The recent popularity of “designer” dogs, cats, micro-pigs and other pets may seem to suggest that pet keeping is no more than a fad. Indeed, it is often assumed that pets are a Western affectation, a weird relic of the working animals kept by communities of the past.
A great deal has been written over the years about the effects of color on human psychology, and this has been carried into the popular imagination in various ways, from guidelines on how to decorate your house to ensure a calm and peaceful space, to how to attract a partner, or even win at sport.
One of the main reasons for the rise of chronic conditions in both humans and domestic animals is that we are all living longer. Our dogs and cats are living longer than ever before – 16-20 years is not uncommon these days.
Research using surveys of dog owners, suggests that less responsibly bred dogs – including puppy-farmed dogs and those from pet shops – are more likely to be aggressive towards their owners and strangers.
Although most species of plants on Earth have flowers, the evolutionary origin of flowers themselves are shrouded in mystery.
- By Nora Caron
I began to see animals as much more than family members and understood that they were in our lives to help us evolve and heal aspects of ourselves. One of my Native teachers gave us her view on cats...
Everyone thinks that dogs worship their owners – viewing them as gods of some sort. While that may be true in the majority of cases, it isn’t always so. As a veterinarian, I can confirm that sometimes, no matter what, a dog and his person just aren’t going to get along.
In May of 2017, a hot spell broiled Boston. In June, extreme temperatures grounded Phoenix’s planes. Later in the summer, Seattle suffered under record temperatures.
A large body of research shows that living in cities can harm our health. We know poor urban design can lead to people being less physically active, which is a factor in weight problems, obesity and cancers.
Rosie, like a real-life Babe, ran away from an organic piggery when she was only a few days old. She was found wandering in a car park, highly agitated, by a family who took her home and made her their live-in pet.
Unlike parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme, marjoram missed out on a role in the classic song Scarborough Fair, made popular in the 1960s by Paul Simon. But it does have a key advantage over most herbs.
Some local governments are more tolerant than others in allowing residents to grow food where they want.
Picture your favorite childhood stuffed animal. Are you clinging to it even though neither you nor anyone else in your household has played with that creature in years?
Scientists are starting to be able to accurately read animal facial expressions and understand what they communicate.
Why do cats purr? Humans tend to think that purring is a sign of happiness in a cat – and indeed it can be – but there are other reasons why our feline friends produce this particular vocalisation.
In Norway, a high-tech seed vault flooded from melting permafrost. In Montana, locals keep their seeds in the library.
Talk to any pet owner and you are bound to invoke stories about the joy and companionship of having a pet. But evidence is mounting that the effect of pets extends beyond their owners and can help strengthen the social fabric of local neighbourhoods.
Humans may have had pet cats for as long as 9,500 years. In 2004, archaeologists in Cyprus found a complete cat skeleton buried in a Stone Age village.
In learning to listen to animals telepathically, we learn to still the mind, to listen with deep presence, and to become open to the realms of magic and the unseen. This can become the foundation of a spiritual practice that can change our perceptions and our lives.
Half of the world’s people now live in urban areas. This creates competition for resources and increases pressure on already limited green space.
To some people, cats are the perfect pet. Intelligent, elegant, calming companions, capable of dealing with their own exercise and cleaning. To others, they are frustratingly independent, cool and aloof. So what is the true nature of the domestic cat?
We must protect the parks, pathways, and gardens that connect us to each other and to the ecosystems of our home.
In an age where the weather app is a tap away, we don’t need to look far for a forecast. But what if you don’t have internet? Have you noticed how nature gives its own subtle forecast clues?