Everyone knows that cats purr but there are other animals that do too. Purring isn't just about being content, it also serves to alleviate stress and pain. Being a cat owner I've seen a range of situations in which a cat will purr. Many years ago I found a badly injured cat and she was purring furiously which at the time confused me. I didn't realise that they purr even when they are frightened and hurt.  

Several other animals: raccoons, squirrels, bear cubs, hyenas, bats, guinea pigs and rabbits even elephants purr too. But, they are not like a cat purr. Purring is an analogous sound produced by other mammal groups, but via a different mechanism, so some have argued it should be called something other than purring but it still serves the same purpose.

Elephants are amazing intelligent animals that are facing their greatest fight to survive. Some figures estimate that as many as 30,000 of them lose their lives to poaching every year so it's hardly surprising they could disappear from the world in our lifetime. Tragic that such magnificent animals are being slaughtered just for ivory to service the growing trade in Asia. Being able to afford ivory is a status symbol for the growing numbers of wealthy Asians so it seems clear that the culture has to change before anything positive happens for the elephants.

It's extraordinary but the science is in, dogs can really detect cancer before we know we have it as this incredible story shows.

Well I used to let my cats sleep on the bed at night but over time I really got over cat hair in the bedroom. These days they have their own 'nighttime' quarters furnished with squishy pillows, woolly blankets, litter tray, water and grass plants. It means I don't have to wake up when they do ! Personally I think our fur babies need to have some off limit areas of the house especially if they are indoor cats. Mine all know that the bedroom is one of those areas but they are naturally curious to know why so will sneak in for a look when they think I'm not around. Boy do they run if I catch them out ! From a practical point of view it's probably not the most hygienic thing letting your cat sleep in or on the bed but it's a personal choice we can all make.

I love Henri.........

Cats seems to have an amazing capacity to sneak into the most unlikely places while their unsuspecting owners aren't looking. Stowaways on aeroplanes hidden in suitcases, being trapped in cupboards for days, found between walls the list goes on. A friend told me a story about a relative who went away on holidays unaware that her cat had crawled inside the one of the bedroom drawers. 
Two weeks later she returned to find the cat very dehydrated and thin but very much alive when she opened the drawer. The cat survived to live another day but it makes you wonder how many don't. Curiousity really can kill the cat. 

Saw a documentary only this week about the disgraced and crimminal activities of a so called world class art dealer who has been operating for many years in the business of stolen art treasures. Shocking really just how many important art galleries were hoodwinked. What seemed evident was that a lot of them just didn't do proper checks on the claims made about providence. The Dancing Shiva is at the centre of a storm in Australian art circles and I'm pleased to see that the right decision that it is to be returned to India, has been made. What other decision could be made now that the proof of it's theft are out there. I wonder how the art gallery will recover the money they paid for it........