HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: hannah@pomponio.ai.sri.com (Marsha Jo Hannah)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Some funny stories
Date: 6 Oct 92 20:30:26 GMT
Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park, CA
In-reply-to: alclark@RWASIC27.AUD.ALCATEL.COM's message of 2 Oct 92 20:19:49 GMT

In article <9210022019.AA12452@rwasic27.aud.alcatel.com> alclark@RWASIC27.AUD.ALCATEL.COM (Amy L Clark) writes:

   ...  Baggy and I
   would play a game where I would get a twistie (the bands
   I used to tie up my hair) and throw the twistie into
   the bean bag from across the room.  Baggy would 
   ... fetch the twistie back to mommie so that
   we could play the game again.  Well, one afternoon, I 
   ... discovered the twistie floating in a puddle of
   cat pee.

   Amy

We also had a problem with one of the cats peeing in a beanbag chair.
Fortunately, its cover was made of vinyl, so we were able to clean it
off easily.  However, we found that we had to keep the beanbag covered
with one of the cats' favorite blankets, or they would use it for a
"litter box".  I always theorized that, when they jumped up on it, the
styrofoam "beans" made a sound like that made by their clay cat litter
in the litter box, which triggered "litterbox behavior".  Covering the
beanbag with a cat-scented blanket seemed to change its definition to
"cat sleeping place".

Marsha Jo Hannah
From: aaronm@cybernet.cse.fau.edu (aaron meyerowitz)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: opening doors
Date: 2 Oct 92 21:10:04 GMT
Organization: Cybernet BBS, Boca Raton, Florida

How common is it for a cat to open a door by itself? A few
years ago I had a cat which after living with me for
a few years learned how to open the door. I never saw her
do it from the outside as much as i tried! She only
did it when no=one was outside. I would hear a WHAP and the door would 
open. Evidently she would leap in the are and land hanging by
her paws from the "European-style" door handle:

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
X            X
X            X
X            X
X            X
X      hhhhh X
X          o X
X            X
x            x
X            X 
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Now it is years later and my current cat (well ONE of my current cats)
seems to be learning this skill. My current door (w o o m c d) has the
kind of latch you push down with your thumb. I hear rattling like someone
is shaking it and there he is outside the door. He also grabs the inside 
round knob at times. SO
Will he learn to open the door (a problem in FL where it is hot)?
I always thought he was sweet but dull witted, could he be an 
absent-minded genious??? 
Have you experienced this in your cats?
This skill seems to be learned at age 2+, is it like a cat Ph.D???

I anxiously awai enlightenment in this matter!
Aaron Meyerowitz
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: snoopy@spacemanspiff.den.mmc.com (Cindy Camp)
Subject: Flourescent Urine
Originator: snoopy@spacemanspiff.den.mmc.com
Organization: Denver, Colorado
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 15:26:22 GMT


I remember reading on the net a few monthes ago about
a good way to find urine spots on the carpet, something
about them becoming flourescent after being sprayed
with something.  Of course, I  purged my account and
that article must have been purged as well.  Oops.

Any info that you can provide for this would be helpful
and one of my lovely darlings has taken to peeing on
the carpet in my bathroom!  GRRR!!

Thanks,

Cindy
-- 
 Cindy Camp - Usual disclaimers apply   |  Just waiting for a good quote
 Martin Marietta  (303)977-9804 	|  or lyric right now.
 snoopy@spacemanspiff.den.mmc.com  or	|  
 cnewell@azum.den.mmc.com		|
From: hannah@pomponio.ai.sri.com (Marsha Jo Hannah)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Cat freaks at vet's!
Date: 6 Oct 92 20:54:01 GMT
Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park, CA
In-reply-to: granzeau_c@cho006.cho.ge.com's message of 1 Oct 92 21:04:27 GMT

In article <1992Oct1.170427.443@cho006.cho.ge.com> granzeau_c@cho006.cho.ge.com writes:

   Thanks to everyone who wrote expressing concern, and giving advice.
   It's nice to know that Willy isn't alone in his fear of vets. ...
   I probably should have mentioned in the original post that the car is
   not the problem.  He goes on car rides at least once a week, and
   while he doesn't love it, he has gotten accustomed to it.
   ...
   I will try to keep him shielded from dogs in the waiting room, but
   I'm not convinced it will help.  He used to be terrified of dogs, and
   I'm sure that caused part of the problem initially, but now that he
   has his own dog, he doesn't get so scared.

   Caroline                               granzeau_c@cho000.dnet.ge.com

There is an effect seen with horses, which may apply to cats.  The
animal is seemingly unconcerned by Stimuli A, B, or C.  However, when
confronted by any combination thereof, the critter "loses it".  It is
usually explained as if the nervous tension from each of these is
additive, i.e. while the individual tensions are within the range that
the animal can handle, the sum of the tensions is "over threshold".

It could be that riding in a car, then seeing a strange dog (who's
probably a little uptight, too, being at the vet's), then being
handled by "the evil vet" is just too much all at once.  Most of the
suggestions that you got approach the problem by reducing one or more
of the tensions, either by using more Ace, or removing the possibility
of dogs, or getting your cat more used to the car, or changing vets.

Good luck at the next appointment!

Marsha Jo Hannah
From: jdiggs@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Joan-Marie Diggs)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Kitty "Food"???
Date: 5 Oct 92 06:39:23 GMT
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX


My cat, Aristophanes (Ari), has unusual taste when it comes to food.  He hates fish, meat, cat treats, and any commercial cat food that is not bone dry.

What does Ari like?

An occasional Cheese puff or tortilla chip, Cherry-flavored cough drops, and --
much to my suprise and horror -- acryllic paints and freshly sprayed roach
spray.

Is Ari psychotic, or is this sort of thing somewhat common?

Desperateely curious

Joan
(jdiggs@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu)

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: drogers@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Daty Rogers)
Subject: Re: Why do cats......
Keywords: cats, 
Organization: TI Semiconductor Process and Design Center
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 15:55:33 GMT

  Here's another cat not recognizing its "buddy". I have 2 cats; Inky,
a black persian(sophisticated), and Tigre, a striped mutt cat(the most 
aggressive). In the house they tolerate each other, even play togather.
Outside, Tigre has hissy-fits whenever she see Inky out there. Go figure.

                                                     Daty
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: linda@frcs.Alt.ZA (Linda Jacobson)
Subject: Re: Anesthesia Advice Needed
Organization: Onderstepoort School of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 92 19:32:29 GMT

Thus spake rod@tassajara.Eng.Sun.COM (Rod Miller):

> Do any of
> you have any hard data about the trade offs between gas
> and injections, or alternative cat-friendly ways to get
> major crud off the teeth?

We use a combination short-acting injectable to get the cat under,
followed by gas - propofol is the injectable we currently prefer.
Works pretty well in high-risk patients.

Linda
From: dikig@ddsw1.mcs.com (Diki Gust)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: PUZZLING BEHAVIOR
Summary: Cats doing strange things
Keywords: No noise or claws
Date: 30 Sep 92 18:52:56 GMT
Article-I.D.: ddsw1.BvEn48.A3t
Organization: ddsw1.MCS.COM Contributor, Chicago, IL
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3

I find myself puzzled about the behavior of three of the 
cats in the house and wonder if anyone has any explanations.

The cast:

Athena    8 mo female  Permanent resident
Casey     1 1/2 yo female (being baby sat)
Hillary   Casey's sister, (also being sat)
Manny     15 yo male  Permanent resident

Sometime back, I "made" Athena a box, about a foot by a foot 
by a foot and a half, with holes she could get through, one 
topside, at one end and in one long side.  She thought it 
was great fun coming in one hole, going out another. It also 
provided a great hiding place so she could "ambush" Manny 
who thinks all this young stuff is a bunch of nonsense in 
which he's too sophisticated to participate.

The sisters are new arrivals, being here for about 6 weeks 
already, due to stay till Jan.

Currently, any one of the females can be inside or outside 
the box, Athena being one of the participants, and they swat 
each other, first at this hole, then another.  There is no 
growling, no hissing, ears in normal position, evidently no 
claws out.

What are they doing?  

When the sisters first arrived, Athena was terrified of them 
but hissed and moaned and growled every chance she had.  
Within a short time, she decided they were okay and tried to 
make friends but the sisters decided turnabout was fair play 
and started to hiss at her whenever she approached.  The 
hissing has subsided, they sniff each other and butt noses 
now, tho they don't sleep together or groom each other... 
come to think of it, the sister's don't either.  My husband 
suggests they are practicing their reflexes, but I don't 
often if ever see the sisters doing this together.  Yet I 
can't shake the feeling that if there were any real intent 
to do damage, there would be noise with it.

One thing I've noticed Athena doing, if she is outside, 
after the swatting, playing patty cake, whatever, she will 
flop on her back in plain view of whoever is inside.  I 
wonder if she's thinking, "Now that I have your attention, 
come out and play".

Diki Gust
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: lhuffman@stsci.edu
Subject: Re: Nasty Tapeworms
Organization: Space Telescope Science Institute
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 19:56:08 GMT

>>Droncit tablets, obtained at the vet and given in two doses two weeks apart 
>>whenever tapes make their appearance, cost about $1.50 apiece and are the 
>>remedy of choice for tapes.
> 
> I've been told that these pills cost about $12-$13 each from the vet.  Is 
> this just another S. California rip off?  Could someone else please comment 
> on cost in their area?
> 
> Lyn

Absolutely! But check it out at a few vets, we have our share of 
'expensive vets' here in Baltimore also.   

(Such as the vet who charges $350 as an ordinary price to spay a dog!!!!!)

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: jrc@IEDV4.acd.com ( Janis Clark )
Subject: Why do cats......
Keywords:  cats, litter
Organization: Applied Computing Devices, Inc., Terre Haute IN
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1992 19:47:58 GMT

This is along the same line as the postings recently about why
cats like to sit on paper.  Why do cats have to use a litter box
the moment you are done cleaning it?  I have two 4 month old kittens
(whom I am convinced are monkeys in kitten's clothing) that watch
anxiously as I scoop the litter box, or replace the litter. As soon
as I finish, put the rim back on, and step back, they immediately
get into the box to inspect and use it! I have had several cats over
the years, and they have all done this.

Janis, Jem, and Carson
-- 
	"Two roads diverged in the wood,
         and I,
	 I took the one less travelled by,
         and that has made all the difference."     - Robert Frost
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: djm@cs.brown.edu (Dorinda Moulton)
Subject: Re: Why do cats......
Keywords: cats, litter
Organization: Brown University Department of Computer Science
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 16:04:31 GMT

Doesn't this make you nuts????  I have five cats.  One of them
does this all the time, two do it occasionally and two never do it.

The one who does this, Josie, is the same one who just can't understand
why she can't get at the fish in the tank.  She tries so hard and has
been doing this for two years yet she still doesn't understand...  You
can't get upset with her, though, because she's so cute and crazy!

Dorinda


In article <1992Oct5.194758.20444@acd4.acd.com> jrc@IEDV4.acd.com ( Janis Clark ) writes:
>This is along the same line as the postings recently about why
>cats like to sit on paper.  Why do cats have to use a litter box
>the moment you are done cleaning it?  I have two 4 month old kittens
>(whom I am convinced are monkeys in kitten's clothing) that watch
>anxiously as I scoop the litter box, or replace the litter. As soon
>as I finish, put the rim back on, and step back, they immediately
>get into the box to inspect and use it! I have had several cats over
>the years, and they have all done this.
>
>Janis, Jem, and Carson
>-- 
>	"Two roads diverged in the wood,
>         and I,
>	 I took the one less travelled by,
>         and that has made all the difference."     - Robert Frost
From: ktruett@gems.vcu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Cat freaks at vet's
Date: 29 Sep 92 13:05:01 -0400
Organization: Medical College of Virginia

This is not necessarily a solution, rather an similar story.

Our oldest, Karamazov (4 year old, 14 lb hellion), also freaks at 
the vets.  He has always been pretty hyper, but he became very 
nasty during the last visit (little wonder why--the vet was 
attempting to determine if Karamazov had stopped eating 5 days 
earlier because of sometype of intestinal blockage).  We had 
left him for the day, so were not there.    

When we arrived at 5:00 to claim our "little darling", the vet comes 
out wearing elbow-length gardening gloves and holding the cat out at 
arms length and says to us "I don't like this cat."  The vet gave him 
a dose of tranquilizer (I don't know what type), which, the vet said 
"made him even more hyper". It was all very funny, because he gave 
Karamazov to us and Karamazov immediately curled up in our arms.

Because this vet is a "cat person", and does many things very well (for 
example, he won't set up cat and dog appointents within the same hour, so 
that the cats don't go crazy  (he once told a lady with a german shepard 
who was late for her apointment, that she would have to wait outside
because he now had cats in the office--made her mad, but immpressed me!)),
I am sure that Karamazov was/is treated well there.  He also has only one 
assistant, and generally takes care of everything from answering the phones to 
surgery by himself.  He is very much interested in the animals, not in making 
a buck. (our day long ordeal concerning Karamazovs not eating, cost us the 
cost of the tranquilizer plus a $20 vet fee).  The visit also got Karamazov 
eating again, even though the vet found nothing wrong.

We have a body harness and leash for Karamazov (rather than a carrier).
Thus, there is something besides cat to hold on to, and Karamazov can move 
around a little without us loosing any control.  It seems to work well, 
because we can let him walk (slink) around the table when the vet is not
examining him, rather than always keeping him pinned to the table.
We also keep his claws trimmed, so that he doesn't have 10 razors to use 
against us.

	KIM	
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: levine@symcom.math.uiuc.edu (Lenore Levine)
Subject: Newspaper Account of Cruelty to Animals
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 16:46:17 GMT

Why do they publish these things?

I just read something in today's Chicago Tribune (Friday, October 2),
that I'll remember for a long time. 

I wish I could forget it. Please, please don't publish these
things!

Especially as in this case the story cannot be verified.

Lenore Levine
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: moss@cs.umass.edu (Eliot Moss)
Subject: Why do cats purr?
Reply-To: moss@cs.umass.edu
Organization: Dept of Comp and Info Sci, Univ of Mass (Amherst)
Distribution: rec
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 18:59:12 GMT

Following up the recent postings about cats purring when they're ill, I
thought I'd post a general statement/claim. So far as I know cats tend to purr
for one of two reasons:

1) They're comfortable/happy/content; or
2) they're saying "I'm harmless/won't hurt you/need help or comforting".

These are both rooted in kitten experience, the former being a reaction to
being cared for by their mother, and the latter perhaps requesting such care
and hoping to solicit a motherly response.

So, if a cat is just feeling good and treats you as a mother, it may be likely
to purr to indicate that. If it's feeling bad and wants to be mothered (e.g.,
when it's ill, or sometimes when it's nervous or scared), it may purr seeking
care and reassurance.

Of course, this should all be taken modulo the fact that cats are strange
enough that it is frequently hard to give any reason for why they do
something, all of which is made harder by the fact that most of them are at
least a little neurotic from living with humans!

Regards --							EM
--

J. Eliot B. Moss, Associate Professor	Visiting Associate Professor
Department of Computer Science		School of Computer Science
Lederle Graduate Research Center	Carnegie Mellon University
University of Massachusetts		5000 Forbes Avenue
Amherst, MA  01003			Pittsburgh, PA  15213-3891
(413) 545-4206, 545-1249 (fax)		(412) 268-6767, 681-5739 (fax)
Moss@cs.umass.edu			Moss@cs.cmu.edu
From: lianne@bcarh17e.BNR.CA (Lianne Raley)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Cat door for sliding door, not secured.
Date: 5 Oct 92 12:26:48 GMT
Reply-To: lianne@bcarh17e.BNR.CA (Lianne Raley)
Distribution: world
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd.

In article <1992Sep27.065630.20434@sq.sq.com>, dak@sq.sq.com (David A
Keldsen) writes:
|>My girlfriend lives in a large apartment building, with a balcony.
|>The cat's litterbox is on the balcony, so she leaves the sliding
|>door to the balcony open a bit for the cat.  However, this causes
|>a bit of a draft (rather an understatement in the middle of a Canadian
|>winter).
|>
|>Before I make a custom cat-door for her (that doesn't require glass
|>cutting...I was thinking of a strip of plexiglass with a hinged bottom)...
|>has anyone seen something suitable in the commercial arena?
|>
|>Regards,
|>Dak
|>-- 
|>David A. 'Dak' Keldsen of SoftQuad, Inc. email: dak@sq.com  phone:
416-239-4801
|>"It is well known that _things_ from undesirable universes are always
seeking 
|>entrance into this one, which is the psychic equivalent of handy for the 
|>buses and closer to the shops." -- Terry Pratchett, _The Light Fantastic_
                 
I've seen ads in Cat Fancy magazine for a cat door that fits into 
sliding doors. I think it's similar to what you're thinking of making.
From what I saw in the pictures, there's an entire section that goes 
into the door so that it's not very obvious. 

I'm afraid I didn't read the ads closely so can't give you the details.
I'm sure if you check any cat magazine you'll find something.

 - Lianne -
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: vicki@steam.atd.ucar.edu (Vicki Holzhauer)
Subject: Re: Kitten with foot fetish
Organization: Atmospheric Technology Division/NCAR Boulder, CO
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 19:23:31 GMT


>In article <1992Oct2.184714.633@netcom.com>, wd6cmu@netcom.com (Eric Williams) 
writes...
>>Murphy is a 7-week old orphan longhair found in the parking lot at
>>work a week ago.  He seems happy now, but has acquired an annoying
>>and potentially dangerous obsession for my feet. [....]
>>  Will he grow out of it?  Should I train him to avoid feet
>>and, if so, how?


Bless you for taking Murphy away from that parking lot!

Zarabeth can pass up a naked foot any time, but put a "bag" on it, and
it becomes a sock monster!  She especially likes big, thick, wool
socks.  She will walk rather innocently by my foot, stop, and put one
of her rear feet on top of my foot.  Then she'll fall on it with all
fours, pushing and kicking at the same time.  Since she only does this
with feet encased in heavy socks, I usually join in the play and give
her a wiggling target.  She's 4-1/2 and shows no signs of giving up
her foot fetish ... :-)

Murphy's behavior may abate some but probably won't ever go completely
away.  Just be careful not to step on him, and wear heavy socks!


--
Vicki Holzhauer, National Center for Atmospheric Research
Boulder, Colorado / / / /  vicki@ncar.ucar.edu
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Flea season part II
Date: 27 Sep 92 20:28:31 -0500
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

shroymp@wkuvx1.bitnet (Mike Shroyer ) writes:
> 	Someone posted a question earlier about flea season and when it
> ended. ...

Flea season doesn't end, it just slows down considerably in cold weather.
And it may not slow down at all in a house if you aren't working on flea
control measures.  I used to celebrate the first hard freeze (0oF) by
draining all the pipes, turning off the furnace, and leaving the windows
open all night.  Did a remarkably good job, but not 100%.

Kay Klier  Biology Dept  UNI 

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: alastair@Cadence.COM (Alastair Young)
Subject: Feline Immigration
Organization: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 15:15:11 GMT

It looks like I will be transferring to California before the year is out. We
really want to hang on to our little furry friend, but not if it might involve
six months in quarantine as it would if we were moving to the UK. What is 
involved in bringing a moggie to the US?

Al

-- 




Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: brunson@davinci.Data-IO.COM (Kaye Brunson)
Subject: Re: Stretchy collars (was Re: Advice, please!...)
Organization: Data I/O Corporation
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1992 16:18:52 GMT

I put my cat's ID tags on their flea collars.  I get the reflective
Sentry ones these days, that have a little elastic section.  In the
past I had a variety with a breakaway section.  Both seemed to work
fine.  My female never has a problem with hers.  (She's just so
ladylike and demure!)  My male will lose his if it's not tight
enough.  I put it on and tighten it so a few fingers can still slip
thru, and then check it by slipping it on and off him once.  In the
past I had his tags on a nylon collar, and the buckle would come
undone and he'd drop the collar outside.  (I would find it months
later...)  He's an active outdoor cat, so I think if we were to
have problems, I would know by now.
  

Kaye Brunson
Data I/O Corporation
voice: (206) 867-6230
email: brunson@data-io.com
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: dschlow@epas.utoronto.ca (Deborah Schlow)
Subject: Re: Purring as a sign of illness
Organization: University of Toronto - EPAS
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 04:01:05 GMT

It's because they love us.
From: lruben@persian.csd.sgi.com (Lara Ruben)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: re: Some funny stories
Date: 2 Oct 92 20:51:10 GMT
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc.

]I just remembered a couple of stories about Bageria (Baggy)
]my black domestic longhair and Donchu my siamese.
]rest of story deleted

Thanks for sharing the bean bag story - I was laughing so hard that my
co-workers asked what was going on!  Can't wait for the stories to come...


-- 

===================================================================
                          
Lara Ruben                      Silicon Graphics, Inc.
(415)390-5335                   CSD Finance
email:lruben@csd.sgi.com        Mailstop 12L-130                        
                        
===================================================================
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: andy@cmptrc.lonestar.org (Andy Hart)
Subject: Re: Help name my kittens
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 05:04:17 GMT
Organization: CompuTrac Inc., Richardson TX

(M'Linda Taylor) writes:
>
>An inspired choice.  Add my vote!  I like Castor and Pollux MUCH better than
>my suggestion (Vincent and Devon).
>

I like Castor and Pollux, too.

-- 
+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
|   Andrew Hart                   |  CompuTrac, Inc.                 |
|   (214) 235-7161 x 5320         |  222 Municipal Drive             |
|   andy@cmptrc.lonestar.org      |  Richardson, TX  75080           |
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