HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: cosulliv@fraser.sfu.ca (Christina Marie O'Sullivan)
Subject: What do cats prefer? House or Owner (owned)?
Organization: Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., Canada
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 19:43:28 GMT

The day is rapidly approaching when I will leave the nest.  In the 
extremely fortunate circumstance that I may actually find a place
in which cats are permitted, I would of course want to take my
little one with me.  Only I have to ask: which is the least
traumatic for a middle-aged (8) cat -- packing up and leaving
his estate or staying on his territory abandoned by his "special
person"?

Christina O'Sullivan
cosulliv@fraser.sfu.ca
   

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: adamsd@crash.cts.com (Adams Douglas)
Subject: Re: Cat loves being held upside down
Date: 12 Sep 92 02:48:58 GMT

A cat named Max (Alpha-cat of five) at my previous residence always loved
to be draped across my forearm with all four legs hanging down and his chin
in the palm of my hand, he would happily be carried this way unless he was
hungry as long as my strength held out (he's big now).
From: kjt34420@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Kristin J. Thommes)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: annual checkup procedures
Date: 4 Sep 92 21:32:05 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.Bu2p5I.KMI
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

Vaccines you should get would be rabies, and the FVR-CP booster which
covers against feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and
panleukopenia.  If your cat is outdoors and comes in contact with
other cats, you should get the Chlamydia (pneumonitis) vaccine also.

Cats don't seem to get tetanus like people do, so  there is no 
vaccine available for it.

After testing negative for FeLV and FIV, you should get him/her
vaccinated against FeLV.  There is also a vaccine now available against
FIP (feline infectious peritonitis), but they still don't have a test
that truly tests for FIP so there is no way to be sure if the vaccine
really works.

They say now that cats should be tested for heartworms like dogs are,
but unfortunately there is no approved preventative avail for use in
cats, so testing would only be useful if you suspected your cat
might have it already.

As far as the physical goes, your last respondent listed pretty much
everything your vet should do.  When they look in the eyes btw, they
are looking to see if the pupils constrict normally and evenly and
alos looking at the retina and blood vessels in the back of the eyes.

Another thing too is asking your vet how many calories are in
your current cat food so you will know exactly how much to feed your
cat.  A cat that weighs about 8 pounds should be eating about 225 cal/day,
so it really helps to know how much to feed.  (Many many many more cats
die due to diet-related disorders than die from disease).

Ask questions while you are at the office...no matter how silly the
question may seem, your vet will be glad to answer you.  If he or she
doesn't seem to want to bother, you should consider going to 
see another Dr.  


--
From: martin@mala.bc.ca
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: bathtubs
Date: 4 Sep 92 23:28:30 -0700
Organization: Malaspina College

>> Lately my 4.5 month old long hair tuxedo has developed some
>> kind of bathtub fetish. Any time I want to take a shower or
>> bath, I have to first remove an assortment of milk bottle
>> caps, spongy balls, socks, etc from the tub, and often the
>> kitten himself. Anyone else experienced this? He's the first
>> kitten I've had with this behavior!
>> 
> my cat loves the tub and often climbs in with me if the water is very shallow.
> She has yet to bring all her toys with her.  

one of mine invented bathtub raquetball..
I found it amusing, my roomie who was trying to sleep in the room
under the bathroom did not  :-)
From: hughes@dogwood.botany.uga.edu (Wayne Hughes)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Feline Hangover response
Date: 16 Sep 92 02:24:22 GMT
Article-I.D.: rigel.1992Sep16.022422.6424
Organization: Botany Department - U of Georgia, Athens

In article <1992Sep16.012421.13130@newshost.unh.edu> K_LEPA@unhh.unh.edu (Kristen   Lepa) writes:
>For those of you who read the story about the "stoned" cat, I would like
>to clarify that catnip is not a drug and there is no problems with giving
>it to your cat.  There was a big thing on the net about this last
>semester.  Catnip is an herb and is, I'm pretty sure, related to the
>mint family.
>

   Catnip is an herb and is in the mint family, but that's begging the
   question.  The agent involved, nepetalactone, modifies the behavior
   of susceptible cats and is therefore (unless you want to play word
   games) most certainly a drug  (a substance other than food which
   affects the structure or function of the body).

   I think you're being a little too much influenced by the currently
   negative connotation of the word "drugs".  The word "drug" is really
   not a four-letter word  :) .

   Wayne
From: joanm@moe.coe.uga.edu (Joan Maxfield UCNS)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Little Black Spots
Date: 13 Sep 92 20:06:28 GMT
Article-I.D.: moe.JOANM.92Sep13150628
Organization: College of Education, University of Georgia

Amos and Angelica (both all black kitties) have little black spot
inside their mouths!  I assumed they were just freckles.  It is really
cute when they yawn and stick out their little pink tounges and show
off the little black spots on the roofs of their mouths! :)

Joan (also not an orange tabby but sufficiently freckled!)
Organization: Doctoral student, Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Date: Wed,  9 Sep 1992 10:24:45 -0400 
From: Anne Marguerettaz <am2f+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Help from Pittsburgh area pet owners

This is addressed to Pittsburgh area pet owners since I need advice
regarding a pet sitter or alternative option for our two cats.  I will
have to leave for Europe in October and I will be gone for about two
months.  I would take that cats with me except that I am going to
England, which has a quarantine longer than my stay!!

So my options are :

1) ask a neighbour or a friend to take care of the cats while I am gone
but I feel this would be quite an imposition since it would be for 2
months.

2) find a pet sitter service that would do it for a fee. 


I have no experience in this matter so my option is to look up addresses
in the phone book. This could be risky and I would appreciate any
recommendation/advice or warnings that you might have.  I also heard
that these services can be quite expensive (at least for my student
budget) and I was wondering if anyone knew how much the fee could be.

Thanks a lot for any comments you may have and if you think I overlooked
another option ( no kennel please, I am afraid to traumatize my cats),
please let me know.


Anne alias am2f@andrew.cmu.edu
From: Tracie Diamond <tracie@igc.apc.org>
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Date: 04 Sep 92 16:47 PDT
Subject: A Wandering Bladder
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1526400001:000:499
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!tracie    Sep  4 16:47:00 1992


Hello out there,
My name is Tracie and I live with a cat named Andrews and Andrews loved
to pee on any random piece of soft cloth. He peed on clothes, socks, 
towels, and blankets. Once he peed on the wall while he was on top
of the dryer...a not so soft place. Has this ever happened to anyone else?
I mean all the sudden he stoped, I am worried that he will start again, I am
also worried that it is a health problem. He is not my cat (my roommates's )
but I love his just the same. Help

Tracie
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Honeysuckle vs catnip (was "Killing" Socks)
From: byron@homer.hsc.ucalgary.ca (Byron Draudson)
Date: 8 Sep 92 14:44:54 MDT
Reply-To: byron@yogi.hsc.ucalgary.ca
Distribution: world
Organization: Radiology, Foothills Hospital

In article <1992Sep04.152209.38419@evolving.com>, judy@evolving.com (Judy Bettinger) writes:
> ...
> When it got light, we saw that the  bedroom floor was absolutely COVERED 
> with catnip and shreds of cotton sock material.  Felix was lying in the 
> middle of the debris with a smirk on his face.

Sigh.  I've seen the "catnip everywhere" scene many times with my two
"boys".  Thank god, I've found an alternative.  Try giving your cats
a piece of Honeysuckle wood.  A cut piece that exposes the inner part
would be best.  I got mine at a local cat-only store.  My two prefer
the honeysuckle to catnip and there's no mess to cleanup afterwards!
P.S.  Just be careful that they don't try to eat the wood, at first.

-- byron
________________________________________________________________________
Byron Draudson, Systems Manager               byron@yogi.hsc.ucalgary.ca
Radiology, Foothills Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada   (403) 670-2442
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: stan@etgn05.rtp.dg.com (Stan Yen)
Subject: Re: bathtubs
Summary: rambling again...
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 92 17:40:08 GMT
Organization: Data General Corporation, Westboro, MA.

In article <67744@hydra.gatech.EDU> Christie Shackelford writes:
about her cat Dixie checking out the bubble bath and hanging around
for showers...

I figure this article is as good as any to respond to regarding our
'kids' and their bathroom antics.  First, naming some bathroom related
cat behavior:

  Drawing at Audience: pushing aside the shower curtain to find two
                       kitties sitting patiently waiting for the show.
                       "Hey!  What are *you* looking at?!"
  Cat Scientists doing research: sitting in the tub pondering the mysteries
                       of the dripping faucet and pooling water.  They didn't
                       even notice when their feet and tails got soaked.

Yes, pixel and Stimpson both like to hang out around the tub.  They'll
usually wait for one of us to get out after a shower, hop into the tub and
start licking.  pixel will usual wait by the tub and play 'catch the water
drops' as they drip down the side of the tub or the wall.  She often looks
extremely perplexed when she catches it and then can't find it.

And, back to taking baths.  I had to soak to try and reduce some swelling
in my leg ("Cat scratch fever..." you don't want to know. :( ).  When they
hear the water running, they run in and wait by the side of the tub.  After
I got in, they'd sit on the edge and start swiping at the water, sort of
scooping water up in their paw and licking it off.  Very cute.  Lots of
balancing involved, too.  It's amusing because I can imagine them thinking,
"OK, now how am I going to drink this stuff without getting in all over
myself?" and setting for letter a paw or two get wet.  Of course after the
ledge got wet, it got slippery, so we had a few casualties too.  :)

Sorry, this is getting long again, so I won't mention that they watch me
play Nintendo ("No! No! No!  He should get the *potion* before entering 
the room on the left!") or that pixel found a new game: "spin the ice cube
in the glass"

-Stan, bathroom activities director,
  Marti, putting up with "Dad and the kids"
   pixel, Jr. cat scientist, head of development,
    and Stimpson, Sr. cat scientist, director of research
 ------------------------------------------------------ "Brrrrrrddoooooooo!!!"
|  Stan Yen                  |  stan@fs03.webo.dg.com  |                -pixel
|  Hardware Engineer, HESD   |  w: 508 - 870 - 9593    |"slurp-slurp-slurp..."
|  Data General Corp.        |  h: 617 - 969 - 2860    |                -Stimpy
 ------------------------------------------------------
From: rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Crippled kitty
Date: 9 Sep 92 20:47:57 GMT
Reply-To: rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner)
Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro NM

In article <lexier.716059103@sfu.ca> lexier@fraser.sfu.ca (Lyle Lexier) writes:
> 
>     In my opinion, if the cat's front right leg is paralysed, it is better
>to have a paralysed leg that could one day be healed, rather than losing the
>leg which will result in guilt to the owners of the cat who feel in two or
>three years that they regret having amputated the leg for no reason at all.
>I think that the cat will soon be able to re-use that leg, if not in a month,
>then in a year or two.

While I agree that a reasonable amount of time should be allowed for the nerves
to heal, I would like to point out that if there is no sensation in the leg,
the cat is very likely to do damage to itself; if unnoticed or left untreated,
wounds could become infected and the limb might have to be amputated anyway 
(or worse). This is precisely why people with leprosy have to be so careful - 
they can't feel pain in their hands, feet, etc., and small cuts which aren't 
noticed and get infected can eventually result in severe damage.

If the cat can't tell when the leg is hurt, you will have to do the checking
yourself, very carefully - as Kay pointed out, especially at any contact points
like her elbow, where the possibility of injury is greatest.

Quite frankly, if there is essentially no progress at all over the next several
months, it is probably best to amputate. It is hardly being done "for no reason
at all". I don't believe that potential future guilty feelings of the owner
are a good reason to saddle the cat with a useless limb for the indefinite 
future. The cat will get over the loss sooner than the human(s) will.
-- 
Ruth Milner                          NRAO/VLA                  Socorro NM
Computing Division Head      rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: K_LEPA@unhh.unh.edu (Kristen   Lepa)
Subject: Re: Cat always MEOWS !!!!
Organization: University of New Hampshire
Date: Sun, 13 Sep 1992 15:51:14 GMT
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.12

In <X4uyqB1w164w@jjruu.UUCP> mike@jjruu.UUCP writes:

> Hi All,
> I have a domestic shorthair that is about 1 year old.  She seems
> to be in perfect health, but constantly MEOWS!  She runs around
> like crazy, eats well, and uses her litter box.  What could be 
> the problem, or is it a problem?  Any help/advice would be 
> appreciated.  Please Post, because I can not receive E-mail.
> Thank You
> Mike

Maybe she's *in heat*?  If so, I hope you don't let her around intact males!

	-Kristen
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: ericj@hwcae.Honeywell.COM (Eric Jacobsen)
Subject: Re: Veggie treats
Organization: Honeywell, Air Transport Division; Phoenix, AZ
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 19:24:46 GMT

In article <EegAUIC00WBOA3Od57@andrew.cmu.edu> Diane Gibson <dg0q+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:

   >My six-month old has developed a fondness for green beans and carrots. 
   >I give him maybe two beans every other day as a treat. Any harm in 
   >this?  ... So any problems with allowing him vegetables?

   I think vegetables are an ideal treat, if the cat will eat them.  When a
   previous cat of mine (RIP) was on medication that made her hungry all
   the time, the vet suggested we put out vegetables for her to eat between
   meals -- to give her something to nibble and keep her from getting too
   fat.  We found she liked canned Veg-All, so she got some every day.

   Good way to keep your kitty thin and happy,

Our cat *loves* all manner of vegetables. Green beans, carrots, corn
especially. However, once our cat was diagnosed with FUS, the vet says
no more veggies except carrots (which, unfortunately, is her least
favorite). Anybody else had experience with veggies and FUS cats? If
FUS cats get by eating veggies out cat will be ecstatic...



--
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
* Eric Jacobsen        Honeywell Inc.                           *
|     1-602-436-3941   Commercial Flight Systems, Air Transport |
* HVN       436-3941   US Mail: P.O. Box 21111, MS 2Q34C1       *
| FAX 1-602-436-1310   Phoenix AZ 85036-1111                    |
* INet: ericj@hwcae.honeywell.com                               *
| UUCP: uunet!hwcae.honeywell.com!ericj@uunet.uu.net            |
* The opinions expressed are my own and therefore better        *
| thought out than my employer's.                               |
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: C11815@maccvm.corp.mot.com (Josette Giacobbi)
Subject: Re: Driving x-country w/ Cat. Suggestions
Organization: Motorola
Date: 9 Sep 1992 10:55:17 CDT

I second the "donn't drug the cat". 18 years ago we moved from Trenton, NJ to C
olumbia, SC and got trancs for our cat who hated the car. The U-Haul broke down
 in NC and we had to spend the night. Took our beloved 5 yr. male siamese into
the hotel room. Next day we opened the door, he flew out, never to be found aga
in.  I do hope those who found him (can't bear the other alternative even after
 all these years) took care of him.   Josette
------------------------- Original Article -------------------------
From: charlesv@aupair.cs.athabascau.ca (Charles Van Duren)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Driving x-country w/ Cat. Suggestions
Date: 31 Aug 92 16:48:31 GMT

robandtp@prsun.Cyanamid.COM (Paul Robandt) writes:

>In article 6221@iscsvax.uni.edu, klier@iscsvax.uni.edu () writes:
>>robandtp@prsun.Cyanamid.COM (Paul Robandt) writes:

[...info about drugs deleted...]

>Thanks for the good info on acepromazine.  The real point is that my
>experience with drugging my cats has _not_ been good.  Now I know that
>I'll never consider using it on them again.  I believe one should
>take the time to acclimate the animal to the car and trying to calm them,
>rather than stuffing a pill down their throats to make travelling with
>them convenient.

We at one time tried to give our cat trancs on the first of three trips
cross-country. No way. All three of us were totally frazzled by the time
we started driving.

We found that drugging the human (not the one driving) worked best.
Judith got a prescription for valium, one a day, to last for five days.
She'd pop one in the morning before starting out. Since the kitty was
definitely into contact highs and lows, this worked like a charm. She'd
occasionally get vocal, and would have to be settled down again, but
most of the time she was quite happy to look out the window at the world
going by.

She was a wonderful cat. When we stopped to stretch, she'd explore
around, but be back in the truck before we were. At motels we'd leave the
door open so she could get some air and exercise. We never had to hunt
for her, or worry about her getting lost.

CvD
*----------------------------------------------------------------------------*
| Charles van Duren - Senior Systems Analyst - Center for Distance Education |
|      Athabasca University, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada T0G 0B0              |
*-------------------------------------\/-------------------------------------*
| Now Tom he claims, that a man's true joy, is in the work he likes to do    |
| And if I understand, Tom's a right joyous man...                           |
|                                             Tom Blasingame (Ian Tyson)     |
*-------------------------------------/\-------------------------------------*
From: bob.hines%travel@wugate.wustl.edu (Bob Hines) 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Possums and cats
Date: 4 Sep 92 08:01:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Travel Online, St. Louis, MO
Reply-To: bob.hines%travel@wugate.wustl.edu (Bob Hines) 

DS> I am wondering: are possums at all aggresive towards
DS>cats?  If a cat approached a possum, would the possum run, attack, or
DS>'play possum'?

Possum's are usually non-aggresive, but if the cat should attack the
possum, goodbye cat.

 * OLX 2.2 * St. Louis, Missouri
                                                                                                               
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: david@master.uchicago.edu
Subject: Re: The real reason for that flat tire...
Organization: University of Chicago, Department of Anatomy
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1992 22:16:44 GMT

In article <2976@voodoo.UUCP>, das@voodoo.boeing.com (Deb Schwartz) writes:
> Seen in my headlights as I was driving home tonight:  a small orange
> and white cat very earnestly sharpening its claws on the tire of a
> parked car.
> 
> Debbie Schwartz // das@voodoo.boeing.com  // or uunet!bcstec!voodoo!das 


	One of my cats (Althea,aka Spaz) likes to sharpen her claws on my
bike.  As a result, it hasn't moved in two years.

				-David H.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: walker@eplrx7.es.duPont.com (Scott Walker)
Subject: Building a Kitty Castle
Organization: DuPont Central Research & Development
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 14:16:25 GMT

We just moved into a house with a basement, and I would like to build our
two cats, Socks and OJ, one of those climbing trees, which I call the 
Kitty Castle (as opposed to the Kitty Condo and Kitty Coliseum).  Does
anyone have any suggestions as to what to include?  Do cats like round or
square things to sleep in?  Should I make things with holes in them?
Should I put the sleeping platforms high or low?  I think cats like to be
high up, as evidenced by OJ enjoying his siestas on top of the kitchen
cabinets.

Any suggestion would be great!

******************************************************
Scott C. Walker
walkersc@esvax.dnet.dupont.com

+++The few opinions I express are not the opinions of my employer.
"What's settled down?  Settled down is you get married and then you buy a
house.  You can get a wood house, a plaster house or a stucco house.  
Oh, how you can get stucco!"  - David Lee Roth, on Rockline, stolen
from Groucho Marx.
******************************************************
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: ehp@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU ("Didi Pancake")
Subject: Changing of the Guard
Organization: University of Virginia
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1992 20:16:40 GMT


Correy (of "I bit the postman" fame) is gone. He was always ready,
willing, and able to shred any vet or vet tech who even thought about
trying to get near him, and would do nothing (not eat, not drink,
nothing) but threaten and hiss and curse until reclaimed from durance
vile. Between his total untreatability and my own terror of needles, a
diagnosis of diabetes was a death sentence. The vet and I both feel
guilty because we know this is a treatable disease...but Correy wasn't a
treatable cat. He was, however, his own cat from beginning to end.

So Correy took his last ride 10 days before his 6th birthday. R.I.P.

I did the only thing I could which was to go straight from the vet's to
the SPCA and adopt a new housemate for Cleo and myself. Bibs.

Bibs is about 3-4 months old, a very silky jellicle (we'll see if the
stories are true) with white gloves and socks, white whiskers and a few
white hairs between the eyes for that permanent surprised look, plus
three white patches on the lower side that look like she's wearing a bib
and a bikini. She doesn't know how to meow yet...it looks like a LOUD
meow, but sounds like a teeny "___eek." But she has a high torque motor.

After a week, she and Cleo are reaching a rapproachment about sharing the
house and me. Now they only hiss about half the time when they are closer
than 4' and I only heard one growl yesterday. They actually let me pet
both at the same time (for about 2 minutes) yesterday evening. Progress
is progress.

But Cleo and I still miss Correy.

--
|  Didi Pancake                 |   Order is half of life...            |
|  ehp@virginia.edu             |      ...the other half is more fun!   |
|-------------------------------|                                       | 
|  All usual disclaimers apply  |                    --German Proverb   |
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats