Corn in dog food
Some places on the internet say that corn is just a cheap filler for dog food, or that it doesn't belong in a dog's bowl at all. But some high-quality dog food contains corn. So what's the truth about corn?
New Zealand: Cats out of law
In some areas of New Zealand, cats are already forbidden and in several decades, you may not come across any in the whole country. Are you interested in what makes New Zealanders create these rules?
New Zealanders love cats. You’ll find at least one in almost a half of the households and they take keeping them very seriously. For example, New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends neutring and emphasizes that inhabitants should not forget about their pets even in emergency scenarios, e.g. for an earthquake.
The regulations and recommendations for keeping cats differ in various regions and cities. They often order neutering cats not intended for breeding, the obligation to have a microchip and there are sometimes also limits on the number of cats in a household or the prohibition of free movement of cats overnight.
These measures usually aim to protect cats themselves, to prevent health risks, not to disturb neighbours and to protect original bird populations. And it's also for the birds that the regional council of Omaui on the South Island wants to prohibit cats at all. Nowadays, all cats have to be neutered, registered, have microchips and getting new cats will be prohibited.
As everyone knows, cats are natural hunters and they largely contributed to the extinction of several dozens of birds, reptiles and mammals. According to biodiversity experts, if cats were absent from New Zealand, it would mean a great improvement for local nature. This local suggestion follows the New Zealand plan which aims to get rid of many predators which are not natural there such as cats, rats, brown rats or weasels by 2050.
By all means, Omaui is not the first region which wants to prohibit cats. For example, Kapiti island prohibited cats in 1934 already and the largest New Zealand city of Auckland has a rule which says that each cat without a microchip captured in an environmentally valuable area is put down.
The sad truth is that cats really contribute to the extinction of species to a large extent. According to a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they managed to contribute to the extinction of 63 animal species worldwide in only 500 years. The most endangered are island species, for example those on Madagascar or New Zealand. When an unknown predator (a cat in this case) gets to their isolated space, they got no chance.
That’s why it’s understandable that New Zealanders want to eliminate this “foreign beast of prey” even though they love them. Is this the only solution? What do you think?
Related articles
Portraits of popular breeds at home and throughout the world: Egyptian Mau
The Egyptian Mau is said to be a direct descendant of sacred cats from ancient Egypt. These cats are most noticeable for their special spotted pattern. They are quite demanding companions with heaps of energy.
How to care for a dog athlete (not only in winter)
Dog athletes need special care in terms of nutrition, regeneration and exercise. What basic facts should you know and follow if you have a dog athlete at home?
How to help stray cats in winter?
It's getting colder outside, and stray homeless cats feel it the most, especially autumn kittens. For them, a real struggle for survival begins. We can't take all the stray cats home, but do you want to know how to help them regardless?
How to enjoy snow with your dog
Snow offers dogs lots of fun. Jumping into snowbanks, catching snowflakes, making dog "angels", tasting snow ... to keep the fun from turning into trouble, you need to keep everything moderation and watch out for certain.
How to care for a dog ecologically
Ecology is one of the main topics of our time, and a lot of dog owners are thinking of how they can apply it to their pets. Although we don't have so many options in dog care yet, we can still try to be as gentle to our planet as possible.
Portraits of popular breeds at home and throughout the world: Affenpinscher (Monkey Terrier)
This small cute dog can be found in Vincent van Gogh paintings. It got its name because of its face that resembles a monkey. They are tenacious and energetic companions that will fearlessly protect you from every danger.
How to survive New Year's Eve in peace and health
New Year's Eve is pretty stressful for most dogs and cats. It's full of noise and flashes of light, which scares them. How can we help them get through this night?
Christmas in dog shelters
Christmas is a time of love, family, and last but not least, generosity and good deeds. However, not everyone can be in the warmth of a home on Christmas, and this is also true for our four-legged companions. How can we help them during this time and...
How to have a merry and peaceful cat Christmas
Decorating the Christmas tree and wrapping gifts is often worse with cats than with children. There are cat temptations everywhere - flashing lights, jingle bells, mistletoe, ribbons and wrapping paper. How can you make sure you all get through...
What to give your pets for Christmas
Christmas is around the corner and it's time to buy the last gifts and start wrapping them. Have you forgotten about your four-legged friends in the hustle and bustle? If you have, there's still time to fix it. If you don't want to have to...
What should you make your dog for Christmas dinner?
We treat dogs as family members, and it's understandable that we don't want to leave them out of our Christmas dinner tradition, but we shouldn't share our food with them, so what should we give them?