Cats

And lo, the lion shall lie down with the lamb. And the wolf shall wear the saddest garment of Men. And the cat shall swim in chlorinated waters!

OK, so it's not an official sign of the apocalypse, but Prinny here is violating what we all were sure was a universal truth: Cats hate water. Mine hides under the couch for 10 minutes if I splash her with even a drop while doing dishes. But this one's taken to the pool like a feline Michael Phelps. It would be disquieting if it wasn't so darn cute. But maybe that's exactly what we need to worry about. No one's gonna see Armageddon coming if all the warning signs are this adorable.

It's always a difficult moment when a senior citizen has to enter a hospital or nursing home, especially if it means a pet is going to be left without care - even temporarily. Enter Sister Marijon Binder and her two organizations, Touched by an Animal and Cats-Are-Purrsons-Too. Binder's Chicago-based organizations help the elderly take care of their pets.

Depending on the situation, that can mean sending volunteers into people's homes to help provide pet food, walk dogs, or clean litter boxes, which often makes the difference between a senior being able to keep a pet or having to give it up. Binder also boards cats for people who have to go to a hospital or nursing home, and takes the cats to visit their owners.

Binder came to her current vocation after moving to Chicago from her California convent in 1976 and soon realized that she could make a difference helping people in need with their pets.

At one point, the convent called her back to service and she considering returning, but ultimately she had to say no. "I wanted to go back [to the convent] but too many elderly people were relying on me," Binder told the Chicago Sun Times. "I simply felt in my heart that God wanted me to continue taking care of these people and animals." She went on to say, "These pets are their family. They're desperate to find someone who will love and care for their pet after they are gone. So what we do is provide them with peace of mind."

Her passion for caring for this community does add a particular challenge to her life -- Binder cares for about 70 cats in her Chicago home, which has a screened-in backyard so the kitties can play outside. If the cat won't be returning to its owner for some reason, sometimes the cats are put up for adoption and Binder helps facilitate the process.

So just what is it like to live with 70 cats? Binder told Paw Nation, "Living with cats is a full-time job. As the saying goes, 'dogs have masters; cats have servants.' That's us."

The organizations are kept going by donations and volunteers. Says Binder, "Every day, I pray for volunteers and donations. Sometimes we're really low on money, but I trust in God and people to pull us out."

To participate in any way -- including adopting a cat -- call (773) 728-6336 or visit www.touchedbyananimal.org.

Remember the video we posted recently of that adorable puppy who, as much as he tried, couldn't turn over? Wow, wasn't that cute? Well, a while has passed since then, the puppy has gotten older, his priorities have changed, and now there is a sequel documenting all that.

Forget about Iron Man 2. Here's The Puppy Who Can't Roll Over 2: The Puppy Who Can't Roll Over Yaps at a Cat Who Couldn't Care Less.

Meet Mary Burch, American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Director and Paw Nation's new expert columnist addressing your questions on animal behavior. Dr. Burch has over 25 years of experience working with dogs and she is one of less than 50 Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists based in the United States. She is the author of nine books, more than 200 articles and has been a lobbyist on legislation concerning hazardous dogs and responsible dog ownership.

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My husband and I own a mixed-breed cat who we absolutely adore. We have had her for four years and have experienced no issues with her using the litter box until the now. For the past two weeks, she has been urinating on the carpet all over the house. She still uses the litter box for defecating. Any idea what might be going on?

When an animal who has had no problems with house training suddenly has a change in habits, the first thing I suggest is a quick trip to the vet. This may be a behavioral issue, but you want to rule out any possible medical issues. These could include urinary-tract problems or other diseases.

Once the vet says the cat has no health problems, it's time to look at possible behavioral causes. Is she scent marking or flat-out urinating, i.e. does she leave puddles of urine? Have there been any changes in the environment? Did you get new carpet, new furniture, a new pet, or change the brand of litter you're using? Changes in a cat's world can cause the cat to "mark" the new items so that everyone knows the house belongs to this kitty.

Also think about whether there is anything happening to cause the cat to be nervous or feel a need for your attention. Are you or your husband gone more than usual? Has there been a change in your schedule or focus so there is less time and affection for the cat? If so, that may be what is setting her off.

Finally, remember that cats are clean creatures. Are you cleaning the litterbox regularly? If there is waste in the litterbox, a cat may choose the bathtub or carpet rather than tiptoe around in a dirty litterbox. Now that your carpet has the scent of urine in it, it should be cleaned it with an enzyme urine removal product (from your local pet store). As long as the carpet smells like urine, unfortunately, there is a good chance the cat will continue to use it as a potty area.

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Mary R. Burch, Ph.D., is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and the Director of the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Program. Dr. Burch is the author of "Citizen Canine: 10 Essential Skills Every Well-Mannered Dog Should Know."

Do you have an animal behavior question for Dr. Burch? E-mail your questions to mary@pawnation.com.

Frosty the feline is lucky to be alive after being trapped in an industrial warehouse freezer in England where temperatures hovered about 30 degrees Farenheit. Brrr! "We think he'd been in the warehouse for at least four weeks," a warehouse employee tells the (U.K.) Daily Mail.

The black-and-white cat, thought to be about a year old, was "spotted on several occasions by staff but no-one could catch him," reports the Daily Mail. Frosty, as the warehouse employees named him, could have reasonably escaped through the main doors but the noise of the delivery trucks roaring up to the warehouse probably scared the cat away from the high traffic exit.

Finally, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) put out a humane live-capture trap for Frosty to entice him into the cage with cat treats and water. "It's incredible that Frosty survived for so long in such a harsh environment," RSPCA spokesman Steve Sellars told the Daily Mail. It is believed that the frisky feline survived by eating frozen peas and licking moisture off frozen food packets.

Frosty did not escape his icy adventure unscathed. He suffered frostbite to his ears and tail and had to have them amputated. But other than that, Frosty will be just fine. "He's a lovely cat and he's become very playful," RSCPA employee Rachel Allcock told the Daily Mail. "We're looking forward to his full recovery and getting him to his new home."

One of the warehouse workers has already volunteered to give Frosty a new, warm, place to live.