Aggression, Hostility, Antagonism

We've seen some psycho demon chihuahuas recently; let's see what kind of deviltry can come from cats.

Unknown source

This cat is rage personified:



And this cat is just pure evil. (Note: embedding is disabled on this video, but I highly recommend watching it on youtube.)

A True Illustration of "Eyes Glazing Over"

Finally, someone to accurately portray how my eyes looked during operating systems class!

Photo by Toby Hudson

This obliging masked lapwing (shown below enjoying a juicy worm) has provided a prime depiction of the nictating membrane, or third eyelid, that provides eye moisture and protection to various animals while still maintaining visibility. The lapwing uses its nictating membrane to blink but closes the whole eyelid to sleep.


Photo by Toby Hudson

Shown here is a chicken blinking:

Photo source: Wikimedia Commons

A red-tailed hawklet winks for the camera:

Photo by flikr user ronmdon

And yes, this is the same nictating membrane you have seen up close and personal on your pets:

Photo source: Washington State University

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Thanks to alert reader JIP for bringing this terrifying horizontal eyelid to our attention. Happy 25th birthday today!

Revisiting an old favorite: the sphynx cat

What a heart-warming image of motherly love.

Photo source: The Weasel King

You can just feel the waves of joy, contentment, and pride emanating off her. I've not yet experienced motherhood myself, but I can only hope such delight is in store for me when the happy time comes.

This cat, however, just seems intent on showing us his privates:

Photo source: Wazaw

For more sphynx goodness, visit Sphynx Cat Pictures and the Sphynx Cat Blog.

Peltless and Cold

The Sphynx cat as an official breed comes to us from the 1960s. They are a relatively new breed, known for their intelligence and extroverted natures.

Sphynxes aren't truly hairless. Instead, think of peach fuzz when you think of these felines' skin. Still, their lack of a pelt makes for warm skin, but a cold kitty. They need to snuggle a fair amount to keep warm. So, if you're wanting an intelligent, friendly cat who's obligated to snuggle you, this breed may be the one for you. Of course, with millions of unwanted cats and kittens on the planet, you might find a hairy one that suits you just fine.

Photo source: Mario Izquierdo

Bedraggled

It's been a long, long time since my last wet cat post. Luna here is a healthy Persian cat. She can't help it if she is a spectacular exemplar of 'bedraggled.'

Thanks for the photo, Kelly. You seem like a dutiful cat owner, if a bit sadistic.

You've Come a Long Way

Photo source: REUTERS / Alexander Natruskin

The Eight Annual International Cats Exhibition was held in Moscow this December, and this Sphynx cat was one of the many participants.

Is it wearing makeup? How much can we do to this cat? We've bred away its hair, curled its ears, wrapped it in a coat, and painted it.

You've come a long way from your ancient, forest-dwelling ancestors, Mr. Sphynx. You now live in the lap of luxury, and that trajectory is something that most humans aspire to. But I'm not sure that's what you would have wished for.

Beware the Teacup

If you've been reading my blog long enough, you know that I hold trendy animal breeding in complete contempt, be the product white tigers or the latest Hollywood or Japanese pocket dog. You therefore understand my anger at one of the latest trends: the breeding of teacup cats, like Melvin, seen below.

Melvin was sold as a teacup Himalayan. It was only after the purchase that Melvin's owner discovered that what Melvin suffered from was Primordial dwarfism, a condition bred into increasing numbers of cats to keep them small, under 3 lbs.

But Melvin's owner bought more than a dwarf cat. Melvin's owner bought a very sickly cat with a host of problems and attendant vet bills. What you're looking at are images of Melvin when he's entered one of his all-too-frequent catatonic states (that could almost be a funny pun, if the subject weren't so grim). While in a state of catatonia, Melvin has to be wrapped up and forced fed with a syringe.

Lovely. Melvin and his owner want future cat buyers to beware anything labeled 'teacup.' It's a sham and a fraud and it's evil.

Get your pets from adoption centers and animal shelters people (but stay away from the hoarders)!

UPDATE: Rone, Melvin's owner wasn't the original owner. The original owner bought Melvin not knowing the problems Melvin would have, then put him on Craigslist. It is Rone who deserves all the credit here. Also, and this is wonderful news, Melvin is much better now. The catatonic states are gone, and he's now a playful, if tiny, kitty. See the video below for proof. Thanks again, Rone. The world needs more people like you.

Mystery Sphynx

The next time you're in the Mission in San Francisco, drop by Borderlands Books. You'll find good folks, and you'll find good books (especially of the science fiction, fantasy, and horror variety). You'll also find three resident Sphynx cats, Ripley, Ash, and Sly, all of whom are sweethearts, and all of whom hairless. Or, were hairless.

You see, several months ago, Ripley under went a procedure to have a cancerous lump taken off her shoulder. She then had to receive radiation and chemo therapy. Then an odd thing happened. Ripley the Hairless Cat became Ripley the Slightly Hairy Cat. That's right, she began growing thin, fine fur (you can see the fuzz on her back). Anyone care to explain that?

It's very appropriate that this mystery happened to a Sphynx cat. May both she and the proprietors of Borderland Books live long and prosper.

Thanks for the story, Amanda.

Photo source: Tensegrity Dan

Ugly Bat Boy the Cat

Exeter, NH, has a new favorite icon. Exeter might become the first city to be adopted by Ugly Overload.

Behold Ugly Bat Boy:

The cat's full name is Ugly Bat Boy. He's bald in most places except for flowing fur on his chest, and he spends his days on a warm computer at Exeter Veterinary Hospital, reported WMUR-TV in Manchester, N.H. Bat Boy has become something of a local star.

People come in and take pictures of him on their cell phones," said veterinary employee Christie Hartnett. "He's just great. He's Dr. (Stephen) Bassett's little wonder cat."

For more details, read this article. There isn't anything wrong with him. He's just ugly.

Thanks, Summer, Kat, Ida, and Clair.

Enjoy the video, put to the theme from Carmina Burana.

Pimento the Cat

Say hello to Pimento, the most recent inductee to Ugly Overload's run of animals who are otherwise attractive, but were caught in a papparazzi-style moment of homeliness. But Pimento's owner, Anastasia, doesn't mind. In fact, she's proud.

Did you know that cats share something in common with only two other species on the planet, the giraffe and the camel? These three beasts are the only ones that when running do not alternate their gait. This means that they run forward with both right feet in one stride, and then both the left feet in the next. All other animals advance with one right and one left, then one left and one right. From what I can tell, they don't share much else in common with camels and giraffes.

Cats really are amazing creatures. They can survive falls that would kill most other vertebrates. They are the perfect hunter. They can commune with the dead and banish mummies. Also, their urine is incredibly potent. My folks tore up their laminate flooring in their dining room, where years earlier one of their cats had made a habit of peeing. Even after all that time, the concrete slab reeked so powerfully that my dad wretched and had to recuse himself from the project for a short while.

Thanks for your glam cat Pimento, Anastasia.

Lester the Lion Kitty

If you want to do a frustrating exercise today, try researching the history of the Persian cat. You'll find a wonderful blend of contradictory information and outright falsehoods. Take this one, for instance: "The cats were introduced into Europe by the Phoenicians and Romans in the 1500s as highly valued items of trade." Wow, Romans and Phoenicians during the Renaissance? Wow. My history teachers had it all wrong.

Anyway, suffice it to say that the origins of this cat are shrouded in the depths of time (and beneath layers of shoddy research--mine own included). But all that does nothing to tarnish the reputation of this cat, for it remains the most popular breed on the planet.

Allow me to introduce Lester the Lion Kitty, Karen's pride and joy. This cat was a rescue kitty. He's the result of intense inbreeding, so he can't close his mouth, and he can't groom himself. But still, Karen loves her kitty. The sad thing with this breed, given its popularity, is that it is prone to breeding abuse (some would say that is the case with all pure breds). Thankfully, there are many worthy folks who operate persian rescue programs.

Enjoy Lester. He may be one of a kind, but his story isn't. Unfortunately.

Kenny Rogers Is Dead

Kate emailed me to let me know that the white tiger I posted on some time ago has passed away.

His name was Kenny Rogers, and his was a sad tale. He was rescued from a private breeder who was breeding a brother and sister white tiger couple together to produce white tigers for sale (white tigers in captivity are nearly always the result of generations of in-breeding). Kenny Rogers had a twin, named Willie Nelson, who was also rescued, along with the parents.

It's believed that Kenny Rogers had a tiger version of Down Syndrome (again, possibly another result of horrid breeding practices). Thankfully, we have legitimate wildlife refuges like Turpentine Creek to care for these creatures. I'm telling you folks, don't ooh-and-ahh at the next white tiger you see. Think of the 29 others that either died or were too deformed for display (it's estimated that only 1 in 30 captive-bred white tiger cubs are able to be trotted out in public).

Thanks, Kate.

Photo source: Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

The Cat for You

I'm not up on my felinology, so I can't be sure exactly what breed of hairless cat this is. I'm guessing it's a Sphynx (please correct me if I'm wrong).

This breed is very new: the first recorded instance of the mutation (for the American and European breed's purposes) was found in Minnesota, US, in 1975. The second instance in Toronto, Canada, in 1978 (there must be something in the water at the American-Canadian border). Thus was the breed born (and soon to be bred).

If you are allergic to pet dander, this hairless cat might be the animal for you. If you like warm, oily skin, this cat might be the pet for you. If you like bathing cats and cleaning their ears out, this might be the beast for you. If you enjoy being pointed at by your neighbors, this might be just what you're looking for.

Thanks for the photo, Steve.

Photo source: DailyDigitalPhoto.com

Not Much Sleep

The kids were up a lot last night, contending with coughs and fever and runny noses. When the kids don't get much sleep, mommy and daddy don't get much sleep.

This morning, when I 'woke' up, I looked a lot like this sphynx cat. The main difference being that I had a bit more stubble to shave before stumbling out the door for work. The cat no doubt got to continue luxuriating in its velvety bedding.

Thanks for the photo, Suzy.

Photo source: Alopecia Sphynx

I Just Don't Understand

I'm not an anthrophobe (unlike some of you). Quite the opposite--I tend to like people, especially the ones that will tolerate me (though, those are admittedly few in number).

But, in the end, I guess there are a lot of people I just don't understand. Such as the person who dresses up a monkey like I might dress one of my daughters, or the person who dresses up a demon cat like my grandma.

Photo soure: LinkInn

Twitching Kitty

Kittens often twitch in their sleep. But that same endearing tick takes on a new...flavor...when done by a naked Sphynx.

Thanks for the link, Peer.

Freakish kitten Video

Mere Technicality

Everyone congratulate Sgorby. He is the proud new owner of some Sphynx kittens. I've featured these hairless felines many times before, and intend to do so in the future.

But these kittens pass the ugly test on a mere technicality (hairlessness secures their place). They are so darned cute.

Thanks for the photos, Sgorby.

Always a Winner

Sphynx cats are always favorites at any cat show. But you'll always have a winner when you dress one up in a costume.

I hope that cats aren't really the masters of the Underworld. If that's the case, then this cat's owner is in for a pretty rough eternity.

Thanks for the link, Kristene.

Photo source: Activate.us

Gratuitous

Alright, alright. I know. These are gratuitous, unnecessary, and unfair. You're guaranteed at least a comical shot when you toss a cat into a bath. But these pictures really amused me, so I am passing them along.

Thanks for the photos, Anna.

What Do You Get

Now this is a real jackpot. What do you get when you mix two Sphinx cats with a Chinese crested dog? You get a writhing mass of hairless, oily, confused house pets.

Even forgoing the home office decor, this scene would never be played out in nature. A horror film maybe, but not in the wild. Hmm. I'm going to write Stephen King and Anne Rice and tip them off to the next box office hit.

UPDATE: CollegeGirl has corrected me. That isn't a Chinese crested. That's a Mexican Hairless, or a Xoloitzcuintli.