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

View this post on Instagram

"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

View this post on Instagram

"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

View this post on Instagram

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

View this post on Instagram

"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

View this post on Instagram

"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

View this post on Instagram

⁠"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.⁠⠀

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

7. Evie

8. I’m a big fan of this group

View this post on Instagram

"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.⠀⠀

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

9. Rescued

View this post on Instagram

"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

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

10. Yam

View this post on Instagram

"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 ⠀⠀

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

11. Raymond

View this post on Instagram

"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

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

12. Animal lover

View this post on Instagram

"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⁣⠀ ⁣

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

13. Allergic but in love

View this post on Instagram

"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

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

14. OMG

View this post on Instagram

"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.

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

15. The trio

View this post on Instagram

"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⠀

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

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.

A Beagle-Shaped Airbnb Gives ‘Dog-Friendly Travel’ a Whole New Meaning

Do you have a pooch Need a hotel? Man, have we got the perfect Airbnb for you!

There is a beagle-shaped house in Cottonwood, Idaho, available on Airbnb for $132 per night. The house was built by Dennis Sullivan and Frances Conklin, artists who live in another (regular-shaped) house on the property. They started by building a 12-foot beagle named Toby in the late 1990s. It became so popular that they built a 30-foot tall beagle named Sweet Willy to use as a guest house, and that drew enough attention that they decided to rent it out to the public.

“Toby got some attention, but Sweet Willy put us into the stratosphere,” Frances told Roadside America.

The house has two bedrooms: one in the beagle’s belly and a loft in the head. The bathroom is located on the dog’s behind, of course. Nearby, there’s a giant fire hydrant to go with the giant beagle, and the property also features a visitor’s center and gift shop. Dennis and Frances live up the hill, and, since the house doesn’t have a kitchen, the couple prepare light breakfast foods for guests. There are also dog-themed books, games and puzzles for the truly dog-obsessed.

The Airbnb is, of course, dog-friendly, as long as canine guests are “responsible” and get along with the couple’s own dog — who is, shockingly, not a beagle, but a canine retriever.

Ready to book?! Sadly, so is everyone else. The Airbnb is completely filled until April 2020. But with endless 5-star reviews, it appears to be worth the wait.

The post A Beagle-Shaped Airbnb Gives ‘Dog-Friendly Travel’ a Whole New Meaning appeared first on UberFacts.

These 13 Pets Really Don’t Want Their Owners to Ever Leave

You know how your dog or cat’s anxiety can begin the moment they see you drag out your suitcase. They might even try to sit in your suitcase, thinking that you’ll be forced to stay home, or maybe you won’t notice and you’ll just pack around them.

Whatever the reason, these 13 pets are definitely not letting their human go without a fight.

13. Thou shall not pass.

My cat’s new solution to keep me from leaving from aww

12. Okay so you’re mad but at least you’re home!

I tried to leave early for work this morning but Mulder had other ideas… from aww

11. You’d better stay home. I mean, what choice do you have?

My dog wedges his snout between the door when I leave for work so I can’t close it. One time he went the extra mile. from aww

10. Now, hold that pose…

Leaving Bentley is the hardest part of the day from aww

9. You think you’re the only one who can ride this bike, human?

This is how Merlin attempts to prevent my brother from leaving his apartment. from aww

8. This is the best reason to snooze an alarm I’ve ever heard of.

My cat learned that the alarm sound means I wake up, and she snuggles on my chest right after. I’ve been setting my alarm 30 minutes early every day to give her more happy time. from aww

7. That face.

You weren’t planning on leaving the house today, were you? from aww

6. He fits! See?

She thought we were leaving without her from aww

5. Someone’s been watching Puss in Boots.

Every time I leave for work she does this, it’s not fair from aww

4. My heart.

My dog whenever she realizes we are leaving the house from aww

3. He will not be moved.

My dog is smart enough to understand that packing = people leaving bc of how often my parents go on trips. They’re taking him to the beach this week but when he saw them packing he ran out to the back of the car and sat there so they can’t leave without him ? he’s been there for about 40 minutes from aww

2. There’s nothing you can do. Nope.

He cries everyday I leave for work. Today he’s decided he’s coming with me. from aww

1. Let’s see how far you get without these, hmm?

We don’t deserve pets. They’re too pure.

The post These 13 Pets Really Don’t Want Their Owners to Ever Leave appeared first on UberFacts.

Are Dogs Colorblind? Here’s the Science Behind What Dogs Can See

A lot of us have been taught that dogs, our four-legged friends, can only see the world in black and white. That they will never be able to see the beautiful colors that exist around us. It’s honestly sad to consider.

But is this true? Or is it just a thing people told their children?

Photo Credit: Pexels, Lum3n.com

Not exactly true, as it turns out.

The myth originated in 1937, per the American Kennel Club:

“It’s likely that all the external world appears to them as varying highlights of black and gray,” Rudy wrote in his 1937 manual, Training the Dog.

The phrase that catches my eye is: “It’s likely…” Okay, so there is some doubt expressed, but let’s dig deeper. The AKC also talks about a 1960 finding that may have supported Rudy’s claim:

“In the 1960s, other researchers hypothesized that the only mammals that can discern color are primates. There was little research to back up this assertion, especially in dogs; nevertheless, it soon became common knowledge that our canine pals are color blind.”

Again there is some doubt: “There was little research to back up this assertion…”

Can Dogs See Color?

The short answer is yes. Sort of.

Dr. Zay Satchu, a Chief Veterinary Officer of Bond Vet, talked with Reader’s digest:

“Yes! Dogs can see color. Both humans and animals have different types of cells in the back of our eyeballs—called rods and cones—that help us see. Rods detect motion and help with nighttime vision, and cones help with color and detail in what we see. Humans have three kinds of cones, meaning we see color and detail very well, while dogs have two kinds, meaning they can still pick up on colors, but probably can’t differentiate between forest and lime green as easily.”

But don’t go getting rid of Fido’s yellow tennis balls just yet! Dogs may not have the spectrum of color like us humans, but they can discern between certain ones.

What Colors Are Visible to Dogs?

Photo Credit: Pexels, Skitterphoto

“Most dogs can’t see much of red or green at all,” says Dr. Satchu. “The other ‘color’ that exists that humans can’t see but dogs can is ultraviolet, meaning ‘beyond violet.’ We’re still evaluating the true purpose of this vision, but we think it has to do with the ability to pick up on the kinds of substances that contain ultraviolet light, like urine and blood, that help with tracking out in the wild.”

He also says that blues and yellows are the showrunners in the rainbow that our canine friends see. Hence, the delight with the yellow tennis balls. Also, how interesting is it that a doggos’ vision goes beyond humans’!

So are you wondering why dog toys are brightly shaded in oranges, purples, and other colors? Well, here’s my take: The toys are eye-catching for humans, not pups. When we stroll down the pet aisle the manufacturers know who they’re selling too.

But as long at those toys make your dog happy, all’s well in dogland.

The post Are Dogs Colorblind? Here’s the Science Behind What Dogs Can See appeared first on UberFacts.

A Texas Movie Theater Lets You Bring Your Dog and the Ticket Includes Bottomless Wine

This is what I’m talking about! And I have a feeling I’m not alone.

In fact, I’m willing to bet that armies of millions are lined up behind me in their overwhelming excitement about this news: there’ is now a movie theater where $15 buys you a ticket to the show and you can bring your dog with you. Oh, and you get unlimited wine or four whiskeys with that ticket.

Boom!

K9 Cinemas in Plano, Texas, is the name of the joint, and it opened in late 2018. There are only three rules people need to follow at the cinema: no more than two dogs per person (it costs $5 to bring an extra pup), you need to bring valid papers from your dog’s vet the first time you visit, and you need to clean up after your best friend. Also, you can buy snacks for yourself (obviously) and treats for your furry friend, too.

Eric Lankford, who founded K9 Cinemas, said, “I can’t believe we are breaking ground with a new niche nobody has done before — dogs and movies! We are excited to spread the smiles across your whole families faces, furry included, at a K9C near you coming soon!”

Lankford said about the business and beloved dog, Bear:

“Little did Bear and I know we would soon be published in every major publication you can name both nationally and worldwide. Turns out when you start a passion project with a decade of experience building businesses and turn that experience on to something you sincerely love, something special happens. I simply want to make other people as happy as Bear makes me. When our customers come through our doors it’s nothing but smiles and laughter.”

The theater doesn’t show first-run films yet, but instead screens one-off movies and hosts theme nights. And, of course, you better believe the theater has hosted Game of Thrones viewing parties.

Genius idea! I smell a franchise brewing…

The post A Texas Movie Theater Lets You Bring Your Dog and the Ticket Includes Bottomless Wine appeared first on UberFacts.

A Woman Runs a Dog Hospice Where She Spends the Last Days with Dying, Abandoned Dogs

Warning: this article might make you weep.

The sad fact is that our canine friends are not here for very long. And it’s really heartbreaking when you hear stories about abandoned dogs and senior dogs dying without anyone by their side. That’s why Nicola Coyle, a retired nurse, founded The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice in England.

Coyle runs the organization out of her own home in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, where she takes in dogs who in the last days of their lives. She usually only takes in two dogs at a time, so she can make sure the pooches live the rest of their days to the fullest, including ice cream and steak dinners.

Posted by The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project on Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Coyle said, “We’ll only take them in if the vet says they’ve got less than six months to live, so we’re focusing on end of life care. I think the longest I’ve had one is around one year and the shortest was about two weeks.”

And even though Coyle doesn’t know when the dogs’ birthdays are, she always throws them a big party.

Posted by The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project on Friday, June 14, 2019

“I don’t know when their birthdays are so we make sure we throw all of them a birthday party. If they’re well enough, we take them for a day at the seaside, they get fish and chips on the beach and ice cream.”

A few more pics of our little day at the seaside today…we are home now,Buddy,Jack and Matilda have had the loveliest day??☀?FYI The flake was eaten by me not the dogs?

Posted by The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project on Thursday, May 30, 2019

Obviously, the job takes a toll on Coyle. She said, “We all get very attached to them, it’s very emotionally intense and we do mourn and grieve for them. We do need to have breaks between them.”

Posted by The Grey Muzzle Canine Hospice Project on Friday, April 12, 2019

This is a great cause. Check out the organization’s Facebook page, and, if you feel so moved, you can donate to Coyle’s PayPal account.

Great stuff!

The post A Woman Runs a Dog Hospice Where She Spends the Last Days with Dying, Abandoned Dogs appeared first on UberFacts.

People Share the Weird and Funny Habits of Their Pets

All of us love our little furry friends with all our hearts, but that doesn’t mean they don’t do a whole lot of weird stuff that makes us laugh and sometimes annoys the hell out of us.

In this article, AskReddit users share the weird (mostly harmless) habits that their beloved pets have.

1. Oh, Carlisle!

“Ah-ha, it’s Carlisle time! Carlisle is my mentally retarded dog in a very literal sense; he has epilepsy and after seven years of seizures, there’s not a lot going on in there. He was rescued from an extreme neglect/hoarding case and he is now a spoiled, completely mindless little gnome of stupid whimsy. He’s also on about 45 mg phenobarb for the epilepsy every day, so he’s also sort of high all the time.

Some Carlisle stories:

He was once scratching his face with his back leg, yawned, and got his foot caught in his mouth. He needed help getting it out.

He once chased a rabbit, cornered it, forgot what he was doing, and then got attacked by the rabbit (which probably felt this was its very last defense). He now fears rabbits. I have a rabbit in the house. He will not go near her.

He sometimes gets confused while drinking water and urinates in the water bowl.

He sometimes gets caught in “loops” of compulsive behaviors. His most common looping behavior is digging. Unless you reorient him he will sit on his haunches and dig with his front legs pretty much for hours.

Once he got his collar caught on a knob on the dresser and sat there getting slightly choked until I found him. (We had to remove the knobs from the dresser for his safety.)

He has climbed onto the coffee table and shat into a flower pot (presumably because it had soil and he thought he was outside). We can no longer have indoor plants, not even if they’re as small as a coffee can, because he will shit in them.

He gets scared by the pictures of a dogs on the wall in an exam room at the vet’s. We have to request rooms with diagrams.

He goes to sleep if you put a blanket over him like a bird.

He sometimes tears holes through sheets and then sticks his head through and just walks around with it like a robe. Every single sheet and blanket in the house has at least one Carlisle hole.

If the other dog leaves the house he [howls] until the other dog returns. It’s really pathetic, even for him.

As for the non-Carlisle pets of my house, my rabbit and my cat are pair-bonded, which is pretty adorable. The cat likes to bat the rabbit’s ears. The rabbit doesn’t care. She just sort of blobs into a puddle of disapproval.”

2. He loved to eat all kinds of stuff

“Growing up, we had a chocolate lab named Kody. Kody had a few oddities and idiosyncrasies about him.

My parents are beer drinkers, and Kody would learn how to open each and every cooler we ever had so that he could eat all of the ice. That dog LOVED ice, he would eat it until he had what we called “brain freezers” or these mini little seizures (he was fine, but it was a weird habit).

Another time, Kody was out pooping in the yard and we saw a bunch of cloth coming out of his butt. Turns out, it was an ace bandage that had to be surgically removed. Upon opening his stomach they found a silver dollar, a few bobby pins, the ace bandage and a billiards cue ball. Now, here’s the kicker- we didn’t own a pool table, and our closest neighbor was 5 miles away, who also did not own a pool table.

We never did find out where he got that cue ball from. He lived to be 15 years old and passed away peacefully two years ago. Miss you, buddy.”

3. Don’t get mad

“I am not allowed to get mad, If I yell, raise my voice, or even sound angry my cat pumpkin will get up from wherever she is and run over. She will then mew gently and grab at my arm with her paws while mewing. She pulls my hands to her head and rubs her head on me trying to get me to calm down. It works though so there’s that.”

4. He’s helping with the laundry

“I have a giant Maine-coon Siamese mix tomcat. His thing is to bring up laundry from the basement during the night. The weird thing is that he’s pretty good at taking clothes into the right rooms. I don’t know if he does it by smell or what – but it’s pretty normal for me to wake up to a pile of my socks, my daughters some of theirs, etc. He also chirps and meows the entire time he’s making his deliveries – which is pretty funny in and of itself.”

5. That’s unusual

“My cat likes to shower with me. He will sit and drink the water as it runs until i use shower gel, then he will sit on the edge silently judging me for contaminating our lord water.”

6. Takeout

“My dog has ‘takeaway’ every time she eats. She won’t stand at her bowl. She stuffs her mouth full of dry food and then sits near me wherever I am, spits out all her food and eats it one bit at a time. When she is finished it she repeats it all.”

7. Who’s in there?

“My dog likes to sit in the bathtub during the summer, most likely because it’s cooler than the floor or her bed. Totally harmless unless you’re going to the bathroom in the middle of the night and think there’s a killer in your shower.”

8. Girlfriend

“My dog can’t go anywhere without his toy. My girlfriend calls it his “girlfriend”. If we go outside he will bring the little stuffed animal with him and drop it somewhere. If we tell him to “go find your girlfriend” he will search frantically for it until it’s found.”

9. She don’t care

“My pet rat, Doctor, likes to poop when she is hanging from the bars of her cage and making eye contact with me or my fiancee.

She knows it makes us uncomfortable. She don’t care.”

10. Really, really weird

“We have a Great Dane/greyhound mix named Keelah who, on occasion, absolutely must sniff my boyfriend’s belly button. I’ve never seen a dog get so derpy about it before. She’ll jump up and put her paws on his shoulder and stick her nose in his stomach until he gives in and pulls his shirt up so she can sniff. She’s really, really weird.”

11. She’s trying to silence you

“My boyfriend’s cat loves to snuggle up on people’s chests and then slooowly and veeery gently place her paw (with claws out and toes spread) and just .. place it on their mouth.

Does anyone know what the heck she’s trying to get out of this?”

12. Yummmm

“My lardass cat has this weird cake infatuation. (Ha ha I know). Not to eat. She likes to lay on them. I can’t count how many cooling cakes I had to throw out because she decided to take a nap on them. I have to hide them somewhere to cool and frost. I also had to buy a solid cake saver because she would lay on my old one and crush the lid into the cake.

My favorite was when my son turned one, we had the unwrapped cake sitting on the counter waiting for cake time, and she tried to lay in it. When I came in to get it all the frosting is pulled off in the center and one pissed off frosting covered cat under my bed.

Yet she still does it.”

13. Big smile

“My dog smiles whenever he wants something. He started showing his teeth when he got excited to see us after long periods of times (i.e. vacations) and we would say “What a pretty smile!” He made the connection to the word and now will do it on command and pretty much whenever he wants our food.

Kind of like a “hey look I’m smiling, I’m pretty!” Some people probably think it’s bad that he does it because he’s technically showing his teeth, but you can tell it’s not aggressive or in a bad way. I think it’s hilarious.”

14. He folds them, too

“Our golden retriever has 3 comfort blankets that he folds and carries around with him.”

15. Ear fetish

“My parrot is obsessed with ears. He will happily spend 15-20 minutes delicately nibbling on the rim of my ear, carefully scraping his beak around the inside, and licking all over. Last time I saw my doctor for a physical and she got to the otoscope part of the exam, she exclaimed, “Wow, your ears are remarkably clean!” Gee, I wonder why…”

The post People Share the Weird and Funny Habits of Their Pets appeared first on UberFacts.

An Animal Shelter Is Using the Proposed Raid on Area 51 to Encourage Adoptions

There’s no doubt you’ve heard that there’s a Facebook event called “Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All of Us,” and that around 2 million people have signed up to be there on September 20th.

Set aside the fact that, as with any Facebook event, you can expect about 1% of people who say they’re going to actually go. Also, set aside the fact that the government can, in fact, stop all of them. The harebrained event itself has actually inspired something good.

Our new staff member, Marvin, is ready to help with all the adoptions tomorrow at our #StormTheShelter Free Adoption event!

Posted by OKC Animal Welfare on Friday, July 26, 2019

Because while the U.S. military is discouraging people from coming by, one Oklahoma animal shelter is welcoming anyone who wants to storm their facility and go home with a pet.

You know, as opposed to (probably) getting arrested or (possibly) getting shot looking for aliens in the desert.

Come storm our shelter…We have great animals ready to protect you from the Area 51 aliens. Adoption isn’t that far out of this world!#stormtheshelter

Posted by OKC Animal Welfare on Friday, July 19, 2019

“Come storm our shelter… We have great animals ready to protect you from the Area 51 aliens. Adoption isn’t that far out of this world! #stormtheshelter”

The dogs are also sporting tinfoil hats.

***ADOPTED!***Meet PIPER 303993 "I like to go on long drives with the windows down!"Piper is cute as can be with…

Posted by OKC Animal Welfare on Friday, July 19, 2019

You know, just in case.

Meet LADY 218612 "Let's meet and see if we're a match!"Lady is a beautiful 3 year old, 60 pound Lab and Shepherd mix….

Posted by OKC Animal Welfare on Friday, July 19, 2019

And all of the animals photos are now set against space backgrounds.

**Adopted!**3099833 month old male. Super friendly and sweet!

Posted by OKC Animal Welfare on Friday, July 19, 2019

Too cute!

Also, too sad – they have 116 dogs, 39 cats, and 2 pigs ready and waiting for their forever homes.

So if you live in the area and have room in your heart and house for a new furry friend, get moving!

The post An Animal Shelter Is Using the Proposed Raid on Area 51 to Encourage Adoptions appeared first on UberFacts.

This Guy Crafted the Perfect Revenge After Neighbors Threatened His Dog

Never mess with someone’s dog. EVER.

A lesson that this guy’s neighbors had to learn the hard way after they stuck their nose in business that definitely wasn’t theirs.

The original post on Reddit told this story:

I planted over 5000 dandelion weeds in my neighbors garden from ProRevenge

So, basically, this guy’s dog was pooping IN HIS OWN YARD, he picked it up weekly, and his neighbors objected to what? Having to look at it in another person’s garden?

I would have been tempted to tell them to shove it, myself, but I doubt I would have been so created.

They threatened his dog, so they get what they get – I personally loved both the wild paint color and the dandelion seeds.

Though this commenter also had a brilliant idea.

Plus, they’d never be without it when they wanted to make mojitos.

Other commenters were good looking out, reminding the original poster not to plant anything he didn’t also want in his own garden.

The more you know.

Stay creative with your revenge out there, people, and don’t let the neighbors threaten you or yours without retribution. It just isn’t right.

The post This Guy Crafted the Perfect Revenge After Neighbors Threatened His Dog appeared first on UberFacts.

People Are Sharing Videos of Their Dogs Reacting to the Sound of a Bag of Chips

The time has come for us to be honest with ourselves and just admit that when we heard the sounds of food… we turn into curious doggos.

But let’s back up…

The Twitter account @aussiesdointhgs shared this and got the tweetstorm started…

350K+ likes and 85K+ retweets?!? Wow.

Naturally, doggo owners everywhere related in a BIG way.

And the videos started coming in like crazy…

Because dogs can hear EVERYTHING you’re doing…

And it’s usually adorable. Usually.

Especially when it’s about the chips.

Because what’s better than chips?

Or ANY food, for that matter?

I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again… we don’t deserve dogs.

But they do deserve our chips.

The end.

The post People Are Sharing Videos of Their Dogs Reacting to the Sound of a Bag of Chips appeared first on UberFacts.