We wish everyone a very merry Christmas from PetInsuranceIreland.com.

Photo by Randy Robertson.

Halloween is well known for its witches and black cats, but how did black cats get such a bad reputation? When you look back at the history of the cat, they were not just used to kill mice and rats, the Romans highly revered them and the Ancient Egyptians even worshiped them. Cats were thought so highly of by the Egyptians, it is said that to kill a cat intentionally or by accident, was punishable by death.

It wasn’t until the 17th century that cats began to be persecuted. This was due to their association with witchcraft and Satan. The image of the black cat sat on a witch’s broomstick still stays with us today, and is a popular image/costume on Halloween.

Thankfully we know there is no such thing as a witch, and cats in general are now adored and loved by many, but why then are black cats still the least popular? Unfortunately many people are still superstitious of black cats, be it bad luck if you have a black cat turn its back on you, or meeting a black cat early in the morning. If you were to believe superstitions then you would think people would also believe the good luck that black cats bring, be it good luck to own a black cat, have a black cat enter your house or to touch a black cat, but unfortunately being superstitions, they are not logical reactions to black cats in the first place.

Superstitions aside and on a more serious note, if a cat happens to be born with a black coat, animal rescue centres are finding them a lot harder to home. These beautiful animals are for some reason not as popular or as fashionable, and many people who come to look at the cats at re homing centres are dazzled by the beauty of the tabby cat, or ginger and the many other striking cats waiting to be re homed. The poor black cat is often totally ignored.

It is sad to see any cat waiting for a home at an animal sanctuary, but to be over looked just because you have black fur is heart breaking.

Article by PetInsuranceIreland.com. Find the best deals on cat insurance in Ireland.

An adult female bottlenose dolphin with her young

As many as a hundred bottlenose dolphins have decided to take up their home in the seas of County Donegal.

Donegal Bay

The pod of dolphins have been spotted in Donegal Bay between Rossnowlagh Beach and Doorhin Head.

The dolphins delighting boaters, tourists and animal lovers.

Doolin

This week PetInsuranceIreland.com paid a visit to Doolin, County Clare.

In the local harbour we were delighted to spot a dolphin entertaining the local tourists.

Every time it glided to the surface it was greeted with “oohs” and “aahs” from the crowd.

There are some great pictures of the dolphin on this page.

You can visit the Doolin tourist information website here.

Irish Dolphins

We thought we would put together a list of dolphin websites in Ireland if you want to find out more.

• IrishDolphins.com
• DoplhinWatch

If you have a website about dolphins in Ireland please get in touch.

Compare and review pet insurance in Ireland on PetInsuranceIreland.com.

Polar Bear photo by Tambako the Jaguar

All living polar bears can trace back their lineage to one single female brown bear who lived in Ireland.

She is estimated to have lived between 20,000 to 50,000 years ago.

Scientists were able to trace back the lineage using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).

The matrilineal “MRCA” or “most recent common ancestor” can be traced back using MtDNA, which passed down via the mothers DNA.

This means that all living polar bears descended from this one single brown bear from Ireland.

The team from University College London found in total 242 different brown bear and polar bear mitochondrial lineages over the last 120,000 years. They discovered that the fixation of the mitochondrial genome seemed to occur during or before the peak of the last ice age, and in the region of modern day Ireland.

In humans we call the equivalent our “Mitochondrial Eve” – the woman from whom we are all related on our mothers side.

You can read more about the Mitochondrial Eve here.

Article by PetInsuranceIreland.com – pet insurance in Ireland.

Source: WiredUK – Mark Brown.

Photo by Tambako the Jaguar.

Freddy - Photo by Louwuselchen, Ireland

If you have a dog then you will of course want to do everything that you can to keep them fit, healthy, and happy.

Here are five simple tips that will help you to ensure that your four legged friend will stay healthy.

1. Keep On Track of Their Vaccinations, Worming, and Flea Treatment

This is possibly the most important thing to remember when you first  get a dog. As a puppy you will need to take your dog to the vets so that they can get their vaccinations. These vaccinations will protect your dog against a whole host of illnesses and diseases such as kennel cough and many  more. However, many people get the first set of jabs and then don’t go back. This is not a good idea as your dog will need boosters over time to ensure that they are still protected. Worming is another important part of keeping your dog healthy, as is flea treatment. These two things should also be done regularly.

2. Ensure That They Are Walked Regularly

Walking your dog is especially important. A lot of people think that letting the dog run around the garden or yard is giving them adequate exercise, but it really isn’t. Not only this, but how would you feel if you were stuck in the same place all the time? This is why they need to be walked at least twice a day. It will keep them active and happy. It also gives them a chance to interact with other dogs who may be out walking which they will really enjoy.

3. Don’t Feed Your Dog Junk Food!

This is probably one of the worst things that you can do with your dog, but unfortunately, a lot of dog owners do it. Although it may seem unfair not to give your dog bits of food that you are eating, you are doing them a favour in the long run. Certain foods are actually poisonous to dogs, and human food certainly is not good for them. If you want to give your dog snacks then you should purchase some proper dog treats. They will love the taste, and you don’t have to worry about making them unhealthy.

4. Don’t Let Them Play With Sticks

Although it is well known that dogs like to carry sticks around and play fetch, a lot of vets will advise against letting your dog get a hold of sticks and pieces of wood. The reason for this is that the wood can actually splinter and get stuck in their throat or tongue. Of course, this poses a great risk for infection. This is why you should ensure that you keep your dog away from things like this. Get them safe dog toys that they can play with instead.

5. Interaction Is Key

If you are going to get a dog then you have to be prepared to dedicate the time to interacting with them. They are just like us; they get bored too. Buy them interactive toys that they have to work for to get the treats. These will keep them busy for ages, and it also stimulates their brain and keeps it healthy. Talk to your dog and play with them as much as you possibly can. This way they will not only feel loved and wanted, but they will also get excited every time that you come home because they know that it is playtime!

Article by Pet Insurance Ireland.

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Photo: Freddy by Louwuselchen, Ireland.