Something powerful is happening. And if it happens in New York City‚ it can happen anywhere. According to Fox Business‚ the diaper company EveryLife launched its pro-life "Make More Babies" ad campaign on Wednesday with a Times Square billboard message that featured an image of an appropriate social media post...

Perhaps more investigations into personal ancestries will help calm the pathological madness at the root of modern racial obsessions. On Tuesday's episode of PBS' "Finding Your Roots‚" host Henry Louis Gates Jr. sprang a shocking surprise on LeVar Burton‚ who rose to fame as a young actor in the legendary...

This week Congressman Ted Lieu‚ a Democrat from California‚ introduced a critical new bill that will undoubtedly save millions of American lives. American rats‚ that is. I’m not kidding. The Glue Trap Prohibition Act‚ introduced Wednesday‚ is a bill that bans the use of glue traps to catch rodents. Congressman Adam...

How to Be One in Christ Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ‚ if any comfort from his love‚ if any common sharing in the Spirit‚ if any tenderness and compassion‚ then make my joy complete by being like-minded‚ having the same love‚ being one in spirit and of one mind. – Philippians 2:1-2 In 1986‚ remnants of a hurricane dumped more than two feet of water in parts of Oklahoma‚ causing the Arkansas River to flood and devastating large parts of the city of the Tulsa area. Many were forced to leave their homes. And when it was all said and done‚ several had lost their lives. But one local pastor who had been involved in the relief efforts saw something in those days he had never seen before. He shared... "I saw people coming together to fight the rising water – Republicans next to Democrats; Catholics next to Pentecostals; blacks next to whites. They put aside their differences for a greater purpose." The Church of Jesus Christ has the greatest purpose ever given. Yet so many self-proclaimed members find as many reasons as they can to gripe‚ complain‚ and fuss about what others are doing. How much different would Christianity look if the body of Christ stood together to build one another up instead of tearing each other down? Support other believers. Work together with them to accomplish the task the Lord's given us. Be humble – and be one in Christ! Prayer Challenge: Ask God to show you how you can help unite His people to reach the world for Christ. Questions for Thought: Why do you think there's so much division among Christians today? What can you do to help unite believers in Christ from different walks of life? Visit the Senior Living Ministries website The post How to Be One in Christ – Senior Living – January 19 appeared first on GodUpdates.

A Washington state judge denied eight petitioners’ request to remove Donald Trump from the 2024 presidential primary ballot. Thurston County Superior Court Judge Mary Sue Wilson rejected claims Trump should be ineligible due to the J6 Capitol riots. “An order directing the secretary of state to take different action‚ an order from this court‚ is simply not supported by the statutes and not supported by the affidavit of the electors‚” Wilson said in her ruling‚ according to KOMO News. BREAKING: A Thurston County judge denied 8 petitioners' request to remove former president Donald Trump's name from Washington ballots on Thursday: https://t.co/8wuQYTO4k9 — KOMO News (@komonews) January 18‚ 2024 KOMO News reports: By law‚ Judge Wilson said she found no error in putting Trump on the ballot‚ so his name stays. “I’m a law follower‚ so if our laws are giving us flexibility for people to have a name removed. Then that’s our state law‚” said Karla Winkley‚ a Thurston County voter. “The judge made the right decision. I wasn’t totally comfortable with her reasoning‚ and I think there’s some very important issues here‚ and that is regardless of how you feel about Donald Trump. Trump has not been charged with an insurrection‚” said C. Davis‚ another Thurston County voter. The petition pushing for ballots to be printed without Trump’s name started in Kitsap County‚ in a courtroom filled mostly with Trump supporters. The hearing on Tuesday lasted less than 10 minutes before Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Bassett said the courtroom was the wrong venue. BREAKING: A Thurston County judge Thursday declined to remove former President Donald Trump from Washington’s presidential primary ballot. https://t.co/XsQX5E4HcP — The Seattle Times (@seattletimes) January 18‚ 2024 The Seattle Times added: Wilson declined to consider a question about Trump’s place on the general election ballot‚ calling it premature‚ but noted the possibility of people‚ “when it is right‚” potentially challenging Trump’s spot there as well. The Kitsap County residents had pushed for Trump’s removal from the ballot‚ arguing that his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his role in the Jan. 6‚ 2021‚ attack on the U.S. Capitol constitute an insurrection and make him ineligible for office. A Kitsap County judge‚ earlier this week‚ said the case should be heard in Thurston County‚ home of the state Capitol. The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution bars anyone who has served as “an officer of the United States” from holding office if they have “engaged in insurrection.” There have been challenges‚ under the 14th Amendment‚ to Trump’s ballot eligibility in at least 35 states. In two states‚ Colorado and Maine‚ officials have ordered the former president removed from the ballot‚ although those decisions are on hold‚ pending appeals. In Colorado‚ Wilson said‚ there were months between the filing of the ballot challenge and ballot deadlines. And there was a full five-day trial to consider evidence. There was time for a district court to rule and for the state Supreme Court to consider an appeal. None of that is contemplated by Washington law‚ Wilson said‚ which only allows her to correct clear errors. The Maine Superior Court issued a stay on the decision to remove Trump from the primary ballot until the U.S. Supreme Court decides. Maine Court Rules To Keep President Trump On The Ballots Pending SCOTUS Review

On July 19‚ 1976‚ Deep Purple officially split up. The ending was horrible‚ marked by addiction and jealousy

Gaza has essentially been a Palestinian state since 2005 when Israel evacuated all its people and removed its presence‚ military or otherwise…and look what happened. “From the River to the Sea” must now mean one thing: Under Israeli Control. And this is why: 

The post My Cat Ate a Ribbon: Is It Dangerous? Our Vet Explains by Dr. Iulia Mihai‚ DVM MSc (Vet) appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Cats like to play with many things‚ including laces‚ threads‚ hair bands‚ rubber bands‚ tinsel‚ or ribbons. Although cats playing with these items are extremely fun to watch‚ it is recommended to always supervise them because ribbons and similar items can be dangerous if ingested. If your cat has swallowed a ribbon‚ contact your veterinary clinic immediately for advice. Depending on the width and length of the ribbon and how much time has passed since it was swallowed‚ the vet will make a recommendation on your next steps and the urgency. What Could Happen If My Cat Ate a Ribbon? Cats can swallow foreign‚ inedible objects from time to time. Some individuals are more prone to doing this than others. Many foreign objects can cause severe problems in the digestive tract resulting in the need for surgery. One of the most troublesome situations is when cats eat linear foreign objects‚ such as ribbon‚ yarn‚ sewing thread‚ laces‚ fishing nylon‚ string‚ etc. If the piece of ribbon is short‚ it may be eliminated along with the feces or vomited in a few days after ingestion. However‚ this is a judgment that your veterinarian should make as there can be life-threatening intestinal problems after eating a ribbon or similar object. There is potential for severe intestinal injury with these types of object and any ingestion of a long thin‚ (linear)‚ foreign body should be discussed with your veterinarian urgently. The danger is that sometimes one end of the ribbon (or string etc) becomes anchored at one end and intestinal movements pull the other end along with them. The intestines will keep moving the other end further along the intestinal tract resulting in the intestines becoming bunched up and a cheese-wire type effect where the tension on the linear object starts to cut through the intestines. If this occurs the ribbon will cause damage to the mucosa (inner layer) and even eventually the deep layers of the intestine. This can lead to damage‚ perforation (a hole)‚ and intestinal necrosis (impaired blood flow and tissue dying off). All of the above can result in the leakage of gut contents and bacteria into the abdominal cavity‚ peritonitis and sepsis are common consequences‚ which can be fatal. Image Credit: Sannikova Maria‚ Shutterstock Clinical Signs That Your Cat Ate a Ribbon or Another Linear Foreign Body You may or may not have seen your cat eat the ribbon. If you didn’t see your cat do it but you suspect that this happened‚ a few clinical signs will tell you that something is wrong with your pet and that you need to go to the vet. It is worth keeping in mind that cats are good at hiding their suffering and pain‚ so their signs may be subtle at first. Clinical signs may include: Nausea Hypersalivation (drooling) Vomiting Diarrhea or constipation Hunched appearance due to abdominal pain Lack of appetite Lethargy Changes in behavior (hides or is quieter than usual‚ etc.) These signs should always prompt a consultation with your veterinarian urgently. How Will My Vet Know If My Cat Ate a Ribbon? Once you arrive with your cat at the veterinary clinic‚ the vet will ask you a series of questions which is called history taking. This helps them to gather information about what has happened (if you know) and what signs your cat is showing. They will evaluate your pet as thoroughly as possible. This will involve an examination including feeling your cat’s abdomen‚ checking for the presence of abdominal pain or other abnormalities. Often temperature‚ gum color and heart rate will also be checked.  Depending on the outcome of these initial checks your veterinarian may recommend that further testing is necessary. This can include abdominal ultrasound and/or X-rays and blood tests. In some cases‚ it will be recommended that exploratory surgery or endoscopy‚ to locate and remove the ribbon (or another foreign body) is necessary. Image Credit: Natali Kuzina‚ Shutterstock What if Your Cat is Passing the Ribbon? It can happen that you did not know your cat had eaten something indigestible until it started to make its own way out of their system. If you see a ribbon starting to come out little by little from your cat’s anus‚ do not pull it. Never pull on a ribbon or any other linear foreign body‚ whether it’s coming out of your cat’s mouth or the anus. You can cause serious damage to the digestive tract and more problems for your cat. Contact your veterinarian because they can give you the best advice depending on your cat’s situation. Hopefully the ribbon will come out as your cat passes feces so keeping them in a room with a litter tray until you are sure they have safely passed the ribbon may be what your veterinarian recommends. Is Ribbon Safe for My Cat to Play With? Prevention is better than cure in this scenario. Ribbons are only safe for cats to play with if they are supervised. Do not let your pet play with ribbons or other stringy items without monitoring them. Also‚ make sure you put away the ribbon when you are not home or when they are done playing. Some cats may chew on the ribbon and ingest small parts of it‚ others may just play with it‚ and still others might ingest it whole. Even if you know that your cat plays nicely with ribbons and string‚ it is always safer to make sure you put them away after playtime. It’s better to be safe than sorry! The same applies to cat toys that have string parts attached (such as toy mice) or have other components that can be chewed and swallowed. Conclusion If your cat has swallowed a ribbon contact your veterinarian as soon as the incident occurs. They are best qualified to advise you on what to do next. Linear foreign objects such as ribbon and yarn can cause severe intestinal injury. Clinical signs you may see include vomiting‚ diarrhea‚ drooling‚ being hunched up‚ lethargy‚ and lack of appetite. It is possible for ribbon to pass through the digestive tract but with the high risk of complications‚ it is best to talk things through with your vet. Sources https://www.dvm360.com/view/diagnostic-imaging-linear-foreign-bodies-cats https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37350262/ https://rcb.res.in/upload/AAVS_5_10_416-418.pdf https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6698839/ https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/systemic/sepsis-dogs Featured Image Credit: Ermolaev Alexander‚ Shutterstock The post My Cat Ate a Ribbon: Is It Dangerous? Our Vet Explains by Dr. Iulia Mihai‚ DVM MSc (Vet) appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

The post Why Does An Adult Cat Go Limp When You Grab Their Scruff? Vet-Approved Reasons &; FAQ by Genevieve Dugal appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. When mother cats want to move their kittens‚ they gently bite the skin on their necks to lift them. The kittens almost always react the same way: They go completely limp. There’s even a scientific name for this inert‚ lifeless state: the flexor reflex. However‚ this nerve-triggered response disappears after the first few weeks of a kitten’s life. So‚ why does an adult cat also become completely immobile when you grab their scruff? According to feline experts and veterinarians‚ a cat that “freezes” when you pick them up by the scruff of their neck is having a learned helplessness response‚ which should not be confused with their being relaxed and content. In fact‚ it’s quite the opposite: The cat is likely feeling pain and fear. Here’s why “scruffing” a cat is not considered to be an appropriate way to pick up or hold a cat. What Does It Mean When an Adult Cat Goes Limp When You Scruff Them? A cat that becomes still when you pick them up by the scruff of the neck is showing a submissive response. This state is called learned helplessness‚ which basically means the cat doesn’t try to move because “they don’t believe their actions matter.” This sentence may sound a little too anthropomorphic‚ but it is a scientifically recognized phenomenon in both animals and humans. Here are a few more definitions: In psychology‚ learned helplessness refers to the “maladaptive passivity shown by animals and people following experiences with uncontrollable events.” In the book‚ “Modeling Neuropsychiatric Disorders in Laboratory Animals‚” learned helplessness is described as “a phenomenon in which a subject (human or animal) that is exposed repeatedly to an inescapable stressor develops a behavioral syndrome in which it shows reduced capacity to escape the same stressor.” In a study on the behavior of cats in shelters‚ researchers noted that “learned helplessness is an interesting form of extreme stress‚ which can be seen during chronic stress or during the exhaustion phase. The animal typically has learned that its behavior has no impact on the situation around it. These animals are withdrawn and unmoving but will continue to remain vigilant for change.” In other words‚ learned helplessness could be compared to a cat that “freezes” when faced with a stressful‚ inescapable situation: Their muscles become rigid and they go completely limp. They may seem calm and silent‚ but this “false” relaxed posture hides real distress and discomfort. Image Credit: Aziz Acharki‚ Unsplash Is It Painful for an Adult Cat to Be Grabbed by Their Scruff? Yes‚ it’s likely painful and scary‚ especially for an adult cat‚ as they are heavier than kittens. The sensation of their scruff being pulled can be unpleasant‚ and going limp may reduce the pain‚ though it doesn’t indicate relaxation. Basically‚ scruffing a cat should be avoided because it can cause fear‚ stress‚ and loss of control in the animal. There are better and gentler ways to handle your feline friend. Are There Situations Where It’s Okay to Grab a Cat’s Scruff? Kittens are naturally grabbed by the scruff of their necks by their mother during their first few weeks‚ but this type of handling should not be repeated once they reach adulthood. That said‚ the following situations may require this type of handling‚ but it is preferable to limit them: If there is an immediate safety concern (such as when cats are fighting violently)‚ scruffing them may be appropriate to prevent injury. During critical veterinary procedures or emergency/trauma evaluation‚ scruffing may be done if other methods of passive restraint have failed and it’s in the cat’s best interest and safety. How to Tell When Your Cat Doesn’t Want to Be Picked Up If your cat doesn’t want to be held‚ they may exhibit what veterinarians call “the four F’s of stress”: Fight — Dilated pupils‚ flattened ears‚ hissing‚ growling‚ scratching‚ or biting Flight — Trying to move away‚ hiding‚ or wiggling to get down when picked up Freeze — Rigid posture‚ unresponsiveness‚ and limpness when picked up (which is not a sign of relaxation‚ but rather a learned helplessness response!) Fidget — Signs like lip licking‚ yawning‚ sudden grooming‚ or doing a full-body shake after being placed down If you notice any of these signs‚ veterinarians recommend giving your cat a bit of space and letting them approach you for interaction when they’re ready. How to Pick Up Your Cat in a Proper and Painless Way Image Credit: Jaromir Chalabala‚ Shutterstock First‚ make sure your cat actually wants to be picked up. How can you know that? Observe their body language. A relaxed cat will have: A calm posture A tail that’s moving in a slow and lazy movement Ears not folded on the head but facing forward Normal-sized‚ almond-shaped pupils A soft expression Blinking slowly Important Note: Cats might also purr when relaxed‚ but know that purring doesn’t always indicate contentment. Indeed‚ when frightened or not feeling well‚ cats may purr to self-soothe. With that in mind‚ here’s some tips on how to safely pick up a cat: Approach your cat slowly‚ avoiding sudden movements. Crouch down next to them and initiate contact with a gentle stroke along the back. Gently slide your hand along the outer side of their body‚ under their chest‚ with your fingertips facing their face. Place your elbow toward their rear end‚ cradling them as if you were holding a football‚ and use your other hand to provide additional support to the front of their chest. Let your cat settle into a comfortable position. Some prefer their legs to hang‚ while others need more support for their back legs. Avoid the belly-up position‚ which can make cats feel vulnerable. If your cat begins to show signs of discomfort or frustration‚ place them back on the floor. Always be patient and gentle with your feline friend and respect their boundaries. Just like humans‚ not all cats enjoy being touched and handled. Holding your cat in this manner gives you two secondary options of restraint in case safety becomes a concern‚ and you cannot safely release them: The hand under their chest can hold onto the elbow closest to your body to give you a more secure hold. The second hand can apply a gentle scruff hold (not carry or lift) if it becomes absolutely necessary. Final Thoughts Ultimately‚ each cat has their own preferences for how they prefer to be lifted and held‚ and of course‚ there are some cats that do enjoy being cradled like a baby‚ or others‚ like the Ragdoll‚ that go into a very relaxed‚ floppy state when they are content in their person’s arms. However‚ you should always avoid grabbing your feline friend by the scruff of the neck. This can cause pain‚ significant fear‚ and stress and rob them of their sense of control. This is why it is important to choose gentle methods to handle your cat and above all‚ to always respect their pace and boundaries! Featured Image Credit: Oleg Troino Shutterstock The post Why Does An Adult Cat Go Limp When You Grab Their Scruff? Vet-Approved Reasons &; FAQ by Genevieve Dugal appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.