ScienceDaily: Cat News

Rare Sumatran rabbit photographed

Fri, 25 May 2012 14:01:01 EDT

Researchers say the rare rabbit may now be found only in two remote national parks on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, and conservation is critical.

Jurassic pain: Giant 'flea-like' insects plagued dinosaurs 165 million years ago

Tue, 01 May 2012 16:27:27 EDT

It takes a gutsy insect to sneak up on a huge dinosaur while it sleeps, crawl onto its soft underbelly and give it a bite that might have felt like a needle going in -- but giant "flea-like" animals, possibly the oldest of their type ever discovered, probably did just that.

First camera trap photos of rare leopard in China

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:01:01 EDT

The first-known camera trap photos of an Amur leopard in China have recently been taken in Hunchun Amur Tiger National Nature Reserve in Jilin Province.

Bartonella infection associated with rheumatoid illnesses in humans

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:18:18 EDT

A bacterium historically associated with cat scratch fever and transmitted predominately by fleas may also play a role in human rheumatoid illnesses such as arthritis, according to new research.

Deadly cat disease: Effective treatment for bobcat fever

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:22:22 EDT

University of Missouri veterinarian Leah Cohn, a small animal disease expert, and Adam Birkenheuer from North Carolina State University, have found an effective treatment for "bobcat fever" which is a deadly disease found in cats.

Strain of common toxoplasma gondii parasite linked to severe illness in US newborns

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:23:23 EDT

Scientists have identified which strains of the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, the cause of toxoplasmosis, are most strongly associated with premature births and severe birth defects in the United States. The researchers used a new blood test to pinpoint T. gondii strains that children acquire from their acutely infected mothers while in the womb.

Subtle differences can lead to major changes in parasites

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:14:14 EDT

Researchers have found the subtle genetic differences that make one parasite far more virulent than its close relative. They looked at the evolution of these parasites and found that although their genome architecture still remains similar, the two split from their common ancestor 28 million years ago, approximately four times longer than the human-gorilla split.

Extensive taste loss found in mammals: Feeding preferences shaped by taste receptors

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:26:26 EDT

Scientists report frequent loss of sweet taste in mammalian species that are exclusive meat eaters. Further, two sea-dwelling mammals that swallow their food whole have extensive taste loss. Many sweet-blind species eat only meat, demonstrating that a liking for sweets is frequently lost during the evolution of diet specialization.

Counting reef sharks with cameras: 'Chum cam' underwater video survey shows that reef sharks thrive in marine reserves

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:46:46 EST

Scientists have used video cameras to count Caribbean reef sharks (Carcharhinus perezi) inside and outside marine reserves on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef in the Caribbean Sea. Using survey data collected from 200 baited remote underwater video cameras, nicknamed "chum cams," the scientists compared the relative abundance of these reef sharks in two marine reserves with those in two areas where fishing is allowed, and demonstrated that the sharks were more abundant in the reserves.

Insect DNA offers tiny clues about animals' changing habitats

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:32:32 EST

The long-term impact of climate change on natural communities of wild animals could be better understood thanks to a new study.

Nowhere to hide: Tigers threatened by human destruction of groundcover

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:05:05 EST

A new study is the first of its kind to systematically investigate the use of different land cover types for tiger habitat.

New species of bat, Hipposideros griffini, discovered in Vietnam

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:24:24 EST

A distinctive echolocation frequency led to the discovery of a new species of bat within the genus Hipposideros. Although this bat is similar to the species Hipposideros armiger, differences in acoustics, size, and DNA between these bats led to the identification of the new species. This new member of the bat community, which has been found in two locations in Vietnam, has been given the scientific name Hipposideros griffini.

X-ray microscopy seen as next wave in structural biology research

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:59:59 EST

Researchers will explore how X-ray imaging can surpass X-ray crystallography for gathering detailed structural and functional information.

Genomic imprinting of natural selection revealed

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:15:15 EST

Discovering the relation between genetic variation and observable characteristics of individuals belonging to a species, such as a person's height or the manifestation of a hereditary disease is one of today's challenges in biology. Until now only a small part of the variation of these traits - which biologists name phenotypes - were attributed to genetic variations.

Domestic cats, and wild bobcats and pumas, living in same area have same diseases

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:46:46 EST

Scientists found evidence that domestic cats and wild cats that share the same outdoor areas in urban environments also can share diseases such as Bartonellosis and Toxoplasmosis. Both can be spread from cats to people.

Volunteers clear tiger snares in China

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:54:54 EST

Volunteers working in northeast China have cleared 162 illegal wire snares in an ongoing effort to protect the nation’s remaining population of critically endangered Amur (Siberian) tigers.

Mammals shrink at faster rates than they grow: Research helps explain large-scale size changes and recovery from mass extinctions

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:19:19 EST

It took about 10 million generations for terrestrial mammals to hit their maximum mass: that's about the size of a cat evolving into the size of an elephant. Sea mammals, such as whales took about half the number of generations to hit their maximum.

Love of a dog or cat helps women cope with HIV/AIDS

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:55:55 EST

A spoonful of medicine goes down a lot easier if there is a dog or cat around. Having pets is helpful for women living with HIV/AIDS and managing their chronic illness, according to a new study.

Saving the snow leopard with stem cells

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:47:47 EST

The survival of the endangered snow leopard is looking promising thanks to scientists who have, for the first time, produced embryonic stem-like cells from the tissue of an adult leopard.

Researchers locate protein that could 'turn off' deadly disease carrier

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:22:22 EST

Genome sequencing leads to the identification of a protein crucial to the work of two parasites as they spread a pair of deadly diseases, toxoplasmosis and malaria.

Prehistoric predators with supersized teeth had beefier arm bones

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:37:37 EST

The toothiest prehistoric predators also had beefier arm bones, according to results of a new study. Saber-toothed tigers may come to mind, but these extinct cats weren't the only animals with fearsome fangs. Take the false saber-toothed cats -- also known as nimravids -- and their catlike cousins, a family of carnivores called the barbourofelids.

Return of the Persian leopard In Afghanistan's central highlands

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:05:05 EST

Recent camera trap images from the rocky terrain of Afghanistan's central highlands have revealed a surprise: A Persian leopard, an apex predator long thought to have disappeared from the region, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Counting cats: The endangered snow leopards of the Himalayas

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:05:05 EST

The elusive snow leopard lives high in the mountains across Central Asia. Despite potentially living across 12 countries the actual numbers of this beautiful large cat are largely unknown. New research has used genetic analysis to show that the numbers of snow leopards in the central Himalayas is actually much lower than suggested.

Five rare wild cat species caught on camera in Sumatra

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:22:22 EST

After an amazing five of the seven wild cat species found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra were recently caught on camera in tract of forest being rapidly lost to deforestation, the World Wildlife Fund in Indonesia is urging companies and authorities to take immediate steps to save the valuable area.

Brain parasite directly alters brain chemistry

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:21:21 EDT

A research group from the University of Leeds has shown that infection by the brain parasite Toxoplasma gondii, found in 10-20 percent of the UK's population, directly affects the production of dopamine, a key chemical messenger in the brain.

Born to roar: Lions' and tigers' fearsome roars are due to their unusual vocal cords

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EDT

When lions and tigers roar loudly and deeply -- terrifying every creature within earshot -- they are somewhat like human babies crying for attention, although their voices are much deeper. So says the senior author of a new study that shows lions' and tigers' loud, low-frequency roars are predetermined by physical properties of their vocal fold tissue -- namely, the ability to stretch and shear -- and not by nerve impulses from the brain.

Bolivia's jaguars set a record

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:11:11 EDT

In a new camera trap survey in the world's most biologically diverse landscape, researchers have identified more individual jaguars than ever before.

US not taking basic step to prevent toxoplasmosis in newborns, researcher contends

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:26:26 EDT

North American babies who acquire toxoplasmosis infections in the womb show much higher rates of brain and eye damage than European infants with the same infection, according to new research.

Russian and US veterinarians collaborate to solve mysterious wild tiger deaths

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:30:30 EDT

Veterinarians are working to understand how distemper -- a virus afflicting domestic dogs and many wildlife species -- may be a growing threat to Siberian tigers.

Risk factors for cat cancer could have human implications

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 18:50:50 EDT

A recent, large-scale study on cat intestinal cancer has provided new insight into a common pet disease and its causes; the findings could ultimately benefit humans.

Monkeys also reason through analogy, study shows

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:22:22 EDT

Recognizing relations between relations is what analogy is all about. What lies behind this ability? Is it uniquely human? A new study has shown that monkeys are capable of making analogies.

Researchers discover how 'promiscuous parasites' hijack host immune cells

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EDT

Researchers recently discovered how T. gondii evades our defenses by hacking immune cells, making it the first known parasite to control its host's immune system. A new study describes a forced partnership between parasite and host that challenges common conceptions of how pathogens interact with the body.

Researchers team with glowing cats against AIDS, other diseases; New technique gives cats protection genes

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 14:52:52 EDT

Researchers have developed a genome-based immunization strategy to fight feline AIDS and illuminate ways to combat human HIV/AIDS and other diseases.

Treating epilepsy in cats

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:16:16 EDT

Cats are known to have types of epileptic seizures in which consciousness is usually impaired although not all of the body is affected. Researchers in Austria now show that cats that suffer in this way have changes in the hippocampus, the part of the brain most commonly affected in human epilepsy.

Iberian lynx not doomed by its genetics

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 19:14:14 EDT

The low genetic diversity of the Iberian lynx -- the most endangered carnivore in Europe -- may not decrease the species' chance of survival, according to new research by geneticists.

Parasite uses the power of attraction to trick rats into becoming cat food

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:15:15 EDT

Rats infected with the parasite Toxoplasma seem to lose their fear of cats -- or at least cat urine. Now researchers have discovered the brains of those infected, fearless male rats show activity in the region that normally triggers a mating response when encountering a female rat. But that does not mean it's love, as Toxoplasma just wants the rat to be eaten by a cat, so the parasite can reproduce in the cat's intestines.

Parasite-infected rodents attracted to cat odor

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:59:59 EDT

New research shows how a brain parasite can manipulate rodent fear responses for the parasite's own benefit. The single-celled parasite Toxoplasma gondii makes infected rodents more likely to spend time near cat odors.

Bolstering genetic diversity among cheetahs

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:32:32 EDT

Researchers have discovered why older females are rarely able to reproduce -- and hope to use this information to introduce vital new genes into the pool. Scientists analyzed hormones, eggs and the uteri of 34 cheetahs at eight institutions, and determined that while the hormones and eggs of cheetahs older than 8 years appear normal, the animals' uterine tracks tend to suffer from abnormal cell growth, infections and cysts that prevent pregnancy.

Competition with humans responsible for decline of New Zealand's endangered sea lions, study shows

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 08:58:58 EDT

Marine researchers in New Zealand have identified the direct impact of fishing as the largest known human factor in the decline of the endangered native sea lion population. The team's findings discount non-human factors, such as disease and identifies resource competition and by-catch incidents as the most likely causes.

Full moon indicates impending danger from lion attack, study shows

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:06:06 EDT

A new study led by Craig Packer, an international lion expert based at the University of Minnesota's College of Biological Sciences, shows that while moonlight limits lions' success at hunting their four-legged prey, the last day of a full moon signals the beginning of a foraging opportunity for bipeds.

Snow leopard population discovered in Afghanistan

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:14:14 EDT

Biologists have discovered a surprisingly healthy population of rare snow leopards living in the mountainous reaches of northeastern Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor, according to a new study.

Fisher decline documented in California

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:28:28 EDT

Researchers have reported a 73-percent decline in the density of fishers -- a house-cat sized member of the weasel family and candidate for endangered species listing -- on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation in northwestern California between 1998 and 2005.

Twenty-four species of carnivores confirmed for Borneo

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 09:50:50 EDT

The first Borneo Carnivore Symposium was concluded on a high note this week as worldwide experts determined species priorities for the Bornean nations of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Early exposure to pets does not increase children's risk of allergies, study finds; Evidence suggests it may actually reduce likelihood

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 01:44:44 EDT

A new study reveals that keeping a dog or cat in the home does not increase children's risk of becoming allergic to the pets.

Significant litter of cheetah cubs born at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:46:46 EDT

Five cheetah cubs were born May 28 at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Va. This litter is particularly significant to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan for cheetahs because cheetah births in zoos across the country have dwindled. The SSP matches animals across the country to ensure genetic diversity in the population. This is the only litter of cheetahs born this year in a North American zoo.

Diagnosing stomach disease in pet reptiles

Tue, 31 May 2011 08:46:46 EDT

A popular "get well" card shows a raccoon saying to a snake, "You wouldn't get these stomach aches if you chewed your food properly." Vets know, however, that indigestion in snakes and other reptiles often results not from swallowing food whole but from a parasitic infection. The gastrointestinal disease cryptosporidiosis represents a particularly severe problem. Unfortunately, though, diagnosis is extremely difficult. Scientists have now developed a test for the identification of the cryptosporidia that cause the condition, enabling them to assess its prevalence in pet lizards and snakes.

Secret lives of feral and free-roaming house cats tracked

Thu, 26 May 2011 11:45:45 EDT

Researchers (and some cat-owners) wanted to know: What do feral and free-roaming house cats do when they're out of sight? A two-year study offers a first look at the daily lives of these feline paupers and princes, whose territories overlap on the urban, suburban, rural and agricultural edges of many towns.

Dual parasitic infections deadly to marine mammals

Tue, 24 May 2011 17:12:12 EDT

A study of tissue samples from 161 marine mammals that died between 2004 and 2009 in the Pacific Northwest reveals an association between severe illness and co-infection with two kinds of parasites normally found in land animals. One, Sarcocystis neurona, is a newcomer to the northwest coastal region of North America and is not known to infect people, while the other, Toxoplasma gondii, has been established there for some time and caused a large outbreak of disease in people in 1995.

Cockroach allergens in homes associated with prevalence of childhood asthma in some neighborhoods

Tue, 17 May 2011 15:13:13 EDT

Researchers compared the household presence of cockroach, mouse, cat, dust mite and other allergens in neighborhoods with a high prevalence of asthma to that in low-prevalence neighborhoods. They found that cockroach, mouse and cat allergens were significantly higher in homes located in neighborhoods where asthma is more common and that children in these higher-exposure homes were more likely to be sensitized to cockroach antigens.

Cats pass disease to wildlife, even in remote areas

Thu, 12 May 2011 16:19:19 EDT

Researchers tracking the spread of Toxoplasma gondii -- a parasite that reproduces only in cats but sickens and kills many other animals -- have found infected wildlife throughout a 1,500-acre (600-hectare) natural area in central Illinois.

Marsupial wolf or Tasmanian tiger? Extinct Australian thylacine was more cat than dog, researchers find

Tue, 03 May 2011 20:38:38 EDT

Was the iconic, extinct creature that once roamed Australia a marsupial wolf or a Tasmanian tiger? By examining bones, researchers have shown that the thylacine was an ambush-style predator that was unable to outrun prey over long distances. This hunting approach differs from wolves and other dog-like species that hunt in packs and pursue.

Giant hummingbirds: Running a little hot, but not on empty

Mon, 02 May 2011 16:31:31 EDT

Scientists have long thought that the giant hummingbird (Patagona gigas) was just about as big as a hummingbird could get. They're nearly twice the size of the next largest species, and it was assumed that the energy needed for hovering flight would take the giants close to the upper metabolic limits for an animal that size. Not so, according to a new study.

Flame retardants at high levels in pet dogs, study finds

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 07:10:10 EDT

Scientists have found chemical flame retardants in the blood of pet dogs at concentrations five to 10 times higher than in humans, but lower than levels found in a previous study of cats.

West and Central African lions are genetically different from those in East and southern Africa

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:51:51 EDT

New findings of genetic research on lions reveals a remarkable difference between lions in West and Central Africa and lions in East and southern Africa.

Cat allergy vaccine safe and effective, study suggests

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:35:35 EDT

Mark Larché and his research team have developed a cat allergy vaccine which is effective and safe with almost no side effects.

Aimless proteins may be crucial to disease

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:13:13 EDT

A supposedly inactive protein actually plays a crucial role in the ability of one the world's most prolific pathogens to cause disease and could also be important to other such pathogen-based diseases as malaria.

How different strains of parasite infection affect behavior differently

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 20:34:34 EDT

Toxoplasma gondii infects approximately 25 percent of the human population. The protozoan parasite is noted for altering the behavior of infected hosts. Researchers have found clear differences in the manipulation of host gene expression among the three clonal lineages that predominate in Europe and North America, despite the high level of genetic similarity among them.

Intervention offers 'best chance' to save species endangered by climate change, expert argues

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:12:12 EDT

A scientist is proposing a radical program of "assisted colonization" to save species endangered by climate change. He says the strategy is applicable across the world, and he suggests Britain as a potential haven for species such as the Iberian lynx, the Spanish Imperial Eagle, the Pyrenean Desman and the Provence Chalkhill Blue butterfly.

Rare Andean cat no longer exclusive to the Andes

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:26:26 EDT

Once thought to exclusively inhabit its namesake mountain range, the threatened Andean cat -- a house cat-sized feline that resembles a small snow leopard in both appearance and habitat -- also frequents the Patagonian steppe at much lower elevations, according to a new study.

Maquipucuna cloud forest in Ecuador yields new species of yeast

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 10:37:37 EDT

A new species of yeast has been discovered growing on the fruit of an unidentified and innocuous bramble collected from the biodiversity-rich Maquipucuna cloud forest nature reserve, near Quito, in Ecuador.