Posts tagged "cat hair"

Cornish Rex 101

by Evan Jacobs (Subscribe to Evan Jacobs's posts): Dec 22nd 2009 10:00AM Filed Under: Cats

The Cornish rex is one of six breeds of "rex" cats, where "rex" indicates curly hair. The hair of the Cornish rex is its most distinguishing feature, besides its slender body, large ears, and tiny, egg-shaped head. The Cornish Rex has only a down coat, usually the undercoat of a normal cat. This means that a Cornish rex's coat is extremely soft, curly, and unique.

The breed originated in 1950s England. When a cat was born in Cornwall with this strange genetic mutation, it was bred with its mother to produce more of what are now known as Cornish rexes. After that, they were taken to America where they were bred with Siamese cats, giving them their skinny appearance.

Affable, curious, and very intelligent, Cornish rexes make great cats for children and people with other pets. The coat does very little to insulate them, so they can suffer hypothermia quite easily. They fare better as inside cats, especially in a home with lots of warm, cozy objects they can rest on. Some Cornish Rexes have a mildly cheesy odor, particular to their breed, which comes from the scent glands in their paws.

Home Is Where the Hair Is: How to Keep Fur in Check at Home

by Rebecca Quimby (Subscribe to Rebecca Quimby's posts): Sep 22nd 2009 11:00AM Filed Under: Dogs, Cats

"What cat bed? The couch is where I laze around." Photo: tommyhj/Flickr

Brush the cat hair off the computer monitor and read carefully.

According to a new survey released by Bissell Homecare, Inc, 50% of pet owners give their pets the run of the house, which leads to some pretty hairy homes. Okay, so maybe this isn't news to you pet owners out there, but the survey did uncover some pretty interesting numbers.

57% of pet owners say their four-legged friends are more likely than a significant other to kiss them when they come home, which is either the saddest or sweetest statistic we've ever heard.

86% of pet owners say they don't mind having to clean up their homes more because of their animal companions, but 38% of people surveyed said they would adopt a pet (or get another) if cleaning up after them were easier.

"Sadly, I do believe that cleanliness issues do keep some people from adopting pets," pet lifestyle expert Kristen Levine told Paw Nation. "Anything that poses an inconvenience or a hardship will cause some to think twice about changing their lifestyle."

When we asked Levine, who works with Bissell, for her top pet clean-up tips, she responded, "Before I offer advice, I'd like to tell potential pet adopters this: The love and companionship a pet brings to a family far outweighs any clean up inconvenience in the world! Once you adopt a pet, you'll know what I mean!"

Now for the advice:

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Camouflage Animals

Madagascar Day Gecko
The green Madagascar Day Gecko lives in the dry regions of forests in Madagascar and neighboring islands. They usually grow to be between four to six inches long. Their tail makes up almost half of their length.

Getty Images

Camouflage Animals

Argentine Horned Frog Reptiles
The Argentine Horned Frog, also known as the Horned Frog or Pacman Frog, originated in South America. The green and black amphibian, which can grow up to six inches long, is a popular pets and can live for as long as 10 years.

Camouflage Animals

Walkingstick
The Walkingstick takes its camouflage abilities to the next level by creating the appearance of a stick or twig to hide from predators. While they normally stand still, these insects are able to walk around as though they were a twig caught in the wind. They can be found in tropical forests or woodlands all across the world.

Camouflage Animals

Dwarf Puff Adder
Found in Nambia, the venomous Dwarf Puff Adder hides from the hot desert sun by burying itself in the sand, where only its eyes show.

Camouflage Animals

Stonefish
Often resembling a rock, the brown colored Stonefish camouflages itself perfectly in the ocean. With 13 venomous dorsal spines on its back, the Stonefish can cause tissue damage and respiratory distress, which can lead to cardiovascular shock if left untreated.

Camouflage Animals

Chameleons
Chameleons, the quintessential color-changers, can transform their skin color when their mood, temperature or the amount of light around them is altered. Their hue, which can vary from yellow and pink to brown and black, is also altered when they communicate.

Camouflage Animals

Green Anole
Often confused with chameleons, Green Anoles turn brown when they're stressed or sick. Found in the trees and shrubs of the Southeastern United States, these lizards are popular pets.

Camouflage Animals

The Eastern Wood Frog
The Eastern Wood Frog tricks competitors by changing colors to match its surroundings. Found in North American woodlands, the frog also has a dark black patch from its eye to the base of its front limb that can change colors.

Camouflage Animals