Jezebel: animal magnetism

Your Mom Stinks

Dodai — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:45:00 EDT

Conchita is a white-naped mangabey, an endangered primate at the London Zoo. Her mother was seriously ill when Conchita was delivered via C-section, so zookeepers put a teddy bear into the newborn's enclosure. Now Conchita sorta thinks the bear is her mom. "She hugs that bear day and night," says keeper Andrea Payne. "She will run to the bear when she's alarmed. She won't run to me. She clamps on to it just like she would her mother." The teddy bear is "smelly" and has some monkey poo on it, but the zookeepers can't wash it. "To the baby it is her own special smell... The baby recognises the smell, it's a comfort to her. Washing the teddy would make it unrecognizable." [Times of London]

Fashionable Feline

Dodai — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:30:00 EDT

The latest icon to be featured in Vogue? Everyone's fave pussy cat, Hello Kitty. Despite being "pudgy" with "short legs and whiskers," Hello Kitty will appear in the June issue of Japanese Vogue wearing John Galliano for Dior. "Of course this is the first time the historic fashion house of Dior has had a cartoon character model their entire collection," said an official at Conde Nast Japan. Right, because Posh modeled Louis Vuitton, remember? [Reuters]

Even Ginger Cats Have The Christmas Spirit

Jennifer — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:10:00 EST

Animal pictures? You (and, er, Jessica) asked, we (and one of our readers, Miriam) answered. At left, a picture Miriam sent us of her Christmas cat, Carlo. ("He actually didn't mind being dressed up at all.") In the gallery which begins below, ten other cute critters we managed to find.

[All gallery images via AP.]

Since National Breast Cancer Awareness...

Jessica — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:45:00 EDT

Since National Breast Cancer Awareness month is almost over, magazines and newspapers are reaaally scraping the bottom of the barrel when it comes to fear-mongering cancer-scare articles. They've already trotted out the terrorizingregulars, so now they're coming for our pets! According to ABC News, now you have to worry about Fido and Fluffy getting breast cancer, too. "Beloved household pets can also develop cancer in the breast tissue — known in animals as mammary cancer. In fact, cancer is the No. 1 natural cause of death in older pets." Thanks, ABC, for reminding us of our precious mortality. Jerks. [ABC News]

As though inside-out butts and feces-tossing...

Tracie — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 19:45:00 EDT

As though inside-out butts and feces-tossing weren't enough, monkeys are gross in other ways. Male primates wash themselves in urine as a way to become sexually attractive and "convey warm, fuzzy feelings to females." [LiveScience]

Guinea Piggin' Out

Tracie — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:30:00 EDT

We never realized that three guinea pigs having a power struggle over a cucumber could be so darn cute! That is all.
Our Three Guinea Pigs Fighting For A Cucumber [YouTube via Random Good Stuff]

Poor Knut the polar bear: First he gets...

Jennifer — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 16:45:00 EDT

Poor Knut the polar bear: First he gets called a fatso, and now they're saying he's not cute enough to be a star anymore... and the poor guy is only 6-months old! So Knut is out, and Paul the pygmy hippo is in. Paul was born in May and the zoo is hoping his cutey baby presence will draw attention away from that fat, ugly Knut. Dude — this is just what happened to Effie White in Dreamgirls! [CBS News]

Everyone Hates Your Cute-As-A-Button Cat

Dodai — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 13:30:00 EDT

Bad news for all you krazy kat ladiez: The Daily Mail has two different stories about the "problem" with pets. In an online survey, one in four men reveal they are turned off by partners who pamper their pets. A quarter of men claim they will not date a woman with two or more cats. And one in four pet owners would choose their dog or cat over a new relationship. Do you hear that? Pets ruin relationships. What does the Daily Mail want us to do? Toss the cat, kick the dog to the curb?

In a completely unrelated story, PETA has been targeting dog-hoarders Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, reports MSNBC. The president of PETA wrote an open letter to the starlets, stating:

Your impulse purchases of dogs encourage others to follow suit, no matter how ill-equipped they are to provide a decade or more of care for a little dog who has feelings and needs and who requires patience, veterinary care, and stimulation other than nightclub music and bar laughter.

Okay, so is ditching your dog going to become the new black? We predict the commenter claws will come out any minute now.

Why Men Are Turned Off By Women Who Pamper Their Pets, One In Four Singles Would Choose Their Pet Over Their Partner [DailyMail]
Paris and Britney: A Dog's Worst Friend? [MSNBC]