HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: ifversen@fnala.fnal.gov (King Under the Mountain)
Subject: Strange cats
Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Lab
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 19:31:17 GMT
X-Posted-From: fnala.fnal.gov
X-Posted-Through: sol.ctr.columbia.edu

Howdy!
   We also have cats with strange taste in food.  Feathers (12 year old
female longhair) loves melon -- any type.  Fermi (5 year old male grey
tabby) will beg for lettuce.  The strangest, though, is Mozart (3 year old
male, part orange tabby, part ?).  He will beg for a taste of beer or wine
if anyone in the house is having any.  We won't let him have more than
just a taste (a drop or two), as the alcohol is not good for him, but he
really loves the stuff.  Is this unusual for cats?  Anyone else have a
beer-loving cat?
   On another note, we have found that the Best Cat-toy (in our house) is
a 2mW Helium-Neon laser (low power, so the light won't hurt their eyes. :) )
The cats go nuts chasing the red spot, and can't understand why they can't
catch it.  Just the sound of the laser power supply firing up will bring all
the cats out for some fun -- they really have a wonderful time trying to catch
the spot.  Try it, you'll see what I mean!
-- 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
David J. (djinn) Ifversen              |
FermiLab RD/SOD?/Operations            |  My employer doesn't care about my
Particles -R- Us                       |  opinions, so why should anybody else?
'83 750 Maxim          DoD #0662       |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: gbelli@opal.tufts.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Naming cat behaviors
Date: 26 Aug 92 14:27:43 GMT
Organization: Tufts University - Medford, MA
Originator: news@jade.tufts.edu

In article <1992Aug24.165655.8982@hemlock.cray.com>, jill@cray.com (Jill McAllister) writes:
> In article <1992Aug21.170442.3650@vax.muskingum.edu> geschwent@vax.muskingum.edu writes:
>>> 
>>>    "sitting like a bug".
>>> 
>>> "quadriplegic cat" 
>>> 
>>
>>I thought everyone called this "the meatloaf" :-)
>>-- 
> At our house it's called "the hen."
> 
> Jill McAllister
> (jill@cray.com)
In my house we call it little kitty no-paws.  Or hat-cat.
From: carter@cmptrc.lonestar.org (Carter Bennett)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Strange cats
Date: 28 Aug 92 15:59:19 GMT
Organization: CompuTrac Inc., Richardson TX

In article <1992Aug26.133117.1@fnala.fnal.gov> ifversen@fnala.fnal.gov (King Under the Mountain) writes:
>   On another note, we have found that the Best Cat-toy (in our house) is
>a 2mW Helium-Neon laser (low power, so the light won't hurt their eyes. :) )
>The cats go nuts chasing the red spot, and can't understand why they can't
>catch it.  Just the sound of the laser power supply firing up will bring all
>the cats out for some fun -- they really have a wonderful time trying to catch
>the spot.  Try it, you'll see what I mean!

Hmmm.  I'll have to grab a HeNe and see how well that works!  But, I know
that flashlight spots work as well.  Einstein has been chasing flashlight
spots for years.  He fully understands where the light comes from, though.
Every once in a while, he'll catch the spot on the wall or the floor and
I'll turn off the flashlight and tell him how wonderful he is for catching
the spot.  So he gets pretty worked up when I bring out a flashlight.  I
call this the "Photoelectric Effect."  ;-)

Kepler, on the other hand, has no interest in this at all.  He prefers
to tackle a moving yoyo or gyroscope (I often have these things running 
in my house).

Curiously enough, they developed these behaviors/interests LONG after they
were named!

Carter R. Bennett, Jr. - Scientist      No matter where you go...
carter@scilab.lonestar.org - home                .../dev/tty!
carter@cmptrc.lonestar.org - work
KI5SR
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: shan@niwot.scd.ucar.edu (Val Shanahan)
Subject: Re: Strange cats
Organization: Scientific Computing Divison/NCAR Boulder, CO
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 19:24:06 GMT


My two boys, Mad Max and Tyson, both like beer.  Tyson is about 3 years old
and will drink a little bit, but doesn't go crazy for it.  Mad Max is about
4 years old, weighs 15 pounds, and will nearly attack for some beer.  He`s
big enough to be intimidating to some people.  Max went visiting at the
neighbors house and got up on their daughters lap.  This girl is in her early
twenties and very tiny.  She enjoyed Max for a while, then decided to get up
for something.  Max sat and stared her in the eye then started snarling - he
wasn`t ready to get up yet.  She sat there until Max decided to move.  I can
laugh about this because Max has NEVER clawed a person that I know of, he
snarls when he is feeling affectionate.

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: crystal@glia.biostr.washington.edu (Crystal)
Subject: Re: What do you think?
Organization: University of Washington
Distribution: na
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1992 19:42:54 GMT

In <1992Aug26.165859.3836@u.washington.edu> moe@rainier.lib.washington.edu (Joe Shippert) writes:

>>clhoerth@david.wheaton.edu (Cathe L Hoerth) writes:

>>> Which brings me, in a roundabout way, to my question - what are some of
>>> your silliest pet names for your pet?

>I try to avoid giving silly name for my pet but if you want some REALLY 
>REALLY REALLY stupid names for cats just go to any cay show. I went to one
>a couple weeks ago and I was almost ashamed to call myself a cat-lover in
>association with these people. They're all pretty snobby too. I guess I'm
>a cat lover while they're "cat fanciers".

Yep...they are snobs.  I got tired of it and got out after 15 years. 

Crystal
Ei-Kan Balinese
(now defunct :<)

>-- 
>==============================================================================
>moe@u.washington.edu
>If you can't talk about it, point to it.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: lyndap@Novell.COM (Lynda Peterson)
Subject: Re: annual checkup procedures
Organization: Novell, Inc.
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 23:40:50 GMT

In article <1992Sep1.015652.2590@zia.aoc.nrao.edu>  
rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner) writes:
> Hi all, I checked in the FAQ first and didn't find the detail I wanted,  
so I decided to post. Our girls are just over a year old now, and it has  
been nearly a year since their first shots. Both were spayed at Christmas.  
I am taking them back in for their annual boosters, 

[stuff deleted]
DUMb QUESTION: My cat is indoors almost exclusively, should she have been  
having "annual" boosters? I didn't know they were. What kind of annual  
shots should she have. She had all her shots when she was a kitten but I  
haven't taken her for anymore shots since. 

> What should I ask him to do? Things I thought of:
> 
>   - check teeth and ears (for tartar/gum swelling and ear mites  
respectively)
>   - check body and abdomen for unusual lumps/painful spots/swelling
>   - blood (?) test for FeLV (FIV too?) (hasn't been done yet)
>   - boosters for rabies, FeLV, panleukopenia, rhino&co. (Tetanus?)


[more stuff deleted]

lyndap

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: crystal@glia.biostr.washington.edu (Crystal)
Subject: Re: How many cats is too many?
Organization: University of Washington
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1992 19:46:03 GMT

I had 27 cats at once.  Usually around 15 though.  This was not too many at
the time (though way above the legal limit of 3).

Now I find that 3 are too many for my current lifestyle.

Except for legal requirements, the only way to determine how many is too many
is to decide if you are able to give adequate love and care to the number of
animals that you have.  If not, cut down.  I had to.  Their happiness and
well-being was much more important than bragging about how many I had. 

Crystal
  :>
From: wallflwr@edsi.plexus.COM (Holly Mcentee)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: *****PLEASE ADVISE- NEW CAT PROBLEMS*****
Date: 3 Sep 92 01:50:50 GMT
Organization: Enterprise Data Systems Incorporated, Appleton WI

keller@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu writes:


>What can I do to help Maddys acclamation to this new presence?
>I can't keep Bob if she's going to be constantly upset...

>PLEASE ADVISE ASAP!!!!!
>Lori Keller
I don't know if you've gotten any responses to this question since 
I've just recently subscribed to the is room, but my suggestion is 
to constantly reassurure Maddy - pet her, talk to her, treat her 
with specials treats (ride in the car, Pounce treats, etc.) so she 
knows she isn't being replaced by Bob.  Be careful not to 
over-spoil her, though.  Maddy might gain some weight from nervous 
eating - my family obtained a kitten and one of their adults got 
FAT.  No worse for the experience though.
From: syearick@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Sid Yearick)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: UPDATE: Pregnant Manx
Date: 27 Aug 92 10:25:28 GMT
Reply-To: syearick@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Sid Yearick)
Organization: Carderock Division, NSWC, Bethesda, MD

In rec.pets.cats, jpotter@stsci.edu (Jeffrey J. Potter) writes:
>Hi all!
>
>Just wanted to let everyone know that Blue (the once abused manx) has finally
>had her kittens. Four of them to be exact!  Blue and the kittens are doing fine
>.
>I can't wait 'til they are running around the house.
>
>Take Care!
>
Congratulations DAD!!!!!!.  I'm still waiting for my two himalayans to figure
out how to get that far.  They are both two, and I think they are catching
on.

[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
               /|              []   syearick@oasys.dt.navy.mil
            ` o.O '            []   Sid Yearick
            =(___)=            []   David Taylor Model Basin Carderock Division
               U               []   Naval Surface Warfare Center
          ACK!THPTPHH!         []   Bethesda, Maryland 20084-5000
[][][][][][][][][][][][][][]][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Diabetes in cats-blood and urine samples ???
Date: 2 Sep 92 17:40:55 -0500
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner) writes:
>>or a cat care book *says* that you can get a urine sample by catching
>>the cat in the act (sure...) and slipping a bit of plastic wrap between
>>the cat and the litter (sure...). 

For diabetes testing, it _appears_ that plain ol' clay cat litter does 
not significantly interfere with the accuracy of Tes-Tape-- just
pressing the strip into a newly soggy mass of litter appears to
give the same result.  Haven't tried this in real life, but I did
try it today with a standard glucose solution and some generic cat
litter, just for curiosity's sake.  Might want to talk with your vet
and see if s/he can give you some standard glucose solutions so you
can try it with your own litter....

On a happier note, several new non-invasive blood glucose meters are
being developed for human diabetics -- no blood samples or urine specimens
required.  Supposedly they are a couple of years away from marketing.
Maybe the technology will also work for animals!

Kay Klier  Biology Dept  UNI

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: katbea@auto-trol.com (Kathy Beatty)
Subject: Re: What kind of cats do I have?
Organization: Auto-trol Technology Corporation -- Denver, Colorado
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 15:23:50 GMT

crystal@glia.biostr.washington.edu (Crystal) writes:
: 
: Sorry...but it took me a long time to understand this concept, too. And
: knowing genetics helps (believe it or not).
: 

So, did some God or Goddess just drop papers on some Domestic Long Hairs, 
magically transforming them into Maine Coon Cats?  Not hardly. It is 
patronizing of you to imply that Ailsa and others don't understand the
concept. Speaking for myself, I understand it perfectly, I just don't
agree with it.


Kathy
From: diana@wetware.com (CatWoman )
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Cat licking self raw!--UPDATE
Date: 26 Aug 92 15:52:53 GMT
Organization: Castle WetWare MouseCatcher

"Carol A. Buckner" <cb30+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:

] user Elisabeth Riba@chaos.cs. writes:
] >Well, I came back from the vet.  Boopsie's wearing one of those
] >Elizabethan collars, she got a shot of antibiotics, and I was given
] >antibiotic pills & creme.  However, while this may clear up the
] >current bloody spot, I don't know if this will help the general
] >problem.  Any ideas?
] 
] Brandy recently experienced a similar problem,

It may be that you'll (both) need cortisone/prednisone shots/pills
for the rest of the life of the cats at intervals - unless you 
move to a place that has less allergens.  It's not necessarily
fleas, according to my vet.
]
] >Also, he said that Boopsie was overweight (she's 13lbs, he says she
] >weigh no more than 10).  
] STUFF DELETED
] >However, the vet says I should put out food for her
] >twice daily AND THEN TAKE THE FOOD AWAY AFTER FIFTEEN MINUTES.
] >That'll give her enough food for a day.  
] >Does this seem cruel to anyone else?  I already feel like a bad mother
] >for leaving her alone so much of the time in such a small apartment,
] >I'm uncomfortable at "starving" her like this.  Her food bowl is
] >always empty by the next feeding time, and she's usually quite
] >interested in me feeding her when I get home, so she's obviously
] >hungry.  
] >Any advice??
] 
] Cats like kids don't alway do what's good for them, so we have to set
] the rules for their good.  Cruel would be letting you cat eat too much
] to the detriment of his health.

I only give my crew a small amount morning and evening - and if I'm
away, they don't get any.  Either way, I still get told I'm not
feeding them enough.

My take on it is that if they were in the wild, just like their
larger cousins, they would STILL get hungry just as often - but
how often is a mouse/deer/whatever available to a wild cat when
it is hungry?  In the wild, the animals MAY only get to eat
once or twice a week.  It is this instinctive gorging when food
is available that causes them to get fat.  You're actually 
being kinder to them by NOT feeding them as much - you're
letting them know that food is there, but not stuffing them
(as Carol said so well).

Boopsie will get used to it - and you'll have a GREAT alarm
clock!

Diana
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: crystal@glia.biostr.washington.edu (Crystal)
Subject: Re: Sable Burmese question
Organization: University of Washington
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1992 20:12:45 GMT

In <cosulliv.714414717@sfu.ca> cosulliv@fraser.sfu.ca (Christina Marie O'Sullivan) writes:

>My eight year old Sable Burmese Bali is going grey!  His fur is now
>specked with flecks of grey at the tips!  Is this normal for Sable
>Burmese, or is he so convinced he's human that he ages like one?

I just re-read this!!  What the H*ll is a Sable Burmese Bali????
I'm not aware of any legitimate crosses with the Balinese that use
the Burmese and I'm sure the Sable folks would be up in arms if such
a thing were even *suggested*.  Please enlighten me...

>truth to this?  Is it a penalty in cat showing?

Probably. I seriously doubt it is a recognized for championship competiton
at this time if it is indeed a cross. 

Crystal
Breeder/exhibitor for 15 years.
Ei-Kan Balinese
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: lisa@magrathea.lerc.nasa.gov (Lisa M. Lambert)
Subject: Re: How about kitty noises?
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, OH
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1992 03:41:29 GMT


"A Pocket Guide To Understanding Your Cat"
(copied without permission from a Hallmark greeting card)

Action:                         Interpretation:

Staring at the food dish      = Feed me.

Staring at cupboard           = Feed me.

Licking empty bowl            = Feed me.

Looking at you, taking two
  steps, looking at you again = Follow me to the kitchen and feed me.

Looking at your lap           = Okay, you seem to like it when I sit
                                   on you--then will you feed me?

Looking at the door           = Open it!  I'll go see if I can find any food.

Sitting on your head          = Wake up and feed me.

BURP                          = Thank you.


-- 
 < Lisa M. Lambert               | Standard Disclaimer:  Neither NASA >
<  lisa@sarah.lerc.nasa.gov      | nor The University of Akron         >
 < lisa@zippysun.math.uakron.edu | necessarily share my opinions.     >

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: fease@dkas.enet.dec.com (Andrea Midtmoen Fease)
Subject: Re: furballs
Organization: Digital Equipment Corp., Marlboro MA
Distribution: US
Date:  1 SEP 92 11:27:24    


>I've never heard of giving vaseline as a furball remedy- I've always used
>Petromalt.  You might have a hard time getting your cat to eat the
>vaseline, whereas Petromalt has a strong smell that my cat really loves. 

     My diabetic cat can't have Petromalt (too much sugar), but he *loves*
Vaseline.  I give it to him in the same dosage as I give my other cats (who
hate Vaseline but lose Petromalt).  

					- Andrea
From: amc@waikato.ac.nz
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: HELP a 19 yr old cat
Date: 3 Sep 92 16:33:30 +1200
Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

I had a cat given to me by my parents for my fifth birthday and now I
am 24 so the cat is 19 years old. Lennie seems to be in good health, but
keeps getting fat then skinny and when she is at the latter stage his
fur gets quite a motley look. Is this normal? Can any one advise plse?

Anna

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: adwright@iastate.edu ()
Subject: Re: Driving x-country w/ Cat. Suggestions?
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 21:51:28 GMT

In <1992Aug27.180322.4094@porthos.cc.bellcore.com> gck@hector.uucp (24641-kemmerling) writes:

>> 
>> > My 1.5 year old Nemisis female tabby will be with me while I drive 1,500 
>> > miles cross country.  During short travel she freaks out completely.  Are 
>> > there any suggestions before and during this journey?  
>> 

>We just moved from Illinois to New Jersey in March and drove with our
>cat who HATES being in the car.  It's a 16 hour drive.

>First of all the vet gave me (for him) some mild tranquilizers.  I gave
>Boo one about an hour prior to leaving.  We left at 8:30 at night.  
>While it was dark out Boo slept on my lap.  (He hated the $50.00 cage I
>bought for the trip).  We drove all night and once it got light out
>I had to give him another pill - he got too shook up.  He rode the rest 
>of the way under the seat of the van, coming out a couple of times to
>use his box and get a drink and a nibble of food.

>Also, Boo never wears a collar - he is a strictly indoor cat - but I 
>bought one and got an engraved name tag with our phone and my parents 
>phone numbers on it, along with his name.  He wore that the entire trip
>(along with his rabies tag) just in case he 'slithered' out of the car.

Good point about the collar. You may also want to have copies of Boo's
photograph so if he did get out, you could enable other residents to help
keep an eye out for him.
From: ccspjs@gdr.bath.ac.uk (Pete J Suters)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: How about kitty noises?
Date: 3 Sep 92 14:00:58 GMT
Organization: Bath University Computing Services, UK

In article <1992Sep3.060214.1720@walter.cray.com> bonni@snoid.cray.com (Bonni Ensminger) writes:
>Winston has an inverted version of this, more of an OW? as if he's asking a
>question.  In this mode, if I meow back, he'll answer,  over and over.:-)
>
>My cat also makes a noise I don't think I can describe very well.  It's the
>'aren't I so cute you want to give me anything I want' noise.  It's kind of
>a meow and a purr mixed together, similar to a pigeon cooing.
>
>Bonni

We've got the 'Kitten Call' with our little black and white cat
Roo.  Usually if we hear the cat door go when she comes in, and
the TV isn't on, if we stay very quiet, we can hear pad-pad-pad
'Mao?', then silence, then pad-pad-pad 'Mao?' a little bit louder.
  If anyone makes a noise then it's thump-thump-thump-thump, and
this little black and white face appears round the door!
  I think the last noise that Bonni's talking about is what we
call 'trilling'.  Roo will usually do it if you sneak up on her
while she's sleeping in the sun.  If you touch her lightly on the
side, she'll 'trill' and wake up a bit before dozing off again. 


pete j suters ---- bath university ---- email: p.j.suters@uk.ac.swurcc 
 ___  ___    /-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|___)   |   /  "I've got this new girlfriend.  She's like a fine wine.
|       |  / She's covered in dust and lives in a cellar" -- A.Sayle 
     (_/  /=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
From: lb04@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (Laura Bassi)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Met 25 Cats!
Date: 1 Sep 92 18:47:08 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

hi,
  well, my move went ok (actually we're in a mess and the cats are loving it)

  and i met some of the neighborhood kids who then introduced me to the
  neighbor's 25 cats!  The children know all their names and which ones are
  "wild", "teenagers", "babies", etc.  I don't know HOW they keep them
  straight.  Some of these cats were gorgeous, others really
  stray-looking...one , i'm told has leukemia :-(  [isn't this transmittable
  to the others?]

  Instant Purr was one of my favorites, the name tells the story...I've never
  seen a cat purr so quickly and loudly just by being scratched on the head!

  Now, I just hope I can keep my indoor kitties, Bandit and Abbey, INDOORS!
  they may find the neighborhood a little too interesting....

  peace,
  laura
From: jyoung@CERIS.Purdue.EDU (Joan Young)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re:  Persian kitten with breathing problems.
Date: 27 Aug 92 14:52:05 GMT
Organization: Center for Environmental and Regulatory Information Systems, Purdue University

I've had a similar problem with my himalayan cat.  My vet diagnosed
him as having allergies and recommended over-the-counter
antihistamines.  I give my cat 1/2 tablet in the morning and the other
1/2 tablet at night.  My cat weighs 8 lbs.  It usually only takes one
tablet to clear up the congestion.
From: mas@calmasd.Prime.COM (Marisa SorBello)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Sachia doesn't like bare skin
Date: 4 Sep 92 17:45:43 GMT
Organization: Computervision, San Diego, CA

One more thing I should have added about Sachia's
disdain for bare skin...

She has no objection to curling up on Peter's legs when he's
wearing shorts.  It may be because he's furry, too.

-- Marisa

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: katbea@auto-trol.com (Kathy Beatty)
Subject: Re: New kitties (WAS Re: kitties have to be siblings?)
Organization: Auto-trol Technology Corporation -- Denver, Colorado
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 01:29:48 GMT

ssnyder@sunai.er.usgs.gov (Steve Snyder) writes:
: 
: One question - Has anyone tried mixing several different brands of
: dry kitten foods together and feeding them that way? So far I've
: fed them Iams, Purina Kitten chow, and 2 other brands whose names
: escape me right now. I was wondering if it would be OK to mix them 
: all together. 
: 
I often mix several kinds of dry food. The cats seem to enjoy it. 

Kathy
From: wlangley@ace.acadiau.ca (WANDA LANGLEY)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: What to do with cat while on vacation
Summary: Worked great
Keywords: cat, vacation, live-in
Date: 4 Sep 92 16:29:58 GMT
Organization: Acadia University

My husband and I went to Tennessee for three weeks in late June-early July.  
We decided to hire our neighbour's son to look after three-year old 
Victoria (who is very, very spoiled).  Granted Marvin is 21 and very 
responsible but there is no question in our minds that leaving Victoria in 
her own home was for the best.  Marvin lived in our house and "baby-sat".  
We left him two pages of instructions...mostly about Victoria.  We called 
four times...everything was fine.  The night we arrived home Victoria was 
very happy to see us - even got up on my lap (and she is not a lap cat) 
however, we knew Marvin was good to her when later in the evening he and his 
girlfriend came over for a visit....Victoria jumped up on the chesterfield, 
wriggled her way between them and went to sleep...purring all the while.  We 
made the right choice by leaving her in her own home with a responsible 
person to look after both her and the house.  Good luck.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats