ArcaMax

New research suggests some cats may actually have what it takes to serve as therapy animals.

An international research team found that certain cats possess specific behavioral traits that make them suitable as therapeutic companions.

These cats tend to be more social with both humans and other cats, more attention-seeking and more tolerant of being handled -- particularly when it comes to being picked up.

While some cat breeds, such as ragdolls or Maine coons, are considered more sociable, the researchers did not examine differences in behavior based on species or breed. Rather, they examined individual differences in behavioral traits within groups of cats.

Of course, not all cats are suited for the role, and unlike dogs, therapy cats (more common in Europe) are not typically trained for the job. Instead, certain cats appear to naturally possess the necessary personality traits. Whether they're inclined to let you know that is a different question.

Body of Knowledge

A normal swallow takes eight to 12 seconds, from mouth to stomach.

Stories for the Waiting Room

A new study finds that eating one chili meal a month was associated with a lower risk of gestational diabetes. The study was small and would need further validation, but researchers said the likely benefit was due to the greater consumption of beans and legumes, which have high fiber content.

Gestational diabetes is an increasing problem, with prevalence rates rising from 6% in 2016 to 8.3% in 2021. If untreated, it can adversely affect the health of both mother and baby, and while it often goes away after pregnancy, it can put the mother at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Doc Talk

Perfed appy: When an infected appendix bursts (perforates) and spills into the gut.

Phobia of the Week

Cleithrophobia or cleisiophobia: Fear of being trapped or confined. The difference between these two phobias and claustrophobia is that the latter is a fear of enclosed spaces, while the former pair focus on being trapped in general.

Never Say 'Diet'

The Major League Eating speed-eating record for funnel cake is 5.9 pounds in 10 minutes, held by Joey Chestnut. One assumes going to the bathroom later was a lot less fun(nel).

Best Medicine

Patient: "Doctor, I swallowed a bone!"

Doctor: "Are you choking?"

Patient: "No, I really did."

Observation

"The operation was a complete success, but the patient died of something else." -- English surgery professor John Chiene

Medical History

This week in 1897, Jell-O was introduced, 52 years after Peter Cooper (inventor of the Tom Thumb engine) held the first U.S. patent for a gelatine dessert. Pearle B. Wait, a carpenter and cough medicine manufacturer from LeRoy, New York, produced varieties in strawberry, raspberry, orange and lemon flavors. It was dubbed Jell-O by his wife, May Davis Wait. It required many years and multiple efforts before Jell-O became a staple of young children's and hospital patients' diets.

Perishable Publications

Many, if not most, published research papers have titles that defy comprehension. They use specialized jargon, complex words and opaque phrases like "nonlinear dynamics." Sometimes they don't, yet they're still hard to figure out. Here's an actual title of actual published research study: "Effects of cocaine on honey bee dance behaviour."

The 2009 study analyzed how honeybees are affected by low doses of cocaine. Honeybees are known to perform dances when they locate an abundant food source. The researchers found that administering the drug prompted bees to circle about 25% quicker and dance more exuberantly for longer. They also exaggerated the scale of their bounty -- a behavior also typical of intoxicated humans.

Self-Exam

Q: Why do farts smell worse in a steamy shower? (We've all been there, standing in the shower, pondering such big thoughts.)

A: The answer is simple: You are in an enclosed space and are (presumably) not wearing any clothing to absorb or lock in the smell. Humidity can play a small role. Water vapor can actually enhance your sense of smell, and biological gas particles can bind to airborne water molecules, holding more of the aroma than plain, dry air.

And now back to pondering: Have you ever imagined a world with no hypothetical situations?

Last Words

"Too late for fruit, too soon for flowers." -- English poet Walter De La Mare (1873-1956)

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To find out more about Scott LaFee and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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