In recent days, news has come from the United States that will undermine the firm beliefs of grandmothers and old aunts: a dog's kiss could have the same benefits as a yogurt. Researchers from the University of Arizona, who are studying in detail the consequences of dog’s kisses, support this theory.

According to the study, the saliva of a healthy dog ​​is absolutely unable to transmit any disease to us. That is not all. It would seem, in fact, that the bacteria present in the mouth and on the tongue of animals could have the same beneficial effects as a jar of yogurt.

These are called "probiotics", and include all live microorganisms naturally contained or added to food. Their function is above all to counteract "bad" bacteria, which very often lurk in our intestines due to the wrong diet and lifestyle. Yogurt, with its huge amount of lactic ferments that are very useful for the intestine and for the whole body.

Researchers were ready to show that the dog's tongue would actually be a great supplier of these helpful probiotics.

The research is still in progress. During the first phase, it will be mainly based on evaluating the results of a dogs kiss on the mouth of volunteers who are over 50 years old and therefore are more sensitive to the lack of "good" bacteria in the intestine. Participants will have to host a dog in their home for a period of about 3 months, accepting the kisses of the new four-legged tenants without resistance.

According to anthropologist Kim Kelly, any behavior that exists in nature does not occur by chance. Our relationship with animals, in particular with dogs, is also based on this principle. “No one has ever been able to really understand what this human-dog relationship consists and what makes us feel so good when dogs are around us. Is it just their tenderness and the fact that we love to pamper them, or is there more? ". These are the words of Kim Kelly, who is ready to show that our need to live with animals is linked above all to the advantages that we can derive from their proximity.

At this point, we just have to wait for the results of this test ... take a hint and kiss your pet!

Source: https://www.vanitypets.it/news/scienza-il-bacio-del-cane-potrebbe-essere-meglio-di-uno-yogurt/

 "The cat sits where the woman was sitting" is an ancient Latin proverb that can explain how historically the relationship between woman and cat is conceived. After all, many adjectives typical of the cat, such as sinuous, feline and unpredictable are used to describe the female universe.

The relationship between women and cat probably shows some differences traits compared to the male approach, which are often more stimulated to own a dog. Men who own a cat are rare, while the number of women who have a cat is pretty high.

It is interesting to note what the famous English zoologist Desmond Morris says on the matter, author of several books among which the essay "Catwatching", which has become a reference point for cat lovers. Morris has a rather bizarre idea on the subject but with a certain amount of truth.

First of all, he states that cats certainly find the female voice more pleasant than the male one, as it is more acute and therefore closer to the sounds they make. This fact could explain why kittens often turn around only when they hear a female voice calling them and not a males one. 

Another hypothesis, perhaps more bizarre, is based on the iron memory of the cat. The feline has a really good memory and is able to escape dangerous situations really quickly. As we all know, cats do not like to go to the vet, both for the task of traveling in a cage and for the care they absolutely do not want to receive. Considering that many vets are male, Morris associates the special relationship between women and cats with this factor, as felines perceive it as harmless. Now that the profession has also opened up to the world of women, it will be interesting to note the developments of Morris's studies and understand if this trait can still be considered relevant.

Let's take a small step back in time, when it was a symbol of witchcraft and love for the magical arts for a woman to own a cat. Although the time jump spans many centuries, we cannot forget the beliefs that accompanied the period of the Inquisition that led to the stake hundreds of innocent women. At that time, the black kittens were crossed with a sign in the tummy, to prevent them from turning into witches when they reached the seventh year of age. At the same time, popular belief was that certain women turned into cats during the night to drink the blood of cattle. No doubt about it, women and cats have gone through very difficult times, but they have also received the right honours, especially in the Egyptian period, when cats were considered a god and therefore were respected in an absolute and sacred way.

Going back to the present day, it is interesting to understand the analysis carried out by the Waltham Center for Pet Nutrition, which found out that cats bond with humans and especially women not only to obtain food. The research was published in the authoritative journal Behavioral Processes and is committed to uncover the dynamics and alchemy that regulate the relationship between cats and humans. Beyond the pure nourishment factor, the experiment conducted found that women are simply more predisposed to cuddle and fill felines with attention.

The result? Cats return the affection received in their own way, jumping on their knees, lovingly licking the hands and face of women and thus establishing a good relationship of mutual exchange. The key to understanding the relationship between cat and woman probably lies in the attention that females reserve for these delightful animals, which is certainly greater than males. The cats have chosen to reciprocate and therefore to start a relationship of mutual love that has been perpetuated since the dawn of time.

 How many of us would like to be able to decipher what our cats constantly say to us through voice, facial expression and body movements? From today we can do it, thanks to Meowlingual, the cat-human electronic translator.

The latest technological innovation comes directly from Japan, which will literally drive cat lovers all over the world crazy. It is called Meowlingual and has nothing to do with the famous Tamagotchi. It is a small device that can improve communication between the cat and its owners.

Meowlingual, in fact, would be able to recognize, interpret and translate the postures and attitudes of cats into our language, converting them into 21 different emotions. Moreover, this device is also designed to decipher the enigmatic facial expressions of our cats, "translating" them into 6 different moods.

That is not all. Meowlingual, in fact, could also help the owner to "speak" the cat's language, translating as many as 200 "human" words into the corresponding meows.

How does it work? Just bring it close to the cat, so that the machine can perfectly capture all of its eye , mouth and tail movement. As well as the whole body. 

Meowlingual is available online for $ 169, but is still sold out for the moment.

Source: http://www.bauboys.tv

 Deciding to share your life with a pet is a fairly common choice, but many are faced with the same dilemma each time: dogs or cats?

If it important to decide with patience. You might end up with a cat when you might have preferred a dog and vice versa!

On the other hand, when you know exactly what pet you prefer it will be the one that corresponds to your needs and your lifestyle. Of course, living with a cat and a dog has its substantial differences. Some studies conducted by Carroll University of Waukesha, located in Wisconsin (USA) has even underlined how the personality of the human is decisive in the choice of owning a dog rather than a cat and vice versa

Those who prefer cats have an unconventional character, lover of their habits, very discreet and affectionate, love to surround themselves with comfort and love good food.

Those who prefer a dog as a pet love the outdoors, walking, hiking, nature, adventures, movement, open spaces, socialize very easily and in 70% of cases practice a sport in a constant way. There is also a fairly significant percentage of people who decide to take both a dog and a cat. The experimentation of coexistence between humans and our furry friends becomes even more interesting and constructive. The emotional and affective exchange is of a high range; Lets dispel the rumour that dogs and cats cannot live together.

If animals are well educated and accustomed to domestic social life, coexistence generates excellent results; we will see our cat sleeping peacefully between our dog’s paws, and also eat meals from the same bowl in good harmony.

The decision of having one or more pets is a positive and beneficial choice for the whole family environment, especially for those with children. Growing up with a pet at your side is important for the psychophysical development of our children. The proximity of an animal (another living being) which requires care, affection and attention, makes children more responsible and self-confident and promotes socio-affective manifestations.

Obviously, we must not overlook the importance of applying rules and precautions, both hygienic and organizational; cleaning and feeding care, veterinary checks, vaccinations are fundamental and necessary elements to take care of your pet, as well as towards your children and their well-being, for a happy and long coexistence with your furry friends.

A study has shown that cats are able to hear and understand what we say to them. Unfortunately, however they don’t always care about us.

Cats are independent and proud animals. These aspects of their character are particularly appreciated by "cat lovers" and less by dog ​​lovers.

From this point of view, in fact, dogs and cats are very different.

The dog demonstrates every emotion or thought in an obvious way, barking and jumping at the owner when he comes home after a day of work, staying with him when he is at the table, on the sofa, in bed and sometimes even in the bathroom, and running as soon as we say his name.

The cat, on the other hand, tends to be less "helpful" towards the owner. Of course, not all cases are the same, so we can find felines that behave very similarly to dogs, and vice versa. In general, however, cats tend to doze in some hidden corner of the house, without despair if the owner is going out to go to work.

Question for cat owners: How many of us see our cat running towards us energetically when we loudly scream his name across the house?

The cases are definitely a few or none.

This, in fact, is a typical aspect of the cat. Felines seem unable to listen and understand what we say to them, so they always assume their characteristic expression of disinterest.

In fact, according to a study conducted at the University of Tokyo, published in the journal Animal Cognition, cats would be perfectly capable of understanding what we want to communicate, but in most cases, ignore us because they just don't care.

The research was carried out by analysing the reactions and behaviours of 20 cats for 8 minutes a day. During this time, each of them heard an audio recording containing the voices of three unknown people and the owner.

Listening to the recording (of the three unknown people and the owner), the cats reacted by turning their heads, moving their ears and tail, or dilating their pupils. However, only 10% of the felines examined responded with a meow sound when they heard the recordings. These attitudes were much more intense when they heard the call from their owner.

The test results speak for themselves: cats are able to distinguish the owner's voice, but few respond to the call.

According to the researchers, this important aspect could probably be explained through the domestication hypothesis. In fact, since ancient times, dogs lived together with the owner, to be able to follow him during hunting trips or to lead the flock. Therefore, knowing how to respond to the call was a fundamental factor.

Cats, on the other hand, would have domesticated only many years later and practically in complete autonomy, according to their needs and their own personality. Consequently, for felines, the call has never assumed such an important role in the relationship with humans, so they would use it only when they deem it appropriate.

This is why it is so difficult to teach your cat to run towards us when we call him, unless we tempt him with food.

In conclusion, if we want our cat to speak to us, we must try to show ourselves more interesting from their point of view.

There are many cases in Italy (and in the world) of people who rely on pet therapy to promote the healing process. This discipline provides the presence of animals, mainly dogs, to carry out physiotherapy processes or treatments and management of particular psycho-emotional pathologies.

Our four-legged friends have a sensitivity that goes beyond the limits of human understanding, as their affection and devotion are truly unexpected! The dog's total devotion to its owner must be investigated in its origin, as he elects the pack leader and follows him in all respects. We become real leaders for them. From these notions, we can understand how powerful the love that our four-legged friends have for us. Therefore, they have a great healing potential for pet therapy.

It is incredible how much affection dogs can give us during illnesses. This is the case of patients admitted to the oncology department of the Massa Carrara hospital. In this place, the first pet therapy project in Italy was activated, where dogs are in contact with patients at particular times of the day. This prodigious project is called "A Paw to Therapies”. It requires dogs with disinfected fur and with a complete certificate to accompany patients for a few hours during the chemotherapy session.

The results are surprising, many people who are alone during therapy sessions find it extremely pleasant all of a sudden. Labradors, cubs and delightful puppies snuggle at the patients' feet and keep them company for the entire duration of the therapeutic session. The benefits translate into a greater chance of recovery for patients, as the good mood that dogs spread helps patients face the disease with more serenity and courage.

The head of the structure, Dr. Mambrini, is convinced that alternative therapies can be very successful for the healing process or, at least, make it happier and less harsh. To this end, he organizes concerts, including famous artists, art shows, singing and theater sessions and always hopes to be able to subject patients to chemotherapy in the open air, taking advantage of the hospital's green spaces.

Regarding the introduction of four-legged friends, the head physician said "We started with six other Italian hospitals with the Day Hospital department: we followed 90 cancer patients in contact with dogs for six months and compared them with 90 other patients without pet therapy ".

Regarding the results and benefits for patients, the luminary says: “We measured the vital signs of pressure, pulse and temperature. The psychological ones of apprehension, anxiety and depression. Finally, also the symptoms of nausea, vomiting and pain. The patients of the pet therapy had vomited less, had regained their natural face colour and forgot depression. Others even returned at the end of chemo session to meet the dogs again. The significant scientific finding was the increase in the partial pressure of oxygen in the blood. In a department where we always talk about the past, seeing people talking about the future is wonderful. The positivity you breathe is a paradise for everyone ".

Finally, we can witness a beautiful all-Italian experience, as this therapy is still not very well known around the world. Beyond the enormous improvements that pet therapy brings to patients, we must never forget its positive effect on mood, which very often represents the key to victory against tremendous and apparently invincible diseases.