HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: ren@Turing.ORG (Karen Prestemon)
Subject: building a kitty castle?
Organization: The Turing Project, Public Access Internet Host
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 00:14:58 GMT


There was a long thread on this a couple months back, so sorry for the
repetition, but I am looking for help.

I want to build my cats a tower, not just to save money, but for the
satisfaction of making something useful for someone.  I was at a pet
store tonight studying the ones in the store very carefully.  It didn't
look too complicated, maybe I am just fooling myself.

Anyway, I think I can do it, but I need some interesting design ideas.
Does anyone have kitty-castle-building-experience that they can share
with me?  Or does anyone have an especially interesting-looking store
bought cat towers that they would like to tell me about?

Please email! If enough people ask, I'd be happy to post a summary.

--Karen
From: avi@rix.Corp.Sun.COM (Ann Adamcik)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Favorite Kind of Cat? Welcome new Kitt
Date: 18 Dec 1992 19:32:08 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Distribution: world
Reply-To: avi@rix.Corp.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: rix.corp.sun.com

In article 1Lz@Novell.COM, lyndap@Novell.COM (Lynda Peterson) writes:
>The reason I went to pet stores is because the shelter told me they don't  
>examine them and they wouldn't know if it had a disease or not. I didn't  
>want my current cat to catch anything so I checked out the stores.

Not a flame, but be aware that most pet stores don't have the animals
examined and tested before selling them either.  

-Ann 

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: vicki@steam.atd.ucar.edu (Vicki Holzhauer)
Subject: Re: Shopping  News! I found it!
Organization: Atmospheric Technology Division/NCAR Boulder, CO
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 23:52:20 GMT

In article <1992Dec16.193059.19303@athena.cs.uga.edu> maxfield@athena.cs.uga.edu (Joan C. Maxfield) writes:
>I just recieved the _Master Animal Care_ catalog in the mail 


Do they have an 800 number you could post?  Thanks!


--
Vicki Holzhauer, National Center for Atmospheric Research
Boulder, Colorado / / / /  vicki@ncar.ucar.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: lucien@watson.ibm.com (Lucien Van Elsen)
Subject: Re: soft paws
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 21:56:47 GMT
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM T.J Watson Research Center

ses3n@fermi.clas.Virginia.EDU (Sharon Elizabeth Silverman) writes:

>   The cost is pretty reasonable. My vet offers a pack of 30 (three sets for
>   the ten front claws) for $22. You can put them on yourself. When the nails
>   grow out (and thus ditch the sheath) you simply glue on a new one. 

I think "simply" depends a lot on the temperment of the cat- I know mine
would never stand for such an indignity :-)

	-Lucien
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lucien Van Elsen                                          IBM  Research
lucien@watson.ibm.com                                     Project Agora
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: kkv@inel.gov (Jamie J Ferguson)
Subject: Re: What's Your Favorite Kind of Cat?
Organization: Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 92 22:27:33 GMT



Siamese!!!  Of course, my family has had Siamese since before I was
born...  I love the way they talk, look, etc!  I always wanted an
Abysinnian, although I've never actually seen one (just pictures).
And I hope to get an orange Morris-like cat next, but right now my
house is a little full...

My favorite Siamese color is lilac-point, which is the name used when
the points (dark markings) are a very light brownish-gray.


Jamie

the pack:  Kenzie   -- 1 yr old black Lab X
           Meggin   -- 8 month old Australian Shepherd X
           Harrison -- 4 month old Border Collie X

the herd:  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
From: cczcole@unicorn.nott.ac.uk (Marlon Cole)
Subject: Re: Any interesting cat tricks out there? 8-)
Reply-To: cczcole@unicorn.nott.ac.uk (Marlon Cole)
Organization: Nottingham University
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 92 17:30:02 GMT

Not so much a trick as a new piece of behaviour or activity from my 2
2-year-olds, Daisy and Whisper, over this weekend.

I was working in the garden on Saturday morning and had locked the cats out
of the house to be with me in the garden (nice warm sunny morning, etc - I
thought it would do them good :-)  However after an hour or so they started
howling to get back in, but I thought they were just being mardy, and really
ought to be out enjoying the good weather :-)

We have a wood the other side of the road from us, so I decided to take the
cats for a walk, you know, to show them how much fun they can have if they be
bothered to go exploring :-), so off I went round the wood, and the cats 
just followed me round the trees (sometimes up them!), through the undergrowth,
hiding from the dogs out for walks with their owners - we even met one of the
cats friends - a little kitten from nearby - also in the wood, and she
came along for the ride as well!

We got some strange looks, and I guess it must have seemed rather comical - a
grown man out taking 3 cats for a walk :-)

It's recommended!

Marlon
------------
Marlon Cole                  email:  cczcole@unicorn.nott.ac.uk or
Systems Programmer                   cczcole@uk.ac.nott.unicorn depending.....
Cripps Computing Centre
University of Nottingham
NOTTINGHAM. NG7 2RD
England
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: ses3n@fermi.clas.Virginia.EDU (Sharon Elizabeth Silverman)
Subject: Alexei update
Organization: University of Virginia
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 19:12:10 GMT


	A big furry THANK YOU to all those people who sent me advice
on dealing with Alexei's scratching behavior! I thought I'd post the 
results for the benefit of others with the same problem. 

	As knowledgeable owners said, carpet-covered scratching posts
just aren't that sexy to kitties. I went to the hardware store and 
bought natural fiber rope, and wound it around the previously useless
post. Instead of nailing or stapling it on, though, I tied the ends together.
This made a knot with feelers that was just *perfect* for kittens to attack.
	Then I sprayed the whole mess with catnip scent. Boy, was *that* 
popular!! I went around and sprayed the Alexei-targeted chairs with 
nasty-smelling stuff to repell her. (Mixed results there). 
	To get her scent on the post (from her paw pads) I dangled her
leather string over the top of the post, to get her to attack it and 
thus the post. This worked very well, of course - kittens can't resist
a wiggling string! I bought cat treats and put one on the top of the post.
She had to kind of climb up it to get the treat -  thus discovering how
wonderful the post now felt, as well as depositing more scent. 

	I'm happy to report that she started using the post (for the first
time ever) almost immediately. :-)!!!
	So there is hope - this is a very recent experiment, but I wanted
to let you all know how it went now, because I'm leaving town for winter
break in a few hours. I'll be gone til mid-Jan (but my mailbox will still
be open). 

	STUFF THAT DIDN"T WORK FOR ME:
1) Behaving like a mother cat (hissing, waving claws, etc.). This is
probably due more to my acting ability than the soundness of the idea -
Alexei and Murphy just laughed at my attempts to be catlike.

2) Throwing a TV Guide in the general vicinity. I only get one channel
on TV, and don't watch it much anyway. No TV Guides in the house! Books
apparently made the wrong sound - she just played with them.

3) Throwing my keys. Again - Alexei plays with *everything*, keys included.

4) The water gun - I tried it again - to no avail. The f**king WORLD is
this cat's playground! Definitely a philosophical lesson to be learned here!

Thanks again for all your help - I'll let you know when I return if she
destroyed my parents' house! :-)
		Have a great seasonal time period and an excellent new year!
						Sharon

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: kkv@inel.gov (Jamie J Ferguson)
Subject: Re: When will people learn???
Keywords: kitten, SPCA,
Organization: Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 92 21:07:17 GMT

In article <1992Dec18.191222.8178@noao.edu> morin@noao.edu (Meg Morin) writes:
>I have found many apartment complexes that limit the number of cats
>to two, sometimes only one, and we don't know if _Canadian_ resident 
>berthiau@iro.umontreal.ca lives in an apartment or a house, and Canada
>may have more restrictive laws than the USA.
>
>Local ordinances WILL vary from place to place and for various reasons.
>If this is to become an issue, I suggest we all go to our respective
>law libraries and RESEARCH the local laws to know the FACTS about
>pet restrictions. Then we can have a civilized discussion.
>

My local laws are: 
--> NO restrictions on cats
--> NO restrictions on 1-2 dogs, but for >2 dogs you must have
    a "kennel license" (whether you breed or not)

This was just discussed on rec.pets.dogs and several people mentioned
no restrictions on cats but occasionally some on dogs.


Jamie

the pack:  Kenzie   -- 1 yr old black Lab X
           Meggin   -- 8 month old Australian Shepherd X
           Harrison -- 4 month old Border Collie X

the herd:  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
From: rusty@nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov (Kenneth Hall)
Subject: Re: Do your cats know their names?
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 06:03:00 GMT

In article <BzDLwv.45I@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, schlumpf@uimrl7.mrl.uiuc.edu () writes...
>In article <1992Dec16.223032.17763@inel.gov>, kkv@inel.gov (Jamie J
>Ferguson) writes:
>|>All 3 of my cats know their names and will come (or at least look to
>|>see if I have kitty treats) when I call.  Most people find this hard
>|>to believe, and I was wondering how many other peoples' cats know
>|>their names.  Its funny because the right cat will look up and meow
>|>at me!!!    
>|>
>|>
>|>Jamie
>|>
> 

My cat knows her name.  If she would tell me it would make things alot 
easier.  As it is when I call her Doc she will look my way then ignore 
me.  Aren't cats the greatest thing in the world to test your sanity 
or lack there of?
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Empty shelters!
Date: 11 Dec 92 15:01:18 -0600
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

I've been trying unsuccessfully to locate a siamese cat for a friend's aunt
(who prefers to adopt from shelters).  No siamese in shelters in NW Indiana.
So I volunteered to call around to some of the larger ones here in Iowa.

The good news is that there were NO cats available at three of the four
shelters.  None.  Not any.  At the last shelter, they had only a 5 yr 
old persian, just in this afternoon, whose owner had died.  :-(

Still, empty shelters, even temporarily empty shelters, strikes me as
GREAT news...

Kay
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: amyk@netcom.com (Amy Kurtzman)
Subject: Re: Fee for pets in cabin
Organization: Amy's Boca-By-The-Sea Resort (sm)
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 03:33:08 GMT

Basically, I think the airlines are trying to discourage people from
travelling with pets in the cabin. They are afraid other people will
complain. Some airlines who permit pets in the cabin will only permit
1 pet in the cabin. I had to put my poor little kitty boys in
"concentration camp" for a couple of weeks recently because of this. I
couldn't carry them both on, and I wasn't about to subject them to the
trauma of travelling as cargo. They were very traumatized the time
they did travel cargo (when we moved and had no choice). 


-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Amy Kurtzman                   |  "By August I'll be just a puddle."
amyk@netcom.COM                |     
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: maillet@ug.cs.dal.ca (Andre' Maillet)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: How can I get cat/mouse X software?
Keywords: X, pointer-watchers
Date: 13 Dec 92 18:51:57 GMT
Organization: Math, Stats & CS, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada

In article <1992Dec10.155543.4678@telesciences.com>, srscnslt@telesciences.com (SRS Consultant) writes:
|> In article <Byy6Js.As0@cs.dal.ca> maillet@cs.dal.ca (ANDRE MARC MAILLET) writes:
|> >
|> >    oneko when completed is 81920 bytes long.
|> >    xneko when completed is 57344 bytes long.
|> 
|> 	Uh, yeah, on _your_ machine.  But if you've got a Sun IPC, and someone
|> 	else is running DesqView X, they will most likely NOT get the same
|> 	results.
|> 
|> 
|> 	In other words, so long as the build of the programs works (no error
|> 	messages), the executable file will be the right size for your
|> 	machine.
|> 
|> 
|> -- 
|> Mitch Gorman		srscnslt@telesciences.com		slave@work
|> 			emrys@cellar.org			god@home
|> 
|> "Stand, on hills of long forgotten yesterdays..."

   My point in mentionning file size was to reassure people that xneko and oneko
do not take up much space. I don't think anyone will be overly alarmed if/when
their executables vary by a few bytes either way. Personally, I like to know 
before I FTP, uncompress, untar, AND make a file whether it's gonna be ~75K or
8MB. (I'm exaggerating, but that was my point) Anyway, let me correct myself
for your benefit:

     oneko when completed MIGHT be 81920 bytes long, but there may be a variance
because not all systems are the same. 
     xneko when completed MIGHT be 57344 bytes long, but there may be a variance
because not all systems are the same.

     I'm sorry if I sound annoyed, but I am. I don't mind constructive criticism,
and I'll go out of my way to correct myself. However, I fail to see the point
of this criticism. 100 bytes either way is not the end of the world. 

Dray and Furball (7 Days to go!)

PS, if you care to continue this thread, keep it to E-mail. Others don't need
this bickering.
-- 
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|Andre M. Maillet     | "Wouldn't it be nice if Education got all the money |
|maillet@ug.cs.dal.ca | it needed and the Air Force had to hold a bake sale |
|djtas@ac.dal.ca      | to buy a new bomber." - from a bumper sticker       |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
DISCLAIMER: The views of Dalhousie University are not necessarily those 
expressed by myself. Therefore, I will completely ignore the university 
and say whatever the hell I want to.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: wd6cmu@netcom.com (Eric Williams)
Subject: Re: alternative disciplinary measures?
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 05:20:55 GMT

>         She knows exactly where the water is coming from, and thinks
> it's cool - she runs over to play with the pistol! I don't want to hit her.
> Is there another way to discipline her?

Try mixing some vinegar with the water in the pistol.  Cats hate it.
-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eric Williams     wd6cmu@netcom.com  |  Never attribute to malice that which
WD6CMU@WD6CMU.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NA       |  is adequately explained by stupidity.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: emilio@acupain.UUCP (Elizabeth Milio)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Cat "Toys"
Date: 14 Dec 92 17:47:00 GMT
Reply-To: emilio@accurate.com.UUCP
Organization: Accurate Information Systems, Eatontown, NJ

In a recent article someone mentioned giving their kitten or cat a 
tinsel "cape".

Please everyone, be careful with tinsel.  Most cats like to chew on the
stuff.  It is NOT digestable and can, because of its sharp edges, injure
the cat (puppies eat this stuff too) internally.  If enough is ingested
it can clump and cause an intestinal blockage.  Either case is painful and
can be fatal to the animal.

Someone posted this information a couple of weeks ago.  I am just 
reposting as a reminder and plea for a safe holiday season for our
furry friends.

Have a wonderful holiday --

Liz
From: sscott@wtcp.DaytonOH.NCR.COM (Sandie Scott)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: re. Declawing
Date: 14 Dec 92 22:44:11 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: NCR Corporation - Dayton, OH USA

I'm getting tired about reading about the subject of declawing; thus I'll add
to it!! I am one who hates hurting anything, even a spider (I'll catch it and
take it outside); so I definitely did not want to hurt the naturalness of
Sabre.  HOWEVER, Sabre is one of those psychotic cats, who leaps off our laps
for no apparent reason (he is scitterish).  I did keep his nails trimmed...but
even with trimmed nails, he was able to give my hubby a five-inch scratch on
his leg.  The scratch was so deep that it is still there two years later.
Sorry, gang, it was either lose Sabre, lose my hubby, or have Sabre lose his
claws.  Did I make the right choice?

PS
How could the squirt bottle have helped this situation
-- 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: rock@medch.b17b.ingr.com (Chris Hudson)
Subject: Re: What's Your Favorite Kind of Cat?
Reply-To: rock@medch.b17b.ingr.com
Organization: Intergraph
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 19:56:39 GMT

The only cat I've owned is my current one, a red-point siamese.  So far, I'm
sold on siamese, as I love Sinbad's personality and vocal ability.

Chris Hudson
-- 
Save the Sharks!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Dogs come when called. Cats take a message and get back to you.
From: kevins@hpspdla.spd.HP.COM (Kevin G Smith)
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 17:52:25 GMT
Subject: MORE AIR TRAVEL ADVICE SOUGHT!
Organization: HP Stanford Park - Palo Alto, CA
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats

Hi, I need further advice regarding air transport of pets.  Is it
reasonable or advisable to transport a cat (10-11 pounds) in a "under
the seat" carrier versus the larger check in style?  Baron Fluffmeister
fits in the small carrier but it looks cramped to me and I am afraid
he would need tranquilizers.  On the other hand some have suggested 
that being transported in the cargo hold with dogs barking etc. can be
traumatic.  So what is the experience on the net regarding cabin vs.
cargo air travel and travel medication for cats?

Thanks and cheers,
Kevin

*******************************************
* Kevin G. Smith                          *
* Hewlett-Packard, Stanford Park Division *
* P.O. Box 10151, Mail Stop 5M            *
* Palo Alto, CA 94303                     *
* Phone: (415) 857-3423                   *
* FAX:   (415) 813-3085                   *
* Email: kevins@hpspd.hp.com              *
*******************************************
From: jerryg@jaiser.rain.com (Jerry Gaiser)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: A welcome home surprise
Date: 13 Dec 92 18:02:28 GMT
Article-I.D.: jaiser.TyFqVB1w165w
Organization: Jerry's Attic - Gaston, OR

avi@rix.Corp.Sun.COM (Ann Adamcik) writes:

> As a side note, does anyone really know how much the hunting ability is
> due to genetics and how much is training?  From what I've read, the belief 
> is that some hunting ability is instinct, but most is taught by the mother
> (particularly how to kill).  Is this true only for domestic cats, or for
> wild ones as well?
> 

Interesting question. Two of the greatest hunters I've seen were Tilda May,
a spayed tortie who's mom was an inside cat and Catlin Grace who's mom and
her were thrown out of passing car and spent her first months living and
hunting around a tavern we used to frequent.

May Kitty spent nearly her entire life living in the country and she of
the 'merow' would bring home all kinds of prizes. She had to learn to hunt
and kill on her own.

On the other hand, Miss Grace was probably well trained by her mother by
the time she found a real home. But then she was the only cat I've ever seen
who caught Humming Birds.

--
Jerry Gaiser                                      1-503-359-4017 (voice)
Usenet:  jerryg@jaiser.rain.com                   1-503-359-5111 (data) 
Fidonet: 1:105/380          
PBBS:    n7pwf@n7pwf.or.usa.na                    ..I read banned books..
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: ses3n@fermi.clas.Virginia.EDU (Sharon Elizabeth Silverman)
Subject: alternative disciplinary measures?
Organization: University of Virginia
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 19:43:38 GMT

Help! Alexei doesn't mind being squirted with a water pistol!

	She's not a bad kitten, but she *is* a kitten - which
means she needs a little correction. Right now my major problems
with her are:

1) Attacking Murphy to try to get her to play. Murphy is *not* 
amused!  (M. is an older spayed female)

2) Scratching everything except the designated post! (Yes, I've read the 
FAQ - when I scratch on it or rub her paws on it, she just gives me a 
funny look). One of the problems with this is that Murphy scratches 
constantly on the furniture. It's obvious why someone had her declawed. 
I figure at her age it's unlikely I'll be able to teach her to use the post -
but Alexei is learning from her!! :-(
	I really don't want to declaw Alexei, for many reasons. Can anyone 
help us?
	
	She knows exactly where the water is coming from, and thinks
it's cool - she runs over to play with the pistol! I don't want to hit her.
Is there another way to discipline her?
						Sharon


From: kevins@hpspdla.spd.HP.COM (Kevin G Smith)
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 20:09:24 GMT
Subject: Re: cats and bagpipe music
Organization: HP Stanford Park - Palo Alto, CA
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats

I must have missed where this thread started but I would like to add
another couple of datapoints regarding cats and bagpipe music.  My
father plays the Highland bagpipes and our cat Alpha loved it and
would sit on the couch to listen to him play.  I myself have picked up the 
practise chanter this year and my cat Baron Fluffmeister often
will come and sit next to me or even in my lap while I play which makes
it more difficult.   If I am learning a new song and the effect is not
yet musical he appears to have enough taste to just go to sleep near by.
He also appreciates Irish music groups (The Chieftains etc.) who play much
more melodiously than his master;)

*******************************************
* Kevin G. Smith                          *
* Email: kevins@hpspd.hp.com              *
*******************************************
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats