Shouting at your cat for leaving dead mice on the doormat doesn’t work—but a simple 10-minute play ritual before dinner does. Researchers at the University of Exeter discovered that a structured hunting simulation, timed right before feeding, reduces unwanted prey by a quarter.
A chance encounter with what appears to be an ordinary tabby cat near the Jura forest could spiral into a conservation nightmare. The subtle features that distinguish Europe’s most elusive wildcat from a common domestic cat—especially that distinctive thick, ringed tail—are far easier to miss than wildlife experts would like, and the legal consequences of getting it wrong are severe.
A June habit of throwing bird netting over strawberry plants seems harmless until a cat starts choking on trapped mesh. Loose netting doesn’t just endanger wild birds and hedgehogs—it creates a lethal snare that can strangle or starve wildlife, and plastic fragments pose serious risks to pets. Here’s how to protect your fruit safely.