I'm not quite sure what to make of Alice Wang's set of two wine glasses. In the box, they look a little strange because one of them looks like it was taken out of the fire a little too soon. It's tilted! But it's tilted for a reason - so Fido can sip his wine, too.

Granted, I am not sure it's actually safe for a dog to drink wine, but the idea of the Pet Plus Wine Glasses is cute for a pet-parent and his or her pup to share in a drink together, lounging out on the veranda. Just pour yourself the Pinot, and fill his glass with water.

The Pet Plus Wine Glasses are available from designer Alice Wang's website.

More on pets and food:
Animals who like people food
Real Food for Cats, Cookbook of the Day
Dog dining bill advances

It's a common scene in the movies. The family leaves the kitchen or dining room unguarded, distracted by some meaningful event, such as a proposal, death, natural disaster or mental breakdown - whatever constitutes "meaningful" in the movies these days - and returns to find most of dinner missing and Fido licking his chops on the floor.

Unless you have a big dog with quick reflexes, it's more likely that your pup or your cat will snag a bite or two of food than a whole meal. And just about everyone who has owned an animal has caught them red-pawed at one time or another. Now, that's not my kitten in the picture and I probably would have shooed him away before thinking to snap a photo, but that is an extremely cute shot that brings up the question of what "people foods" do your pets tend to go for when they have the chance?

Personally, I've had a cat that would go for macaroni and cheese if I wasn't looking and neighbor whose dog would watch for unguarded egg dishes (making brunch a tricky meal to enjoy).

I'll be keeping a closer eye out the next time I make waffles, just in case.

[image via cute overload]

Since we saw a cookbook that specialized in doggie treats yesterday, it seems only fair that we look at one for cats today. Real Food for Cats is a book with 50 (vet-approved) recipes for cat food and treats. The recipes are pretty straightforward and use ingredients that are available at the grocery store. There are Kitty Tacos, Shish Kebabs and Salmon Popsicles, as well as recipes for cats with special dietary needs.

I will admit, however, that I do not like the idea of the "tandem" recipes, which (with only a very few modifications) are dishes that can essentially be served both to pets and people. I don't care what it is, but if I made it for a cat, it is cat food and I'm not eating it. I feel the same way about preparing a meal to share with your dog, which is a feature in the version of this book for dog owners.

Did you know that May was National Pet Month? Neither did I, but I'm giving it a belated mention now. Why? It sounds like as good an excuse as any to spoil your favorite pet a little bit. The Three Dog Bakery is a chain of bakeries that specialize in dog-only baked goods and their cookbook, Cooking the Three Dog Bakery Way, is a collection of some of their favorites. It has 60 recipes that include special occasion treats (for your dog's birthday) and those for everyday rewards. All were developed with the help of animal nutritionists and the approval of the delighted doggy customers of the bakery. Recipes include dishes such as Zippity Zucchini Terrier Tortes, Mad Dogs and Englishmen Savory Scones as well as Cheesey Tail Chasers. Will your dog be able to tell the difference between a home-baked treat and a store-bought one? It depends on the dog - but you can certainly feel good that you're giving your four-legged friend something made with all-natural ingredients and love.

CuteOverload isn't about food unless cute animals are eating it. A post yesterday detailed how to make a miniature burger for your pet hamster. Using a little coring tool, simply punch out buns, cheese and ham, toss on a little parsley for lettuce, and your mini sammie - as Rachael Ray, who loves those cutesy expressions, would say - is good to go! And don't worry about the inclusion of ham, because hamsters are omnivorous and do sometimes eat meat. If you want your little hamster to stick to a vegetarian diet, just swap the "patty" out with a small carrot round instead. Either way, a little burger is a little more interesting, not to mention a bit healthier, than most gourmet pet foods.

In the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, a group of approximately 40 demonstrators gathered to protest the sale of cat meat at the Fangji Cat Meatball restaurant. Protestors initially demanded that any live cats on the premises be freed or turned over to them, but the shop owner had already removed them from the premises. Instead, a search of the kitchen revealed cat meat and a whole, skinned cat in the fridge, which reduced some of the protestors to tears. The restaurant was chosen as the site of the protest because workers at the restaurant had been seen killing cats in the street, something which concerned parents said was traumatic for children attending school nearby.

The owner of the shop defended the sale and consumption of cats - which are, along with dogs, considered to be traditional, comforting fare in the province - but said that he would close his shop.

Perhaps due to outside influences and the increasing popularity of having dogs and cats as pets, the animal rights movement is gaining momentum in China. An increasing perception of these animals as companions and not food could eventually put a stop to the practice all together.

A local beauty queen, who participated in the protest, even urged people to "stop eating cats and dogs and become civilised."

Most people are already aware that you should not give your dog chocolates - but what about your elephant? Elephants are largely vegetarian and apparently like chocolate quite a lot. That doesn't mean you should let them indulge, though. Raja, who at 45 is the most famous elephant in Sri Lanka, has become very ill after eating too much chocolate and other fattening foods. The chocolates, deep-fried cookies, sweet rice and fermented pineapple slices were fed to him by fans while celebrating the Buddhist New Year.

The monks who care for the elephant found him in great distress, writhing on the ground, the day after the celebration. A vet said that his digestive system could not cope with the fattened and processed foods or "the cookies... literally are soaked in oil." There is now a sign outside his enclosure which reads "Do not feed the elephant."

[Image Yahoo!]