HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: greg@mobius.viewlogic.com (Gregory Larkin)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Twitching kitty?
Date: 26 Jan 93 19:34:49 GMT
Organization: Viewlogic Systems, Inc.
Originator: greg@mobius


Hi there,

I was wondering about something that our cat (Morsel) 
does after he has been asleep for a while.  He will
be laying in my lap sleeping for a bit, then he will
begin to twitch.  His feet will start moving a little,
then maybe his whiskers and ears.  Every now and
then, he'll jerk his whole body violently enough to
wake himself up!

After he wakes up, he looks at me as if to say "Why
did you do that??"!  Is this something to be concerned
about?  Anyone else seen this behavior?

Thanks!

-- 
              Greg Larkin, Software Engineer, Waveform Analysis
                 Viewlogic Systems, Inc.  Marlboro, MA 01752
                            greg@Viewlogic.COM
From: magarret@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (CAT LOVER)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Shy kitten
Date: 26 Jan 93 14:48:28 GMT
Article-I.D.: magnus.1993Jan26.144828.1100
Distribution: usa
Organization: The Ohio State University

Good news!  I posted not too long ago about what to do with a shy kitten who 
hides every time company comes over.

Well, last nite my Mom came over, and at first he ran right upstairs, but then 
he came down and stayed down, played, begged for food, and even let my mom pet 
him, and she was amazed!  He's almost 6 months now, and I've had enough people 
over that maybe he's learned they will not hurt him!  Yea!!!

While I'm on the subject, I read about the poor shy kitten who wouldn't come 
out from under the T.V. stand or whatever...all I can say is, have patience!
When I brought Zach home from the cat shelter, he slunk all over the house like
a weasel (some say he LOOKS like one!), and every little footstep sent him 
running for cover, but his curiosity eventually got the best of him and he was 
fine, at least with me.  Of course, when I got him, I noticed right away that 
he was very affectionate - he purrs like a motorcycle...they brought me out a 
black male kitty, because I was looking for a black cat at the time, and he 
shook all over, and so I decided to take Zach the purrer over the more timid 
one, since I wanted an outgoing cat, but I'm sure that eventually you can win 
the little one over with lots of love and kitty treats!
Good luck!

Keep me posted!

Marti
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: api053@cck.coventry.ac.uk (Garion)
Subject: Re: Cat on Counters, HELP
Organization: Coventry University
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 15:07:43 GMT

In article <1993Jan18.215023.120@ast.saic.com> hirschon@ast.saic.com writes:
>
>I disagree totally.  No way would I allow a cat on my counter where food
>is prepared. - My cat knows she can't go up there, and she doesn't.  Once
>in a while we catch her on the dining room table (that's bad, too) - all
>we have to do is say her name in a threatening voice, and she immediately
>gets down.  My grandmother used to feed her cats on the kitchen sink, but
>no paw that touches a litter box is going to touch _my_ kitchen sink!
>Sorry!

That's a very unfeeling attitude!  After all, your cat is a living creature
with feelings etc. whereas your kitchen sink and food surfaces aren't! Think
how you would feel about being told that you can't do this and you can't do
that.  Besides it ought to be common practice to wash down food surfaces
immediately before use. 

-- 
________________ Steven J D Graver - api053@uk.ac.coventry.cck _________________
   "Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great
        power and outstretched arm.  Nothing is too difficult for you."
-------------------------------Jeremiah 32:17-----------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: mpmarie@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov (MARIE HUCOVSKY)
Subject: Re: SPAYED CAT IN HEAT - HELP!!!
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Distribution: usa
Date: 26 Jan 1993 10:49 EST  

In article <93022.213117KMD129@psuvm.psu.edu>, <KMD129@psuvm.psu.edu> writes...
>I HAVE A ONE YEAR OLD FEMALE CAT WHO WAS SPAYED AT 6 MONTHS.
>SHE HAS NOW GONE INTO HEAT THREE TIMES!  HAS ANYONE EVER
>SEEN THIS HAPPEN IN A SPAYED ANIMAL?  ANY EXPLANATIONS?
>DO I NEED TO GET HER RE-SPAYED?  APPRECIATE ANY COMMENTS.

How does the vet that performed the spay explain it?  I would talk to the 
vet first.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: dionne@bank.ecn.purdue.edu (Dionne E Nelson)
Subject: Re: book search
Keywords: Cat Who Went To Heaven
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Distribution: rec.pets.cats
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 05:35:01 GMT

In article <sharonl.727646619@godzilla> sharonl@informix.com (Sharon Levine) writes:
>m searching for this book, probably out of print.  It was about Budda's
>cat. The illustrations were lovely brush paintings of all the animals
>who came to Budda's side when he was dying.  Does any one know of this
>book and who might have one he is willing to sell?

I read that one!  I think I found it in the childrens section of the public 
library.
From: kathyt@next2.isi.edu (Kathy Thompson)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: ants in the catfood
Date: 28 Jan 93 18:57:58 GMT
Distribution: na

> > Try putting the bowl of catfood (bowl and all) into a larger bowl or  
pan
> >of water.  The bigger one has to be big enough to keep the ants from  
crossing
> >(they *usually* can't walk on water), yet small enough to let the cat  
reach
> >across to eat it.  
> 
> Add a drop or two of dish detergent to the water bowl.  It totally  
destroys
> the surface tension and the ants sink and drown.  We use a pair of  
nested
> glass pie plates : the cat food pie plate has enough of a lip on it that
> Strange can't play dunkies with her food or splash the water out.  

We bought these cat/dog dishes at our local petstore.  They are plastic,  
they have a bowl for the food and around the bowl there is a built in area  
to put water so the ants can't get to the food.  Sort of like a moat.  It  
really works.  We feed the cats outside during the summer, and this bowl  
keeps the food ant free.

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: lyndap@Novell.COM (Lynda Peterson)
Subject: Re: a question about a tail
Organization: Novell, Inc.
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 19:43:15 GMT

In article <1juj6uINNh1l@matt.ksu.ksu.edu> bets@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (Beth  
Schwindt) writes:
> My fiance's parents have a kitten (around 8 months old now) that
> doesn't realize her tail is attached.  She will sit on the foot rest
> of a reclining chair, see the tail come up from under the foot rest
> and attack it.  She's managed to bite herself several times now.  When
> she does manage it, she lets out a tortured little scream then looks
> around to see who is responsible for her being in pain!  (She then
> scratches whomever is near by...)
> 
> Has anyone else ever had a cat not know she has a tail, and are there
> any suggestions for teaching her that it's hers??
> 
I was just laughing at this very same thing the other day. My new kitty,  
Haides (she's only 12 weeks), hasn't quite figured out that the long black  
thing that moves around, is attached to her! I also don't think that she  
knows SHE's the one that moves it! She doesn't attack anyone else when she  
bites it, though. Of course she is fearless and nothing hurts her!
--
_______________________________________________
lyndap@novell.com			 /\_/\ 
"My life is a country song		= o o =
and you just added another verse."	  /^\
From: anne@faerun.mi.org (Anne Shelton)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: ants in the catfood
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 93 02:49:05 EST
Organization: The Forgotten One, East Lansing, MI

piltch@ariel.lerc.nasa.gov (Nancy Piltch) writes:

> I came home yesterday to the sight of ants swarming around the catfood
> dish (and assorted bits of food on the floor.)  Any ideas how to eliminate
> the ants without poisoning the cats too?
> 
> 
> Nancy Piltch            piltch@ariel.lerc.nasa.gov
> NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland Ohio 44135
> 

I put a little Borax around the baseboards of my kitchen when I was having that
problem.  It says you can use Borax in the litter box like baking soda, too.
The ants go away and the cats have never had any problems.  I'm lucky: I never
had either of my cats throw up or have a bathroom accident for any reason!

-Anne & Coco & Oreo



--
Anne Shelton            | Your vision will become clear only when you can look
                        | into your own heart.  Who looks outside, dreams; who
anne@faerun.mi.org      | looks inside, awakes                      -Carl Jung
Organization: Masters student, Industrial Administration, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 16:24:37 -0500 
From: Sigrid Olson <so17+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: Raccoons & pets :-(

Human Rabies vaccinations are not widely advised for people not exposed
to rabies because they only good for about a year and they don't provide
100% protection.  What they do is allow you more time between exposure
and treatment.  I had rabies vaccinations as a Peace Corps Volunteer,
and we were told to high tail it to the capital if we were bit by a
suspicious animal, however the vaccine provided the leeway required in
countries with volunteers in the boondocks and third world
transportation systems.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: mpmarie@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov (MARIE HUCOVSKY)
Subject: Re: Looking for James Herriot  8)
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Distribution: usa
Date: 26 Jan 1993 11:23 EST  


> 
>I am trying to locate the address of  James Herriot ...
>the author of animal books such as 
> 
>"Vets might fly", "Its shouldn't happen to a vet",
>"The Lord God made them all", ...
> 
>All I know that he is in Yorkshire in UK ...
>I will be going to UK this May, 
>so thinking of getting his autograph  ... 8)
> 
> 
>george
> 
>Internet:   isc40041@nusunix1.nus.sg
> 
> 

You might try contacting your library.  I've been told that they can supply 
addresses for correspondence.  Good luck and I hope that you are able to 
meet him.

Marie
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: LJ01066@LMSC5.IS.LMSC.LOCKHEED.COM
Subject: Re: Cat on Counters, HELP
Organization: Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc.
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 93 11:03:32 PST

I haven't been keeping up on this category, but I would like to input my
2C worth. I have read an article about cats on counters in Eroupe in
restuarants. It says that most of the restuarants have many stray cats
that habit these places and they do climb on table, counters and even
the customers. The article said their have been no known cases of diseases
from cats reported they could account for. (Cat Fancier, mag. date?)..
I agree cats knock things down and the hair problem are why I don't like
my cats(2) on the counters, (They like my stove, gas, because the pilot
lights heat the top). BUt health issues are apparently irrelevant.

P.S. This is no flame, just some thoughts

Roger Horton, lmsc

************************************************************************
Organization: Freshman, CIT general, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 10:34:56 -0500 
From: Chad Adam <ca25+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: Strange wanted posting
	<1993Jan25.063720.1@stsci.edu>
Distribution: na

That is absoulatly sick.....as a cat lover...I abhore those people
that will pose as cat lovers and just take kittens and cats for their
own selfish reasons.   I know that around the area where I live, there
are people that will basically go around and find a pet dog or cat and
take them when their owners aren't home.  I would hate to think of
what a family is going through when their cat or dog "dissappears"
forever.

I worry about my two cats somtimes...there are always strange people
driving through my neighborhood....from people who want to help you
cut down a dead tree to kids on ATVs and homemade mopeds that speed
down the streets.  

It seems that no where is safe for pets anymore except inside the
house.

	-c.adam
 ______________________________________
| I have won...and you have lost.  The |
| question is....why?                  |
|______________________________________|
From: ses3n@fermi.clas.Virginia.EDU (Sharon Elizabeth Silverman)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: sleeping kitties
Date: 27 Jan 93 20:54:49 GMT
Organization: University of Virginia


	The twitching you describe is REM (Rapid Eye Movement) 
and humans do it, too. It's the fifth stage of sleep, where 
dreaming occurs. Haven't you ever spent the night in the same 
room (or bed) with a sleeping human? The symptoms are identical.
					Sharon
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: afdenis@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov (Stephen Dennison)
Subject: Re: hairballs
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: Ancient Souls Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: 27 Jan 1993 18:10 EST  

In article <1993Jan25.213551.27263@gmuvax2.gmu.edu>, twallace@gmuvax2.gmu.edu (Todd Wallace) writes...
> 
>Well, I don't know about cats and vaseline, but I do know that
>the inventor of vaseline used to eat several tablespoons of the
>stuff _a day_. <gasp> I think he did it to show what useful
>wonderful stuff it is.  


He's probably glad he didn't invent kitty-litter. :-)

-- Stephen

{Experimental .sig # 30245/T}

Humans -- 

	Beings stupid enough to create their own monsters, and then 
	curse their luck when they run into them. 
From: donrm@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (Don Montgomery)
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 00:44:22 GMT
Subject: Re: Sliding Closet Doors...
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Santa Rosa, CA
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats

In rec.pets.cats, urban@nsc.nsc.com (Gregory Urban) writes:

                              [...]
    figure out how to keep her out. I can't put something in the
    door track to stop it's motion, either.
                              [...]

Use a hook and latch like used on a wooden screen door.  Place it up
high enough so she can't reach it or she'll figure out how to open it
also.

Don Montgomery
donrm@sr.hp.com
From: lcornell@stein.u.washington.edu (Linda D. Cornell)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: early wake up calls
Date: 27 Jan 1993 21:25:53 GMT
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
NNTP-Posting-Host: stein.u.washington.edu

Linda Cornell
lcornell@u.washington.edu
From: jpk@Ingres.COM (Jon Krueger)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Help me find a kitty.
Date: 23 Jan 93 00:12:25 GMT
Reply-To: jpk@Ingres.COM (Jon Krueger)
Organization: Ask Computer Systems Inc., Ingres Division, Alameda CA 94501

Karen Sugalski writes:
> Negative reinforcement can take many forms, including the methods
> used by a mother cat to let her kittens know that they have done
> something she doesn't like.

By the way, you mean punishment here.  Negative reinforcement
refers to increasing behavior, punishment to decreasing it.

Your example is interesting, though.  Could it be that sometimes
cats are not ideal trainers of other cats?  Of course.  Good
training methods are good whether trainer belongs to the same
species as trainee or not.  Mom's training methods are far from
the ultimate definition of good.  However, species specific
methods are also useful.  By examining what mom does we might
discover something that other trainers (and handlers) can use too.

-- Jon
--
Jon Krueger  jpk@ingres.com  
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: kkv@inel.gov (Jamie J Ferguson)
Subject: Re: Strange Feeding Ritual
Organization: Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 93 15:37:50 GMT


One of my cats tries to bury his food sometimes.  He was born
in my sister's bedroom, so I doubt your cat was influenced
by living in the wild (I could be wrong, of course).  He also
tries to bury the presents he leaves for the dogs when he
misses the litterbox.  That at least makes sense!


Jamie

*********************************************************************
     canines:  Kenzie -- 1 yr old black Lab X
               Meggin -- 8 month old Australian Shepherd X
               Harry  -- 4 month old Border Collie X

     felines:  Kieri  -- 5 1/2 yr old lilac point Siamese
               Zak    -- 5 1/2 yr old blue point Siamese
               Duke   -- 1 yr old seal point Siamese
*********************************************************************
========== long legal disclaimer follows, press n to skip ===========

Neither the United States Government or the Idaho National Engineering
Laboratory or any of their employees, makes any warranty, whatsoever,
implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility regarding any
information, disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe
privately owned rights.  No specific reference constitutes or implies
endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States
Government or the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory.  The views and
opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the
United States Government or the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory,
and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: SPAYED CAT IN HEAT - HELP!!!
From: <KMD129@psuvm.psu.edu>
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 21:31:17 EST
Organization: Penn State University

I HAVE A ONE YEAR OLD FEMALE CAT WHO WAS SPAYED AT 6 MONTHS.
SHE HAS NOW GONE INTO HEAT THREE TIMES!  HAS ANYONE EVER
SEEN THIS HAPPEN IN A SPAYED ANIMAL?  ANY EXPLANATIONS?
DO I NEED TO GET HER RE-SPAYED?  APPRECIATE ANY COMMENTS.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: zlsiida@fs1.mcc.ac.uk (dave budd)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: early wake up calls
Date: 26 Jan 93 16:59:56 GMT
Organization: Manchester Computing Centre

In article <1993Jan24.205123.29894@walter.cray.com> kammmk@cray.com (Kammeyer Michael K) writes:

> My cat Ashes used to wake me at 5am every morning.  He didn't need food or want outside, he just wanted my attention.  I had to get mad at him to get him stop
> waking me up so often.
>                                               
Truffle only wakes us up if we sleep through the alarm nowadays.  Handy!

    Actually, Occam wore a beard: philosophers kept borrowing his razor
    Dave Budd, MCC, Oxford Rd, Manchester, England    (44|0)61-275-6033
From: nlp@pacvax.pacersoft.com (Nancy Pilsch)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Strange Feeding Ritual
Date: 27 Jan 93 18:00:22 GMT
Followup-To: rec.pets.cats
Organization: Pacer Software, Inc.

I always thought that Calvin and Hobbes were just trying to bury their food
for later eating.  You know, trying to keep it fresh or something.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: ronnie@mailhub.scf.lmsc.lockheed.com (Ronnie Findley)
Subject: Re:  Shy Kitty
Organization: Lockheed Santa Cruz, CA.
Distribution: NA
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 93 19:51:12 GMT

Marti, I'm so happy that Zach is losing his fear of strangers.  I *do* have 
patience, but after 3+ years have given up on Manka ever socializing (my 
other three think people come specifically to see them).  Manka is not shy 
with me, she gets along fine with the other house kitties, she's normal in 
just about every way, but when there's a knock at the front door, she makes 
like a submarine and under (and up into) the sofa she goes, usually to not 
resurface for hours after the intruder has left.  I even had to take 
pictures of her for Grandma Cat because Grandma Cat doubted the existence of 
her #4 grand cat!      

Ronnie
From: lianne@bcarh17e.BNR.CA (Lianne Barre)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Cat on Counters, HELP
Date: 25 Jan 93 14:44:42 GMT
Reply-To: lianne@bcarh17e.BNR.CA (Lianne Barre)
Distribution: world
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd.

In article <1993Jan14.195353.26084@schbbs.mot.com>,
C14383@maccvm.corp.mot.com (Marie Cannizzaro) writes:
|>Help! I can't keep my 6 mo. old kitten off the counters or tables.
|>I have squirted her until she's wet and she just jumps off and right
|>back on. I used two-sided sticky tape and she jumps over it. I yelled
|>and said no and meant it and she just jumps off and right back on!
|>I found little footprints on top my fridge and she has destroyed my
|>plants on the counters. I love my kitty, but she's driving me nuts!
|>Clean as she is, I don't want her where I put food. Any suggestions
|>beside eating out??
        
You've tried most of the techniques already, but here's some more to try.

Put tin foil on the counters (they don't like the feel of walking on it).
Or fill a plastic or tin can with noisy objects, such as pebbles or 
marbles, and balance them on the edges. When the cat jumps up, she'll
knock over the cans. The noise is supposed to scare them away. 

The spray bottle technique only works, I find, if the cat doesn't know
where the water is coming from. If she sees you spraying her, she'll 
know that she's safe as long as you aren't around.

I've almost given up on keeping cats off of things. Salvador was always
so well behaved, and suddenly he's gone crazy. He jumps on the coffee
table to drink the milk out of empty cereal bowls; and lately he's
spending every morning on the fridge knocking off the magnets, then 
makes his way up on top of the highest cupboards. I keep him off the
stove and countertops, but I've given up on the rest. He's got a lot 
more patience (or maybe perseverance) than I do.

Gee, I just can't wait until Guinness is big enough to follow him up
there.

- Lianne -  
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: jpk@Ingres.COM (Jon Krueger)
Subject: Re: Raccoons & pets :-(
Reply-To: jpk@Ingres.COM (Jon Krueger)
Organization: Ingres Corporation, a subsidiary of The ASK Group, Inc.
Date: 23 Jan 93 20:05:16 GMT

Karen Sugalski writes with info from Ruth Ginzberg:
> of 787 cases or rabies in Connecticut in 1992, a dozen were in cats.
> These numbers are only likely to go up.  Please keep all of your
> pets up to date on their vaccinations. 

I have some California numbers if anyone's interested.  They're
similar and come to the same conclusion.

It's a public health issue as well as a matter of protecting your pet.
People don't get rabies directly from wild animals so much as
indirectly from a domestic pet who was bitten by a rabid skunk, bat,
raccoon.  That's why most places licensing dogs require proof of
rabies vaccination.  Increased cat ownership and increased incidence
of rabies makes this equally wise for cats -- for all pets.

By the way, it's well known how painful rabies treatment is, those
shots to the stomach you get if you've been bitten by a rabid animal.
What's less well known is the treatment is not 100% effective.

-- Jon




--
Jon Krueger  jpk@ingres.com
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Separating Cats
Date: 22 Jan 93 17:04:17 -0600
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

Someone asks:
> Has anyone ever had any experience in having to split up a multi-cat
> household due to a separation or divorce?
> 
> If so, what advice can you give regarding the needs each cat will
> have, when one cat goes with each person?

Yup.  When my marriage broke up, we had 8 cats.  Steve took Carrie,
who wanted to be an only cat and was not fond of the rest of the crew,
and I kept the rest.  Carrie was also less nervous around Steve than
me (though I had bottle raised her) because I had nursed her
through some very tough illnesses.  I think that to Carrie, 
"Kay=Vet".

I kept everyone else because I was staying on in the country, and
Steve moved to the city.  

Oh yes, "cat support" was written into the separation agreement--
he'd brought at least half the cats home...

Kay 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: Lesa von Munkwitz-Smith <lesa@boombox.micro.umn.edu>
Subject: Re: Help! Cat in distress!
Organization: University of Minnesota
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1a2
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 15:41:46 GMT

The problem probably lies with pairing up two female cats.  Reunite
Booger with one of his friends and adopt a young male cat (<1 year) for
the remaining female. 

My two cents.

lesa
lesa@boombox.micro.umn.edu