Paw Nation

A cat from rural New Zealand got a free ride to Wellington this week when it slipped its way inside one of KiwiRail's passenger cars. The gray, short-haired male cat was discovered during a routine stop by a KiwiRail train conductor, according to the Wairarapa Times-Age. When the conductor attempted to coax the cat into a box, it reportedly left him in bandages.

The unfortunate run-in delayed the train for 30 minutes while the injured manager received medical attention and KiwiRail found a replacement driver. According to KiwiRail's Communications Manager, Nigel Parry, the conductor was trying to safely remove the cat from the train in order to take it to the SPCA.

As many cat owners have learned the hard way, cats and travel generally don't mix, especially the part where you try to force them into a box.

"It's very unusual indeed," Parry told the Times-Age. "In fact, when I spoke to the train manager after his hand had been bandaged up he said he had been working in trains for four decades and it was first time he has been attacked by a cat." Again, we wonder how many times in those four decades the train manager has tried to put a strange cat in a box.

KiwiRail officials believe the cat may have boarded the train somewhere in the Wairarapa region near Wellington. The train company is currently searching for the cat's proper owner, though not to send them the conductor's medical bills, or even a bill for the cat's unpaid ticket.

"We have no intention to charge a fare and we are obviously appealing for the owner to contact the Wellington SPCA for its return," Parry tells the Times-Age, "We can also assure we won't be charging the owner a fare."

Most cats have a desperate fear of travel; they can't stand cars, they detest airplanes, and they bemoan the bus, but what about trains? This adventurous kitty certainly didn't want to give up his seat. Maybe he was excited about getting to visit one of world's greatest beer drinking cities?

Trains and adventure certainly do go together. This article on Gadling about Australia's transcontinental railroad is proof!

Animal lovers won some big victories on Tuesday as voters went to the polls to protect the rights of animals large and small.

Fighting the War Against Puppy Mills
In the so-called "puppy-mill capital of the world," Missouri voters passed the nation's first statewide ballot measure to protect dogs from the worst abuses at puppy mills. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) campaigned for this legislation because at puppy mills in Missouri, dogs are typically crammed into small and filthy cages, denied veterinary care, exposed to extremes of heat and cold, and given no exercise or human affection. The proposition requires large-scale dog breeding operations to provide each dog under their care with sufficient food; clean water, housing and space; necessary veterinary care; regular exercise; and adequate rest between breeding cycles. The measure also prohibits any breeder from having more than 50 breeding dogs for the purpose of selling their puppies as pets, and creates a misdemeanor crime of "puppy-mill cruelty" for any violations.

"It is hard to overestimate the importance of this victory for the national effort to protect dogs from abuse and neglect and to reduce euthanasia of dogs throughout the nation," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of HSUS. "We won in the state where the puppy mill industry is strongest, and now it is time for the mills to begin to conduct animal care in a fundamentally different way."

Creating a cool craft for your kitty is a purr-fect way to show how much you love her. Or at least burn some time on the weekend.

Our friends at Petside have created two DIY cat toys that are sure to please both you and your pretty kitty. If you're a serious crafter, it's likely you already have everything you need to make both "A Bird in the Hand" and "Secret Squirrel," but even if you have to hit up your local craft store before beginning, you're still just four or five steps (and, in the case of "A Bird in the Hand, 48 hours of glue-drying) away from playtime!

Check out Petside for step-by-step instructions for making these fun toys.

Name: Chief

Age: 4 (8 weeks in photo)

Breed: English Bulldog

Favorite Toy: Any one of his owner's daughter's stuffed animals that he can get a hold of.

Favorite Treat: Nylabone Healthy Edibles

Likes: Belly rubs, short walks, catching snacks tossed up into the air.

Dislikes: Vacuum cleaners and weed eaters are his mortal enemies and must be attacked.

Weird Quirks: He doesn't chase cats, but will go bonkers if he spots a mouse.

Fun Fact: Chief would choose a head rub or belly rub over a treat any day, paws down!

Congratulations to our submitter, Tracy Highnote. If you'd like to submit your pet to Cute Pet of the Day, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

More Cute Pets

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