Tag: animal behavior

Don’t be so fast to judge a cat by its color, study warns

Don't be so fast to judge a cat by its color

October 23, 2012:

Just like humans, domestic cats are often judged by their color, and the media and folklore help perpetuate these stereotypes. Take the snobbish, aloof, white kitty who promotes Fancy Feast cat food, and spooky images of black cats, which can be associated with bad luck and witches, especially around Halloween. A new UC Berkeley study warns that typecasting cats according to their color can negatively affect adoption rates at shelters.

Fox squirrels show long-term investment savvy when hoarding nuts

October 3, 2012:

Researchers at UC Berkeley are gathering evidence this fall that the feisty fox squirrels scampering around campus are not just mindlessly foraging for food, but engaging in a long-term savings strategy. Humans could learn something about padding their nest eggs from these squirrel diversification efforts. Of course, with squirrels, it’s not about money, but about nuts.