Who’s smarter? Cat owners or dog owners?

According to a recent scientific study in the UK, cat owners tend to be smarter than dog lovers. (But you knew that, right?)

The study found that university graduates were more likely to prefer cats as pets — possibly because they work longer hours and require lower maintenance pets. Those with college degrees were 36 per cent more likely to have a cat than those without degrees, including dog-lovers.

Bristol University cat expert Dr Jane Murray, an expert in cat diseases, said, “The study has shown many common factors relating to cat and dog ownership, such as a garden and rural location, but it has also identified some notable differences. In particular, the difference in the level of education achieved by a household owning cats and dogs.”

The reason for this association is unclear. It is unlikely to be related to household income but it could be related to household members with longer working hours having less time available to care for a dog.”

Chris Laurence, veterinary director of the Dogs Trust and director of the Feline Advisory Bureau, doesn’t think dog owners should feel slighted. “The relationship between a dog and human is probably closer. If you’ve had cats and dogs, you’ll know that the cat owns you and not the other way round.”

[LINK: dailymail.co.uk]

I guess this is the feline version of wearing your heart on your sleeve…

Susan Boyle’s 11-year-old pedigree Turkish swimming cat, Pebbles, is no longer living with the Scottish singer. Since July, Pebbles has been living in Wanstead, East London, with retired accountant Pamela Eaton-Browne.

Eaton-Browne, 76, was asked to take her in by neighbor Alex Kadis, who works with Simon Cowell and is part of Boyle’s management team. She has two other cats, and is paid £4 a day to care for Pebbles.

Boyle has only seen Pebbles three times since last July. Reportedly, Pebbles was so spooked by her most recent visit that she hid beneath a wardrobe.

Eaton-Browne said, “I thought it would just be for a couple of weeks – but that was in July. The last time Susan came round Pebbles shot under a wardrobe and didn’t want to know.”

[LINK: mirror.co.uk]

If you’re a cat person, you only watch Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl for one reason: The kittens who star in the halftime show. In case you missed it, here’s Puppy Bowl VI’s halftime spectacular!

Which kitten was your fave?

Kittehs, wake up from your naps long enough to feast your eyes on this gorgeous Valentine’s Giveaway prize: a stylish, comfy, ultramodern cat bed from Neko Habitat! Retail value: $244.99.

Neko Habitat is a boutique pet furniture company. The company’s three lines of upscale pet beds include the Cradle, the Pan and the Wave and are elegantly designed with an ultramodern flair, are ruggedly durable and paired with vibrant color patterns. The beds combine sleek and eye-catching fabrics with exotic materials and stainless steel construction, engineered to deliver the perfect balance of quality, safety and a lifetime of durability. They are made in the USA.

You’ll have a chance to win the Pan design bed pictured above (sorry, the gorgeous cat doesn’t come with). This bed measures 24.75” x 18” x 4” and elegantly rests on two 13.25” stainless steel legs and is comprised of two 90 degree walls with a 1” lip. The 2.75” walls encompass a plush 3” rectangular reversible cushion that sits slightly higher, reinforcing its inviting allure by highlighting its proportions and generous 4” depth.

If your cat is having trouble getting her required 18-22 hours of sleep a day, this bed might be the solution!

Don’t forget to check out the Neko Habitat website and meet the resident Neko cats, Kobe, Tiger and Swoosh!

How to Enter

• Kittehs, leave a comment in the comment field of this post describing what you’d dream about if you got to sleep in a fabulous bed like this. Be sure to fill in the form with a Catster profile URL (or blog URL) and a valid email address so that we can contact you if you win.

Eligibility

• You must have a blog or a Catster profile. (Not a Catster? Join now, it’s free!)
  
• Only 1 entry allowed per household … but all cats within the household can collaborate on that single entry.

Entry Deadline

All comments entered before 11:59pm PT on Saturday, February 13th are eligible.

Winner Selection

The winner will be drawn at random (using random.org) and announced on Valentine’s Day.

Good Luck everyone!

“I wuv wuv wuv my fennec fox!”

Hey evrybuddy, Skeezix heer.

The Catster community was rocked this weekend with the news that Catster Superstar Rocky Ann had gone to the Rainbow Bridge.

She had been in poor helth due to kronik renal failure for some time, but in troo Rocky Ann spirit, she was a fighter until the vary end. She said good-bye at home, wrapped in pink Hello Kitty blankets and the love of her pawrents. The sound of a few thousand purrs from around the world gave RA the strength to leeve her pawrents and join her Frends Who Went Before at the Bridge.

Rocky Ann considerd each of her 6,663 Catster frends as a best frend. Rocky Ann just didn’t beeleeve you could ever have too many best frends. She loved pink (just like me!) and Hello Kitty, and politiks and strolling. In fakt, her pashun for strolling led her to create the Super Stroller groop on Catster. She even gave me the first thing to put on my stroller: a purrsonalized license plate!

Frekwintly a Daily Diary pick, Rocky Ann was also Catster’s Cat of the Day on September 5, 2006, and Cat of the Week on Valentine’s Day 2007. If there were a Queen of Catster award, RA would probly have won that, too!

Rocky Ann embodied the Catster spirit, and I always pikcherd her as a cheerleeder, waving pink poms, giving evrywun props and lifting up our spirits. Her enthooziasm and optimizm were infekshus.

And I’ll admit, I’ve always bin a little bit jellus of RA. She had her own pink Hello Kitty bedroom, and got lots of daily massages and had a fab wardrobe. She reely knew how to live the good life.

Rocky Ann’s best frend Samoa recently organized a Rocky Ann Catster Stroll to show support for her frum her Catster frends. If you haven’t yet joined the stroll, tag a photo “rocky ann” to pawticipate.

Rocky Ann, it’s hard to beeleeve yer gone. I’ll never be able to look at Hello Kitty or a peece sine without thinking of you. I hope you’ve got lots of YEOWW! Catnip toys to play with at the Bridge, and yer free of pane and discomfert. We’re sending lots of purrs to yer pawrents on this sad, sad day.

Readers, if you have memories of Rocky Ann you’d like to share, pleeze leeve a comment.

Today’s giveaway is a special Valentine’s Calvin Collar, suitable for both girlcats and mancats.

These special floof collars are named in memory of Catster Calvin, who was diagnosed with stomach cancer in September, 2009 and journeyed to the bridge on October 26, 2009.

A Calvin Collar is a special crocheted collar that features an emblem, charm or button on the front. These soft, easy-over-the-neck collars are for the special occasions in your kitty’s life, and hopefully you will be reminded of Calvin whenever your cat wears it.

The I Heart You Valentine Calvin Collar is made from varigated pink yarn and is edged in a white eyelash yarn. A pink resin heart shaped charm with red hearts completes the collar.

SIZE
Fits most cats unless they’re porkers.

Slips over the neck – approximately 2″ wide

This is an EXCELLENT prop if you want to shoot a festive Valentine photo of your cat. Most cats will tolerate a collar much more easily than a complete outfit.

** To minimize accidental strangulation, cats/dogs should always be monitored when wearing a collar of any kind. This collar is not intended to be worn outside. **

How to Enter

• Leave a comment in the comment field of this post telling us who you’d like to dress up for on Valentine’s Day. Be sure to fill in the form with a Catster profile URL (or blog URL) and a valid email address so that we can contact you if you win.

Eligibility

• No residency requirement.
  
• You must have a blog or a Catster profile. (Not a Catster? Join now, it’s free!)
  
• No more than 4 cats per household can enter.

Winner Selection

The winner will be drawn at random (using random.org) and announced before Valentine’s Day.

Good Luck everyone!

Today’s giveaway is a stylish “My Funny Valentine” collar and tie exclusively from Cat in the Clover.

The band and tie are made of cotton featuring cute red, white, and pink hearts. The cotton collar is a white on white design.

The band measures 14 3/4″ long x 1 1/4″ wide, and uses velcro closure at the back of the neck. Therefore, it fits a variety of neck sizes unless you’re a real porker.

This is an EXCELLENT prop if you want to shoot a festive Valentine photo of your cat. Most cats will tolerate a collar much more easily than a complete outfit.

** To minimize accidental strangulation, cats/dogs should always be monitored when wearing a collar of any kind. This collar is not intended to be worn outside. **

Girlcats, don’t worry — we have an upcoming giveaway for a girlie Calvin Valentine collar that you’re sure to love.

How to Enter

• Leave a comment in the comment field of this post telling us who you’d like to dress up for on Valentine’s Day. Be sure to fill in the form with a Catster profile URL (or blog URL) and a valid email address so that we can contact you if you win.

Eligibility

• No residency requirement.
  
• You must have a blog or a Catster profile. (Not a Catster? Join now, it’s free!)
  
• No more than 4 cats per household can enter.

Winner Selection

The winner will be drawn at random (using random.org) and announced before Valentine’s Day.

Good Luck everyone!