10 Most Unusual Cat Breeds in the World

Everyone knows just how affectionate folks can be about cats. And those emotions might be twice as powerful when it comes to exotic breeds, even (or especially!) if the cats are a little… well… different looking! The kitties on this list certainly stand out from your average neighborhood tabby, whether because of their hair (or lack of it), the size of their limbs, their ears, or simply because they look a little… weird. Yes, the following 10 cats are all rather bizarre – but we think you’ll agree that they’re still totally lovable in their own unique ways.

10. Sphynx

                                                                                                        Photo: Nicolaas Hamid

The Sphynx is probably the best-known bizarre cat there is. And depending on your point of view, it’s either a charmingly exotic or a slightly creepy looking breed. That said, even if you’re not a huge fan, you have to admit that there’s something hypnotic about these felines’ lovely big eyes, which are made even more prominent by the lack of any surrounding fur or eyebrows.

                                                                                                  Photo: The Pug Father

9. Ukrainian Levkoy

                                                                                                             Photo: Nickolas Titkov

The Ukrainian Levkoy is similar to the Sphynx in some ways (the most obvious being its lack of fur), but it’s also very different, with folded-over ears and large but narrow eyes. The Ukrainian Levkoy’s profile is angular, and the breed is described as ‘dog-faced’. The smooth-skinned specimen pictured is hairless, but some Levkoys may have patches of hair or be covered in short downy fur.

                                                                                                     Photo: Alena Ivanchuk

8. Cornish Rex

                                                                                                           Photo: Lisa

This elegant lady has been rather fabulously named ‘Quails Nest Kissing Time of Boska’, or Kissy III for short. The regal moniker is quite appropriate, really, for a kitty with such a beautiful, wavy fur coat – or, to be precise, undercoat. Unlike other cats, the Cornish Rex (for this is our next breed) lacks the two outer layers of hair, known as guard hair and awn hair, respectively. Instead, it’s only protected by a silky down layer. And the Cornish Rex, along with the Devon Rex, has much softer fur than other cats.

7. Scottish Fold

                                                                                                 Photo: Psihopat

Instead of flaunting large upright ears like the Cornish Rex, the Scottish Fold hardly has any ears at all! Well, that’s how it looks anyway. The real story is that the cartilage in this cute breed’s ears is creased, or folded, causing the ear to bend downwards and appear tiny. Some people think this gives the breed an owlish look, which is intensified by the Scottish Fold’s large, round eyes.

                                                                                                              Photo: Kostj

6. Exotic Shorthair

                                                                                                      Photo: Charlyn Wee

This precious little kitten also has a pretty cute name: Fig Newton. She’s an Exotic Shorthair, which is very similar to the Persian breed, except for its short, dense fur. Exotic Shorthairs have round heads with flattened looking faces and small ears. Like their heads, their bodies are also rounded, giving them the appearance of cuddly teddy bears.

                                                                                                            Photo: Captain Pancakes

5. Munchkin

                                                                                                               Photo: Jimmy Leo

When the Munchkin breed first arrived on the scene in 1994, it was met with controversy. One veteran show judge resigned in disgust, and several cat registries still refuse to recognize the breed. The problem is the Munchkin’s short little legs. Many were concerned that the mutant gene responsible would leave the cats with the kind of crippling problems that affect short-legged dogs like Corgis and Dachshunds.

                                                                                                             Photo: Jimmy Leo

4. Peterbald

                                                                                                         Photo: Atlantiscats

The Peterbald is another often – but not always – hairless breed of cat. These cats are known for their long, lean bodies, large pointed ears, and big, almond-shaped eyes. And as you can see from this photo, they also have a rather unusual characteristic for cats: webbed feet! Very bizarre… Although they are able to use those flexible-looking toes to grasp objects and even open door latches.

                                                                                                    Photo: Atlantiscats

3. Savannah Cat

                                                                                              Photo: Jason Douglas

With its exotic stripes, this cat looks like it belongs in the wild rather than a family home. Actually, the Savannah cat is a hybrid of a domestic cat and an African wild cat known as the Serval. Traces of their wild heritage include the ‘ocelli’, or eye-like spots, on the backs of their ears, and the ‘cheetah tear’ markings next to their noses.

2. LaPerm

                                                                                                                      Photo: Jane Gianoutsos

Looking at this cat’s long, wavy hair, it may come as no surprise to learn that the breed is known as LaPerm. The fur of these cats is made up of short, tight curls, long, corkscrew ringlets, and even straight hair. Curiously, many LaPerms are born bald, while others lose their hair and replace it – sometimes several times over the course of their lives.

1. Elf Cat

                                                                                     Photo: © Kristen Leedom, Sphynx-cattery.com

If this isn’t a bizarre cat breed, we don’t know what is. The creation of American breeders Karen Nelson and Kristen Leedom, Elf cats are a very new addition to the cat world. These strange looking kitties are the result of a cross between the Sphynx and the American Curl (that’s where they get those amazing ears from!).

                                                                                         Photo: © Kristen Leedom, Sphynx-cattery.com

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Ten of the Biggest Insects of the World

Gratitude for mother nature is easy when it comes to the sweet, the small, the non-threatening beings…but what about the huge insects and arachnids on this page, many of that are endangered or threatened: How would you really feel facing down a spider the size of a wall clock or an 8-inch-long beetle?

1. Giant Weta

                                                                                                  Photo: Wikimedia Commons

New Zealand’s giant weta gets its name from the Maori word for “god of bad looks” — and it’s not hard to see why.

2. Stag Beetle

The 3 inch male stag beetle could be most easily identified by its spiky front antlers  also called  mandibles — that are a key part of courtship rituals and wrestling matches; you’d have more to fear from the a bit smaller females, though, which don’t have the giant spikes but do have a more fearsome bite.

3. Goliath Beetle

These types of beetles are just one representative of the 30,000-powerful scarab family, which has roamed our planet for 300 million years, and reportedly holds the record for world’s heaviest insect: One topped out at 4.5 inches long and 3.5 ounces.

4. Giant Walking Stick

Female walking sticks in many cases are larger than the males, and have been seen to reach as long as 21 inches when measured from end to end. You will find them almost worldwide, in warm regions and some temperate zones, where they take shelter under plants during the day and feast on leaves at night.

5. Queen Alexandra Birdwing Butterfly

When it comes to insects, butterflies are the sort many find wonderful on a grand level — that is a good thing for the Queen Alexandra Birdwing, because their wingspan can reach as much as one foot across.

6. Titan Beetle

Not only is it huge for a beetle — it’s the most enormous fellow of its species, longhorn beetles, and the longest beetle found so far in the Amazon rainforest — it’s just plain huge, with adults reaching as long as 8 inches in length.

7. Dung Beetle

While bigger animals can carry more weight overall, they can’t carry as much proportional weight; the dung beetle can move items with a mass that’s 1,141 times heavier than itself.

8. Giant Water Bug

It’s not uncommon for water bugs to be mistaken for cockroaches — however at four inches long, the giant water bugs are significantly bigger. These bugs thrive near slow-moving water where they can eat tadpoles and small fish (and survive on crickets when in captivity).

9. Atlas Moth

The Atlas moth, so called with regard to either the mythological Greek giant of the same name or the wing patterns that look like maps, has the biggest wing surface of the moth family (many have more than 62 square inches of wing, though they don’t have the widest wingspan).

10. Goliath Bird-Eating Spider

It’s not harmless if you’re a frog, lizard, small snake, or — yes — baby bird: The toothless spider incapacitates its victim by using the venom in its fangs, and then spits digestive juices onto the prey so that it can “slurp up its meal

10 Cutest Endangered Animals

Evolution works in strange ways. Although cuteness in natural environment plays little role in survival of species, when it comes to efforts people put in preserving species, cute or majestic animals (such as dolphins or elephants) stand a much higher chance of surviving. Here are 10 cute endangered animals that might stand a chance with a bit of help from us, humans.

Fennec Fox

Image Source: MNN

Matschie’s Tree Kangaroo

Image Source: Amazing Creature

Sand Cat

Image Source: MNN

 Axolotl Salamander

Image Source: MNN

Pika

Image Source: Amazing Creature

 Pygmy Hippopotamus

Image Source: MNN

 Gray Gentle Lemur

Image Source: Amazing Creature

 Sea Otter

Image Source: Amazing Creature

 Amur Leopard

Image Source: MNN

 Giant Panda

Image Source: Amazing Creature

10 Lesser Known World Heritage Sites

1  Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein

More commonly known as The Cradle of Humankind, this site is a complex of over 36 limestone caves in South Africa, not far from Johannesburg. Within these caves scientists have found a huge number of hominid fossils dating back over 3.5 million years, with one cave alone containing over a third of all hominid fossils ever found. The caves also show signs of occupation as well, including the first ever in-situ hominid stone tools, and the oldest controlled fire dated to over 1 million years ago. Scientist believe prompt burials, along with the unusual conditions within the caves, allowed for the bodies within to become fossilized, which in itself is an extremely rare occurrence. Some of the better known finds include Mrs Ples, the most intact skull of an Australopithecus Africanus ever found, although the sex is not definitely female, x-rays of the teeth seem to show that this was a sub-adult. Another famous find is Little Foot, an amazingly complete hominin skeleton which is believed to be between 2.5 to 3.3 million years old. This site shows us not only where our species came from but how we evolved over millennia, earning it top spot on my list.

2  Takht-e Jamshid

More commonly known as Persepolis, it is located in the south of Iran and was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire. Construction was started around 515BC by Cyrus the Great, but the most impressive works were completed by Darius the Great and Xerxes the Great (yes the bad guy from 300) in around 470BC. One of the most awe inspiring structures on this site is the Apadana palace which was the main hall of the kings, where the tributes from nations within his Empire would have been received. The building was supported by columns 20m high, topped with a brace carved to the shape of lions or bulls. I have seen an example of these braces in the Louvre and it gives you an amazing idea of the size and scale of Persepolis. The site also contains the gate of nations, the hall of 100 columns, the imperial treasury, council halls, military quarters, reception halls, cisterns, drainage, sepulchers, royal tombs, royal stables, chariot houses and a number of palaces and royal residences, all covered in engravings and mosaics. The city was destroyed in 330BC, by Alexander the Great, possibly in revenge for the destruction of the acropolis in Athens, but the ruins still contain many beautiful carvings and are testament to the wealth and power of the Persian empire.

3  Lascaux Cave

Lascaux is group of caves in southwest France which were decorated over 17,300 years ago, with Paleolithic cave paintings. The public were allowed to view the caves in 1948, but by 1955 the carbon dioxide exhaled by the visitors had damaged the paintings causing the cave to be closed, the art was restored and is now monitored on a daily basis. The images are mostly of animals known to have lived in the area at the time, but images of humans and abstract signs are also present. Some of the images have been carved into the cave but the majority of art has been painted on using mineral pigments. A large portion of the paintings are of horses, but stags, cattle, aurochs, felines, birds, bears and rhinoceros’s are also represented. There are many theories on why this cave was decorated in this manor: it is thought that some of the art may represent star charts, as the constellations of Taurus and Pleiades can be found within the cave. There are also theories that this would have been a scared space to communicate with deities, a gathering place to plan a hunt together or even a record to celebrate the success of a hunt. We will probably never know but these images give us a fascinating look into our past.

4  Tropical Rainforest Sumatra

The Tropical Rainforest of Sumatra is made up of three national parks on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, and was chosen due to its outstanding scenic beauty and natural habitats for in-situ conservation. The three parks all contain different habitats, allowing for a large diversity in both flora and fauna. The parks are home to Rafflesia Arnoldi, the world’s largest flower, and Amorphophallus Titanum, the worlds tallest flower, as well as 174 species of mammals and 380 species of birds. Of these specimens, 16 are endemic and 73 are currently threatened. Species such as Orang-utans, Sumatran rhinoceros, bornean clouded leopards, Asian tapirs, Sumatran elephants and the leather back turtles are all found within this site, making it one of the most diverse and important conservation sites in the world. The sites main threat is residential expansion and encroaching human occupation, both of which is being battled by a number of different preservation groups.

5  Wadi Al-Hitan

The Whale Valley is found in a desert in Egypt, the site contains fossils showing the evolution of whales from land mammals to the ocean going creatures we are familiar with today. Fossils of the Archaeoceti suborder such as Basilosaurus and Dorudon are common, but the skeletons of sea cows Sirenia, elephants Moeritherium, crocodiles, sea turtles and sea snakes have also been found at the site. The sheer number and quality of these fossils found in such a high concentration make this site unique. The quality of preservation is so good that stomach contents have been found preserved, while the combination of other species found at the site make it possible to reconstruct the environmental and ecological conditions. The site has produced hundreds of high quality fossils showing the earliest sub-species of whales which are helping to unravel the mystery of the evolution of whales.

6  Wudang Building Complex

The Wudang Mountains are a small mountain range found in eastern China, which have been inhabited since at least 250 AD. The area is known for its Taoist monasteries, which were renowned as centers for meditation, martial arts, agriculture and medicines. People traveled to this area to research, learn and practice these skills. The palace and temple complex was constructed in the Ming Dynasty and within it are buildings dating from the 7th century. One of the more famous temples is the Golden Hall; built in 1416, the hall is constructed from gilded copper. It consists of 20 tons of copper and over 300kgs of gold, and was supposedly forged in Bejing, then moved to Wudang. The Nanyan Temple perches precariously on top of a cliff, in legend it is known as the place from which Emperor Zen Whu flew to heaven. The entire temple, including beams, gates and windows, is carved from rock and within the temple are gilded bronze statues of dozens of Taoist deities. Scattered across the cliffs are 500 gilded iron statues of heavenly officials. Another notable building, the Purple Cloud Temple is made up of several halls, the Dragon and Tiger Hall, the Purple Sky Hall, the East Hall, the West Hall and the Parent Hall. This temple contains shrines to Zhen Wu throughout his life. It also houses relics including the Green Dragon Crescent Blade which dates back to the 7th century.

7  Ellora caves

Ellora is the site of monumental, rock cut, cave temples representing Buddhist, Hindu and Jain religions, built from 400AD in close proximity to each other to show the religious harmony in the area. The structures are multi level buildings, carved directly from caves within the mountain face, and include monasteries, shrines and places of worship. Many of the buildings have vaulted ceilings and are all intricately carved, with most of the shrines containing large carved deities. During construction, 200,000 tonnes of rock had to be removed from the site by generations of workers. Some notable caves are: the Buddhist shrine Vishvakarma, which features a multi-storied entrance, a large hall with vaulted ceilings and a 15ft carving of Buddha in a preaching pose; The Indra Sabha is a two level Jain cave with a monolithic shrine, like all of the Jain caves it once had richly painted ceilings, part of which are still visible today. It also has fine carvings of lotus flowers, Yaksha Matanga on an elephant and Ambika sitting on a lion under a mango tree. Kailasanatha is the centerpiece of Ellora, made to resemble mount Kailash, the home of lord Shiva, this Hindu shrine was built by Krishna I in around 760AD. The structure is covered in detailed and intricate carvings, including sacred bulls and life-sized elephants supporting the shrines.

8  Lalibela

Lalibela is a rural town in the north of Ethiopia. It is also one of the countries holiest cities and a centre for pilgrimage. The 13 churches in the town have been carved completely from rock directly into the ground. It was under the instruction of Saint Gebre Mesqel Lalibela during his reign as Emperor of Ethiopia, that these churches were constructed, the layout and names of the buildings in Lalibela are a representation of Jerusalem. This has helped to date the churches to around the 1200s, after the 1187 capture of Jerusalem by Saladin. The largest monolithic church in the world, Bet Madhane Alem, is also home to the Lalibela Cross: a 12th century processional cross. Bete Maryam is thought to be the oldest of the churches, and Bete Golgotha is where it is believed King Lalibela is entombed. These churches are very unusual in that they are carved into the ground instead of into a cave or a cliff face, as most other rock carved buildings are. This process must have been very slow work and each church is carved with painstaking detail and stands as testament of the dedication of these people to their religion.

9  Monte Albán

Monte Albán can be found on a low mountain range in southern Mexico. The site is one of the earliest pre-Columbian Mesoamerican sites ever found, dating back to at least 500BC, the valley it is situated within also shows signs of inhabitancy from as early as 2000BC. The site offers a unique glimpse into the Zapotec history and culture. At the centre of the site is the main plaza surrounded by civic and ceremonial buildings as well as the elite homes. The site also features two ball courts, monumental stairs, hundreds of tombs and over 300 Danzante carved stone monuments. Most of them are of male war prisoners, tortured and sacrificed, with many being leaders of competing villages. The site also contains over 40 conquest slabs within the walls of buildings, these slabs give the names and sometimes details of places conquered by Monte Albán. From these it has been possible to confirm Cañada de Cuicatlán was conquered by the Zapotec.

10  Alcobaça Monastery

The Alcobaça Monastery in central Portugal was founded by king Afonso Henriques in 1153, and took 99 years to complete. This was the first building of the gothic style in Portugal, and is still the largest church in the country, it is of no surprise it went on to become one of the most important medieval monasteries in Europe. The monks of the monastery spent their lives meditating on religion and producing manuscripts, until it was pillaged by the French in 1810, it had one of the largest medieval libraries recorded. This monastery was the chosen burial place for many royals during the 13th and 14th centuries, their elaborate tombs are some of the best surviving examples of medieval engraving and sculptures in Europe. The tombs of Pedro I and his mistress, Ines de Castro, are particularly intricate, both feature relief of the occupant on the lid of the tomb, the kings tomb rests on carved lions while Ines is supported by carvings of creatures which are half man – half animal, and are covered in engravings showing angels and biblical scenes. The best known tomb is Queen Urraca’s, a Romanesque tomb engraved with an image of the Queen on the top, while around the body of the tomb are reliefs of the Apostles, the King and their children. This building is truly a showcase for the skills and dedication of the medieval craftsmen of Europe.

Top 10 World's Greenest Countries

The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is a method of measuring the performance of national governments related to environmental policies. Yale University and Columbia University release the EPI every year during the World Economic Forum, ranking 163 countries according to 25 indicators. The final mark shows how close the country is to accomplish the environmental goals . Here are the top ten green countries on the list which have made most, officially the greenest in the world.

1 Iceland, 93.5

Iceland is considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful countries because of the breathtaking nature, but they can still enjoy that due to the high level of accomplishing the environmental policy goals. People in Iceland use the geothermal energy very well, while the most used electricity and heat source is the hydrogen. Believe it or not, amazing 82% of the electricity and heat in Iceland comes from hydrogen and geothermal sources, while only 18% comes from coal. The first place for the greenest country is well deserved. 

2  Switzerland, 89.1

Switzerland was leading the EPI list years ago, but now has fallen to the second place just due to incredible Iceland performance. However, Swiss are still working hard for creating greener society. The government has imposed a fee for disposing thrash in the country, but the people are pretty interested for ecology as well. For example, there are cities, smaller towns actually, in which using car is prohibited. That’s how Switzerland remains on the top of this list for years. 

3 Costa Rica, 86.4

Costa Rica government is strongly committed to following the Icelandic example for use of renewable energy sources. They have set a goal to become carbon neutral until 2021! The land suffered deforestation for years in order to be made space for agriculture, but now one of the main goals is reforestation of the country, planting over five million trees over last five years. 

4 Sweden, 86.0

One of the first things when visiting Stockholm, Sweden, is noticing the wide range of eco-friendly products. Nevertheless, the most important thing that put them so high on the EPI list is the fact that they are in advanced phase of the implementation of the plan for phasing out the fossil fuel by 2020. Swedish government also is trying hard to use the forests very well, as the sawdust of the lumber is used for generating heat. These are just some of the indicators that make Sweden on of the greenest on the world, but explaining all of them would take a lot of space. 

5 Norway, 81.1

Norway already feels the consequences of the global warming, as its north parts are close to the melting Arctic, so they’re taking a lot of measure to prevent any possible catastrophic scenario. Norway government and the people as well, are making efforts to become carbon neutral until 2030, although it is an oil export oriented country. They plan to make diesel fuel more expensive than the eco fuels and stimulate people to use the second ones. 

6 Mauritius, 80.6

Maybe you will be surprised of the fact that one African Prime Minister decide to make his country eco-friendly, but yes, it’s true. Although the little island has very limited resources, they do not give up. Rama Sithanen’s cabinet is trying to find many ways for reuse items through recycling. At this moment they rely on the water that surrounds the island. 

7 France, 78.2

The indicators that launched France so high on the EPI list are increasing of use of eco fuels, conserving energy, increasing renewable energy rate, increasing of organic farming, etc. In order to stimulate the use of eco friendly energy sources, the government also promoted reduction of taxes for those who use solar panels. However, the most interesting measure toward accomplishing their eco goals is the use of, believe it or not, the straw bales for construction of buildings. 

8 Austria, 78.1

Austria has no problems for being green so they decided to go step further. They made a deal with the government of Czech Republic for building eco friendly garden across the border between the two countries. The gardens contain herbs, fruit trees and flowers; they look amazing, though they do not use any pesticides for maintaining it. For the rest of the green country there’s no need to waste words. 

9 Cuba, 78.1

Cuba has earned the same index as Austria mostly thanks to the decreasing of the use of harmful and illegal pesticides on farms. Allegedly, they try to lower the sea level in order to prevent the salt water ruin the soil. However, their most ambitious project is the use of clear hydroelectricity in the Guama area. The government makes efforts to connect all of the homes in that area to hydroelectric station and provide them all the electricity they need. Should that make success, other projects will follow. 

10 Colombia, 76.8

Most news we hear for Colombia are not good, so this including on the Top 10 EPI countries is really refreshing. The government learnt the lessons and finally decided to end the deforestation and stimulated a lot of eco friendly projects. Constructors began using bamboo instead of steel; a lot of national parks have been opened in order to be saved the large number of endemic species, while the fashion designers have also tried to raise the awareness about the green issues.