Recently in Pets Category

Probably to the relief of most of you, my sojourn on Field Day is almost at an end. Tim will be back next week, complete with an impressive sun tan and probably still decked out in his holiday Bermuda shorts and flip-flops.

I felt I couldn't let my last day go by though without a final foray into the world of cats. Or to be more precise, cats and wigs.

So far I've given you nightmares over the weird world of owners adding hair to their feline friends. But Mr Poultry report has come up with something so much better.

'Til next time, Cat Chat chums, enjoy:

PS - If you feel you can welcome another Farmers Weekly blog into your life, feel free to pop over to mine. I promise I don't talk about cats there. 

Continuing the downward spiral in the quality of Field Day content in Tim's absence, I thought it only right and proper to continue the WoW (World of Whimsy) battle with Gob of the Wash.

He countered my effort yesterday with this little number over in his blog. I reckon we can do better than a dog dressed as a clown though, can't we dear readers?

Oh yes. Behold - it's a Friday Friesian:

Apologies to Field Day readers who've noticed I haven't been writing much on pets recently. Hopefully these two will make amends. Thanks to Paola for the picture of the extraordinarily cute Coco Bean (above) and Sahar for the one of Nutmeg (below). And yes, Nutmeg is what my cat's also called - that's why she emailed me it!

Judging by the contents of my email inbox this morning, anyone would think the silly season had started early. Looks like it could be a day of pet-related stories...

We've featured tales of the massive and the minute before (the Shire horse and the Jack Russell) but here are two very disparate dogs.

It's tiny terrier Rocky (who's just six inches tall) with his pal Bronx, a massive mastiff weighing in at 108kg. The pair are currently residing at Melbourne's Lort Smith Animal Hospital in Australia.

Maybe someone should enter them for the new series of Britain's Got Talent, which Simon Cowell is tipping a dog to do well in.

And thanks to cat-loving Field Day readers Emily and Mark, who alerted me to this standing cat video and the geriatric moggy terrorising posties in Yorkshire.

OK, I lied. I said that today would be a day of serious news but, frankly, I hadn't anticipated this. A swimming Persian.

Today is obviously a day of bizarre stories involving animals.

I've been sent three links. The first, a heartwarming story of a dog reunited with its young owner after five years (all together now: Aaaarrrhhh).

The second, a dog washing machine in Japan.

The third, a video of a man teaching an alpaca to surf in Peru. At least, it says he's been teaching it to surf - but it looks more like he's merely manhandled the poor creature onto the board, whereafter it's sat motionless and prostrate with fear until it gets the first available opportunity to leap off.

Tomorrow I'll be covering solely serious and sensible issues. Promise.

It's easy to have missed this year's Crufts, since the BBC axed its coverage of the show because of the inbreeding controversy (among the dogs, not the exhibitors).

You can see lots of photos from the event, which kicked off yesterday and runs until Sunday, on the Guardian and the Telegraph websites. You can also read about some of the continuing concerns about breeding in The Independent.

It's a shame it isn't on TV anymore. Still think it was one of my favourite TV moments - bumbling Ben Fogle trying to maintain a straight face while a dozen golden retrievers indulged in what can only be described as 'orgiastic' behaviour behind him.

Haven't had any readers' cute pet photos for a while, so couldn't resist this kitten. Thanks to Leigh Powell for sending it in. And remember Digger, the ineffably sweet dog owned by Julie Addyman? Well there's a picture below of him doing what he does best and what saw him acquire his name: at the controls of a digger.

Look at this poor puss - got her head stuck in a tin can. Luckily, the story had a happy ending.

I've posted a lot of dog-related stuff of late so here, just to redress the balance, is some cat news.

Firstly, I hear a book is going to be published this summer about the Plymouth cat which had a penchant for travelling on buses. Its working title is Caspar the Commuting Cat. Sadly, Caspar ended up getting killed on the road - but you can see BBC video footage of him here.

Secondly, a piece of research shows that cat owners are more likely to have degrees than dog owners.

Today's Farmyard Favourite is Tyke.

The photo was taken by Lucy Carnaghan of Chiddingly in East Sussex and shows him sheltering from the snow with Lucy's boyfriend, Tom Holt.

"Tyke is great, we got him three years ago in the summer. Sometimes he is a little tyke, hence his name, but all in all, he is a lovely sheepdog," she says.

It's not just cats that show ingenuity when they're after a free lunch - this is Spot helping himself to a nice barbecue sausage (Maisie is looking on, obviously hopeful of leftovers). Thanks to Tony and Lesley Hextall of Haywards Heath in West Sussex for sending me the photo.

Today's Farmyard Favourite is Pepper, a Labrador cross Japanese Akita who will be three in June.

"She loves playing with the frisbee, but it always ends up chewed to pieces," says Mandy Woodley from Slinfold in West Sussex.

Thanks to everyone who's sent me their 'farmyard favourites' photos. This adorable poll Dorset lamb (called Hazelbury Nutmeg) came from 12-year-old Amber Eden who lives near Chagford in Devon. Obviously the lamb, like the whole Eden family, is a keen supporter of Yeovil Town FC.

Cute pet time.

The dog above comes from Francis Pawle of Bruisyard in Suffolk. "Full of classic terrier traits, Piglet is an extremely energetic and bossy three-year-old Jack Russell cross," he says. "Originally a rescue dog, her typical day now involves chasing startled pheasants, mice or her own tail."

The cat below comes from Lizzy Collins of Weston-sub-Edge in Gloucestershire.

Today's cat is Boris.

According to owner Chris Archer of Hulland Ward in Derbyshire, Brois likes going for walks with the dog, climbing trees and roofs and anything else he can find that's dangerous.

"He's very friendly, but can't purr and sometimes likes to bite me," says Chris.

For fear of being accused of animal favouritism, I'm posting a cute cat and a cute dog photo today.

Felix (seen trying to help propagate some hyacinth bulbs) belongs to Chris and Pat Howland of Pagans Hill near Bristol.

Seeing as we're on a roll with pet photos, I thought I'd share this one with you. It was sent in by Maurene Morris and shows her son Michael and his hamster Bender (aka the Mad Mouse).

"We got Michael the hamster to replace his sister as she was going away to university - and for some reason our daughter thinks this is an insult," laughs Maurene from South Kyme Fen in Lincolnshire.

"On the night I took the photograph, Michael insisted on releasing Bender, thinking that it was hysterical to wind his mother up with a hamster running loose in the sitting room."

The photos of cats on bird tables has prompted a flurry of great pet pictures.

Thanks to Ian and Julia Hawley of Brentingby in Leicestershire for showing us this adorable pair.

It's Mr Toon (aka Toony) and black lab Bracken. 

Toony is a 16-year-old neutered tom who Julia's had since a kitten.

Apparently, he divides his time between mousing and snoozing - the latter preferably in a sunny spot in the garden or, in winter, on a bed.

"Although they are best friends, he is the boss of Bracken and the younger farm moggy, Tiger Frosty, who lives outside," says Julia.

"He can wrap my husband, Ian, round his little finger with his assorted demands for food, being let in, being let out, or getting the prime spot for a snooze on his lap. He is an affectionate and very individual little chap who is greatly loved!"

The picture below shows Toony after an obviously productive hunting session...

The world's oldest dog, a dachshund cross terrier, has died.

Otto had to be put down just short of what would have been his 21st birthday (making him 146 in dog years).

Devastated owners Peter and Lynn Jones from Shrewsbury have received condolences from the Guinness Book of Records, who gave the sausage dog his title last October. Otto had to be put down after he developed a stomach tumour.

Peter told the press: "It's devastating. He was like a son. My wife is still crying."

The couple put the dog's long life down to "plenty of love, plenty of good food and regular check-ups at the vet's".

The oldest dog of all-time, Aussie sheepdog Bluey, lived to 29.

There are pictures of Otto on the Daily Mail website.