indoor/outdoor - the debate goes on

we are happy to see trap-neuter-return back in the pages of national news site msnbc. the first step to achieving no kill status is public awareness of other alternatives to the traditional shelter approach.

but don't get too excited because a new york times piece on the old cats-vs-birds debate has this to say, "in the view of many wildlife researchers, a pet cat on a lap may be a piece of self-cleaning perfection, but a pet cat on the loose is like a snakefish or English ivy: an invasive species."

the sicko, who duct-taped a stray cat for no real reason, has been arrested and could face up to two years in jail. maybe he'll get to try on a duct-tape jumpsuit.

superior court judge sets new precedent in three-year dog-custody battle. remember, folks, sharing is caring.

look at the world from more than one angle

isthmus story on 'off-limits' places in town - denied access to dchs euthanasia room. just because we can't see it doesn't mean it's not there.

the fastest human alive is as fast as a house cat. neat-o!

tax-payer money is going to help defend the florida cat killer in the upcoming trial.

'certified pre-owned cats' - even in animal rescue it's all about the marketing.

here's an update on two of the vick pits seized back in 2007. looks like both will be moving on to new, better lives soon!

nikki by the catnip - dazed and confused

so the philadelphia ealges have signed vick for the coming season. there has been protest, discussion and encouragement of the decision. where do you fall?

on the other side of the globe, a thai elephant, the victim of a landmine, is about to get her new artificial leg. good for her!

what's up with these uk kitties and riding buses? we told you about one a couple of weeks ago and now there's a second cat choosing public transportation. crazy!


from the isthmus daily page's forum, a discussion on coyotes, cats, birds and the indoor/outdoor debate. plus a cool do-it-yourself idea for a cat-proof fence!

dottiebot 2000, version 2.0 just arrived!

remember the missing african cat up by green bay? well, it was found hanging out in the office of a nearby warehouse. we'd like to hear that 911 call. "aw, there appears to be a cheetah in my office. help?"

sad news: the tallest dog has passed on. at over 7 feet at his tallest he was a giant among men.

everyone could use a nice mani-pedi every now and then. pro-tip: bribes and distraction always work best when it comes to clipping claws.

see how many of these "top 10 cutest cat videos" you can identify. we still love those treadmill kitties! if only we could get the store cats to do that.

a sicko in our own state: someone threw a dog off of a 30-ft. bridge in northwestern wisconsin. sick.

cheetas or cheetos?

man blames cat for downloading child pornography - we're sure the dog ate his homework, too.

if you're in the green bay area and spot what appears to be a smallish cheetah, have no fear - it's just someone's 50lb. missing cat.

juvenile sicko gets 18-months, cats get nothing.

"“who are these trustees to second-guess either Mrs. Helmsley’s wishes or the legitimacy of kindness and compassion for animals?” leona is going to be really peeved when she finds out how little of her money is actually going towards helping dogs.

the new york times wants to know if you look like your dog - unless your dog happens to be aphrodite in canine form we certainly hope not!

morty surveys his kingdom from atop his wooden throne

this church vs. t-n-r story exemplifies the need for a little more patience and a lot more faith.

this is one tenacious, and lucky, chihauhau. poor little guy - no more barbecues for him.

eye contacts for animals - soon the pigs will be walking!

this sicko cat-killer is only 17 and already way beyond redemption.

let's get the weekend started with some cute kittens and baby squirrels. you can never go wrong with kittens and baby squirrels. never.

krystal ball luk in2 it.....it sez "moar food!"

the pet communicators will be first to know when it is time to reinstate feline dominion over earth. also, when the food bowl is empty.

why was she taking her cat to the beach to begin with? please don't leave your pets in the car. they hate the heat even more than we do and fall victim to it much quicker.

another study tries to subvert our feline worship and fails. big time. "their actual utility is debatable, even as mousers." pshyeah, right!

the accused sicko has pleaded not guilty, still most likely a psychopath.

even more fun with robotic cats!

yume neko smile has been upgraded to yume neko "dream cat." no word yet on when exactly these robotic cats will attempt total domination of earth, but you can bet it'll be dreamy.

the beverly hills solution to urban feral cats - jail the woman trapping, neutering and adopting them out on her own dime.

ghost cat or orange fuzz? tell us what you think!

accused cat killer my be a sociopath. no disagreement here.

a dog and his duck - friends 4-ever!

gotta love the invisible bike

new documentary explores the secret world of cat ladies. spoiler alert - they are all single.

this sicko's job is to protect people - i sure hope he isn't called to a fire right before his next vacation.

this sounds like a good read. "I've come to realize that stray dogs and cats are sometimes not just running, but running away.

harlem man relies on the kindness of strangers - and it works. hope his kitty takes the stairs from now on.

here are some hot licks for this sunny afternoon - summer cat jazz.

dog day afternoon

did you hear the one about the bear that came in through the doggy door? they hadn't either.

this headline about bo obama is how we feel about the thousands of pictures of our cats doing pretty much nothing. it's the pet-owners curse to find everything do "cute."

this program is absolutely wonderful - animals helping people helping animals help people!

good news! the little dottie-bot look-alike dropped in the mailbox has been adopted....by a postal worker! wouldn't it be cute if she rode along during the carrier route? awww....

this sicko is getting 8 months for 3 cats. first-strike rules on animal torture seem like a good idea to us.

happy hump day!

sable, a gorgeous muted tortie, is over at the west-side store waiting for you to come get her. "i can haz fourevah hom now?"

the people responsible for the menu foods recall two years ago are have plead guilty and will soon be sentenced. we think they should have to eat a few "well-balanced" meals of melamine-tainted wheat gluten along with paying a few fines.

the suspected florida cat killer has been released while awaiting the results of a psychological exam.

we would much rather find this adorable dottie look-a-like in a mail box than one of these!

warning! you have a little over 24 hours to complete your ballot for madison's favorites. make it so!

live long and prospurr

the budding mad scientist who put his kitten in a bong has been arrested again - go figure.

a new webgame challenges you to stack watermelons and cats atop a pedestal. we're not sure why they chose watermelons and cats but i guess if i had to put one fruit and one animal on a pedestal watermelons and cats would be a prett good choice. play the game and waste a few minutes.

another sicko is out there - this time the kitty will be ok.

this web comic implies that cat people are inane - we beg to differ. we're not inane, we're mad-diddly-mad!

a funny star trek video for all the cat-lovin' trekkies out there.

kittehvolution!

scientist now think cats became domesticated as many as 10,000 years ago in the fertile crescent - still no word on dino-cats, though.

fuzzy wuzzies are the perfect antidote for a case of the mondays - unless you suffer from a fear of adorable bunnies and kitties, in which case we pity you.

43,000 pounds of cat food was spilled onto a florida highway - dottie already booked her ticket to paradise.

florida cat-owners can breathe a bit easier now that the cat killer has been caught. perhaps we can use this unfortunate story to bring focus to ending all the other unnecessary animal deaths that occur all across the country every day.

vote for pedro! and dottie, gabby, lucy, morty & nikki

it's time to exercise your right to vote - the isthums' own "madison's favorites" poll is up and ready for you to decide who rules and who drools. voting is open until june 18 and you must fill out at least 20 categories or your ballot will be thrown out. as p diddy would say, "vote or die."

here's a typical conversation between a cat and her guardian. they always win don't they? it's the whiskers. they have powers.

here's some more sad news about the sicko in florida. the no kill nation needs to get cracking in the sunshine state.

peta has decided to respond to the public outcry at their euthanasia numbers in typical peta form - kneejerk reactions and hyperbole. this time with graphic photos! thanks peta, you are ever so helpful in teaching us how not to respond to criticism.