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animals (Page 45)

You might never eat seafood again after you watch this horrifying lobster molting on land

Mike
Dec 6, 2014
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When we posted a video of an enormous, pulsating, terrifying spider crab slowly escaping the confines of its old shell and setting off in search of new digs and (probably) human souls, we thought that was about the most horrifying the process of molting could really get.

Then we saw this video of a spiny lobster molting on land. We will never be the same.

Japan
(animals • food • video • weird • wtf)

Group of cats in China gathers for séance, summoning, or maybe just some sinister cake 【Video】

Casey Baseel
Dec 5, 2014

Some people say cats possess strong spiritual powers, but I’m not so sure. Yeah, they’ve been popular familiars for literary witches since as far back as anyone can remember, but I’m not really convinced that they can sense spirits where the rest of us can’t just because they have a tendency to be startled by, and throw jabs at, empty patches of air. Really, that’s only about as profound a connection to the supernatural plane as I have after half a bottle of bourbon.

But maybe cats do have access to dark magical powers. It would certainly explain the eerie calm they display in this video showing a group of them huddled around a table as part of what looks like a cultish ritual.

China
(animals • cats • cute • scary • weird)

Most popular pet names in Japan for 2014 suggest owners obsessed with food

Jessica
Dec 4, 2014

Earlier this week, we looked at popular baby names making the rounds this year in Japan and now we’ve discovered some data on what Japanese named their pets in 2014. The little guy above may be right to look concerned because almost every name on the list is food-related…

Japan
(animals • funny • names • pets)

Un-bear-ably cute! Munchkin the Shih-Tzu hits the treadmill in teddy costume【VIDEO】

Evie Nyan
Dec 2, 2014

If you’re feeling a little blue at the start of another work week and need an adorable pick-me up, perhaps we can interest you in a fuzzy doggy waggling her way through an intense gym session while dressed as a teddy bear? Munchkin the Shih-Tzu has been earning “Aww!”s all over the interwebs with this video uploaded to her personal YouTube page. In it, Munchkin struts her stuff whilst wearing an improvised costume created from a gutted teddy bear. Thanks to some magical camera-angle trickery, Munchkin appears to walk upright with the jaunty swagger of a carefree teddy just workin’ out in the gym. Join us for the video and more on Munchkin after the jump!

Internet, USA
(animals • animals in costumes • bear • cosplay • cute • dog • shih tzu)

Cats, dogs, pandas & more! An irresistible collection of photos and videos of animals in the snow

Kay
Nov 28, 2014

It seems only a short while ago that we were complaining about how unbearably hot the summer is here in Japan. Well, time sure does pass by quickly, and we’re now headed into winter, with parts of northern Japan already seeing a bit of snow. And while you can always expect small kids to be thrilled with the idea of a winter wonderland, it seems they’re not the only ones that thoroughly enjoy playing with the snow.

We’ve found a collection of photos and videos on Japanese information compilation site Naver Matome which clearly show that animals too get a kick out of jumping and rolling in the fluffy white stuff, and we wanted to share the images with you because, well … they simply looked so “cool” (and not just because of all the snow involved). So, get ready to enjoy some adorable animal snow action!

Global, Internet, Japan
(animals • cute • snow • videos)

Give your cat a sleek Egyptian makeover with the help of a piece of everyday packaging

Casey Baseel
Nov 25, 2014

Earlier this month, cat owners in Japan stumbled across affordable, adorable beds for their pets at IKEA, of all places. But while repurposing the furniture megastore’s doll beds will make your cat look incredibly cute while it’s sleeping, what about when it’s awake?

Actually, we just picked up a collar with a design so elegant it wouldn’t be out of place on an exalted feline in ancient Egypt. Not only was it incredibly cheap, we found it at yet another unlikely place: the grocery store.

Japan
(animals • cats • cool • cute • pets)

Endangered critters in China get health check, diagnosed with acute cuteness 【Photos】

Jessica
Nov 23, 2014

Remember when you were in school and had to do that dreaded health and fitness check in PE class? Turns out those trials aren’t just for little homo sapiens.

A few days ago, workers at the Pu’er Sun River national park were checking the health of their endangered charges ahead of some research projects and got some pretty adorable snaps in the process.

China
(animals • cute • photos)

Yamanashi zoo’s roly-poly resident raccoon is ridiculously round, remarkably cute

Casey Baseel
Nov 22, 2014

Many of Japan’s tasty regional delicacies don’t exactly qualify as low-calorie dining options, such as Fukuoka’s pork stock ramen, Osaka’s deep-fried kushikatsu skewers, and Nagoya’s miso pork cutlets. However, Yamanashi Prefecture’s local specialty, hoto, is relatively healthy, as it’s primarily a vegetable stew with miso broth.

With that in mind, the fact that a zoo in Yamanashi is home to a raccoon who’s so plump he’s almost spherical is a little ironic…and also pretty adorable.

Japan
(animals • cute • funny • parks • zoos)

Deal of the day – Give this hamster’s Vine video six seconds, and he’ll give you a huge smile

Casey Baseel
Nov 21, 2014

It’s one of the sad facts of life that it generally takes longer to build up a good mood than to tear one down. A quick bit of bad luck can ruin your afternoon (just ask anyone who’s been pooped on by a pigeon), but blissful joy is often the result of building off a string of successes and blessings.

We say “often” because sometimes you stumble across a shortcut to a genuine smile or heartwarming laugh, which is definitely the case with the twist ending to this short video of a hamster having its ear stroked.

Japan
(animals • cute • funny • hamsters • pets)

Has this cat’s soul been stolen, or is this just another example of cats being weird? 【Video】

Mike
Nov 17, 2014

A few weeks ago, we saw a cat that could walk backwards on two legs like it was no big deal. At the time, we jokingly wrote it off as just another quirky cat thing that cats do, because cats.

But now that we’ve seen this video of another feline lying prone, belly-up, staring into the abyss as though it’s seen into the eyes of Cthulhu, we’re starting to wonder if maybe there’s some sort of strange otherworldly madness slowly destroying the minds of Japan’s cats:

Internet, Japan
(animals • cute • video • weird • YouTube)

Lost dog appears to turn itself in to local police, recruit their help with finding its owner

Mike
Nov 17, 2014

Usually, it seems, the standard procedure for reuniting a lost pet with its owner is to put up posters on every streetlamp you can find, begging people to let you know if they’ve seen your wayward canine/feline family member.

It’s nice, then, that the owner of a large Alaskan malamute in Suzhou, China had an animal that was smart and proactive enough to basically do all the legwork for him, by essentially turning itself in to the police.

China
(animals • cute • dogs)

Lifelike lion and tiger backpacks from Japan will make everyone who sees you say, “Oh my!”

Casey Baseel
Nov 15, 2014

There are two important things to bear in mind regarding Japanese fashion. First is that, since so many people use public transportation, they almost always need some kind of a bag or backpack to carry their stuff in when they go out. Second, after spending all week wearing a mandated uniform or bland business suit, come the weekend, some people are overcome with the urge to express their individuality to the fullest with their clothing and accessory choices.

With that in mind, just about the fastest route away from your button-down Monday to Friday look is to slip on a backpack that’s the exact shape and size of a tiger’s head.

Japan
(animals • bags • crazy • cute • fashion • weird)

Clever Japanese pet owners find perfect cat beds…at IKEA! 【Photos】

Casey Baseel
Nov 12, 2014

One of the great things about IKEA is the broad appeal of its furnishings. With understated styling, reasonable prices, and adequate quality, the Swedish-based megastore is the perfect place to find sofas for recent college graduates, dishes for newlyweds, and work desks for telecommuters.

And also, as clever Japanese pet owners have learned, adorable beds for cats.

Japan
(animals • cats • cool • cute • interior • pets)

We think he’s purr-fect! Meet Monty, the cat born without a nose bone【Photos】

Fran W
Nov 11, 2014

Monty is a four-year-old rescue cat who’s amassed fans from all over the world. He suffers from a rare chromosomal abnormality causing him to be born without a nasal bridge. And Monty’s owners are hoping their cat will show the world that ‘looking different doesn’t mean you can’t be fantastic!’

Join us after the jump for more adorable photos of this happy little chap!

Europe
(animals • cat • cute • Kitty • Monty • photos)

Ginji the hamster tends miniature bar, serves tiny sushi, makes everyone smile from his cuteness

Casey Baseel
Nov 5, 2014

Growing up, I, like a lot of kids, bugged my parents for a dog. They, like a lot of parents, rightly realized I envisioned myself spending more time playing fetch with it than scooping up its poo, and suggested a much more low-maintenance pet instead.

Eventually, we settled on a hamster, since at the very least the house would stay clean if it was kept in a cage. And while Hamlet (of course we named him Hamlet) never complained about his metal wireframe home, I can’t help but look at these pictures of fellow hamster Ginji and think how much cuter it would have been to make a miniature bar and Japanese-style living room for him.

Japan
(animals • cool • cute • hamsters • pets • toys)

Japanese cats commandeer space heaters, owners left shivering from cold and cuteness 【Photos】

Casey Baseel
Nov 5, 2014

Japan gets pretty chilly during the winter, but houses and apartments aren’t designed with centralized heating systems. Since mounting an array of full-blown AC/heater units throughout your home is a pretty expensive endeavor, a lot of people instead opt to use space heaters to warm up a patch of their living room.

The downside to creating this tiny oasis of warmth, though, is that it can be hard to force yourself to leave it. This phenomena isn’t limited to humans, either, as shown by these Japanese cats lounging luxuriously in front of their owner’s space heaters.

Japan
(animals • cats • cute • funny • pets)

6 people bitten by wild boar in Tokyo

Japan Today
Nov 3, 2014

Six men and women were bitten by a wild boar in Akiruno and Fussa cities in Tokyo on Friday morning.

Japan
(animals • Japan Today • weird • wildlife)

Meerkats draw large crowds as they play in the streets of Ginza

Oona McGee
Oct 28, 2014

If you thought you’d have to travel to the African continent to rub ankles with a meerkat, you’ll be happy to know that they’re closer than you think. Just take a stroll down the Ginza boulevard on any given weekend and chances are you’ll run into three friendly meerkats soaking up the sun on the side of the street.

Japan
(animals • Ginza • pets • travel • wtf)

Meet Menswear Dog, the world’s most stylish Shiba Inu【Photos】

Fran W
Oct 28, 2014

Bodhi is a five-year-old Shiba who lives in New York City. He’s also a talented model and one of the best-dressed dogs on the planet, so it’s no wonder he’s already racked up 150,000 followers on Instagram.

Owners Yena Kim, a former designer at Ralph Lauren, and her boyfriend David Fung started dressing Bodhi up for fun last year, posting the pictures to Facebook as a joke. Now Menswear Dog is so doggone lucrative, they’ve both been able to quit their full-time jobs to work with him.

USA
(animal photos • animals • cool • cute • dog • photos • Shiba Inu)

Adorable clothespin cats give you a reason to look forward to laundry day

Casey Baseel
Oct 28, 2014

As nice as it is to have clean clothes, few of us especially enjoy the process of doing laundry. But in Japan, where everyone hangs their clothes outside to dry, a couple of rainy days can mean a huge pile of laundry to get through, and it’s not unusual for people to spend a large chunk of their day off doing the washing.

So if you’re stuck at home doing housework, you may as well have some cute company, in the form of these cat-shaped clothes-pins.