We all know herding cats is difficult, but herding kittens is apparently even harder.
This man appears to be trying to line up these 10 squirmy and easily distracted kittens for a photo, but they're clearly not interested in cooperating. "There's so much to explore, human!" their actions seem to shout. "We're new to this world and would very much like to investigate what's under this couch!"
Still, it's amusing to watch the human do what he can to arrange the kittens, from trying to organize them in a line to then trying to bunch them together in the hopes that they would just disperse into something resembling a line. At one point, a kitten is stacked on top of another kitten, and neither seems sure what to do. Maybe that should've been the strategy all along.
For the past 20 years, Connecticut resident Willie Ortiz has been selling scrap metal to pay for his expensive side hobby. He doesn't collect trains or race motorcycles; Ortiz feeds his community's homeless cats — all of them. And thanks to online fundraising, he will continue doing so for the rest of his days.
For the past two decades, 76-year-old Ortiz has made daily drives around Hartford and East Hartford, Connecticut, to bring food to homeless cats. He makes a couple of stops throughout the day and another round in the evening. All told, it takes him around three hours. He pays out of his own pocket for the food and gas, as well as any neutering and medical supplies he can afford.
Recently, a friend convinced him to put the power of social media to work by starting a GoFundMe page to help him defray some of his costs. Ortiz was hoping to raise $5,000. So far, he has raised more than $32,000.
Help from around the world
Ortiz's fundraising efforts got some initial help from exposure in the local newspaper the Hartford Courant, but when it was shared on Reddit, it took off, with donations suddenly hitting the page from all around the world.
"I thought it was a mistake at first; I had never seen anything in my life like that," said Kathleen Schlentz, a friend who set up the online fundraiser. "When I called Willie to tell him, he was practically in tears."
According to Schlentz, Ortiz had been feeding 68 cats in the Hartford and East Hartford communities every single day, regardless of the weather or his own health issues, for the past 22 years.
What does Ortiz plan to do with all of that money? Take care of the cats, of course. Ortiz says he will use the money to buy cat food, pay for medical supplies, and pay for spay and neutering surgeries at his local veterinarian. He's also hoping to pick up a cheap replacement for his 1988 Chevy Silverado with 200,000 miles on it that he currently uses to haul scrap metal.
Hopefully, if he does get a new truck, it will be one that the cats will soon learn to recognize.
"The cats come out when they hear the sound of my engine," Ortiz said. "They know my voice and they know the sound of my engine."
Cats are known for their cautious, slow-to-trust natures. However, once you're in their good graces — well, you're never completely in their good graces, but you'll at least be allowed to perform the occasional belly rub.
No cat, however, may be as trusting as Didga. She does trust falls with her human companion, and the sight of it is both adorable and heart-warming. To see a cat, as her companion points out on the YouTube page, defy "the urge to spin to point her feet in the direction falling" is pretty amazing.
Now if only my cat would trust me enough to feed her on time.
We know that animals have feelings. Studies have shown that animals have consciousness and emotions. But if you have a pet, you know this firsthand.
Just think of how thrilled your __dog is when you come home after a long day away or how your cat purrs when you open a can of food.
But do our pets actually smile at us when they're happy?
When your __dog is content, his mouth will be relaxed and could be slightly open, psychologist and best-selling dog author Stanley Coren, Ph.D. writes in Modern Dog. His ears are up, his head is high and his tongue may be lolling out if he's ready to play. This may look like a happy smile.
Morty often has this contented look on his face. (Photo: hookamabutt/Reddit)
Cats typically don't "smile" in the same way, say behaviorists. They might show their affection in a different way with something like a slow blink. Your kitty may look at you, blink slowly and then possibly look away. She's not bored or tired. Instead, she's showing that she's comfortable with you, says veterinarian Dr. Wailani Sung, in VetStreet.
Because direct eye contact or a prolonged stare is considered aggressive in the animal kingdom, your cat is saying she's not threatened or fearful.
"While a slow blink does not always mean your cat wants physical contact with you, it is a way of signaling to you, to another person or to another cat that everything is A-OK and she is comfortable being around you!" Sung writes.
It's a feline way of smiling. Or maybe, like the cat below, your cat smiles too.
This kitty's grin shows off some pretty impressive fangs. (Photo: Reddit)
Here's a look at dogs and cats that sure look like they are smiling. Maybe they're happy or maybe those are just their natural pleasant-looking expressions. Whatever the case, they certainly make us smile.
If I grin like this, can I have a treat? (Photo: smartstocks/imgur)
It's easy to be happy when you're an adorable puppy. (Photo: rock12567/imgur)
This dog certainly seemed to enjoy his first trip to the beach. (Photo: rock12567/imgur)
This cat is either ecstatic or about to get in big trouble. (Photo: pregglt/imgur)
Rambo 'smiles' each time you point a camera at him — or maybe he's just showing off his pearly whites. (Photo: Agr3ss1vePanda/imgur)
Is that a smile or a funny little mustache? (Photo: fashion4ward3/Reddit)
Somebody's happy to be out in the sunshine. (Photo: jango_broughty/imgur)
This dog is smiling so big he can't keep his eyes open. (Photo: chaboijohnny/Reddit)
Odin the kitty looks happy to be on the bed. (Photo: hugo464/imgur)
This dog always smiles when he gets a belly rub. (Photo: BreezyBumbleBre93/imgur)
This dog takes the 'Say, cheese' thing very seriously. (Photo: ifinallyreallyreddit/imgur)
It's easy to smile when you look this good. (Photo: rock12567/imgur)
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This __dog has probably been planning an escape for months. It's been quietly sabotaging all the other cages and changed the paperwork so it didn't end up in a walled-off section with a plastic barriers. (That poor bulldog was supposed to be in the cage!)
Finally, the moment arrived, and the __dog made a run for it! The cage was just a clever ruse to cover the escape. It was all going so well! But the plan didn't count on a resourceful human actually paying attention. Foiled!
Running around and chasing one another is a favored pastime of kids — who don't need an excuse to do it.
Of course, ferrets don't need an excuse either, especially when there's a plastic tube involved.
These two ferrets love running after one other through this loosely knotted length of tubing. Sometimes there's a bit of confusion — how do you back up inside the tube? where's the end of the tube? (poor white ferret wants to know) — but they always find a way.
As a responsible pet parent, you know by now that chocolate is toxic to your four-legged family, but do you know why? Or, how much of the forbidden sweet snack is potentially lethal to Fido?
With a natural sweet-tooth, dogs often find the smell of sweets, especially chocolate, irresistible. Add colorful ribbons, fancy foil, and curiosity to the mix and it becomes even more important to take extra precautions to protect your furriest family.
This infographic from Animal Friends details the dangers of chocolate to pets at Easter time:
April 15th marked 105 years after the famed “unsinkable ship” struck an iceberg in the north Atlantic, sinking on its maiden voyage to America. But, did you know there were at least 12 dogs aboard the Titanic?
It is suspected that many more dogs were on board that day, but because they were listed as cargo in the ship’s records, most details have been lost. It has been said that Titanic had excellent kennel facilities, even planning a __dog show for April 15th, the very day that the ship disappeared below the ocean’s surface in the very early morning hours.
While the world is remembering the tragic events of April 14th and 15th, we’re taking a moment to honor and remember the dogs of the Titanic.
As reported by Examiner.com, of the 12 confirmed dogs on the Titanic, only 3 survived the shipwreck – all of which were small dogs, 2 Pomeranian and 1 Pekingese, easily hidden inside a blanket or coat and carried into the limited space on lifeboats.
One Pomeranian named Lady, who was bought by Miss Margaret Hays while in Paris, shared the cabin with and was wrapped in a blanket by Miss Hays when the order was given to evacuate.
The Rothschilds owned the second surviving Pomeranian, and the Pekingese, named Sun Yat-Sen, was brought on board by the Harpers of the N.Y. publishing firm, Harper & Row.
Captain Smith on Titanic’s deck with a dog, possibly his own.
The ship’s captain, Capt. Smith, has been seen photographed on board Titanic with his dog, a large Russian Wolfhound named Ben. However, Ben only spent one night on the ship, before it left the dock, and was returned home to Capt. Smith’s daughter.
In a particularly touching account, one passenger, 50-year old Ann Elizabeth Isham, was said to have visited her Great Dane in the ship’s kennels daily. At one point, Isham was seated in a life boat, but when told that her __dog was too large to join her, she exited the boat. Her body was found several days later, clutching onto her dog in the icy waters.
Only first class passengers were permitted to bring dogs on board the ship. A few of those passengers were, Helen Bishop and her Toy Poodle named Frou-Frou, millionaire John Jacob Astor and his Airedale named Kitty, Robert Daniel and his French Bulldog, Gamin de Pycombe, William Carter and his family brought along two dogs – a King Charles Spaniel and an Airedale, Harry Anderson was joined by his Chow-Chow (aptly named Chow-Chow), and many other 4-legged passengers who remain unknown, including a Fox Terrier named simply, Dog.
A photo of dogs on the Titanic. A dozen dogs were confirmed to be aboard; three small dogs survived. (Photo courtesy of Widener University)
Helen Bishop survived the Titanic, later reporting that her dog, Frou-Frou latched onto her dress with his teeth when she left him in their cabin. She reportedly said, “The loss of my little dog hurt me very much. I will never forget how he dragged on my clothes. He so wanted to accompany me.”
John Jacob Astor IV, his wife Madeleine, and their dog, Kitty, about to board the fated ship. John and Kitty did not survive. (via Cheddarbay.com)
In a fortunate turn of events, one passenger, Charles Moore of Washington, DC, had planned to transport up to 100 English Foxhounds via the Titanic, but made arrangements on a different vessel at the last minute. Two other dogs avoided disaster when they disembarked with their owners at Cherbourg, the ship’s first stop after leaving Southampton.
It’s hard to imagine being any part of this terrible tragedy, even harder to imagine having to make the decision to leave your dog when the ship began to sink… Would you have been able to do it?
So the question arises again, “Is Pet Insurance Worth It?”
None of us like paying insurance premiums. Pet insurance is no different in that regard. In general, insurance is not something to enjoy like a new product or an activity. Insurance protects us from unforeseeable events. It mitigates people’s risk and exposure. So maybe we can’t enjoy it like an activity, but it certainly gives us peace of mind. And peace of mind is most definitely worth something.
American’s spend over 60 billion dollars a year on their pets. Pet insurance premiums make up about 750 million of that. Only 1 percent of pet purchasing dollars is going towards pet insurance.
If you think of that in terms of people’s health insurance and car insurance, it crazily and scarily low. The pet insurance market is vastly undeserved.
Naphia reported over 1.6 million pets were insured at the end of 2015 in North America. Yes, up 12.0% from 2014, but overall a very small number when you consider the U.S. alone has approximately 80 million pet owners according to the American Pet Product Association.
Pet Insurance company, Embrace, says these numbers are overstated as it would imply a more robust pet insurance industry.
It’s interesting with so many people considering pets as members of our family, the numbers of pets with pet insurance is almost nothing. Unfortunately, as the numbers suggest, too many of us are ill prepared when disaster strikes. And as a result, too many of us are forced to put our pets down.
As people we recognize that health insurance saves lives. The same is for our pets.
The best time to get pet insurance is when our pets are young. Pet insurance companies don’t cover pre-existing conditions. Furthermore, the first two years of your pet’s life can be as expensive as when they’re over 8 years old. Puppy’s can be very curious. As a result, they are more susceptible to danger.
Here are some questions to ask yourself when buying pet insurance:
How much can I afford to pay ?
Can I afford a disaster on my own ?
Are there dollar caps based on incidents ?
Will routine care be covered ?
What are the waiting periods before coverage starts ? -Keep an eye on this one. The last thing anyone needs is to find out you’re not covered when you thought you were.
Your pet insurance plan should cover these categories — Accidents & Illnesses, Hereditary, Congential, & Chronic Conditions, Diagnostic Tests, Emergency Care, Hospitalization, Specialist Care, Prescriptions and Surgery.
Here’s a breakdown of the 10 best Pet Insurance Companies from top to bottom: https://www.consumersadvocate.org/pet-insurance/best-pet-insurance
Overview of factors to consider when buying Pet Insurance: https://www.consumersadvocate.org/pet-insurance/compare
About the Author:
My name is Scott Smith. I am pet editor for ConsumersAdvocate.org. I’m also a content creator and social media expert. I know how build communities and keep people engaged. It’s really not rocket science. It’s about being authentic. I never lose sight of the fact that behind all these profile pictures, avatars, images and platforms are real people just like you and I. Over the past 5 years I have struck a chord with people from all over the world.
I write across a vast array of topics and not even limited to that. Just as life is fluid, so is my writing. I also run a very large social media community called, “Everybody Loves Sammy” or ELS for short. I created this community about 5 years ago and we’re known all over the world now. Sammy is one of my 6 dogs. “Everybody Loves Sammy” is just the name now. The community itself is about animals and people from all walks of life My community is known for our animal loving, inspirational, motivational, psychological, funny and introspective posts.
Third graders at McCrary Elementary School in Asheboro, North Carolina, applied their math skills – fractions and measurements – to build __dog houses for the Randolph County SPCA.
Last week, 71 students worked alongside volunteers from Habitat for Humanity’s __dog House Build Project to build two beautiful dog houses – from start to finish – for their local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
This was the fifth year in a row that McCrary Elementary has participated in the dog house project that not only allows kids to apply the skills they learn in school, but also teaches about volunteerism and doing good for the community.
Making the build even more special are the signatures of all 71 students inside the dog house walls, with messages like “be a good dog,” and “enjoy your new dog house” from the kids.
The dog houses are very much needed as new anti-tethering laws in the county are requiring pet parents to provide better shelter and living conditions for the furriest members of the community.
From inspiring stories, breaking news, advice for __dog moms and dads, and tips for training your furriest family members, a lot happens in a week! Here are the top __dog stories from this past week, all in one easy-to-read article!
The Three Most Dangerous Types of Dogs
By now, most people should know that “dangerous breed” laws have been proven ineffective and banning dogs based on physical appearance does not help prevent problems, it just tears families with loving dogs apart. So what are the three Most Dangerous Types of Dogs…?…Continue reading
VIDEO: Man Jumps into Frozen Pond to Rescue dog Fallen Through Ice
A Canadian TV news crew were filming a story about the dangers of thin ice at a partially frozen pond in Edmonton, Alberta when a local man and his dog accidentally drove their point home.…Continue reading
Calendar of Catastrophes: The Most Common Pet Health Conditions Month-by-Month
Wouldn’t it be great if you could anticipate your pet’s next move and take precautions to prevent accidents, injuries, and illnesses? While it’s impossible to predict the future, there are some surprising statistics to keep in mind! Throughout the year, certain health conditions presented in pets more often than any other.…Continue reading
Doggie Do’s and Dont’s on Easter
Easter can be a fun holiday for your entire family and of course that includes the dog, too! However, because there are a few extra potential hazards and likely sources of stress for our four-legged best friends during this festive day, it’s important that you keep him safe. To have only the happiest of Easters this year, remember these do’s and don’t’s: …Continue reading
BREAKING: Taiwan Makes it Illegal to Eat Dogs & Cats
In a huge step toward improving the country’s animal protection laws, Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan approved an amendment to their Animal Protection Act which now bans the selling, purchasing, consumption and/or possession of dog or cat meat.…Continue reading
Canine Escape Artist Opens Several Doors & Escapes Animal Hospital
A Virginia dog must have really been missing his family when the canine escape artist used his mouth, and some incredible skill, to open several doors and escape the animal hospital where he was being boarded.…Continue reading
Family Dog Saves Ohio Woman that Overdosed on Heroin
An Ohio mother had already lost one daughter to drug overdose. And, thanks to Buddy, the family’s dog, her second daughter’s life was saved from the same fate.…Continue reading
Police Searching for 6 Children Accused of Horrific Dog Abuse
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying and locating 6 children that they say brutally abused and killed a dog on Tuesday afternoon.…Continue reading
VIDEO: Toby the Whippet Snags New World Record in Balloon Popping
Image courtesy Guinness World Records™
An incredibly fast pup from Canada has set the new world record as fastest balloon-popping canine, beating the previous record by more than 2-seconds.…Continue reading
Half of Police Shots Fired Are Aimed At Dogs, Study Says
Why are dogs – our best friends, our companions, our children – such a threat that police shoot dogs every 98 minutes; when not one single police officer in recorded history has ever been killed by a dog?…Continue reading
Big Dog Loves the Tiny Bed His Owner Accidentally Bought
A big dog from Indiana is getting a lot of love from around the world after his owner accidentally purchased him a tiny dog bed online without checking the measurements first… and he loves it anyway!…Continue reading
Why Dog Owners Should Ditch the Chocolate Bunny this Easter
As a responsible pet parent, you know by now that chocolate is toxic to your four-legged family, but do you know why? Or, how much of the forbidden sweet snack is potentially lethal to Fido?…Continue reading
A year ago, a Texas family was devastated when their furriest family member, a big friendly boy named Tank, was stolen from the backyard.
The family had given up hope of ever seeing their __dog again when something miraculous happened. Michelle Miller was watching the local news when video aired of a __dog who’d been rescued from the streets with a gunshot wound to his chest. KSAT News were looking for information about his abusers, not knowing that a family had been missing him for a year.
“I jumped up from the couch and was like, that’s Tank! That’s him!” Michelle said. “My son was really, really attached to Tank. So to hear what he went through and to see him like that it was very emotional.”
Knowing Tank had been found was even more emotional because the dog had been a gift to Miller’s son by his father, just months before he passed away.
The Animal Defense League was caring for the injured dog they’d been calling “Mr. Big.” Armed with photographs of Tank and proof that she had nothing to do with his abuse, the big boy they’d been missing for a year was finally able to return home.
Although Tank is back at home with his family and recovering from a gunshot wound, Animal Care Services is still investigating his abuse. Anyone with information about who stole him or shot him is urged to call 210-207-4738.
A Washington family is devastated after coming home on Thursday to find their dog, Toby, dead and a note on the front door from a UPS delivery driver apologizing for the death.
According to the note left at the front door, after hitting Toby with his truck, the driver picked him up from the driveway and set his body aside behind some trees before writing the note that read, “Sorry. I backed over Toby. He’s dead over by where I turn around. I didn’t see him behind me. Sorry.”
The driver did not call the family even though there was a phone number on Toby’s collar and on the package he was delivering.
Now, Toby’s owner Cynthia Wakelin is urging UPS to better train their drivers on what to do in situations like this.
“Who does something like that?” Cynthia asked KING. “UPS needs to educate their drivers about how to do the right thing. It’s about more than delivering packages.”
“The driver involved has been disciplined and the company will make a goodwill payment to the customer,” UPS said in a statement. They also apologized to the Wakelins for the “unfortunate incident.”
UPS did not specify how the driver was disciplined, or what exactly he was disciplined for, other than failing to notify his manager immediately following the incident.
The driver’s manager did visit the Wakelin home to offer his condolences. “He was really upset that it was handled this way,” said Cynthia. “He felt really bad because he is a __dog owner, too.”
UPS said it is their policy in cases like this to “knock on the door and if no one is home to leave a note.”
The Wakelins were not home when Toby was killed. There have been two similar incidents in recent years where a __dog was injured or killed and UPS left notes for the dog’s owners. In all three cases, dogs were unattended outside while their owners were away from home.
While cases such as this are rare, it serves an important reminder to keep dogs secured behind a solid fence or inside the home when left alone.
There are few things in life happier than a happy dog. It doesn't matter if it's because they hear you pull into the driveway after work or if they find something particularly smelly to roll around on in the backyard; if a __dog is happy you are going to know about it. You can see them just vibrate with pure unfiltered joy, as if they can't believe that life can be this good.
Thanks to the ubiquity of cameras and the internet, there are scores of videos of supremely happy canines just waiting to be found. To save you a little time, I spent my day wading through the river of adorable and picked out eight of the happiest dogs online. Enjoy!
National Guardsman comes home
There is an entire subset of happy __dog videos showing happy pups greeting their soldier-owners back from tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is one of my favorites in that genre. For what it lacks in length it more than makes up for in passion. Gracie the dog nearly wags herself out after realizing that her owner, Capt. Andrew Schmidt of the U.S. National Guard, is home. This video became so popular when it first appeared online that the "Today" show did a piece on it.
Whines and cuddles for Air Force captain home from Afghanistan
This is another dog-welcomes-soldier-home video, this time starring Molly the golden retriever. Molly is not content to share the attention of her owner as she greets her in the airport. You can almost hear the relief in Molly's whines as she snuggles up next to her owner.
Birthday balloons are for popping
Bunk the dog is a lucky dog. On his second birthday, Bunk's owner fills his apartment with balloons and lets him loose to wreak toothy havoc on them. The results are total canine chaotic bliss.
Will do laps for squeaky toy
This video beautifully illustrates the exuberance of a happy dog and his toy. Andy the dog makes the most of his small suburban backyard by ripping laps in well-worn loops after his owner throws out his little plastic squeaky fishy toy. A running dog is usually a happy dog. Throw in a squeaky toy and you have a happy, emotionally fulfilled dog.
The Doberman and the slide
This Doberman’s life changed dramatically on the day it figured out she could slide down the water slide into the pool. Dobermans are known for having a lot of energy and this looks like a great way for her to burn off the miles. The owner posted in YouTube that "she enjoys the pool more than I do." Make sure to watch this one all the way through to catch the dog's reaction to a change in water flow. She chases it.
Happy dog. Big tongue.
This dog is the picture of contentment. He's perfectly happy to sit there panting, waiting for its owner to throw him something to retrieve. No hurries; he's a dog. A good dog.
Husky loves leaves
This husky is having as much fun in a gigantic pile of leaves as any kid — maybe even more so because of the speed at which he can plow through them.
Bull terrier spins with glee
Oh boy, Daddy's home!
This little guy can't stand it when he gets off the elevator with his dad. He spins one way, then pauses. Then spins the other way and stops. Then does it again.
@quiet0wl_428 @prograpslady U was right. pic.twitter.com/ORC42N3891
— guywholoveshiscat🐈 (@noxtea0x0) April 12, 2017
Cats are quirky. There's no question about it. We know they like to hide in boxes and knock things over. They are persnickety about their drinking preferences.
But the latest kitty question involves a roll of tape. If you make a square on your floor, what will your cat do? Turns out a lot of cats will get inside it.
@prograpslady He almost resisted, but then... pic.twitter.com/cC04thBZsB
— Jen (@JeniNiquette) April 13, 2017
Danielle Matheson's (@prograpslady) Tweet about her mom's home experiment started the hubbub:
Nobody has had a more productive day than my mother pic.twitter.com/LK6KX9KM1x
— Danielle Matheson (@prograpslady) April 10, 2017
Amazed cat owners responded after replicating the experiment, often with tape, but others with squares made out of ribbon, sheets of paper and even shoes.
Some even shared videos of the moment:
@prograpslady posted #CatSquare(see "Moments") yesterday. I tried it with #PrincessPenny. Taped a square on the floor. Trick #kitty on cue👍👏 pic.twitter.com/zNki8UhKmt
— montymiff (@montymiff) April 14, 2017
Cat experts weigh in
So what makes cats so interested in a square on the floor? We checked in with a couple of animal behaviorists for their theories.
"We know that cats like safe spaces. It's possible that the marking on the floor creates some illusion on the floor that doesn’t actually exist," says certified cat behavior consultant Mikel Delgado, who's based in the Berkeley, California area. "It might have enough similarity to a low-sided box that a lot of cats are attracted to it for safety."
Atlanta-based certified cat behavior consultant Ingrid Johnson agrees.
"I would imagine they probably feel as if they are 'in' something ... like laying in a cardboard canned food tray. Though shallow, still comforting, offers parameters or at least the perception of sides," she says.
Johnson points out that cats have poor close-up vision, so they may have the perception that the tape is actually the sides of a confined area.
"Their vision is built for distance and speed, watching a mouse run across the field," she says. "Close up they're virtually blind 8 to 12 inches off their muzzle."
@prograpslady pic.twitter.com/luaFrNyebr
— Yasmin (@YasminStefaniee) April 13, 2017
Kitty curiosity
Another reason cats are intrigued by the square? Pure feline curiosity.
"If you put something new on the floor, a fair amount of cats would explore it," Delgado says. "Most indoor cats know every square foot of your home."
Because cats are very sensitive to their environment, the tape square might be attracting them just because it's new and different, she says. The same thing would likely happen it you put a piece of cardboard or a paper bag on the floor. A lot of cats would check it out and inspect it.
@prograpslady 😂😂😂 she's not sharing. pic.twitter.com/MAzAbAjI76
— Mark (@La23Savage) April 14, 2017
Rhode Island certified animal behaviorist Katenna Jones agrees it's likely the novelty of the square and the cat's inherent inquisitive nature.
"Cats are very good at noticing new things, especially on the floor," Jones says. "Most cats, if you place a cup on the floor, they'll check it out. If you place a pen on the floor, they'll check it out. If you place a bar of soap on the floor, they'll check it out. You may not see this 'sit on the square' behavior in very fearful kitties because they aren't confident enough to check it out."
Jones theorizes that the cats who show this behavior are the same felines that like boxes and beds.
"I think the cat has experience with boxes or beds, notices the new thing, goes to check it out, associates it with a possible comfy spot or a hiding spot. I think it's sitting on it because it's learned throughout its life that things like this are comfortable. Very simple association. That shape is associated with comfort — just like how a cat associates a can opener with tuna."
@prograpslady @TheFamousBg_ needed a bigger square pic.twitter.com/nngyf0EwQS
— Brook Macfie (@brookkoorb) April 13, 2017
Cats in circles
Delgado points out that this isn't the first time the internet has been mystified with this type of feline behavior. A couple years ago, tape circles on the floor were like catnip to curious kitties.
That started when Reddit user Admancb posted a series of photos after discovering his cat was drawn to the circle loop made by a looped power cord. From there, he made circle-ish figures (technically hexagons and heptagons) with tape and the cat jumped in.
This kitty couldn't help but jumping in the tape on the floor. (Photo: SneakyChino/imgur)
Maybe cats do it because they're curious. Perhaps they do it because they feel safe. Or there could be one other possible reason, says Delgado.
"Maybe just chalk it up to cats being mysterious."
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No matter the breed, rabbits are arguably some of the cutest critters on the planet. With their long ears and signature "bunny" noses, rabbits are difficult to resist. Ranging in size from the two-pound Holland lop to the 20-pound Flemish giant, the bunnies on this list are all popular pets that rival the Easter Bunny in terms of looks and personality.
1. American Chinchillas
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If there's one rabbit breed that looks most like the Easter Bunny, it's the American Chinchilla. These classic rabbits are known for their coloration, which resembles that of the South American chinchilla — hence the name. There are three types of chinchilla rabbits: American, Standard and Giant.
Legend has it, the first chinchilla rabbit was bred by accident by a French engineer and rabbit breeder named Monsieur Dybowski. Dybowski later became known as Le Bonhomme Chinchilla, once people got a look at the gorgeous slivery-pearl colored fur of his rabbits.
The American Chinchilla was bred to be a "supersized" version of its French cousin and generally weighs between 9 to 11 pounds in comparison to the 5- to 8-pound standard Chinchilla. Giant Chinchillas, as you might expect, are even bigger, weighing in between 10 to 16 pounds.
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2. Angoras
It's no wonder that angora rabbits are also known as 'wooly wabbits.' (Photo: James Joel/Flickr)
Angora rabbits are bred for their silky soft wool. First bred in Turkey (along with angora cats and goats,) angora rabbits became popular pets of French royalty in the mid-18th century. They made their way to the United States in the early 1900s. There are several angora breeds, four of which are recognized by the official American Rabbit Breeders' Association: English, French, giant, and satin, as well as German, Chinese, Swiss, Finnish, Korean and St. Lucian.
Angora rabbits are generally calm, docile — and extremely fluffy! They require lots of brushing and cleaning to keep their long silky locks in top condition.
The French Angora rabbit is prized for its long, soft wool and cuddly face! (Photo: Loggie-log/Wikipedia)
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3. Lionhead
This lionhead rabbit sure knows how to strike a pose! (Photo: KanhotoSS/Shutterstock)
The lionhead rabbit is a relative newcomer. Original bred in Belgium, these rabbits made their way to the U.S. in the 1990s and became officially recognized as a stand-alone breed in 2014. Lionheads are best known for their "manes," although unlike the African cats for which they're named, these rabbits are rather diminutive, typically weighing between two and four pounds.
Lionheads are categorized according to the number of mane genes that they possess. Single-maned rabbits have the classic fur around their head, ears, chin and and sometimes even on their chest and butt. They also tend to lose their manes as they age. Double-manes, with two copies of the mane gene, have manes completely encircling their heads as well as on their flanks, and this is often referred to as a "skirt."
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4. Lops
Any rabbit with ears that hang down (rather than point up,) is considered a lop rabbit. (Photo: cynoclub/Shutterstock)
Do your ears hang low? They certainly do if you are a lop-earred rabbit. As you might guess, these cuties are known for their low-hanging ears. There are 19 breeds of rabbits that fall within the lop family, with the most popular being the American fuzzy lop, mini lop, Holland lop, English lop and the French lop. They range in size from the Holland lop, which weighs two to three pounds, to the French lop which weighs 10 to 13 pounds. (You might think the smallest would be the mini lop, but these guys generally weigh 5 to 8 pounds.)
American fuzzy lops, a crossbreed of lops and angora rabbits, were bred to have both the signature low-hanging ears and fluffy fur. The oldest of the lops, the English lop, was first bred in England in the mid 1800s before becoming a popular pet of the rich in the Victorian era.
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5. Belgian hare
The handsome Belgian hare was bred to look like his wild cousins. (Photo: Eric Isselee/Shutterstock)
Despite the name, the Belgian hare is not actually a hare but rather a domestic rabbit bred to look like a wild hare. They were first bred in Belgium in the early 1700s and made their way to the U.S. in the mid 1800s. Compared to other breeds of domestic rabbits, Belgian hares are sleek and slender, with long ears and even longer back feet. They are sometimes referred to as the "poor man's racehorse."
Belgian hares are known for their smarts and are considered by many to be the most intelligent domestic rabbit species. They are companionable, although some might be described as "skittish," but that's probably just because they love to play and need lots of exercise. Fortunately, their short, sleek hair means that they don't require much in the way of grooming.
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6. English spot
The English spot is considered one of the oldest breeds of fancy rabbits. (Photo: Eric Isselee/Shutterstock)
The English spot stands out in the bunny world thanks to its signature markings. There are of course, the spots along each side of its body, but these bunnies also have nose markings that look like a butterfly, eye circles, cheek spots, colored ears, and a line of color that follows the spine called a "herringbone."
These medium-sized bunnies are described as friendly, inquisitive, and they have just enough "spunk" to make them playful companions. Originally bred in England in the mid-19th century, English spots have been a popular breed in the U.S. since they made the trip across the pond in 1910.
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7. Flemish giant
The Flemish giant is also known as the 'Gentle Giant' for his docile personality. (Photo: hacksss/Shutterstock)
While other bunny breeds might be cute and tiny, the Flemish giant is a beast of a breed — more like a small __dog than a rabbit! As one of the largest domestic rabbit species, Flemish giants can weigh upwards of 20 pounds and stretch out to lengths as long as 32 inches. Despite their intimidating size, these rabbits are gentle and tolerant of humans and other animals, as long as they're treated well.
There is some controversy among Flemish giant historians about the true origins of this breed, but most contend they date back to the 16th century in Belgium. They have been a popular breed in the U.S. since around 1890. These large bunnies were originally bred for their meat and fur, but thanks to their docile demeanor — and expensive diets — it became more practical for them to be pets.
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8. Harlequin
Harlequin rabbits are a colorful breed with coats that resemble the calico coloration in cats. They were originally bred in France for their coloration and markings rather than for their fur or body type. These gentle, playful bunnies are broken down into two types: Japanese harlequins, which are a mix of orange and other colors (such as black, blue, chocolate, or lilac,) and Magpie harlequins, which have white instead of orange as their primary color. Harlequin rabbits generally weigh around seven pounds.
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9. Jersey wooly
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A cross between the Netherland dwarf rabbit (a small breed of domestic rabbit,) and the French angora, Jersey woolies are known for their petite size and poof of fur. New Jersey native Bonnie Seeley is credited for popularizing the breed when she introduced it at a convention of the American Rabbit Breeders' Association in 1984.
These small, gentle rabbits have soft, silky fur similar to an angoras, but it's less quick to mat, making them much easier to care for. Jersey woolies weigh around three pounds and make for an adorable and fluffy companion.
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When the family of a dog named Sasha, a cat named Jack, and a rat named Tweaks was forced to move, they weren’t able to bring their family members with them. It immediately became clear at the shelter that they couldn’t be split up, but finding a home for a bonded pair is difficult enough, let alone a bonded trio. Thankfully, the perfect family adopted all three.
The Rat Pack was brought to the Oshkosh Area Humane Society in Wisconsin on March 1st by a woman and her two daughters, who were evicted and had to move into her parents’ small apartment. They were all terribly heartbroken to have to part with their furry family members.
The family had had all three since they were babies, and Jack is visually impaired and relies on his siblings. Shelter employees were told that they were bonded, but they had no idea just how much until the three were separated to undergo evaluation.
“It was immediately obvious to us that Jack was extremely unhappy. A staff member had the idea of putting the dog back with Jack to see if it’d have a positive impact,” admissions manager Cari Tetzlaff told ABC News. “As soon as Sasha was in the room, Jack perked up. We were able to touch him for the first time. He instantly felt more comfortable.”
The change in his temperament was so drastic that another staff member “half-jokingly said, ‘Try bringing the rat in,’ and Sasha instantly started wagging her tail and approached to play. Tweaks was even grooming the top of Sasha’s head. It was so heartwarming.”
They made quite a splash online, especially among people who didn’t realize that rats are quite intelligent, caring, and clean. And who would have guessed just how attached a rat could be with a cat and a dog?
“It’s really common to see two cats or two dogs,” Tetzlaff said. “But to have a trio try to stay together for their own emotional benefit was pretty remarkable to us.”
Three weeks after their arrival at the shelter, a woman came in looking to adopt a dog and a cat. She was reluctant to welcome a rat into her home, but changed her mind when she saw the Rat Pack together.
“She immediately softened to the idea after seeing how friendly he was,” Tetzlaff said.
Best of luck with your new family members, everybody!
Morty often has this contented look on his face. (Photo: hookamabutt/Reddit) 
This kitty's grin shows off some pretty impressive fangs. (Photo: Reddit) 
If I grin like this, can I have a treat? (Photo: smartstocks/imgur) 
It's easy to be happy when you're an adorable puppy. (Photo: rock12567/imgur) 
This dog certainly seemed to enjoy his first trip to the beach. (Photo: rock12567/imgur) 
This cat is either ecstatic or about to get in big trouble. (Photo: pregglt/imgur) 
Rambo 'smiles' each time you point a camera at him — or maybe he's just showing off his pearly whites. (Photo: Agr3ss1vePanda/imgur) 
Is that a smile or a funny little mustache? (Photo: fashion4ward3/Reddit) 
Somebody's happy to be out in the sunshine. (Photo: jango_broughty/imgur) 
This dog is smiling so big he can't keep his eyes open. (Photo: chaboijohnny/Reddit) 
Odin the kitty looks happy to be on the bed. (Photo: hugo464/imgur) 
This dog always smiles when he gets a belly rub. (Photo: BreezyBumbleBre93/imgur) 
This dog takes the 'Say, cheese' thing very seriously. (Photo: ifinallyreallyreddit/imgur) 
It's easy to smile when you look this good. (Photo: rock12567/imgur) 
This kitty couldn't help but jumping in the tape on the floor. (Photo: SneakyChino/imgur) 
It's no wonder that angora rabbits are also known as 'wooly wabbits.' (Photo: James Joel/Flickr) 
The French Angora rabbit is prized for its long, soft wool and cuddly face! (Photo: Loggie-log/Wikipedia) 
This lionhead rabbit sure knows how to strike a pose! (Photo: KanhotoSS/Shutterstock) 
Any rabbit with ears that hang down (rather than point up,) is considered a lop rabbit. (Photo: cynoclub/Shutterstock) 
The handsome Belgian hare was bred to look like his wild cousins. (Photo: Eric Isselee/Shutterstock) 
The English spot is considered one of the oldest breeds of fancy rabbits. (Photo: Eric Isselee/Shutterstock) 
The Flemish giant is also known as the 'Gentle Giant' for his docile personality. (Photo: hacksss/Shutterstock) 
