Pipsqueak's big adventure! Pet hamster dragged through catflap by predatory puss is found hiding 100 yards away... in pest controller's home!

By EMMA REYNOLDS

Rodent's return: Delighted Callum Chalkley, eight, is reunited with his pet hamster Pipsqueak

When a family's pet hamster went missing and they found his cage ripped open by a cat, they feared the worst. But adventurous Pipsqueak had escaped the clutches of the predatory puss and run down the street to find refuge.
The Chalkleys were amazed when the brave furball turned up in the most unlikely of hideouts - a pest controller's garage.
Eight-year-old owner Callum had given up hope of seeing his hamster again when he went missing from the family home in Clifton, Herts.
But the Siberian hamster, had wriggled free from his feline abductor's claws and raced down the main road, dodging traffic and the dangerous presence of six more cats and a dog.

Callum said: 'A cat got Pipsqueak in his mouth and took him outside, but he escaped out of his mouth and did a runner.
'Pipsqueak is really friendly. I was really upset when he went missing and I am pleased to have him back.'
'He is a really nice man who brought Pipsqueak home to me.'
Callum, his mother Sarah and estate agent father Chris, 35, realised Pipsqueak was missing when they found a cat had broken into his cage on January 12.
They searched their home and believed poor Pipsqueak must have been killed when they could not find him.

Found: Pest controller Stuart Lazenby spotted the creature in his garge just up the road from the Chalkley's home

Mrs Chalkey, a 41-year-old healthcare assistant, said it was clear from the damage to Pipsqueak’s cage that he had been attacked by a cat.
'My husband accidentally left the inside door open, so we think a cat came through the cat flap and got him,' she said.
'There are at least half a dozen cats in the area and one of our neighbours has a dog so it is amazing that Pipsqueak survived.'

Suspect: Jessie the cat, who lives with Callum, is one of the felines who may have dragged Pipsqueak from his comfortable cage

But two days later pest controller Stuart Lazenby, 40, who lives 100 yards down the road from the family, knocked on their door with Pipsqueak in a bucket.
He said: 'I was in the garage and I heard a noise and thought it was a cat, but when I looked down I saw a little white Hamster.
'It is lucky my wife was walking past at the right time and heard two mothers talking about a hamster in the playground. And lo and behold it was Pipsqueak.
'I think I got there just in time or the cat would have eaten him.'

source: dailymail

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The ultimate cat scan! 'My kitten alerted me to my cancer because she kept jumping on my breast'

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Talented: Fidge's owner is convinced she sniffed out her cancer

A woman claims her pet cat saved her life - by alerting her to her breast cancer when she was just a whisker from death.
Wendy Humphreys, 52, was bemused when her black-and-white kitten Fidge leapt up and sat on her right breast every night for two weeks while she lay on the sofa.
She went to her GP and was told she had a cancerous pea-sized lump in her breast - which would have killed her if left undiagnosed.

Life-saver: Wendy Humphreys of Wroughton with her cat Fidge who she said detected her breast cancer

The brave mother-of-two is now set to have the breast removed after undergoing chemotherapy and says she owes her life to her 10-month-old kitten.
Wendy said: 'I just couldn't believe it because I didn't think cats were capable of that - I thought it was only dogs.
'Dogs can diagnose epilepsy and can tell when someone's going to have a fit.'
Animals detecting cancer is not unusual as it first sounds. In 2011, German researchers discovered that dogs could sniff out lung cancer from breath samples of sufferers.

It’s believed that cancers produce volatile chemicals that dogs can be trained to smell, which could have dramatic implications for early diagnosis of the disease.
Wendy is convinced Fidge has a similar talent.
She said: 'She saved my life, definitely. No hesitation at all. I was told that if I hadn't been diagnosed when I was I could have died because of the hormones in the menopause. 'I am the first one in my family to have breast cancer. I am so glad I got her.' Wendy and husband David, who have been married for 32 years, got Fidge in May last year when she was eight-weeks-old.

source: dailymail

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He's no scaredy-cat! Angry feline who took on an alligator

By MIKE O'BRIEN

Menacing: The cat and the alligator faceoff over a pile of tasty chicken at a wildlife park in New Orleans

It looks like a good way for this cat to become a tasty snack.
But when the bold feline decided to take on an alligator in New Orleans, he came out remarkably intact. He chose to take on the reptile at an wildlife park just as it was trying to eat some chicken, and began raining blows on its snout.

Growl: The gator flashes its bone-crushing jaws but the cat remains gloriously unimpressed

Tourists on a Cajun Pride Swamp Tour, looked on stunned as the moggy took offence to an alligator trying to eat some chicken.
It begins with the cat firing off three right jabs before the gator steps back to flash its most menacing stare down ever.
After the tense face off, the gator moves forward, grabs a piece a chicken and wham! gets a right hook straight in the mouth.

Oh no you don't: The cat tries to intercept the beast grabbing at the chicken

As the 'living fossil' twists its head and picks up more meat, the cat unleashes three left hooks in quick succession.
The American alligator can weigh up to 800lbs and grow to 13 feet, but our fluffy fighter didn't care for facts and figures - it simply didn't like the ugly beast.
Sitting bolt upright, its ears went back and it started hissing.

Smack! It fires off a fearsome right hook as the gator moves in for the kill

The gator tried coming at the chicken from a different direction, the cat threw an overhand right, the dazed gator sheepishly retreated into the water and ding! ding! ding! the fight was over.
The cat may be the bravest or most stupid you've ever seen and a cynic may argue that the gator has been trained not to attack.
But who's ever heard of a trained alligator?



source: dailymail

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Pictured: The terrified tomcat speared through his torso by an arrow

By LEE MORAN

Injured: Cupid the ginger cat was shot with a crossbow but miraculously survived after it did not hit any of his vital organs

A terrified tomcat roamed the streets for several days - with an arrow pierced through his torso. The ginger moggy, now dubbed Cupid, was speared by a bolt that tore right through his muscles and one shoulder blade.
Miraculously the stray survived because it did not hit any of his vital organs.

Painful: Cupid was treated at the Brittmore Animal Hospital and will now be put up for adoption

Residents in east Houston, Texas, took him to Brittmore Animal Hospital so the weapon could be removed.
He is now recuperating at animal rescue group Purr Paws, who has said he will be put up for adoption once he is fully fit.
The group's Trudy Bennett told KHOU-TV: 'It was just a shock to see the arrow – it went totally through his body. 'My worst fear is some parent gave their kids bow and arrows for Christmas, and they’re out there not knowing what they’re doing without any training, and this is the result.

Terrified: Cupid roamed the streets for several days until he was taken to a vets to be treated

'He was terrified. The fact that he’s still trusting people – because, you know, cats usually take a little bit of time to trust people.
'And he went through a whole lot, and he’s still trusting and loving. He just wants to be loved on.'



source: dailymail

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Trapped on the miaow-torway! Pet cat spends 24 hours on a road sign 50ft off the ground

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Scaredy cat: The moggy was perilously perched on a 50ft traffic sign above a busy motorway for 24 hours

A curious cat used up all of its nine lives after getting stuck on a 50ft-high traffic sign above a busy motorway.
Police and animal lovers launched a major rescue operation after the puss spent 24 hours trapped on the sign alongside the M4.
Traffic officers set up a rolling roadblock as a crane was brought in to reach the frightened moggy.

Scaffolder Hugh Norville, 47, who went up in the crane lift, said: 'I was shocked when I saw him up there - you certainly don’t expect to see a cat perched above the M4. 'But we couldn’t have just left him up there. He was cold and scared, he could have died, I wasn’t going to let that happen.'
Brave Hugh climbed onto the concrete sign platform at Briton Ferry, near Swansea, armed with a tin of cat food to tempt the pet down.

Cat's-eye view: How the moggy got up there remains a mystery. He is now back safe with his owner

He said: 'He was well-looked after - what made him climb onto the sign is a complete mystery. 'But whoever owns him should re-name him Lucky because he’s used all his nine lives up in one go.' The cat was handed over to the RSPCA who returned him to his relieved owner today. A spokeswoman said: 'The cat was well and truly stuck - but everyone pulled out all the stops to bring him down. 'It just just goes to show what a nation of animal lovers we are.'

source: dailymail

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Paws for thought: Meet Fred and Ned, the cats with an astonishing 54 TOES between finally find a loving home together

By CLAIRE BATES

Super-sized paws: Fred (left) and Ned (right) are currently being cared for by the Cats Protection in Gosport

You'll need to be careful when playing with these black and white kittens - because they have an extra 18 toes (and claws) between them.
Fred and Ned are known as polydactyl cats. While most felines have 18 toes, Fred has an extra 10 digits and Ned has eight.
The four-month-old pair are currently being looked after by Cats Protection in Gosport, Hampshire.

Unfair advantage? A feather toy stands no chance against Ned (left) and Fred

Branch volunteer Kate Stapleford said: 'These two kittens were in poor condition when they arrived but with veterinary attention and a lot of TLC from their fosterer, Fred and Ned are now thriving.
'The funny thing is they seem to be able to hold on to toy balls better than other kittens and yet their grip is not as good when climbing. They are two bold and fearless boys so we are delighted to say that they have found a new home together.'

The kittens are fighting fit after arriving at the sanctuary in poor condition

Most cats have four toes on each back paw and five toes on each front paw.
Ms Stapleford added: 'Fred and Ned are special in that as well as extra toes on the front paws, Fred has extra toes on his back paws.
'Our vet said he'd never seen that in 40 years in practice.
'Although they look a little unusual, the extra toes do not affect their health in any way and we know they will make the perfect companions for their new owner.'
She added: 'There is a legend among sailors that polydactyl cats used to be ship's cats and the extra toes helped them climb the rigging.
'It's a nice story, but these cats do not have a greater climbing ability. It's neither an advantage or a disadvantage - just an unusual quirk of nature.'

Brothers in arms: The kittens have extra digits due to a harmless genetic quirk

'Some polydactyl cats have just one extra toe on each paw but some can have two or even three extra on each foot.
'If a polydactyl cat has kittens, there is a good chance some of her kittens will also have the condition.'
Cats Protection has about 6,000 cats and kittens awaiting new homes at any one time. For details call 03000 121212.

source: dailymail

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Who’s a naughty kitty? Pet cat walking across cooker blamed for starting £250,000 blaze that destroyed two houses

By SUZANNAH HILLS

Tragic: Dora the cat, suspected of starting the blaze, died in the fire

Pet kittens have been blamed for sparking a blaze that burned down a young family’s home causing £250,000 of damage.
Fire investigators believe the tabby cats, Jesse and Dora, may have walked across a touch-sensitive hob in the kitchen - turning it on.
The cats’ owners, Reina and Andrew Ainscough, were visiting relatives for New Year with their young twins when the blaze broke out.
The fire ripped through their home and quickly spread to the neighbouring property in Lowton, near Leigh, Greater Manchester, amounting to £250,000 of damage.
The kittens both died in the blaze.
Mr Ainscough, 28, who runs a staffing agency with his wife, said: 'It’s just such a freak incident.

'They can’t be sure what caused it yet but it is possible it could have been the cats.'
The family are currently staying with relatives while the damage is assessed by insurers.
Their twin son and daughter, Kian and Darcy, had been due to start nursery in Salford, this week but their uniforms and clothes were destroyed.
Mrs Ainscough, 27, added: 'It was so lucky that no one was in the house at the time. It could have happened at any time and I’m glad we weren’t in.'

Roofless: Severe damage was caused to the roof

The fire quickly spread to the house next door, which was also unoccupied as the owners were in the process of selling the house, and had moved out just two days before the incident.
Firefighters stayed on the scene for around 12 hours but it is likely the entire building will still have to be pulled down.

Reina and Andrew Ainscough in front of their home gutted by a fire

Fire investigators said the cause was still to be determined but confirmed they were looking at the possibility one of the kittens had jumped on to the cooker and activated the hob.
Watch manager at Leigh Fire Station, Steve Patterson, said: 'Damage to both houses is extensive. I would think that the whole building will have to be torn down.'

Gutted: More than £250,000 of damage was caused to the Ainscough's home and their neighbour's property

source: dailymail

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Two kittens stuffed inside cat food bag and dumped in road are rescued... by a dog

By WIL LONGBOTTOM



Left for dead: Tipper and Skipper were thrown into a bag with several other kittens and dumped in the middle of a road



Two kittens stuffed inside a bag and cruelly dumped in the middle of a road were heroically rescued... by a dog.

Tipper and Skipper had been sealed inside a Meow Mix bag along with the rest of their litter and left in the street in Des Moines, Iowa.

The bag had been hit by a car, killing some of the kittens inside, when a passing dog came to their rescue, picking up the bag and carrying it home.



Saved: The vulnerable pair would not have survived if it were not for heroic dog Regan, who came to their rescue



Regan refused to stop whining to her owner until they had opened the bag, revealing the grisly contents and two seriously injured but still alive kittens.

Linda Blakely, from Iowa's Raccoon Valley Animal Sanctuary, told CBS: 'The instinct of the dog was to nurture and not kill the kittens.



Hero: Regan, pictured, passed by the dumped bag, picked it up and carried it home



'With all the blood some dogs would have responded to the scent. Reagan the dog is a hero.'

She added: 'When she reached in, the horror of these kittens covered in blood and guts quickly revealed that there were more that didn't make it.'

The two kittens were treated at the sanctuary and nursed back to health over three months. They are both now up for adoption



Safe: The two kittens have been nursed back to health and are now up for adoption



source: dailymail

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Now it's s*** my pets ruined! Animal lovers reveal the damage and destruction their beloved pets cause to their expensive property

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER



Dinner: This boxer dog decided to make a meal out of his owner's computer chair



It is said there is nothing like the unconditional love only an adorable pet can give you - just try remembering that when you get home from work and find your home resembles a war zone.

Hilarious images of torn up letters, chewed up furniture, ransacked gardens and graffitied windows have been collected and put together to form a website called S*** My Pets Ruined.

Created in March 2010, the website updates regularly with new pictures of the chaos and destruction caused mainly by dogs and cats while their owners' backs are turned.



Artist: This dog owner's window might be ruined, but she thinks it's 'pretty damn good for a dog'



And it is a moment almost every pet owner is only too familiar with - As Rover or Whiskers look up at you with those adorable eyes, innocently cocking their heads as if to say, 'What have I done?', you try to hold in your anger and rage as you survey the damage around you.



Green pawed: This cat decided to make its own kitty litter out of the house plant



The website was set up after the success of the similar site S*** My Kids Ruined, which was put together by exasperated mother Julie Haas Brophy from New York, after her son spilled a tub of black paint all over her rug.

After posting it on Facebook, it grew from there and has since been turned into a book.



Eating out: This tabby cat fancied an Italian for dinner and got more than it fair share of meatballs



View: He hadn't quite captured the art of pulling up the blinds so decided it would be best to go through them instead



Christmas come early: These pet dogs fancied creating a winter wonderland of their own



In a similar vein, the pets' version pictures are submitted by frustrated owners who have discovered some beloved item or place ruined by their equally as beloved pet.

As one dog owner, Joelle Para wrote on the Facebook site after posting her dog beside chewed up blinds: 'She's so precious though, so it's difficult to be mad at her. I still love her.'

Another dowg-owner wrote: 'I don't care what they tear up when they are so cute.'



Owner of seven-month-old Shih Tzu Abby said she takes her path of destruction outdoors: 'This poor shrub was unearthed and shredded before it even had a chance to get put in the ground'



Bedding: While lying among the cushions, this pet decided to take a chunk out of it as well and was caught red-pawed



What did I do?: Not content with ruining his own dog bed he thought maybe his owner's rug was good to go as well



source: dailymail

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The purrrr-fect present: Musical cats strike chord in 2012 calendar

By NADIA GILANI

Rocking out: Two cats strum out a tune on electrical guitars in a make-shift studio with an amplifier

These tow-tapping felines look like they are getting into the party spirit in a calendar that will make the purr-fect Christmas present for any cat lover.
Musical Moggs shows several cats getting into their groove as they turn their paws to playing a selection of different instruments.
In one picture, a pair of cool cats appear to be having a musical jam as they rock it out together on electric guitars.

Brass band: Three cool cats take a deep breath as they play a tune on horns

Another picture shows them turn to brass as they pump out a tune on a trombone and tuba.
A clarinet-playing cat pelts out a tune while his companion holds up the music for it to read, while in another photograph an accordion player appears to be lost in the music as it plays a piece pressing its paws on the keyboard while squeezing the box.

Team work: One cat plays the clarinet while another holds up music for it to follow

Another picture shows a ginger tom cat playing a saxophone while standing beside a neon sign for a jazz club.
Steve Bicknell, from Maverick Arts, which produced the calendar, used a friend’s cats to pose for the pictures, manipulated them on a computer to give the illusion that they are really playing instruments.

Squeeze box: A black and white moggy plays a tune using an accordion

He told the Sunday Express: 'We are very experienced shooting with cats and make sure they are not overworked.'
Maverick Arts, based in Pulborough, West Sussex, which specialises in publishing humorous calendars, greetings cards and children's books, has also produced a calendar called Ballroom Bunnies, featuring two rabbits performing an impressive range of dance styles.

Star quality: A cat poses as a classical musician as it plays the flute apparently on a stage

All that jazz: A ginger tom cat plays a saxophone while standing beside a neon sign

source: dailymail

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'Cause cats need iPads too: The adorable kitties getting into gaming

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Gone fishing: This kitten looks like she's getting the hang of it

There's no doubt the iPad has been a game changer.
For years cats have been languishing in gaming hell, forced to make their own fun with real toys. But not any more.
These days our feline best friends can get in on all the action. New iPad apps let our pets hone their mouse catching skills, trail fish in a pond or even compose music.

Making music: There's an impressive variation of games for felines

Pretty soon they wont need to go outside at all.
And as these adorable kitties show there's nothing we humans do that cats cant pick up and perfect in minutes.

Mouse trap: These two cats take it in turns to hone their mouse catch skills

They seem just as fascinated with the glow of the screen and the repetitive play as everyone else, adults, dogs, babies.
These days between apps for the kids and the pets it's hard to get a look in.
And now that they have their own games they'll probably get even more demanding.

Gap in the market: Cats have been saying they wish there was more to do in the suburbs for years

Pretty soon they'll be demanding their own iPads to check email and tweet while you're at work
Earlier this year Whiskas cat food launched three games aimed specifically at the cat market.
Soon most of us won't even be allowed a turn- we'll have to dig out the Super Nintendo.









source: dailymail

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Where's Larry when you need him? Prime Minister throws cutlery at Downing Street mice as moggy boycotts rat-catching duties

By EMILY ALLEN



Napcatcher: Larry apparently has no interest in catching rats, and spends most of his time asleep instead



Larry the Downing Street cat may have been brought in to catch rats but it appears the ministerial moggy may have to face a disciplinary.

The tabby, adopted from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home earlier this year, was expected to go chasing after rodents who have been seen scuttling in and around Number 10.

But David Cameron has resorted to throwing cutlery at mice because Larry has not been fulfilling his duties.



The Prime Minister was apparently witnessed throwing a silver fork at a mouse seen running across the floor during a dinner with Cabinet ministers last week, the Daily Telegraph said.

Downing Street aides have been growing increasingly concerned over Larry's apparent disinterest in keeping on top of the now growing rodent problem.



He was picked for the top job for his 'very strong predatory drive' and 'hunting instinct', but it appears these traits have fallen by the wayside now he has swapped London's mean streets for the cosy corridors of power.

Ministerial aides say Larry spends most of his time asleep or with his new female friend instead.

He has apparently caught just one mouse in the last few months.



Taking over: Larry wanders across the table in the Cabinet Room at No 10 but mice are not on his mind



Last week's fork incident was witnessed by Work and Pension's Secretary Iain Duncan Smith and Owen Smith, the Northern Ireland Secretary, who had been invited for dinner to discuss serious concerns over the economy in Europe.

On witnessing the mouse Mr Duncan Smith reportedly said: 'Where's Larry when you need him?' before Mr Cameron's failed attempt to slay the tiny trespasser.

Within hours of arriving at No 10 Larry had courted controversy by taking a swipe at ITV News reporter Lucy Manning when they tried to get him to pose for an item.

And he kept waiting reporters and photographers waiting for 45 when he was unveiled as the new pet because he was asleep.



Corridors of power: Larry was brought in for his great 'hunting instinct' but that seems to have disappeared



He'll have to fork out for a new one: David Cameron, left, threw a fork at a mouse during dinner at Downing Street in front of Iain Duncan Smith and Owen Smith as Larry has not been fulfilling his duties



The cat has also apparently covered the Prime Minister's suits with fur and has dug his claws in when sat on members of staff.

He's got a long way to go until he has the fierce reputation of Harry - Downing Street's first official moggy who arrived when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister.

The animal - who also served under John Major and Tony Blair - acquired a fearsome reputation after being falsely accused of killing a family of robins in the garden.



Social climber: Despite his dereliction of duties, the four-year-old tabby is very popular among No.10 staff



He was known to energetically catch the rats.

Despite Larry's failure to deal with the pest problem, Downing Street's newest resident has quickly become popular among the staff.

In between his frequent naps, the cat dines out not on taxpayer-funded meals - but dishes paid for by the Prime Minister's own staff.

With George Osborne clamping down on public spending, there is no room for a pet paid for by the public in No 10.



source: dailymail

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