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STUDY: Dogs Are Confused by Magic

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A new study from the Finnish Maaginen University found that dogs do not have a good handle on simple magic tricks.

“These are not even complex illusions,” said professor Jaakko Järvenpää. “Simple sleight of hand, but pups were completely flummoxed.”

The study was accompanied by the release of two videos taken during the tests (part 1 is above, part 2 can be seen here) which show a dogs from a variety of breeds acting baffled by beginner-level magic tricks. According to Järvenpää, the results are clear: dogs just lack the brain capacity to comprehend abstract concepts like illusion.

Canine defenders disagree.

“This study is bogus,” said Antoine Gilbert of the Puppy Alliance, and organization that fights for canine rights. “Just look at who funded it and you’ll see why we should approach it with skepticism.”

Following Gilbert’s tip, The Fluffington Post has uncovered documents that indicate that the bulk of the funding for the Maaginen study came from “Scratching Post, LLC.” Scratching Post is a shell company acting on behalf of a group of wealthy cats from New York City.

Representatives from the group could not be reached for comment.

H/T: The Daily Dot.

Area Cat Launches Jamba Juice Franchise

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Area Cat Launches Jamba Juice Franchise

If you ask Simone’s closest friends, they’ll tell you the cat has had a penchant for pureed fruits and vegetables for a long time.

“You wouldn’t think a cat would be into smoothies this much,” says Larry Gould. “But she is obsessed.”

The entrepreneurial kitty finally put her money where her tongue is and opened a Jamba Juice franchise in her neighborhood.

“There are no other smoothie or fro-yo places for miles. The location is very good,” says Melinda Canon, the VP of the local chamber of commerce, who assisted Simone with the required permits. “It’s the perfect kind of business to kick off ahead of the summer.”

Via Dmitry Guyvoronsky.

Cat Taxi Posts Disappointing Quarterly Earnings

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Cat Taxi Posts Disappointing Quarterly Earnings

Kitty Kab, the on demand feline taxi service, reported disappointing quarterly earning this morning.

The company made waves last year when it launched in Portland, OR, named in 2013 as the most dog friendly city in America. Critics were skeptical of the wisdom of launching a cat taxi in a city dominated by canines, but the move paid off. 

“As it turned out, a lot of cats didn’t want to be out alone with all those puppies on the loose, so they’d call a cab,” said tech analyst Trish Patel of Business Insider. That early success led to rapid expansion to other cities – San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Atlanta – and an IPO in the fall.

But the very thing that drove success for Kitty Kab initially has been a hindrance to its growth. 

“It was just a mirage,” explained Patel. “The large concentration of dogs in Portland increased demand for the taxi service, but in other cities cats don’t want to be driven around.”

Kitty Kab’s user base in cities outside of Portland has stagnated as a result, while marketing costs have skyrocketed, leading to a $12 million shortfall this quarter. 

The Fluffington Post  hears that the company is exploring raising a $20 million round of venture financing to stay afloat, as well as considering a pivot to on-demand catnip delivery.

Via Kiersten Essenpreis.