Who can resist the power of an animal friend? Face it — pets have their owners wrapped around their little paws. Whether they are furry, feathered, or finned, pets have the wonderful ability to brighten almost any day. Pets don’t just make us feel better emotionally and physically, they are also instrumental in teaching children about responsibility.

During February we celebrate those little creatures that provide us companionship, loyalty, and unconditional love with…National Pet Month.

• The oldest cats on record were 34 years — a female tabby, called Ma, who died in 1957, and a champion show cat, Granpa Rexs Allen, who died in 1998.
• The world’s fattest cat, “Himmey,” weighed 46 pounds 15.5 ounces when he died. He had a 15-inch neck, was 38 inches long, and had a 33-inch waist. (amazing cat facts!)
• Hamsters are the #1 selling pet animal.
• The oldest age reached by a dog is 29 years — “Bluey,” an Australian Cattle-dog, died in 1939.
• The smallest dog on record was a 4-ounce Yorkshire terrier that stood 2 1/2 inches tall, and measured only 3 1/2 inches from the tip of his nose to the base of its tail. (other fun facts!)