HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: hill@madrone.eecs.ucdavis.edu (Rich Hill)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Bunny w/ watery eye
Date: 4 Sep 92 16:27:35 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: U.C. Davis - Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Our newest addition (9 week old Netherland Dwarf) has recently developed a 
rather watery left eye.  There doesn't seem to be anything else wrong but we
don't know much about these things yet so we aren't sure if this is a minor
thing or a major concern.  The eye is open as normal and the discharge is 
clear.  She doesn't seem to favor it.  Could this be something as simple as
something that got in her eye to irritate it or could it be something worse?
We first noticed the problem yesterday afternoon.

thanks

Rich
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: peterwu@microsoft.com (Peter Wu)
Subject: how to make kitten take fake milk?
Date: 26 Aug 92 17:02:00 GMT
Organization: mc
Distribution: pnw

A mother cat has abandon her 1 week old kitten (eyes not open yet).
I tried to feed the kitten milk substitute (KMR brand) from a bottle
but she would rather starve than take it.
I have to force her to take it, but progress is too slow.

Any idea how to improve the situation?
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: m14494@mwvm.mitre.org (Mike White)
Subject: Re: Invisible fence info request results
Organization: The MITRE Corporation
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 19:32:27 GMT

Kathleen Gittel writes:
> If you install the system yourself, the cost is 700 dollars in the NE
> corridor

Yes, that's about what I got from local dealers.  However, 
Damark ( a discount gadget catalog) is presently selling the system,
consisting of the transmitter, one collar receiver, a spool of wire,
perimeter flags, etc., for $399 + shipping.

Standard disclaimer: I have no connection with Damark, just passing
on some info.

************************
* These are my opinions only.*
************************
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: "Amy Young Leith" <alyoung@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu>
Subject: Re: Baby Bunny problems
Organization: Indiana University, Bloomington
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 21:32:39 -0500

In article <19964@drutx.ATT.COM> njl@drutx.ATT.COM (LaRocheNJ) writes:

>I do hope these little ones make it.  When you start looking for
>homes, try to find people who will commit to getting them
>spayed/neutered when they are old enough.  They'll make much better
>pets and remain much healthier.

No kidding... 

We have now found out, the hard way, that Dinkum is a male.  

I've noticed that within the past few weeks, he's gotten increasingly,
ah, problematic.  He's been such a little shit.  Still the old love
when you pick him up, but just chewing on things, totally forgetting
what NO meant, dropping pellets elsewhere now and then (not too bad.)
And, I noticed, he seemingly was interested in my knees... meaning
he'd always stand on his hind legs and start to act like he was going
to crawl on my leg.  Due to his sharp claws, he never got this far,
because I'd shake him off. 

The other day while cuddling/playing on the bed, he jumps on my arm
and just GOES AT IT.  Ok, so my baby is a boy. 

He follows me around the house CONSTANTLY.  He does not do this to
Scot.  He also will not attempt to hump anything covered by clothing;
he'll turn away from my leg if I throw a towel on it, etc.  Strange. 

Anyway, plans are in the making to have him taken care of.  I found a
vet in town at a cat hospital that also does a *lot* on rabbits and
ferrets, and the women I spoke with sounded very knowledgable about
rabbits.  The operation is cheap compared to a cat, only $39.  This is
done without an injected anesthetic, it's done with a gas (can't
remember the name) and she said it was safer for the animal.  

So, I can now understand Dink's problems.  He's probably DAMN
frustrated.  =)  Poor baby.  

amy
-- 
alyoung@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu for personal mail
			    All business mail to alyoung@silver.ucs.indiana.edu
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       I only speak for myself.  Anyone who thinks differently is a fool.

Newsgroups: rec.pets,rec.pets.cats
From: m14494@mwvm.mitre.org (Mike White)
Subject: Invisible fence info needed
Organization: The MITRE Corporation
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 12:53:46 GMT

We just got a cocker spanial, and we're considering using 
invisible fencing, as our yard is not enclosed.  This is the system
that uses a buried wire, and a collar receiver that beeps, and 
gives the dog a slight electric tingle as it approaches the wire.
I'd like to hear from someone who's used a system like this to
learn how well it worked, and whether it is really humane.
Any advice and experiences, good or bad, will be greatly 
appreciated.  Thanks.

Mike
m14494@mwvm.mitre.org

************************
* These are my opinions only.*
************************
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: hartman@dewey.udel.edu (Nancy Hartman)
Subject: Re: ferret bedding
Keywords: Cedar chips
Organization: University of Delaware, Newark
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 17:12:38 GMT

In article <1992Sep1.125333.15010@genome.wi.edu> gsouth@genome.wi.edu (Genome South user) writes:
>The stuff about the cedar chips and respiratory problems in ferrets
>is true, up to a point.  We've found that ours wheezes if we put only
>fresh (out of the package) chips in her cage.  But she has no
>problems if we only put a few new chips and lots of old chips, or
>use chips that have been aired out for a few days.

*NEVER* use wood chips as a ferret's bedding, period.  Every time the ferret
moves small peices break of that can be inhaled.  Even if she's not 
wheezing now, you may find that she has serious respiratory problems later
in life.

The only time you should even consider using wood chips with a ferret, is
in the pan under the cage.  And even then newspaper or litter is a much
better option.

- Nancy

-- 
Nancy Hartman					CIS graduate student
hartman@udel.edu				U. of Delaware
        President and founder, Delaware Valley Ferret Club
                      Owner of Percy & Bree
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: C11815@maccvm.corp.mot.com (Josette Giacobbi)
Subject: Re: Goodbye Thomasina-the-cute
Organization: Motorola
Date: 4 Sep 1992 10:47:44 CDT

to: M'linda, I cried too when I read about Thomasina-the-cute.
My cat is 11 and I know how upset we get when he's just not feeling well.
From: mlinda@ca.novell.com (M'Linda Taylor)
Josette
Subject: Goodbye Thomasina-the-cute
Keywords: I'm in shock.
Date: 3 Sep 92 13:27:04 GMT
Reply-To: mlinda@ca.novell.com (M'Linda Taylor)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Novell, Inc., Austin, Texas

I guess I'm mostly a lurker....but there are those of you who
have seen me sign off with "Mom-cat to Rio-the-LOUD and
Thomasina-the-cute".

Last night at 11:00 Thomasina began having moderate problems
breath so I called the Emergency Clinic who said to bring
her in if she got any worse or was running a fever.  As soon
as I tried to take her temp. she collapsed and began choking.

I rushed her to the vets who said it was major bad news.
A undetected cardiac problem, he didn't know if she would
make it through the night.  He put her on oxygen and a
VERY slow i.v. (her lungs were *full* of fluid).  She perked
up enough to purr when I gave her a good cuddle prior to
going home to try and get some rest....and to wait.... They
had me sign a authorization to put her down if it got too
bad.  An hour later I got the call.  My little girl had had
a rapid decline and was not going to make it.  She was
suffering too much to wait for me to drive across town to
be there for her so I told the vet to give her a hug and
tell her what a GOOD girl she always was and then I said
a prayer and asked that two of my other cats (Cindy and
Kiran) meet her at the gate.

She was only two and gave me sooooo much.  She'll never
follow me into the bathroom to protect me from the bath
tub again or save me from the man eating rubber snake.

I have to go now....it's time to stop crying before
some one at work freaks out.  There was just no
warning.  From the time she started having problems
to the end was only 2.5 hours.

Time for a net *hug* folks, I just moved here and don't
have any friends yet.

M'Linda


************************************************
*           - Lonestar -                       *
*Internet: mlinda@novell.COM                   *
*UUCP: {ames,sun,apple,amdahl}!novell!mlinda   *
************************************************
Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago
Date: Thursday, 27 Aug 1992 08:42:37 CDT
From: Norma Kateeb <U39730@uicvm.uic.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Marking---Can it be corrected?

My sister has an 8-yr. old male cat named Topaz who is
gentle, affectionate, extremely responsive and loyal.
She adopted him as a kitten and they have a very copacetic
relationship.  Because she is such a gentle and sensitive
individual, Topaz seems to have adopted the same attitude
toward life.  He is very sweet and loving and is content just
to be with her.

Two years ago, she brought home 2 abadoned male kittens. After some
initial resistance, they all seemed to be adjusting well to each
other.  However, just recently, Topaz has developed a problem
urinating (marking) outside the litter box.  She took him to the
vet to see if there was any physical problem that was causing it
(none) and he was neutered a long time ago.  He has been repeatedly
marking his territory in one particular room of the house.  She is now
in the process of replacing the carpeting in that room and has had to
remove some of the books that were ruined.

After much soul searching and consultation with her vet, she decided to
take Topaz to an animal shelter in the hope that he will be adopted.
Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be much hope that he will be
adopted, because most people would rather take kittens.

She is so heartbroken over this whole situation that she may decide
to take him back and confine him to a downstairs laundry room.
The dilemma is --If she takes Topaz back and finds homes for the
other 2 cats, can Topaz be corrected of this bad habit?  Does anybody
out there have any suggestions or creative ideas?  If so, please advise.
From: mverman@msus1.msus.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: kitties have to be siblings?
Date: 28 Aug 92 05:08:47 -0600
Organization: Minnesota State University System



We got two kittens about a year ago.  They are a month apart in age.  We got
one two months later than the first.  They are not siblings, nor are they the 
same gender.  They are terrific together as well as individually.

Although it seems true that sibling kittens get along, kittens seem to adjust 
well to other kittens within the first few months.  It seems to be adult cats
that have compatibility problems, primarily.


What fun to be getting kittens!

... Shu

llyIn article <92240.112210KAJ2@psuvm.psu.edu>,
<KAJ2@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
> Hi it's my first post......
> My husband and I are looking to get two kitties.  They'll be our firsts.  My qu
> estion is this...we want two kitties to keep each other company and I've read
> that they should be the same gender, but do they also have to be siblings?
> 
> The animal shelters in our area don't have any siblings, and circumstances
> dictate that we get them soon so I don't know as I want to wait until a pair of
> kitties become available.  Help?  Anyone have any experience with this?
> 
> Thanks, Karen.
Organization: Penn State University
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 10:56:19 EDT
From: <KAJ2@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: update kittie siblings

Thanks to all the folks who wrote and told me not to worry about getting
two new kitties that weren't siblings.

We went to our SPCA over the weekend and found two beautiful kitties.  They do
happen to be siblings, but it wasn't part of our criteria.  These were the
two that came to us.  They are wonderful.

They are about 4 months old, all black, and adorable.  Their names are Colby
and Jordana.  We have a vet appt today for shots and all.

Thanks again to all those who shared their expertise - I really appreciated
the info.

- Karen
(brand new mom to Colby and Jordana)
From: kilroy@netcom.com (Jeffrey S. Shulman)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Weight problem
Keywords: weight, over weight, fat
Date: 26 Aug 92 18:00:39 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)

Laura J. Shulman, Sunnyvale, California
FAX phone: 408/245-1891 *(24-hrs a day, 7 days a week)*


Wednesday morning, 26th August 1992


      Oops. I forgot to say what kind of food is involved. It is Iams
"Less Active" for Cats, which is Iams' version of low calorie.

      Question: is two mealtimes a day (as opposed to three) too little?


Laura Shulman

-- 
Jeff Shulman
kilroy@netcom.com

-- 
Jeff Shulman
kilroy@netcom.com
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: diana@wetware.com (CatWoman )
Subject: Re: COUGH! COUGH! Scoopable catlitter dust
Organization: Castle WetWare MouseCatcher
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1992 21:55:36 GMT

jim@n5ial.chi.il.us (Jim Graham) writes:

] thuyan@ravel.udel.edu writes:
] 
] > I am having a problem with my scoopable kitty litter.
] > The dust is everywhere!!  Has anyone else had this problem?
] > Are any brands better than others?  Any suggestions?
] 
] <cough cough>  YES!  I've certainly had that problem, but only when
] adding more to the box.  I assume you're referring to the clumping
] variety of litter, btw.

Just another thought here - one I've posted about before.

I switched to the "scoopable" litter last fall - almost
a year ago now - and over a 5-6 week period tried 4 or 5
varieties.  The reason for the various types was that I
had a problem - or rather, one or more of the cats had a
problem with diahreah(sp?).  I kept having to change the
litter completely - almost more often than the clay type.

Also - with my champion digger, Biscuit, NONE of them 
actually "clumped", so all I could do was dig out the
"solids" - and with the diahreah, there were not many
solids available.  I had not connected the diahreah problem
with the litter until I got tired of trying to scoop it
out and went back to clay litter - and the problem went
away.

Now - while the above was a good reason for not using the
scoopable/clumpable litter for me - I have another possible
reason for not using it - related to the dust problem brought
up by this thread.

Earlier this year my male had a bout with FUS that wouldn't
go away, so the vet took him in to x-ray to be sure he didn't
have real problems - and she x-rayed his chest area also (he
was born with heart problems).  Neither the heart nor the
bladder had any problems - but what he DID have was a spot
on his lungs.  X-rays taken 5 weeks later showed no change
in size, and we decided that in the absence of other symptoms,
with his health, we would re-x-ray in Decmeber.  The thing is
that there's a good possibility that what he's got is a
granuloma - a growth over the top of a foreign object.  Since
my cats DID have a coughing/sneezing problem when I was 
using the scoopable/clumpable litter, it's also possible that
the spot on the lungs is due to the litter dust - inhaling
some of the junk from the litter.

Diana
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: collet@scripps.edu (Thomas Collet)
Subject: Re: Diabetes in cats-blood and urine samples ???
Organization: The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 02:21:13 GMT

Is there an easy way to take blood and urine samples from a cat? With humans, you can get one of these lancing devices that works quite well and urine samples are even less of a problem : - ). This sampling would serve the purpose of allowing me to check for glucose in blood and for glucose/ketones in the urine. BTW, we have two cats, so checking the litter box is not such a great idea.
Cheers,

Thomas
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: schumach@convex.com (Richard A. Schumacher)
Subject: Re: kitties have to be siblings?
Organization: CONVEX Computer Corporation, Richardson, Tx., USA
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 00:53:26 GMT
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

Not to worry, unrelated cats get along just fine.
From: jonz@edsi.plexus.COM (Jon Ziepke)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Problem with Feline
Date: 28 Aug 92 20:40:23 GMT
Article-I.D.: edsi.1992Aug28.204023.16228
Organization: Enterprise Data Systems Incorporated, Appleton WI

hannah@pomponio.ai.sri.com (Marsha Jo Hannah) writes:

>In article <19873@plains.NoDak.edu> myhre@plains.NoDak.edu (Robert Myhre) writes:

>   The female ...  has this tendancy to sit on your lap
>   or next to you acting all really lovey, butting heads, etc.  However,
>   some times when a person is petting her she will turn around and
>   bite for no apparent reason.  She doesn't even give a customary
>   growl or flick of the tail warning.  Has anyone else experienced
>   this or may know what is causing it?

>   Robert Myhre

>Our (neutered) male cat, Fats, does this sometimes, except he swats us
>with his claws.  My theory is as follows.  Under certain weather
>conditions (low humidity), when I pet one of our cats, it puts static
>electricity into the cat's fur.  

I have found that many people will try to give the cat a nice rub down
only to be to rough for the cat, some cats just don't like to be petted
to roughly.  They let you know by grabbing the offending had and giving
it a bite, usally not enough to cause any real damage.  
I had the same problem with my cat Cameo, but lerned to be gentle and
never had a problem after that again.
-- 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  jonz@edsi.plexus.COM                  ...spool!cserver!edsi!jonz
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: joanm@moe.coe.uga.edu (Joan Maxfield UCNS)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Problem with Feline
Date: 25 Aug 92 23:51:38 GMT
Organization: College of Education, University of Georgia

{question of kitty biting for no reason deleted for space}

Is she biting when you pet a specific spot?  She may have a sore spot
or a spot that is overly sensitive.  Some cats can get overly
sensitive due to old flea bites or allergies.  My parents cat will rip
off your arm at the shoulder if you scrath her back right up near her
tail, or sometimes near her ears.  I chalked it up to damage from flea
bites or ear mites from her past.  If it's any old place she may just
be letting you know your place in the scheme of thing.  Pet her till
SHE'S done being pet!  You may still want to mention it to the vet
next time you go, if it is allergies she may feel better with a shot
of steroids.

Just my 2 cents!
Joan
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: The best litter alternative I've seen, next to going outdoors.
Date: 3 Sep 92 19:14:42 -0500
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

In article <1992Sep3.203052.9411@wetware.com>, diana@wetware.com (CatWoman ) writes:
> Once again - I have to ask, however - if Pine Tar and
> Pine Oil are as bad for cats as we have been told,
> is a pine-sawdust (presumably) litter going to have
> too much pine-pitch left in it to be good for the
> cats?

I _think_ the dose would be way too low to bother _most_ cats.  But
there are differences in individual sensitivities to chemicals, just
as there are individual differences with drugs...  I've lost count of
the times my guys came home covered in sawdust (mostly pine and fir) when
there was new construction around us.  (OOh! Sawdust!  Let's roll in it!)

Kay
From: Howard@cup.portal.com (Howard A Audet)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Cat Antlers
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 92 21:34:40 PDT
Organization: The Portal System (TM)

>Has anyone seen these?  They are soft reindeer antlers attached to a
>piece of cloth with a strap that goes under the cat's chin.  Saw them
>in a McCrory's the other day.  Cute, but what cat would actually put
>up with wearing them?  And in what circumstances would an owner actually
>want their cat to wear them?  Comments, anyone?
>
>Sharon
>

We got some cat antlers around Christmas from our local pet store last
year.  We purchased them with the intent of taking a Christmas picture of
the cats (Pumpkin Pie and Pecan Pie).  These were to be individual pictures
as we purchased only one pair.  No sooner had we snapped the picture of
Pecan Pie than she bolted off the scratching post and under the bed with a
now down around the neck pair of antlers.  Needless to say, Pumpkin Pie
didn't even get her picture taken.

Howard & Hazel

P.S. Pecan Pie's antler picture would've looked better without Hazel's arm
around her neck (how else do you get cats to pose for pictures :->  )
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Problem with Feline
Date: 26 Aug 92 20:53:32 -0500
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

In article <19873@plains.NoDak.edu>, myhre@plains.NoDak.edu (Robert Myhre) writes:
> week though).  Anyway, she has this tendancy to sit on your lap
> or next to you acting all really lovey, butting heads, etc.  However,
> some times when a person is petting her she will turn around and
> bite for no apparent reason.  She doesn't even give a customary
> growl or flick of the tail warning.  

You may accidentally be hitting a sore spot (have the vet give her a 
good look-over), or you just may not be seeing some subtle signs of
agression.  Charlotte, normally quite affable, boxed Mark's ears last
week when he was petting her.  She was walking away, and her ears were
a little back, and I was just about to say, "Watch it!" when she turned
around and slapped him good.  He'd missed the ear signal.

In my experience, this sort of behavior is usually correlated with not-
quite-feeling-well, a new environment, or a new animal on the premises.
It's always settled down in a couple of weeks.  You might want to try 
_not_ petting her, until she actually walks under your hand.  Then 
two pets, and no more until she begs again.

Cats who do strike without warning in my house also go in the "kitty 
klink" (aka, a big rabbit cage) for an hour or so, so they can
consider their sins...

Kay Klier  Biology Dept  UNI
From: boardman@CS.ColoState.EDU (andrew boardman)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: 5 wk olds, update
Date: 28 Aug 92 03:51:27 GMT
Organization: Colorado State University, Computer Science Department

Hi guys,
	Just wanted to send a post out to thank everyone who sent
me advice on my smelly li'l babies. Most of the posts suggested
warm water, mild soap and quick dryings, and a couple mentioned maybe washing
them with wet washcloths. I eventually washed them gingerly (I'll get
courage in time :) and am still amazed I din't break 'em. I appreciated
the advice to fluff them out with baby powder (Piper mews her t'anx,
Laura! :). 

	-- skye, now prepared for almost anything!
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats