about cats.
Did you know these cat facts?
Domestic cats can jump up to five times their own height.
Cats can make about 100 different sounds.
A group of cats is called a clowder.
The oldest known pet cat was found in a 9,500-year-old gravesite on the island of Cyprus.
Cats are the most popular pet in North America (over 73 million).
There are approximately 40 recognized breeds of domestic cats.
A cat’s hearing is more sensitive than a dog’s.
Domestic cats can run up to 30 miles/hour for short distances.
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