Staff Sgt. Jesse Knott and his cat KoshkaStaff Sgt. Jesse Knott risked his life while serving in Afghanistan, but it's the risk he took for a cat named Koshka that's getting him attention these days.

Knott met Koshka on base in the Maiwand District of Afghanistan, where the feline worked as the unofficial mouse catcher. But despite his service, Koshka wasn't always taken care of.

"He was showing some signs that people weren't taking very good care of him," Knott told CBS affiliate WBTV. "I found paint in his fur a couple of times. And then people took clippers and shaved his back."

Also see: 10 weird ways animals have served the military

Concerned for the cat, Knott made room for Koshka in his office, even though soldiers aren't allowed to have pets.

Then, on Dec. 8, 2011, a suicide bomber targeted a military convoy near Knott's base and killed two of the soldier's friends. Knott said he was struck by depression and was crying in his office when Koshka came to comfort him.

"With tears in my eyes he locked eyes with me,

Read More »from U.S. Solider and Stray Cat Save Each Other in Afghanistan

by Michael d'Estries, Mother Nature Network

Justin Bieber and his pet monkeyJustin Bieber is frantically making a last-ditch effort to get back his beloved pet monkey from German custom officials.

We're just kidding -- he's not doing anything. In fact, it's as good as a done deal that in only afew hours, Mally the baby capuchin, will be living the sweet life at a zoo or animal shelter somewhere in Germany.

Also read: Gallery of celebrities' famous pets

"If no further documents arrive then the seizure order comes into effect and the animal becomes the property of the German state," customs spokesman Thomas Meister told The Associated Press.

A little over a month and a half ago, Mally was confiscated from the 19-year-old after he failed to produce the necessary documentation for her entry into Germany. Beyond some unconfirmed emails with what animal shelter officials believe was Bieber's manager Scooter Braun, very little concern for the capuchin's well being has been shown by the pop star and his

Read More »from Justin Bieber Will Lose His Monkey at Midnight

Author Sarah Elizabeth Richards decided to freeze her eggs in her mid-30s while dating Paul, who wasn't interested in starting a family. She saw it as her future family insurance policy, but as time passed, Paul's opinion on babies didn't change. From her book Motherhood, Rescheduled: The New Frontier of Egg Freezing and the Women Who Tried It.

I started playing a little game with myself to see how a baby would fit into our lives. Throughout the day I asked myself, "If we had a baby right now, what would we be doing?" Could I still go swimming? Could we take her to brunch? When I woke up to use the bathroom at 5 a.m., I thought, "If I had to get up right now and couldn't go back to bed, would I mind?" On Sunday nights when Paul was working at his computer and I had finished watching Big Love, I wished I could help a child get ready for bed: chasing her down the hall after a bath, reading her stories or negotiating which stuffed animals she could have in her crib. I imagined Paul and

Read More »from My Dilemma: What to Do when You Want a Baby and He Doesn't

by Laura Moss, Mother Nature Network

Pretzel, the little kitty that couldVeterinary technician Carmen Bernard was driving down a country road outside Jacksonville, Fla., when she spotted what she thought was an opossum in the road. She pulled over to help the critter, but discovered the animal was actually a 5-week-old Siamese kitten.

The kitten's hind legs were twisted and Bernard suspected the cat had been hit by a car, so she took the animal to the vet.

However, according to veterinarians, the kitten wasn't injured but had several severe deformities. X-rays revealed that the cat's right leg was backwards and her kneecap was on the back of her leg. As a result, her leg's muscles and tendons were also reversed, causing her bones to twist. Her left leg was deformed as well, although not as severely as her right.

Also see: Gallery of 7 of the most inspiring disabled pets

The irregularities made it difficult for the kitten to walk and caused her a significant amount of pain. In addition to her twisted legs, the kitten,

Read More »from A Cat Named 'Pretzel': Kitten's Recovery Inspires Facebook Fans

By Mandy Chan, Lover.ly

It seems so easy, getting married in Las Vegas. With celebrities and reality television stars having quickie weddings there quite frequently, it's almost as if it's a spontaneous decision to just show up at a downtown wedding chapel, say your "I do's" with Elvis officiating, and wake up the next morning not sure of what exactly happened. Throw in a lawyer, and 55 hours later you've got a divorce (we're looking at you, Britney Spears)! Well, it's actually not that simple! Here are 3 things about getting married in Sin City that you should know.

Photo by: Welsch Photogaphy on Events by Heidi & Kate via Lover.ly

1. You MUST have a marriage license.
Well, for the ceremony to be legal, anyways. Those middle of the night, spur of the moment ceremonies are a possibility, though, thanks to the Marriage License Bureau being open 365 days a year, from 8:00am to midnight. Currently, there is a $60 fee and you can even fill out the application online. You must be at Read More »from Vegas, Baby! Get Hitched in Sin City: 3 Things to Consider

Stay smooth all summer long with the best hair removal products for your whole body!

Related:
Celeb-Inspired Beauty Trends to Try Now
Gorgeous Beachy Waves For Every Hair Texture
3 Amazing New Braid Ideas
17 Must-Have Summer Beauty Products

Read More »from Get Fuzz-Free!

By Laura Moss, Mother Nature Network

People aren't the only ones who get the blues - cats can suffer from depression too.

Behaviorists first recognized depression in cats in the 1990s, and felines can become depressed for several reasons.

A major disruption such as moving, adding or losing a family member or a change in schedule can trigger it. If a cat's owner is going through a stressful time, the animal could also mimic that unhappy behavior.

Also read: 11 ways to beat depression naturally

Depression symptoms
A depressed kitty can exhibit a variety of symptoms, but one of the main indicators of depression or other illness is loss of appetite. If your feline leaves food untouched - especially for more than a day - you should consult your veterinarian.

Additional signs of feline depression include the following:

• Loss of interest in playtime
• Lack of grooming
• Signs of lethargy or changes in personality
• Aggression •

Read More »from Is My Cat Depressed?

By Erica Brown
Author of Happier Endings
There is an art to the consolation note, the sympathy card, the letter marking loss and sadness-even if you cannot share in the sadness because the person who died is an absolute stranger. I find that what helps me write such a letter is meditating for a moment before I begin, particularly focusing on the reader's face when he or she opens the letter and skims its few sentences to see if they will capture a memory, share an as-yet untold story, or regurgitate a few unlovable clichés.

What words will somehow bridge the distance or offer a little sliver of solace? Maybe none. Maybe some. Maybe some, but only with time.

It is so hard to write a moving sympathy card, so hard that we often forget to get around to it, mostly because we never wanted to write one in the first place. But I know that many mourners need these cards. They are buoyed by the little postal gifts of love contained in small envelopes around small, heartfelt feelings of loss.

Read More »from How to Write the Best Consolation Note: Sympathy on Stationary