#Petcare

If you’ve ever gazed into the soulful eyes of your dog or pondered the enigmatic glance of your cat, you’ve likely wondered: does my pet truly understand me? Recent research—highlighted in a comprehensive feature by The Guardian—delves into the psychological worlds of dogs and cats, raising new questions and challenging old beliefs about our companion animals’ inner lives, especially as millions of Thai households share their homes with beloved pets (The Guardian).

Pet lovers in Thailand and around the world often wonder what goes on in a dog’s mind or a cat’s heart. A recent in-depth feature from The Guardian explores the psychology of dogs and cats, challenging long-held beliefs about their inner lives and what empathy truly means for our companion animals. The piece resonates with Thai households where pets are trusted sources of comfort in difficult times.

In Thailand’s bustling cities, millions of households rely on pets for emotional support. The Guardian’s stories recount terriers offering comforting licks, Labradors standing by grieving humans, and Cavachons soothing children with autism. While many Thai families instinctively view their pets as family, researchers question whether animal actions constitute human-style empathy or are driven by other factors such as emotional contagion or simple curiosity.

A long-standing puzzle about why orange cats are so commonly male has been finally explained by new genetic research published in Current Biology. Scientists identified a specific deletion in DNA near the ARHGAP36 gene on the X chromosome. This mutation activates orange fur production, clarifying why most orange cats are male, while females require two copies to display full orange coloration. The discovery also explains why calico and tortoiseshell patterns are predominantly female, due to different X-chromosome inactivation. The findings come from independent studies by teams from a renowned U.S. university and a leading Japanese university, marking a milestone in feline genetics and veterinary science.

A century-old mystery surrounding the striking orange coats of domestic cats has finally been unraveled by new genetic research published on May 15 in the journal Current Biology (source). Scientists have identified a unique “meow-tation” in feline DNA that not only gives orange cats their distinctive hues, but also explains why the vast majority of them are male—a question that has perplexed geneticists and cat fanciers alike since the early 20th century.

Recent shifts in pet care have seen more households embrace raw diets for their cats and dogs. In Thailand, pet owners are re-evaluating feeding practices as new information links raw pet foods to health risks, including potential connections to the H5N1 bird flu. This prompts a practical rethinking of safe feeding for Thai families and their furry companions.

Raw pet food has long sparked debate due to uncooked meats that can carry harmful germs. A reported case connected a batch of raw turkey food to an H5N1 exposure, culminating in a cat’s death after ingestion. Genetic testing identified the product as the likely source of the virus, with similar incidents reported elsewhere where felines became ill after consuming various raw diets. Thai veterinarians emphasize that these cases illustrate broader safety concerns around raw feeding.