The small Japanese island of Tashirojima has been dubbed ‘Cat Heaven’ by visitors. Home to only one hundred people, cats far outnumber humans in the tiny fishing village.   Image credit   Cats were originally brought to the island to keep the mice population in check as the rodents were predators of the silkworms that were raised to spin silk to make nets. Over time, the population has aged and the silk farms have vanished – however the cats have remained and their numbers have exploded.  The remaining locals, mostly in their seventies, pamper the cats and feed them fish. It is believed, in line with Japanese folklore, the cats bring good luck and prosperity. The fishermen also examine the behaviour of the cats to determine weather and fish patterns, which they believe they are able to predict.    Image credit   For five years photographer Fubirai followed the cats around the village and captured snapshots of their daily lives. His recently published shots have now gone viral.    The island’s cat obsession manifests even in its architecture, with several cat-shaped buildings dotting the island.    The village rose to fame through the efforts of a couple who moved to the island from Sendai. They opened an inn called Hamaya for travellers and launched a blog in 2006 about the island and its inhabitants. A movie was made later that year about one of the cats on the island, Droopy-Eared Jack, with three sequels following which each updated fans on the turns of Jack’s life.     Image credit   Tourism for the island is now booming as visitors flock internationally to see the feline paradise for themselves. Many package tours take tourists to search amongst the many thousands of cats that call the island home in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the famous Jack.     Of course, since it is cat heaven, no dogs are allowed!   

Many people say their pets are like their children. This holds true for multimillionaires as well as the everyday man and woman. In grand fashion, some of these animal-loving people have made certain their beloved furbabies remain cared for upon their deaths, leaving some animals with truly astonishing fortunes.    Image credit Gunther IV the German Shepherd – $373 million   Image credit   The German Shepherd Gunther IV was born into riches. He inherited his sizeable bank balance from his father, Gunther III who was the companion of German countess Karlotta Liebenstein. When the Countess died in 1992, she left all her earthly wealth to her beloved canine friend. The princely pup Gunther IV in turn inherited his father’s wealth after his passing – a fortune which only continues to increase.    Gunther’s faithful staff have wisely invested his wealth, causing the initial sum given to him by his father to triple. Amongst Gunther’s recent purchases is a Miami villa owned previously by Madonna, a BMW, and a rare white truffle. His property portfolio also contains residences in the Bahamas, Italy and Germany.  Toby Rimes - $92 million  Another dog with a wealthy father is Toby Rimes, a poodle descended from his namesake who was owned by New York socialite Ella Wendel in the 1930s. She left her estate to her pet and the money has stayed in the poodle’s family over the years, descending from father to son, all of whom have born the same name.    Blackie  – $25 million    When the British multimillionaire Ben Rea passed away in 1988, he bequeathed his entire $25 million fortune to his beloved cat Blackie. Left nothing, Rea’s human family were not best pleased with the prominent antique merchant’s decision. Blackie subsequently entered the Guinness World Book of Records as the wealthiest cat in history. He lived his life in quiet luxury and being a charitable cat, shared his vast inheritance helping felines less fortunate than himself through donations to animal charities.     Tommasino - $15 million   Image credit   In a rags-to-riches story, the black stray cat Tommasino went from life on the streets to the lap of luxury. Tommasino won the heart of 94-year-old Italian lady Maria Assunta, who wished her enormous riches to go to her cat after her death.    However, as Italian law prohibits animals directly inheriting money, she understood that may not be possible and the money instead could go to a “worthy animal charity, if one could be found.” Several charities were considered by Assunta’s lawyers, however in the end it was decided none were appropriate.    Assunta had no living relatives and so the money was given into the hands of Assunta’s trusted nurse Stefania who cares for Tommasino and administers it on his behalf. According to Stefania, who had no clue her employer had so much money, Tommasino is content with the simple pleasures such as a saucer of milk and biscuits.   Trouble - $12 million    Image credit   Known as the ‘Queen of Mean’ in New York circles, Leona Helmsley may not have treated her fellow human beings with much kindness, but she certainly adored her Maltese Terrier Trouble. Handfed elegantly prepared meals presented on silver trays by domestic staff during Helmsley’s lifetime, Trouble received $12 million of her owner’s $4 billion estate.  She, like her owner, is not known for her sweet temper. Former maid Zamfira Sfara sued Helmsley after suffering nerve damage to her hands after being bitten repeatedly by the dog during bath time whilst her owner laughingly cheered her on.    Upon her death, Trouble will join her mistress, with directions being given that she be interred in the Helmsley Mausoleum.  Gigoo - $10 million    Image credit In a list dominated by dogs and cats, Gigoo the chicken deserves special mention. A hen, Gigoo is heir to the fortune of Miles Blackwell, the publishing giant. A widow and fourth generation Oxford bookseller, with a love of animals and a notable sense of humour, he decided to will his entire estate to his clucky friend.     Together these furry and feathered rich kids command a combined fortune of $527 million – somehow we don’t think they’ll ever be short of bones or treats!           

Here are some cats that just love Easter... Image credit 1. One of these things is not like the other... Image credit   2. Just like Santa uses a sleigh, Easter Kitty uses a Roomba. Image credit   3."Stupid human... these ears aren't realistic at all."   Image credit   4. Having fun yet? Image credit   5. "I better get some treats for this..." Image credit     6. Somebunny ate too much candy... Image credit   7. "What do you mean the Easter Bunny isn't real!?" Image credit   8. "They said I could be anything, so I became the Easter Bunny." Image credit   9. "Alright you got your picture, now get these things off me!" Image credit    

Whoever said dogs don't like baths haven't met these guys! 1. "Rubber ducky you're the one - you make bath time lots of fun!" Image credit   2."YAAAAAASSSS" Image credit 3."Last one in the tub is a weenie!" Image credit 4."Do not disturb - dog is relaxing." Image credit 5."Sorry but this tub ain't big enough for the two of us." Image credit 6."Oh boy oh boy oh boy! It's bath time!" Image credit 7."I know I'm cute but can we get scrubbing!" Image credit 8."Ready when you are..." Image credit 9."Don't mind if I do." Image credit 10."Rub-a-dub-dub, three pups in a tub!" Image credit 11."Does this hairdo make me look younger?" 12."Just keep digging, just keep digging." Image credit 13."Well you're home earlier than I expected!" Image credit 14."Awww yeah, that's the spot!" Image credit by Michelle Regna 

So let me let you in on a little secret: most “top 3, 5, 7, 10, etc.” lists that you’ll see on the internet, are not actually judged by any ranking criteria whatsoever. The order means very little, if anything at all. Ah. It feels good to be honest. So, in honor of subjectivity, I’m going to give you my personal list of my individual favorite mixed breed dogs. These selections were made up by me, and have no bearing on anything other than my personal preferences. Though, I should say that my preferences, are in fact, awesome. And these dogs are probably the cutest/most majestic you’ll ever come across on any arbitrary list ever created. Enough of this qualifier stuff, let’s get to the adorable fluff! Puggle       Puggles are incredible. They are a combination of two dogs that are cute in their own right, the pug and the beagle, but when combined they form a swirling vortex of insane smoosh-face, floppy eared, mischievous lovability that is sure to cause your eyes tear up, and ellicit the most effeminate sounds imaginable to come spilling out of your mouth immediately upon entering a hundred foot radius of this magnificent mongrel.   I defy you to find a cuter dog than this. It’s small, it’s not too fluffy, and it has gigantic infantile eyes that seem to scream out that it needs to be held, squeezed, and loved forever. Additionally, there isn’t a word in the English vernacular that’s more fun to say than Puggle.   Breed information is irrelevant. All you need is to bask in the glorious glow of the Puggle.   Dogo Argentino Switching gears for a bit, because any list worth its salt has some sizable variety involved. The Dogo Argentino is the definition of majestic. This gigantic hunting dog is smooth, muscular, and loyal to a fault. The Dogo is bred for hunting wild game, the big kind. Like wild bores and mountain lions. That’s right. Freaking mountain lions. You know, the scary giant cats that weigh somewhere between 50 and 136 kg?   Yeah, Dogos hunt those things. So cool.   Dogos themselves reach a respectable weight of between 40 and 54 kg, and stand between 60 and 76 cm at the shoulders. They’re almost always a solid shade of pale white, and extremely muscular. The Dogo is the biggest mixed bag when it comes to genealogy, they were originally bred from the Cordoba fighting dogs along with Great Danes, Boxers, Spanish Mastiffs, Old English Bulldogs, Bull Terriers, Great Pyrenees, Pointers, Irish Wolfhounds, and Dogue de Bordeauxs.   While fierce and determined hunters, the Dogo is also a reliable guard dog and family friendly to boot. In fact, these gentle giants are really easy going when it comes to kids and other pets. I highly recommend you get one, put a saddle on it, and have your children ride it to school like a horse.   Pomski We’re back down to small dogs again. The Pomeranian/Huskie mix, or Pomski, is right up there with the Puggle in terms of aesthetic appeal and supremely cute names. These dogs can have characteristics of either huskies or poms, but usually lean one way or the other. They only get to be about a 3rd of the size of huskies, and they aren’t recognized as a new breed. There’s an effort to get them to that status, but by the looks of the net chatter, it’s kind of a dodgy effort aimed mostly at making a quick buck through selling a cute dog. So that’s sad, but again: this is my list, and despite breeder ethics and politics, Pomskis are tiny, fuzzy, and adorable.   Goberian The final entry on my list is the Goberian. An interesting mix of huskie and golden retriever. Majorly energetic and a prolific shedder, the Goberian makes a wonderful family pet. It has a sweet temperament and an extremely unique look that combines the winter fortitude and toughness of the Siberian Huskee with the goofy nobility of a Golden. That’s it for my super subjective list. I hope you enjoyed the cuteness buffet of the day. Keep checking back for more adorability and helpful pet information!    

Image Credit  So I was feeling a bit too manly this morning, and simply had to lower my testosterone by staring at adorable kitty cats. I figured It’d be in bad taste to take this androgynous journey alone, and have thus decided to bring you my personal list of the 5 most fluffy, quirky, and squeal worthily adorable cats on the internet. Maru Maru is the original kitty gangster. His main claim to fame includes his exploits of trying to fit into small boxes, usually by way of a running start. His YouTube Channel is one of the most popular in all of Japan, and his successes have been well documented in his photo book succinctly entitled: I am Maru. Somehow the fact that he’s Japanese makes him that much cuter. Now look at his adorable fluffy face, and feel the aggression flow right out of you. Tardar Sauce (aka grumpy cat) You can just call her Tard for short. This cat is notorious for its disapproval of any and everything it comes across. The unique looking frown on her face is due to a facial abnormality similar to an under bite. One of nature’s happy accidents has turned this cat into the ultimate visual response to any text message from your spouse that might suggest an activity you aren’t immediately excited about.  For example, say your significant other suggests a movie you don’t want to see. You can send her this:   Lil Bub Another facial abnormality that resulted in unconscionable cuteness, Lil Bub is the world’s most famous feline space traveler. With a misshapen jaw, no teeth, and only six claws Lil Bub makes your heart simultaneously squirm with love and sympathy. But don’t feel too bad, Lil Bub has ridden her unique looks and lolling tongue to superstar status. She has books, highly viewed YouTube videos, movies and TV appearances, even her own talk show. She is a harmlessly unstoppable marketing monster, and I can’t stop trying to reach through my screen to try and scratch her head. Here’s a picture of Lil Bub rubbing noses with Tard. Behold the glory of two famous internet cats.   Sam the Cat with Eyebrows He always looks so concerned.  Sam is a cat with distinctive markings above his eyes that look very much like slanted eyebrows, resulting in a look of perpetual worry for his master’s wellbeing. Perhaps if he weren’t so active on social media, he’d have less troubles. Sam’s Instagram account has over 100,000 followers, and he also has a very active Twitter profile, where he details his day to day worries of napping, and getting into precarious situations. Pusheen Despite being animated, Pusheen is possibly the cutest cat to ever grace the cover of a web comic. This fiercely fat cat is determined in most of her endeavors, but none more so than her insatiable quest for pie. Her ultra-popular web comic has driven tons of traffic to her famous website: Pusheen.com, and has made author, Claire Belton, a mint in merchandising, and book sales. This precautious feline is sure to brighten even the dreariest day with her overactive imagination and quirky adventures.   So there you have it those are the cutest kitty cats on the internet. I hope you’ve enjoyed this post. Let me know if there are any adorable internet cats that I’ve missed!

  Welcome back to the Petbucket blog’s discussion of pet obsessions. Last time we cited some statistics and anecdotes about the rising trends of pet obsessions. Today, we’ll be going forward with the conversation, and discussing the point at which pets go from being beloved companions to dangerous fixations. Dangerous Obsessive Behavior The only time an infatuation with one's pet can be classified as a pet obsession is when either the owner's or the animal’s mental/physical health is at risk as a direct result of the owner’s action or inaction. When this becomes the case, people are often negligent in regards to the pet’s (or their own) deteriorating state. Some examples of this kind of dangerous behavior are as follows: Preferring the company of a pet to that of a loved one, family member, or a close friend. Spoiling a pet to the point where it’s behaving in a destructive or inhospitable manner. Feeding the pet unhealthy foods because they "like it." An inability to recognize when an owner’s behavior is causing discomfort for a pet or surrounding humans. If owning a pet is alienating someone from the community around them, then they’re missing the point of pet ownership. Often people will feel that their pets are an acceptable alternative to regular social interaction, and truthfully it can be very thereputic. However, when the only source of affection in a perosn's life is coming from an animal, it’s simply not psychologically healthy behavior. In certain cases, a simple case of obsession can lead to much more extreme conduct. Animal Hoarding   This terrible and debilitating psychological disorder can have drastic consequences for the health of pet owners and the pets. Worst of all, the victims of this disease don’t realize that they’re doing anything wrong. They simply can’t recognize their own inability to care for all of the animals that they are keeping in captivity.     Gross cases of animal hoarding have been recorded where hundreds of cats or dogs have been confined in a single household with a very finite and enclosed space. Often animal hoarding is accompanied by symptoms of general Hoarding, in which people cannot bear to throw out any of their trash. So imagine if you will, a single split level home, with 89 cats living in it, entire rooms dedicated to rotting produce, and not a litter box in sight. Not exactly a pretty picture.   What to do? Unfortunately, when dealing with a psychological fixation of any kind, the only thing that will help is psychiatric assistance. This can be both costly and ineffective, which is not the best combination. Results with therapy for obsessions can vary quite wildly. And in the case of Animal Hoarding, the behavior is very likely linked to some deep seeded psychological trauma. Animal hoarders, when diagnosed, are almost never completely cleared of their conditions. It’s a lifelong obsession that must be continually combatted, and cases of full recoveries are very rare indeed.   If you ever notice anyone engaging in this sort of destructive behavior it’s very important that you seek to provide them with psychiatric assistance as soon as possible. You can help save dozens of animal lives, and help the person begin working toward their own recovery. And of course, if you see anyone obliviously endangering the health of their pets, you are obliged to take action.   That’s all for this week’s postings. Check back more for  helpful information about this and many other pet related topics. 

  You know what phrase drives me crazy? “Pets are people too.” No they’re not. They’re pets. Would you scold a person for taking food off of the table? Would you ever clean up a person’s feces from your living room floor, and then lovingly pat him or her on the head? Of course not. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a time and a place for pampering. Wanting to show your dog an inordinate amount of love and spoiling it rotten are fairly harmless vices. It’s the point at which you show them preferred treatment over humans that the line starts to blur. Pets are loving and valued companions but when you start treating them like people, you’ve crossed a line into crazy town. Yet never has this phenomenon been more common in today’s culture. Pet obsessed people are a dime a dozen and growing more prolific with every passing moment. Today we’ll look at this growing trend of the pet obsessed.   A perfect example of pet obsession that perhaps went a bit far happened recently in the news. A man saved his 9 year old Jack Russell Terrier from a sinking ship, swimming it safely to shore. Then he went back for his wife, whose safety line had apparently been snagged. Let that sink in a moment. I don’t know about all of you readers out there, but if I’d left my lady in a perilous position while paddling my pooch to safety, I’d be the one in peril when I went back for the second pickup. To be fair, the couple has declined to comment, so the extent of the danger the wife was in is somewhat unclear. Still, you can see the kind of mixed up level of priorities that pet obsession can create. Rising Trend of Human/Pet Involvement Now more than ever, pets are becoming major parts of a majority of households. According to a survey by Kelton Research, 81% of American pet owners think of their pets as full-fledged family members. 58% say that they are their pet’s mommies or daddies. As creepy as it is, I count myself among that 58%. And over half of Americans admit to talking more about their pets than they do about sex or politics. Politics I get, but more than sex? I’m glad I’m not part of that statistic. Another survey conducted by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association said that pet ownership in America is also at an all-time high, with an estimated 71.1 million people owning either cats, dogs, or both. There is also a huge amount of money, over 41 billion dollars, being spent on pet products and healthcare on an annual basis. These numbers, while not particularly ominous on their own, do indicate a rising trend of care and treatment of pets within recent years. So at what point does some harmless pampering spin out of control to become potentially damaging or dangerous behavior? Check back next time to find out when a pet obsession crosses the line and becomes physically or socially damaging.  

  Exotic pets come in two varieties: 1. Awesome and ill advised or...  2. Quirky and uncommon I’m talking about the difference between a razorback warthog, (pretty cool, but it will probably gore and eat you) and a ferret (aaaww! It got into my sock drawer, that’s adorable!) Last week, we covered the former and described some of the more carnivorous, crazy, and cringe inducing exotic animals that people will misguidedly try to domesticate. Today, we’re going to take a look at some of the cuter, more cuddly, and easy to coexist with animals in the same category.  So let’s not waste any time, and get straight to it with the top 5 exotic pets of the safe and friendly variety.     1. Fennec Foxes Now that’s more like it, a little dog like creature that can use a litter box, and has supremely adorable ears. Where do I sign? Seriously though these critters make excellent pets, and will fit into an enclosure fit for a large family of ferrets. They are desert dwelling creatures, usually weighing between 1.5 and 5 lbs. They’re easily trainable and similar to dogs in most respects. So go ahead and squeal with joy at the Fennec-y cuteness.     2. Hedgehogs So long as you don’t paint it blue and put a pair of sneakers on your hedgehog, it should make a pretty solid pet. If you do, it’s likely to develop super speed and make enemies with an egg shaped scientist. Hedgehogs are basically just spiny hamsters. They can learn a few commands through positive conditioning, but not at the level of a dog or cat. They’re cute and friendly so long as they’re handled with care. They’re shy little fellows so don’t be too aggressive in your interactions with it. Just be loving and comfortable, and watch its adorable personality unfold.     3. Potbelly Pigs While you shouldn’t expect it to either talk or be especially proficient at herding sheep, you might want to hold off on thinking of pigs only for their delicious meat… Mmm, bacon. These “miniature” pigs can grow to be around 125 pounds, and they are prone to obesity, so make sure to purchase a treadmill and a fishing pole with a carrot on it (fun for the whole family to enjoy!) They’re very smart animals and can be trained to perform a number of tricks. They can be kind of high maintenance though, so do your homework before deciding to bring one into your home.   4. Sugar Gliders Tiny. Flying. Freaking. Squirrels. Do you really need more explanation than that? These small airborne rodents will bond with you by sleeping in a pouch you can carry around your neck. This is probably my personal favorite on this list. And look at their faces (they're in the top picture)! Sugar Gliders are unbearably cute.     5. Wallabies I think I’ll get a farm, buy one of these, a Galapagos turtle, and a cow that’s been raised by wolves so that I can reenact scenes from Rocco’s modern life. Yes, it’s a good plan. These smaller cousins to the kangaroo aren’t nearly as dangerous and their bigger brethren, though they do need about as much room to run around. Don’t even consider owning wallabies if you haven’t got a large yard with a high fence.   That’s all for our list of awesomely exotic pets. Check back next time for more interesting and fun articles about your favorite furry companions. 

Keeping and training a strange or unique animal always sounds fun. I think everyone at one point or another during childhood thought it would be fun to raise a wolf pup, ride a zebra, or train a python to guard their house. No? Just me? Well, I had an overactive imagination. Either way, as an adult, I’ve come to realize the folly of this logic. Even potty training a domestic animal can be a challenge, how exactly to you get a chimpanzee to learn its way around a toilet? Yes large primates and anything that might get it in its head to tear off your limbs and beat you to death isn’t going to make the best animal companion. But not all exotic pets are dangerous beasts. Today’s post is a list of some of the best and worst uncommon animals you might consider domesticating. Dangerous or Difficult Pet Choices 1. Big cats- While you might think owning an ocelot is pretty cool-- and you’re right, it totally is—the fact remains that large felines look at you as a meal that provides other meals. When it comes to exotic pets, it’s best to avoid anything that can crush you with its jaws or cut your arteries into ribbons with their claws. Try not to look at Mike Tyson as a role model, and stick with your garden variety house kitties.   2. Large/poisonous snakes- Pythons are surprisingly popular pets. And they are interesting looking reptiles. They’re great conversation starters, and they hardly ever eat anyone you care about. Unfortunately, most of them do grow to at least 10 feet long. Which is more than enough space to fit you in their bellies. Consequently, when they get that big a lot of pet owners decide to dispose of them. Which is why they are currently battling out with alligators to see who will be the apex predator of the Florida Everglades. Cue low budget sci-fi movie franchise. 3.Wolf dogs-So in case you weren’t aware, Wolf dogs are dog/wolf hybrids, like White Fang or Balto. These noble Jack London character canines are truly beautiful, and truly terrifying. They are responsible for more deaths and injuries than any other breed except pit bull terriers and Rottweilers, both of whom are about 10 times as populous. They’re big, strong, vicious, difficult to train, and extremely independent and fierce. Not exactly a winning combination when it comes to families with children.   4.Scorpions- What kind of games are we playing here? You want a poisonous arachnid that looks like it was built for death as a pet? Have fun with that. Of course, not all breeds of scorpion can kill you, but every single one can ruin your day with a sting. This is the least dangerous on our list, but still plenty trouble for an underprepared pet owner. 5.Primates-So Chimpanzees get to be about 150 lbs when full grown. However, they probably have the strength of a 500 lb man. Also they like to attack the face, fingers, and genitals of anything that they feel is a threat. And don’t get me started on the hygiene issues. Oy vey. Smaller primates aren’t as dangerous, but are just as much trouble. They’re thieving, mischievous, and dirty. So if you want to keep your kitchen (and face) free of feces, I’d recommend getting a ferret.   As you can tell, there are plenty of difficult and dangerous animals in the exotic pet arena. However there are some completely appropriate choices as well. Check back next week for an exploration on the safer side of exotic pets.