iPhone Halloween Dog Costume

I'm a gadget geek and pet freak, so this is right up my alley, and hopefully yours. I give you, the Apple iPhone dog Halloween costume. I'm not sure Steve Jobs would approve, but that's some seriously amazing DIY work, care of Gregory Hull, who kindly posted the pic on his Flickr page. (Check it out for a bigger pic). Hat tip: Make via Gizmodo.

I guess it's official. The iPhone has been hacked on the hardware side as well as the software side. Need your iPhone hacks? Talk to the dog.

Mean Kitty: Halloween Edition

The continuing saga of Sparta, Corey William's now-famous cat.

Margaret Thatcher a Cat Person

The folks at National Review Online (specifically Jonah Goldberg and Rich Lowry) have a long running argument over the superiority of dogs versus cats. Jonah, the affable, playful frat-boyish Editor-at-Large prefers affable, playful pooches. Rich Lowry, the brooding head honcho of the magazine, keeps the company of evil, maniacal cats from high atop his perch at the towering headquarters of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy.

Though I like Jonah Goldberg's writing and think he has the upper hand in the argument, I would be remiss not to note that today Rich Lowry may have scored a win. It appears that either he or his minions (the same ones that prevent said Goldberg from being allowed a living wage) have mischievously convinced Margaret Thatcher, the Grand Dame of conservatism, to get a cat, instead of a dog.

"She had thought of getting a dog," said a friend, "but exercising it would have posed security issues."

Who was this friend, I ask? I posit that it was none other than Rich Lowry, co-conspirator of the League of Evil Cats.

Hypoallergenic Designer Cats Free Nose, Wallet from Congestion

Remember that $25,000 genetically engineered hybrid wild cat yesterday? Well, the folks at Lifestyle Pets also have a less expensive option for those of you eager to introduce a feline mutant into the family. This morning, the Oregonian has an article about Allerca, a subsidiary of Lifestyle Pets, which produces cats that are a few proteins shy of a typical cat.

Allerca's breed offerings, Allerca GD (the original), Chakan GD (the Siamese-looking version) and Ashera GD (the allergy free version of the $25,000 super cat), are available in a variety of prices, but start at about $5,000. They're missing glycoprotein, Fel d 1, an allergen found in cat saliva and on cat skin, which is what causes those allergic to cats to get the sniffles and itchy eyes.

Those of you who thought hairless cats were the solution? Allerca says you are only fooling yourself. Since the allergen is primarily in your cat's saliva and in it's skin, you're only mildly reducing one of the lesser sources of the irritant by taking hair out of the equation.

Plus, with hairless cats you're cheating yourself out of a cat that coughs up hairballs and sheds all over everything you own. So now, instead of trying to reduce cat shedding, you can keep it and ditch the allergies. Now, all we cat-owning masochists can be happy!

Corgis Clean Up at Fido Film Awards

The five Corgis that co-starred with Helen Mirren in Oscar-winning "The Queen" cleaned up at the first annual Fido Awards, besting all other canine-comers (and likely many humans overall) for the best pet actors award. Poppy, Anna, Alice, Oliver and Megan were able to convey all of the kingly, cuddly enthusiasm befitting their breed for their royal roles, as opposed to the normal peasant-ish, cuddly enthusiasm that regular old Corgis exhibit. Click here for the red-carpet video, sporting the latest in dog fashions. I'd be remiss not to note, however, that there were no Estate Bordeaux Smoking Jackets to be seen.

Dog vs. Bike Racers: Dog Wins

This is the difference between dog mishaps and cat "mishaps." When something bad happens as a result of your cat, you know the cat planned it. With the dog, it just happened. Case in point: This video of a dog wandering across the racecourse during a bike race. Sure, he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he's just walking along, minding his own business.

Look closely, and you can see the biker's front tire completely bent out of shape, and the dog is totally fine. Just take it as it comes, man. Just think, if the dog's owner had just let him ride in his very own doggie bike trailer, none of this would have happened.

Ashera, the $25,000 Genetically Engineered Cat Breed

The UK's Daily Telegraph is reporting on Ashera, the World's most expensive cat. Ashera is not one cat, but a new trademarked breed name offered by LifeStyle Pets, a breeder of exotic animals. Ashera is a genetically engineered mix between African serval and the Asian leopard cat, and a secret domestic breed that LifeStyle Pets won't divulge.

For just a smidgen under $25,000 and a nine month waiting period, they'll deliver one of these big 30 lb. beauties to your door. They've apparently sold several in the U.S., Great Britain and in Asia.

At that size, these guys would rule the Kitty Treehouse, and probably any dogs around.

As one who has previously sounded the alarm on the dangers of evil cats, I'm a little worried about 30 lb. genetically engineered spawn of African and Asian wild cats being unleashed in one's home.

Incredible Feline Fondness for Pet Effect

One of the many Pet Effect regulars. He was a bit angered by my comments on the plotting of felines yesterday. This is a pic of him submitting his complaint. Clearly, though I still hold that cats are often malevolent, they're certainly more civilized than their canine colleagues.

New Find: Animal Hubbub

I can't believe I hadn't spotted this great pet blog before. I just spent waaaaay two much time perusing its fantastic innards! It's managed by a team of five animal lovers and they cover a wide range of pet-related stuff, from news to new pet goodies and a litter-box-full of other stuff, too. I've just added them to the blog-roll on the right.

Take a look: Animal Hubbub

You hear that, Baxter? Five! Five contributors! How many do we have? Oh, never mind.

Dog Saves Family After Cat Tries to Kill Them

Hey, I love cats as much as I do dogs. But cats, they can do with out you. In fact, some of them actually would prefer to do without you. Case in point (from the AP):

GREENVILLE, Maine - Thumper, a Labrador retriever, is getting credit for saving a Greenville man when a fire swept through his home.

Roland Cote says his wife and their 7-year-old grandson were away when the blaze started early Sunday in a converted two-story garage. He says Thumper grabbed him by the arm to wake him, leaving just enough time for him to dial 911 before fleeing the fast-moving fire.

While the dog is the hero, a cat is the bad guy in this story.

Cote says the fire marshal investigator believes the blaze was started when Princess, the family cat, tipped over a kerosene lantern. Cote says he and his pets escaped safely, but he says Princess did get her tail singed by the flames.

Pet Tech: USB Dog Tag Actually for Dogs

Ever tried to fit enough vital information on your pup's tag and found the available space a bit constraining? Sure it's entertaining watching the automated-Dremmel thingie etching away on that heart-shaped, metal canvas, but what about letting any potential doggie rescuers know about more than just the dog's name and owner contact info?

Enter the USB dog tag. Pictured is the pink version of the bone-shaped, soft shielded, 512Mb device which allows you to include anything you want, such as your dog's favorite food, best scratching spots, pictures, medical history and anything else you'd like to include that would help any would-be rescuers in the event of scruffy getting lost.