celebrate shelter pet's day!

most of us are proud guardians of a shelter pet or two (or three, or four).  today the shelter pet project is promoting adoption by smashing the negative stereotypes associated with adopting from shelters, that our pets are every bit as lovable as any other.

if you have facebook go to the shelter pet project's page and upload your pet's photo and adoption story to their wall.  spread the word that love can be found anywhere, even behind cage bars.  (and that kind of love can be the best kind of all.)

geese again - this time it's vilas

the great goose-debate of 2010 - it's not over yet.  and now another park's feathered inhabitants may be on the chopping block as well.

bill lueders reports that there is growing discussion by the vilas park waterfowl advisory group of using lethal methods to control the park's goose population.

once again, the powers that be say they "want everyones' opinion" on the matter.  apparently we didn't hear us last may.  how's this?  HONK!  don't kill 'em!

mission impossible kittehs

bet we could get lucy to climb a wall, too....if there were donuts involved.

charges dropped against accused miami cat killer

tyler weinman was charged with the brutal killing of 19 cats in miami last year.

on thursday it was confirmed that the miami-dade police department have dropped their case due to a lack of scientific evidence.  they felt the circumstantial evidence was not strong enough to go to trial.

too bad for him the court of public opinion has already spoken.  

dogs smarter than cats?

a new study is saying that dogs are smarter than cats. really?

madcat managed to obtain a photo of the researcher who collected the data. i think we might need a second opinion on this one.

gud thing the jury's still out on science.

happee thanksgivingz!

be thankful.  be safe.  be nice to crazy uncle karl.  eat lots.  and invite kitty to give thanks with you - they're family, too.

pattycake kittehs!

if only our crew would play so nice...

kitty pilgrims!

because history is awesome and we can't help but love cute kittehs dressed-up here's a bunch of cats who would rather not be reenacting the first thanksgiving for our entertainment. 

but too bad.  we're the ones with the precious turkey giblets.  so there.

turkey day hours - we be closed

in observance of national eat-till-you-drop-day we will be closed this thursday, november 25th.

but don't worry, there's still plenty of time to pick up some thanksgiving day dinner for all the fuzzy ones in your life.  of all the things to be thankful for, nom is the best of all.

happy turkey day, folks.

kitteh snuggle pile

have a case of the mondays?  this outta cure it.

oh christmas tree, oh christmas tree....

how luvly iz yer branchez. (cuz i eated dem.)

the decorations are already going up and the trees are falling down.  before you grab a balsam fir or a utah pine we think you should consider another option, that of the feline fir variety.... a cat tree.

we've all seen what happens when a cat meets clark griswold's christmas tree.  it ain't pretty.

save x-mas.  get a cat tree.

new dog parks!

two new dog parks will open tomorrow on madison's east side - at demetral park and mccormick greenspace.

check em out! there's still plenty of time to get in some frisbee before the snow flies.

cat-man-doo bonito flakes swim into madcat

have a fish-fiend at home?  we do.  nikki madcat can't get enough of the stuff.
her new favorite is the big tub of cat-man-doo dried bonito flakes.  we take the top off and she dives right in. 

the flakes are extra-large, semi-moist and are full of nutritionally good stuff (taurine, omega-3s). though they kind of look like pencil shavings we hear they are much tastier than wood and lead. 

weapon of choice

oscar madcat sure loves that turbo scratcher:

afghanistan war hero dies in arizona shelter

a dog who survived wartorn afghanistan and a suicide bombing lasted only one weekend in a US shelter.

target saved the lives of countless soldiers when she stopped a suicide bomber from detonating himself within an army barracks.  she was hailed as a hero and brought home to america by sergeant terry young.

she was "mistakenly" killed at an arizona shelter on monday before her owner could claim her. 

this story is a tragic and heartbreaking example of why we need no kill.  now.

holy happycat!

good news, madcatters....

 the happy cat club adopted out 9 cats over the weekend!  that's 36 paws-a-leaping, 18 ears-a-twitching and 9 purrs-a-purring.

want to help keep their adoption streak going?  check out adoptable kitties here or come to madcat west next sunday to meet them in person.  want to be a fan?  support happy cat on facebook.

monster tree invades madcat west

we tend to be known for crazy trees. but this one takes the cake.

standing 8 foot, 6 inches tall, this handcrafted eight level cat tree by cat tree kingdom has all the favorite features of cat trees - scoops, flat levels, a tunnel and a bed, plus plenty of sisal and natural wood for scratching. definitely not for the faint of heart.

hit the jump for some pics of lucy madcat checkin it out!

thinkers jerky is here!

introducing plato's thinkers at madcat. it's like a real thick slim jim for your dog, but the ingredients are high quality, whole meats.


we've got 'em in chicken and duck flavors.

and why the name "thinkers"? they contain natural DHA and ginkgo biloba to help nourish brain function in your dog. i think plato would approve.

adopt a cat! reduced fees at DCHS all weekend

have mice?  want to be the next youtube sensation but lacking inspiration?  need a lap warmer for the cold months ahead?

adopt.  this  weekend the dane county humane society is reducing fees on all cats:  kittens are going for $20, adults for only $5.

take a chance on one.  it could be the best five bucks you ever spent.

the science of cat drinking - likely to blow minds

more evidence that cats are either totally insane or absolute geniuses:

"watching in slow motion reveals that cats of all sizes, from tabbies to tigers, have a very elaborate way of drinking. first, they move the tip of their tongue onto the surface of the water to flick the water up so that a little jet of liquid flies into the air. then, in a flash, they catch the jet in their mouth." 

of course.  why lap it up the normal way when you can be a water ninja?   it makes sense.  cats love to do things in their own way.  just like this guy.

gimme!

madcat cooper's got a case of the gimmes:

fo sho going to be the next david after dentist. is this real life?

a baby liger! can we keep him?!

if you're not familiar with them, ligers are pretty much the most awesome animal in the universe.  they are even cooler than narwhals. 

a safari refuge in south carolina is now home to two ligers, 4-week old aries and his big brother hercules. they will now rule over america with their iron claws.

bow down before them.  or you will be turned into a tigon.

threatdown: dogs!

remember the cougar sightings over the summer and the fear they were causing the local cattle-owners?  well now the family sedan shares their pain.

only it wasn't a big cat that mauled the mazda.  it was two dogs.

apparently they were trying to get at a kitty who had crawled up inside the engine.  the poor cat made it out ok but the car was quite shaken.

beastie bands are here!

so excited... these collars come in a ton of different designs. they're also super lightweight and comfortable for kittehs who aren't used to wearing a collar.

oscar madcat just had to have the skull and crossbones design.

stop by and check em out!

incredible embryonic animal pics

who cares how it's done (3-dimensional ultrasound scans, tiny cameras, computer rendering).  it's amazing!

check out the claws on that kitten.  kind of makes you appreciate kitty-mamas a whole lot more, huh?  yikes!

auto-tone D.O.G.G.Y

remember last year's auto-tuned kitteh mashup vid?  now there's a dog one.  he's not snoop d-oh-double-g but he could easily outsell t-pain. 

introducing ascenta feline omega 3

 madcat just got in a new salmon-free fish oil supplement - a great alternative for those who want all the benefits of omega 3s but without the salmon.

feline omega 3 is pure sardine, anchovy, and mackeral oil preserved with vitamin E (an antioxidant) and rosemary extract (an antioxidant known for its rejuvenating properties).

we recommend fish oil supplements frequently at madcat for a variety of skin and fur problems. but just like in humans, it's also great for heart health, an immune system booster, and joint functions.

missouri passes prop B!

and it wasn't easy.  with only a slim margin the anti-puppy mill bill passed against big time support that included the missouri veterinary medical assoc. and some vocal tea partiers.

there are still questions of how "responsible" breeders will lower their number of breedable animals down to only 50 (!) without any going to shelters but we doubt they'll have to worry about that for long.  the state has already proved that they care with their vote.  adopt and rehome.  it's the way to do it.

the word of the day is

vote.

find your polling place here.

penn. airport cats avoid death sentence

see, madison parks/USDA/anti-goose people?  when a group of animals becomes a nuisance on your property you don't always have to kill it.

some cats have taken up residence on the grounds of an airport that wants to avoid any plane-cat mishaps. rather than buying the farm the cats will be trapped, spayed/neutered and relocated to a real farm to live out their days.  all on the airport's dime.

now that's how you solve a problem and strengthen public relations.