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PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
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« Bill Donohue is a vile and disgusting human being | Main | Radio reminder »

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Forgive me

Category: Organisms
Posted on: May 31, 2009 1:20 AM, by PZ Myers

This is really low, and I'm already ashamed of myself…but I couldn't resist, either. Behold the cuteness.

(via Chris Clarke)

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Comments

Posted by: Monado | May 31, 2009 1:36 AM

Hey, this wasn't here 10 minutes ago. I think I have the cutest thing on teh interwebs right now: but I stole it from Flickr (and they stole it from somewhere else).

The real secular pinky swear should be to create non-religious communities in your community: civic centers or wherever you choose to put your energy, so that when people leave the church they have somewhere else to make friends.

Posted by: Jared Cormier | May 31, 2009 1:36 AM

Can we feed Christians to it when it's grown?

Posted by: Kel | May 31, 2009 1:38 AM

Thought I was on Jerry Coyne's blog for a second there.

Posted by: Tacroy | May 31, 2009 1:42 AM

Oh man, I really needed that after listening to the filth that Donahue spewed out. I just couldn't stop smiling!

Posted by: Rheinhard | May 31, 2009 1:47 AM

Yes Tacroy, just what I was thinking... to use a BoingBoing-ism, after Donahue we needed an effective "unicorn chaser".

Posted by: Timebender13 | May 31, 2009 1:52 AM

It's cute and hyper and it chews on things. It's like a dog! A dog that wants to claw your eyes out....

Posted by: Nominal Egg | May 31, 2009 1:55 AM

My mind kept hearing John Candy in Volunteers:

"You're a big kitty! Yes you are!"

Posted by: Rodger T NZ | May 31, 2009 1:58 AM

Cute alright, but when it gets big it`ll tear you a new one.
Just this week,at a wildlife park in NZ.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10575168

Posted by: Zar | May 31, 2009 2:03 AM

Thanks. Needed to cleanse the palate.

#10

Posted by: Porco Dio | May 31, 2009 2:05 AM

hahahahaha.... looks a little like you, dude.

#11

Posted by: Nominal Egg | May 31, 2009 2:07 AM

hahahahaha.... looks a little like you, dude.

Fuzzy and cuddly?

#12

Posted by: Zombie | May 31, 2009 2:07 AM

KITTEH!

#13

Posted by: bastion of sass | May 31, 2009 2:13 AM

That is cute, so cute that it almost makes up for the Bill Donohue post.

#14

Posted by: JohnnieCanuck | May 31, 2009 2:14 AM

If you scooped CuteOverload on this, I'm really going to be impressed. So when do the nuffers show up?

Fuzzy? Baby? Mammal? Shocking behaviour, PZ.

#15

Posted by: Jadehawk, OM | May 31, 2009 2:17 AM

WAAAAAAAANT!

and no, I DON'T care that it'll eat me when its grown up! *pout*

#16

Posted by: Justin N | May 31, 2009 2:24 AM

My wife's a dog person, I'm a cat person... we've pretty much decided that a tiger is officially the compromise pet. Soooo adorable.

#17

Posted by: Duae Quartunciae | May 31, 2009 2:26 AM

Oh, YUCK. An amniote!

#18

Posted by: cyan | May 31, 2009 2:42 AM

LOW?

Au contraire.

The epitome of beauty.

#19

Posted by: Kitty | May 31, 2009 3:03 AM

Very nice but I'm totally besotted with the Loch Garten ospreys at the moment.

#20

Posted by: Geoff Rogers | May 31, 2009 3:18 AM

Awesome.

That cute little bastard's going to grow up to be a quarter-tonne killing machine. Right now, he's just practicing to develop the skills he needs to be really good at it.

How cute!

#21

Posted by: The Tim Channel | May 31, 2009 3:23 AM

My latest article on evolution....sort of...

A taste:

Witness the last throes of Republicanus Rexus. Like many animals that live and wallow in filth, it was only a matter of time before a nasty virus mutated in the comingled muck. Once started, the epidemic spread rapidly and got totally out of control, an easy task given the already compromised nature of these tortured individuals.

more....

Extinction Alert - New Virus!!
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/timtimes/2009/05/extinction-alert---new-virus.php

Enjoy.

#22

Posted by: BSR | May 31, 2009 3:25 AM

Ok...that was the unicorn-chaser we needed after having to listen to Bill Donohue tirade of idiocy!

#23

Posted by: Susan | May 31, 2009 3:33 AM

I'm always suspicious when I see wild animal babies with humans instead of their moms, but in this case, it seems people had to intervene. This "kitten" is now 2 1/2 years old and been sent to the Phoenix zoo.

#24

Posted by: Psychodiva | May 31, 2009 3:35 AM

you should be ashamed of yourself- such cuteness on a sunday morning lol

it cheeredme up tho :)

#25

Posted by: Martin | May 31, 2009 3:37 AM

Tim Minchin hates you. :D

(Youtube lament)

#26

Posted by: Janeothejungle | May 31, 2009 3:45 AM

Kitty at #19.

WHEW. I thought I was the only one. Chicks!

#27

Posted by: Matt | May 31, 2009 3:47 AM

Yeah, it's all fun and games till it grows up and rips your head off.
Still cute, though!

#28

Posted by: rufustfirefly | May 31, 2009 3:53 AM

It would be nice if it would stay that size. I hope there's video in a year or two when it's done a Seigfried and Roy number.

#29

Posted by: Dave The Drummer | May 31, 2009 4:12 AM

Very cute.
I can't wait until genetic engineering is capable of permanently arresting the development of cats and other creatures. I'll be straight out to buy myself a cloned tiger cub. And a police-light-blue kitten.

#30

Posted by: scarygirl | May 31, 2009 4:41 AM

My brain started to liquify and ooze out of my ears at 1:14...

#31

Posted by: Ragutis | May 31, 2009 4:50 AM

Adorable!

There was a show on Animal Planet or Discovery a few years ago that followed a whole litter of tiger cubs born at a zoo from birth to young adulthood. That show wasn't cute overload, it was cute overdose.

#32

Posted by: slang | May 31, 2009 5:18 AM

Well, that seals it. Tigers are designed to be cute, fluffy, playful, loving pets. Every fundy should have one!

#33

Posted by: Pikemann Urge | May 31, 2009 5:27 AM

Cats are so cute they can get away with anything. Got a psychotic housecat? Call him Murderkins and marvel at his cuteness as he tears your furniture - and forearms - to shreds. Bless the li'l munchkin.

I don't get why anyone thinks that chimps or monkeys are cute. Felines rule. I therefore declare that humans and cats are directly related. Chimps, monkeys etc. are made from mere genetic residue.

ALL HAIL KITTY CATS.

#34

Posted by: Sili | May 31, 2009 5:30 AM

When did Jerry Coyne take over Pharyngula? And how?

#35

Posted by: Crudely Wrott | May 31, 2009 5:34 AM

Dad burn it, PZ! You just ruined the perfect mood of outrage that I'd honed to a fine edge. There I was, minding my own business, consumed with a disgusted rage over Donohue's dumbfuckery. I was soaring on the wind of outrage. Buoyed up by waves of indignation and sailing a current of abhorrence and having myself a big ol' hoot and you pull something like this.

You totally ruined the moment. That kitty video stilled the wind and calmed the waves that mere moments ago had my blood pressure at an all time high. Now I'm crashing from the bitter acrimony . . .

Oh, wait. I might be feeling the least bit better now.

Er. Thanks, PZ.

#36

Posted by: Alexander | May 31, 2009 5:40 AM

will it remain friendly with those people who raised him when he grows up?
BTW it has only 4 tentacles... :)

#37

Posted by: Chris Clarke | May 31, 2009 5:48 AM

Credit where due: I got it via Space Kitty.

And the tiger's got a theme song already! five weeks old and the thing's got a theme song. Where's my theme song, dammit? It's about 2500 months overdue. Grumble.

#38

Posted by: Space Kitty | May 31, 2009 5:55 AM

I blame twitter.

#39

Posted by: Aquaria | May 31, 2009 6:15 AM

OMG! Kawaiiiiii!

This little guy reminds me of the snow leopard cubs at the San Antonio zoo a few years ago. They were about the same size as tiger kitty when they were deemed old enough to venture into their habitat area.

Also, ever notice cats hiding behind two blades of grass and seeming to think seriously that they're "hidden?" One of the SL cubs was hiding behind a plant of some kind, barely a few mm wide and tall enough that it looked like a patio umbrella made just for him. He was also doing the kitty butt-wiggle thing indicating a forthcoming pounce. You couldn't peel the watching humans off the glass as we all waited for that pounce.

#40

Posted by: Aaron | May 31, 2009 6:21 AM

Yes, very cute. But honestly, what's with the music! It was like listening to an old 60's advertisement..well, the kind that modern movies tend to make 60's advertisements sound like...

#41

Posted by: 'Tis Himself, Quel Dommage | May 31, 2009 6:23 AM

Nope, not even cute tiger kittens will bring me down from my Donohue-induced rage. I think I'll watch the kitty video a couple more times.

#42

Posted by: SamB | May 31, 2009 6:23 AM

Shouldn't the category for this be 'Aww-ganisms'?

#43

Posted by: Frank | May 31, 2009 6:29 AM

This just reinforces my sadness regarding the pace at which they are being driven to extiction because some idiots believe that tiger parts have healing properties. Fortunately here in Africa we have many large parks that have been created to preserve our natural heritage. The situation in Asia is unfortunately not the same.

So while this has cheered up some of you, it has just made me sad and angry.

#44

Posted by: john | May 31, 2009 7:10 AM

I hope it is not just me that did not find that in the least cute? Seemed to be an ugly critter, though got fed up half way through so perhaps cuteness in latter half of video.

#45

Posted by: rusk | May 31, 2009 7:12 AM

Awwww!

#46

Posted by: MAJeff, OM | May 31, 2009 7:16 AM

KITTY!

#47

Posted by: dorght | May 31, 2009 7:19 AM

Yea cute but even small ones have nasty sharp claws that will leave the back of your hand bloody when your playing with them. I've got some small scars to prove it.

#48

Posted by: Dale O'Flaherty | May 31, 2009 7:29 AM

Hey PZ, pssst over here. Tentacle porn!

http://erikamoen.livejournal.com/318998.html?view=4131094#t4131094

Well okay, tasteful photos of nudes covered in tentacles but still...

#49

Posted by: Jerry Coyne | May 31, 2009 7:35 AM

o.k. P. Z., if you don't stop putting cute cats up on your blog, I'll be forced to start posting CEPHALOPODS!!!!

#50

Posted by: Kitty | May 31, 2009 7:38 AM

Janeothejungle
Yep! Despite my moniker - which is a childhood family nickname - I'm not a great lover of cats. They do far too much damage to my beloved birds, and they make me sneeze!

#51

Posted by: Eddie Janssen | May 31, 2009 7:40 AM

Also very cute and only half as dangerous, sort of.
www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/216191/a25cd7da/spaanse_lynx_met_kitten.html

#52

Posted by: Aquaria | May 31, 2009 7:48 AM

o.k. P. Z., if you don't stop putting cute cats up on your blog, I'll be forced to start posting CEPHALOPODS!!!!

[perk!]

Another vendor carrying cephaloporn?

Woo-hoo!

#53

Posted by: Aquaria | May 31, 2009 7:59 AM

#51, that was even more Kawaiiii!

#54

Posted by: Fred the Hun | May 31, 2009 8:00 AM

Pffft! A cat, it would make the perfect little bathroom rug.

I'm kidding about making a bathroom rug out of a tiger but your average household cat will do just fine, they are only endangered around me...hehehe!

#55

Posted by: Eliza | May 31, 2009 8:20 AM

That is adorable! Thanks for making the morning slightly less depressing.

#56

Posted by: Disciple of "Bob" | May 31, 2009 8:35 AM

I was braced for a Rickroll.

#57

Posted by: karen | May 31, 2009 8:45 AM

Aquaria #53, there are a few videos at YouTube made by the family with whom the lynx cub (Matis) and his older, unrelated female companion (Sheba) live. Here's a link to one made when he was a little older: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9poxf6FzQ4w&feature=channel_page

#58

Posted by: Ian Malcolm | May 31, 2009 8:53 AM

Oh yeah "Ooh, aah", that's how it always starts. But then there's running and screaming.

#59

Posted by: Blackrend | May 31, 2009 9:46 AM

Very cute, but I could do without the music.

#60

Posted by: Uncle Glenny | May 31, 2009 9:47 AM

Awwwwwww...

It's been 35 years since I've had a juvenile (mammalian) pet... By six weeks after I went away to college I'd acquired two guinea pigs (named Pope and Skinner) and an itty-bitty kitty. All such pets since have been pre-owned and full grown.

Now I've just been up all night cooking "human" food for a dog that gets winded (and sometimes collapses) after climbing a flight of stairs.

#61

Posted by: Anonymous | May 31, 2009 10:15 AM

Welcome relief after listening to that eejit Donahue.

#62

Posted by: Naked Bunny with a Whip | May 31, 2009 10:20 AM

You're a bad influence, PZ. Now I have the urge to post links to cute bunny videos.

Lead me not into temptation.

#63

Posted by: Svlad Cjelli | May 31, 2009 10:45 AM

Tigers don't need soundtracks.

#64

Posted by: Kevpod | May 31, 2009 11:20 AM

The first thing I thought of on seeing this was that recent post in which PZ confessed some form of guilty pleasure at seeing an octopus killed and the body pummeled.

Fuzzy? You get cooed over. Slimy? You get slaughtered.

I guess I question whether these creatures are around simply for our delectation.

#65

Posted by: DaveH | May 31, 2009 11:48 AM

Inexhaustible supply of small things at zooborns .

Also, to Kitty and janeothejungle. Yay for EJ! And Odin got rid of his entanglement with the fishing line. w00t!

More at the Loch of the Lowes

#66

Posted by: Falyne | May 31, 2009 11:51 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJnn-wMPU9w

Baby Pygmy Jerboa! ^_^

#67

Posted by: Kitty | May 31, 2009 11:59 AM

DaveH. Woot indeed!
Odin just delivered a brown trout. Watching EJ feed these 3 chicks is much better than cats!

#68

Posted by: Ben | May 31, 2009 12:00 PM

The wonderful thing about tiggers... is that tiggers are wonderful things!

#69

Posted by: Lee Picton | May 31, 2009 12:07 PM

Awwwwwww. But will it use a kitty litter?

#70

Posted by: Doobie | May 31, 2009 12:40 PM

We're gonna need a bigger cheezburger!!!

#71

Posted by: Carlie | May 31, 2009 1:00 PM

I can't believe nobody's mentioned the saber-tooth tiger from Primeval yet.

#72

Posted by: Patchbunny | May 31, 2009 1:01 PM

I wonder if a tiger will chase a laser pointer the same as a housecat will.

#73

Posted by: Kirian | May 31, 2009 1:14 PM

Jesus Christ it's a tiger get in the car!

#74

Posted by: Ian | May 31, 2009 1:40 PM

Where is mommy? :(

#75

Posted by: AVSN | May 31, 2009 2:13 PM

I agree, very cute. (Makes me want to visit our local zoo, Woodlawn, haven't been in ages.)

You ever wonder if animals hand raised wonder, "when is my fur gonna fall off and I turn pink?"

#76

Posted by: AVSN | May 31, 2009 2:39 PM

Okay self correction here Woodland and didn't know the vid was from there til I went to youtube.

#77

Posted by: JJR | May 31, 2009 3:50 PM

I'd like to see PZ do a post on the evolution of the domestic cat, which descended from the "Big cats", IIRC. Cats had already been domesticated by the ancient Egyptians, after all.

#78

Posted by: Ian | May 31, 2009 4:01 PM

@JJR, what I remember and what Wikipedia said when I looked just now is that they come from wildcats. Which makes sense, wildcats look a lot like domestic cats and are about the same size.

#79

Posted by: jsoutofbiblepgs | May 31, 2009 4:08 PM

Yaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy!!!!! FUZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!

Don't be ashamed!!!! I love fuzzy little kittens too!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!

#80

Posted by: CortxVortx | May 31, 2009 4:40 PM

With big hungry tigers table manners have no place
Dear dear dear, no, dear dear dear, no, dear dear dear, oh, dear, no!
After they have eaten you they never say their grace
Dear dear dear, no, dear dear dear, no, dear dear dear, oh, dear, no!

#81

Posted by: Hypatia's Daughter | May 31, 2009 5:17 PM

Tsk! Tsk! And you call yourselves evolutionists?

I saw, just like in a human baby, over large features (eyes, paws, ears, etc.) that the animal will "grow into"; awkward movements as it develops motorskills; and "play", which is adult behavior in training (i.e. stalking, biting).

All the stuff that adult humans have been programmed by evolution to find appealing & attractive in human babies so we keep the little buggers around, we also see in the babies of other species.

And, Yes, he was FUZZY & CUTE!!

#82

Posted by: Ken Cope | May 31, 2009 5:29 PM

They bite
They scratch
They make an awful fuss
It's no use stroking them and saying "puss puss puss"
Oh
Hunting tigers out in India
Out in, out in, out in India (yuh)

#83

Posted by: BennyP | May 31, 2009 5:37 PM

Once they genetically modify these creatures to have red white and blue stripes- we're finished!

#84

Posted by: Alan Kellogg | May 31, 2009 5:38 PM

AW-GASM!

#85

Posted by: J_Brisby | May 31, 2009 6:14 PM

The problem with tiger cubs is THAT
Eventually they grow up and eat your CAT.

#86

Posted by: Libbie | May 31, 2009 6:17 PM

This gal was born about three years ago at Woodland Park Zoo, where I volunteer (and hopefully will be working one day...this zoo does some awesome conservation work! Currently breeding and re-introducing spotted owls but they're not on display...too shy.) She is a real cutie, isn't she? She grew into a beautiful, healthy adult and is now living at another facility where she will be producing
offspring for a wild repatriation project, or so I last heard.

Sumatran tigers are the smallest and most endangered of all the tiger species, so all captive born individuals are potential contributors of genes to the repatriation projects going on around the world.

Roger T (#8), that is such a sad story. I wish more zoos would institute what we call "protective contact," which means never going into an enclosure with a dangerous animal. This death could have been prevented if the zoo had different policies. Really sad. A wonderful man and a genetically valuable tiger, both lost. :(

Susan (#23), yep, WPZ tries to keep to parent-rearing whenever possible but I think old JoJo as had it with babies. Fortunately she rejoined her mom without a problem. She was a lot of fun to watch grow up!

Kitty and Janeofthejungle: You are not alone! The osprey behbehs are the cutest things ever! Birds will always trump mammals in my book. After all, they are DINOS!

#87

Posted by: DMcComb | May 31, 2009 7:33 PM

#77, JJR:

It's not PZ, but here's that article you wanted:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-taming-of-the-cat

#88

Posted by: MadScientist | May 31, 2009 7:47 PM

Cute alright, but deadly when it's bigger. If you want a big cat which can get along with humans stick with the cheetah.

#89

Posted by: James F | May 31, 2009 8:55 PM

Uhh...I think I'd better come clean with you about this. It's, um...it's not a virus, I'm afraid. You see, a virus is what we doctors call "very, very small." So small, it could not possibly have made off with a whole leg. What we're looking for here is, I think -- and this is no more than an educated guess, I'd like to make that clear -- is some multicellular life form with stripes, huge razor-sharp teeth, about eleven foot long, and of the genus Felis horribilis: what we doctors, in fact, call a "tiger."

#90

Posted by: Brian | May 31, 2009 9:00 PM

AWWWWWWWWWWWW...look how cuwte one of...Nature's-Second-Best-To-Man-Killing-Machines-Is-As-An-Infant.

Brian

#91

Posted by: Sean Bernhoft | May 31, 2009 9:31 PM

This is at least as cute.

#92

Posted by: Safi | June 1, 2009 2:10 AM

This is shockingly cute from you PZ! He's so curious! Obviously not a Christian.

#93

Posted by: Owlmirror | June 1, 2009 2:43 AM