Latest news with #Xena
Newsweek
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Pregnant Sphynx Cat Goes Viral as Viewers Left Shocked by Appearance
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A sphynx cat owner has left the internet in stitches after discovering their hairless feline hadn't just been gaining weight—she was pregnant. The unexpected twist was shared by Xena, known as @famoussphynx on TikTok, in a video that has since gone viral, amassing 1.6 million likes and 9.3 million views. The clip begins with the sphynx cat licking her visibly swollen belly before cutting to two newborn kittens snuggled up beside her. "Wondering why my cat is getting so fat," reads the text overlay on the video. "Thought I was feeding her too much," the owner captioned the post. "Yes, we are keeping parents and babies," they added in a follow-up caption. Sphynx cats, known for their distinct lack of fur and wrinkled skin, are a unique and affectionate breed. They are highly social, intelligent, and known for their energetic and playful nature, according to Purina. Despite their lack of a coat, sphynx cats require regular grooming to manage oils that would normally be absorbed by fur. Cat pregnancies typically last around 63 to 65 days. As Cats Protection explains, signs of pregnancy include a swollen belly, increased appetite, and affectionate behavior. Owners are advised to provide extra care and a safe space for the expectant mother as she prepares to give birth. Sphynx cats typically enjoy a lifespan of 13 to 15 years, with some living even longer with proper care, according to Animal Elysium. Their longevity is influenced by factors such as genetics, diet, and regular veterinary check-ups. While they may require specific care due to their hairlessness, many owners find their engaging personalities and loving demeanor well worth the extra attention. The comments section of the viral video quickly filled with amused and adoring reactions from TikTok users. A stock image showing a pregnant Sphynx cat. A stock image showing a pregnant Sphynx cat. Azovsky/iStock / Getty Images Plus "They're disgustingly cute," said one user. "The raw chicken had more chickens," joked another viewer. "I love how there's zero wrinkles on her belly, full capacity," a third commented. "They are actually the cutest things ever," one viewer added. "Why do people find hairless cats ugly? to me they're adorable," another user said. "I will never understand how people hate on hairless cats," echoed another. Newsweek reached out to @famoussphynx for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@ and they could appear on our site.
Daily Maverick
20-05-2025
- General
- Daily Maverick
My dog, my best friend, is no more — I can't and won't pretend that I'm okay
After euthanising her beloved hound, Sukasha Singh can't help but feel like she murdered her best friend. I don't know who to blame for this indescribable pain that I'm feeling, so I'll blame my mother, because she was the one who initiated my first relationship with a dog. I was a couple of months old when my mom, Surya, would leave me in a carry cot under a tree in the back yard while she hung the clothes. Our German shepherd, Dino, would lie beside me and watch over me. He wouldn't let anyone come near me, except for my mom. She says I would fall asleep and because she didn't want to wake me up, she would go inside and watch us through the kitchen window, knowing that I was perfectly safe with Dino at my side. Dino was my first friend and like most babies growing up with dogs, I fell asleep on him, shared my food with him – whether I wanted to or not – and grew up with him as my constant companion. Fast forward many years, many dogs and lots of heartache to 2001, when we bought a house in Johannesburg north in a formerly white suburb. Voetstoots The family from whom we bought the house had a golden Labrador retriever they no longer wanted. Xena was three years old, had never been to a vet, and she wasn't spayed. We said we'd adopt her if they had her spayed. They said it was a 'voetstoots' deal – we take the dog as is, or they'll put her down. So Xena was the first of the dogs in our new house. Before we adopted her, a 10kg bag of dog food was dumped into a huge plastic bowl and she would eat whenever she wanted to, so she was quite overweight. After getting her spayed, we started to feed her one cup of food twice a day and we took her on long walks. She hated us and tried to run away many times. She calmed down after about a year and that's when we adopted Mishkey, a boerboel ridgeback pup who was terrified of storms and fireworks, and who quickly grew to be a 45kg scaredy cat. After trying about 10 different remedies to calm him down during thunderous Highveld storms, the vet said: 'Just throw a tot of whiskey down his throat, maybe that'll make him sleep.' I did, and it worked, but not for long. The vet called him Whiskey after that. My nephew, Sachin, has lived with us over the years and always talks about the adventures he had with Mishkey, and how the two of them spent endless afternoons playing together during Sachin's formative years. Then my sister did some volunteer work at an animal rescue organisation and came home with one of the pups that had been abandoned on a highway in a box. That was how the perceptive boerboel Staffie, Bella, entered our lives. My mom lives with me and we share a decently sized main house, and my sister lives in the cottage in the back yard. My mom and I fight often – the kind of fights that were louder than our famous rock star neighbour's band practice. Three days after a particularly vicious fight, my mom still hadn't apologised – I am never to blame for any of our fights, obviously – so I decided to needle her a bit. I said: 'Did you know that after you shouted at me, stormed down the passage and slammed your bedroom door, Bella was right behind you and you slammed the door on her nose?!' We were in the kitchen, and my mom was chopping veggies. She immediately turned around and walked over to Bella, who was lying down and watching us. She patted Bella gently on the head and examined her nose. She said: 'I'm sorry I was so angry, Bella, but if you had a pup like Sukasha, you would've eaten her a long time ago.' Character There's a meme in the dating world about how you can judge your date's character by how they treat the service staff in a restaurant, but in our house there's a belief that you can judge a person's character by how they treat their pets. We are all incredibly wary of people who have never loved a dog (or any pet, for that matter). The FBI agrees with us, and a few years ago it started to keep track of people who have been convicted of animal cruelty, since the link between animal abuse and human violence has been well documented. A few years later, another rescue pup, Yoda, arrived, and then 10 years ago, we adopted Ripley, a rottweiler staffie rescue (whom we named after the Sigourney Weaver character in Aliens). Xena, Mishkey, Bella and Yoda filled our lives with the kind of inexplicable love that only dogs are capable of, and our hearts broke when the time came to put each of them down. But none of them loved us and filled our lives with joy the way Ripley did. Bella had to be put down just before Covid and since then it's just been Ripley. When Covid hit and we started to work from home, Ripley inadvertently became our emotional support dog. We unknowingly relied on her to cheer us up every day as she divided her time and love between the three of us. Best friend When my mom had Covid and had to isolate in her bedroom, Ripley would sleep in the passage outside her bedroom door. When my sister, Sandy, was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after Covid, Ripley wouldn't leave her side, especially after chemo sessions. When I almost died two years ago, Ripley somehow reminded me of the importance of being grateful for every moment and helped me find a way through the darkness, anger and confusion that engulfed me at that point. When I tried to meditate in the morning, she would lie across my bed, snoring and farting through the dulcet commentaries. Years passed as we'd fight for the sunny spots on my bed during winter, play in the back yard, share my food, have deep conversations about the meaning of life and go for walks in the park. Her tail would waggle from dawn to dusk. Even when her vet administered that lethal injection two weeks ago and she was in excruciating pain, her tail waggled as I cradled her in my arms and told her how much she was loved as she took her last breaths and her heart stopped beating. She looked like a fierce dog, but she was the gentlest soul and never showed any aggression to other dogs or people. Everyone who spent time with her has been affected by her death. Even our domestic cleaner, Precious, cried and asked if she could have one of Ripley's toys as a keepsake. She said: 'It's like the child in the house has died.' I know most people who think that dogs are just animals won't understand why we're feeling so bereft and lost without her, but we are. And no, we're not getting another dog, because none of us wants to endure this heartache again. I feel like I murdered my best friend – the one being in my life who was always happy to see me, who loved me unconditionally, who cheered me up when I felt sad and who somehow made me a better person is gone and I can't and won't pretend that I'm okay. Adopt, don't shop All our dogs were rescues. We're firm believers in adopting because we know that the breeding industry is filled with many unscrupulous and heartless people who lie about the conditions in which allegedly thoroughbred dogs are bred. Even accredited breeders have been found to be fronts for puppy mills where dogs are kept in appalling environments, so we've never bought a dog. And we always sterilised our dogs when they were six months old because the old wives' tale of letting dogs have one litter to ensure they stay healthy through their lives is absolute twaddle. Any good vet will tell you that there are hundreds of thousands of strays in this country and there's no need for your dogs to have puppies. Despite the fact that all our other dogs were cremated, we decided to bury Ripley, in accordance with municipal bylaws and under the vet's advice. And so, on an entirely unremarkable morning, with the humdrum of traffic in the background and the sun poking through the tall palm trees, we laid my best friend to rest with a few of her favourite toys in the front garden, as we continually struggle to find meaning in her death – as if death ever has any meaning. DM This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
130-pound Great Dane ‘thinks she's a kangaroo.' The rescued dog needs a new home
Florida 130-pound Great Dane 'thinks she's a kangaroo.' The rescued dog needs a new home An animal rescue said Xena is waiting for a new owner after she was saved from a hoarding situation. Northwest Florida Great Dane Rescue A 130-pound Great Dane 'thinks she's a kangaroo' — and she needs a new home. 'She LOVES to run, jump and chase, which is why we call her part kangaroo,' Katie King, vice president of a Florida animal rescue, told McClatchy News in a May 6 email. 'She is so playful... she really would benefit from having another playful companion that can put up with her endless energy.' Xena the dog is up for adoption after experiencing a rough patch. She was one of several animals saved from a hoarding and animal cruelty case in February, according to WTXL and the Northwest Florida Great Dane Rescue. King said the rescue took in four of the dogs, who arrived 'starving and full of intestinal parasites. Xena also had ehrlichia, a tick borne disease, and had to be treated for that.' For about a month, Xena recovered at a veterinarian's office in Panama City, a roughly 100-mile drive southwest from Tallahassee. Now, the 4-year-old pup is learning commands as she waits for a fresh start. She has become known as an energetic dog with a snuggly side. 'She has so much love to give and will follow you around like your shadow, loves to sit on your lap while watching TV as well as cuddle up in bed with you if allowed,' rescuers wrote in a Facebook post. Xena's ideal home would have a large, active male dog and no small children. 'She is now living in foster care in Panama City with her foster dad named Richard and his male Great Dane named Ranger,' King wrote. 'She and Ranger are two peas in a pod, they are both super active and playful and have turned Richard's backyard into a racetrack/wrestling arena.' As of May 7, the rescue's website still listed Xena among the dogs available for adoption. Details about the animal organization's adoption process can be found at SJ Simone Jasper The News & Observer Go to X Email this person 919-836-5768 Simone Jasper is a reporter covering breaking stories for The News & Observer and real-time news in the Carolinas.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
Woman, 20, died after suddenly fleeing routine police stop and going on '70mph chase'
A 'happy and generous' 20-year-old woman who suddenly sped away from a routine police stop died after crashing her new BMW into a parked car, an inquest has heard. Xena Georgiou, from Wythenshawe, was rushed to hospital following a police pursuit on December 3, 2023. Despite the best efforts of medical staff, she passed away at Manchester Royal Infirmary on December 12. Yesterday (April 7), an inquest at South Manchester Coroners Court heard how Xena had been riding around in the car with 'close friend' Yasmin Tanker, who sat in the passenger seat, and Jake Bosquet, who was a friend of Tanker. READ MORE: I quit my teaching job and get paid twice as much for half the hours READ MORE: Family grew suspicious of mum's sudden luxury lifestyle... what they found was devastating Both suffered "significant injuries" in the crash. Bosquet was left in hospital for two weeks and suffered "memory loss", an inquest jury was told. The inquest heard how Xena was the driver of a black BMW One Series that she had recently bought at a police auction with the help of her mother. Bodycam and dashcam footage recorded on the evening of December 3 was played to the court, and showed GMP officers PC Nathan Lowe and PC Stephan Bielizna carry out the traffic stop on Washway Road, Sale. They had been patrolling the area and spotted that the car Xena was driving had no insurance and was registered outside of Manchester. Footage showed 'around five minutes' of conversation, in which Xena gave the insurance details of her mother, who had placed temporary insurance coverage on the vehicle in the past. PC Lowe told the court that after attempting to find the details on the police's national system, he asked Xena to step into their vehicle where a fingerprint scan could be carried out, as "she did not look" like a woman in her 40s. However, after a short while, the bodycam footage showed Xena suddenly driving off. A pursuit then began. At one point, one of the officers could be heard saying "what's she doing?". Police followed the BMW on several residential roads in the area, with both vehicles reaching speeds of up to "70mph". Xena then lost control on a bend on Marsland Road at around 8.30pm, colliding with a parked car. When asked about the risk factor of the traffic stop by assistant coroner Mr Adrian Farrow, PC Bielizna said that it felt 'comfortable'. He added: 'There was nothing that I foreseen that would have led to the outcome that did.' In a packed courtroom, members of Xena's family were in attendance as well as representatives of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) which is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. It is mandatory to refer a case to the IOPC for investigation when someone dies after conduct with police. Among the witnesses called were Xena's mother, who was in tears when she described her daughter as an 'outgoing, kind, funny, kind, loving, very generous", and someone who would 'help people even though she was struggling." She added that Xena 'could also be fiery" and "outspoken.' The court heard how Xena had only had the car for a week after her mother had bought it for her from a police auction in Doncaster. She told the court how she didn't want Xena to drive the car until it had been 'checked.' as it was scheduled for a parts replacement at a local garage on December 4. Catherine told the court that Xena had persuaded her to allow her to drive the car, but she noted that she had given her money to cover the insurance. However, she only found out that Xena didn't until six months after the incident. An emotional Catherine said: 'When I sent the £180, I just assumed that she done it.' Catherine added that the last time she saw Xena was during a Facetime one hour before the crash. Catherine says that Xena was 'happy' eating a takeaway with her close friend Yasmin Tanker in her new car. The inquest was led by assistant coroner Adrian Farrow and it is expected to be heard over four days to give the jury time to reflect on the evidence.
Telegraph
23-03-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
My new Land Rover Defender is the ultimate midlife crisis car
You can measure the stages of a midlife crisis by the vehicles people buy. Some go for the clichéd red convertible, some opt for a motorcycle, others take up extreme sports. Me? I bought a matte black Land Rover Defender Dynamic SE. Because nothing says 'throwing caution to the wind' quite like a rugged, oversized, tech-laden beast of a machine wrapped in stealth-mode black. This all started with a perfectly sensible Ford Kuga, a hybrid no less, the kind of car that whispers responsibility. It got the job done – efficient, practical, and utterly devoid of personality. But as I found myself scrolling through car listings late at night (as one does when questioning life choices), I decided that if I was going to spend a ridiculous amount of money on a car it might as well be on something I truly wanted. A Jaguar F-Pace flirted with my affections for a while, but deep down I had always hankered after a Defender. And so, with a dramatic flourish, I found myself at Dick Lovett Melksham, ready to test-drive my destiny. The transaction took five months from order to collection. On its arrival at the dealership I was beside myself with excitement. Nick, the silver fox car salesmen, eyed the beast before us with barely concealed reverence. 'First one we've had in this finish,' he murmured, as if we were about to witness something momentous, which in fact we were. Xena (my name for her) is a beauty. A show of sophistication The matte black-wrapped Defender Dynamic SE is an absolute showstopper – a bold statement of power, sophistication and adventure, with a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrain. Its stealthy finish absorbs light rather than reflects it, giving it a brooding, almost sinister allure that commands attention without screaming for it. The wrap accentuates the Defender's muscular stance, sculpted lines and boxy silhouette, enhancing its rugged yet refined persona. I won't lie, part of me felt like an imposter. Was I Defender material? Could I handle this much car? It was an undeniably big leap from the well-mannered Kuga to something that looked like it belonged in an action movie chase scene. But as soon as I sat in her I was in love. She has presence. It was unapologetically large, with an extra-long bonnet that immediately introduced itself as an enemy of tight corners. My whiskers – metaphorically speaking – were thoroughly discombobulated every time I tried to turn in a restricted space. Parking was an adventure in itself, even with a 360-degree camera as back-up. It felt like trying to park a small tank using a periscope. But logic be damned – I was all in. I had specified my dream Defender, wrapped it in matte black for that extra brooding allure and signed up for three years of financial commitment via a PHP finance plan. No regrets. Technology: marvel or menace? The Defender is packed with so much tech that I half expected it to drive itself. Some of it I understood instantly. Apple CarPlay, so you can play music on your phone via the car's stereo? Brilliant. Heated seats? A joy. The phone app that allows me to pre-warm the car in winter? Life-changing. It even makes battery use more efficient, which means I can smugly enjoy my preheated luxury with a fraction of the guilt. Then there are the less intuitive features which baffle me. The navigation system optimises EV battery use, which sounds great until you realise you have no idea what that actually means in real-world driving. The height dimension app should be handy, given my inability to gauge whether the car will fit under anything lower than a motorway bridge, but I still hold my breath every time I approach an underground car park. And don't even get me started on the gear lever. Reverse at the top and drive at the bottom? Who designed this? My first three-point turn in a tight spot was an exercise in sheer confusion, flailing limbs and some choice language. Off-road adventure To ensure I wasn't just an urban warrior posing as an off-roader, I signed up for a Land Rover Experience Day in Honiton. It turns out that these cars are designed to do things far beyond the usual supermarket run. The instructor took me through a bespoke set-up, demonstrating a myriad of electronic drive modes and control settings, all of which I instantly forgot once left to my own devices. The highlight (or lowlight, depending on your perspective) was navigating a sharp downhill incline where I was explicitly told not to touch the brakes. Apparently, the Defender does all the work for you. This defied every instinct I had. As the car crept downward, my knuckles turned white on the steering wheel and I found myself holding my breath – something I now aspire to work on, because breathing is apparently useful when descending mountains. The drive home Armed with my newfound knowledge (or at least a vague recollection of it), I embarked on my journey back to Wiltshire. With auto-braking cruise control and battery-efficient navigation engaged, I was pleased to discover I didn't even need to fill up with petrol. This felt like a small victory – although, let's be honest, parking at home was still a horror show. And even with the best intentions, post my lesson in using the touchscreen, I still haven't managed to set up two driver profiles for myself and my partner. At the moment it's set for my profile only; so he'll have to wait for his surround sound country music blasting out of the exquisite music system. (No, I don't know what type it is!) Despite my ongoing battles with tight turns and spaces, the Defender and I are settling into a rhythm. It's a car that demands attention, respect and a bit of blind faith. Every drive is an adventure, every parking attempt a gamble and every interaction with the technology a learning experience. So, was this the ultimate midlife crisis purchase? Absolutely. Do I regret it? Not for a second. Because sometimes you just have to throw caution to the wind, wrap your car in matte black and embrace the chaos. Even though I don't understand half the gizmos I love driving Xena. She handles beautifully and drives so smoothly. And, if nothing else, I'll look good while attempting (and often failing) to park it – when I nearly wedged her in a car wash, at least I did it with panache.
