Reader TJ today sent me a very touching story that ran in The Times, the daily newspaper in Manchester, England.

A couple said their young dog, Oscar, so missed their deceased cat, Arthur, that the pup dug the cat’s body out of its grave and brought it back to his bed.

The family said Oscar had licked Arthur’s body clean and was sleeping next to him when they found the pair. Although the story ran back in January, definitely is worth reading.

And I’m curious: Have any of you had a pet that clearly mourned the death of another animal in your household?

Our Dolan is so much older than his "little sister", Franny, I’ve always assumed that some day, she’ll be an “only cat.” Most days, the two seem to barely tolerate each other. But I wonder if she would be lonely without him.

The other day, I came home early and found them sleeping on our bed – together, within about a foot of each other. While they weren’t exactly curled up like kittens in a basket, it was astonishing to see them even in the same sleeping area. They usually are very territorial about this sort of thing. Dolan will stake out a certain corner of the couch and that will be his for a while. But then Franny will muscle in and start sleeping there – and he’ll go find somewhere else.

Here's the original story about Oscar and Arthur.

DOG RETRIEVES HIS BEST FRIEND: A CAT BURIED IN THE GARDEN

By Russell Jenkins
From The Times: Manchester, UK

A pet dog missed the family’s dead cat so much that he dug up his grave and brought the body back into the house.
When Oscar’s owners woke up the next morning they discovered the dog curled up beside Arthur, the late cat, in his basket.
His owners, Robert Bell, 73, and his wife, Mavis, of Wigan, Greater Manchester, believe that the dog had licked the cat clean before falling asleep.

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Guest blogging today is Kavita Varma-White, Sun-Sentinel assistant Lifestyle editor.

Update: Yesterday we heard about 18-year-old Bubba pending crosscountry journey from Fort Lauderdale to Seattle. Read it here.

I am sad to report that... Bubba has made it to Seattle!

Just kidding. In fact I don't think I've loved that cat more than I do today. (Could be because he is now 3,000 miles away.) He proved to be the trooper we knew he would be.

The kids and I took Brian and Bubba to Fort Lauderdale airport, where Brian checked in without incident. The airline didn't even ask for the required pet certificate he had paid the vet $75 to get. Our big concern was getting Bubba through security, as we were worried that he wouldn't come out of his softpack carrier without a (cat) fight.

With the security line pretty empty, Brian talked to a helpful TSA employee. "He's a mean cat and probably won't come out of the bag. Should I just put him through the x-ray machine?"
"You have to get him out of the bag," the TSA employee said, "Or you won't have a cat anymore." (Here I pause to wonder about all the times I have put food in my bags which are x-rayed; and then I give the food to my kids to eat.)

They led them to a side room that was quieter than the terminal, and Brian was able to extract Bubba, who shielded himself by keeping his head hidden in Brian's armpit. The bag was scanned and Bubba went back in. In was on to 'Catlanta', where fortunately the layover was short. Brian said Bubba seemed to prefer the airplane journey to the chaos of the terminal. Other than some soft meowing when they were about an hour from Seattle, he was quiet.

Once at the new house, Brian set up the litter box and Bubba went immediately. Considering he's 18, you've gotta acknowledge his impressive kidney function! He ate his food, drank water and proceeded to inspect every inch of the house. Apparently he slept on a perch in the master bedroom, where he had full view of Brian and the windows, where a gentle rain fell.

Welcome to the Pacific Northwest, Bubba.

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Guest blogging today is Kavita Varma-White, Sun-Sentinel assistant Lifestyle editor.

We are in the process of moving across the country.

I call it a process because it has become a four-month odyssey, that started with my husband Brian leaving for a new job in mid-February. My kids and I are to join him later this summer.

Today, God, the FAA and the TSA willing, our 18-year-old cat Bubba is flying in coach class from Fort Lauderdale to Seattle.

Let me correct that. It's not really "our" cat. It is Brian's cat, who predates my 15-year-long relationship with my husband. That cat has hated me since day One. His demeanor toward me has always been one of indifference on good days, outright meanness (isn't hissing mean?) on most days. When my kids came along, they were treated the same way, even though they (unlike me) always wanted to just love and pet him.

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SSS! reader Jeff wrote earlier this week about a new kitten his girlfriend brought home. Kitty had been keeping the household up all night, pouncing on the beds and scatching in the litter box. Then Jeff slipped him a new catnip toy. And the cat conked out until dawn.

What's up with that? Can catnip induce sleep?
Some cats get jazzed by catnip, said West Palm Beach veterinarian Dr. Lisa Radosta, while the herb makes others a little dopey. But she thinks the most likely reason for the behavior change is the kitten was pleasingly pooped after playing hard with the toy, like a toddler after a day at the playground.

"When we come home from work, we take our dog for a walk. We don't that with cats. But your cat needs to be predatory and move his body," said Radosta, a certified veterinary behaviorist with Florida Veterinary Behavior Service. Her advice to Jeff: Buy the kitten lots of toys he likes and wear him out with structured play before bedtime.

Got a question about other wacky animal behavior? Ask away!

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