Newsy bits

From WIBW-TV in Topeka, Kansas, comes this veterinarian's warning about plants that might be toxic to your cat.

Of particular concern, with Easter coming, are lilies. Seems they are a no-no for cats.

Read the story here.
- - - - -
Next, I'll just repeat the headline from the Chicago Tribune: Blog has the scoop on South Loop dog poop.

Read the story here.
- - - - -
New book on a holistic diet for your dog.

Read the press release from PR Newswire here.
- - - - -
Are rats the perfect companion pet?

Some people think so.

Read about it here in an article by the Associated Press's Sue Manning via ABC News.

Video Sunday

Strange or funny animal videos is the subject of today's blog.

We'll start with Burrito, the golf-playing Chihuahua.

Watch it here.

You try making a hole in one with Al Roker breathing down your neck.

- - - - -

How about a horse and a cat playing together?

Watch them here.

Cat has good claws.

- - - - -

And, finally, did you know rats laugh when they are tickled?

Watch this video.

Where is former Rep. Eric Massa when you need him?

How about ratatouille for lunch?

Pet rats.

Staring.

Boxing.

Trying to dominate.

Here.

More on pet rats.

And more.

Coupla videos

How about a Video Wednesday? Before I have to go out and chip the ice off my car.

Here's a little video from the Muppets — what could be bad?

Rizzo the Rat decided Rowlf the Dog should trade his piano playing skills for skateboarding. Watch what happens.

And it looks like it takes place in sunny California. Remind me again why I live in New York.

This second video is another one of those odd animal pairings.

This time we have a cat and a rat palling around. Some say it's a sign of the Apocalypse.

Come to think of it, both videos have rats in them.

Take a dog, then add a cat and a rat

A Santa Barbara, Calif., man has trained his diverse pets to just get along.

Watch the video.

Oh rats

With the Pixar animated film Ratatouille set to open June 29, inevitably some people are going to start thinking about whether rats make good pets.

Here is a guide to selecting a pet rat and keeping it in your home. Did you know the male is called a buck and the female is called a doe?

Anyone have any first-hand knowledge of keeping the little critters?

Take a look at the teaser for the movie, but bear in mind your pet rat won't be such a gourmand.



While looking around for some clips for this blog entry, I ran across a disturbing music video made by Crispin Glover, who starred in Willard. In the video, Glover sings Ben while cavorting with rats and models and, at one point, someone who looks like Hitler.

You know it's disturbing when the rats are the most appealing thing in it.

I'm not going to embed the video here or link to it, but you've got all the information you need to Google it.

I'm going to go scrub my eyes now.