Source: Gothamist New York City has launched a new $500,000 pilot program to spay and neuter 3,500 cats in Brooklyn, aiming to combat the city’s growing cat overpopulation and assist low-income pet owners. The funding, approved by city lawmakers, will go to Flatbush Cats, a nonprofit specializing in reducing stray cat populations through trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs. […]
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Source: 10 News WBIR A 34-year-old chimpanzee named Mwelu at Zoo Knoxville is recovering after undergoing a groundbreaking spinal surgery to remove a tumor, the first documented procedure of its kind on a chimpanzee. The complex operation, performed on September 19 at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, was a collaboration between veterinary neurologist Dr. Talisha Moore and human neurosurgeon Dr. […]
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Source: Agrilife Today Texas A&M University’s newly renamed Center for Insect Biomanufacturing and Innovation (CIBI) marks a major evolution in the university’s partnership with the National Science Foundation’s IUCRC program, emphasizing deeper industry collaboration and broader research goals. Formerly the Center for Environmental Sustainability through Insect Farming, CIBI now focuses on transforming insect science into scalable, industry-driven biomanufacturing solutions. Led […]
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Source: Medscape At the 2025 French-Speaking Allergology Congress in Paris, Dr. Sylvie Leroy presented an overview of strategies to reduce cat allergies, focusing on the Fel d 1 protein, the main allergen produced by cats. With over 16 million cats in French households, symptoms such as rhinitis, eczema, and asthma are common, but current interventions offer only partial or temporary […]
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Source: Cornell Chronicle A new study published in Communications Biology warns that commercial raw cat foods can harbor dangerous microbes, including antibiotic-resistant strains, posing risks to both pets and humans. Researchers identified pathogens such as Salmonella, Cronobacter, E. coli, and Pseudomonas in raw and freeze-dried cat food samples. Some strains matched human cases of salmonellosis, suggesting potential cross-contamination. Vulnerable […]
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Source: Eureka Alert A Virginia Tech study published in PLOS One establishes the first large-scale baseline for dog behavior using four years of owner-reported data from over 47,000 dogs in the Dog Aging Project, a collaboration of 40+ institutions. Led by Courtney Sexton and Yuhuan Li, the research examined fear, attention/excitability, aggression, and trainability between 2020–2023, initially to assess COVID-19’s impact on […]
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Source: Texas Animal Health Commission The Rural Veterinarian Incentive Program (RVIP) encourages veterinarians to practice in designated rural Texas counties by offering up to $180,000 in educational loan repayment or tuition assistance. Participants may receive up to $45,000 annually for four years of full-time service. Eligible applicants include recent graduates or current students of Texas Tech or Texas A&M Veterinary programs, certain Texas […]
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Source: KCRA 3 The University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine has launched a major expansion of its Veterinary medical complex, aimed at addressing the national shortage of veterinarians while advancing animal care, research, and education. Announced by Dean Dr. Mark Stetter, the project will increase the student body from 600 to 800, helping meet demand as […]
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Source: Live Science A Pallas’s cat (Otocolobus manul), one of the world’s least-studied wild felines, has been photographed for the first time in Arunachal Pradesh, India’s eastern Himalayas. The elusive species, known for its fluffy coat and distinctive expression, was captured on a camera trap at an altitude of 16,400 feet (4,992 meters). This marks a major […]
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Source: CNN Rabies, while rare in the U.S., remains almost universally fatal once symptoms appear. Six people have died nationwide since September 2024, and the CDC is monitoring 14 possible outbreaks across 20 states. The disease is caused by a Lyssavirus, typically transmitted through the saliva of infected animals via bites, scratches, or mucosal contact. Globally, […]
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Source: 8 News Now Las Vegas faces a growing equine Veterinarian shortage, reflecting a nationwide crisis. With an estimated 34,100 domesticated horses in Nevada—many in the Las Vegas Valley—demand for care far outweighs supply. Currently, Desert Pines Equine, with only seven veterinarians and two interns, serves the entire region. The shortage stems from multiple factors: […]
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Source: Nature Recent research is challenging long-held assumptions about human language by showing sophisticated communication in animals such as bonobos, chimpanzees, whales, and birds. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, primatologist Mélissa Berthet recorded bonobos combining calls into phrases with compositional meaning, once thought uniquely human. Chimpanzees and Japanese tits also show this ability, while whales display […]
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Source: The Guardian Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based “de-extinction” company, has announced a key breakthrough in its bid to revive the dodo, extinct since the 17th century. By successfully growing pigeon primordial germ cells—precursors to sperm and eggs—the team is using gene-edited chickens as surrogates to eventually breed dodos from Nicobar pigeons, their closest relatives. The […]
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Source: CNBC Bees pollinate over one-third of the crops humans consume, yet about 40% of colonies collapse annually due to climate change, extreme weather, pesticides, and outdated hive technology. Traditional wooden hives, largely unchanged since 1850, offer little protection against these threats. California startup Beewise aims to change that with the BeeHome, an AI- and robotics-powered hive designed […]
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Source: Farm and Dairy The Asian longhorned tick, first detected in Ohio in 2020, has now spread to 21 counties, raising serious concerns for cattle producers. This invasive arachnid can transmit Theileria orientalis, a parasite that causes theileriosis in cattle. Infected animals may develop fever, jaundice, respiratory distress, reduced appetite, stillbirths, or even death. In severe infestations, […]
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Source: The Conversation Emerging research shows that cats, despite their reputation for independence, form deep bonds with humans through oxytocin, the “love hormone.” This neurochemical, known for fostering trust, reducing stress, and strengthening social ties in humans and dogs, is also released during affectionate cat-human interactions. Studies reveal that gentle petting, cuddling, and even listening to a […]
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Source: WRAL News When Tropical Storm Chantal flooded central North Carolina, it left behind stagnant water that created ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Veterinarians warn that this surge increases the risk of heartworm, a mosquito-borne parasite that can quietly kill dogs and cats. North Carolina already ranks among the top 10 states for heartworm cases, and experts […]
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Source: Scientific American A new preprint field study reveals that New York City’s rats are not only resilient survivors but also highly social animals with a hidden nightlife. Using wireless ultrasonic recorders and thermal cameras at parks, sidewalks, and subway platforms, researchers tracked their movements and vocalizations, uncovering a complex “language” inaudible to humans. Surprisingly, rats adjusted […]
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Source: Science Scientists may have solved one of the strangest feline mysteries: why cats eat grass. A new study in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior suggests cats deliberately choose jagged, spiky grasses that can snag and entangle fur inside their digestive tracts, potentially helping dislodge hairballs. Plant biologist Nicole Hughes and her team examined six cat hairballs under a […]
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Source: Dispatch Ohio’s deer herd is facing two major disease threats: Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) and Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). EHD, a viral illness spread by tiny biting midges, causes fever, facial swelling, disorientation, and respiratory distress, often killing deer within days. Outbreaks typically subside with the arrival of cold weather, which kills the insects that transmit it. […]
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