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“Rarest species of feline on Earth”: Unique cat mystifies the internet

<p dir="ltr">A photo of the “rarest species of feline on Earth”, a cat with black and neon yellow stripes, has mystified the internet.</p> <p dir="ltr">The incredible photo of the “Amazon snake cat” is truly unbelievable.</p> <p dir="ltr">The image of the so-called “Serpens Cattus”, a feline with black and neon-yellow stripes resembling a snake, made waves online, with social media posts claiming it was the “rarest species of feline on Earth”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Serpens Cattus is the rarest species of feline on Earth. These Animals live in hard-to-reach regions of the Amazon rainforest, and therefore they are relatively poorly studied,” a Twitter user claimed. “The first images capturing the snake cat appeared only in 2020. Weighs up to 4 stone (25kgs).”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://t.co/rpeMQKCF4I">pic.twitter.com/rpeMQKCF4I</a></p> <p>— Jeff_kamara2 (@Kamara2R) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kamara2R/status/1635669633553367040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">A now-deleted Reddit post of the “Serpens Cattus” attracted several comments who flagged the feline as not being real. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Obvious fake. No known gene can produce natural hair or fur of those (navy and bright yellow) colours,” one commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Really rough attempt at a fake Latin name,” a second person chimed in. “One google about species naming would have made this a lot less obvious.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The post caught the eye of zoology experts to verify the authenticity of the photo.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, the colours and patterns on the female bare a strong resemblance to the reptilian boiga dendrophila, which is commonly referred to as the “gold-ringed cat snake”.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo &amp; Conservation Biology Institute, the snake is found in the same countries where the “Amazon snake cat” was rumoured to be found. </p> <p dir="ltr">The serpent-like feline slid over to TikTok, where one user claimed that the species lived in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He’s in the next fantastic beasts,” laughed one user referencing the Harry Potter spin-off franchise.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Use this s**t for good not to misinform,” another user wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Stop sharing bulls**t,” a third commented. </p> <p dir="ltr">It's clear to see the mysterious feline has certainly left some in hiss-belief.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-919797d4-7fff-89ab-2d2e-e88b391d041a"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credit: Twitter</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Brazen cat-napper snatches feline from driveway

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A young woman has been caught on CCTV camera brazenly picking up a 22-year-old cat named “Bob” from its owners' driveway in Melbourne's east and simply walking off with it.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A week since he went missing, Bob the cat's heartbroken owners are now pleading for their beloved pet to be returned.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Their CCTV camera captured the woman walking past their home just after 9pm on Wednesday, December 1, before stopping to do something they never expected.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After a few pats and a failed attempt to pick him up, the woman then managed to scoop the feline into her arms and walk away.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Giuseppina Roberts and her son Vincent Mennilli are worried.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"A very brave cat, a very friendly cat, but a cat that we deeply miss," Mr Mennilli said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I thought, ‘How dare somebody come into our property and take our pet?’" Ms Roberts said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846263/catnapper_ninenews.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/034845a809e44982ae00ff5f27f0317b" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The pair have door-knocked the neighbourhood and posted the footage online.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They're searching for Bob, who is missing part of one paw and is blind in one eye.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I'm very worried, very worried, in fact I think he could already (be) gone," Ms Roberts said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It has been reported to police but Ms Roberts says she just wants her pet returned.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"No questions asked, just bring the cat back … and that will be my greatest gift, it will be a Christmas present," she implored.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Images: 9News</span></p>

Family & Pets

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Cat makes incredible transformation after heartbreaking abuse

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">WARNING: Disturbing images</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Little Muffin, who was found just moments from death has made an incredible transformation. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The cat, who was too weak to fight any resistance, was gently picked up by a kind Samaritans when they noticed his back legs were completely “dead” because whipper snipper cords had been tied around his legs and had since cut off circulation. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7830123/eg-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6e3518b1e8d7486cb65e7c3e6570a52c" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Muffin also had burns on his tummy that vets suspected to be cigarette burns. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alexus, the man who found the feline, said there is no doubt in his mind Muffin had been tortured. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This was a serial killer or sociopath in the making,” Mr De Latora told </span><a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/cat-found-near-death-after-being-tortured-in-western-sydney-125250392.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yahoo News Australia. </span></a></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“[It was] evil beyond evil”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After Muffin was rushed to a nearby vet in Western Sydney, images captured of the suffering animal was widely shared across social media. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7830124/eg-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7fd9d7b0080940d8b4a83c0e9120a6d1" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The young cat’s leg has since been amputated and was handed to a Sydney-based pet rescue, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cat Rescue 901. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">His vet bills were covered by the help of wonderful donors. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite the heartbreaking torture Muffin faced, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cat Rescue 901’s </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">co</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">-</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">founder Jenny Storaker said the cat has a sweet demeanour. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Muffin is absolutely divine and such a perfect pet,” she told </span><a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/amazing-recovery-of-cat-who-lost-leg-after-being-tortured-104728538.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yahoo News Australia. </span></a></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“[He’s] super-duper affectionate. [All he wants is] to sleep in someone’s arms.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Muffin has since been adopted into a loving home where he is spoilt “silly.”</span></p>

Caring

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Caring woman shares home with 1,100 felines

<p>We’ve all heard the term “cat lady” but this woman really takes it up a notch. Lynea Lattanzio has given up her 4,200 square foot home in California to house more than a 1000 felines. The 67-year-old now lives in a 1600 square foot trailer on her six-acre property and allows the cats to run freely through the five-bedroom house. She started fostering cats in 1992 and acquired 96 by the end of the year - successfully rehoming all of them.</p> <p>In 1993, the caring woman became a veterinary technician to help keep the animals medical costs down and thus, the number of cars began to grown.</p> <p>Today, her home is the Cat House On The Kings, which is California’s largest no-cage, no kill sanctuary for feral and abandoned cats.</p> <p>And as much as Lynea loves the cats her aim is to find them new homes, not to keep them for herself.</p> <p>“I love cats because they’re independent, they’re beautiful and graceful.”</p> <p>Watch her incredible story here and tell us, how may cats could you handle?</p> <p><em>Source: Barcroft network</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2014/09/the-benefits-of-having-a-pet/"></a></em></span></strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/dogs-with-no-concept-of-personal-space/">These dogs have no concept of personal space</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2014/09/the-benefits-of-having-a-pet/"></a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/inside-a-1950s-tea-factory/">Inside a tea factory from the 50s</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2014/09/the-benefits-of-having-a-pet/"></a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/30-common-plants-that-are-harmful-to-pets/">30 common plants that are harmful to pets</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2014/09/the-benefits-of-having-a-pet/"> </a></em></span></strong></p>

News

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Welcome to “Cat Island”, where felines outnumber humans 6 to 1

<p>If you’re a cat lover then prepare your eyes for the spectacular sights of cats, cats and more cats. If you prefer canines, then the following images may be your worst nightmare.</p><p>In what has been dubbed “Cat Island”, an army of feral cats rule a remote island in southern Japan outnumbering humans six to one. More than 120 cats live on the island, curling up in abandoned houses, loitering around the fishing village and playing amongst themselves.</p><p>The cats were originally introduced to Aoshima Island to deal with the fisherman’s mice problems. However, the cats stayed on and multiplied.</p><p>In 1945, Aoshima island had been home to 900 people but after WWII many people left. Now there are only a few people living on the island except for mainland day-trippers who frequently visit this Cat Island, despite having no tourist facilities.</p><p>“I seldom carried tourists before," ferry captain Nobuyuki Ninomiya told Japan Daily Press. "Now I carry tourists every week, even though the only thing we have to offer is cats.”</p><p>And for cat lovers everywhere, that is all they need. &nbsp;</p><p><em>Image credits: Thomas Peter/Reuters&nbsp;</em></p><p><strong>Related links:&nbsp;</strong></p><p><a href="/news/news/2015/02/sneezing-cats/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>6 cats caught mid-sneeze to make you laugh</strong></em></span></a></p><p><a href="/lifestyle/pets/2015/01/cat-instagram-accounts/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Instagram accounts cat lovers NEED to see</strong></em></span></a></p><p><a href="/lifestyle/pets/2015/01/facts-about-cats/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>10 things you don’t know about cats</strong></em></span></a></p>

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