HERMAPHRODITE KITTEN TURNS AN OVERNIGHT SENSATION TO THE WORLD.

When Bellini the kitten was brought to the St Helen’s Adoption Centre of Cats Protection in the U.K., it was initially thought that the tiny 9-week-old cat was male. The cat was scheduled to be neutered, then it was discovered by a veterinarian at the facility that the kitty possessed both male and female genitalia. This marked a turn for the adoracle kitty that has captured the attention of people worldwide. In a press release on the Cat Protection website, manager Sonia Scowcroft noted how rare it is to see a hermaphroditc cat and stated. "I was pretty stunned, it’s so unusual," she said. "I have seen over 3,000 cats during my time at Cats Protection and only seen one other hermaphrodite cat." "Hermaphrodite – or intersex – cats do not frequently occur and, if they do, they are often tortoiseshell so Bellini is one of the more unusual cats to be found," Louise Waters of Cats Protection told petMD, who explained that it is something that develops when cats are in-vitro. Scowcroft also stated that while it will be impossible for Bellini to reproduce, he is an otherwise happy and healthy cat, despite a mild heart murmur. Waters added that each case with hermaphroditic cats is different and unique, so Bellini's new owners will have to check in with their vet to "ensure that s/he remains healthy." Luckily, Cats Protection was able to re-home Bellini alongside a littermate named Daquiri. Scowcroft pointed out that when it comes to assigning a gender, "it is up to his new owner to decide what they think is best." "Either way," Scowcroft said, "[Bellini] is an absolute cutie pie and will make a really lovely pet." read more www.petmd.com

Canine influenza transmitted to cats in Midwestern shelter.

It is called canine influenza, but an expert has confirmed that the virus that sickened a large number of dogs in the Midwest last year has now infected a group of cats in the region. According to Sandra Newbury, clinical assistant professor and director of the Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, has confirmed that the virus that sickened a large number of dogs in the Midwest last year has now infected a group of cats in the region. Sandra Newbury, in collaboration with Kathy Toohey-Kurth, virology section head at the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, recently tested multiple cats at an animal shelter in Northwest Indiana and found them positive for the H3N2 canine influenza virus. "Suspicions of an outbreak in the cats were initially raised when a group of them displayed unusual signs of respiratory disease," Newbury says. "While this first confirmed report of multiple cats testing positive for canine influenza in the U.S. shows the virus can affect cats, we hope that infections and illness in felines will continue to be quite rare." Feline cases previously reported in South Korea suggested that the virus -- which was not seen in the U.S. until 2015 -- was capable of making the leap from dogs to cats. However, just one cat tested positive for H3N2 on a single occasion in the U.S. last year. In that case, no repeated sampling was done because the sample was not known to be positive until long after the cat's symptoms had resolved.It now appears the virus can replicate and spread from cat to cat. "Sequential sampling of these individual cats have shown repeated positives and an increase in viral loads over time," Toohey-Kurth says, referring to the amount of virus found in any given sample.Cats that have contracted the virus in the shelter have displayed upper respiratory symptoms such as runny nose, congestion and general malaise, as well as lip smacking and excessive salivation. Symptoms have resolved quickly and so far, the virus has not been fatal in cats. Infected dogs may develop a persistent cough, runny nose and fever. Some dogs will show no symptoms, while others exhibit more severe signs of illness. The virus has been linked to some deaths in dogs, but most dogs recover with supportive care. Dogs and cats infected with canine influenza virus should be housed separately from other animals and precautions should be taken to prevent spread of the virus on hands and clothing.An H3N2 vaccine is now available for dogs, but no vaccine is currently approved or recommended for cats. Story from materials provided by University of Wisconsin-Madison

CAT FITTED WITH TITANIUM LEGS.

A 3-year-old domestic short-haired cat named Vincent, whose hind legs are high-tech prosthetics, may soon be leaping for the tops of couches, counter-tops, and other high places he'd like to visit.He can't jump just yet, but that shouldn't be far behind. "I anticipate that he’ll be jumping and doing really normal cat things very soon," said Mary Sarah Bergh in a press release. The veterinary orthopedic surgeon and professor from Iowa State implanted the cat's titanium legs and is in charge of his post-operative care. The cat's weight is supported by the titanium shafts, which go upward, inside his bones. Subsequent procedures will gradually lengthen his legs, and eventually they will be the length of a normal cat's hind legs.Because the shafts are exposed to the environment, Vincent needs to receive antibiotic spray treatments twice a day, but otherwise all systems seem to be go for the special feline. He'll be looking down from high places soon enough. story credit; discovery news.

2-LEGGED DOG GETS WHEELCHAIR FOR MOVEMENT.

- A puppy born without his front legs is rolling into a new life with the help of a new 3-D printed wheelchair.Tumbles was rescued from the cold when he was just 2-weeks-old, according to Friends of the Shelter Dogs in Athens, Ohio. The little guy has been able to adapt and scoot across the floor using his nose and back legs, but a veterinarian recommended he be fitted for a cart so he can build muscle in his back legs more naturally. The puppy got a new lease of life by using a wheel that allow movement easily.See more here;http://abc7.com/pets/meet-tumbles-2-legged-puppy-gets-3-d-printed-wheelchair/1085244/

Man shelters dogs to take them off the street.

https://www.thedodo.com/shelter-where-450-dogs-run-free-together-1415302460.html