pet connection

For eons, people have asked momentous, seemingly unanswerable questions. Today, one of them has a proven solution. The London Daily Mail says scientists can finally tell you which came first, the chicken or the egg.

The answer, they say, is the chicken. Researchers found that the formation of egg shells relies on a protein found only in a chicken’s ovaries. Therefore, an egg can exist only if it has been inside a chicken. The protein – called ovocledidin-17, or OC-17 – acts as a catalyst to speed up the development of the shell. This hard shell is essential to house the yolk and its protective fluids while the chick develops inside.

[...]

Dr Colin Freeman, from Sheffield University’s Department of Engineering Materials, said: “It had long been suspected that the egg came first but now we have the scientific proof that shows that in fact the chicken came first.”

No word yet on why she crossed the road.

Belmont’s other residents: Think horses are the only animals cared for at New York’s famed Belmont Park? Teresa Genaro’s Brooklyn Backstretch has a lovely story about the colonies of feral cats who live near the track and the volunteer named Laurie who regularly checks in on them.

She goes to Belmont every day, stopping at the three colonies that live there, feeding the cats, making sure that they’re healthy, checking that no one has been injured. With help, she’s trapped, neutered, and released the cats back to their colonies, and in at least one case, she knows that every cat in the colony has been neutered.

“We take care of the sick ones,” she said, “and if we can, we find homes for the ones who can live inside.” She works with local vets, and not uncommonly, she’ll bring to her home the cats who need recovery or recuperation time. If they’re domestic enough, she finds homes for them.[...] Laurie’s work is funded by All About Spay Neuter, by donations, and by the personal contributions of those who care for the cats. The group is a member of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals, and each year, it’s given space at the adoption showcase at the cat show held in New York. Laurie says with satisfaction that at the most recent show, she was able to adopt out all 18 kittens that needed homes.

An app for your cat: Has your cat gone missing and won’t come back when called? There’s an app for that. This from the Chicago Tribune.

Jeff Will, a Valparaiso University professor of electrical and computer engineering, has developed a feline-friendly iPhone application. Here Kitty, Kitty! now is available on iTunes for 99 cents. He developed the app for all iOS devices (including the new iPad) as a fun way for users to manage their cats with familiar sounds that will bring the feline around when they don’t come when called. It features the sounds of a cat meowing, a man calling a cat and an electric can opener readying a feline feast.

Although I don’t have an iPhone or iPad (or a cat), and therefore can’t download the app, I just like that there’s an app called “Here Kitty, Kitty!”

Do strays think differently from domesticated dogs? This article, from Scientific American, wins this news wrap’s prize for most fascinating read.  Studying the habits of stray dogs in Sofia, Bulgaria, behaviorists suggest that these “curs” show completely different social cognitive functioning from dogs who are domesticated pets.  Very interesting stuff. (Thanks to Furrie Princess for the link)

The link between dogs and Velcro: Do you know exactly where the idea for Velcro came from?   An engineer, a dog, and the Swiss Alps.  Speaking for Spot will tell you the rest.

Sarah’s Wizard: Sarah K. Andrew could be one of the best photographers of horses in the business.   The more I read her Rock and Racehorses blog I more I realize that her photographs are an extension of her soul.   In the latest post, she muses during an indoor ride on Wizard, a.k.a her Gumby Horse. Sarah’s prose is sensitive yet accessible, relaxed yet precise, and another beautiful reminder of the different forms the bond between person and animal can take.   Her portrait of Wizard is worth a thousand words.

Monday’s chuckle from Draw the Dog: I don’t highlight the unique personality of the Great Dane nearly enough.  Fortunately, we have Jim and Bruce from Draw the Dog to help us out.  This one’s a good’un.  Thanks, guys.

Followup from last week on FIV and FeLV: When I mentioned the myths and facts of FIV in last Thursday’s wrap, it spurred a note from loyal reader and longtime veterinary technician Michele T.   Although the points noted in the post were true, it bears noting that the more common Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), which is not the same virus as FIV, can be transmitted through repeated casual contact (mutual grooming, sharing food bowls, etc).  Good distinction for cat owners to remember. Thanks for the clarification, Michele.

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail.

Photo credits: Chicken and eggs, alamy/Daily Mail. Wizard, Sarah K. Andrew.

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