📨 Cat Pee Smells, Teaching Your Kitty Fetch & Martha Stewart Mourns Her Cat

🔬 CAT RESEARCH ROUNDUP
What Makes Cat Pee Smell So Bad!?

Ever walked into a room and been hit by the unmistakable scent of cat pee? It’s a common dilemma for us cat owners, and it turns out the reasons why that smell is so potent, especially when cats spray, are rooted in science. Japanese researchers from Iwate University have made some fascinating discoveries that could help you keep your home smelling fresh.The study has been published in the Journal of Chemical Ecology. According to Prof. Masao Miyazaki, a leader of the research project, here’s what they found👇

• Cat urine's potent smell comes from high levels of proteins like cauxin and felinine, which increase its adhesiveness and speed up evaporation, amplifying odor release.

• Tests reveal that to cats, sprayed and non-sprayed urine smells the same, but humans notice a stronger odor due to its rapid drying on vertical surfaces.

• To tackle these odors, using compounds with metal ions such as gold, silver, and copper is recommended, as they neutralize the smell by bonding with the volatile chemicals.

🐾 SCIENCE SCOOP
Cats Can Play Fetch Without Being Trained, Scientists Find

It turns out cats might just outshine dogs at their own game! Recent research has uncovered that many cats naturally play fetch and often initiate this playful interaction without any formal training. This intriguing behavior was highlighted in a study where scientists analyzed responses from over 900 cat owners, revealing that a significant number of felines frequently start games of fetch and maintain their interest longer when they do. Does your kitty ever want to play fetch, let alone initiate playtime? Send us an email back and let us know!

🫂 CAT CULTURE
Martha Stewart Mourns the Death of Her Persian Cat Empress Tang

Martha Stewart recently shared a touching goodbye to her cherished Persian cat, Empress Tang, who passed away at nearly 15 years of age. The announcement was made on Instagram, where Stewart remembered Empress Tang as a "dearest tri-color Persian" who lived a full life, even dabbling in modeling for her brand and others. This loss is heartbreaking as it comes two years after the death of another of her cats, Princess Peony, in a tragic incident involving her dogs.

Stewart's pets have often been part of her public persona, featuring in her brand campaigns and personal stories shared with her audience. The death of Empress Tang marks the end of an era for the calico Persian sisters who had been part of Stewart's life since they were kittens. Martha Stewart has been known for having a diverse and bustling animal household over the years, which has enriched both her life and her fans' lives. Her website tells a super cute story of the pets she's had over the years Martha Stewarts pets over the years.