Paw Nation

Cute Baby Sloths at Costa Rica Sanctuary

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts): Aug 13th 2010 @ 3:00PM Filed Under: Exotic Pets, Funny Animal Videos

You might already be aware that, here at Paw Nation, we have a bit of a soft spot for baby sloths. Well, okay, we tend to have a soft spot for baby animals of all kinds, but sloths, with their long, goofy front legs and inquisitive little faces are special.

The folks at Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica think so, too -- especially Claire Trimer, the Sanctuary's baby sloth wrangler (and yes, that's what we want to be when we grow up, too!). The Sanctuary houses around 135 sloths, all there for various reasons, but all being cared for and loved just the same.

If watching the video below inspires you to learn more about Sloth Sanctuary or the furry darlings that live there, check out Sloth Sanctuary's website.

Cat Fashion for Just $500

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts): Aug 13th 2010 @ 1:00PM Filed Under: Cats, Pet Clothes

Opening Ceremony

Fashionable felines have long gotten the short end of the stick. While poodles have oodles of designer duds from which to choose, kitties pretty much had only two options: collars and harnesses.

But no more! The catwalk is opening up to, well, cats. And nothing proves that trend better than the two kitty outfits now available at the über-hip shop Opening Ceremony at the Ace Hotel, reports New York Magazine.

The outfits, by United Bamboo, retail for $500 each. One features a two-piece look with a purple top, black bottom, and large bow (all the better for taking the focus off a tubby tail or missing whisker, we imagine), while the other is a bit more formal with shiny black ruffles (perfect for a cocktail party). Do they look familiar? They should. They were a part of United Bamboo's cat calendar which we featured in this gallery!

Not included in the retail price: an extra pair of hands to hold down the cat while you dress her, and Band-Aids for the inevitable cat scratches.

Animal Evolution Is Weird Science

by Paul Ciampanelli (Subscribe to Paul Ciampanelli's posts): Aug 13th 2010 @ 11:00AM Filed Under: Birds, Reptiles, Farm Animals

Hen "You wouldn't laugh so hard if you knew who my great-great-great-great-great-great-uncle was!" ebnt-photo, Flickr

What do chickens have in common with that terrible lizard, Tyrannosaurus rex? Very little, you might think. You wouldn't keep a bunch of T-rexes in a coop in your backyard even if you could, and when was the last time you ran screaming in terror from an approaching Rhode Island Red? Yet genetic connections show that our favorite fowl are a lot more similar to those prehistoric predators than we might realize.

The Huffington Post put together a gallery showing this and several other unexpected evolutions that closely link seemingly unrelated species. Wanna know what you have in common with sea sponges? Check the gallery to find out!

Cute Pet of the Day - August 13, 2010

by Paw Nation Staff (Subscribe to Paw Nation Staff's posts): Aug 13th 2010 @ 9:00AM Filed Under: Cats, Cute Pet of the Day

aerodream2001, Flickr

Name: Percy

Location: Boyertown, Pa.

Age: 2

Breed: Domestic Shorthair

Favorite Toy: Catnip stick.

Favorite Treat: Vanilla ice cream.

Likes: Drinking from the bird bath, climbing trees, and racing us across the yard.

Dislikes: Rain, and the foxes that come into the yard.

Animal Play: He carries chipmunks back to the house to play with. The chipmunks hide and he tries to reach them. He would never hurt his furry friends.

Congratulations to our submitter, aerodream2001. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

More Cute Pets

Study Finds Women Confide in Their Dogs

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts): Aug 12th 2010 @ 4:00PM Filed Under: Dogs, Pets News

woman dog Corbis

If you have a deep, dark secret, whom do you tell? According to a recent study in the U.K. by dog-food company Winalot, nearly 20 percent of women confide in their canines, reports The Daily Express. The findings don't stop there. The same study found that 14 percent of women and 10 percent of men believe their dogs can read their minds. (Maybe that's how they always know when it's time to eat!)

What about you, readers? Do you whisper your most important secrets into your pets' silky ears? Do you think they know what you're thinking before you utter a word? Tell us all about it in the comments!

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Food That Looks Like Animals

You love your pets, and we're guessing you also love food. Who doesn't? When these two passions collide, is it sweet, sweet bliss, or something else entirely? Check out these amazing food sculptures and decide for yourself.

Debbie Goard

Food in the shape of animals

You know we love a tribute to a beloved pet, but we're not sure how we feel about cutting into and eating that tribute, especially when it's a cake that looks as lifelike as this one.

Food in the shape of animals

Wise, healthy, and just plain cool. We love it! Now if we only knew how to eat it.

Food in the shape of animals

We aren't even going to ask why this chihuahua needs a computer. Clearly he's a Paw Nation fan.

Food in the shape of animals

They say that alligator tastes like chicken, but we really hope this Florida Gators cake tastes more like, well, cake. Or maybe victory, depending on who your favorite college sports team is.

Food in the shape of animals

I suppose he didn't get the memo about using butter only in moderation.

Food in the shape of animals

We'd give anything to see a real dog checking out this confection. (But we'd be sure to shield his eyes when the cake cutting began.)

Food in the shape of animals

Have you ever seen a photo and absolutely loved it until you took a closer look and realized that, in fact, it is a little troubling? That's what happened to us here.

Food in the shape of animals

Such a cool cake! You know, unless Mitch asked for a real puppy for his birthday and got this instead. Then it's just mean.

Food in the shape of animals

This little fella reminds us of the armadillo cake from the movie "Steel Magnolias." You don't suppose it's a red velvet cake as well, do you?

Food in the shape of animals

This monstrous lizard cake is so lifelike and scary they had to keep it in a glass case.

Food in the shape of animals