Category: Animals & Nature

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22 Birds That Were Publicly Shamed on the Internet

We’ve seen all kinds of animal shaming, even fish shaming – so why shouldn’t birds get in on the action?

Because as anyone who owns or has owned birds can tell you, they can be just as big of a**holes as any other pet – and these 22 birds are definitely wearing that mantle with pride.

22. The bird version of bunny ears.

Taken one second before disaster… from parrots

21. Own at your own risk.

Basically a summary of what its like to own a bird from AnimalsBeingJerks

20. I wonder what’s so special about that mirror.

This bird waits for my coworker to show up every morning. Then spends the day looking at itself in the mirror and shitting. from pics

19. I bet he could get a job as a bouncer.

This goose is fery angry from BirdsBeingDicks

18. I bet he needs it for a spell.

Yoink! from BirdsBeingDicks

17. It’s almost too perfect.

Nice paint job. Be a shame if someone… from BirdsBeingDicks

16. Now who’s funny?

This bird fucking hates spelling from BirdsBeingDicks

15. But what did you do?

Keeps pecking the window and shouting at me while I’m trying to work. Dick. from BirdsBeingDicks

14. Rebel.

I don’t think this bird can read. from AnimalsBeingJerks

13. That cat does not look amused.

Bird trying to snack on the family pet from BirdsBeingDicks

12. He must really be in the mood for some honey.

This hawk has approximately zero fucks to give. from funny

11. Selfie!

This photo of a pelican trying to eat my phone from mildlyinteresting

10. This might be the greatest picture in the history of ever.

Sometimes when Billy is with his friends he can be a bit mischievous. (Not my picture) from BirdsBeingDicks

9. Let’s see you watch your favorite channel without that.

Payback to the Masters from BirdsBeingDicks

8. Wow.

Just try to fucking cage me again from AnimalsBeingJerks

7. I guess we know who got the last laugh.

PsBattle: This seagull with false teeth from photoshopbattles

6. This bird is part cat.

It looks better on the floor, Karen from BirdsBeingDicks

5. Someone had a lot of rage to work through this morning!

Fuck this tree in particular from AnimalsBeingJerks

4. Footage from my house when the toddler “helps” bake cookies.

"Is this cake batter?!" *DUNKS ENTIRE HEAD IN* from aww

3. He needs it look at those feathers!

So this dick takes the best parking spot today (x-post r/funny) from BirdsBeingDicks

2. RIP bunny.

So.. Did the bunny grow wings and go to heaven? X-post from /r/damnnatureuscary by /u/Rambo_Brit3 from BirdsBeingDicks

1. Okay but I would have to kill that bird.

“Who’s laughing now asshole?”

 

Something to think about the next time you’re considering a feathered pet!

The post 22 Birds That Were Publicly Shamed on the Internet appeared first on UberFacts.

Posted on

22 Birds That Were Publicly Shamed on the Internet

We’ve seen all kinds of animal shaming, even fish shaming – so why shouldn’t birds get in on the action?

Because as anyone who owns or has owned birds can tell you, they can be just as big of a**holes as any other pet – and these 22 birds are definitely wearing that mantle with pride.

22. The bird version of bunny ears.

Taken one second before disaster… from parrots

21. Own at your own risk.

Basically a summary of what its like to own a bird from AnimalsBeingJerks

20. I wonder what’s so special about that mirror.

This bird waits for my coworker to show up every morning. Then spends the day looking at itself in the mirror and shitting. from pics

19. I bet he could get a job as a bouncer.

This goose is fery angry from BirdsBeingDicks

18. I bet he needs it for a spell.

Yoink! from BirdsBeingDicks

17. It’s almost too perfect.

Nice paint job. Be a shame if someone… from BirdsBeingDicks

16. Now who’s funny?

This bird fucking hates spelling from BirdsBeingDicks

15. But what did you do?

Keeps pecking the window and shouting at me while I’m trying to work. Dick. from BirdsBeingDicks

14. Rebel.

I don’t think this bird can read. from AnimalsBeingJerks

13. That cat does not look amused.

Bird trying to snack on the family pet from BirdsBeingDicks

12. He must really be in the mood for some honey.

This hawk has approximately zero fucks to give. from funny

11. Selfie!

This photo of a pelican trying to eat my phone from mildlyinteresting

10. This might be the greatest picture in the history of ever.

Sometimes when Billy is with his friends he can be a bit mischievous. (Not my picture) from BirdsBeingDicks

9. Let’s see you watch your favorite channel without that.

Payback to the Masters from BirdsBeingDicks

8. Wow.

Just try to fucking cage me again from AnimalsBeingJerks

7. I guess we know who got the last laugh.

PsBattle: This seagull with false teeth from photoshopbattles

6. This bird is part cat.

It looks better on the floor, Karen from BirdsBeingDicks

5. Someone had a lot of rage to work through this morning!

Fuck this tree in particular from AnimalsBeingJerks

4. Footage from my house when the toddler “helps” bake cookies.

"Is this cake batter?!" *DUNKS ENTIRE HEAD IN* from aww

3. He needs it look at those feathers!

So this dick takes the best parking spot today (x-post r/funny) from BirdsBeingDicks

2. RIP bunny.

So.. Did the bunny grow wings and go to heaven? X-post from /r/damnnatureuscary by /u/Rambo_Brit3 from BirdsBeingDicks

1. Okay but I would have to kill that bird.

“Who’s laughing now asshole?”

 

Something to think about the next time you’re considering a feathered pet!

The post 22 Birds That Were Publicly Shamed on the Internet appeared first on UberFacts.

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Snuggle a Raccoon While You Sip Your Coffee at This Ukrainian Cafe

Raccoons can be scary, but here’s the truth: they’re adorable, and if I could have one as a pet without it totally destroying my house, there would be no way to stop me.

Basically, this cafe where tame raccoons play and let me pet them is my dream come true.

Image Credit: YouTube

The Raccoon Cafe, located in Kharkiv, Ukraine, is owned and operated by Mark Kolesnykov (a fellow raccoon enthusiast). He adopted a pair of raccoons, Liza and Bart, from a local eco-farm when they were just kits, and has provided them a safe, sound-proofed enclosure at his cafe to keep them happy while guests watch them do adorable things.

You know, because they’re raccoons.

Kolesnykov believes that people are loving his cafe; he has around 200 patrons every day, according to CNN, because even though we’ve seen videos of wild raccoons climbing, playing, and being generally delightful, few people have the chance to witness the behavior up close.

Image Credit: YouTube

Every guest can watch the raccoons, who Kolesnykov describes as “lively and mischievous,” but if you want to pet or feed them, you may have quite the wait (it’s a popular place).

While you’re waiting, you can enjoy the outside of the cafe, which is adorned with raccoons-as-superheroes – Rocket, from Guardians of the Galaxy, of course, but also raccoons cosplaying as Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, and others.

Image Credit: YouTube

Some have expressed concern about the well-being of Liza and Bart, since often times wild animals kept as part of a business can find themselves overstimulated and under-cared for, but Kolesnykov assures potential haters that he’s worked with a veterinary staff to make sure his raccoons are safe and happy.

Check it out:

I mean…I just might have to go and see for myself.

The post Snuggle a Raccoon While You Sip Your Coffee at This Ukrainian Cafe appeared first on UberFacts.

Posted on

Snuggle a Raccoon While You Sip Your Coffee at This Ukrainian Cafe

Raccoons can be scary, but here’s the truth: they’re adorable, and if I could have one as a pet without it totally destroying my house, there would be no way to stop me.

Basically, this cafe where tame raccoons play and let me pet them is my dream come true.

Image Credit: YouTube

The Raccoon Cafe, located in Kharkiv, Ukraine, is owned and operated by Mark Kolesnykov (a fellow raccoon enthusiast). He adopted a pair of raccoons, Liza and Bart, from a local eco-farm when they were just kits, and has provided them a safe, sound-proofed enclosure at his cafe to keep them happy while guests watch them do adorable things.

You know, because they’re raccoons.

Kolesnykov believes that people are loving his cafe; he has around 200 patrons every day, according to CNN, because even though we’ve seen videos of wild raccoons climbing, playing, and being generally delightful, few people have the chance to witness the behavior up close.

Image Credit: YouTube

Every guest can watch the raccoons, who Kolesnykov describes as “lively and mischievous,” but if you want to pet or feed them, you may have quite the wait (it’s a popular place).

While you’re waiting, you can enjoy the outside of the cafe, which is adorned with raccoons-as-superheroes – Rocket, from Guardians of the Galaxy, of course, but also raccoons cosplaying as Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, and others.

Image Credit: YouTube

Some have expressed concern about the well-being of Liza and Bart, since often times wild animals kept as part of a business can find themselves overstimulated and under-cared for, but Kolesnykov assures potential haters that he’s worked with a veterinary staff to make sure his raccoons are safe and happy.

Check it out:

I mean…I just might have to go and see for myself.

The post Snuggle a Raccoon While You Sip Your Coffee at This Ukrainian Cafe appeared first on UberFacts.

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Photographer Takes Pictures to Try to Dispel the “Crazy Cat Lady” Stereotype

That “crazy cat lady” stereotype has been around for years. You know the deal: women who own a lot of cats are single, weird, reclusive, and reliant on their feline friends for companionship.

I mean, this goes all the way back to the days when people thought reclusive ladies were witches and cats their familiars.

Well, photographer BriAnne Wills takes snapshots of women with their cats to try to put that age-old stereotype to rest.

And the results are pretty great. Take a look at these ladies with their rescued and adopted kitties.

1. Meatball and friends

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"We also had no idea what an incredible foster cat dad Meatball would turn out to be. We’ve fostered four litters since we adopted him and he becomes a surrogate parent to all of them. The kittens make a beeline for him every time we let them out of the bedroom (we only allow supervised visits with the grown cats) and he'll groom, snuggle and play with them all day. We’ve nicknamed him Mama Meatball because he provides so much love and comfort to these orphaned babies in ways that we humans can’t.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Fostering has been one of the most rewarding and meaningful experiences of my life. Not only does it allow me to snuggle kittens all day long but I also get to see our fosters blossom from being fearful and under-socialized to trusting and affectionate. It’s also given us Kit and Meatball, who have brought out the best in each other, even if they forget it sometimes. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ It’s not always easy. As my husband likes to say, fostering is 70% sunshine and roses, 20% emotional labor and 10% poop (probably more poop, actually). But it’s one of the best ways to help animals, who might not otherwise have a chance, find loving homes and it helps our hardworking shelters out. I did some math and if just 5% of US households fostered one animal once per year, we could clear the shelters. And who knows, you might also meet the cats of your dreams." @gabioc⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Gabi O’Connor is a software engineer at Etsy and foster kitten mom with @bfas_ny. Aside from cats, her interests include horror movies, surreal comedy and celebrity gossip. She lives in Brooklyn with her writer husband and two cats. You can follow Mama Meatball and his kittens at @mama.meatball.the.cat⁠⠀

A post shared by Girls and Their Cats (@girlsandtheircats) on

2. Sage

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"Before Sage, I had never owned a pet of any sort but loved cats and had always wanted one. I had just started graduate school and gotten out of an abusive relationship. It was the start of a new chapter in my life and I felt like I was ready. I spent a lot of time reading GATC posts too! All the pictures and beautiful stories were really inspiring. I was planning to officially begin my search in the spring of 2018 and could not shut up about it⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ A close friend of mine was an adoption counselor at @AnimalHaven in Manhattan and I had talked with her endlessly about what I was looking for and what I felt like I could handle. I was originally going to start looking for a bonded pair of senior cats. Then, one day in December 2017, I got a phone call in the middle of the work day from my friend. She told me she thought the perfect cat had come in, that I would absolutely love her and that she was so sure, she had placed the cat on a soft hold already.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ I was hesitant. It was early, before I had officially planned to start looking. She was a young cat, only three years old at the time. But as soon as the first picture of her floofy coat and big blue eyes popped up in my messages, I had a feeling my friend was right. I went over to Animal Haven after work and ended up spending two hours lying on the floor in front of her crate, talking to her and petting her. It was really love at first sight and I took her home with me to Bushwick a few days later. In the beginning, I was insanely anxious. I was so worried I had bitten off more than I could chew; I was responsible for another living creature besides myself for the first time in my life. But once we started settling in together, it just felt right and I became a “pet person” faster than I ever expected.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Sage is truly the most loving, trusting, sweetest cat I have ever met, despite her frequently pretty grumpy looking, squished face. Having never owned a cat before, I didn't know how much love and joy she would bring into my life. Before I adopted her, I remember being worried about hair everywhere and thinking that I would never let a pet sleep in my bed with me. I’m a changed person." @olivvine⁠⠀

A post shared by Girls and Their Cats (@girlsandtheircats) on

3. High five

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These photos are from my shoot with @kittenxlady for Girls and Their Cats book. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Did you know Hannah's cats are trained to give high fives? When I learned this, I knew I had to get a shot of it in the book. But I also knew it might be challenging to get the cats to "perform" if they didn't feel comfortable around me. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Lucky for me, Coco and Eloise warmed up to me immediately, and it didn't take too many attempts to get the perfect shot. Swipe to see the cute outtakes!⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Preorder Girls and Their Cats to see more photos from Hannah's shoot and to read her heartwarming story about Coco & Eloise. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Preorder links in bio.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ @chroniclebooks⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ #CatLadyRedefined ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀

A post shared by Girls and Their Cats (@girlsandtheircats) on

4. A little family

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"We’re a little family facing the big city together. They bring our lives so much joy and humor. Knowing that I get to come home to two cuddly, loving cats makes life easier. I was diagnosed with chronic depression and anxiety a few years ago. My cats force me to get out of bed and give me something to care for. In return, I have a soothing, purring cat curled up next to me. Ansel sometimes lays on my chest and it’s like medicine when I’m not feeling like myself. His physical weight, warmth, and energy comfort me. Taking them for walks in the stroller is an admittedly ridiculous thing and it makes me belly laugh the entire time. Both Ansel and Hunter have an intuition and soul in their eyes that makes it seem that they truly have empathy."⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Karly Anderson is a Brooklyn based artist who primarily works in linoleum block print. She spends her free time outdoors, visiting galleries and museums, and enjoying vegan food.

A post shared by Girls and Their Cats (@girlsandtheircats) on

5. Coming out of the woodwork

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"Another joy of cat ownership is seeing currently petless friends come out of the woodwork as cat lovers. As it turns out, a lot of our friends as kids had house cats of their own, took care of a neighbor’s cat or befriended wandering outdoor kitties. They make special trips to our apartment to visit Maxine, bring her toys and treats, and hoist her up into their arms with enviable cat-confidence.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ And two recent additions to the cat lover community? Our moms. Both have visited since Maxine’s arrival and find her a total cutie pie. My mom even stayed with us for a weekend, and now proudly describes herself as a cat Yia Yia – Greek for “grandmother.” @emmydavirro⁠ ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Emmy DaVirro works in creative advertising and enjoys collecting vintage furniture and trying out as many local ice creameries as possible. A native North Carolinian, she lives in the East Village with her husband, cat Maxine, and their growing plant collection.⁠⠀ ⁠

A post shared by Girls and Their Cats (@girlsandtheircats) on

6. Cute

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⁠"Last year, I decided Tom (and Amelia) deserved their own gallery wall, seeing as how I enjoy curating my own collection of second-hand and new art. Hung at cat-level are, so far, two works of art lovingly gifted by friend and fellow cat lady, Rose @catsinthewalls.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ On Fridays, I work from home and he can be found during “office hours” cuddled up on my left arm, with his paws flopping onto the keyboard. My productivity level dramatically decreases, but he. is. worth. it.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ He’s a heartbreaker. Tom has a little white patch on his black chest, giving him the look of wearing a little tuxedo. So handsome! He’s charmed so many of my friends.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ A few years ago, Tom had a dental checkup only to learn he needed seven (!!) teeth pulled. One of which was his front fang. So now, when he yawns, instead of being ferocious he gives this adorable lop-sided look.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Tom is a talker. If you’re sitting in the living room and haven’t seen him for a while, you’ll hear a confused yowl. Yell “we’re in here, Tom!” and without fail he’ll trot in and rejoin the group.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ He’s kind of a scaredy cat. Most surprisingly, he is terrified of string or ribbon or a feather on a stick. Try and he’ll just immediately go wide-eyed and run off.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ He’s a fiend for catnip. Drop a bit on the rug and watch as he rolls and licks and loses his mind.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ He’s a word-class relaxer. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ We have always had very specific nighttime sleeping arrangements in our house. First, it was Amelia up top near the pillow and Tom at your feet. Now that it’s Tom alone, he’s found a new favorite spot to curl up at night: the little nook created by my arm and my right hip. But he doesn’t just lay down, no: he places his two front paws up on my stomach and sits perched, eventually putting his head down and then melting into the bed." @crisapena⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Cristiana Peña is a lover of architecture and history. Originally from South Dakota, she has been in New York City for 12 years and juggles a handful of projects, from community relations to digital media strategy and management on behalf of clients like @circahouses @nyclgbtsites @makinggayhistory @historicgreenwood and @bkbookfest.⁠⠀

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7. Evie

8. I’m a big fan of this group

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"After bringing Queso home, there was an adjustment period, but Salsa has mellowed out so much. She used to strike fear into the hearts of some friends when they would visit, but now she immediately jumps into people’s laps purring. ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ Salsa is the queen bee, she rules the house. She’s not a huge fan of crazy playful kittens, but you can always find her nearby keeping a watchful eye over them, making sure they don’t cause too much trouble. Sometimes I think she likes them more than she lets on.⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ Queso is the best uncle to all of the foster kittens. He’s a large intimidating cat, weighing in at 15 pounds, but he’s a gentle giant. He cleans, cuddles, and wrangles every litter of kittens for me. I feel totally comfortable leaving for work every day knowing that he will be there to take care of them for me while I’m gone. He’s such a kind cat, even the aloof Salsa likes him." @meowdevin⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ Devin Caskie is a foster mom with @catcafebk and a Senior Product Designer at CNN. Her interests include spending time with her cats and pet bugs, drumming, collecting antiques, being crafty, and all things spooky.⠀⠀

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9. Rescued

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"I have absolutely adored cats for as long as I can remember. I’m not sure where the infatuation started, but I definitely had an imaginary band when I was a kid called “The Egyptian Kitty Cat Sundaes.” My dream was to become a famous rock star and build a mansion filled with homeless cats. I’d welcome all my friends whose family wouldn’t allow cats to visit and pet them. This is still the dream though, but perhaps I missed the boat on becoming a famous rock star…⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ Years ago, I was battling terrible depression. PTSD from past trauma was taking a toll on me to a point where I lost all desire to live. In an effort to take back control of my life, I started fostering as therapy. I knew that when I was depressed, my cat Princess was the reason for living. She loved me and needed me. Fostering gave me a purpose I desperately needed, helping animals and my community. I knew that if I wasn’t there for them then no one would be there to feed them, give them their medicine, or take care of them, and I could never abandon a cat in need. After seeing how much rescuing animals helped me, I figured that for every cat I saved, another sad little girl like me would adopt one of my former fosters, who would give her a reason to live too. It sounds cheesy but I love the slogan “Who rescued who?” because I don’t believe I’ve rescued a single cat, they have all rescued me.⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ My absolute favorite part of fostering is getting to meet such a variety of personalities and watching the progress they make. I worked with a lot of young neonatal kittens that needed round-the-clock care, and feral kittens that required a lot of special one-on-one socializing. It’s incredibly exhausting work, repeatedly putting yourself out there to a scared cat who probably thinks you're trying to kill and eat them lashing back with a fury of howls and scratches. It takes a lot of persistence to keep working with them until they understand you're there to love and help them. I cannot think of a single thing more rewarding than cuddling with a happy, healthy cat who six weeks ago was on their death bed or in constant fear for their life." @babysarahrulz @catcafebk⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ #fosteringsaveslives #kittens

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10. Yam

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"I'm now four months into life with my cat, Yam, AKA my "orange live-in boyfriend" (thanks, Dad). ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ Where do I begin? I am obsessed with Yammy, Yamyam, Yammers, Yamburger, Yambaby. He has silky, ginger fur with soft, hieroglyphic-like patterns. His most distinctive feature is his tongue, which permanently sticks out. The animal shelter told me that this is because of an injury he suffered to his jaw, most likely the result of a car accident. Luckily, he’s in no pain, just requires a diet of wet food.⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ My new roommate is slightly cross-eyed, smaller and scrappier than he looks in photos. The shelter said he was 3 years old, but I suspect he's younger because of his big appetite and the way he springs onto every surface. ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ He is in turns loving and manipulative, sleepy and demanding, wobbly and gazelle-like. Every morning at 6, he head-butts me and runs his slobbery mouth against my chin, crying for breakfast, until I kick him out or give in. He’s the most effective alarm clock I’ve ever owned.⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ Yam spends his day finding new spaces to explore throughout the apartment. He stretches on top of the covered radiator by the window, crouches on top of my subwoofer, and climbs into the sink. Sometimes he sleeps inside a cardboard tent, in my laundry basket, or in a patch of sun, mouth wide open, kicking in his sleep. ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ A piece of spinach is easily Yam’s favorite toy over a laser pointer. He often jumps for the couch, misses, and keeps running. After he poops, he rockets across the apartment from end to end, yowling like a small spooked horse, then quiets down, curls up on my lap, purring, so I can give him a nose kiss and a belly rub while watching Netflix." @maliagriggs @doitfortheyam ⠀⠀

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11. Raymond

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"In 2003, shortly after I moved from Germany to Oregon to go to college, my roommates and I decided to get a cat together. We looked in the classifieds and saw that a cat lady had to give all of her cats away because her family was moving her into assisted living. When we got there, the cat lady’s son told us that he was going to drown any cats that would not be picked up. My three roommates and I were beside ourselves and yelled at him that he better take them to a no-kill shelter. We even offered to take the cats there ourselves. He was pretty shaken up and mumbled something about us not being able to take a joke. Clearly he was a garbage person. But, the good thing that happened was as soon as I set foot in that house, a tiny orange tabby kitten walked right up to me, meowed, and wanted to be pet. He was a tiny, tiny, tiny baby cat — his tail was as big as my little finger. I fell in love with him at first sight and also knew that we had to name him Raymond. My roommates loved Ray but it quickly became obvious that Ray had picked me as his person.⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ I’ve been told that orange tabby cats are the sweetest type of cat and Ray is living up to the myth. Raymond is the most people-loving and friendly cat I know—even dog-people love him, which I think says a lot. When new folks come into our house, he walks right up to them, says hi, gets some pets and then hangs out. He is a real friend and family member. We have gone through all of life’s ups and downs together and have moved more times than I can count, including cross-country from Oregon to New York. Ray has thyroid disease but he’s a trouper and thanks to good vets and meds we’ve been managing it for over 6 years." @theubc⁣ @subwaybookreview

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12. Animal lover

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"All my life I have been a huge animal lover. I grew up riding horses, having bunnies hop around my bedroom, parakeets singing in my living room, and dogs running around in my backyard. However, the one thing my family never had was a cat since my brother was highly allergic. I was always really bummed that we couldn’t adopt one because I was super intrigued with pictures of artists with their cats like Georgia O’Keefe, Frida Khalo, and Patti Smith. Their cats seemed to be their muse, inspiration, and best friend, and I so badly wanted one as my own. When I moved out to NYC for college and to pursue my artistic endeavors, I met my boyfriend who is also a huge animal lover. However, he grew up with only cats, so he really pushed me to adopt one and helped me find Buster.⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ Buster was an abused street cat that was picked up by someone and taken to the ACC and it was thought he wouldn’t be adopted because he was “too shy and scared.” Anjellicle Cats organization rescued him from the ACC and that is where I was first introduced to Buster. When I went to the shelter to meet him, it really felt like everything was so meant to be. When we were petting him, he wouldn’t stop purring and rubbing his head on us. The minute I took my hand away, he actually reached his paw out and placed it on my arm. I always heard that cats chose their owners, but I didn’t believe it till I saw it. I knew that we were meant to be no matter what. When Buster got to my house, he was very nervous and extremely scared, and immediately ran under the bed. I knew that it was going to take a lot of patience and time for him to feel safe and to come out of his shell." @claudiadockery⁣⠀ ⁣

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13. Allergic but in love

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"I’m allergic to cats but love how sassy and snuggly they are, kind of like me. Because of my allergies, I was woefully resigned to never having a kitten baby of my own, doomed to live the life of a cat auntie, and never a cat mom.⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ Then, a couple of years ago when I was living with my sister and another roommate in the same apartment I’m in now, we got rats. Not just casual rats in the walls—which the apartment still has today—but big ol’ subway-style rats that left droppings in the living room and chewed through oatmeal packets. Yeah, we called an exterminator, but the reality is the best way to scare rats away is to solicit the services of a guard-kitten. Within days of the rats’ appearance, my sister adopted two spotted calico sisters we named Oprah and Queen Latifah @queenandoprahthecats. They not only held down the fort, but also won our hearts with their relaxed but assertive demeanors, and sisterly bond.⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ My sister moved out about a year later and took Oprah and Queenie with her. (She didn’t move out because of any conflict between us. Actually, we wanted to try to have “boundaries,” which is pretty ironic considering how often she’s at my place.)⁣⠀ ⁣⠀ With the three sisters gone, I was faced with a pretty easy choice: Do I want uninvited pet rats, or do I want to add another cat to the family? A few days after Oprah and Queenie moved out, my new roommate and I were on the Brooklyn Animal Action site. We instantly fell in love with a tiny black cat with big eyes and a spunky personality who was found on her then foster family’s porch in a cardboard box. My roommate rushed to Brooklyn to adopt her. I wanted to name her Meowcus Garvey because she’s a feisty little black panther, but my roommate was justifiably opposed to naming black cats after Black people. (If you’re in the mood to feel unnerved, go on any cat adoption website and notice the number of black cats that white people name after Black people.) So, we agreed on Lumpy Space Princess after the Adventure Time character that has the same cute, cuddly, lumpy, powerful presence she does." @loveaprilkae

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14. OMG

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"As a child growing up, I never had the responsibility or companionship of pets (aside from fish, who I had to learn not to get emotionally attached to, due their short lifespan). So, providing much needed homes to these furry nuggets has been such a game changer. Not only have I learned to love more unconditionally and work on my patience – seriously though, how many plants can one cat knock down – but it’s also given me and my husband a way to strengthen our relationship by caring for Bubba and Jeff Goldblum together.”⠀@jennifhsieh ⠀ Jen Hsieh is a production manager who currently resides in Astoria, Queens with her two derpy fluff balls and her equally derpy husband.

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15. The trio

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"A friend that flew in to NY brought Bobby with her and when I returned to PR in November to move out of my former flat I took Richie with me. All the stress and change wreaked urinary havoc on Richie, and Bobby had to pay a visit to the hospital in December. But now they are happy go lucky cats with a few glitches. ⠀ ⠀ Since Millo just turned 16 (he´s a Leo) I prefer that he stay home instead of traveling so he can enjoy the kitty pleasures of having a routine. My favorite routine is bedtime. I had to train them to sleep with me at night because I could not have them run around at night with Airbnb guests over. Therefore, they learned that after dinnertime and playtime comes bedtime. I prop my legs against the wall to read and they settle down around me, then I usher them into their beds." @ileanylan⠀ ⠀ Ilean is a writer and project manager deluxe from Puerto Rico that calls Brooklyn home. She is working on a magazine called Tres Gatos and beginning a T/N/R program for community cats in Santurce, Puerto Rico. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #puertorico #hurricanemaria #catlady #girlsandtheircats⠀

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Be sure to follow the Instagram page as well!

The post Photographer Takes Pictures to Try to Dispel the “Crazy Cat Lady” Stereotype appeared first on UberFacts.

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500 Million Brazilian Bees Died in Only Three Months

You’ve probably heard by now that the world’s ability to produce food is connected to the availability of a thriving bee population. Bees are nature’s most integral pollinators, responsible for pollinating 75% of the world’s crops.

And they’re dying at a rate that’s almost impossible to comprehend – to the tune of 500 million bees in Brazil alone in just three month’s time.

Image Credit: Pixabay

Between December 2018 and February 2019, 400 million bees in Rio Grande do Sul, 7 million in Santa Catarina, and 45 million in Mato Grosso do Sul lost their lives, and Aldo Machado, the vice president of Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul’s beekeeping association, is concerned.

Image Credit: scrural.gov

“As soon as the healthy bees began clearing the dying bees out of the hives, they became contaminated. They started dying en masse.”

Researchers are blaming Brazil’s decision to allow the use of 300 new pesticides on crops in 2019; many of the dead bees contained traces of fipronil, an insecticide commonly used to rid dogs and cats of fleas and ticks.. The U.S. EPA classifies it as a possible human carcinogen, but if you’ve got a dog, you may have some in your house.

Image Credit: scrural.gov

Alberto Bastos, the president of the Apiculturist Association of Brazil’s Federal District, told Bloomberg that the “death of all these bees is a sign that we’re being poisoned.”

Not to mention that bees provide billions of dollars worth of agricultural benefits that will disappear along with them if they go.

Image Credit: Pixabay

Will people listen? Will it be too late by the time food shortages begin to make their way into developed corners of the world?

Only time will tell, but the people who are hearing what the bees have to tell us are already beating the drum.

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This Isn’t Good…Microplastics Are Falling from the Arctic Sky

Do you know about microplastics?

Microplastics are defined as any plastic fragment less than 5 millimeters in length, and at this point they have been found in every corner of the globe. They come from any number of sources – from rubber tires to paint and cosmetics to toothpaste tubes and synthetic clothing – and the ubiquitous nature of them in the environment has scientists worried about harm.

In fact, they are so ubiquitous at this point, that they’ve been documented falling with snow in the Arctic…even though there’s practically no people there.

A new report in Science Advances documents tiny plastic fibers found across two dozen Northern Hemisphere locations, from the remote Arctic ice to the Swiss Alps. Perhaps most concerning was finding that the “pristine” Arctic snow contained up to 14,400 microplastic particles per liter (snow in parts of rural Bavaria, in southern Germany, contained up to 154,000 ppl).

Because they’ve been found falling from the sky, there’s now a question of whether people might be breathing microplastics. Though scientists are currently uncertain what, if any, impact inhaling (inhaling!) them could have on humans and other wildlife, there have been plenty of documented cases of marine life ingesting larger plastic pieces to extreme detriment, and that might definitely lead one to worry, says Dr. Melanie Bergmann.

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Clearly there is no place on Earth that micro-plastic can not reach – having been repeatedly found in seawater, drinking water and all species of animals. But these minute particles are also transported by the atmosphere and subsequently washed out of the air – especially by snow – in remote regions of the Planet – such as the Arctic and the Alps. This was demonstrated in a study conducted by experts at the Alfred Wegener Institute which recently published their finding in the journal Science Advances. It would be interesting to discover how much micro-plastic is ingested by humans and the amount retained in our bodies during ones lifespan. #microplastics #environment #planetearth #awarenessbuilding #alfredwegenerinstitut

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“To date, there are virtually no studies investigating the extent to which human beings are subject to microplastic contamination. But once we’ve determined that large quantities of microplastic can also be transported by the air, it naturally raises the question as to whether and how much plastic we’re inhaling.”

Now that microplastics have fallen with the snow in the most remote Arctic locations, there can be no doubt that our addiction to plastics out of control. And if that’s not disturbing enough, we’re almost definitely breathing in small fibers every single day.

The pieces of plastic found in the study ranged from 11 micrometers to 5 millimeters and consisted of rubber, varnishes, and other forms of plastic.

Like plant pollen, the tiny fibers are swept up into the air where they tumble along in currents that flow from one end of the earth to the other, only to fall down with the rain or snow wherever it washes onto the earth.

Which is to say, we can’t escape the problem we’ve created.

The only question left is, how much is it hurting us?

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Study Finds That Cats Know Their Names as Well as Dogs

Cats and dogs respond very differently to their names. Dogs can be counted on to come running on command, while cats will frequently ignore you completely. But it turns out that cats do recognize and react to their names, according to new research.

Researchers in Japan conducted a series of experiments to study whether cats responded differently to their names as compared to other similar-sounding words.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

For each experiment, a person spoke four different “nouns with the same lengths and accents” as the cat’s actual name. These words habituated the cats to hearing words spoken. Then the person would say the cat’s name.

The researchers found that most cats clearly reacted to their own names. They did so whether the name came from their owner or an unfamiliar person. They also differentiated their names from other cats’ names.

“This is the first experimental evidence showing cats’ ability to understand human verbal utterances,” the researchers wrote.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

The one exception was with cats who lived with others in a cat cafe, who did not distinguish their names from the names of other cats.

It’s unclear whether cats understand that their name represents their identity. They may instead associate the word with rewards like food or petting.

In any case, though, they definitely know their names — which means they just don’t feel the need to come running when you call it. Good to know!

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Students Are Overdosing from Eating Too Much…Tuna

We live in strange times – college kids eating so much of the cheapest food they can find that they’re winding up needing medical intervention they can’t afford.

Tuna, in case you fall into this category of unaware, contains the heavy metal mercury, which is toxic in fairly small quantities. It also accumulates in the body, which means that eating too much, too close together can result in mercury poisoning, which shows up as poor cognitive function, blindness, and impaired lung function.

Researchers out of the University of California, Santa Cruz published a study in Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry that revealed many collage students are unaware of the issues with eating too much tuna – and they’re eating a lot, based on the mercury levels in their bodies.

54% of students reported eating tuna at least three times per week, a frequency that exceeds the maximum dose of methylmercury that the EPA calls “safe.” 7% of students surveyed reported eating more than 20 meals a week that contained tuna, and the tests on their hair revealed mercury that rose to “a level of concern.”

Wow. I mean, that’s a lot of tuna.

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This salad is the only reason I got out of bed today

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The lead researcher was inspired to conduct the study after hearing her students talk about how much tuna they ate.

“I’ve been dumbfounded when students have told me they eat tuna every day. Their lack of knowledge about the risk of exposure to mercury is surprising.”

Over 99% of the study participants reported low knowledge and low confidence in their survey answers regarding the potential danger and toxicity of tuna – they thought it was safe to eat 2 or 3 times the amount of tuna deemed “safe” (which is just two to three servings per week).

“It’s not a large sample size, but only 1 out of 107 students surveyed had a high level of knowledge as well as confidence in that knowledge.”

The kids in the study hadn’t yet reached alarming levels of mercury exposure, but they were at a point where it was recommended that they limit what they were eating.

The team worked with UCSC administrators and the dining hall to put up signs that will hopefully educate students about how much tuna to eat in the future.

And now you know.

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The Amazon Rainforest Is Burning, and It’s an Environmental Disaster

The Amazon rainforest is on fire, and experts say this wildfire will affect climate change for many years to come.

CNN reported that The National Institute for Space Research (INPE) has said the fires are burning at the highest rate they’ve seen since tracking started in 2013.

Sao Paulo, 1700 miles away, is seeing smoke from the fire’s blazes.

Video shows heavy smoke and smog overcoming the city and creating black out conditions.

Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay, too, are seeing heavy, black smoke coming from the Brazilian fires.

The INPE also reported there were 72,843 fires in Brazil this year. More than half of those fires burned in the Amazon. This represents an 80 percent increase in the total number of fires over last year.

Photo Credit: NASA Earth Observatory

Natural disasters can spark flames when the area is dry, but these fires are also frequently started illegally by ranchers trying to clear out forest to create grazing land for cattle. Environmentalists are blaming Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, for relaxing laws limiting deforestation and underplaying the disaster in general to the rest of the world.

According to the BBC, the Amazon rainforest contributes 20 percent of the Earth’s oxygen. Plus, the rainforest is home to millions of species of plants and animals, as well as over one million indigenous people.

The rainforest is critical to millions of lives and to the Earth, itself.

If the Amazon is destroyed, the World Wildlife Fund says the area will likely become a savannah, but inhospitable to people, animals or plants.

And instead of pumping out oxygen, the new savannah will be the Earth’s next major source of carbon emissions. Meaning, the Amazon will no longer serve as the lungs of the world, but will begin pump out enough carbon to actually drive the climate crisis.

This is bad news, folks. Bad news indeed.

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