HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Catkin, RIP
Date: 28 Jul 92 11:26:52 -0500
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

I had to euthanize Catkin this morning, my wonderful old domestic longhair
who was a real wimp about everything but snakes.  He's the only cat I
know that managed to find a snake on the endangered species list (a
green snake) and bring it home in triumph!.  Since he never injured any
of the snakes,  it was always fairly simple to get him to release them.

Of the litter of kittens that was born in my closet 9 years ago, I still
have DumDum and Bear.  But Catkin will be sorely missed -- he had the
best and loudest purr, and a real knack for being silly.

'bye old friend.

Kay Klier

From: mhampsch@hpdmd48.boi.hp.com (Mark Hampsch)
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 07:18:01 GMT
Subject: Re: Indoor cat wants out
Organization: Hewlett Packard - Boise, ID
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats

My cat Sylvester I tryed to make an indoor cat when he was first born.  As he
grew up and saw other cats playing and having fun outside he decided he wanted
out too.  I did not want to let him out but one day he got out when I went to
check my mailbox.  I watched him very carfully and he stayed close to home for
the first fews times I let him out under adult supervision.  He never went more
than 20 yards from the front door.  I then started letting him out by himself
when he felt comfurtable with the idea and I gave him a time to be back at home
and he returned on time every time knocking on the door.  He has never gotten
sick from being outside and he looks both ways before crossing the street.  I 
now let him out and when he wants to come in he will let me know, he even stays
out all night with the girls (even though he is fixed).  He is now going on 2
years old and is a health cat.
	I hope this might help you decide on what to do.

	Mark Hampsch
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: dhooper@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Deborah A Hooper)
Subject: Re: I hope no one else has done this!
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 01:50:21 GMT

My calico, Mi-Ke, is rather small and fits very nicely in plastic grocery 
sacks. One night, as I was reading in bed, I heard this racket coming from the 
downstairs. Before I could get up to investigate, this small plastic bag came 
flying up the stairs, bounded over my prone body, scurried around the room, and
leapt down the stairs. The "bag" was followed by Merlin, the DSH, who had a 
crazed look in his eyes. Needless to say, plastic bags are now put away ASAP :)

Merlin is not much better sometimes... Another night I heard some racket 
downstairs. This time I made it down in time to see a cat with an empty 12-pack 
box for a head jumping up on the counter (He made it, no less!) then jumping 
down (Maybe he didn't like the view ;) ) Needless to say, empty 12-pack boxes 
are now crushed before silly felines can wear them around the townhouse and 
hurt themselves.

Deb
From: zlsiida@fs1.mcc.ac.uk (dave budd)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Tapeworms (yuck!)...
Date: 28 Jul 92 13:56:39 GMT
Organization: Manchester Computing Centre

In article <92004@bu.edu> reyes@buphyd.bu.edu (Jinara Reyes) writes:

>Greetings everyone!...I adopted a stray cat last December, and just 
>noticed that she has tapeworms. (Yuck!--talk about gross!)
>The vet gave me a small pill to give her, and I was just wondering if anyone else has had a problem with worms. Does this 
>small pill really work??? (It had better--it took me half an hour to get
>my cat to swallow it!)....My cat (BC) is an indoor cat, but she was
>about a year old when I found her. I am assuming that she had the worms from 
>then. Fortunately, she shows no ill effects from them.

>Just looking for advice!....

>thanks!

>Jinara
Yes it'll work.  The size of the pill is only relevant inasmuchas it must be 
small enough for you to hold and the cat to swallow.  The actual medicine 
would probably not even be visible without a microscope.
From: mmf@evolving.com (Mark Frazier)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Thyroidectomy
Date: 23 Jul 92 14:41:56 GMT
Organization: Evolving Systems, Inc.

scott@phlpa.pha.pa.us (Scott Scheingold) writes:
: Hi cat lovers,
: 
: 2)  The vet has made a few suggestions as to how to proceed. One is surgury to 
:     remove her thyroid. They want approx $450 to do this. To me this seems
:     very high. 

	Hey! They charged me $3000 to take mine out, and they only took half
	of it! :-)

: I would like some ideas on have to contian the cost and the easy way to
: give her the pills. She is not a happy camper with these pills. Any info
: or ideas would be wonderful.

	Don't blame her. I insisted they only take half, so I wouldn't have
	to take any stupid pills.

MMF
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: echyatt@eos.ncsu.edu (EDWARD CRAIG HYATT)
Subject: Re: Garbage Kitty
Organization: North Carolina State University, Project Eos
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 19:47:26 GMT

In article <l6ra9pINNnkg@male.EBay.Sun.COM> lobby3@eb3lobby.EBay.Sun.COM writes:
>Does anyone know a way to prevent a destructive kitty from 
>getting into the garbages throughout the house? I've hidden the
>bathroom garbage under the sink but there are several garbages 
>in the house.  I've tried hissing, squirting him, clapping my hands...
>HELP!
>

I posted this a couple of days ago,
and have never tried it myself, but..

Try coating balloons with something
the cat likes (butter?) and put them
in the garbage.  When the cat bites
them, they will pop and scare him/her.

Good luck!
-Craig

-- 
--------------------
Craig Hyatt
NCSU@Raleigh, NC USA
echyatt@eos.ncsu.edu
--------------------
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: machanicm@gtephx.UUCP (Mindy Machanic)
Subject: Re: cat toys ideas
Summary: grapes
Organization: AG Communication Systems, Phoenix, Arizona
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 21:37:41 GMT

In article <1992Jul19.234719.575@mala.bc.ca>, martin@mala.bc.ca writes:
> > the neighbors can't see in the windows) for many minutes while she sits
> > and looks at me with that "You've got to be kidding me" look on her face.
> > I don't mind playing with her, but I would love it if she had something 
> > to do on her own while we're at work all day.
> 
Grapes. Big fat juicy grapes. Also the grape stems. Huggy Bear thinks they
are ideal toys. He carries the grape around, he rolls it around, he gnaws
on the stem and drags it around.

Of course, you have to go looking for them so you don't step on them...

-- 
Mindy
*****************************************************************************************
Mindy Machanic  (AG Communication Systems/Quality Engineering, Phoenix, AZ)               
(This space available for interesting messages and the usual disclaimers...)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: C0043@vmcms.csuohio.edu
Subject: Re: Why do I do this to myself???
Organization: CSU
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 05:15:52 GMT

Kay -
     Face it, you're just plain old wonderful!  I've been reading your
posts for some time now (took a while to figure out how to post, what
can I say I'm basically a micro-jockey, didn't get out onto the net
til just recently) and you've always got something good to say.
Lots of furfaced warm fuzzies to you!!! :-) :-)
 
Beth Cunningham                Cleveland State University
                               Information Services & Technology
                               Cleveland, Ohio, USA
 
'n Sophie aka Mrs. Major Meatloaf
'n Baxter the Calico from Another Planet
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: venard@bms.com
Subject:  Re: What does he DO in there???
Reply-To: venard@bms.com
Organization: Bristol-Myers Squibb
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 23:32:01 GMT

My cat Brat Boy likes to catnap on the kitchen range top. Especially during
the cooler months, since the pilot-light (or whatever that little blue flame
underneath is called) makes it a warm surface for him to lay on.

-- Robert
From: mlinda@novell.com (M'Linda Taylor)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Garbage Kitty
Date: 23 Jul 92 20:56:31 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Novell Inc., Austin, Texas

In article <1992Jul23.194726.2203@ncsu.edu> echyatt@eos.ncsu.edu (EDWARD CRAIG HYATT) writes:
>In article <l6ra9pINNnkg@male.EBay.Sun.COM> lobby3@eb3lobby.EBay.Sun.COM writes:
>>Does anyone know a way to prevent a destructive kitty from 
>>getting into the garbages throughout the house? I've hidden the
>>bathroom garbage under the sink but there are several garbages 
>>in the house.  I've tried hissing, squirting him, clapping my hands...
>>HELP!
>>
>
>I posted this a couple of days ago,
>and have never tried it myself, but..
>
>Try coating balloons with something
>the cat likes (butter?) and put them
>in the garbage.  When the cat bites
>them, they will pop and scare him/her.
>
>Good luck!
>-Craig
>
PLEASE don't try this.  Balloons are VERY dangerous, if kitty swallows
any of the popped balloon it could be VERY bad news.  Serious blockage
or choking potential.

Now, to lighten this up some.....

Kiran (RIP) used to occasionaly dump the trash if he thought that there
might be some treat that had "accidently" been tossed out.  My EX-husband
finaly had enough of it one day.  He picked up a VERY startled cat and
stuffed him in the trash (double paper bag) and folded down the top and
stood there for a good 5 minutes before we heard "Yeow?".  After another
minute or two he let out a very rumpled cat who then gathered his remaining
shreds of dignity about him and slunk off to bathe.  Kiran *never* tipped
over the trash again.  Now I don't advise this course of action because
I can't decide if it was effective yet cruel or just plan effective.

It WAS funny though...... %>

M'Linda
Mom-cat to Rio-the-loud and Thomasina-the-cute.
(Who never get in the trash because Mom-cat has learned to keep it under
the sink.)
>-- 
>--------------------
>Craig Hyatt
>NCSU@Raleigh, NC USA
>echyatt@eos.ncsu.edu
>--------------------


************************************************
*           - Lonestar -                       *
*Internet: mlinda@novell.COM                   *
*UUCP: {ames,sun,apple,amdahl}!novell!mlinda   *
************************************************
From: tastewar@athena.mit.edu (Tom Stewart)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: teeth and teething
Date: 22 Jul 92 16:30:25 GMT
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In article <1992Jul22.135121.2796@athena.mit.edu> amd@ghost.mit.edu (Ann M. Davis) writes:
>
>At what age do kittens get their next set of teeth?  Tess is 14 weeks, and
>I think she must be teething, she's chewing *everything*. 
>
>	Ann
>
>ps.  GREAT newsgroup.
>

Sorry, this doesn't answer your question, but I'd like to relate it anyway.
I don't remember what age our 2 (Robin and Marion) teethed, and I never gave
it much thought.  One day, when sitting at the table, I casually moved my
foot and heard *SCRAAAPE*.  I looked down and saw a rock, which I thought
was a piece of litter, but then I never recalled litter that hard.  So, I
picked it up and looked at it for a good while before I realized it was 
somebody's tooth!  Then I got worried that someone must have gotten hurt, so
I was looking in their mouths for bloody gums, etc., then my wife told me
that they'd be OK and I felt better.  The end.
From: kaz@vineland.pubs.stratus.com (Karen Fegley)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: urine odor in concrete
Date: 31 Jul 92 15:03:25 GMT
Distribution: usa

In article <1992Jul30.214821.30163@europa.asd.contel.com>  
draper@gnd1.wtp.contel.com (PAM DRAPER) writes:
>
> The place I rent previous had a rottweiller that peed everywhere.  I made
> them replace most of the carpet.  One spot the floorboard needed removing
> but they wouldn't do it; consequently, when it's warm and humid the odor
> is noticeable there.  But, the basement is unfinished and the odor
> in the concrete just never seems to go away.  Actually it's been at least
> a year and half since this dog lived there.  Any suggestions how to
> get the odor out of the concrete?

I would guess that the concrete in your basement was not sealed after
installation.  Unsealed concrete is porous and it probably soaked up
LOTS of urine.  You need to neutralize the urine that's soaked into the
concrete and then seal the concrete properly.

Probably the best way to neutralize the urine is to hire a specialty
cleaning service.  There are a number of them available.  We dealt with
the Boston area branch of a national chain called Servicemaster after a
serious fire in our house.  Whoever you decide to call should be willing
to provide you with references from previous clients.

For short-term help, you might want to try a product called "Gold Label
Mist".  This stuff is an industrial-strength product intended for
institutional use on all sorts of smells.  (The Red Cross gave us a can
after the fire.)  It works well on a temporary basis but will NOT solve
the problem permanently.

Also, you might want to try improving the ventilation in your basement
to help carry the existing smell away.  (If your basement is like most,
ours included, it is probably not well ventilated.)  Is there any way
you can install window fans in windows in opposite corners of the
basement, one fan pointing in and one pointing out, to get some
cross-ventilation going?

You really ought to be able to get your landlord to pay for all this.
(After all, it is THE LANDLORD'S property and they were THE LANDLORD'S
tenants.)  However, I realize that getting the landlord to pay for the
cleanup without a major fight may be easier said than done.

Anyway, good luck!

Karen
From: jim@sun0.elon.edu (Jim Murphy CS Faculty)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Wierd Cat?
Date: 26 Jul 92 17:33:28 GMT
Organization: Elon College, Elon College North Carolina

Our adopted cat has a real love of getting under a piece of newspaper.
We can cover him with a single sheet of newspaper and he can lie there
and behave himself for quite a long time. He sometimes plays "chase"
and runs back under his sheet of paper. Is this normal? He now expects
his newspaper each night!


-- 
Jim Murphy			Campus Box 2235	
Voice : 919-584-2290	 	Department of Computing Sciences	
e-mail: jim@sun0.elon.edu	Elon College
e-mail: murphy@vax1.elon.edu	Elon College, NC 27244
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: ah881@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Joyce Brabner)
Subject: Re: Clumping Litter all over floor:  HELP
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, (USA)
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 92 15:20:51 GMT


YES!  I've been warned about pine cleaners and cats, too!  I've
also given up on the new litter.  It gets kicked everywhere, the
stuff STILL smells, and it made our cats very anxious.  They
couldn't figure out who was leaving those big, uncovered clumps,
and would kick and kick and kick to try and cover it all up.

Back to basics.  And Murphy's Oil Soap.
-- 




From: wendy@hpfcmgw.FC.HP.COM (Wendy Milner)
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 18:53:09 GMT
Subject: Re: Creating a cat loving dog?
Organization: HP Fort Collins, CO
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats


I had a success with my dog and new geese.

Sampson loves to chase things.  He chases bird that fly too
low near him.  When I got the geese, I tried the normal way
of training, ie. whenever he went after the geese I would 
punish him.  It didn't work.

Here's what did work.  I put Sampson on the leash.  I took
him for a walk.  As soon as he looked at the geese, I
pulled his head into me, told him to look at me, and praised
the heck out of him.  After a few minutes of this, he would
walk just looking at me.  He would not walk towards the geese.
I did this a couple of days.  Then when I went to do one 
more training session, he was sitting and suddenly pushed
into me.  He had seen the geese through the door and wanted 
me to praise him.

He did not go after the geese after that.  He will sometimes
race through them, but he doesn't chase after them.  He also
barks when they come into his kennel and swim in his dish.
He's real curious about the tiny gosling we have right now,
but the geese go after him when he gets too close.

Wendy
From: lbrown@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Latonya Brown)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: SCOOPABLE KITTY LITTER ?
Date: 23 Jul 92 19:04:24 GMT
Expires: 31 Aug 92 04:00:00 GMT
Reply-To: lbrown@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Latonya Brown)
Organization: Carderock Division, NSWC, Bethesda, MD

I am new to this group.  I just got my first cat.  I have a question
about this new Kitty litter line of scoopable litter.  I use Scoop Fresh
at first no problem now I use the Scooples (YUK) xxxxxxx  Has any one
found it not the litter it says, I can smell it when I open my apartment
door.  I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.


But could I be doing somethng wrong?

NEW KITTY PARENT
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: lpj@col.hp.com (Laura Johnson)
Subject: Re: Should I give one away?
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 15:46:46 GMT
Organization: HP Colorado Springs Division

shroymp@wkuvx1.bitnet (Mike Shroyer ) writes:
> I have a cat and a kitten and live ina decent size house with two
> roomates.  Unfortunatly I am moving into a one bedroom apartment this
> month.  I don't know if it will be enough room for the both of them (
> sounds like a western).  It is a second floor apartment so
> Indoor/Outdoor is out.  Should I give one away ( good home of course)
> or try it and see how they react ... Plus two cats in a small
> apartment couse cause a smell very quickly.
> 
> Mike
> 

I'd say NO, definitely don't! The cats will have less to do in a smaller
place, and will need each other for amusement. Anyway, unless they are
blood enemies, "territory" shouldn't be a problem. I've had two cats 
*and* a big dog in a 2-bedroom apartment, and the only problem was the
density of the shed fur (on the other hand, it's easier to vacuum a 
small place).  The smell is a potential problem, but I would suggest
doubling your cleaning effort (specifically, change the litter twice as
often) rather than halving your cat population. After all, it just
doesn't take that long to change cat litter! 

I mentioned that your cats will need each other's company: they will
also provide *you* with entertainment. You won't be able
to watch your two *roommates* fight anymore, but at least you can watch
your *cats*.  :-)  (One cat isn't nearly as entertaining IMHO.)
-- 
Laura Johnson
lpj@hpctdls.col.hp.com
Opinions expressed are my own, but may be licensed for a nominal fee.
From: stine@Stars.Reston.Unisys.COM (John P. Stine x7381)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Sudd. Lazy Cat---HES OK (WE THINK)
Date: 30 Jul 92 17:42:06 GMT
Reply-To: stine@Stars.Reston.Unisys.COM (John P. Stine)
Followup-To: rec.pets.cats
Organization: Paramax Systems Corporation, Reston, VA

In article <1992Jul25.210333.26583@athena.mit.edu> cid@athena.mit.edu (Derek H Cedillo) writes:
>
>	I'd like to thank you all for your responses.  We took him to the
>vet.  $124.  $30 of which went to a call to the toxicology lab.
>[...]
>She gave him an antibody and liquids since he wasnt eating or drinking.
>[...]
>BUT, as soon as we got home and opened a can of cat food, he chomped it all
>down.  The first sign of recovery.
>
>Even though the vet was a rip off and it seems we didnt need it 
>I feel glad that we took him and know forsure what to watch for and
>that he isnt seriously sick.

Derek,
   I'm glad that your cat's going to be okay.  I know that it seems
that $124 is a lot for what seems to be nothing, but don't discount
the efficacy of administering IV fluids to animals.  It seems that
many common maladies of kitties cause them to stop their intake of
fluids when they need it the most (to flush their little kitty
systems).  Whenever you notice a change in behaviour in your cat,
watch them carefully for a while (no more than 24 hours).  If the
condition doesn't improve, a visit to the vet (albeit expensive)
is often the best bet.  Many vets do phone diagnoses, as well --
that's saved me several trips to the vet (as well as gotton me
to the vet sooner when something really was wrong...)

All the best!  - John Stine
From: anne@cs.UAlberta.CA (Anne J.R. Nield)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: what do you think?
Date: 28 Jul 92 16:21:34 GMT
Distribution: rec.pets.cats
Organization: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

sbiles@nmsu.edu (Susannah E Biles) writes:



>You know that cute little thing that kitty's do with their paws -n-
>claws when they are content? Well, I was just curoius as to what 
>everyone else called it. I have refered to it (since a little girl)
>as "makin' muffin's", and I have heard it called, "kneading bread"
>and "that-happy-cat-thing". Any others?


My mother (the pianist) called it "playing the piano".

Anne
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: katbea@auto-trol.com (Kathy Beatty)
Subject: Re: Handling Jealous Cats
Organization: Auto-trol Technology Corporation -- Denver, Colorado
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL3
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 19:26:28 GMT

kk00+@andrew.cmu.edu (Kathleen P. Kowalski) writes:
: Ok, here's the scoop.  I really need some advice on how to handle my
: kitties.  I've had Callie since February.  I adopted her from the Humane
: Society.  She's 2 years old, declawed (got her that way), spayed and has
: a very nice disposition.  She's affectionate, playful and is not
: high-strung at all.  She only gets freaked out by riding in cars and
: trips to the vet.  She's very attached to me.  She sleeps at the foot of
: my bed, follows me around the house, and even waits for me outside the
: shower.  
: 
: Now, since both my husband and I work, we thought it would be nice if
: she had a companion.  Last week, we went to the shelter "Just to look." 
: That's where I fell for Taz.  Little Tazzy was the last of his litter to
: be adopted.  He's 16 weeks old, has his claws and isn't yet neutered
: (that's in a couple months.)  This little one purrs the minute you pick
: him up and doesn't stop.  He's extremely active, runs around constantly
: and the shelter tells me when they took blood from him to test it, he
: purred the whole time!  
: 
: Ok, now I know you're not supposed to introduce them face to face, but
: my Hubby didn't listen.  Naturally, Callie hissed and swatted and spit
: at him.  Taz ran around the house like crazy, but it didn't seem to
: bother him.  He kept trying to get Callie to play with him!  After we
: put Taz in a room (with food, water, bed toys and litter box), Callie
: was her old self with us.  Same thing this morning.
: 
: Well, anybody out there have advice for me on cat psychology?  How can I
: help them adjust?  Is it ok for Callie to see us petting/holding Taz???
: 
: Help!
: 
My advice is just to let them figure it out. Don't give Taz any extra 
attention, but don't ignore him, either. As long as they are not hurting
each other, there is no problem. The longer you keep them separated, the
longer the hissing and swatting and spitting will go on. Just be as kind
and loving to each of them as you normally would be. If you act tense
when Taz enters the room, Callie will sense it and perhaps think it is
her "job" to be aggressive toward him. Believe me, they will work out
their relationship eventually (probably sooner rather than later).


Kathy
From: gibson@dl5000.bc.edu (Rene Gibson)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: More Cat Toys
Date: 27 Jul 92 12:42:58 GMT
Organization: Institute for Space Research, Boston College

In article <1992Jul24.215544.6029@leland.Stanford.EDU> debi@scrp.Stanford.EDU (Debi Hooke) writes:

>   Just a new twist to the cat toy discussion, our slightly brain-dead
>   part maine coon (not to cast aspersion on Maine Coons, ours is just
>   "special" ;-) is Boo.  She has decided that the BEST thing in the
>   world is Dad's shoes.  She will stick her entire face in the shoe
>   and will try to get both front paws and legs in as well.  It is very
>   funny to watch, a cat with a shoe head or a shoe with a cat body!

If the cat has a small toy she likes that will fit in a shoe, try giving
her an old shoe and putting the toy in it.  One of my cats likes foil balls
in one of my husband's old shoes.  She sticks her paws and head into the
shoe, eventually digs out the toy, throws it around a bit, then deposits it
back in the shoe so she can start over again.

Rene
--