UPIreports that a cat in Iowa contracted the H1N1 virus that has been spreading aroundt the globe. The cat has recovered from the virus.
The 13-year-old cat tested positive for the H1N1 virus at the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center at Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, the state health department said. The cat, which has recovered, is believed to have contracted it from people in the house where it lives.
"Two of the three members of the family that owns the pet had suffered from influenza-like illness before the cat became ill," Dr. Ann Garvey, the state's public health veterinarian, said. "This is not completely unexpected, as other strains of influenza have been found in cats in the past."
Fox News says veterinarians say it is far more likely for a pet to get H1N1 from a human than for a person to get it from their pet. That's good to know but pet owners now have to worry about their pet's health in addition to their own. There is no vaccine available for pets right now. There is an H1N1 vaccine for humans but it is currently hard to find. Take a look:
North Shore Animal League America's Fourth Annual DogCatemy Celebrity Gala includes "Dollars for Designer Collars" - an auction of collars designed by celebrities and designers. The Gala event, presented by Purina One brand pet, will take place November 5, 2009 at Cipriani Wall Street, NYC. The auction runs now through November 12, 2009. The collars above were designed by Nicole Miller (left) and Christie Brinkley (right). You can bid on the dog collars here.
The collars were created by designers including Betsey Johnson, Nicole Miller, Isaac Mizrahi, Byron Lars, Stephen Dweck, Lela Rose, Alexis Bittar, Carmen Marc Valvo, Yigal Azrouel, Anna Sui, Christie Brinkley, Marc Bouwer, Lela Rose, Colette Malouf and many more. The collar designs range from fantasy-inspired jewel-encrusted bands to biker looks, circlets of flowers, beads, woven fabrics and sea-shells and all bear the designers' labels and signatures.
Isaac Mizrahi said about his design (above), "I loved this project because a dog has style no matter what he/she wears, especially a mixed breed. It's one of a kind couture."
Otto of Shrewsbury, England has been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's oldest dog. Otto is nearly 21-years-old which is 145 in dog years. Otto is adorable but he should not be jumping up at the furniture. He looks very pampered. Take a look:
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia has entered into a multi-year relationship with Age Group Ltd. to manufacture, market and sell pet-care products. The products will sold at PetSmart. The pets line will include apparel, collars, leashes, bedding, grooming supplies, toys and more. The first products will become available in the second quarter of 2010.
Martha Stewart Living recently introduced a pets channel on marthastewart.com, which includes The Daily Wag, a blog written from the perspective of Martha's beloved French Bulldogs, Francesca and Sharkey. Martha Stewart herself is also actively involved in promoting animal welfare. She was recognized for her efforts this year with the ASPCA Presidential Service Award.
Martha Stewart, Founder of MSLO, said, "I have always loved having a lot of pets - dogs, cats and birds, and consider them members of my family. It is very important to me that domestic animals be well fed, well groomed and well cared for, and I have always prided myself on the good health and happiness of my pets. I look forward to working with Age Group and PetSmart to provide other pet owners with the types of Martha Stewart-designed products that will keep pets happy, safe and healthy."
First Dog Bo recently celebrated his 1st birthday at the White House but the only photograph White House photographers managed to take was a photograph of Bo's brother Cappy. That's Cappy sneaking a treat from a table in the Rose Garden of the White House. It's still a cute photograph and it is nice to know that Bo still sees members of his family.
What a fabulous idea to have kittens as models. United Bamboo's 2010 calendar features beautiful kittens wearing the latest fashions by United Bamboo's designers Miho Aoki and Thuy Pham. The beautiful cat photos were taken by Noah Sheldon. You can see more photos from the calendar here.
CNN says these tiny micro-pigs are the hot new pet in Britain. You can learn more about the tea-cup size pigs here on the Daily Mail, which has several good photos. Breeder Jane Croft told the Daily Mail that demand for micro-pigs is soaring. The Daily Mailstory also says that Harry Potter star Rupert Grint reportedly has a micro pig. Take a look:
Below is a list of the most popular pet costumes choices from the National Retail Federation's 2009 survey conducted by BIGresearch. Pumpkins and devils are the most popular choices again in 2009. Bowties and fancy collars came in third, followed by witches, superdog/supercat costumes and pricesses. The graphic above, from left to right, shows Mailman Dog Rider, Snow White Puppy and Zelda Bee costumes.
2009 Most Popular Pet Costumes
Pumpkin
Devil
Bowties/Fancy Collars
Witch
Superdog/Supercat
Princess
Bat
Dog
Angel
Bee
Last year, pumpkins and devils were by far the most popular pet costume choices followed by witches, princesses and hot dog costumes. Pumpkins and devils were also the top choices in 2007.
Nintendo's Wii Fit Plus game will be released this weekend. Wii Fit Plus includes six training modes including yoga, strength training, balance games, and aerobics. The software comes with over 60 exercises and activities designed to help improve body balance and fitness. You can find out more on the
The Wii Fit Plus game costs $19.99 and the balance board retails for $99.99. You can find reviews of the game here, here, here and here. Wii Fit Plus website can be found here.
The game even includes added pet support. You can create an avatar for your dog called a Mii and keep track of your pet's weight along with your own. The Wii's Wii Balance Board controller acts as a scale. Take a look:
Iams Home 4 the Holidays ambassador Hilary Swank bottle feeds kitten Izzy during a visit to the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, California. Iams Home 4 the Holidays (IH4TH) kicked off its 2009 program today. Between Oct. 1 and Jan. 4, 2010, IH4TH will work side-by-side with actress Hilary Swank and founding partner Helen Woodward Animal Center, and nearly 3,500 animal organizations from around the world to raise awareness for homeless animals.
CatGenie is showing off its automatic, litter-free cat box at a new pop-up store in Los Angeles. The CatGenie store is located on level 1, suite 117 in the Hollywood and Highland Center and is open until October 7th. Pet behaviorist Warren Eckstein has partnered with CatGenie for two radiocasts of his syndicated radio show live from the store. The second broadcast is on October 3rd from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CatGenie has also paired with local non profit rescue group, Precious Paws to offer daily cat adoptions in-store. Proceeds from onsite and online sales will benefit Precious Paws throughout the duration of the store. Susan Olsen -- "Cindy" from The Brady Bunch -- will also be in attendance at the October 3rd radiocast.
"The CatGenie is a product you have to see to believe," says Steven Yampolsky, North American President of PetNovations, Inc., the company behind CatGenie. "It is not just another litter box. It is the only litter-free cat box. The CatGenie ends the touching, changing, smelling and buying of cat litter."
Everyone has heard of the H1N1 swine flu that is threatening humans around the globe. Dr. Debbye Turner Bell explains canine influenza virus (CIV), a highly contagious flu virus many dogs have contracted. The virus has been identified in thirty states. The percentage of exposed dogs that develop canine influenza is estimated at 80%. The AVMA says deaths occur mainly in dogs with the severe form of disease. The AVMA says the mortality rate is about 1-5% or slightly higher. The only good news is that there is no evidence that it can be transmitted from dogs to humans or cats. There is a vaccine available for dogs which is explained at the end of the following video. Take a look:
Steve Greenberg, author of Gadget Nation: A Journey Through the Eccentric World of Invention joins Kathie Lee and Hoda to talk about the latest gadgets for your pets. From treadmills for dogs who live in high rise apartments (or who can't go outside for some other reason) to a water dish that won't spill in the car on road trips, these are the latest inventions. Some are clearly better than others. Take a look:
Jessica Simpson tweeted last night that her dog named Daisy was taken by a coyote last night. She wrote, "My heart is broken because a coyote took my precious Daisy right in front of our eyes. HORROR! We are search..."
What a horrible thing to have happen. We hope somehow Daisy turns out to be ok.
Nintendo's Wii Fit Plus game will be released this weekend. Wii Fit Plus includes six training modes including yoga, strength training, balance games, and aerobics. The software comes with over 60 exercises and activities designed to help improve body balance and fitness. You can find out more on the
