HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: dan@msen.com (Dan Sugalski)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: abdominal tumors in cats
Date: 15 Dec 92 10:18:27 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Msen, Inc. -- Ann Arbor, Michigan
NNTP-Posting-Host: garnet.msen.com
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]

demetri@cgrg.ohio-state.edu wrote:

: You've most likely heard me mention that our cat Socrates, has a tumor.  It
: is in his lower abdomen & we can feel it slide back & forth between our
: fingers if we squeeze gently from both sides.  On the X-ray it looked like
: a flat-ish, irregular disk.  In the last week or so it seems to have
: gotten slightly thicker. He is still barfing (2 or 3 times a day) so we
: aren't sure if he is actually getting any of the food he's eating through
: his system. The x-ray did not show that the tumor was in an
: intestine, so we don't know if there is a blockage.  He meows pitiously
: when he is about to throw up but is otherwise the same cat he was before
: the tumor...  Does the meowing mean that he is in pain when he throws up? 
: Does this mean that he is likely in pain the rest of the time too?  The vet
: said that this type of tumor is rarely benign.  Surgery could cost as much
: as $400, with no guarantees.  If they open him up and find the situation
: hopeless, they would (at our word) give him a lethal overdose of the
: anesthetic (this would only cost $100).  Money isn't the main issue, but I
: can't see paying $400 for a "maybe" for an 8 year old cat.  ...also, if
: they are going to find the situation hopeless, I would rather not put
: Sock-boy thru the trauma of the surgery.  I would rather let him live out
: his last days at home. (I could even tolerate the constant barfing if I
: knew he wasn't in pain.)  I guess I would like to know is anyone has had to
: deal with a similar situation.  We are going to be away for the holidays.
: Normally, leaving the cats for a few days wouldn't be a problem, but we are
: worried about the kitty. 
:     
: Demetri

A friend of mine just went through this, but in her case, the cancer had
metastatized (sp?).  All of my cats make a horrendous noise if they are
about to vomit, and they are all healthy.  I think it's just because
vomiting is uncomfortable.  Eight years old is not by any means an old cat.
Even if the tumor is malignant, things might work out if the cancer is
localized.  

It's a tough call.  Best wishes

Karen
From: tim.burton@cutting.hou.tx.us (Tim Burton) 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re:    declawing?
Date: 14 Dec 92 18:08:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: The Cutting Edge - Houston, TX - 713-466-1525
Reply-To: tim.burton@cutting.hou.tx.us (Tim Burton) 

JJ.The mother of a friend of mine just had her cat declawed and he is not
  .recovering well.  I haven't seen him (since he's almost 2000 miles away)
  .but my friend says he walks as if his paws are still hurting him even
  .though he is long past the point at which they should be healed.  They
  .were going to take him to the vet and if he couldn't do anything they
  .were going take him to their old vet (they had moved & changed to a closer
  .vet).  I really can't remember anything else but several people told my
  .friend horror stories about declawing cats.  Has anyone else heard
  .anything like this?
 
    My cat has been declawed.  It really did not bother him, as far as 
pain.  It took some getting use to the shaved paws though.  (Since 
they had to shave the paws to do the declawing)  He was jumping up and 
down off of counters the next day.  Although the vet told us to keep 
him from doing this....but we all know how persistant cats can be.  

    As for my reasoning for the declawing:

 
   1 - He loved to climb curtains all the way to the top.  Not good, 
       very costly curtains. 
 
   2 - He loved our very expensive furnature.  The leather ones of      
       course!  Even with a sratching post. :(  


     It all comes down to if your house/furnature is cat proof.  He 
does not even miss his claws anymore.


    - Tim
      Internet: Tim.Burton@Cutting.hou.tx.us 
---
 . 1st 1.01 #1199s . Let's get the SHO on the road!
                                                                         
----
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Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: srscnslt@telesciences.com (SRS Consultant)
Subject: Re: Cats riding on shoulders
Organization: TeleSciences CO Systems, Inc.
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1992 16:20:43 GMT

In article <1992Dec8.075351.28157@henson.cc.wwu.edu> n9040513@henson.cc.wwu.edu (Andrea Aldridge) writes:
>In article <1992Dec7.221848.16704@netcom.com> wd6cmu@netcom.com (Eric Williams) writes:
>>My new Maine Coon kitten (still no name yet) has a penchant for climbing
>>up on my shoulders whenever I'm in an opportune position.  Does anybody
>>else's cat do this?  What am I supposed to do with him when he gets up
>>there?  It seems like too unstable a perch for him if I walk around,
>>should I discourage this behavior?
>
>Lucky you.  I used to have a cat that did that, and I have tried to train all 
>her successors to do it, with no success until the latest.  Unless your cat 
>weighs so much that trying to maintain its balance might cause YOU pain (i.e.,
>claw holes), enjoy it. The cat gets a view, you get the company, and it's
>kinda fun sharing the space with him/her.

	One of my five, Emrys, loves to jump up onto my shoulders, mostly when
	I'm drying myself off after a shower.  He'll ride around for a few
	minutes, then hop down.  The amusing thing is, he'll do this to just
	about anyone.  

	Shortly after we moved in together, he did this to my girlfriend.  I
	am minding my own business in my office when I suddenly hear this
	shriek.  I go rushing into the kitchen to find Stacy in hysterics, and
	Emrys furiously licking his shoulder and occasionally shooting deadly
	"what the hell was THAT?" looks at her.  She was a bit surprised, to
	say the least.

	He also did this to a painter we had working in there one day...
	Fortunately, the painter is owned by a cat or two, so he wasn't
	traumatized too badly.

	Emrys's brother Taliesin used to do this, too, when he was younger.
	Now, however, at 18 lbs., he exercises a bit more discretion about
	shoulder rides.

	None of the other three (Roxy, Chloe, and Picasso) seem interested in
	anything besides laps.

-- 
Mitch Gorman		srscnslt@telesciences.com		slave@work
			emrys@cellar.org			god@home

"Stand, on hills of long forgotten yesterdays..."
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: demetri@cgrg.ohio-state.edu 
Subject: abdominal tumors in cats
Organization: OSU Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 03:04:23 GMT


You've most likely heard me mention that our cat Socrates, has a tumor.  It
is in his lower abdomen & we can feel it slide back & forth between our
fingers if we squeeze gently from both sides.  On the X-ray it looked like
a flat-ish, irregular disk.  In the last week or so it seems to have
gotten slightly thicker. He is still barfing (2 or 3 times a day) so we
aren't sure if he is actually getting any of the food he's eating through
his system. The x-ray did not show that the tumor was in an
intestine, so we don't know if there is a blockage.  He meows pitiously
when he is about to throw up but is otherwise the same cat he was before
the tumor...  Does the meowing mean that he is in pain when he throws up? 
Does this mean that he is likely in pain the rest of the time too?  The vet
said that this type of tumor is rarely benign.  Surgery could cost as much
as $400, with no guarantees.  If they open him up and find the situation
hopeless, they would (at our word) give him a lethal overdose of the
anesthetic (this would only cost $100).  Money isn't the main issue, but I
can't see paying $400 for a "maybe" for an 8 year old cat.  ...also, if
they are going to find the situation hopeless, I would rather not put
Sock-boy thru the trauma of the surgery.  I would rather let him live out
his last days at home. (I could even tolerate the constant barfing if I
knew he wasn't in pain.)  I guess I would like to know is anyone has had to
deal with a similar situation.  We are going to be away for the holidays.
Normally, leaving the cats for a few days wouldn't be a problem, but we are
worried about the kitty. 
    
Demetri
From: dan@msen.com (Dan Sugalski)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Home Alone: for how long?
Date: 19 Dec 92 04:43:56 GMT
Organization: Msen, Inc. -- Ann Arbor, Michigan
NNTP-Posting-Host: garnet.msen.com
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]

Marios Leventopoulos (mml@eng.umd.edu) wrote:

: Xmas is comming, and we are planning a trip to my family, a six hour drive.

: We are trying to decide what to do with our kitties. They are now 5
: months old, and we are not sure if we should take them with us, or leave them home. 
: We wont be back for 5 days at least, and it is not easy (this time of year) to find someone
: that will agree to take care of them.

We regularly travle with our cats and dogs.  These trips include regular
trips to CT (about 15 hours) and occaisional trips to OR (3-5 days). 
We're going to VA for new years, taking Spike and the 2 dogs.  The other 4
cats will stay at home with a friend to drop in and check up on them.  

Travelling with cats isn't bad, just allow them time to get used to the
car and if you use it, the carrier.  

Karen
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: bron@iastate.edu (bronwyn)
Subject: Re: Confused
Originator: bron@aviator.cc.iastate.edu
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 10:46:56 GMT

In article <1gittcINNm2b@male.EBay.Sun.COM> valjorge@leapyear.EBay.Sun.COM (Valerie Jorge) writes:
>ANYWAY, she has taken to pooping on the floor instead of her
>catbox.  We are using the same box, same litter as usual but
>she is pooping about 1 foot from the catbox.  Any suggestions?
>She is a 9 year British Short Hair.  I have a 6 1/2 month old
>baby, but the jealousy thing hasn't been a factor for months
>now.  Actually, Mimi is getting a lot more attention than she
>did when my son was first born.  

>Getting tired of cleaning up cat messes....

Wellll, assuming a) you have been keeping the box clean, and b) you haven't
changed kittylitter brands, there are lots of ways to curb that behaviour.  
Simplest ones are at the top:
1) move the litterbox to where she's pooping, and once she's using it
   again, slowly move it back to where it's supposed to be.
2) move the *food* to where she's pooping, but it sounds like that'd be
   a bit close to her litterbox.  (cats, being clean creatures, don't 
   like to "use the facilities" close to where they eat.)
3) the spray-bottle trick, making sure that the cat doesn't see *you* 
   using the spray bottle, or it will continue the undesired behaviour
   if you're not around
4) grab a handy aerosol can, and spray it very close to the cat's head, 
   so it hears a loud, nasty scary noise, making sure it gets a whif of 
   the odor of whatever you're using.  Spray the area with that can.  
   Repeat a couple times, several hours/days apart.  The cat will then
   associate the smell with the noise, and voila.

Remember that the odor from previous "mistakes" is now in that area, and
encourages the use of that spot.  Cover/clean that area well to break the
cycle.

Please note that if your cat is using something "smooth and cold" such
as porcelain, your tub, a tile floor, etc, it *may* be a sign of a
urinary tract infection.  A cat will find the coldness comforting while
he/she is uncomfortable.

I've got quite a few solutions, collected over the years from various vets
I meet in my business.  If those don't work, or don't sound feasible, I'll 
dig up the other 120 or so.  (Vets are a great source of information for
things like this, but they *can* be pricey.  Visit your local animal 
shelter for *lots* of free information - one of the most most common 
reasons for giving up an adult cat is "litterbox problems", and they 
probably have literature available for this problem.)

-bron

--
bron@iastate.edu
(proud mommy to Nermal(Helen) and Feeper(Catholic))
From: Jack_Webb@mindlink.bc.ca (Jack Webb)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: foster homes for cats?
Date: 18 Dec 92 21:10:49 GMT
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada

In vancouver, there are a lot of petsitters who will come into your home
while you are gone and feed, play with and basically watch over your pets.
It can be overnight, or just for an hour once or twice a day, depending on
what your needs are.  We use these services when we go away, and are very
pleased... the cats are in their domain, which is where they are happiest,
and we don't have to worry about them.

Look in your yellow pages under pet care, or ask your vet if they know of any
petsitters in your area.  The main thing to look for is:  will they meet your
pet before you leave, to find out feeding schedules, medication, whether the
pet even likes them; are they insured?  Have they got any pet care
experience?  References??

hope your trip goes well... :)
*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****
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: jessica@wrs.com (Jessica Hart)
Subject: Re: How do you teach a kitten to use the litter box?  HELP!
Organization: Wind River Systems, Inc.
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1992 02:14:53 GMT

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!
>
>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?
>


That's a great idea. I think that's how they learn in the first place,
by following Momcat into the box and having a good sniff about the place.
They can tell what that smell means. That's why it's so hard to
untrain them once they start using the wrong place... they go to the
smell.

If your cats seem to object to a strange kitten using their box,
try putting some of the soiled litter from theirs into his. Or put
something he's peed on into his box, like scraps of that shoe box.

Don't despair, they DO eventually learn. My Pogo was a stray kitten
and not trained at first... my SO and I got pretty tired of her
chosen poop-spot (right at the foot of the bed when we were trying
to sleep!) but eventually she figured it out. Luckily my SO is
pretty understanding (he'd never had a pet before!) in fact he is
now my husband!

But I would not recommend this as a courting method for other people.


Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: blade@dorsai.com (Terry Hoffman)
Subject: Behavior problem:litter
Organization: The Dorsai Embassy +1.718.729.5018
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 12:49:27 GMT

Hello, Can someone help me with a problem my new cat has? He builds the litter
up into a little mound in the box. He raises dust by doing this and also it's
irritating to hear him in there scratching and scratching. He does this with
clean litter (I just got some of that scoop a'way and it's an interesting
product). He also did it previously with regular clay litter. Could it be
because he's upset to be sharing the litter box with my other cat?
He's a unnuetered male(not for much longer though) that is NOT 6 months old as
I first thought..but is 1.5 to 2 years old according to the vet. He looks
awful small to me and especially compared to Tommy.
They both seem to be improving slowly, Charlie(might change this) has taken to
following, chasing Tommy from room to room with Tommy hissing at him
occasionally. I would REALLY like to get this cat to eat dry food(He likes it
when I show it to him) but when I feed Tommy canned food..he insists on having
some..any ideas on how to get each of them to eat their own food?
Thanks for any advice!
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: jeffp@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu (Jeff Parke;S10000)
Subject: Re: Pregnant women/litter question
Organization: Washington State University
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 92 18:58:44 GMT

In article <18717@mindlink.bc.ca> Jack_Webb@mindlink.bc.ca (Jack Webb) writes:
>> Laura Bassi writes:
>>
>> Hi folks,
>>   I recently caught a bit of a news piece that was saying something about
>>   pregnant women and cat litter.  Apparently, contact w/ cat litter (used,
>> I
>>   assume :), is dangerous to the developing fetus. Anyone hear of anything
>>   about this?  Thanks.
>
>
>Yes, there is a danger of pregnant women contracting TOXOPLASMOSIS.  A
>parasite that lives in cat feces can cause it.  Pregnant women don't have to
>get rid of their cats, they just have to:
>
>a) get someone else to handle the litter box or:
>
>b) wear rubber gloves and a cheap filter mask that you can find at hardware
>stores over your mouth and nose when you do it.  Wash your hands thoroughly
>after handling the feces.  If you follow these precautions, you will have NO
>PROBLEM.
>
>Also, remember that unused cat litter poses ABSOLUTELY NO THREAT.
>Also, the incidence of this happening is VERY low... I have heard of many
>women who didn't do the above, and were okay.  It's just that if you want to
>be perfectly safe, that's the way to go.

In addition to items a) and b), with regard to toxo ooctyes in cat feces
it is important to know that *daily* disposal of the feces by someone else
is called for.  The eggs are not infective in fresh cat feces - they need
to "age" for a day or so. 

Also, a major source of toxo infection is meat, especially pork.  All meat
should be well cooked, especially pork.  It is wise to wash your hands well
after handling fresh meat during preparation of meals.  This is a good idea
anyway with respect to salmonellosis.

---------------------
Jeff Parke <jeffp@vcs10.vetmed.wsu.edu>
also:   jeffp@WSUVM1.bitnet   AOL: JeffParke
Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine class of 1994
Pullman, WA  99164-7012
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: phz@cadence.com (Pete Zakel)
Subject: Re: How can I get cat/mouse X software?
Keywords: X, pointer-watchers
Organization: Cadence Design Systems
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 22:17:08 GMT

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").

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.

   \_\_\_                               \
    \_   \_          \_                 /   -Pete Zakel
     \_   \_  \_\_    \_     \_\_       \
\_\_  \_\_\_ \_   \_ \_\_\_ \_   \_     /       phz@cadence.com
       \_     \_\_\_    \_   \_\_\_     \    or
        \_     \_        \_   \_        /       ..!uunet!cadence!phz
         \_      \_\_      \_   \_\_    \

The best book on programming for the layman is "Alice in Wonderland";
but that's because it's the best book on anything for the layman.
From: marie@ai.mit.edu (Marie Lamb)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: What's Your Favorite Kind of Cat?
Date: 16 Dec 1992 20:18:31 GMT
Organization: MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
Distribution: world
Reply-To: marie@ai.mit.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: guppy.ai.mit.edu

In article <1992Dec16.192111.20807@ncar.ucar.edu>, vicki@steam.atd.ucar.edu (Vicki Holzhauer) writes:
|> In article <1gl2fpq@rpi.edu> petitc@vccsouth02.its.rpi.edu (Christopher Jon Petit) writes:
|> >I was wondering---what's your favorite kind of cat?  Siamese, Persian,
|> >Tomcat, Rex?
|> 
|> I love them *all*, but both of mine are tuxedo/jellicle females, one
|> short-haired (Abigail), and one long-haired (Zarabeth).  I just love
|> their little white bibs and feet.  They always are dressed for any
|> occasion, no matter how formal, and the white makes them so easy to
|> see in the dark ... :-).


[and a-one, and a-two] 
Jellicle girls, won't you come out tonight, come out tonight,
come out tonight?
Jellicle girls won't you come out tonight,
and dance by the light of the moon!

Sorry, couldn't resist. :-)  I have a jellicle girl of my own, but
I love my tabby boy just as much.  My favorite kind of cat is one
who is loved and cared for.

Marie
From: lhuffman@stsci.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: a very sad day for me....
Date: 16 Dec 92 17:25:38 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Space Telescope Science Institute

In article <1992Dec15.220540.7437@pony.Ingres.COM>, walker@Ingres.COM (Lynn Walker) writes:
> Today is a very sad day for me. My Siamese cat Max passed away. He was in
> surgery at the vet, and it was discovered that he had cancerous tumours in
> his colon and liver. He had lost some weight over the last few weeks, and it
> seems that he was gone in no time at all. His approximate age was 8 years old.
> My other cat Oliver has been howling all over the house because he misses his
> buddy. His cries almost sound angry. Could he know what was happening? They
> both have been with me for the past four years.
> 
> I'm only writing because I am hurting, and hope that I did the right thing by
> putting him down. The vet said that they could remove the tumors, but it would
> only have bought him a bit more time. I thought about Oliver being alone now,
> and wonder if getting another cat will make him feel better. I don't know if I
> want another one, or if we should just adjust to our loss.
> 
> Time will tell.
> 
> 			-- Lynn --



I am very sorry for you and for Oliver.  Get another cat when you and Oliver 
want one. It's my experience that getting another cat immediately to fill the
void only brings cats who never quite measure up to the hole they were brought
in to fill.

Yes, you did the right thing. You saved him lots of suffering. 

And also...

I once adopted two brothers and they were inseparable. When they slept together,
because they were both orange tabbies, you couldn't tell where one cat
ended and the other began.

Well, Stink died. I asked the vet if Mink would miss him and the vet said 
no, they don't think or feel like we do. But I can tell you that Mink grieved 
so that I saw I was losing him too. When I brought in little kitten Mort who 
kept us all on our toes (cuz he was a Tuxedo kitty and that's what Tuxedos do) 
it was only a few days later that Mink adopted him and began to take an 
interest in living. I do believe that cats form attachments and grieve when the 
attachment is broken, whether it is for people or other cats.