Who needs a cat café when you've got moggies in the workplace?

In the olden days, lazy Royal Navy sailors could expect a lashing with the cat o'nine tails if their work wasn't up to scratch. But one Japanese firm has discovered that nine real felines are a far better motivational tool than the threat of a good flogging. An internet solutions business company has employed a squad of super-cute cats that are free to roam around the office. Since the moggies moved in, stress levels in the company have plummeted and the team is much more productive than before. Staff have bonded over the furballs, dropping their barriers and boosting team spirit as they collectively rush to cuddle their cutesy co-workers. It's not all good news though, because cats don't obey the same rules as humans. They pull out plugs, chew away on internet cables, claw the walls and even fall asleep inside visitor's bags. The staff don't care about infractions of these cheeky vandals, because they have all been clobbered with a potentially toxic dose of cuteness. The team at the company are even paid to play with cats, which makes them very different from the customers who flock to cat cafés. Employees are paid a 5,000 yen (£28) “cat bonus“ every month if they adopt a cat in need. They are also given time off if their cat dies, with pet bereavement treated the same way as if a human had died.
In Britain, famous workplace cat includes Larry , who works as chief mouser at the Cabinet Office. Sadly , Larry is anything but happy living his home at Westminster. David Cameron doesn't agree with the Japanese policy on office pets and has banned the ministerial moggie from Number 10.
And if that's not a vote winner for the other parties, we don't know what is.





Several pet owners have discovered the use of supplements with the help of research and vets. And, just like humans, animals too benefit from them in many ways 

 

WHY IS IT NECESSARY?
It is imperative to provide pets with necessary supplements so they can stay hale and hearty . If your pet has been not been receiving a balanced healthy meal or is dealing with certain ailments, it is wise to add supplements to hisher diet. Says Dr Manisha Karn, a veterinary physician, “A supplement like fish oil is good for animals because it contains fatty acids, which is helpful for skin disorders.It is also necessary because many pets suffer from digestive disorders and supplements help them combat that to a great extent.“ However, you need to ensure that if your pet has been prescribed a certain diet by the vet, it means the necessary supplements have already been added to the food. But if you think your pet shows signs of weakness, supplements could be a great option.

THREE IMPORTANT SUPPLEMENTS FOR PETS 

1. Enzymes ­ Most pets may not get the correct diet.
In such cases, it is necessary to provide them with enzymes that aid in digestion. Enzymes help in breaking down the food before it reaches the intes tinal tract. They are highly useful if your dog suf fers from liver ailments, pancreatitis, or is other wise unhealthy and may benefit from getting additional nutritional value from their food. One must note that while digestive enzymes are help ful for some dogs, they can cause an upset stom ach in some.

2. Probiotics ­ Pets often suffer from bowel issues.
Hence, they require a vet's care. Besides that, a pet needs probiotics because they help in immunity , support digestion and also aid metabolism. This is a great way to keep your dog healthy and you can save on vet bills. Kefir, which is rather easy to be prepared, is a great source of beneficial bacteria for pets. Plain yogurt can also be useful. If you provide probiotics while giving them antibiotics, it will help in preventing diarrhea.

3. Fish oil ­ This is highly necessary for joint, heart, stress and immune support. Moreover, it helps keeping the pet's coat soft and healthy. It also helps fight dry, scaly skin, and it's a known anti-inflam matory . Omega-3 EFAs are found primarily in fish oil, which is known to help the brain development of puppies and small dogs.





Not all international stars choose to cling to hunky men, there are some who'd rather flaunt their fancy pets on their arms

PARIS HILTON Known to carry pets on her arms, Paris Hilton has eight dogs in all. Last year, the hotel heiress was seen carrying her Pomeranian, Prince Hilton for a massage appointment. The dog was originally named Mr Amazing and often enjoys outings with his famous owner.
MILEY CYRUS
Miley's pet Emu, a Collie is known to have a special place in her life. The singer-cum-actress is seen here carrying him in her arms on her way back from a concert in Philadelphia.Apparently, her pet is rather camera friendly and enjoys being photographed by the paparazzi.
KIM KARDASHIAN
A gift from husband Kanye West, Kim Kardashian's cat Mercy passed away in 2012. However, Kim loved her so much that she carried her around almost everytime she stepped out. Mercy was so dear to Kim that she even blogged and spoke about her love for the Persian cat.
MIRANDA KERR
Supermodel Miranda Kerr has been photographed carrying her Yorkshire terrier, Frankie in public several times. Seen here is Kerr taking the pooch out as she runs errands around New York. From carrying him over to her sets to taking him for spas, she has even admitted in several interviews that she loves flaunting him around.
HILARY DUFF
Often seen taking walks with her dog, Hilary Duff absolutely adores her pup. Check out Duff taking the pet to the vet. It seems every time the actress steps out with her pooch, she makes sure she wraps him in a cosy blanket!
TAYLOR SWIFT
Taylor Swift's cat obsession is a known fact. Called Olivia Benson, the cat is an integral part of Swift's life. So much so that she takes her out regularly and even dresses up her up at times. In an interview when she was asked why she's seen carrying her kitty in her arms so often, she stated that Olivia freaks out when put in a cat carrier.





Why limit celebrating love to just one day when you can do so for a whole week? February 14, Valentine's Day , might be the day when lovers take the time out to do something nice for their special ones, but mind you that some of the special things can start from tomorrow itself ! Yes, that's right.

Rose Day on February 7 kicks off the week of love that culminates on the 14th as Valentine's Day . Here is your seven day guide for the `love week'.

ROSE DAY February 7
Surprise your lover with a bunch of roses on this day and see your excitement soar as she gets all mushy.This is the day when you can give a rose to the one you likelove and no one will question your intentions! Not just for school or college students, even elders can express their fondness this Rose Day!

PROPOSE DAY February 8
The second day in the Valentine's week is when people propose to their boyfriends or girlfriends.Celebrated on February 8 every year, this day surely sees a lot of couples hooking up. This day also makes sure that you have a real date on Valentine's Day!



CHOCOLATE DAY February 9
After giving the rose and proposing to the person you like, impress him or her with a box of chocolates on Chocolate Day. Chocolate has always been instrumental in impressing lovers and it is the one gift that people can't go wrong with. So, make the most of this day.
 
TEDDY DAY February 10
For the ones in love who like to do all things mushy, Teddy Day is not to be missed. Your girlfriend is sure to like a soft huggable teddy from you that she can hug to sleep at night. Though clichéd, it is true that for years now, lovers have been gifting teddies to each other. Thanks to them, the sales figures have never gone down!

PROMISE DAY February 11
The fifth day of the Valentine's Week is quite a significant one for those who believe in keeping promises. On this day, promise things to your loved ones that you mean to keep. You can make every wrong, right, this Promise Day.

KISS DAY February 12
Seal your promise with a kiss! Yes, that is what is celebrated on February 12. On Kiss Day, make your kiss special, make it count! Lovers across the world celebrate this day and at some places, they even gather at a particular spot in hordes to do so.

HUG DAY February 13
Nothing can make you feel better than a warm, tight hug. Take some time out to share a hug with your loved one and assure them that life is good and love prevails.

VALENTINE'S DAY February 14
The seventh and final day in the Valentine's Week is Valentine's Day, when young couples dress up and head together to spend a lovely time with each other. Ah well, not just that, but this is also the day that you can buy expensive gifts for your lover.Whatever way you celebrate, the spirit remains the same -to celebrate love with your partner!





Love is in the air, and a swarm of panic-stricken men have already started hitting the streets, looking for the perfect Valentine's Day gift. It could be something that says, `Sorry I check mail on date nights.' Or something that simply states how much you are in love with her. If you're looking to convey both at the same time, without struggling hard to find the right words, here's an option -a solitaire. Visit CaratLane.com, one of India's largest online jewellers. With an entire collection of solitaires, including both in classic and contemporary shapes like the cushion, asscher and oval, you'll find one that's just right for the woman in your life. And for your bank balance too, considering that the portal offers huge savings on its solitaire range.
Here's a better look at the price differences. You also needn't worry about the quality of the diamonds you buy . For, each diamond sold on the site is certified by independent laboratories like the GIA, the HRD and the IGI. And the low cost is possible because of the portal's unique just-in-time inventory model. It maintains low overheads by sourcing diamonds and gemstones directly from 4,000 vendors across the globe. The savings are passed on to you, making it easy for you to purchase a solitaire at attractive prices.
So, with a solitaire, you've pretty much got this year's gift covered. Now, to think about where you'll take her for a Valentine's dinner! Call: 1800-102-0103 (toll free) For a free `Try At Home', call +91-9940400002 http:www.CaratLane.com





Bollywood's new blue-eyed girl Jacqueline Fernandez recently got a tattoo done on her finger, which reads `love', while Celina Jaitely chose this place to get her better half 's name -Peter -inked.Maanayata Dutt, too, sports a finger tattoo with her hubby Sanjay's name. Hollywood celeb Lindsay Lohan also grabbed eyeballs with a `Shhh...' tattoo on her index finger. However, this fad of finger tattoos is not just confined to celebrities. In fact, youngsters are also getting hooked to this new trend.

SHORT AND SWEET
Not everyone prefers those big tattoos or getting inked on a body part, which even you can't view easily . Youngsters prefer fingers for inking small and simple tattoos that can be hidden or flaunted as per their choice. Digvijay Yenurkar, an M Tech student, says, “Just a few days ago, I got a tattoo with my parents' names on my finger as their wedding anniversary is around the corner. When I go to college, I wear a ring over it as I feel this is something very personal and I don't want to unnecessarily flaunt it everywhere.“


LOTS IN A NAME
Finger tattoos can be an alternative to engagement rings, too.The trend of adorning the ring finger with a tattoo of a partner's name is also very common among city couples. Indrajeet Kalmegh, a businessman, says, “I feel rings can be changed, feelings can't. I generally avoid wearing rings. So, as an alternative to my engagement ring, I got my ring finger inked with my wife's name (Ashwini).Reciprocating this love in a similar way , she, too, will be getting a tattoo with my name soon.“
Amar Mulge, a tattoo artist, says, “Mostly, unmarried or just-married couples, between the age group of 20 and 25, come to me to tattoo their fingers. While a majority of them prefer inking the names of their respective partners, a few have even inked their wedding date.“

CREATIVE CHALLENGE
“It's a very challenging task to create a tattoo over such a small area. And because fingers have a thin layer of skin, getting tattooed there is a painful process as well. When a customer inks his her name, it's easier. But I need to pay extra attention when someone's opting for designs like a tiger or a phoenix,“ says tattoo artist Dr Jitendra Bharadwaj.
“When it comes to tattooing a finger, I use fine needles of one or three round liner size. Strokes of the tattoo machine are short and the frequency is always kept low,“ he adds.