Cats are funny animals that’s half the reason Youtube exists and they’re funny because so much of what they do seems inexplicable.

Partly this is because, even after thousands of years of domestication, cats have retained many quirks and instincts that made more sense in the wild than they do in your living room. Here are some of the behaviors that your cat may display, where they come from, and what they mean (if anything) about how your cat is feeling.

1. Kneading

Most cat owners have seen this behavior; your friend may spend several minutes idly pawing at the carpet, or couch, or bed, as if he’s making biscuits (as it”s commonly called). There are several reasons for this behavior: wild cats will knead the grass where they bed down for the night, which serves a double function it evens out the nest for a comfortable sleep, and it also stimulates scent glands in the paw pads that mark the area as occupied. Kittens will also knead on their mother’s abdomen to stimulate milk glands, and just like other domesticated animals, cats tend to carry more juvenile behaviors into adulthood than their wild cousins. When your adult cats knead, you know that they’re comfortable, happy, and feeling at home.

2. Bringing You a Dead Animal

While this is one of their more unpleasant behaviors your cat might exhibit, it actually has an encouraging meaning. Your cat has likely noticed that you don’t stalk and hunt like she does, so she may bring you a dead animal as if to say, Look, this is how it’s done; the same way she might do with her own kittens when she’s teaching them to hunt. Alternately, this behavior may be a sign of social cohesion, demonstrating her value to the group by presenting a contribution to the group leader (you). While the latter explanation is a better ego-boost, either one means that your cat is trying to be helpful.

3. Chasing a laser pointer

One of the most charming cat behaviors is their fascination with laser pointers; they’ll stalk that little red dot up and down walls and all across the house. It turns out that it’s nothing to do with the light, but with the type of movement. Cats instinctively interpret erratic movements objects that rapidly change direction and speed as a sign of life; and in the wild, anything as energetic and spry as your laser pointer might taste pretty good if they could just catch it. For the same reason, cats are often fascinated by springy toys inanimate objects in the wild don’t behave that way, so the toy appears life-like. The fact that cats will do this over and over without ever catching their prey suggests that either their hunting instinct is so strong as to overpower their sense of futility, or they eventually learn that it’s a game and just enjoy the practice.

4. Meticulous self-grooming

Your cat can spend much of its day licking its fur and sharpening its claws (hopefully on a designated scratching post). Many cat owners assume that their cats simply prefer to be clean; but that’s only half the answer. Scratching does little to sharpen a cat’s claws, but it does provide a satisfying stretch that stimulates the same scent glands that release during kneading. Licking fur fulfills the same purpose; it stimulates the glands that produce the cat’s marking scent while removing foreign smells. Both of these behaviors are not so much about cleanliness as about marking territory. In the wild, a cat can simply claim turf by urinating on it, but that’s frowned upon in human society, so the cat grooms and scratches as a compromise, asserting herself in a way that is less offensive to her human housemates.

Tiffany Gantt is a staff writer for VideoBash, a great source for funny videos for cat lovers. She lives with her husband in Katy, Texas, and loves spending time with her two cats, Milo and Sammy.

Diabetes is when the pancreas cannot produce enough natural insulin to prevent glucose levels from rising in your dog’s system. If the levels of glucose get too high, they will leak into the kidneys and cause infections and eventually lead to other internal problems.

Symptoms of Dog Diabetes

There are a number of symptoms to keep an eye out for when dealing with diabetes. The most obvious symptoms include:

• Frequent urination
• Excessive water consumption
• Lethargy and lack of energy
• Cataract formation
• Weight loss or gain

The most common symptoms are frequent urination and excessive water consumption. This is because excess glucose in the body cannot process normally in the bloodstream. Your dog’s body will then try to rid the glucose through urination. This in turn causes extreme thirst, which starts the vicious process all over again.

Treatment of Dog Diabetes

Treatment for dog diabetes includes:

• Spaying Females. Female dogs are more susceptible to diabetes than males. Lots of owners choose to spay their dogs to help balance hormone levels.
• Insulin shots. When your dog has diabetes, his natural production of insulin from the pancreas is low. Insulin shots are given and need to be monitored properly to avoid a low blood sugar crisis.
• Diet. Diet is extremely important for diabetic dogs. A good diet is beneficial because it decreases your dog’s dependency on insulin, controls sugar and carbohydrate levels, and helps your dog to lose weight.?Exercise. It is important to keep your dog active during diabetes. This will help maintain weight and keep diabetes under control.?Supplements. There are many different supplements available to help along with treatment and diet. Some of these supplements include vinegar, vitamin E, cinnamon and Chromium.

Always take your dog to the veterinarian if you suspect he may have diabetes. Diabetes can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis and organ failure if left untreated. Once diabetes has been diagnosed in your dog, it’s time to begin treatment. It is important to follow a strict treatment plan to best suit your dog’s case of diabetes. Treatments are different for each dog. Talk to your veterinarian about the best options for your dog’s specific case of diabetes.

To learn more about canine diabetes, symptoms, treatment options and more, visit www.dogdiabeteshelp.com

Like humans, dogs are susceptible to dehydration, overheating and sickness due to the sun and heat.  Espree Animal Products encourages pet owners to take the following precautions to ensure the safety of their dogs this summer:

• Dogs, like people, should not be out in the heat of the day without proper shade and adequate water.
• Dogs can get sunburned, especially on the nose, ear tips and any spots with exposed skin.  Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out in the sun with your dog.
• You can trim your dog to be cooler in the summer, but do not expose their skin.  Do not shave your dog’s coat, because it can lead to sunburn and skin cancer.  A dog’s coat actually provides insulation from the sun and heat.
• Paw pads can be sensitive to hot pavement, so try to avoid.  Paw Balm may help soothe and condition burnt or cracked pads.
• Dogs may be bathed monthly in the summer months or up to once a week, if needed.
• If a dog’s face gets dirty between baths, use a facial wash for quick cleaning.
• Dogs should be bathed after swimming in salt water or a swimming pool to avoid drying the skin and coat.
• Dogs with continually growing hair, such as Shih Tzus and Poodles, need to be groomed every four to six weeks.

Choose your dog’s shampoo based on its needs:
o   Tea Tree or Oatmeal Shampoo for irritated skin
o   Bright White Shampoo to brighten up those whites
o   Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo for dogs with sensitive skin and allergies
o   Puppy Shampoo for a gentle tear-free bath

Espree manufactures a blend of natural and organic pet grooming solutions that are both safe and effective. As the preferred product for professional groomers for 22 years, Espree provides a solution-specific line with more than 75 different products created for the well-being of the pet, their devoted human and the professionals who care for them. Espree’s products are distinguished by their contents – natural and organic ingredients that are gentle and safe. The company has grown steadily because of its expertise and innovation in the development of pet grooming products.

Espree serves customers throughout Europe, Asia, Canada and the U.S.  Pet owners and groomers can find Espree Animal Products at PETCO stores nationwide or at www.espree.com.