HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jpk@Ingres.COM (Jon Krueger)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: PEDIGREES
Date: 15 Apr 92 18:18:43 GMT
Reply-To: jpk@Ingres.COM (Jon Krueger)
Organization: Ask Computer Systems Inc., Ingres Division, Alameda CA 94501

Marla Belzowski writes:
> responsibly bred purebreds don't end up in pounds.

Happens all the time and for any number of reasons.
Come on down and check it out.

Example: cute puppy at two months.  At nine months "we can't
handle the dog."  Owner didn't train.  Nothing wrong with the
breed or breeding, but the behavior's a mess.  Common reason
why dogs arrive at shelters, purebreds with all the rest.

Other reasons: owner unemployed, owner had to move, owner died,
owner in jail, owner's girlfriend didn't like dog, owner has new
baby and "no time for dog now", owner got tired of dog, owner
got new furniture.  None of these reasons have anything to do
with how the dog was bred.  All of them result in dogs ariving
at shelters.

I have personally seen every one of these reasons.  Yes, I saw
the "owner in jail" dog. As it happens, it wasn't a purebred.
Had it been, would the owner have not gone to jail?  Owner lost
job has been on the upswing over the last year.  How the dog was
bred hasn't helped any owner keep any jobs that I know of.

Recent purebreds at the Alameda Animal Shelter: a Rhodesian
Ridgeback, a Dalmation, a Siberian Husky.  We found a home for
the Ridgeback.  We didn't find a home for the Husky.  The
Dalmation was a stray, as of yesterday unclaimed.  That's
another reason purebreds arrive at shelters.

However, breeders are not the primary source of unwanted pets.
Overpopulation is.  Last year 13 million animals arrived at
shelters.  Most were results of owners failing to neuter.  But
the notion that they weren't "responsibly bred", not a single
one among 13 million animals originated from a breeder we'd call
responsible?  It would be funny, if it weren't that 8 million
of those 13 million were euthanized.

One of them was that Siberian Husky.  We knew we'd have a hard
time finding a home for him the minute he arrived.  He was
large, jumped up, barked, had little obedience training.  And at
a year and a half, he was no longer cute.  But we tried all the
same, took him for walks, kept him for weeks, watched as the
people walked past.  I'm told his breeding and pedigree were
flawless.  He's dead now.

-- Jon
--
Jon Krueger   jpk@ingres.com                    Oh we pulled the handle out,
and we pushed the handle in, and the steam went to the pistons just the same
From: eam9e@uvacs.cs.Virginia.EDU (Ann Myers)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Spanking Cats? yes/no
Keywords: physical punishment
Date: 10 Apr 92 17:39:12 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Virginia Computer Science Department

In article <1992Apr9.195852.11835@cbnewsd.cb.att.com>, jlevy@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (janet.s.levy) writes:
[..]
> I also feel that with possible exceptions it is NOT NECESSARY to 
> physically punish a cat in order to train it.  I never hit my cats 
> and I have to wonder if there is a relationship between that and 
> the fact that all my cats are very gentle while hers will sometimes 
> bite or swat at you for no apparent reason.  Perhaps I am blessed, but 
> I have never had a biter or scratcher.  If they bite too hard in play
> when youngsters, I use my voice to reprimand them or show pain.
> I have come to believe that using your hand to hurt your cat
> leads to resentment.  I am not against the occasional flip to
> the nose for overly aggressive play.
[..]
> 
> I'd be interested in other opinions and people's experiences?
> Do you spank your cat? For what reason?  Is your cat gentle?
> Does it sulk?  Do you get positive results?
> 
> Janet Levy
> jsl@ihlpm.ATT.COM

  A squirt gun and occasional yell is all I've ever really needed
to discipline my cats.  But I would like some feedback from the
net about one of the few times I've gotten physical with a cat.

  My 2 yr old male, Haji, used to go outdoors alot and would
frequently come home with pretty serious war wounds.  Once time
his foot got so infected that we had to soak his foot each
night and then apply betadine.  Needless to say, Haji was less
than enthused.  In fact, he would sulk for quite awhile 
afterwards.  One night, I was trying to console him when -
without any warning - he slashed my face (he left scars). 
He wasn't kidding around.  He was hurting and he wanted to hurt me. 
Haji had never done anything like this before (and hasn't since).  
Before I could even think about it, I immediately smacked him across
the face twice.  I wasn't kidding around either.  I immediately
felt bad, but looking back, I think it might have been the
right thing to do.  Another cat certainly would've struck
back immediately, and if I hadn't, Haji might have gotten
the idea that it was ok to attack me.  

  After I smacked him, we sort of circled each other for a couple of
hours.  Then, he must have decided that I won and because he came to
me and asked for attention.  I took it as an apology, and things
went back to normal.

  Is there anything else I could've done?  I've been bitten and
scratched more times than I can count by cats that were scared
or trying to get away from me, but this was different. Haji
wasn't scared, he was just mad.

  Has anyone else had anything like this happen?

-Ann
From: ehp@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU ("Didi Pancake")
Subject: Cat programming
Organization: University of Virginia
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 19:45:19 GMT


I just had to share the "cat programs" postings with friends, and here's
how one (a programmer, of course) responded:

-----------

Not being, strictly speaking, a cat person, I've nevertheless noticed
the feline's ability to combine functions, procedures and routines
from the aforementioned programs into entire new applications.  One
of the best known and most widely acknowledged of these is the
"annoy" system, which combines routines from the hunt, map, fight/flee,
eat/digest, etc. programs to form exciting new algorithms:

		shred furniture (from hunt & fight/flee)
		miss the litter box (from eat/digest & map)
		shed on contrasting clothing (hunt, map, mark)
		bring up hairballs during dinner party (eat/digest &
							fight/flee)
		sit in the allergic person's lap (hunt, fight/flee)
		high-speed house patrol at 3 AM (you get the idea...)



--
|  Didi Pancake         |       "There is a great, red cheeseball        |
|  ehp@virginia.edu     |       of insanity in this picnic basket."      |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  All the usual disclaimers about the origins of these opinions apply.  |
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: paradis@ERA.COM (Lisa Berkenbilt)
Subject: Re: Cat bringing home unwanted rodents
Organization: Engineering Research Associates, Vienna, VA
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 21:55:46 GMT

In article <1992Apr8.164900.11368@usenet.ins.cwru.edu> esh2@po.CWRU.Edu (Evelyn S. Hlabse) writes:
>... [kitty bringing home "presents" for humans] ...
>How do I get her to stop this revolting habit?
>She's well fed and doesn't eat her victim.

Actually, I had a cat that I managed to curb the revolting habit.
Tabetha (RIP 5/88) used to bring home dead bunnies and mice and leave
them on the doorstep.  Since she just left them there, I figured they
were ugly "trophies" (signs of her ability as a hunter).  After she
was scolded (several times) for killing animals and dealt with me
rescuing what she was trying to kill, she finally got the idea that
for some reason, I didn't want the critters dead. She started to bring
home the goods alive (to see if we catch it??).

As Tabetha got older and wiser, she realized that when there's lots of
people, food, and gifts, there was some sort of a celebration going on
that she wanted to join.  She'd find a gift to give too... one
Christmas she came in with a live mouse and dropped it at my
sister-in-law's feet! What a show!!  

Soon, Tabby would only do this if gifts were being exchanged.  It
really helped to liven up the family get-togethers :-). 

--Lisa Berkenbilt
-- 
Engineering Research Associates, Vienna, VA USA
paradis@ERA.COM                           
Organization: Business Systems, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Date: Wed,  8 Apr 1992 11:48:16 -0400 
From: Diane Gibson <dg0q+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: Help - one fat cat, one unfat cat
Distribution: rec

Angi:

I have two suggestions, one from my experience and one from a friend.  

My friend has two cats, and had to put one on a diet.  She was
lucky--the fat one was never much of a jumper, whereas the skinny one
could jump on anything.  So, she continued to feed the fat cat on the
floor--and put the food for the skinny one on the counter or on top of
the fridge, where the fat one couldn't go.  It worked--useful if your
cats have similar traits.

My secnd suggestion comes from my own recent experience.  I had to put
my cat on a diet, and she was not interested in the new food.  However,
she has always loved to play with her food (dragging it out of the bowl
and chasing it around the kitchen, dining room, living room, anywhere
without carpet).  Occasionally, I would throw the food for her--she
loved it.  SO, I began tossing the new food around--and sure enough, she
would chase it and eat it.  The good news--she now eats the light food
with no problem.  The "bad" news--I can't go to work in the morning
without our morning "game" of toss the food around the apartment.  She
stalks me and meows vociferously to let me know she is ready to play. 
Oh well, she loves it, so I comply  (getting up 10 minutes earlier to
make sure I'm not late).

What we do for our cats.....

Diane and Suki
From: ddoug@dl5000.bc.edu (Debra R.Douglass)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Real fur mousie toy
Date: 6 Apr 92 15:12:28 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Institute for Space Research, Boston College

In article <56873@cup.portal.com> amy@cup.portal.com (Amy Marie Kurtzman) writes:

  >(....)  But ... how do I find one? Is there
  >a name for the toy, a brand name, or a manufacturers name
  >that anyone has so I can make sure I get the right mouse?  

Every pet store that I've shopped in (in the Boston area) has had
these mice, usually loose in a bowl or a box but sometimes
individually packaged (more expensive). I even find them at the flea
market (in the pet-supply stall). 

  >(......)
  >Oh, another thought on the "real fur mouse." I sincerely
  >believe that no animal (cats, rabbits, or anything) was
  >killed to get the fur for the toy. They probably just
  >got the fur by giving some unwanted haircuts. Or they
  >collected it from vets tables after scared kitties spent
  >some time shedding toom much. Of course, I haven't actually
  >seen the toy, so this is my assumption.

All of these mice that I have seen are made from small pieces of
rabbit skin (with the fur still attached) glued to a small body (I
think the body is made from compressed cotton or cardboard), the ears
are felt and the tail is usually a strip of suede leather.

The reason cats like to play with these is because of the size and
because it is made out of natural FUR. I've given my cats, as an
experiment, a mouse made out of cloth stuffed with catnip and one of
these rabbit-fur mice. The rabbit-fur mice wins hands-down for
length of play time, activity level and for return bouts.

Remember, your cat is a carnivore. It has evolved most of its
characteristics to catch prey.

-Debbie Douglass
--
ddoug@dl5000.bc.edu
System Administrator and Programmer
Institute for Space Research
Boston College
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: edotto@uipsuxb.ps.uiuc.edu (Edward C. Otto III)
Subject: Re: A CAT IS NOT AN "it"!!!!
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 19:12:20 GMT

>>>Actually, it is the correct pronoun to use for a neutered/spayed animal,
>>>as they then have NO sex. (Not if the vet did his job correctly. :-) )

>As my former landlady stated "I have had a hysterectomy, Am I an it?"

As I implied in the quoted statement, if the animal in question has sex,
then he/she can NOT be an it.

:-)

Guess your landlady, according to the OED is still she.
--
Edward C. Otto III   	    *  E-mail addresses:  e-otto@uiuc.edu
Printing Services Office    *  Phone:  217/333-9422
54A E. Gregory Drive	    *  "The only thing we have to fear is
Champaign, IL  61820	    *  24 line .signature files..."
From: donrm@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (Don Montgomery)
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 18:22:38 GMT
Subject: Re: Butt Wiggling (was Re: Thumper)
Organization: HP Network Measurements Div, Santa Rosa, CA
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats

In rec.pets.cats, rm55+@pitt.edu (Rudolph T Maceyko) writes:

    > When she's about to attack something, she wiggles her butt right before
    > the attack.

I think all of the cat family does this.  It's as if they're "digging in"
to get good traction with their back feet for a fast push-off.

Don Montgomery
donrm@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: jonathan@chpc.utexas.edu (Jonathan Thornburg)
Subject: Re: Kitties On Board
Followup-To: jonathan@einstein.ph.utexas.edu
Summary: flying is much easier on felines
Keywords: cat travel air fly drive
Organization: U of Texas at Austin / Physics Dept / Center for Relativity
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 92 18:24:14 GMT

In article <1992Apr8.201443.8183@novell.com> mlinda@ca.novell.com
(M'Linda Taylor) writes:
> I'm moving to Austin, TX on or about May 3rd and need some advice.
> 
> I *was* going to have my kitties (Thomasina-the-cute and Rio-the-LOUD)
> stay at my Dad's until I got settled in my new apartment.  I figured that
> he could put them on the plane and they could come home to a nice relaxed
> environment.  The problem is....a friend recently told me that the Kenn
> Club (or SPCA) reports that the fatality rate is up to 51%!!!!  This does
> NOT leave me with a warm fuzzy feeling.
> 
> I'm now considering taking them with me in the car (through the dessert).
> I am concerned that the ~3 day trip will be hard on them and hell on my
> boyfriend, who is allergic to the girls, he can handle them in a apartment,
> but I worry that being enclosed with them in the car for 3 days could make
> him seriously ill.

Your friend's information about the hazards of flying is wrong.
The plane trip is quite safe and shouldn't harm your cats at all.
Many airlines will even let you keep them with you in the passenger
compartment -- see the FAQ for details [thanks again, Cathy, for
the *great* FAQ].  In contrast, in driving there's at least some
risk that the cats will get carsick (*not* fun :-( ), and they
certainly wouldn't appreciate the heat if your car lacks air
conditioning.

Most importantly, cats are very bothered by being in unfamiliar
environments, so (IMHO) (but I'm not a cat, so how would I know?)
it's important to minimize the number of different unfamiliar
environments the cats encounter on the trip.  The plane has 1,
while N days of driving has N+1 (the car + N motels).

-- 

- Jonathan Thornburg <jonathan@einstein.ph.utexas.edu>
  University of Texas at Austin / Physics Dept / Center for Relativity
  and (for a few more months) University of British Columbia / Astronomy
From: dvlaed@cs.umu.se (Ann-Cathrin Englund)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Second pet - which sex to choose?
Date: 8 Apr 92 17:15:37 GMT
Organization: Dep. of Info.Proc, Umea Univ., Sweden

In article <1992Apr3.203058.18809@news.iastate.edu> sinnott@tc4.fi.ameslab.gov (Susan B. Sinnott) writes:
>In article <53466@hydra.gatech.EDU> iadt1jm@prism.gatech.EDU (Jean McSpadden) writes:
>>In <12969@bwdls58.bnr.ca> lianne@bwdlh498.bnr.ca (Lianne Raley) writes:
>>
>>>We're still deciding whether to get Cairo neutered (no comments please,
>>>I'm fully aware of the pros/cons and my responsibilities to unborn 
>>>kitties). A fixed female would be fine, I know, but what about having
>>>two males? Can two tomcats live together peacefully, or at least can my
>>>apartment handle it? They'll both be outside regularly, but do they fight
>>
>>You say you are aware of your responsibilities to unborn kittens, but
>>what the hell are you doing to live up to your responsibilities?
>
>I wasn't going to respond, but since someone else has, I will.  Keeping your Tom
>cat unaltered is FINE IF HE NEVER COMES INTO CONTACT WITH ANY INTACT
>FEMALES THAT ARE IN HEAT.  What are you doing to make sure that this is 
>the case for your Tom?  Nothing as far as I can tell.  You are letting your 
>Tom outside unsupervised.  The beauty of it is since you own the male, you 
>will never have to deal personally with all the kittens your Tom makes.  You 
>probably think that since you haven't SEEN him make kittens that he hasn't.
>I don't think that this is responsible behavior AT ALL.
>
>Susan Sinnott
>sinnott@tc4.fi.ameslab.gov
>
>

Wasn't Cairo only a kitten? If so he would not make any kittens
for some months. 

Ace
From: BETHR@MSU
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Cat bringing home unwanted rodents
Date: 10 Apr 92 19:30:01 GMT
Organization: Michigan State University

------------------------- Original Article -------------------------
>Help.  My daughter's cat, Morgan, is a house cat with no front claws.
>Unfortunately, now that the weather is improving she goes out the
>pet door and has started hunting.

I'm sure this post has been responded to, as I still have 100 to read, but I
just wanted to add my 2 cents that the words "no front claws" and "goes out
the pet door" should never be used in the same sentence!  Your daughter's
cat has a handicap now, should it ever have to defend itself outside.  It
is cruel to let the animal roam freely.  Please heed what I'm sure others
have said, and create a way to bar the kitty from the pet door.
From: ddoug@dl5000.bc.edu (Debra R.Douglass)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Ralphin' Kitty
Date: 15 Apr 92 23:26:34 GMT
Organization: Institute for Space Research, Boston College

In article <1992Apr14.164528.11085@husc3.harvard.edu> joltes@husc4.harvard.edu (Richard Joltes) writes:
   Hi all,

   A minor problem has come up with Kabuki, the Screaming Sliamese.  He's been
   randomly ralphing (translation:  throwing up) just after eating.
   I'm not sure
   if it's a physical problem since he acts fine otherwise, and is his normal,
   playful self.  It almost seems like he's trying for attention or something, 
   since this usually happens when Kris and I are busy and running around the 
   house.  He eats (far too fast, gulping down his food), waits a few
   minutes, and
   tosses it all up again.

   He has all his shots and was recently seen by the vet.  Any advice
   or similar
   behaviour stories would be helpful.


I was just going to email this to you but decided that others on the
net could benefit from this simple solution. Sorry to hear about
Kabuki (How's Mishi and Kris doing?).

About 7 months after acquiring my second kitten, Sara, she started
having the same problem that you describe. I was still very new with
cats and had a bad case of new-mom syndrome. After going through 2
days of this I scheduled an appointment with my vet. After making sure
that Sara was in good health, she recommended not feeding the Monster
for 18 hours, then feeding a light meal of fresh sliced chicken or
turkey (people food), then go back to the regular feeding schedule.

Her reasoning was this: When a human has an upset stomach, he won't
eat until he feels better, but when a cat has an upset stomach (as the
only symptom) she'll eat and throw up and maybe even head right back
to the food dish for more (which continues to upset the stomach). The
18 hour fast was needed to help settle the irritated stomach and the
light meal helps ease back to regular feeding.

-Debbie Douglass  (Tasha, Sara, Albi and K'ehlar say HI!
)
--
ddoug@dl5000.bc.edu
System Administrator and Programmer
Institute for Space Research
Boston College
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: kaszyn@helix.nih.gov (Eve Kaszynski)
Subject: Re: Swollen vulva in FERRET
Organization: National Institutes of Health, DCRT, CSL
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 13:05:29 GMT

In article <1992Apr7.070533.18725@udel.edu>, hartman@dewey.udel.edu (Nancy Hartman) writes:
> 
> 
> **** Please respond ASAP ****
> 
> O.K. everyone, I need some help.
> 
> About 3 days ago I noticed that Percy (spayed female, 3 1/2 years) has
> a slightly swollen vulva.  I've waited a few days just to make sure, and
> it's definately getting more swollen.  Although, it's still not "large".
> She appears healthy, her appetite is good, and she's as playful as usual.  
> She has lost weight and her coat is thin (but that could just be seasonal).
> She may be sleeping a bit more than usual, it's hard to tell, she has always
> slept a lot.
> 
Maybe Percy has a vaginal infection or fungal infection.  Why not put her on
antibiotics and see if there's any improvement?  Can't hurt.  Also, is there
any way that your vet can check for a hormonal imbalance?
From: jeffp@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu (Jeff Parke)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Rabid ferrets
Date: 15 Apr 92 00:24:51 GMT
Organization: Washington State University
Originator: jeffp@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu

Here's a good question from a public health exam I had today.  A 10 month
old ferret vaccinated with with Pittman-Moore's IMRAB vaccine at age
3 mo. bites a neighbor's child.  You are the veterinarian who did the
vaccination.  The neighbor now is convinced her child will contract
rabies.

What do you do?

I think I know the answer, but I'm interested in what all you ferret
folks have to say.

Cheers,
-Jeff
-----
jeffp@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu ...uunet!wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu!jeffp
98127809@WSUVM1.bitnet CIS: 71511,1512  AOL: JeffParke
a.k.a. Jeff Parke,  Washington State University College of Vet. Medicine
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: kaszyn@helix.nih.gov (Eve Kaszynski)
Subject: Re: Newish Bun
Organization: National Institutes of Health, DCRT, CSL
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 14:49:26 GMT

In article <BMpM22.E4r@world.std.com>, marty@world.std.com (Marty M HaleEvans) writes:
> 
> **losts of stuff about rabbits deleted*** We work, and don't want to have to 
> confine him while we're gone. He'll need some housebreaking and the
> requisite chew training, but how's the best and quickest way to do it? How do
> we know when we can trust him? I hope to get a friend for him eventually, but
> that's down the line a little, I expect. A new home and a new friend is 
> probably a little much all at once, and we want to get used to having one 
> around -- or are two easier?

uhh, Marty...

Before you decide to get him a friend...
The only way that's going to work is if you get him neutered, wait a few
weeks for the neutering to kick in...then give him a female as a friend.
Otherwise...they'll fight to the death! 
I used to get very confused when I saw rabbits caged with other rabbits
in pet stores...and whenever I used to put my rabbits together they always
fought and I didn't know why...
What I didn't know was that those rabbits that were caged together were all
babies from the same litter...and too young to be territorial...
If you buy two bunnies from the same litter and always keep them together,
then they will stay friends.  But otherwise, forget it!

-Eve