Free Republic

If your kitty has claws, you soon won’t be able to have them removed in the Commonwealth. Gov. Glenn Youngkin has signed a bill outlawing the declawing of cats by veterinarians, effective July 1. This is not applicable to nail filing, nail trimming or the placement of temporary nail caps on your cat’s claws. Civil penalties include $500 for the first violation, $1,000 for the second violation and $2,500 for the third or any subsequent violation.

Charlie Kirk upset a lot of women last week. In a discussion on unmarried women preferring Democrats, he said that ladies in their 30s are past their prime and struggle to find a husband. This is obviously true, but impolite to say. Kirk’s statement naturally inspired outrage among liberals, as well as among conservatives. That shouldn’t surprise anyone. Kirk’s opinion runs counter to the prevailing conservative narrative about the decline of marriage. Conservatives say it’s all men’s fault and we need to do more to shame males into stepping up. But this male-focused answer isn’t correct. It’s true that men...

Two dogs tore apart a Florida, woman’s car while trying to reach a feline hiding inside the engine. Christie Barr was shocked when she woke up to see her vehicle torn up with an estimated $3,000 in repairs, WJAX reported. “I thought somebody had maybe taken a BB gun and shot my car,” the Jacksonville woman told the outlet.Barr called the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and investigators pouring through security camera footage found the four-legged culprits. Video showed two grey dogs tearing off the car’s front tire and otherwise attacking the vehicle.

A presumed mountain lion sighted this week walking atop a fence in South San Francisco turned out to be a large gray cat, police reported. “We were able to confirm the Big Cat was not a mountain lion,” the South San Francisco Police Department said in a post on its Facebook page. “We are happy to report there is no potential threat for the neighborhood.” The animal was spotted by a home security camera early Tuesday morning walking along the fence line separating two homes on the 200 block of Mansfield Drive. The photo of the cat was posted as...

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Oklahoma lawmakers are filing a flurry of bills the day before the filing deadline. Among them is HB 3084. The bill, authored by Rep. Justin Humphrey (R-Lane), would prohibit students who "purport to be an imaginary animal or species" from participating in school curriculum and activities. The bill would also prohibit students who engage in anthropomorphic behavior, also known as "furries", from class. If a parent cannot pick up a student found in violation, the bill states, then animal control services will be contacted to remove the student. Other bills being filed:

Lāna‘i is a place like no other. On this tiny island you’ll find coffee shops that open and close when they please, a relaxed mood among residents and an idyllic cat shelter, among other things. Started in 2004 by Kathy Carroll, the Lāna‘i Cat Sanctuary has become one of the biggest visitor attractions on the island, and its purpose and mission—to help control Lāna‘i’s wild cat population—has remained the same. After moving to Lāna‘i with her husband, Mike, who now owns an art studio in town, Carroll quickly found herself caring for a small stray kitten. Lāna‘i didn’t have a...

One of my cats had a lot of trouble with constipation. She would spend much time just hanging around the littlebox with no success. The vet recommended mineral oil mixed with food, but that didn't work. I tried squirting it into her mouth with a needleless syringe. That's was difficult for a whole bunch of reasons...and she hid when she needed it most.But Happy Days Are Here Again.I found a solution that works like a charm and thought that some of you pet people might like to consider it.I mix a 1/4 teaspoon of generic non-flavored Miralax (an osmotic laxative)...

One of the first things workers at a Florida animal shelter noticed when a woman came in with her cats for spay and neutering — aside from the fact there were 22 of them — was the “overwhelming” smell of urine, one of the employees said. The cats weren’t in the best condition. They had fleas, missing fur, green discharge coming from their eyes and noses and “lots of wounds from fighting,” SPCA Florida’s public media director Randa Richter said in a Dec. 22 news conference held by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. SNIP But the shelter became even more...

In a first for the iconic Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, a cat named Oli has made history as a unique participant. This event, which started as a casual cruise down Australia’s east coast in 1945, has seen various colorful competitors, but 2023 marked the first time a feline has joined the ranks of the sailors. Skipper Robert Williams and his cat Oli participated aboard the yacht ‘Sylph VI’ in the 78th running of the 628 nautical mile race. Oli, approximately 10 years old, has been part of Williams’ life for five years and has adapted well to life at...

Tabby footage crosses millions of miles and was still faster than most folks' home broadbandFrom the department of "what must the aliens think of us?" comes news that NASA has demonstrated its Deep Space Optical Communications experiment through the medium of a cat video. The 15-second, ultra-high definition video of an orange tabby cat named Taters was sent back to Earth as part of the demonstration. It took 101 seconds for the video to reach Earth, with the system running at its maximum bit rate of 267 Mbps. We shall obviously be adding this to our list of Register measurements:...

Exotic species such as pythons, Asian carp and cane toads often dominate the invasive species discourse. Few biological invaders, however, have wreaked as much ecological havoc as one of our most cuddly companions: cats. Despite their small stature and memeable mugs, domestic cats (Felis catus) are perfectly adapted killing machines, armed with retractable claws, sharp fangs and night vision. And these potent predators are anything but picky. As humans have spread cats around the world over the past 9,000 years, these ferocious felines—which were likely domesticated thousands of years ago in the Near East—have terrorized native creatures on every...

Have you ever wished for a dedicated gym partner who would push you to your limits and motivate you to achieve your fitness goals? Well, look no further than this adorable video that has taken the internet by storm. In this heartwarming clip, a grey cat takes on the role of its owner's personal trainer, adding an unexpected twist to their workout routine.

New medical research suggests that owning a cat could double the risk of developing schizophrenia. To reach that conclusion, scientists in Australia analyzed 17 studies published over the last 44 years from 11 different countries, including the US and the UK. “Our findings support an association between cat exposure and an increased risk of broadly defined schizophrenia-related disorders,” the authors wrote in their analysis, published in the journal Schizophrenia Bulletin. “We found that individuals exposed to cats had approximately twice the odds of developing schizophrenia,” wrote the research team from the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research. Schizophrenia is a...

Who says cats can't hit the gym? In a captivating Twitter video, an adorable fat cat breaks stereotypes and shows off its impressive abs workout at the gym. This feline fitness fanatic is determined to shed some pounds and prove that with a little determination, even our furry friends can lead a healthy lifestyle.

When a small black kitten arrived at a shelter in California, little did anyone know that she had just a few months to live. Despite her short time, this kitten named Footloose embarked on a heartwarming journey to fulfill her very own "bucket list". With the love and care of her foster parent, Footloose experienced an abundance of joy before passing away peacefully. This heartwarming story has touched the hearts of many, as seen by the overwhelming response on social media.

I have been an avid internet user for numerous years, and like the vast majority of individuals who frequent the online realm, I have come across my fair share of cat videos. However, I must admit that I have never encountered one quite as captivatingly chaotic as this. In a mere 29 seconds, this video showcases a spectacle of feline frenzy, where it seems that nearly all the cats featured have synchronized their notorious "mad half hours" into a full-blown display of kitty carnage. It is an experience that warrants multiple viewings, as each subsequent watch allows one to focus...

In a fascinating Pinterest video captioned "That’s why you need to think before you do," an owner tested their four cats' abilities by setting up a plastic fence in their home. The goal was to challenge the cats' problem-solving skills and observe how they tackled the obstacle. The results were astonishing, and the video quickly gained popularity as viewers marveled at the feline's mathematical prowess.

Have you ever had a strange experience while driving? Imagine this: you turn off your car, and as you step out, you hear a cry for help. But where is it coming from? Well, for one family, the answer was truly unexpected. When Mary Wolford's family turned off their car after a long drive, they heard a cry coming from the engine. Little did they know that it was a cry for help from a tiny, fluffy creature who had hitched a ride with them.

Cats have always been known for their mysterious and independent nature. They can be a source of unconditional love and comfort for their humans, but they also possess a streak of cunning and aloofness. In a recent incident, a homeowner found himself locked out of his house, with the keys safely inside. Little did he know, his feline companions held the power to either let him in or leave him stranded outside.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Hundreds of stray cats that roam a historic seaside tourist area of Puerto Rico’s capital where they are considered both a delight and a nuisance will be removed over the coming year, under a plan unveiled Tuesday by the U.S. National Park Service. The agency said it will contract an animal welfare organization to remove the 200 cats estimated to live on 75 acres surrounding a fortress at the San Juan National Historic Site that the federal agency operates in Old San Juan. If the organization fails to remove the cats within six months,...