Category Archives: Animals

16

Emma Rabbit’s Job Hunt

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Discount mother bunny Top Sale Cute Rabbit Brown And White Rabbit Mother And Baby Walking In

Emma Rabbit was heading back into the workforce. Before she’d had her kids, she’d been an aerobics instructor. She had enjoyed it, but didn’t really want to work that hard anymore. She was scrolling through the advertisements on the AnimalHunter website and entered her information to see what they might match her with.

How Much Exercise Do Rabbits Need Each Day? — Rabbit Care Tips

She waited nervously to see if they had anything for a returning-to-the-workforce ex-aerobics instructor. It wasn’t long before her phone started pinging.

   

AnimalHunter has found a match for you. Receptionist at You and Your Teeth. Looking for an outgoing, friendly self-starter to greet clients and schedule appointments at our all-species denture lab. Must not be intimidated by large mammals with toothaches. Excellent pay and benefits. Free samples.

Emma did think she would do well with grumpy tigers. She was frightened by large domesticated cats when they got angry.

Animal Hunter has found a match for you. Account representative for Iron Butterfly Gyms. Put your outgoing  personality to work for you. Sell memberships to our ever-expanding chain of gyms. Potential to work up to a trainer position. Salary plus commission. Free gym membership included.

Emma wondered what she had put into her account that would make anyone think she would be a good salesperson. She was a typical rabbit, sweet and cuddly. And afraid of most large animals.

A cartoon drawing of a butcher shop with a variety of meats | Premium AI-generated image

AnimalHunter has found a match for you. Meat cutter at MegaMart. Requirements: good interpersonal skills, attention to detail, ability to work without close supervision. Join the largest team in the U,S, Competitive wages and benefits for full-time employees. Employee discount from date of hire.

Emma couldn’t click out fast enough. She was definitely not going to work for the human MegaMart Corporation. In the meat department no less. Then she looked at the next four messages.

Annie's Homegrown Sets Bunnies Loose in a Grocery Store for Shamelessly Cute Ad

AnimalHunter has found a match for you. Join the MegaMart team in your neighborhood. Full and part-time positions available. Flexible hours all shifts. Cashiers, stocking, floor positions available. Choose which position you want at the location most convenient to you. Join the largest team in the U.S. Competitive wages and benefits for full-time employees. Employee discount from date of hire.

Emma was getting irritatated. Why would AnimalHunter be sending jobs at a human store?   AnimalHunters was supposed to be for animals. Were there really animals desperate enough to work there? Humans were icky. And they smell weird. And make jokes about having you for dinner. NEVER.

40,000+ Cat School Stock Photos, Pictures & Royalty-Free Images - iStock | Cat backpack, Otters, Cat exercise

AnimalHunter has found a match for you. Pre-School Attendant at Dee’s Kitty Cove. Do you think small cats are totally adorable? Are you looking for a schedule that matches your child’s? Do you enjoy teaching kittens how to be cats? You will love working at the Kitty Cove. Your kittens can attend for free. Must be flexible and willing to work extra hours at short notice. Must have up-to-date rabies and distemper shots.

That would be a good job, thought Emma. IF I WAS A CAT. Jobs in Cheeseland weren’t supposed to be segregated by species. But who was going to be able to teach a kitten how to be a cat if they weren’t a cat. Emma wondered if maybe she could sort by something rabbit-friendly.

AnimalHunter has found a match for you. Do you love the water? Are you a natural swimmer? Cheeseland Country Club is looking for swimming instructors and life guards. Must be able to easily swim at least 100 meters and know basic water first-aid to become an instructor. Must be trained in basic water rescue for the lifeguard positions. Skills will be tested at the interview. Get to know the pillars of your community. Pays minimum wage, but the networking possibilities are endless.

Emma quickly clicked past. There must have been some part of the profile that she had missed. Rabbits only swim when they are forced to. Her heavy fur coat was not meant for the water. She had to keep looking.

I was in the middle of cleaning my room when my rabbit decided to claim the dustpan : r/Rabbits

AnimalHunter has found a match for you. Do you want to set your own schedule? Work when it’s convenient for you? Join the Maid4You team. We specialize in cleaning homes and small offices. You can choose which jobs to accept and which to pass by. Initial allowance for the things you’ll need. Then you’re on your own. Bid on the jobs that work for you. You’re a free agent with the recognized name of Maid4You getting the word out for you. Follow our link to sign up.

Emma tried to figure out how this would be a good job for her. Cleaning up other people’s messes with the lowest bidder always getting the work. Her own equipment and transportation. No job security at all. She moved on.

Rabbit Walking | Other Mammals | Animals | Pixoto

After a few more postings, Emma decided to go for a walk. She’d try a new profile tomorrow and see if her luck improved. If not, she could go back to teaching aerobics.

Pictures courtesy of Google Images.

21

Reindeer Spa Day

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All of the post-Christmas cleanup and debriefing was finally done, and Santa was treating his reindeer to a day at the spa. It was a full day of sauna, massage, herbal wraps, and hoof polishing. The spa even offered a full bath if anyone was interested. The reindeer weren’t too sure about the idea. They were alpha-male athletes and didn’t want anyone to get the idea that they were pampered princes.

Reindeer Pulling a Sled · Free Stock Photo

Santa: I booked you all for a day tomorrow at Glinda’s Sauna and Day Spa. Is everyone coming?

Dasher: I don’t know, boss. We’re hard-working pack animals. I’m not sure spas fit with the image.

Comet: What if some kid sees us dripping with seaweed?

Santa: It’s the North Pole. No children live up here.

Ask Dr. Jenn: Facts about Santa's Reindeer

Blitzen: I think it sounds great. We do a really stressful job. We deserve to relax.

The next day, everyone arrive at 9 am.

Glinda: Hello, boys. Welcome to Glinda’s. We have a special day planned for you: sauna, deep muscle massage, seaweed wrap, more sauna, and a quick roll in the snow.

Donner: I think I’ll skip the sauna. I have a lot of fur.

The other reindeer nodded. They didn’t want to ruin the day by passing out in the heat.

Glinda: I hadn’t really thought about the fur. The elves love it. And we occasionally get humans who like it too. Let’s get you ready for your massage.

She led them to a room with a row of tables. Each reindeer laid on a table and closed his eyes. They heard soft music and felt strong hands massaging their backs.

Vixen: Do you guys hear anything?

Dancer: Yes, silly. They’re playing music.

relaxing reindeer

Vixen: No. Like someone moving around.

Dancer: Of course someone’s moving around. We’re getting massages. Just close your eyes and relax.

Vixen: I guess. Maybe I need this more than I thought.

The reindeer were feeling very relaxed. 

Glinda: Okay, everyone. Time for a quick shower before your seaweed wrap.

Prancer: What’s a shower?

Comet: It’s like a bath, but they dump water on you.

Prancer: That sounds extremely unpleasant. I think I’ll skip that.

Glinda: It’s warm water that comes out of a spray. It’s not like having cold water dumped on you.

Surprisingly, the reindeer all enjoyed the shower. 

Glinda: Shake off the excess water and follow me. It’s time for your wraps. Because of the fur, we’re going to use mud and warm towels. You’re going to relax for 45 minutes. Your fur will look amazing.

Watch this deer have the time of his life splashing in the mud 🦌🤣, This is the moment a hidden camera trap caught a happy deer jumping around in a muddy puddle. , Ecological consultant Dr Jochen ...

She led them back to the tables where each reindeer was covered in mud and then wrapped up.They closed their eyes and felt something being gently massaged into their faces.

Blitzen: I was right. This is wonderful.

Dasher: It is rather pleasant.

Vixen: Can you hear it this time?

Two Reindeer With Bells in Snowy Setting, Ready for Christmas 72002863 Stock Video at Vecteezy

Donner: What are you talking about?

Vixen: I think there’s someone in here with us.

Comet: There’s a lot of folks in here.

Vixen: No. someone who isn’t with the staff or with us.

Shaggy deer

Cupid: Just relax and enjoy the feeling.

Vixen: I guess. It just feels weird.

Glinda: Time to unwrap. Let’s see how you look. How do you feel?

Blitzen: I feel great, but I need to get the mud out of my fur.

Watch Deer Roll Around and Experience Their FIrst Snow

Glinda pointed to toward the door, and the reindeer went out and rolled in the snow.

Comet: My fur is so soft.

Prancer: And you look better too.

Glinda: Everyone back into the hoof salon. Time for trimming and buffing.

Soon the reindeer were finished and walked home. Their muscles were relaxed, their fur was silky, and their hooves were trimmed. It had been a good day. That night, Dancer looked at the news. The top story was Exclusive:How Santa’s Reindeer Relax. It was full of pictures of the reindeer with Glinda. Vixen was right: someone had gotten in and taken a lot of pictures.

Pictures courtesy of Google Images and AI

18

Yak Express Returns

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Yak - Wikipedia

Today, we are behind the scenes at Yak Express, as they try to process the overload of post Christmas returns they’re getting.

How to Clean a Cat Tree in 11 Simple Steps - Catster

Borris: “Man, everyone and their grandmother must have bought a Deluxe Kitty Condo: 3 Levels of Pawsome!”

Zack: “Except it’s not so pawsome. This is the 5th one I’ve returned. 

Borris: “I wonder what’s wrong with them?”

Husky takes over cat tree

Zack: “The first one said it wasn’t plush enough. Then one said it smelled like a dog. This one, the color isn’t soothing enough.”

Borris: They were heavy enough to deliver when they were properly packaged. This is just miserable.

Steen: “At least yours is all in solid pieces. I just had an exploding nip mouse explode all over me. It’ll take days to get my hair back to normal again.”

Somebody loves the fuzzy blanket : r/cats

Borris: “Maybe you could hang out with the cats that are returning their kitty condos. It sounds like they need to relax.”

Steen: “And don’t even get me started on the food returns! Mackerel, tuna, liver… all of it smells disgusting. And it comes in those heavy tin cans. 

Zack: “Notice no one is returning the plush blankets or fuzzy robes. Those were easy to travel with- and comfortable.”

Borris: “Come on, I had one returned!”

Steen: “Yeah, because the cat who had it hacked a hairball up and couldn’t get the stain out. That’s disgusting.”

Borris: “I’d say the worst for returning are the soaps and perfumes. The scent always makes me gag. And it lingers on my hooves.”

Zack: “That’s true. No one ordered “grassy fields”. They’re all weird scents, like “vanilla cinnamon” and “lush cotton”

Steen: “It could be worse. I hear some humans like to smell like leather. Who’d want to smell like a cow all the time?”

Borris: “And what about these kitchen appliances! They’re heavy, and my back isn’t as good as it used to be.”

Get your cat exercising more with a cat treadmill

Steen: Or the exercise equipment! Who decided we were returning weights and treadmills?

Borris: “The stupid thing is, it’s not like the manufacturer is going to resell it. We’re doing all of this work just for these items to end up in the trash”.

Steen: “I agree, it’s stupid.”

Herd of yaks walking on the Everest Base Camp Trekking, Nepal

Borris: “And we don’t ever get overtime pay. I vote we go at our own pace. There’s no need to rush this stuff back. 

Zack: Isn’t that why we got complaints about our Christmas deliveries?”

Steen: “Yeah, but everyone just likes to complain. No one knows how hard it truly is working for Yak Express.”

Zack: “This job isn’t for the old, that’s for sure.”

Steen: “Or the pretty. This is wrecking havoc on my hooves and hair.”

Borris: “I vote that next year, we sell our returns to a third party vendor.”

A cat is sitting next to a clock the cat has its paw on the clock the clock is made of metal and has a white face the cat is looking at

Zack: “Definitely. It’ll be worth a little money to save my back.”

Borris: “And don’t even get me started on the late deliveries. We always get the blame, but it’s not our fault they chose not to order in time!”

Steen: “It just keeps coming and coming… it’ll never end.”

 

Pictures courtesy of Google Images and ChatGPT

15

Cheeseland Holiday Party

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Free Cat Pet photo and picture

Thomas Tabby was responsible for this year’s Cheeseland’s holiday party. It’s open to all municipal employees. Sgt Stripes, as his press secretary, has been helping with the preparation. There was only one rule: it had to be inside.

Holly Hedgehog: We cannot have another outdoor party.

Gustav Grizzly: What’s wrong with having it outside?

Carina Calico: Nothing if you’re wearing a huge fur coat.

Gustav: I thought there was a bonfire to keep warm.

Holly: There was. But it was so cold that everyone was crowding around it trying to keep warm.

Eva Squirrel: Some animals got shoved and a couple of beavers got singed.

Gustav: That’s terrible.

Holly: And some folks got a little too much to drink and almost passed out in the snow.

Thomas put Sgt Stripes and Holly Hedgehog in charge of the party. They were holding it at the local high school. They decorated the auditorium for the main event with smaller rooms for some of the activities.

Thomas: Guys, this looks great. I think it’s time to start the festivities.

Thomas gets on the stage and grabs the microphone.

Thomas: Greetings, Cheeselanders. Welcome to the 2025 Cheeseland Holiday party. Just a few things to keep in mind: this room is where we’re going to do the tree lighting in a few minutes. The food is in the cafeteria with the drinks. The adult beverages are in the Art room. You can enjoy carols sung by the high school choir in the Music room. Santa Claus is in the Gymnasium. Let’s turn down the lights and get this party started.

Everyone waited for the lights to go off. Then they waited for the tree to light up. And waited.

Thomas: Holly, what’s taking so long? I thought we could just flip a switch and have it light up. That’s how it works on TV.

Holly: That’s what is supposed to happen. We’re looking into it.

Suddenly there was a loud chittering sound and the tree moved. A very annoyed raccoon jumped out of the tree and ran out of the room.

Thomas: What was that?

Tony (the electrician): That was the reason your tree wasn’t lighting. He chewed through part of the wire and fell asleep. We should have you back in shape in a couple of minutes.

Shortly, Thomas was back on the microphone.

Thomas: Five, four, three, two, one.

Thomas flipped the switch, and the tree lit up. It was beautiful.

Thomas: Okay, everyone. Enjoy the party!

Sgt Stripes went down to the cafeteria. He had been in charge of the food. There were a lot of animals in line for the food. He asked a couple of rabbits what they were going to have.

Roxy: I don’t really know. This seems to be set up for carnivores.

Sgt Stripes: There are things you can eat. There’s a delicious vole stew. And fish sticks. And tuna melts.

Roxy: We’re rabbits. We don’t eat any of those things.

Sgt Stripes: How about a lettuce wrap.

Roxy: That sounds good. What’s it wrapped around?

Sgt Stripes: A cheeseburger.

Roxy: No, that won’t work. Maybe I’ll just have some juice.

Sgt Stripes: I’m sure there’s something here you can eat.

Roxy: What does that reindeer have?

Sgt Stripes: Hmm. I think it’s called lentil stew. It’s rather disgusting.

Roxy: That sounds delicious.

Sgt Stripes: Hmm. Okay, I guess.

Meanwhile, Holly was dealing with a situation in the Music room. A squirrel couple had told her that there wasn’t any music in the Music room.

Holly: What seems to be the problem?

Choir Director: Our lead soprano won’t sing.

Holly: Why not?

Choir Director: Her boyfriend just broke up with her.

Holly: She’s only one singer. Can’t the rest of them cover for her?

Choir Director: It’s not that simple. The boyfriend is also in the choir. Now everyone is taking sides.

Holly: So there’s no music.

Choir Director: There is no music. What is your backup plan?

Holly: There is no backup plan.

Wanda Wolverine: I can play the piano. Maybe folks can sing along?

Holly: Excellent idea. Thank you!

As Holly was leaving the room, she ran into Thomas Tabby.

Thomas: What type of adult beverages are we serving?

Holly: Ale, wine, and catnip tea. Why?

Thomas: A couple of poodles had too much of something and got into a huge fight. I made them go outside. I need to go back and check on them.

Holly: I’ll come with you.

They went outside and looked around. They didn’t see any poodles.

Thomas: Where did they go? I’ve only been gone a few minutes.

Sid Shar Pei: You looking for those poodles? One threw up all over the other. Then they fell asleep over there.

Thomas and Holly went over to look at the poodles.

Thomas: We need to get them inside before they freeze to death.

Holly: I think we should have stuck with the bonfire.

Pictures courtesy of Pixaby. Images generated by ChapGPT and Gemini

14

Beaverbrook Christmas Tree Farm

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The Beaverbrook Christmas Tree Farm had been in DW Kasto’s family for generations. They were builders during the warm months and ran the farm up until it was time to settle in for the winter. They prided themselves on having the best selection of trees in all of Cheeseland. The day after Thanksgiving was always their busiest day with everyone hoping to get the perfect tree. DW and his sons Calvin and Elbert ran the tree operation. His wife, Doreen and the other ladies ran the shop and bakery. The smells of pine and cinnamon were everywhere.

This year was no different. Early in the morning, the lot was already full of families looking at this year’s trees. It was a cold, sunny day. Perfect for tree shopping.

Katia Kali: Ooh Mama! Look at all of the trees. How many do you think there are?

Mama Kali: I don’t know sweetie. (She was looking at the price tags. It was cheaper to buy one of the pre-cut trees. But that wasn’t as much fun as showing the beavers which tree they had selected.)

Katia Kali: Look at the pretty ones over here. Can we get one of these?

The Kastos had tipped some of the trees in silver or gold. They were in a separate display. It was all rather overwhelming for a small cat.

Mama Kali: Are you sure you don’t want to go out and look for one the beavers can cut for us?

Katia Kali: No, I want this one. I’m already cold.

Mama Kali: Okay. I’ll take the tag to the counter so we can pay.

The payment counter was inside the shop. The shop was filled with ornaments and other Christmas decorations. There was also steamed cream, flavored waters, and all types of baked goods.

Katia Kali: Mama, can I get an ornament? Or a catnip cookie? Or a wreath?

Before Mama Kali had a chance to answer, a very large, very angry Forest Cat ran in. It was chasing a frightened dog of uncertain lineage..

Forest Cat: Who’s in charge here?

Doreen Kasto: I’m the owner. What seems to be the problem?

Forest Cat: I brought my two little daughters to pick out a tree. We were looking at one tree, and this animal came up and “marked it,” if you know what I mean. It was disgusting. Do you really allow that type of behavior.

Dog: My name is Maurice, and I am a waiter at a fine dining establishment. I am not an “animal”.

Forest Cat: Fine, Maurice. You relieved yourself in front of my little girls, right on the tree we were looking at.

Maurice: That is why I felt the need to stake my claim I was also interested in that tree.

Doreen noticed that a crowd was growing, and she really didn’t know what to do. She called DW and asked him to come inside.At the same time, a very agitated rabbit spoke up.

Rabbit: I know you. You’re the same dog that marked my tree. I can’t take it home smelling of dog.

Maurice: You act like that’s a bad thing. I’ll have you know that I am a very clean dog.

DW Kasto: What’s going on here?

Doreen Kasto: It seems that this dog has been marking trees.

Maurice: How else will I remember which tree to have cut down?

DW Kasto: That sounds reasonable.

Stella Squirrel: How many trees were you planning to buy? I saw you marking at least four.

Maurice: I was having trouble making up my mind. i didn’t want to lose track of the ones I was considering.

Forest Cat: Ugh. No one else is going to want a tree that smells of you. And you think it’s reasonable, DW?

DW Kastro: I didn’t realize he’s done it more than once. That is unacceptable. I’m afraid you’ll need to leave Maurice.

Maurice: What about my tree? I should be able to get my tree. No one told me I couldn’t mark more than one tree. It’s not posted anywhere.

DW Kasto: You need to leave. Now.

Maurice: This is an outrage. I’m going to tell everyone how unfairly I was treated. I have over 1,500 followers on AnimalWire. You’ll regret this.

DW Kasto: My apologies to everyone. Please enjoy your trip to Beaverbrook.

Mama Kali: Let’s pay for the tree and get out of here Katia. We can make cookies when we get home.

Images created in ChatGPT and Copilot.

20

Hibernation at Forest Dreams

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.Tips for Mother's Day from BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach

Marva and Barney were going to be going into hibernation for the first time since the cubs moved into their own dens. Marva was not looking forward to the foraging that always preceded their winter nap. looked up from her computer. 

Computer Programming | Hall of Beorn

Marva: Dolly just sent me information about the best place to go this winter.

Barney: What do you mean by go away this winter? We hibernate. All we need to do is make sure we’ve eaten enough and have enough covering to stay warm.

Marva: Don’t be so old-fashioned. Everyone is going to lodges for the winter now.

Barney: Who is everyone? I don’t know anyone who is leaving the neighborhood for hibernation.

Beekeeping 101: How To Prevent Bears From Ruining Your Beehives

Marva: Well, Dolly’s cousin Ellie is lodging, and so are all her friends.

Barney: Isn’t Ellie the one who thought it would be a good idea to build hives so she could raise her own honey?

Marva: It would have been a good idea if she hadn’t had the hives so close to the den. Who would have thought those cute little bees could be so violent? She still has scars on the side of her nose. Besides, this is different.

Black bear crashes Thanksgiving dinner in Manitoba - Cottage Life

Barney: So what’s her brilliant idea this time?

Marva: Come over and look at the pictures. It really looks nice. It’s called Forest Dreams.

Barney: It looks like some kind of barracks.

ESA - Bear sleeping

Marva: No, silly. There’s a main room and hallways going out in a bunch of directions to the sleep rooms. The main room is where you eat until you’re at hibernation weight. Then you go to one of the sleeping dens for the winter.

Barney: That looks like our den. Why do you want to spend money to go someplace that’s just like home?

How to Care for a Pet Rabbit | Reviews by Wirecutter

Marva: It’s like our place, but without all the work. It would be a treat.

Barney: Why are the ads full of rabbits? I don’t want to sleep with a bunch of rabbits. They don’t hibernate.

Marva: That’s the beauty of it. The rabbits do all the work for us. They gather the honey, nuts and berries. They even have fish and insects to eat. It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet. Then they clean while we sleep. There’s more food to get us started in the spring.

Barney: I don’t know it seems kind of silly to me. Bears have been hibernating for years without the help of rabbits.

Prepare for the Bear | Outside Bozeman

Marva: Wouldn’t it be nice to just show up and get all the food you want rather than needing to fight other bears?

Barney: I guess. If it’s really what you want to do, we can try it.

Barney and Marva arrive at Forest Dreams, and register for their room. They hear a loud, angry bear at one of the desks.

Barney: My goodness. He really doesn’t sound happy. I wonder what’s wrong.

March Napness contest: Sleepy sanctuary bears get bracket treatment

Marva: I think I heard something about sharing space. I wonder if he didn’t get the room he wanted.

Clerk: Unfortunately, he didn’t read the agreement. It says that in case of overbooking, we reserve the right to make you share your space.

Marva: For the entire winter?

Clerk. It usually happens if we have two single bears taking up two of our sleeping pods. There’s plenty of room for at least two bears in each of the pods.

How to Care for a Pet Rabbit | Reviews by Wirecutter

Barney: Thank goodness there are two of us.

Clerk: That’s correct, we won’t be putting anyone in with you unless there’s an emergency. Have you read the rules for staying at Forest Dreams?

Marva: I read what’s on your website.

Clerk: Then you’re aware that once you’ve moved into your pod, you are not allowed to leave Forest Dreams until the end of the winter. We lock the doors on November 15 and open them on March 15.

Can you see a bear in the winter? – Kodiak Wildlife Products | Bear Spray | Bear Bangers | Wild Life Safety Kits | Bear Bells

Barney: Isn’t that a little early for a full hibernation? Can we stay longer if there’s still snow?

Clerk: Unfortunately, the building is used in the summer as a camp for humans. We need to clean it thoroughly between groups. They really don’t like the old fish smell.

Barney: How long does the all-you-can-eat buffet stay open?

What Happened To Our Pumpkin? | Lake Lure North Carolina

Clerk: It’s pretty much until we run out of food. It depends on the clientele. Generally the honey and fish are gone pretty quickly. But we usually have enough insects and nuts to last until everyone is asleep.

Barney: What if I want a mid-winter snack?

Clerk: We have a fully stocked granola bar all winter.

Spring is here, and with it some very hungry bears - NDOW

Marva: And in the spring?

Clerk: We send you on your way with a basket of goodies. All bear-approved.

Barney: I guess we better get eating.

Come back in the spring, when we’ll find out whether Barney and Marva enjoyed their stay at Forest Dreams.

Two Bears

Pictures courtesy of Google Images

22

Welcome to the Neighborhood

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Cats Follow Me Into The Front Yard

Herb and Marj had just moved into their new home. They had wanted to move into an inter-species neighborhood with good schools to raise their kittens. After much searching, they thought they had found the perfect place in Whispering Pines. They moved into a nice bungalow that had been owned by a hound couple. They were starting to unpack when they heard a knock at the door. They opened it to find a squirrel standing there.

Talking Squirrel - Apps on Google Play

Harry: Hello folks! Welcome to the neighborhood. I’m Harry, and I live right across the street.

Herb: Hello, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Herb, and this is my wife, Marj.

Harry: The pleasure is mine. I see you bought the Bassetts’ place. Lovely couple. I’m sure you’ll find everything in great shape. They were very happy here.

Marj: It does seem very well-kept. Did they move?

Why Try Catnip On Your Cat? And How It Works. | Preventive Vet

Harry: It was kind of strange. They were such a beautiful couple. One day they were here, the next they were gone. No one guessed that they were running an illegal catnip operation.

Marj: Oh my. What is illegal catnip? You can buy it at any store.

Harry: I don’t really know. This was very high-grade stuff. Sometimes cats would come and you wouldn’t see them come out for hours.

Herb: This used to be a catnip den? For getting blissed out for hours.

Cat | Breeds, Origins, History, Body Types, Senses, Behavior, & Heredity | Britannica

Harry: That’s the rumor. I’m sure they cleaned it up before they sold the place to you.

Herb: What about the clients? Do they know the place has been sold?

Harry: I’m not sure. I wouldn’t worry about it. They all seemed like decent folks.

Marj: I guess we’ll see about that.

How to make your garden hedgehog-friendly

They hear another knock. They open the door to find a hedgehog.

Penelope: Hello. I’m your next-door neighbor, Penelope.

Herb: Hello. It’s very nice to meet you. Is everyone this friendly here?

Penelope: Pretty much so. A few animals were thinking that we should start limiting the number of some of the species, so we don’t end up with too many cats or dogs. But I think that whoever wants to live here should be allowed to live here.

This Hedgehog and Cat make the cutest pair! The Odd Couples

Marj: Some of our neighbors didn’t want cats moving in?

Penelope: Well, it’s nothing personal. I’m sure it will be fine for you.

Marj: No one told us that cats might not be welcome. I thought all species were welcome her.

Harry: Don’t listen to her. She just likes to talk.

Two baby hedgehogs are standing on a ledge, looking at the camera. Scene is playful and cute 49857231 Stock Photo at Vecteezy

There’s a light tapping at the door.

Penelope: That must be Lisette. She’s my sister. She lives over a couple of streets.

Lisette: Hi! I’m Penelope’s sister, Lisette. I wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood.

Marj: Thank you. Do any of you have children? The main reason we moved here was because of the schools.

Domestic cat kittens playing in garden - Stock Image - C041/6994 - Science Photo Library

Lisette: Oh yes. Penny and I both have little ones.

Marj: Oh, that’s wonderful! Where do they play? Is there a park close by?

Penelope: Well, there is a park. But we don’t really spend much time there.

Marj: Why not?

cheetah ready to pounce

Lisette: Some of the bigger animals like to play a game they call “Pounce”. It involves them jumping out at the little ones. We can’t get them to understand that the smaller animals don’t want to feel like prey.

Herb: There should be rules against that.

Lisette: Apparently it’s not against the rules unless they actually jump on someone. It’s rather scary for the little ones.

Herb: I can imagine. Is this a pretty quiet neighborhood?

I hear coyotes howling. Does that mean they have just killed something? - Why do coyotes howl and yip? | Urban Coyote Research

Harry: Oh yes. No one is allowed to make loud noises from sundown to sunrise.

Penelope: Except it only really applies to machines and music.

Marj: What other type of noise would their be?

Lisette: They don’t really think of it as noise, but the canines are allowed to howl whenever they feel the need.

Scared Cats - What to Know and What to Do - Edmonton Vet | Gateway Veterinary Centre

Marj: That sounds rather frightening.

Harry: It’s really not bad once you get used to it.

The animals talk for a while longer before leaving Herb and Marj. After they say their good-byes, Herb and Marj look at each other.

Herb: I wonder if it’s too late to change our minds.

How to Introduce Two Cats: A Step-by-Step Guide for a Peaceful Transition - Perfect Petzzz

Pictures courtesy of Google Images

10

Yak Express in a Changing Economy

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Most Dangerous Yak Bull Meeting Amazing 😍 || Village Animals ||

Boris Yak, head of Yak Express, is holding a meeting with other members of the Yak Express board. This meeting is focused on how the new tariffs have been slowing down business. 

Little yak : r/aww

Boris: “Alright, our profits have dropped nearly 30% this quarter. Does anyone have any idea why?”

Darlene: “Well, the humans have that new tariff in place.”

Oliver: “What on earth is a tariff? Is it yummy?”

The Significance of Yaks for Tibetan People

Darlene: “No, silly, it’s a tax that humans pay. It makes things more expensive.”

Oliver: “Oh. Well, I know humans hate paying more for their luxuries.”

Boris: “That is an excellent point. And now humans have to pay extra for smaller shipments.” 

Yaks at Everest Base Camp and their adaptations to high altitudes

Todd: “That stinks. We yaks mostly transport smaller shipments.” 

Darlene: “We have to. It’s the only way to ensure quality and safety.”

Boris: “Of course. But that would certainly explain the decrease in business.” 

Why Tibetan Yaks are Indispensable in Tibet?

Oliver: “We need to figure out how to offset costs.”

Todd: “Well, I think we need to put a hiring freeze in place. We may even have to discontinue lesser traveled routes.”

Darlene: “We also need to become more selective with the deliveries we take. No more heavy but cheap items.”

VISHAL SINGH على X: "Sad Yaks from Laddakh at Kufri Himachal Pradesh. Especially brought from their homeland for tourists to take pictures on them. Stop this cruelty ! https://t.co/cPcwvoSFQQ" / X

Boris: “Both are excellent ideas. I do hate to say this, but we may need to put some of our less productive yaks on furlough.”

Todd: “Let’s save that as a last resort.” 

Boris: “Of course. In the meantime, let’s do a review of our yaks and our items serviced. We may be able to figure out which ones to get rid of.” 

Himalayan Yak, now a Food animal: FSSAI | India Business and Trade

Darlene: “Well, there’s Petal, who delivers mostly food. I think we need to keep her on.”

Oliver: “There’s Wilbur, who delivers toys and electronics. The humans may be grumpy if we slow or stop his services.”

Todd: “There’s Kendall, who delivers furniture. Seems like an awful lot of work for one yak. I think we can pause Kendall’s route.” 

Silent soldiers of the extreme, or why I'm glad I'm not a wild yak

Boris: “We also have Sam, who delivers luxury items like tuna and heated beds. Clearly, we need to keep him on, or there will be riots”. 

The yaks continue to discuss routes. Finally, they’ve made their decisions on who to cut.

Boris: “Alright yaks, I think we’ve done a good job today. Does anyone have any closing thoughts? 

7 Weirdest Animals That You Can Find on ...

The other yaks shake their heads. They’re all ready for the meeting to be over.

Boris: “Alright! Let’s go and have a nice bowl of steamed grass!”

A yak is eating hay from a bowl. Yak eating hay. - PICRYL - Public Domain Media Search Engine Public Domain Search

Pictures courtesy of Google Images.

27

The Summer Was a Zoo

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How to Train a Siamese Cat (4 Easy Steps) | Hepper Pet Resources

Ms Cavendish, an elegant Siamese, was the new primary-level teacher at the Cheeseland Academy of Inter-Species Learning. It’s the first day back after summer break.

Ms Cavendish: Welcome everyone to our first day of school. My name is Ms. Cavendish, and I’ll be your teacher this year. I thought that a good way to introduce ourselves would be to go around the room and tell everyone one thing that you did this summer. Would anyone like to start?

Video: Who Wins This Battle Of Cat Vs. Squirrel? | PawTracks

Sally Squirrel: Ooh, me! My brother Hal got into a fight with the cat next door. There was so much hissing and chittering that my mom had to throw water on them to break it up.

Ms Cavendish: Oh my! Is everyone okay?

Sally: Yes. But my mom said that they aren’t allowed to play in the bird bath anymore.

Running the Raccoons at Critter Care Wildlife Society - YouTube

Ralph Raccoon: We went on a trip to the mountains to visit some relatives this summer.

Ms. Cavendish: Oh, that sounds lovely.

Ralph: We had a great time. And I learned something new.

Ms Cavendish: What did you learn?

Ralph: That humans are really weird. Some of them think that we are adorable and others think that we are full of diseases. One lady saw me and my sister playing chase, running after each other. She started yelling at someone to get a gun because we had to be diseased to be running around like that.

Adorable raccoon eats a marshmallow

Ms Cavendish: That must have been terrifying. What happened?

Ralph: Another lady came out, but she didn’t have a gun. She said, “Myrtle, you’re crazy. Can’t you see that they’re little raccoons having fun?” Then she made the other lady go inside.

Ralph: It turned out really well. The humans had a bonfire later, and we went back to thank the nice lady. She gave each of us something called a s’more. It’s 2 graham crackers with melted marshmallow and chocolate between them.They were really yummy.

Su Pallosu's cat beach is taking Sardinian tourism by storm - Traveling Cats

Tommy Tabby: Me next. We went to the beach.

Ms Cavendish: That’s an interesting choice for a cat family. Do you all like water?

Tommy: Not at all. I mean it’s great to drink, but don’t make me walk or play in it. My mom’s the same way.

Su Pallosu's cat beach is taking Sardinian tourism by storm - Traveling Cats

Ms Cavendish: So who planned the trip?

Tommy: My dad did. He says he didn’t notice all of the water. He wanted to go for the sun and sand. That part was really nice. But my little brother didn’t understand that it wasn’t an open-air litter box. We almost got kicked out when another guest saw him doing his thing. Mom was so embarrassed. She says we’re never going back.

Ms Cavendish: I can definitely see why she would be a little uncomfortable. Who’s next?

Labrador Retriever Group | Facebook

Lily Lab: We went to a family reunion in a place called Woofington.

Ms Cavendish: That sounds like a dog-friendly place.

Lily: We thought so too. But maybe a little too dog-friendly. My aunt had reserved a place in one of their parks for all of us. She was expecting 20-25 dogs. But the park is big, and it seemed like every Yellow Labrador family in the state was in Woofington. There were also lots of Chocolate Labs and Golden Retrievers.

Ms. Cavendish: That sounds like a lot of dogs.

Tibetan Mastiff Owner's Guide | Greencross Vets

Lily: My mom said that she had never seen so many dogs. We followed the directions to our site. She found her sister pretty fast. My aunt was really upset. Some other family had taken over the site.

Ms Cavendish: That’s awful. What happened?

Lily: Not long after we got there, Mom’s other sister arrived with her family, Aunt Shelly’s married to Steffo. He’s a Tibetan Master. He’s really sweet and wouldn’t hurt a fly. But he’s huge and very protective of his family. He went to the alpha of the other family and suggested that they had made a mistake. They were really good about moving on.

_MG_1231 | A young grizzly bear and a coyote having a conver… | Flickr

Ms Cavendish: This is all very interesting. Anyone else want to share?

Kyle Coyote: We got kicked out of a national park. I don’t want to say which one because they might be looking for us.

Ms Cavendish: Oh my goodness! What happened?

Kyle: My family went to this park and wanted to camp. Did you know that some of those places are run by humans? We thought bears ran them all. Bears are cool to coyotes; humans are not.

What's All the Ruckus? Coyote Howling at Night.

Ms Cavendish: And the one you went to was run by humans?

Kyle: Yeah. Mom and Dad got into a huge fight when they found out. Mom won, so we decided to stay. But the guy at the entrance was kinda a jerk. He read all of the rules to us like we were too stupid to do it ourselves. We finally set up camp and ate. We were relaxing at night when we heard the call of the wild. Of course we had to respond. Several other coyotes joined in.

Ms Cavendish: That sounds wonderful.

Kyle: It was. Until the humans showed up and told us we were breaking the rules by making noise after 9 pm. He got into a fight with my dad who scented him. Then we got kicked out.

My favorite animal in i party hat, how cute!!

Ms Cavendish: This has all been a lot of fun. I’m sorry but we’re out of time. Any last thoughts?

Voice at the Back: Party with animals, not with humans.

Pets In School

Pictures courtesy of Google Images

23

Do They Sell Fleas at a Flea Market? Part 2

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Sgt Stripes here. After much discussion, the Communications Team agreed that it was a bad idea to have a flea market in Cheeseland. While the name doesn’t really mean that fleas are involved in the human market, there is a much higher possibility that actual fleas would make an appearance at an animal flea market. So we took another idea from the humans and rebranded it.

How Cats Show Affection Through Their Tails - Cat Explore

So I am here at the 2025 Cheeseland Rummage Sale. Thomas Tabby is here to listen to his constituents. We are going to give you a tour of what is going on.

Sgt Stripes Here’s a familiar face. We didn’t expect to find you here, Gypsy.

Gypsy: What can I say? I though Rummage Sale meant we got to rummage around looking for something that catches our eye.

Sgt Stripes: That’s pretty much the idea. And what cat doesn’t love a good rummage?

Gypsy: You better tell the guy with the meat pies. How was I supposed to know which one I wanted to buy without tasting them? He made me buy the first one I tried. And it was some kind of bird. Yuck! I hate poultry. I thought they’d be, you know meat.

North American raccoon | San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers

Sgt Stripes: I see your point about the poultry vs meat. But once you’ve tasted something, they can’t sell it.

Gypsy: Whatever. I hope they have samples at the treats table.

Sgt Stripes walks up to a raccoon family.

Sgt Stripes: How are you enjoying the sale?

Raccoon looking in mirror

Mama Raccoon: We love it. There is so much stuff to paw through. And whoever thought of the fun house for the kids is a genius. Who doesn’t love funny mirrors and tilted floors?

Papa Raccoon: They might want to rethink the balloons though. A lot of the kids are just learning to control their claws. A few of the more timid ones were frightened by all of the popping.

Thomas Tabby: Thank you for sharing. That’s just the type of feedback we’re looking for.

How To Care for Your Pet Rat | PetMD

Sgt Stripes and Thomas Tabby are pleased to see a large crowd of animals. And a lot of the tables were doing a good business. They walk up to a crowded table and find a large, cheerful rat behind it.

Thomas Tabby: You have an interesting assortment of merchandise.

Rat: You may have heard of a rat’s nest being a jumble of things. When my grandfather went over the Rainbow Bridge, he had been working on it for years. And he collected a lot of stuff. This sale is perfect.

Arizona Pack Rats | Atomic Pest Control

Thomas Tabby: Your grandfather would have been pleased to know so many folks will be enjoying his things.

Rat: You’re right. He was a great guy.

Sgt Stripes: Sorry for your loss.

The two tabbies continue around the park. There are all types of things to buy. A beaver was selling wooden toys he had made.

Here are 2 photos of a beaver chewing the bark and cambium off of a branch. Beavers eat tree product, but don't eat the wood itself. They will eat the twigs, leaves,

Sgt Stripes: These are great! If Mom didn’t have a rule against bringing more stuff into the house, I would definitely get something for the small humans.

Beaver: Thank you! I hadn’t really thought about small humans. I was looking more at the puppy/rabbit market. But that is a excellent idea!

They heard a splash and a lot of laughter.

Sgt Stripes: What was that?

Otter Contemplates a Swim in the Puppy Pool — The Daily Otter

Beaver: That’s the Otter Brothers Dunk an Otter game.It is extremely popular. Anyone who buys a piece of their grasshopper cheesecake gets a chance to spin a wheel to dump one of the otters into a vat of water.

Thomas Tabby: We should go over and take a look.

Sgt Stripes: You go right ahead. I do not like water in my fur.

Beaver: They don’t dunk you. It’s one of the otters.

Why Do Cats Hate Water? 5 Reasons & Tips for Bath Time

Nothing would convince Sgt Stripes to go near the water. He got a salmon smoothie and waited on a bench. Finally, Thomas returned. looking a little soggy.

Thomas Tabby: It looks like you were right, Stripes. They aren’t using a water tank; They are using a tub. Every time the otter goes into the tub, it splashes everyone.

Sgt Stripes: I knew it wasn’t a good idea. Where do you want to go next?

Thomas Tabby: There’s something called The Field of Dreams over by the pavilion. It’s a fundraiser for the Cheeseland Hospital.

Sgt Stripes: That sounds interesting. Let’s go!

The Peruvian Llama - Lima Spanish House

The field was very crowded. They finally got to the pavilion. There was a llama directing some other animals.

Sgt Stripes: This looks exciting. What’s going on, and who is in charge. Is it you?

Llama (laughing): No, I’m part of security. You want JJ Gorilla. He’s the brains behind it.

Sgt Stripes: Mr Gorilla, this looks very interesting. Can you explain what is going on?

Gorilla: Please call me JJ. With all of the budget cuts we’ve been going through, the hospital needed to raise some money. A treasure hunt game sounded like a different, fun way to do it.

😻Cats at the Spa😻 - Funny Cats Doing Human Things

Sgt Stripes: Can you explain how it works?

JJ: We got animals to donate some really nice prizes. We have a heated cat condo, and all-you-can eat dinner for six at Freddy’s Fish Factory, and a custom burrow for winter, and a couple’s spa day at Ruth’s Premier Salon and Day Spa. All told, we have ten excellent prizes.

Sgt Stripes: That does sound nice.  Did everyone here have to buy a ticket? How do you decide who wins?

Differences between cats and dogs: Cats Are Not Small Dogs

JJ: Most of them bought a ticket.They were given an envelope. Ten envelopes had a gold printed map, and the rest had a black printed map. The gold maps each lead to one of the prizes. The black maps lead to a bag of treats.

Sgt Stripes: Why are there so many animals here?

JJ: A lot of the animals who got treat bags are trying to help the lucky winners find their prize. The gold maps are very tricky.

Thomas Tabby: It looks like some of them have family and friends helping too.

How often do you find yourself talking to your pets?

JJ: That’s true. Since each map leads to a different prize, there’s no reason to fight.

Sgt Stripes  and Thomas Tabby returned to the main selling area. There were animals everywhere

Thomas Tabby: This didn’t turn out the way I expected it would. I thought it would be just animals bringing in old stuff.

Sgt Stripes: That’s true. But this is so much better.

Pictures courtesy of Google Images.