A maniac is stalking the streets of Croydon, killing and dismembering cats and leaving the remains in a gruesome display to maximise the shock and horror when the corpse is discovered by owners.[i] Over 500 cats have so far fallen victim to the maniac, and the killer is likely a psychopath who will sooner orContinue reading “Croydon Cat Killer: Mystery Solved!”
Category Archives: Animal Crackers
Green Whiskers: The Shetland Sea Monster
“It made the very hairs on our heads stand on end for fear…” A monstrous creature with green eyes, long green whiskers and a cavernous mouth haunted the waters round the Shetland Isles in the late nineteenth century. In May of 1882 a boat of fishermen had a terrifying encounter with this monster of theContinue reading “Green Whiskers: The Shetland Sea Monster”
The Headless Bear from Hell: England’s Forgotten Phantom
You’ve heard of phantom black dogs haunting the moors. You’ve heard tales of grey ladies, howling werewolves, wailing banshees and headless horsemen. Perhaps you’ve read about fairies, elves and boggarts. But surely the strangest entity ever to haunt this land was the demonic headless bear from hell. This strange monster is nowadays forgotten, but heContinue reading “The Headless Bear from Hell: England’s Forgotten Phantom”
Doomsday Herrings and Fishy Farts
Norwegian fishermen were astonished when they landed a most strange and portentous fish on the 26 November 1597. On one side of the 14 inch long herring was the image of two soldiers in combat wearing military helmets, with one waving a sword while being struck in the belly by the other’s lance. Next toContinue reading “Doomsday Herrings and Fishy Farts”
The Deadly Embrace of the Devil Fish!
Devils of the Sea Pity the poor octopus. They only live for a year, but they have a weird alien like intelligence that’s diffused through their arms – a different way of being clever. Their weird appearance, though, engendered fear and loathing and monster octopus like creatures – Sea Devils – featured in a numberContinue reading “The Deadly Embrace of the Devil Fish!”
Weird Musical History #4 ~ The Cat Organ
In 1549, a huge pageant was held in Brussels in honour of the entry of King Phillip II of Spain into the city. The musical highlight of this spectacle was a moving float upon which a live bear played tunes on an organ. But it wasn’t just any organ. It was a cat organ, sometimesContinue reading “Weird Musical History #4 ~ The Cat Organ”
Talking Cats
People of a certain age may remember Prince the talking dog who appeared on the BBC show That’s Life in 1979 demonstrating his vocabulary. Prince would growl while his owner manipulated the dog’s jaw to produce just about discernible words, including what would become his catchphrase – ‘sausages!’ However, Prince’s feats pale when compared toContinue reading “Talking Cats”
Weird Musical History 1 ~The Cat Orchestra
It’s the middle of the eighteenth century and an expectant audience is crammed into an exhibition room in London’s Haymarket to witness a bizarre performance that is the talk of London. The audience settles and the show begins. Three cats sit ready to play their dulcimers, their sheet music on little music stands in frontContinue reading “Weird Musical History 1 ~The Cat Orchestra”
The War Between Monkeys and Dogs
At the end of 2021, bizarre reports of a strange war emerged from India: monkeys versus dogs. Villagers in Maharastra state, 300 miles east of Mumbai, claimed that revenge mad langur monkeys were slaughtering puppies by the hundreds. The attacks were so thorough that in Lawul village, every single puppy had been wiped out.[i] AccordingContinue reading “The War Between Monkeys and Dogs”
Paul Weatherhead 