HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: wd6cmu@netcom.com (Eric Williams)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Do your cats know their names?
Date: 17 Dec 92 20:56:23 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)

Murphy definitely knows his name, but I made a point to repeat it to him
over and over when he was a wee kitten.  I'm working on Vincent, but I
just figured out what his name was.  I'm also trying to use sounds to
call them instead of names, a tisking sound for Murphy and a trill for
Vincent.

I heard a story of a woman who had several Siamese cats.  When she would
call the name of one of them, all the others would turn to look at the
one who was being called, but the one being called ignored it.  Typical.
-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eric Williams     wd6cmu@netcom.com  |  Never attribute to malice that which
WD6CMU@WD6CMU.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NA       |  is adequately explained by stupidity.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: rusty@nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov (Kenneth Hall)
Subject: Question of Age...
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Keywords:  How old is she
Organization: NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 07:36:00 GMT

Greetings fellow netters...

This is a question of curiosity for me at this moment.  At what age 
does a female cat stop coming in heat in general.  The reason I as is 
that my cat "Doc" has shown no signs of having come in heat.  Granted 
that she was a stray that I took in several years ago, but looking at 
her belly, there are no signs o a scar from the spaying procedure and 
I really don't have a fix on how old she really is.  Other notes about 
her is that she is an indoor cat that can't get out except to sit on 
the balcony and has no interest in heading to the front door.  She is 
in good health and in general is a pillow/bed/chair fungus during the 
day and naps next to me when I watch t.v..  

P.S. We tried introducing her to a friend so that she would have a 
playmate. This idea did not go over well and resulted in a declaration 
of war by all parties involved.  When my nerves were shot a neighbor 
adopted her to help relieve her loneliness after the death of her cat.

Thanks for any answers or ideas you can provide...

Rusty
From: U27876@uicvm.uic.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: socks
Date: 15 Dec 92 01:36:33 GMT
Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago

Try putting a sock over your cat's head for a couple of minutes.  It doesn't
 know where the hell it's at, and it just sits there.
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re:    declawing?
Date: 14 Dec 92 17:38:19 -0600
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

In article <1992Dec11.185346.3389@inel.gov>, kkv@inel.gov (Jamie J Ferguson) writes:
> 
> My cats still have their claws and always will, but I'd like to be more 
> informed about the operation since I volunteer at the Humane Society and
> people often mention that they want to declaw their cats.  Of course, in
> that case its often a choice between no home or a home without claws, so
> I think declawing isn't as bad as long as the animal is loved.  My cats
> are evidently fairly good because they use their scratching post -- 
> at least most of the time!

I talked to perhaps 10 vets and their clients before choosing one to
declaw my cats that HAD to be declawed.  I found two vets with extremely
low rates of post-surgical complications and good records of fast
recovery times.  One used the disarticulation form of surgery, where the
last joint is dissected out, the other used the amputation form of the
surgery, where the bone is cut distal to the joint.

I chose the closer vet for the surgery, the one who used the 
disarticulation form.  My 3 adults (all >4yrs, all weighing 8-10
lbs) were walking normally in 3 days, and were back to their
aerobatics within a week.  Bear climbed a tree within 10 days 
after surgery.

Again, it's not a choice that I made lightly, but when the choice
is between a dead cat with claws, and a live cat without front claws,
I know what I'll vote for.

Kay Klier  Biology Dept  UNI
From: sritacco@wet.UUCP (Steve Ritacco)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Evolution Cat Food
Date: 18 Dec 92 05:25:04 GMT
Organization: Wetware Diversions, San Francisco

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone out there is feeding their cats Evolution cat food?

It is a vegatarian food which claims to be complete, and does not contain any
bi-products or preservatives.  I also realize that cats are not vegatarian by
nature, but if the food is a complete nutritional source... what is the
difference.

I would like to hear from anyone that has any experience with the product.

Thanks,

Steve

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: C14383@maccvm.corp.mot.com (Marie Cannizzaro)
Subject: Re: Fee for pets in cabin
Organization: Motorola
Date: 14 Dec 1992 16:17:13 CST


I, too, agree that this extra $50 is preposterous considering that it's
being called a "transportation charge." Since when does the airline
charge me for transporting a piece of carry-on luggage (which on this
case is exactly what you have). My cat is coming on-board with me, and I
know from experience that no one will offer me any help of assistance
with my pet, let alone "transport" it anywhere. And if you consider the
expense of health certificates, carriers and trips to the vet to get all
of the above, you come out  above $50 anyway. OOOh, I'm just fumed!
Considering the number of people who fly, you'd think the airlines would
be making enough money with the extra fee. I mean, if you had a whole
extra suitcase weighing 50 lbs, I don't think they would charge you $50,
yet my 5 lb cat gets hit with it. Do people have to pay for their babies
that sit on thier laps during the flight? I think we should start a petit
ion! MC

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: std_belleriv@hg.uleth.ca
Subject: Re: cats in the middle
Reply-To: std_belleriv@hg.uleth.ca
Organization: University of Lethbridge
Distribution: rec.pets.cats
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 04:05:25 GMT

At least kitty lets you have room initially on the bed!
My cat retires to bed earlier than me, so that HE gets the
middle of the bed - almost dead center. I get to choose between
the side with 7 inches of room and lots of quilt - or almost
a foot of room, but not enough quilt to cover all of my body.
This is most troublesome in the winter when we share an unheated
room and it drops to below -20C outside! And of course I'm not
allowed to disturb him as I crawl into bed (first come first
serve!) or else I recieve growls and kicks!! 

Cats are definitly are of superior intellect - have you ever
seen 8 cats pulling a sled through the freezing snow?!

Catherine - Ringo's person
Organization: H&SS Dean's Office, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 17:41:31 -0500 
From: Anna Matyas <am2x+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: alternative disciplinary measures?


>In article <1gmmmeINNh8f@nigel.msen.com> dan@msen.com (Dan Sugalski) writes:
>>I'd heard about aluminum foil.  I tried it and the gang thought that the
>>noise that it made was neat.  Durin tried it, Spike and Wills jumped in
>>and Tabitha and Daryl watched with interest. :)
> 
>Sachia just hates aluminum foil. She's a perpetually underfoot cat
>when I'm in the kitchen, but the minute I take out the foil and zip
>it across the cutting teeth, she's a blur into the living room.
> 
>-- Marisa

Both my vet and the agency from which I adopted Gracie have told me to
use aluminum foil to deter her from pooping on the carpet.  (This is one
method I haven't tried because they said I'd have to leave a small path
for her to walk to the box; I'm SURE that's right where she'd poop.)

They also told me to use perfumed cotton balls on the floor.  Kept her
away for 2 days then she started pooping right next to them.

So I'm always skeptical when people say "Cats love..." or "Cats hate..."
Seems to me they're as unpredictable as people (if not more!).

Anna

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: kkv@inel.gov (Jamie J Ferguson)
Subject: Re: Cat is constipated
Organization: Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 92 15:33:28 GMT


One of our cats gets constipated all the time.  The only thing we found
that works is to mix Metamucil in his food.  He still gets constipated,
just not as much.  There are special cat foods with high fiber you
can try -- our kitty has other problems and last time we tried special
food it would fix this problem but make something else happen.  We
are planning on trying Science Diet W/D sometime soon.  About the 
Metamucil (which was recommended by a vet, but I would talk to your
vet first if your cat has problems), we have 3 cats and put 1/2 tsp
of Metamucil in their food at each meal (they get fed twice a day).
The other cats are very healthy and don't seem to have any problems
eating the Metamucil.


Good luck!  If you find a different solution please let me know.


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.
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: How do you teach a kitten to use the litter box?  HELP!
Date: 14 Dec 92 17:46:36 -0600
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

In article <576@blue.cis.pitt.edu>, tjw@vms.cis.pitt.edu (TJ Wood) writes:
> This one is NOT litter box trained.  In fact, the kitten thinks it's a bed!
> This kitten is probably from a litter of wild kittens (given how cautious
> it is of humans and how it bit me when I first caught it), so I'm not sure
> that it has ever seen a litter box.
> 
> I could really use some advice as to how to teach "kitty" to use the cat
> pan!  He's already soaked my rug a couple of times and an old shoe box
> he was sleeping in.  I've thought about showing him the box that the other
> 2 cats use, just as a hint.  Would this help?
> 
> My other 2 cats came "house broken", so I've never done this before.  Any
> help would be appreciated.

I'd suggest the method mentioned in the FAQ for cats who break litter
training (i.e., the kitty clink)... I've used this before with feral
kittens successfully.

IF you had no other cats in the house, I'd suggest "borrowing" some
used kitty litter.  Many untrained cats seem to need the scent cue to
"get the idea".  But sounds like you've already got the used litter...
;-)

Kay Klier  Biology Dept  UNI
From: cwaite@opal.tufts.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: plastic fetish...
Date: 18 Dec 92 21:28:06 GMT
Organization: Tufts University - Medford, MA

One of my cats, Gellis, is also a plastic eater.  While several kitties have
liked to lick or chew plastic bags, Gellis will have a chunk eaten out of one
as soon as I turn my back (she is especially good with the handles on
supermarket bags...).  Needless to say, this is *very* bad for them, not
because of blocking the respiratory system, but because the swallowed plastic
can cause intestinal blockage and require surgery (very expensive surgery as I
frequently tell Gellis...).  I have found that the ONLY solution is to keep all
plastic, cellophane, etc. as far away from her as possible.  While it's a
nuisance, you get used to hiding bags and things, and after several scares and
near misses, I realized that the extra effort was definitely worth it (for me
as well as for her). 
--Carolyn (and kitties)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: petitc@nuge114.its.rpi.edu (Christopher Jon Petit)
Subject: Re: Wool Fetish
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 17:40:55 GMT

AMREGR07@ysub.ysu.edu (Kelly Doctor) writes:

>  I need help.  I have a 6 month old blue Burmese that will find anything
>  that is 100% wool and chew major holes in it!  He has ruined approximately
> $300.00 worth of clothes so far!! I love him to death so I wouldn't even
> consider getting rid of him but I wondered if maybe there is something lacking
>in his diet that would make the wool so attractive to him.  He currently eats
> Hills Science Diet (kitten formula).  We also have a 4 month old sable
> Burmese that doesn't share the older cats taste for wool!! We now keep all
> of our closet and bedroom doors shut but it's a pain.  Any ideas would be
> very much appreciated.

  Maybe he's just teething?  Or does that occur at a much younger age?

  Or maybe if he's not teething, his teeth are hurt in some fashion?

-- 
Now on sale, in Aisle 5 of the Divine Supermarket---Lives, and Clues.  Buy
yours now and avoid the rush!  They make great Christmas gifts!
Cynicism is only realism projected into the future.
If your fondest wish is to fly, don't draw up plans for flippers.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: lsc@ssd.intel.com (Linda Cline)
Subject: Re: How can I get cat/mouse X software?
Keywords: X, pointer-watchers
Organization: Supercomputer Systems Division (SSD), Intel
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 23:49:37 GMT

In article <1992Dec18.221708.12976@Cadence.COM> phz@cadence.com (Pete Zakel) writes:
>In article <1992Dec7.132013.28445@news.cs.indiana.edu> "angela allen" <angie@moose.cs.indiana.edu> writes:
>>I know there exists a program (that sounds very cute) that runs under
>>X that displays a graphic of a cat that chases your mouse pointer
>>around the screen. It was discussed on this group several months ago,
>>but I don't see any references to it in the FAQ. Any ideas how to find
>>it, or what the name of the program is?
>
>Well, the name of the program is oneko -- which I believe is the Japanese word
>for cat (pronounced "oh-neck-oh").

	Just to clarify a little bit, in case anybody cares...  Neko, and
not oneko, is the Japanese word for cat (pronounced nay-ko, rather than 
neck-o, but the latter seems to be the Americanized version lots of people use).
I don't know what the leading "o" stands for, perhaps "open", since it is the 
version that runs freely on the root window.  There is a version called xneko, 
as has been discussed here, that was the first X version, and had the kitten 
contained in a window.  Tora means tiger rather than striped, and what you get 
is a striped kitten (which is quite a tiger, in my view!).

>Very cute program, with a little variation if your pointer is near the side or
>top of your screen.  Has options for controlling color, and also a toraneko
>option (which, I think, means "striped cat" in Japanese -- based on what you
>get when you say "oneko -tora").
>
>I don't know where to find it, though -- I came across it by accident.

	Since there has been lots of information posted here about how to
get the X version, I won't repeat.  I've used the X version for a couple of
years now, and never get tired of it.  A friend has converted it for use as
an X screen saver after enlarging the bitmaps.  I'm about to try the Windows
version, and I understand neko is included in the standard distribution of
OS2, so lots of people seem to love it.

	linda

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
"Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in
the same place.  If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at
least twice as fast as that!"	
                                        Lewis Carroll
                                        Through the Looking Glass
Linda Cline 			
Intel Supercomputer Systems Division 
Compiler Group
email: lsc@ssd.intel.com
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: Jack_Webb@mindlink.bc.ca (Jack Webb)
Subject: Re: Feline alarm clock
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 00:37:06 GMT

> Didi Pancake writes:
>
> Msg-ID: <1992Dec12.154409.4587@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>
> Posted: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 15:44:0
>
> Org.  : University of Virginia
>
> In article <thomas.50@yap.las.uiuc.edu> thomas@yap.las.uiuc.edu (Susan
> Thomas) writes:
> >Yes, Booties is terrible about this.  She stands on our dresser and pushes
> >everything off the edge to get our attention.  If this doesn't work, she
> >hooks one slat of our mini-blinds, pulls it out, and then lets it go with
> a
> >ping.  Most annoying.
>
> Bibs (7 mo.) is the first cat I've lived with who really thinks I NEED to
> get up earlier than the usual 6:30 or so. She will start "eeping" and
> walking on me around 5 or 5:30. If she does succeed in waking me, I
> refuse to feed her...the only thing I will do at that hour is stumble to
> the bathroom and back to bed...if she is EXceedingly fortunate, she may
> get an ear-skritch out of it.
>
> However, on those days when I don't have to get to work and Bibs tries
> this, I tend to really crash back into sleeping. Around 7:30 (gee, a
> whole extra hour!) Bibs will search out her loudest toy of the moment
> (today it was a wire-cage ball with a bell inside), bring it into the
> bedroom, whang it around on the wood floor and off the walls, then bring
> it up on the bed and whang it off of me too. Pretty effective.
>
> On the other hand, Cleo is a real slug-a-bed. Even when she's not cozied
> down under the covers, she will not stir until I actually walk out to the
> kitchen. If she is under the covers, she won't stir until the food dish
> hits the floor! Nice kitty!
>
> --
> |   Didi Pancake          |    Managing professionals                  |
> |   ehp@virginia.edu      |                  is like herding cats!     |
> |----------------------------------------------------------------------|
> | All the usual disclaimers about the origins of these opinions apply. |


I have actually heard of cats that learned to turn on the television to wake
up their owners in the morning!  We have gotten our guys used to a vigorous
play at about 8 p.m. that leaves the whole household panting and laying on
the floor.  They sleep through the night, and generally leave us sleep (at
least until 9 a.m. -- designated breakfast time).
*j*
--
WE SAIL TONIGHT FOR SINGAPORE - WE'RE ALL AS MAD AS HATTERS HERE!!

*******************Jack_Webb@mindlink.bc.ca***********************
****VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA...HOME OF THE NEUROTIC****
From: berthiau@iro.umontreal.ca Reply-To: bunny@gnu.ai.mit.edu (Eva Chan)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: When will people learn???
Keywords: kitten, SPCA,
Date: 19 Dec 92 20:32:18 GMT
Organization: Universite de Montreal

Actually, it varied more from one city to the next.  As far as I know, 
Toronto does not have any restrictions on the number of pets in a 
household, but some people want that changed due to some pet-overcrowded
neighbors.  I dont know the outcome on that one yet.  Here, the town that
I live in Ville-St-Laurent has a 2 per household restriction.  If I lived
within Ville-Montreal then it's a 3 pet limit since that is what their
ordinance says.  A neighboring town recently threatened to impose a leash
law and something about restricting the number of pets to one (or something
to that effect), but don't quote me =)  And since there are quite a number of
cat owners in that town, there was a lot of protest.  Right now I'm not sure
if the ordinance went thru.

I really don't think it's federally regulated as far as number of pets per
household is concerned.  It's more on the city and town level.  Check with 
your local Animal Control department (or equivalent)  I'm sure they'd know =)


-- 
= Eva Chan 		| Never lose my youth, I hope it never ends. =
= bunny@gnu.ai.mit.edu	| Hope I never lose my wallet!               =
= on IRC: bunny 	|	- Bosstones			     =
=			| 					     =
--
	Andre Berthiaume 	 |  "Sometimes you're the windshield,
				 |   Sometimes you're the bug"
    berthiau@iro.umontreal.ca    |			
				 |	       Dire Straits, The Bug
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: api053@cch.coventry.ac.uk (Garion)
Subject: Re: Licking soap
Organization: Coventry University
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 20:06:21 GMT

In article <1992Dec11.160943.14598@rtsg.mot.com> ederpc@rtsg.mot.com (Pamela C. Eder) writes:
>Tyson likes licking your hair.  Not just plain hair, but hair coated with
>hairspray.  He thrives on the stuff.  Two of my mom's cats also lick
>hairspray.  Talk about strange.  :-)
>
>How many of your felines, like licking or chewing on hair covered with
>hairspray??
>

No, but Scally *is* rather fond of licking just-washed hair.  Though she has
since been discouraged, and she hasn't done it for a LONG time.

-+* Steve *+-

-- 
________________ Steven J D Graver - api053@uk.ac.coventry.cck _________________
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God!
					       Psalm 42 vv1-2
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: rusty@nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov (Kenneth Hall)
Subject: Re: Question of Age...
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 12:22:00 GMT

In article <1gmpa9INNhmo@nigel.msen.com>, dan@msen.com (Dan Sugalski) writes...
>Kenneth Hall (rusty@nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov) wrote:
>: Greetings fellow netters...
> 
>: Rusty
> 
>Have you had her tested for feline leukemia?  We rescued a kitten who was
>positive.  She had one false pregnancy and never came into heat again.
> 
>Also, some queens are very quiet when thay are in season.  I've never had
>a yowler.  A friend has Birmans who are quiet, too.
> 
>Karen
> 
Just a quick follow up.  Doc is in good health and happily driving us 
crazy.  The route of entry was in my arms.  The little darling had 
been living outside of the building for a month just after we had 
moved in.  My roommate had taken several photos of the condo just 
after the contracts were ratified.  Turns out that the cat was owned 
by the ditz who sold us the condo, which explained by Doc ran around 
in total confusion when I sat her down on the floor.  I expected her 
to be slow in exploring but she was running like a maniac.  I ended up 
having to hold her in my lap for about a half hour for her to calm 
down.  All is well with the fluffy fungus, I just have not date line 
on her. 

Rusty
From: smt2626@hertz.njit.edu (sylvia m tou mfen stnt)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Can cats sense a pregnancy in women?
Date: 11 Dec 92 17:35:09 GMT
Organization: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, N.J.

In article <1992Dec5.202652.24286@ncsu.edu> odkahn@eos.ncsu.edu (OPHER DANIEL KAHN) writes:
>Has anyone experienced behaviour changes in cats when a woman in the house
>became pregnant? Can they tell, and if so how?
>-- 
> Opher D. Kahn 

I am 6 months pregnant and as far as I can tell, my cat does not behave
any differently than before.  I think if any cat did behave differently,
it's probably due to changes in the behavior of the owners (paying more
attention to plans for the future, baby room, etc.).  This is just my own
experience.

		-- sylvia

  
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats