cat

The CNET test cats don't lead very secret lives, mostly because they are indoors and easily located at any time (usually snoozing on a lap near the computer).

Other felines, however, are footloose and fancy-free. They step outside in the morning and don't show up again until supper time. Where do they go? What do they do? Researchers in England set about trying to answer those questions.

BBC Two's Horizon program and the Royal Veterinary College followed 50 cats in a Surrey village with GPS and micro-cameras. Cats were tracked over six different 24-hour periods to see where they went. A selection of 10 of the furry subjects can be viewed online, along with video clips of their activities.… Read more

Apple's World Wide Developers Conference starts on Monday, and while the main focus appears to be on updates to iOS (read my iOS 7 wish list here) and various Mac hardware, it's highly likely we'll get an update for Mac OS X 10.9 as well. At this point, we don't know what will be announced and we don't even know which "cat" will be associated with the release. Even the picture above (a giant banner currently displayed at Moscone Center) is suspiciously free of any cats at all, so it's hard … Read more

I've never thought you could completely trust all cats.

Some are far too knowing, far too cynically affectionate not to be attracted to organized crime.

I could never find the proof until this year. Now, that proof is redoubling.

You might remember that, in January, Brazilian police accused a cat of brazenly crossing a prison yard with a cell phone, accessories, and a saw strapped to it.

Now, another feline felon has been caught. This time, in Northern Russia.… Read more

Talking Tom Cat 2 is the kind of interactive experience that only the iPad can offer, but for numerous reasons it is also one that is well suited for only certain personalities. The gimmick of the app wears off quickly, and while there are numerous things you can do beyond putting words in the cat's mouth, sputtering animations and simplistic jokes make it a limiting app.

In Talking Tom Cat 2, there is an animated cat onscreen that will mimic whatever you say. Talk to your device and the cat will repeat it back to you. The effect is … Read more

I don't mean to sound all grumpy, but now that the news of Grumpy Cat getting a movie deal has sunk in, I'm feeling pretty frowny about the Internet-famous cat's future in Hollywood.

Don't get me wrong. I have serious love for Grumpy Cat. The three-Grumpy-Cat-moon image is the background on my iPad. I very nearly bought that hideous Grumpy Cat belt at Hot Topic. I might still buy it.

Let's just say the announcement of producer Todd Garner and his company aiming for a "Garfield"-style feature film about the feline doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in me. After all, he was the man behind Adam Sandler's 2011 flop "Jack and Jill." What, was Martin Scorsese not available, or just not interested?… Read more

LAS VEGAS--Caterpillar's Cat B15 Android smartphone is the newest entrant to the U.S.' rough and ready durable phone tussle.

I got my hands on the B15 this past March when it first appeared on the world stage at Mobile World Congress. This U.S. variant is essentially the same handset, except for the cellular support -- AWS bands 1700/2100 to complement GSM 850/1900 support.

There's no launch date yet, since Cat is actively pursuing North American partners like carriers and retailers for around $350 unlocked.

Made by the same company that builds industrial tractors and … Read more

America has a fat problem, and it's not just the humans. Many pets are also toting some extra poundage.

You could, of course, take your dog for more walks, or spend more time playing attack-the-fuzzy-thing with your cat. Or you could invest in a pet treadmill. Better yet, check out PetTread, a pet-treadmill design that looks like a giant hamster wheel.

PetTread is looking to raise $110,000 on Kickstarter to take a prototype version into production. Like many inventions, the PetTread came about as a result of personal experience. Creator John Gosson had an overweight cat named Noonie. Adjusting her diet didn't help much, so he used his electrical engineering background to craft a power treadmill she could safely use.… Read more

A tiny furball with a frown has gone from anonymous feline to worldwide Internet sensation. Grumpy Cat has already conquered the realms of LOLcats, YouTube, Facebook, and SXSW. Now, she has become the star of a real-world art exhibit featuring the work of more than 30 artists.

The Grumpy Cat Art Project is on exhibit at Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment complex in Huntsville, Ala., which contains more than 100 different artists in studio spaces, along with small businesses and restaurants. A call went out to the resident artists to contribute to the Grumpy Cat extravaganza, and lots of them stepped up to share their grouchy visions.… Read more

Ever thought about putting a cat on top of a giant piece of sushi and taking a picture? No? Yeah, us neither. Japanese company Tange & Nakimushi Peanuts, however, has a very different mindset, and the result is what you see here.

Besides selling pictures (and there are plenty) of the sushi-fied cats, there's also a mobile app available for iOS and Android smartphones. Unfortunately, these prints are only available in Japan, though the app is free to download. … Read more