With the recent birth of three ‘liger’ cubs in a Taiwanese Zoo and the subsequent controversy surrounding them, we thought it was about time we answered some of your questions – and some of our own!) – about these cross-bred (big) cats.

What exactly IS a liger?

A Liger is the hybrid cross between a male lion and a female tigress, producing an offspring bigger than either of its parents. Adult ligers can weigh as much as 400 kilograms, making them the largest of all big cats.

A tigon is another lion/tiger variation, this time between a male tiger and a lioness. These don’t get quite as big as their liger counterparts, but still present a fairly formidable proposition when fully grown!

The liger looks more like a lion than a tiger, but possesses the tiger’s love and aptitude for swimming.

And what about these cubs in Taiwan?

In Taiwan’s capital Taipei, the first-ever recorded liger cubs on the island were born in a private zoo on August 15. Sadly, one of the cubs died almost immediately after it was born, while the other two quickly became the new cute cats on the Internet for a day ,with photos being circulated far and wide.

When news spread, however, Taiwanese authorities seized the cubs and relocated them to a park for wild animals, and will fine the zookeeper for having allowed the breeding to occur, as it is against regulations in the country.

For his part, the zookeeper insists the mating was an accident, although the lion (native to Africa) and tigress (found predominantly on the Indian subcontinent) were kept in the same enclosure.

The Liger

Why isn’t it allowed?

According to The Week magazine: ‘Cross-breeding rare, protected species violates Taiwan’s Wildlife Conservation Law.’ Most zoos frown on the crossbreeding of lions and tigers, too.

Ligers ‘are basically freaks bred by unscrupulous zoos in order to make money out of people willing to pay to see them,’ says Liger.org, adding that ‘US zoos have several ligers.’

One genetic defect found in ligers is that they are almost always infertile, meaning there can only ever be first-generation Ligers. In addition to this, the dangers associated with mixing the breeds are considered cruel. Since being taken to the animal shelter after their birth, another of the cubs has tragically died from complications, with his sole remaining brother in a critical condition.

Surely to cause such harm to a tiny innocent cub is too high a risk for the continued breeding of these creatures, even in the face of all the revenue they may generate?

•    What are your thoughts? Should the cross-breeding of big cats be allowed? Let us know via the Comment facility below…

Images by: ahsanmiftah and aliwest44

The connotations of black cats as omens have permeated our culture, helped along the way by their popularity as a mascot for everything from witches to Halloween. Yet anyone who has ever owned a black cat (or any other cat, for that matter) knows that far from bringing bad luck or evil, they bring love, affection and joy to our lives. (Along with a whole lot of black hair left on white furniture for that matter!)

As such, we’ve decided to do a little bit of armchair investigating and unearth just why black cats have such a…well… unearthly reputation.

Apparently, in ancient Hebrew and Babylonian mythology, black cats were often pictured coiled like serpents, another creature long-associated with evil. Since then, many cultures have also associated black cats as the favourite pet of witches, with many believing that witches have the ability to change form from human to…you guessed it…black cat. This belief led to the horrific torture of several animals alongside women in the 17th century as they were burned at the stake on suspicion of witchcraft.

Yet black cats dying for the colour of their fur is not a thing of the past. These days, in shelters and pounds across the country, black cats and dogs are frequently passed over for those with lighter coloured fur. Rescue organisations believe this is due to a combination of factors. It’s partly because it is difficult to read the expression on the face of a cat with black fur, partly because they don’t photograph as well as their lighter counterparts, and partly because silly myths have infiltrated our psyche, prejudicing us against these innocent and beautiful animals.

Next time you see a black cat, give it a cuddle, and remember that witches don’t exist. And if you’re thinking of adopting another kitty, give some thought to adopting the black one that others less enlightened than you may leave behind.

Images by: helorits Miller and ƒernando

VitaZing multivitamin chews provide your fluffy companion with a whopping 25% of his or her daily vitamin requirements, helping you ensure that your cat gets the very most out of every day. Containing B-complex group vitamins that unlock the nutrients in food, VitaZing is sure to put a spring-or should we say zing-in Moggie’s step. Just one delicious liver-based chew for every 5kg your kitty weighs will ensure it receives a large portion of the vitamins required for optimum health.

Washmate Soap-Free Shampoo is the gentle, safe and quality solution for making bath-time as painless as possible. Not only is Washmate soap free and ph-balanced, ensuring it is soft on skin, but it also contains coconut oil to condition your pet’s skin, leaving it smelling and feeling great. Washmate has been specially formulated to work well in conjunction with flea and parasite treatments such as Advantage, Advocate and Profender.

To make sure your special furry friend is taken extra special care of, try these two new products and see your cat shine from the inside out! Vitazing and Washmate are available at petstores, vet clinics and online.

Do you laugh when you see a pampered cat strutting his stuff in a Louis Vuitton jacket? Do you chuckle when you spy that “kooky” cat with the fluffy ear-muffs? While some of the cat -fashion gear may seem excessive, it is important to keep in mind  – as the mercury drops this winter – that animals feel the cold too! Tender care of your cat may mean taking steps, especially overnight, to ensure your pet stays snug this season.

Dr Graham Swinney, (President of the Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association) in an article for HCF’s fit and well magazine, suggests that letting your cat or dog sleep inside in the coldest months is the best way to protect against cold-related illnesses.

Kittens, puppies, elderly animals and short-haired animals may need special consideration, especially if you live somewhere where the temperature drops below freezing overnight.

Experts warn us that a cat can get hypothermia if they are left out in the bitter cold- and can even go into a coma! Older animals, like humans, can experience arthritis, a disease that is greatly exacerbated by cold weather.

If you do keep your cat outside, vets recommend that you ensure that they have a snug well-lined and protected sleeping area available that is free from draughts. Dr Swinney also reminds us to make sure that our pet always has access to a bowl of unfrozen water. It may seem obvious when it’s pointed out – but how often does the temperature drop below freezing when we least expect it to?

If you need an extra excuse to relax the rules and let your furry friend sleep inside this winter, consider this: A well-placed kitty or pooch at the foot of your bed provides the best hot-water bottle alternative we’ve come across in years!

Images sourced from: messmor and cats-facts

Let’s face it, a new kitten in the family, while wonderful, also means a whole lot of work and uncertainty. To help get you through this sometimes challenging time, we’ve put together a list of our top tips and tricks that will get your furry new friend settled in as smoothly as possible.

•    Kitten Proofing and Kitten Safety! Of course, no matter how hard you try to make sure that everything that a kitten could destroy (or could destroy a kitten) is out of his or her reach before the arrival, there is bound to be some dangling wire or loose couch thread that will attract the baby as soon as they’re brave enough to explore.

The real trick to kitten-proofing is to “see through the eyes” of your kitten! Don’t let looking silly stop you! Just lie flat on your stomach and survey the room as if you were an inquisitive feline looking for trouble. This includes looking for loose cables, wires, threads, glass objects, or plants which may be harmful if eaten.

Another tip is to always make sure that the toilet seat is always left down and the toilet door closed. Sadly, it is all too common for kittens to meet their demise in the toilet bowl after becoming a little too inquisitive.

•    Help The New Kitten Feel Secure With Its Own Special Safe Space. It is often overwhelming for a kitten to be brought into a strange new home, no matter how much love and good will it is showered with. It is important, especially in the first few days, that you set aside a small, comfortable and warm space for the kitten to be left alone when he or she needs their space.

It is far easier for a kitten to familiarise themself with a quiet, smaller area than to try and confront all the unknown nooks and crannies of a family house. Make sure you place food and water within easy reach of this space, as well as a litter-tray nearby (although not too close to the food, cats are fastidiously clean animals). Once they have become comfortable and familiar with their small ‘safe space’, they will feel more at ease to explore the rest of their new play-land.

•    Ease the homesickness for mum…A heartbreaking reality of bringing home a new kitten is that for the first few days they will most likely long for the comfort of their mother and their litter-mates. There are a few ways in which you can ease the pain of separation for your new family member. One tried and tested trick is to put a ticking clock in the kitten’s bed. The noise will replicate its mother’s heartbeat and soothe some of the loneliness. Another well-tested trick is to provide a hot water bottle (not too hot) to give comfort to the baby.

Above all, the most important thing is to watch your kitten closely and give it plenty of love. It will soon show you what it is comfortable with and what it likes. Responding to these needs will settle your kitten and make it a part of the family in no time.

Have any other tips or hints to help the new kitten settle in to its new home? Let us and others know about it!

Image by: Andreas Solberg,  mathias-erhart and jm2c

Click here to view the embedded video.

If your cat has been scratching, licking, rubbing or sneezing excessively, you should consider allergies as a possible cause. Changing around variables like what food he’s eating, where he’s sleeping and what he’s coming in contact with could help you determine exactly what your cat is allergic to. A vet can perform a blood-test, skin-test or diet-tests, depending on which allergen is suspected to be the problem.

How should I treat my cat’s allergies?
If possible, removing the allergen is obviously the best solution. If your cat is allergic to fleas, you can increase the frequency of his flea treatments so that he is protected all year round. Keeping your cat’s bed and litter tray extra-clean and dust-free is another good solution if dust is causing your cat’s allergies, as is switching the kind of cleaning products you use in the house, or the shampoos you use on your cat.

If, however, the allergy is to something that can’t be easily eliminated from your cat’s environment, there are a range of medical options for treatment, such as antihistamines, allergy injections and cortisol creams to relieve itching. These will not cure the allergies, but will effectively manage your cat’s symptoms and make life a lot more comfortable for the both of you!

And remember, for the best advice, always consult your vet.

Images by Helen hsd and Russ Crib

Thanks to the Twilight books and films, vampires are the coolest undead creatures of the night going around at the moment, especially where teenage girls are concerned. In Nature, though, real-life bloodsuckers – known as parasites – bear little resemblance to Robert Pattinson, and as such their sex appeal is somewhat limited.

But that doesn’t mean these natural vampires are any less interesting – as a new exhibition called ‘Parasites Uncovered’ proves. From vampire bats to tapeworms to common fleas, the exhibition reveals fascinating facts about these parasites, and stresses the importance of guarding your pets against them.
The exhibition is taking place in Germany, but for a sneak peek, check out the video.

The exhibition ‘Parasites Uncovered’ will also tour the world during 2011. So keep an eye out for future dates.

Click here to view the embedded video.

One of the most dangerous threats to a dog’s life is not parvo-virus. It’s not kennel cough, or busy roads, or even cancer. It’s looking irresistible as a puppy in a pet store window…

Over 200,000 cats and dogs are put to sleep in Australia each year, and the vast majority of these are homeless. Of these homeless dogs, many began life as an adorable, big-eyed pup in the pet-store window, just waiting for someone to come along and succumb to their charm.

And what a brilliant marketing ploy! Who can resist the sad eyes and hopefully wagging tail when walking past a pet-store display?

The problem is, while many passers-by are seduced into buying a pup to ‘rescue’ it from the pet store, far fewer are able or willing to maintain the commitment into the dog’s adulthood, resulting in an alarming number being surrendered (or dumped) at animal shelters and pounds. Once in the pound, a dog has an average of just a week to find a new home – if no-one comes to save them in this time, they are put to sleep.

The solution
In order to combat this problem, PETStock animal supplies have teamed up with the lifesaving organisation PetRescue to create a new way to bring a pet home – without the guilt, pressure or situation to induce an impulse-buy.

In an ongoing series of events Australia-wide, PETStock will hold an in-store adoption drive where people looking to adopt a pet can meet their potential new family members in a relaxed and happy environment. The cats and dogs will all be rescue pets (animals that have been rescued from pounds and shelters) and if a family is interested in adopting one they will be required to go home and fill out an online adoption query, to ensure that the best matches are made.

•    To learn more about when the next adoption drive is taking place in your state, visit www.petrescue.com.au

Images by ƒernando and dude seriously productions

It is the number one killer of cats worldwide, and an incurable disease, but how much do we really know about the feline leukaemia virus (FeLV)? Knowledge is power, so Cat Diaries has put together an easy-to-understand fact sheet to help you protect your moggy’s health.

What is FeLV?
Only found in and transferred between cats, FeLV is a highly-contagious disease that affects the feline immune system, causing it to break down from within and leaving your cat susceptible to cancers and blood disorders. In addition, illnesses that may otherwise have only had mild can prove fatal in a cat with FeLV.

Symptoms
Early signs your cat could be infected include loss of appetite, swollen lymph glands and fever. According to Cornell University’s Feline Health Centre in the US, as the disease progresses the cat’s health will visibly deteriorate, with more general symptoms such as:
•    Loss of appetite;
•    Slow but progressive weight loss, followed by severe wasting late in the disease process;
•    Poor coat condition;
•    Enlarged lymph nodes;
•    Persistent fever;
•    Pale gums and other mucus membranes;
•    Inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) and mouth (stomatitis);
•    Infections of the skin, urinary bladder and upper respiratory tract;
•    Persistent diarrhoea;
•    Seizures, behaviour changes and other neurological disorders;
•    A variety of eye conditions;
•    In un-desexed female cats, abortion of kittens or other reproductive failures.

Transmission
The virus is transmitted from feline to feline only, through blood, mucus, saliva, faeces and urine. It can also be transmitted from a mother to her kittens either in the womb or through feeding.

Progression of FeLV
FeLV travels to the lymph nodes and begins to reproduce as soon as a cat is infected. Some cats will be able to fight off the virus here and suffer no further symptoms, while other cats are simply immune to the virus yet become carriers who can spread the virus but who are not affected themselves. For many, however, the virus quickly spreads to the bone marrow, where the red and white blood cells are produced. From here, it begins to attack several other tissues, breaking down the immune system.

Prevention
The good news in all of this is that there are vaccines available, and while none are completely effective, they offer a 75 to 85 per cent prevention rate, meaning that most cats who receive the vaccine are able to fight off the virus before it damages their immune system.

Speak to your vet about FeLV and to discuss the best options for vaccination and prevention.

Images by meantux and Habub3