Smart kitty

September 13: ARRI fundraiser event

 Our 15th Annual Bark on the Beach is happening Sunday, September 13, at Narragansett Town Beach!

This one-mile walk and fundraiser brings our community together for one morning with one BIG goal: raising critical funds for the animals who depend on ARRI.

Early Bird Registration is happening now through August 31 for just $30. Register, start fundraising, invite your friends and family to support you, and help us make our 15th year our biggest yet.

We're counting the days until we see you there!

Play‑fighting or just fighting? New study suggests a rethink on how we play with cats

Pay attention unless you like to bleed

Julia Henning, Adelaide University

Joey and Frida fight for world domination.
Photo by Will Collette

Have you ever watched online videos of people “playing” with cats and noticed the cat doesn’t actually look like they’re having fun? If so, you’re likely better than the average person at reading cat body language.

Regular interactive play supports cats’ physical health, reduces stress, and strengthens the human–cat bond.

But according to our most recent study, what many people think of as “play” may not be play at all. In fact, these interactions cause cats annoyance or stress.

When ‘play’ isn’t actually play

When playing, both human and cat need to tell apart behaviors that might be threatening in other contexts, such as sudden movements, swatting or chasing.

Research shows people struggle to interpret cat communication and often fail to notice when a cat doesn’t want to play. Even when they do notice, many people choose to continue anyway.

To understand why people might misinterpret or ignore cat stress signals, in our new study we analysed 1,100 comments on social media videos hosted on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook depicting harmful “play”.

To avoid viral videos disproportionately influencing analysis, only the first 100 comments from each video were analyzed. Comments came from a mix of cat owners and non-cat owners.

All 11 videos included clear signs of cat distress such as hissing, biting, attempting escape, visible human injuries and, in some cases, cats being physically harmed. Despite this, 75–93% of comments on all videos were positive. How come?

Next Saturday: support Animal Rescue RI

 Join us for a night of fun at the Pup & Kitty Crawl!

On Saturday, August 22nd, from 4–8 PM, crawl your way through two great spots in Narragansett, RI. Hosted by The Surf Shack Bar & Restaurant and Boon Street Marketplace.

Each attendee will receive one free drink and snacks at both locations, making this the paw-fect way to sip, snack, and support the pets at Animal Rescue Rhode Island. 

Must be 21+ to participate. The event is free, but you must be registered. A $15 suggested donation helps us continue caring for animals in need.

And yes, your four-legged pups are invited to join the fun too!

Come and raise a glass (or paw!) and join the fun! 

Do right by your kitty

Indoor moves prove easier than expected for most cats and owners

By University of Adelaide

Edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Andrew Zinin

Moving a pet cat from an outdoor lifestyle to living indoors is easier than many owners expect, according to new research that could help improve feline welfare, protect wildlife and ease concerns about keeping cats contained.

Australian and New Zealand researchers surveyed 87 cat owners, revealing that most who transitioned their pets to indoor living reported the change was ultimately worthwhile, with the benefits to both cats and owners outweighing the challenges.

The study, published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, found that while owners initially worried about their cat's happiness and behavior, more than two-thirds said the process was easier than expected.

Lead author Dr. Julia Henning, from Adelaide University's School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, said the findings challenge the perception that cats cannot adapt to an indoor lifestyle.

"Many people worry that keeping a cat indoors will be stressful for their cat, but our findings suggest that the transition was often easier than expected," Henning said.

Domestic Cats Age Like Humans, New Study Shows

Learning from our cats

By SCi.News Staff

Cats can live relatively long lives and there is some evidence they may share aging patterns with humans.

According to An Age, the maximum lifespan in humans (i.e. 122.5 years) is nearly twice that of great apes (e.g. 68 years in chimpanzees).

Domestic cats, like humans, also have a longer maximum lifespan (30 years) than closely related species, e.g. the European wildcat (Felis silvestris) (19 years).

Also, there are an estimated 600 million cats worldwide.

“We focus on cross-species age alignments across the lifespan of humans and cats with a particular focus on aging because cats live long lives and they are numerous, suggesting we may study them in large enough samples to assess whether their ages can be mapped onto a human in their 80s and beyond,” said Auburn University researcher Christine Charvet and colleagues.

For the study, the authors examined 3,754 data points collected across humans, cats and other mammalian species.

These data point covered brain imaging, blood chemistry, disease-related patterns and behavioral milestones such as eye opening and the onset of playful behavior.

The MRI work showed cats and humans share similar age-related changes in brain structure, including overall shrinkage, expansion of the ventricles (the hollow spaces inside the brain filled with fluid), and other structural alterations.

These brain changes are found in conditions commonly associated with aging. Both humans and older cats can develop age-related neurodegenerative changes later in life.

How to prevent New World screwworm infestations in cats and dogs

Protect your pet from Trump-Musk screw-up

Liz Szabo, MA

Although the New World screwworm (NWS) mainly endangers livestock, the parasitic flies can also attack and kill pets.

Two of the 34 animals sickened by NWS since early June are dogs. One dog was infested in New Mexico, and a second dog was sickened in Texas. 

Most animals in the United States have a low risk of being affected. Pets are at elevated risk if they live in areas with documented NWS cases, including Lea County, New Mexico, and the Texas counties of Brewster, Crocket, Edwards, Gillespie, Jim Hogg, LaSalle, Medina, Pecos, Sutton, Terrell, Tom Green, Uvalde, and Zavala.

Something out of a horror movie

Screwworm infestations sound like something out of a horror movie: They occur when the adult fly Cochliomyia hominivorax lays eggs in a wound or body opening of a warm-blooded animal. When the eggs hatch, they devour the animal’s flesh. 

Infestations can cause severe tissue damage, serious infections, and death, especially if not detected and treated early.

For many pet owners, the thought of screwworms attacking their dogs and cats is horrifying.

The good news is that there are ways to prevent and treat infestations— and your dogs and cats may already be using them.

Scientists say house cats could help unlock new cancer treatments for humans

Another argument for kitties

University of Guelph

Scientists say feline cancer genetics are no longer a mystery after completing one of the largest studies ever conducted on tumors in domestic cats.

The research, published in Science, is the first large-scale effort to genetically profile cancers in cats. Researchers believe the findings could improve understanding of cancer in both animals and humans while also creating a valuable open resource for future feline cancer studies.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of disease and death in cats, yet scientists have historically known very little about the genetic changes driving these illnesses.

"Despite domestic cats being common pets, there was very little known about the genetics of cancer in these animals," said Dr. Geoffrey Wood, a professor of pathobiology at the University of Guelph and co-senior author of the study, "until now."

Cat Tumors Show Strong Genetic Similarities to Human Cancers

Researchers analyzed tumor samples from nearly 500 domestic cats collected across five countries. The team investigated the genetic mutations involved in cancer development and discovered many of the same cancer-driving genes seen in human and dog cancers.

Among the most important findings were mutations linked to aggressive mammary cancers in cats.

The gene most frequently altered in feline mammary tumors was FBXW7, with mutations appearing in more than half of the tumors studied.

In human breast cancer, mutations in FBXW7 are associated with poorer outcomes, closely matching what researchers observed in cats.

Scientists also identified similarities between feline and human cancers affecting the blood, bones, lungs, skin, gastrointestinal tract, and central nervous system.

Because cats often share the same environments as their owners, researchers believe some cancer risks could stem from common environmental exposures.

Surrender!

Get your tickets now!

CLICK HERE: FurBall 2026 - 2026 FurBall Gala & Auction

SC Chamber names 2026 non-profit of the year

 Animal Rescue RI (ARRI) in Peacedale earns distinction

We're Grateful to Be Named Nonprofit of the Year!

Animal Rescue Rhode Island is honored to be named 2026 Nonprofit of the Year by the Southern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce. This recognition reflects the compassion of our staff and volunteers, and the incredible support of our community. Thank you to the Southern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce for this recognition and to everyone who makes ARRI’s mission possible. We’re proud, grateful, and inspired to continue this work together. - ARRI Team

Relief in cat-dom

1 in 5 people say losing their pet was worse than losing a person

The grief is very real

By Fiona Brook

Edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Robert Egan

ICE Queen Kristi Noem has no such regrets

For one in five people, losing a pet has been more distressing than losing a human loved one. New research has revealed that 21% of those who experienced both types of bereavement found their pet's death harder to bear.

The findings challenge how society views pet loss. It's often dismissed as "disenfranchised grief"—a type of mourning that isn't socially recognized or validated in the same way as other bereavements.

Yet for most pet owners, their animals are family. A 2025 survey by the animal charity RSPCA found that 99% consider their pets part of the family rather than "just a pet." On Instagram, #dogsarefamily alone has 3.4 million posts.

The latest study of 975 British adults revealed something striking. Around 7.5% of people who'd lost pets met clinical criteria for "prolonged grief disorder"—comparable to rates following many human deaths. The work is published in the journal PLOS One.

Grief typically involves a range of emotions including anger, denial, relief, guilt and sadness. Prolonged grief disorder, however, is more severe—the psychiatrists' diagnostic manual, the DSM-V, defines it as "intense and persistent grief symptoms which are not only distressing in themselves but also associated with problems in functioning" lasting 12 months or more after a loss.

Currently, only human deaths qualify for this diagnosis. But the research, led by Philip Hyland of Maynooth University in Ireland, found no measurable differences in how prolonged grief disorder symptoms manifest, whether the loss involves a person or a pet.

Pet loss actually accounted for 8.1% of all prolonged grief disorder cases in the study—a higher proportion than many types of human losses. Those who had lost a pet were 27% more likely to develop prolonged grief disorder symptoms than those who hadn't.

That figure sits between the rates for losing a parent (31%) and losing a sibling (21%). It's higher than the rates for losing a close friend or other family member.

Rhode Island Health Department warning to pet owners whose pets have gotten rabies shots recently

Animal Rabies Vaccine Recalled

Make sure they get the RIGHT shots

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are alerting pet owners, animal control officers, and municipal clerks that a shipment of rabies vaccine is being recalled because some vials in that shipment may have contained sterile water instead of rabies vaccine. 

This vaccine was received by veterinarians, including veterinarians in Rhode Island, between September 29, 2025 and January 8, 2026. The recalled vaccine was made by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. The recalled lot is IMRAB 3TF, vaccine; 1 mL; Serial 18665; expiration date March 12, 2027. Other manufacturers and brands, and other serial lots manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim, are not affected by this recall. 

Rhode Island law requires dogs, cats, and ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies. Any animal that was vaccinated with this lot will not be considered currently vaccinated for rabies management or dog licensing purposes. 

Any pet that was administered this recalled product should be revaccinated against rabies. There are no health concerns for pets with being administered sterile water or with being readministered rabies vaccine. 

Shelter from the storm: resources and tips

 

Who is smarter? Cats or humans?

 

Why Cats, Dogs, and Even Whales Are Getting Human Diseases

Look to human causes

By Society for Risk Analysis

Across the globe, animals from household pets to marine wildlife are developing chronic diseases once thought to primarily affect humans. 

Dogs, cats, dairy cows, and sea turtles are showing increasing rates of cancer, obesity, diabetes, and joint degeneration. 

Understanding what drives this rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is essential not only for protecting animal health but also for improving human well-being.

Despite the growing urgency, comprehensive and interdisciplinary research on animal NCDs remains limited.

Charlestown Town Council Candidate Jill Fonnemann tells Patch what she stands for

Along with commitment to the environment, Fonnemann wants to focus on small business, fair taxes, affordable housing and the economy

By Will Collette

Endorsed Democrat Jill Fonnemann gave an extensive interview to Joseph Hosey, local Patch Staff. Without the CCA’s non-resident cash reserve to pay for glossy mailers, this was a welcome opportunity for Jill to tell us more about why she is the best candidate running in Charlestown’s December 2 special election to fill the Town Council seat vacated by the untimely death of CRU’s Rippy Serra.

Here are some key excerpts from Jill’s interview, edited for clarity.

Age: 42

Party affiliation: Democrat

Family: Mother-Christine Fonnemann, Father- Francis Fonnemann III, Brothers-Mark Fonnemann, Brian Fonnemann. I live with my beloved animals being my dog Zsa Zsa, Vega my cat, my bearded dragon Javier and my elderly adopted corn snake Raphaello who had a rough start in life.

Education: 2001 Westerly High School Graduate-Senior, Superlative-Class Individualist

Occupation: Beverage director at the Charlestown Rathskeller Tavern

Previous or Current Elected Office: Charlestown Parks and Recreation Commission, January 2023-Present, as well as The Parks and Recreation Office Subcommittee

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform. The most time sensitive issue facing our ward is the repair of the western wall of our breachway. This will avoid future damage to our aquatic life, estuaries, oyster farms and ecosystem.

The reconstruction of the breachway is imperative to the people of Charlestown and to the economic health of our town. We rely on summer vacationers to visit while supporting local restaurants, shops, beaches and all of our other adjacent businesses. This directly hits home given my work in the restaurant industry.

The other issues that also define my campaign platform are:

• Work to maintain Charlestown's low tax rate through fiscally responsible policies
• Support affordable housing initiatives that will allow Charlestown’s seniors and children to afford housing in our town
• Make our children a priority by supporting our schools, quality education, sports programs, and extracurricular activities.
• Continue to support our local businesses
• Work to protect our environment, open spaces and restoration of the Charlestown Breachway.
• I am a big supporter of our environment and dark skies. I am an avid hiker, camper and lover of the outdoors. I feel like I can actually breathe and be at complete peace when I am surrounded by nature.
• I will also promote rehabbing run down, vacant, eyesores of buildings in town.
• Preserve the historic aspect that the town encompasses. I live in one of the 10 oldest houses in town built in 1732

What are the critical differences between you and other candidates seeking this post? 

One example that sets me apart from the other candidates is that I am the only candidate that is known for organizing/executing large scale, well attended events that directly give back to our residents, more often than not, single handedly.

I realize that I don't have as much experience as the other two candidates possess, as they have been involved in commissions/councils and organizations much longer than I have. But I should say that one of the two candidates is 37 years older and the other 28 years older than I. I truly hope my past precedes me at my 42 years of age. I am a quick study and will delve into research to be well informed. I am not afraid of a challenge either.

I have a large presence in our community and am known for being kind and staying true to my word. I am a natural mediator/peacemaker, I will always fight for what I think is right

I refuse to join in on any nonsense that may rear its head in the next month. I am not intimidated and will refrain from fueling any upcoming negative tactics that may rear their ugly head in the next month. But I do know that if you give into being scared and freezing, you will never know how to learn and grow.

I feel like I have the ability to see different sides of a story by actually listening to people. These days everyone is shouting so loudly at each other, instead of hearing what people actually have to say. It costs nothing to be respectful of the fact that we are all different and people feel differently about things.

People know that they can continue to rely on me to lend a helping hand/shoulder to cry on/offer advice to anyone in need.

Nothing in life has ever been handed to me and I know what it is like to struggle. Everything I have achieved, I have earned myself through self teachings. I have to say that the person I have grown to be makes me proud. I strive to be the best version of myself that I can be, which of course is a lifelong practice.

I have the drive, motivation, creativity and unstoppable energy to put 100% into this endeavor. I am not afraid of a challenge, no matter how big or small and refused to be classified as a quitter. I am a quick study and will delve into researching a topic and educating myself. Working in the restaurant industry for over 28 years will teach you how to deal with every kind of person of all walks of life and grow the thickest skin.

I can talk to, relate, listen and create an instant rapport with most people. I am constantly putting out small fires through rational thinking, strategy, empathy and grace. I work well in high stress/hectic situations and thrive in that environment. I am a natural leader, my own person and dance, (not walk,) to the beat of my own drum. I have never been one to fold or conform to what social society teaches us to be if I don't agree with it. My high school superlative was class individualist and I haven't lost any momentum since.

Long story short, I truly hope to add to the existing positive momentum that we have seen with the Town Council for the past two years. I aim and very much look forward to working for the people in our town and working cooperatively with the Charlestown Town Council and the State of Rhode Island. If given the chance to be elected, I vow that I will ensure that all of this happens.

The Election has already begun

Early voting, in person at Town Hall, began on November 12. Mail ballots will soon be arriving for those who requested them. Mine arrived on Saturday, meaning Cathy and I will proudly vote for Jill.

Special elections like this rarely draw many voters – I’d be surprised if more than 1000 ballots get cast. Those of you who pay attention to town politics, such as most Progressive Charlestown readers, will make the difference.

While the Charlestown Residents United (CRU) will continue to hold at least four of the five Town Council seats, adding Jill will give Charlestown an excellent shot of new blood. As I’ve made plain HERE and HERE and HERE, returning CCA spokesperson Bonnita Van Slyke to the Council would be a terrible mistake.

While I am 76 and not dead yet, I often do feel my age and recognize that though Charlestown has a rapidly aging population, we need younger leaders. Jill has that youthful enthusiasm and drive to serve that are, for me at least, a distant memory.

I’m glad Jill brought up the issue of age. Typically, no one ever does in Charlestown elections given that, with some exceptions, most candidates are Boomers like me. Age cost Joe Biden the 2024 election and age is currently causing mayhem and chaos in our nation. It’s an issue that can’t be ignored.

I’m voting for Jill and for Charlestown’s future. Hope you will, too.

Believe it or not, some cats work for a living

Working Cats: A Brief History of Human-Feline Partnerships

Rick Kelaher

Hard at work. Photo by Will Collette

From ancient grain stores to modern distilleries, cats have shared our spaces throughout history, providing pest control and companionship while shaping culture and ecology.

When the first drops of whiskey were distilled in medieval Ireland, a silent helper stood nearby. Furred, four-legged, and always ready to deal with unwelcome mice, the cat thus began its long relationship with the distilling industry.

The domestic cat, Felis catus, is a distinct species separate from its wild African ancestors. The first domestic cats evolved to become part of human settlements, inhabiting this niche as both wild, independent animals and part of the human milieu. Agricultural surpluses provided food for rodents, which, in turn, supported a population of cats.

Over time, cats became more personable and fearless, helping to eliminate animals that devoured or spoiled food, chewed on infrastructure, spread disease, and carried parasites that could sicken humans. Domestic cats provided human societies with a significant evolutionary advantage.

People also fell in love with cats. Entire cultures incorporated cats into their secular traditions, religions, and arts. Although cats became domesticated, they retained the hunting prowess of their wild forebears. The care that mother cats lavished on their kittens made them icons of maternity. Their movements in the shadows throughout the day and night linked them with the unknown and the supernatural. These associations continue to this day.

By the Middle Ages, the cat’s ability to catch rodents had made it an agricultural, domestic, and economic necessity to such a degree that its role was codified in law. In Wales, for example, if you were sold a cat that did not catch mice, you could return the feline and demand a refund of one-third of the cat’s price.

What living with a cat does to your brain (and theirs)

Much of what non-cat people believe about cats is wrong

Laura Elin Pigott, London South Bank University

Photo by Will Collette

Cats may have a reputation for independence, but emerging research suggests we share a unique connection with them – fueled by brain chemistry.

The main chemical involved is oxytocin, often called the love hormone. It’s the same neurochemical that surges when a mother cradles her baby or when friends hug, fostering trust and affection. And now studies are showing oxytocin is important for cat-human bonding too.

Oxytocin plays a central role in social bonding, trust and stress regulation in many animals, including humans. One 2005 experiment showed that oxytocin made human volunteers significantly more willing to trust others in financial games.

Oxytocin also has calming effects in humans and animals, as it suppresses the stress hormone cortisol and activates the parasympathetic nervous system (the rest and digest system) to help the body relax.

Scientists have long known that friendly interactions trigger oxytocin release in both dogs and their owners, creating a mutual feedback loop of bonding. Until recently, though, not much was known about its effect in cats.

Cats are more subtle in showing affection. Yet their owners often report the same warm feelings of companionship and stress relief that dog owners do – and studies are increasingly backing these reports up. Researchers in Japan, for example, reported in 2021 that brief petting sessions with their cats boosted oxytocin levels in many owners.

In that study, women interacted with their cats for a few minutes while scientists measured the owners’ hormone levels. The results suggested that friendly contact (stroking the cat, talking in a gentle tone) was linked to elevated oxytocin in the humans’ saliva, compared with a quiet resting period without their cat.

Many people find petting a purring cat is soothing, and research indicates it’s not just because of the soft fur. The act of petting and even the sound of purring can trigger oxytocin release in our brains. One 2002 study found this oxytocin rush from gentle cat contact helps lower cortisol (our stress hormone), which in turn can reduce blood pressure and even pain.