HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: dblackbu@alleg.edu (Dave Blackburn)
Subject: Re: Horny Cat
Organization: Allegheny College
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 22:00:52 GMT

In article <C0r5Kn.GAo@SSD.intel.com> pandit@ssd.intel.com (Milind Pandit)  
writes:
|My parents' cat was neutered at 5 months.  He is now 18 months old.
|Recently, he has been having (attempting?) sexual relations with a
|glove on a daily basis.  This is not a joke.  He demands the glove
|every morning.  Has anyone encountered such behavior in a neutered
|male?  He has not made a wet mess, but will he eventually get it right
|and do so?  Does this mean he will eventually start spraying?
|
|If you have any advice, please post or email.  My parents are worried.
|
|-- 
|Milind S. Pandit			| pandit@ssd.intel.com
|Operating Systems Engineer		|
|Intel Supercomputer Systems Division	| Standard Disclaimers Apply

Perhaps the glove is in heat. Try putting another scent onto it (lemon rind,  
pepper, or something that says "I am not interesting to you!") or confiscating  
the glove for a while.
--

* Dave Blackburn  dblackbu@alleg.edu  flames to self@home.dev.null *          
* Chemistry, Macs, Hypercard, cats,  <>< religion, & the Dead      *
* (Anyone else who held these opinions would be as crazy as I am.) *
*   "Sometimes the songs that we hear are just songs of our own"   *
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner)
Subject: Re: new black kitty
Reply-To: rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner)
Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro NM
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 93 21:34:55 GMT

In article <C0E6My.728@dale.cts.com> npm@dale.cts.com (Nancy Milligan) writes:
>I came up with bunches of names for black cats when I was trying
>to name Taboo.  
>
>(I can't recall it, but the name of the black panther in the Jungle Book).

Bagheera.
-- 
Ruth Milner                          NRAO/VLA                  Socorro NM
Computing Division Head      rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu
From: eldridge@tachyn.enet.dec.com (Kathi Eldridge)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Cats and temporary adoption: is this wise?
Date: 4 Jan 93 16:17:20 GMT
Reply-To: eldridge@tachyn.enet.dec.com (Kathi Eldridge)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation, Merrimack, NH


In article <1i7ls5INNqh6@armory.centerline.com>, matt@centerline.com (Matt Landau) writes:

|>The problem is that my girlfriend has to move on February 1st, so she's
|>moving in with me, but my landlord is allergic to cats.  Hence, there 
|>is no way we can keep Lucifer at my place.  My current thinking is that
|>we should try to find friends in the area who would be willing to look
|>after him until June, when we can move into a completely new place that
|>allows cats.  But I'm worried about the possible traumatizing effects of
|>taking him out of his home, just when he's beginning to trust us, and
|>leaving him in the care of strangers for four months, then trying to 
|>pick up where we left off.  
|>
|>Even if we manage to go and visit him a few times a week, so he doesn't 
|>forget us, I'm not sure what the effect on him would be.  Obviously, I'm 
|>very attached to this kitten, and don't want to simply give him up; in
|>fact, I'd miss him terribly -- there's something very special about a wild 
|>cat who finally starts making tentative gestures toward you, as each bit 
|>of trust has to be painstakingly earned.  But on the other hand, I also 
|>don't want him to suffer needlessly just because I like having his 
|>company (on those still-rare occasions when we actually get to see him
|>out in the open for more than 5 minutes at a time :-)
|>
|>So, does anyone have any words of wisdom to offer?  Has anyone tried to 
|>do this with a cat, and did it work out?  Or would Lucifer be better off 
|>if we just tried to find him a new permanent home?
|>--
|> Matt Landau			Waiting for a flash of enlightenment
|> matt@centerline.com			  in all this blood and thunder
|>

	Maybe you could ask the landlord to be flexible for the mere 6 months
	and allow Lucifer to live with you?

	I have never tried a temporary adoption.  One of my 3 is very, very
	timid and hides from the slightest quick movement or loud sound.  I
	don't think he would be able to handle a temporary adoption at all.
	It took him nearly a whole year to warm up to my boyfriend when I
	moved in with him.  

	Best Wishes,

	- Kathi
From: mark@whizbang.wariat.org (Mark W. Schumann)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Bat House
Distribution: world
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 93 03:20:01 GMT
Organization: The Software Sweatshop, Cleveland, Ohio USA
Reply-To: mark@whizbang.wariat.org


Anybody have a good source on building a backyard apparatus
that attracts bats?  Like a "bat house"?

Hey, it's not my idea.  My weird neighbor Don wants to know.

--
Mark W. Schumann/3111 Mapledale Avenue/Cleveland, Ohio 44109-2447 USA
Domain: mark@whizbang.wariat.org                      CIS: 73750,3527
"We're not nuts or anything; I mean *I'm* not nuts." <whizbang!judy>
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: "amy lynn young-leith" <alyoung@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu>
Subject: Re: Bunny Answers/Question
Organization: Indiana University, Bloomington
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 20:56:41 -0500

In article <1ihn38INN7fa@bigboote.WPI.EDU> dugan@cs.WPI.EDU (R. Dugan) writes:
>RE: Cooking
>
>Rick get really upset when we fry ANYTHING.  I don't know if he
>thinks that he's next or what... but he cowers in his cage or
>tries to hide as far away as possible.  Nothing that we say
>or do seems to calm him down.  Has anyone else had similar
>experiences?
>Meat seems to produce the worst reaction.  We got Rick from
>the SPCA and I'm wondering if he associates the smell with
>the Crematorium????

Dunno about that... 

God knows our bun doesn't have any problem with the kitchen or us
using it, either.  I have been paying special attention and it's
shameful to realize what a begger he is.  He DEMANDS a bit of what you
have if it smells even the least bit appetizing to him.  He can smell
chocolate from another room, too... I'M SERIOUS. 

amy
-- 
alyoung@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu for personal mail
			    All business mail to alyoung@silver.ucs.indiana.edu
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             I.U. probably doesn't agree with me.  I don't speak for
                    them so it doesn't matter, now does it?
From: tcm@moscom.com (Tom Maszerowski)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Rabbit pneumonia
Summary: My mini lop has died
Keywords: Rabbit pneumonia
Date: 6 Jan 93 13:14:02 GMT
Followup-To: tcm@moscom.com
Organization: Moscom Corporation, Pittsford NY


  Last night my big mini lop Buttercup died in my arms at the animal
emergency clinic, cause of death was respiratory and cardiac arrest.
The vet had already been listening to her lungs and was deeply 
concerned due to the apparent large amount of fluid in there when
Buttercup stopped breathing. She was 5 years old.

  What is really upsetting is that she seemed fine yesterday morning,
and her appetite was fine. In the evening I found her sitting in her 
litter box, breathing heavily and the inner eyelid very prominent. She
was also listless, and gave no struggle when I picked her up at took her
to the vet. The emergency vet said that she had seen a similar case
the week before, and that rabbit also died. Our other rabbit, Digger,
seems fine but we are taking her to our regular vet today just to
be sure.

  A question for Nancy and the other rabbit experts is how common
is pneumonia in rabbits? Our rabbits don't go out much, and don't
have contact with other rabbits, wild or domestic. Buttercup was
seen by our regular vet in early December for an eye infection,
we were treating her with Neosporin ointment applied directly into
the eye. Could the visit to the vet or the antibiotic have contributed
to this?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Tom
-----

-- 
Tom Maszerowski    tcm@moscom.com   
                   {rit,tropix,ur-valhalla}!moscom!tcm
                   DoD #1957 (1987 BMW K75s) BMWMOA #59113
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: megm@sco.COM (Meg McRoberts)
Subject: Re: bunnies and hairballs?
Organization: The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1993 07:14:40 GMT


In article <1992Dec29.033039.20438@ee.ubc.ca> jmorriso@ee.ubc.ca (John Paul Morrison) writes:
==> 
==> What are the symptoms (so one can be prepared) ?
==> can tell-tale symptoms be confused with other ailments?
==> 
==> I've learned here that papaya tablets with amylase, and hay can prevent them.
==> what about treatments? (I assume surgery is one. Don't people give cats
==> vaseline (?) to get rid of hairballs. will that work for rabbits.
==> 
symptoms to watch for:  "string-of-pearl" pellets are the first
sign that your rabbit is ingesting a lot of hair, and you need
to increase any preventative measures you are using.  if this
is followed by pellets that get small and erose, or diarrhea,
coupled with decreased appetite, there is a good chance you have
a hairball and need to get to a vet fast.

lots of people have posted about preventative measures.  exercise
(at least 2 hours a day), lots of hay and other foods with long
fibers, papaya with amalyse are all good.  laxatone, petromalt,
or vaseline can be used, as for cats, but be careful not to overdose
the rabbit on these because they also sap nutrients from the rabbit's
system.  an alternative is a feline laxative called Vetasyl, that
is more like Metamucil for rabbits.  my vet seems to think that
the Vetasyl is a safer concept for routine hairball prevention
(its safety and effectiveness for rabbits has been confirmed in
independent double-blind tests and all).

really bad hairballs may require surgery, but the surgery is
pretty risky, especially because a rabbit with a massive hairball
doesn't eat and so its whole system is compromised.  if the doctor
is skilled and uses isoflourene anaesthetic, the success rate for
the surgery goes up some.

if you catch the hairball quickly, they are now treating them
with a pancreatic enzyme.  some vets may tube the rabbit.  in
our case, the vet mixed the powder with pureed spinach baby food
and just syringed it into her mouth.  it annoyed the hell out of
the rabbit, but within a few hours she was eating and passing
pills and on the way to recovery.  i also gave her injections
of something called Reglan (sp?) that relaxes the "exit valve"
to the stomach so that larger masses can pass through.

my opinion is that ANY rabbit can get a hairball.  Rasta is
completely free-running, gets lots of hay, papaya tablets,
and Vetasyl on a regular basis.  her hairball followed a
week in which she had had three different antibiotics (it's
a long story, but it had to be done), and that may have
contributed.  but knowing the symptoms and seeing the vet
promptly is very important.  a rabbit with a hairball won't
eat (it's stomach is full, after all), and my vet says a rabbit
who goes 12 hours without eating sustains serious permanent
liver damage.

meg mcroberts
uunet!sco!megm
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: "amy lynn young-leith" <alyoung@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu>
Subject: Re: Funny bunnies, or at least interesting
Organization: Indiana University, Bloomington
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 20:51:09 -0500

In article <C0GKp2.3E1@news.udel.edu> tedybear@ravel.udel.edu (Heather A Rothwell) writes:

>awakened to a bunny barber!!! :)  He was chewing my hair, with one paw on
>my head to keep me steady or something!!!!  The poor bun, though.  I just

Dink loves hair.  At first he only did it now and then, and I thought
maybe it had to do with something that I was putting ON my hair.  But
then I think.... hairspray tastes AWFUL!  How can he do this?? 
My hair is long, so when I hold him, I have to make sure he's on one
side and the hair is on another or I end up prying him off my hair. 

>figured out what had been going on by the numerous indignant THUMPS that
>followed his landing.
>The third night was better, but I still recall being awakened by a bunny
>standing ON my face.  Oh the joys of being a bunn mommy :)  I would not
>trade it for anything, though.  
>Hope this brought a smile or two.

I don't get this either; It seems like he will PURPOSELY plan his
track when he RUNS across the bed (can't he just go around the end
like normal people??) so that it will be RIGHT over our heads.
*shrug*

amy
-- 
alyoung@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu for personal mail
			    All business mail to alyoung@silver.ucs.indiana.edu
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             I.U. probably doesn't agree with me.  I don't speak for
                    them so it doesn't matter, now does it? 
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: "amy lynn young-leith" <alyoung@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu>
Subject: Re: Bunny Answers & Questions
Organization: Indiana University, Bloomington
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 23:25:22 -0500

In article <1993Jan05.080533.7535@sco.com> megm@sco.COM (Meg McRoberts) writes:
[...]
>Rasta prefers the spines of books -- preferably old, rare volumns
>that are very difficult to replace.  the dog's tail is also of
>interest, as are plates (empty or full, they are still fun to
>hurl across the room).
>
>Rasta shows very little interest in toys that we allow her to
>have.  She is much more interested in stuff we don't want her
>to have.  sigh.

Isn't this the truth??!!  We've tried providing wooden chew blocks of
every type of wood from walnut to balsa... and he won't touch them!
But he'll chew up anything else in his way... 

amy
-- 
alyoung@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu for personal mail
			    All business mail to alyoung@silver.ucs.indiana.edu
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             I.U. probably doesn't agree with me.  I don't speak for
                    them so it doesn't matter, now does it?
From: info@ccsvax.sfasu.edu (SFASU Anonymous account)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: South Florida Animals Need Help
Date: 3 Jan 93 22:49:28 CST
Organization: Stephen F. Austin State University

Hello animal lovers everywhere,
 
We just heard on our local television station that animals still need help in 
southern Florida after the hurricane.  There are many animals there who were 
lost or need medical treatment. A Pet M.A.S.H. has been working since the 
storm. At first many donations were coming in to support their efforts, but 
now help has tapered off.
 
If you want to help, call 1-800-597-2987 (according to our local station).   
-- 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This posting from Stephen F. Austin State University's ANONYMOUS account.

Please report abuses to newsmgr@ccsvax.sfasu.edu
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: rmura@world.std.com (Ron Mura)
Subject: Re: Bunny toys
Organization: The World
	<1if4a5INNq39@shelley.u.washington.edu>
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 02:38:06 GMT

In article <1if4a5INNq39@shelley.u.washington.edu> milligan@carson.u.washington.edu (Paula Milligan) writes:
> 
> OTHER TOYS:  I cut a hole in a cardboard box (3'x 1.5' x 1') and Betsy,
> especially, likes to get in there and dig around.

Another thing you can do it cut a hole in the box that's too small for
them to pass through, like 2" x 3".  Then they have to work on it
for a while before they can get in!

-- 
- Ron Mura, Boston, Massachusetts              rmura@world.std.com

Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: viking@iastate.edu (Dan Sorenson)
Subject: Re: Ferret Adjustment Problems
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 07:35:03 GMT

hartman@oin.cis.udel.edu (Nancy Hartman) writes:

>BTW, if Archimedes is not altered that is an entirely different 
>matter, especially if Fermi is also whole.  Two whole males may
>fight to the death, especially if they are in season.

	I have two unaltered males, Tuco and Blondie (ever see The
Good, The Bad, and The Ugly?).  They fight for dominance, not for
blood.  When the cat climbs into their open-top cage, they fight her
too.  I've found that Tobasco sauce on the nose works wonders at making
them let go on the other.  Most of the time they play, but on occassion
I'll hear a squeal and it's one holding the other in a vice-like grip,
and it can be either ferret doing this.

	Don't expect to cure them of this.  Also, males in season will
musk and urinate on anything.  It is quite annoying.  Get them fixed
if you don't plan to breed them.  I'm only keeping mine unfixed because
I know a breeder who wants them, and is not able to take them yet.

< Dan Sorenson, DoD #1066 z1dan@exnet.iastate.edu viking@iastate.edu >
<  ISU only censors what I read, not what I say.  Don't blame them.  >
<  "Are you *SURE* he's worth a Harley-Davidson?" -- my grandmother  >
< to my girlfriend, about me.  "I'd better not say" -- my girlfriend >
From: bickford@jimmy.dfci.harvard.edu (Paul Bickford)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Re: Fun With Rats
Date: 6 Jan 1993 16:36:18 GMT
Organization: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
NNTP-Posting-Host: jimmy.harvard.edu

In article <1993Jan6.063221.24912@leland.Stanford.EDU> dove@leland.Stanford.EDU (The White Blackbird) writes:
>Hi all,
>
>I've had my rat Skipy for about 4 months now, and I want him to have
>the best life possible for me to give him.  So I was wondering if any
>of you have any ideas for rat treats (both food and otherwise.)
>
>Plus if you experienced rat owners have any tips and hints for a new
>owner, I'd appreciate it.
>
>Thanx,
>-=dav
>

This is what I give my little rattus norvegicus to keep her
busy/happy:

--> old socks -- the more holes, the better. Great nest material, and fun
to crawl in/around/through!
--> torn paper -- as many sheets as you like, I tear them into 1/2 x 3
inch strips, which she immdiately takes away and places
oh-so-carefully in her favorite hiding places. Definately keeps her
busy. I also offer these as alternatives to whatever she shouldn't be
chewing on -- if she starts to chew an electrical cord, I gently
remove her from the cord and place a piece of paper near her snout.
She soon gets the idea, and is happy gathering the paper that I have
scattered about the room, instead of chewing on something else.
--> carboard tubes -- these get torn to shreds! At least *my* rat tears
them to shreds (I have heard stories of rats that get stuck in them
when they reach a certain size. The "I can get in, but can't get out"
syndrome). She never seems to get tired of these.
--> old sheets, towels, etc -- again, great fun to crawl
in/around/through when crumpled up and tossed in a corner.

As for food, Basil (my rat), like basically anything! Exception to the
rule seems to be "boring" foods: carrots and broccoli pop to mind. Make
sure not to give too much fat and sugar -- small bodies don't need
much of those to get messed up. Stick to (*yuck*) healthy foods as
treats. I find that simply altering the diet a little perks her up to
no end (lettuce instead of cucumbers, for example). I always make sure
that there is plenty "crunchy" food to wear down those razor-sharp
fangs of hers, too. (The standard lab-blacks work well.)

Hope this helps!

Paul
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|      <include standard disclaimer>         | Paul Bickford              |
| The opinions/information expressed herein  | bickford@jimmy.harvard.edu |
| are Paul Bickford's, and his alone.        | p.bickford@leotech.mv.com  |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Dana Farber Cancer Institute  | "Ahh...we were just talking about you." |
|   division of Biostatistics   | "That's refreshing, Jenner --           |
|      and Epidemiology         |     usually you're screaming about us." |
|       (617) 632-3610          |           _The Secret of NIMH_          |
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Xref: sparky rec.pets:4303 news.software.readers:2779
From: csc@pilot.njin.net (Sean Casey)
Newsgroups: rec.pets,news.software.readers
Subject: Re: Inappropriate Postings Explained
Date: 12 Jan 93 19:59:13 GMT
Followup-To: rec.pets
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

While the perpetrator of the Followup-To mischief isn't without blame,
I'd tend to blame the software more than him. A newsreader shouldn't
blithely obey Followup-To lines. It should at the very least notify
the user that something interesting is going on. I'd prefer it ask me
what to do.

A lot of interesting analogies spring to mind, but I'll spare you :).

Sean
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: sharon@phoneme.shs.uiuc.edu (Sharon Morrison)
Subject: Re: Bat House
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 20:48:01 GMT

In article <726722401snx@whizbang.wariat.org> mark@whizbang.wariat.org  
(Mark W. Schumann) writes:
> 
> Anybody have a good source on building a backyard apparatus
> that attracts bats?  Like a "bat house"?
> 
Bats International in Texas has a very nice bat house that severy  
different species of bats can use.  I think the plans are a dollar or two.   
I'll try to bring the address to post.

Sharon Morrison
Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: pshuang@athena.mit.edu (Ping-Shun Huang)
Subject: Rabbit nail clipping
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Distribution: rec
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 03:14:24 GMT

Anyone have good techniques for convincing their rabbits that yes, they
do want to stay stationary for a few minutes and allow you access to
their paws to clip their nails? I haven't quite gotten around to it, but
I will soon because Harvey's nails are getting rather long. I've tried
getting him used to having his paws handled a little bit, but he only
squirms out of my grasp within seconds.

--
Ping Huang (INTERNET: pshuang@athena.mit.edu), probably speaking for himself

Newsgroups: rec.pets
From: christin@cae.wisc.edu (Christine Haas)
Subject: Tavi Bear (FERRETS)
Organization: U of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering
Date: 8 Jan 93 21:54:44 CST

Hi all,

I wanted to tell you that I recently made an addition to my family.
I adopted a wonderful (and *huge*) male ferret from the ferret
shelter in Milwaukee.  That makes three: Scooter (chocolate sable
female), Nina (sable female), and Tavi Bear (also a sable, male).

Tavi is just a joy!  He is big and round, and very curious.  I 
adopted him with the name "Rocky" but decided to change it (seeing
as ferrets don't get attached to their names anyway).  Two things
came to mind when I considered naming him: Sebastian (which mutated
into Sebastian Bear) and Rikki Tikki Tavi.  Well, I just couldn't
decide so his full name is:  Rikki Tikki Tavi Sebastian Bear, or
Tavi Bear/ Tavi/ Sebastian for short (depending on my mood).  You
know, I always thought "Bear" was a stupid name - I had two females.
But when I got Tavi - it was just so perfect, and now I understand 
why there are tons of ferrets named Bear. 

Anyway, Tavi is really strange in comparison with my two females.
The first thing he did when I put him in my bedroom (get this) is
go into my closet (perfectly acceptable) and pull a can of Dr. Pepper
*out of the plastic rings* and drag it under my dresser (while I am
watching, laughing hysterically) and then *he OPENED it*!* and licked at
it oozing out!  I could not believe it!!  I can't keep soda cans *or 
bottles* anywhere near him!!!  He is funny!

He sleeps in wierd places too.  My two females always sleep wrapped
in blankets or their ferret sleeping bags.  Not him, he crawls behind
the door, in little crevices where he shouldn't possible be able to fit,
and where he can't possibly be comfortable, and sleeps there. 

When he plays, he plays in spurts of energy.  He does the ferret dance 
a little, then lays down and just looks at you, then jumps up and fights
the invisible ferret, than plops down again - he is sooo cute!

Well, just thought I'd share a little ferret joy!

Take care,

Chris & Scooter & Nina & Tavi Bear 
-- 


%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%-%
From: csc@pilot.njin.net (Sean Casey)
Newsgroups: rec.pets
Subject: Re: Rat chewing -- help?
Date: 4 Jan 93 20:59:40 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: The Leaning Tower of Patterson Office @ The Univ. of KY

A capsicum based substance would work great. I wonder if they make it
for that purpose?  It'd work on you too, though, so you'd have to wash
your hands after handling something treated.

Sean