HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: Thad_Engeling@quickmail.natinst.com (Thad Engeling)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: a friend gone
Date: 14 Nov 1992 04:06:53 GMT
Organization: National Instruments
NNTP-Posting-Host: red.natinst.com

My mother called me this afternoon at work.
This morning around 10AM our calico cat Princess was put to sleep.
She was suffering from kidney failure, and couldn't even move anymore.
She only weighed 4 pounds because she had stopped eating.
She was over 18 years old.
I've known her longer than I've known most of my human friends.

I'm finally really feeling the loss as I write this.
I don't cry very often, but now I can hardly see to write.

I remember the day we went to get her.
A friend of ours had given her to our pastor's family,
but his wife was exceedingly allergic to and fearful of cats,
so he asked us if we wanted her.
We were very happy to have her.
She was about 8 weeks old if I remember correctly.
Tiny.
A curious and playful ball of multi-colored fur.
She quickly became an integral part of our household.
She went camping with us.
She went on walks.
She slept on my parents bed every night, and turned my dad into a cat lover.

So many memories flood my mind right now.
She used to shred the toilet paper off the roller
until it was just a big pile on the floor.
She loved to pull ornaments off the christmas tree.
She would wake my parents in the morning by
running her paw along the mini-blinds.
When she was hungry she would tip her food bowl so
that it rocked back and forth until someone paid attention.
She loved popcorn and ear-wax.

at Thanksgiving dinner, 1989, all our older relatives over,
she brought her in her trophy, a still live rat, and laid
it at the feet of my great aunt.

She touched my life as much as any person.
I loved her, and I will miss her.

-Thad
From: lianne@bcarh17e.BNR.CA (Lianne Raley)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: KILL FLEAS/NO CHEMICALS
Date: 12 Nov 92 13:49:10 GMT
Reply-To: lianne@bcarh17e.BNR.CA (Lianne Raley)
Distribution: world
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd.

In article <jll-041192125123@wplmacd-56.doc.ic.ac.uk> jll@doc.ic.ac.uk
(Janice ) writes:

> Where can I obtain ivory soap?  My 3 month old Sparky is totally 
> infested with the buggers, and no spray or powder has had any effect at
> all.
>
> Janice.

Janice, I haven't seen any responses yet but then again my news server
is usually about a week behind. 

Ivory Soap is an everyday human cleansing soap, that you would buy in any
grocery or drug store (or corner store, or department store, etc). It's
the one that floats! It's supposed to be pure although those "other"
brands say it's still has a high PH-level. 

It's definitely available throughout Canada and the US, but I can't say
if you'd find it in London. The reason why Marie mentioned the bar, not
the liquid, is that they also produce dishwashing liquid.

- Lianne - 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: tom@vexcel.com (Tom Baltzer)
Subject: Re: Help!  How to get car oil off my kitty
Organization: VEXCEL Corporation, Boulder CO
Distribution: usa,na
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 00:40:33 GMT

In article <1992Nov6.164644.8483@iscsvax.uni.edu> klier@iscsvax.uni.edu writes:
>
>Tom:  Please take this as a suggestion, not a flame.  What if you were to
>provide her with an insulated house with a warming mat-- there are rubber
>mats especially made for use in outdoor doghouses, double insulated and
>waterproof, that cost about $30.  You obviously love your cat, and want
>her to have a good life, and I'm sure wouldn't want her to be eaten by
>a car engine.  If she has a spot that is outside but reliably warm, she
>probably will be less interested in car warmth.
>
>Kay Klier, who has i/o cats.

Thanks Kay, I think that that is a marvelous suggestion with the aside that
we never lock her out of the house.  We always leave a window open for her 
so that she can come in at any time of her choosing, (I know a rather 
extravigant and resource wasting practice which is why we are working
on a kitty door).  I couldn't see myself forcing her to stay outside
for any length of time, and want her to be able to come in for food,
warmth or escape.  I only incorporated the warmth issue in my first
post because that's the only way the oil could have been thin enough
to get on her.  I suspect that she was just hangin' out under a
car that 1) happened to be warm, and 2) happened to have a fairly 
substantial oil leakage problem.  I've observed her under cars before
and whenever the owner of the car so much as approaches, (not even
necessarily the owner of the car), much less gets in, she goes zipping
away.  She's really a very bright cat.

Thanks for the suggestion though, I hope you don't think that I'd
lock Zerbina outside, especially in Colorado weather!

Tom.
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Ok to feed tuna daily ??
Date: 9 Nov 92 20:41:18 -0600
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

jeffp@yoda.eecs.wsu.edu (Jeff Parke - Vet med staff) writes:
> 
> High magnesium concentrations are implicated in formation of urinary
> stones in cats.  I cannot find any references relating tuna to urinary
> tract infections.

Jeff:  A couple of questions, since you're au courant... 8-)

1) Aren't there some fat-soluble vitamins that can become critically
deficient in tuna-based diets?  
   and
2) Has the NRC revised the nutritional standards for cats?  Last one
I know of for sure was in 1978... and the studies that the standards
were based on were not long-term by my definition (a full cat lifespan).

Or am I confused?  (I often am... ;-)  )

Oh, yes:  My current feeding plan is to switch off from one good dry
catfood to another (like Iams to SD to ProPlan to Expert to Iams...)
hoping one will make up for any accidental lack in another.  I do supplement
with small amounts of treats (cottage cheese, plain cheese, meat scraps,
gravy, etc., but < 1% of their diet).  Good idea?  Bad idea?  Unneeded
complications?  ???  Opinions, please?

Kay Klier
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: "doug powless" <doug.powless@canrem.com>
Subject: brave missy and the sock
Reply-To: "doug powless" <doug.powless@canrem.com>
Organization: Canada Remote Systems
Distribution: rec
Date: 13 Nov 92 22:27:07 EST

JSBravo!  But watch that monster - Socrates has started hearing it
JSscratching on the sock drawer even when closed.  He sits on top of
JSthe bureau and tugs at the drawer until just a claw can get through.
JSThen carefully, one by one (I presume they are easier to kill that
JSway) he pulls them out.  Once in his mouth, he makes the most ungodly
JSnoise, presumably to banish the evil spirits once and for all, and
JSthen deposits the carcass in its carefully chosen location.  Today
JSI came home to 7 pairs in selected spots on the living room chair,
JStelevision, and dining room table.

        Well, whaddya know!  Must be a silent takeover or something.  MY
        cats have both discovered this same enemy and have dealt with it
        unmercifully.  And they both utter the same cry (must be a
        tribal warcry or something).

        Does 20/20 know about this?

         
          Doug Powless Oshawa  
          Ontario 
                        CANADA  
                       
---
  1st 1.01 #818  How you look depends on where you go.
--
Canada Remote Systems  - Toronto, Ontario
World's Largest PCBOARD System - 416-629-7000/629-7044
From: jim@n5ial.chi.il.us (Jim Graham)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: cat games & elevenses 
Distribution: world
Date: Wed, 04 Nov 92 05:31:55 GMT
Organization: Me? Organized? Hah! :-)

I tried this via e-mail, but it apparently bounced both times (so I'm
told by the original poster --- I've yet to receive a reject message
except those manually sent by the would-be recipient saying they'd
gotten a reject message at their end!)

shoran@mtroyal.ab.ca writes:

> Hmmm, being from the Olde Country, I had always thought that elevenses
> meant tea and biccies as a welcome snack between brekkie and din-dins.

> Go on, now ask me what biccies are.....

well, judging from the ``tea and '' part, I'd have to guess you're
referring to tea and biscuits (or crackers, as they're called here).

am I right?
   --jim

PS:  how is it that the person the mail is addressed to gets the reject
     message, and the person who sent it doesn't?  this isn't the first
     time I've seen this....the last time, the mail that couldn't be
     delivered to me was delivered (to me) along with the usual style
     automatic reject message telling me it couldn't deliver the mail
     that followed to me....  seriously --- this really happened!

--
#include <std_disclaimer.h>                                 73 DE N5IAL (/9)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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AMATEUR RADIO: n5ial@n9hsi (Chicago.IL.US.Earth)    AMTOR SELCAL:  NIAL
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Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: nunn@sura.net (Deborah Nunn)
Subject: Re: Spooky things
Organization: SURAnet, College Park, MD, USA, NA, Earth, Milky Way
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 15:31:37 GMT

In article <1992Nov4.163605.25774@porthos.cc.bellcore.com> gck@hector.uucp (24641-kemmerling) writes:
>In article <1992Nov1.145303.3296@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>, magarret@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (COMPUTER DUDETTE) writes:
>> Regarding all the things cats are scared of, I just bought a harness and 
>> leash >> for my kitty-cat, deciding that this indoor cat might enjoy going 
>> out once in awhile.  (I've only had her 6 days, a friend gave her to me, 
>> and she's about a year old).  Anyways, I got the harness on, and the leash, 
>> but I couldn't make her go anywhere, so I picked her up and took her out 
>> on the front stoop.  Something scared her to death, and she bolted for 
>> the door and went and hid under one of the beds.  I never thought that 
>> the outdoors could be so scary! I guess this will take some time!
>> I tried sending a follow-up message here, but guess I did it wrong!
>> Don't usually read the newsgroups, but I am crazy about this cat and want to 
>> learn as much as I can.
>> Has anyone been successful with training a cat to walk on a leash?  And to 
>> introduce one to the outdoors when she has never been outside?
>> Marti (and Chelsea)
>
>My cat turns into a blob of fur.  Lays down and will not move with a leash
>and collar on.  

Well, when I introduced my cat to the great outdoors, I took her outside
with me and sat there and held her for as long as it took for her to get
curious and venture off of my lap.  The thing about cats is that they
have to take it at their own pace.  WARNING:  I lived to regret this, as
she would always be yowling to go out later on.

On a similar note, I saw something recently I haven't ever seen before.
couple was walking their dog, on a leash, around my old apartment
complex, and there was a cat just walking along slightly behind them
with no leash, harness or anything.  Just following them at the same pace
anda little to the rear.  I was so astonished at this uncatlike behavior 
that I couldn't help but stare.  I asked the man if the cat belonged to 
them (my face, I am sure, showing complete perplexity).  He laughed and 
said, "Oh, yes.  He always goes on walks with us." 
 
**************************************************************************
  /\___/\                ___                     
 /       \              / __}
 | *   * |             / / 
 \   ^   /__ _______  / /
  \_~^~_/           \/ /
   |                  /    Deborah J. Nunn       | Snail mail:
  /             /     |    e-mail: nunn@sura.net | SURAnet
 /   \/   |    _\     \    phone: (301) 982-4600 | 8400 Baltimore Blvd.
 \___/\___/\__/________|   fax:   (301) 982-4605 | College Pk, MD 20740
From: jpinette@BBN.COM (Jeanne M Pinette)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Cats that JUMP (was fetch)
Date: 12 Nov 92 18:42:06 GMT
Reply-To: jpinette@BBN.COM (Jeanne M Pinette)
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman Inc., Cambridge MA
NNTP-Posting-Host: bbn.com

As I mentioned in my previous post, our two cats (mostly Maine Coon)
are champion jumpers and fetchers.  Cashmir can jump approximately 5
feet and is very surefooted.  Sandy can jump almost as high and
doesn't always land on his feet.  She keeps her landing in mind and he
just goes for broke after the toy.  They play fetch with their foam
rubber ball toys but do the best job with our rubber drink coasters!
Sandy will actually bring it up onto the bed if I'm sitting on the bed
when I throw it.  He's such a kook.

One thing that is very interesting is when we have them play with a
flashlight beam, Cashmir makes the craziest noise.  The only way I can
describe it is it sounds like she is meowing backwards.  It sounds
like an inhale or gasp, but resembles a meow.  Friends that have
watched her do this have actually had tears streaming down their face
because she sounds so funny.  Its like she's "calling" to the beam
because she does it most when the beam is at a distance up the wall.
She, also, is a kook.

We just inherited a red nozed amazon and fish tank with two large
fancy goldfish.  Because the bird belonged to Glenn's grandmother
upstairs, the cats know him a bit.  The fish are another story.
Cashmir sometimes licks the tank (we think to get a drink) and pats
the tank with her paws.  We just hope she doesn't figure out how to
raise the hood.  Sandy seems completely disinterested in them.  We're
compiling quite a menagerie now.  We have our two cats, two zebra
finches (with two youngins of their own), the fish, the parrot and us.
Does anyone know how to build an arc?

Jeanne (and family)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: scarr@kean.ucs.mun.ca
Subject: Re: Cats that fetch
Organization: Memorial University. St.John's Nfld, Canada
Distribution: rec
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 15:03:19 GMT

In article <1ddvo2INNlav@uwm.edu>, hcrain@convex.csd.uwm.edu (Helen C Crain) writes:
> From article <92310.164505U53064@uicvm.uic.edu>, by Shawn Durham <U53064@uicvm.uic.edu>:
>> I've know several fetchers.  Genghis would fetch those little spongy
>> balls, and Kelly will fetch ANYTHING he can carry -- balls, fur mousies,
>> an old silk flower was his favorite toy for a while.  Arvid would
>> only fetch wooden clothes pins with the spring, and only if they
>> were thrown across an uncarpeted floor.
>> 
>> Neither of my own cats, Tucker or Merlin, has any interest in fetching 8<
> 
> Fetching is one thing.  Joshua will fetch those
> practice golf balls and Eli goes after *any*
> crumpled paper.  <Is it fetching, technically, if
> they don't quite bring it all the way back?>
> 
> Cassandra used to fetch from all over the place.  I
> think its called stealing.  She brought us
> workgloves (not ours), oil rags, a pair of
> prescription sunglasses, and once she dragged in
> some small girl's (2y/o) bikini swimsuit bottom.  I
> told that the bottom was pretty useless without the
> top, except at hippie hollow.  So the next night she
> went out and got the top!
> 
> -- 
> Helen C. Crain             hcrain@convex.csd.uwm.edu 
> UWMilwaukee Nursing                   Wisconsin, USA
> "There is more of good nature than good sense at the
> bottom of most marriages"    HD Thoreau

I think that, technically, it's not fetching unless they bring it
all the way back. As usual, its important not to let them get the
upper paw. Jennet Jourdemayne had a favorite crocheted ball that
she would catch in midair and trot back to me to throw again. If
I didn't have my priorities right (sitting reading say) I would
frequently feel a small impact on my shoulder followed by the
ball rolling down into my lap.
	Its important to reinforce the behavior - after an absence
of 5 weeks with Jennet in the care of friends, she would no longer
bring the ball all the way back, so I wound up having to chase her
to get the ball for the next toss. Less impressive for visitors.
	Re small animal fetching: we lived across from  field in
College Station TX, said field being full of cotton rats. Turned out
the area was a hybrid zone for two chromosomal races of c-rats:
Jennet would catch a rat and bring it to me, I'd collect the long
bones for chromosomal culture, and send the material to a friend at
Univ Houston. She's acknowledge as a collector in the resulting MS.

Steve Carr
Dept. of BIology
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: gck@hector.uucp (24641-kemmerling)
Subject: Re: My shoes have fallen victim!
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 92 18:06:11 GMT
Keywords: shoelaces

> Help!!! Kinski has developed a nasty habit of chewing off the ends
> of some of my shoelaces!  I now can't wear one pair of shoes 
> because she chewed the leather laces all the way down to the eye/hole
tuff deleted
 of the shoe.  She's also chewed the tips off the laces on my boots!
> AGH!!!!  Can I kill her now? 8)  AND....  My SO bought a new coat
> that had drawstrings on the removeable hood, and guess what Kinski
> Does anyone have any suggestions in preventing her from doing this
> anymore?
> Thanks!
> - Eva

I had a cat that used to do this all the time.  It got real embarrassing
because we'd have company over and if they took off their shoes there
went the laces!!  Never knew how to break the habit except we would
have to put shoes up high where he couldn't get to them.  Watch your
kitty carefully because those little plastic things can hurt them inside!

Gayle


E-mail address: gck@hector.cc.bellcore.com 
Morristown, N.J.
(201) 829-3950
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: re: Humane society vs. prospective adopters
Date: 9 Nov 92 18:35:56 -0600
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

jonathan@geop.ubc.ca (Jonathan Thornburg) writes:
> In article <1992Nov9.191250.8456@ohsu.edu> davispa@ohsu.edu writes:
>> I know they have to be concerned and careful of
>>who adopts pets, but the way I was treated was absolutely "inhumane" to say
>> the least.  
> 
> In their defense, the xmas season tends to bring a lot of poor-cat-home
> prospective adopters to shelters, trying to get cute kittens for their
> too-young-to-care-for-them children.  These kittens are regularly
> dumped or "returned" around Jan 15th or so.  In view of this, shelters
> are probably inclined to be more pickey about prospective adopters
> wanting kittens at this season than they might otherwise be.

I was a little non-plussed to be told by one of my vets that I would
probably not get approved as an adoptive home by one of the local 
shelters, since I had "too many cats"... she said that I'd probably
need a letter from her or another vet vouching for the fact that I
take proper care of my animals...   muy estran~o.

Well, add that on to the "reasons that I've never been to a shelter".
The main one, of course, is that I'd walk in, take a quick look around,
pull out the checkbook and ask "How much for everybody?"

Folks who volunteer their time at shelters, trying to locate good
homes for animals, have my undying admiration.  Jon and the rest of
you, please take a bow.

BTW, I've placed three of Charlotte's kittens in homes that I swore
up, down and sideways I wouldn't use -- the dreaded "college students".
But these are all biology majors, and I get almost daily reports of
how Eliot (ts), Cassidy (hopalong) and Harley (davidson) are doing 
(by email sometimes!).  I also made them swear that if they couldn't 
keep the kitten for some reason, that they were to bring it back to me.  
Oh yes, we've already arranged a "neutering party" for the kittens' 6 
month birthday.  Two vets presiding.   No cake, but maybe some post-
anesthesia tuna.

Charlotte herself has become "first cat" in a parsonage formerly 
run by a German Shepherd.  Vixen had a deep scratch on the nose the
first night, and has learned Charlotte is really the boss... ;-)
Denise and Paul stopped in today with a picture of Vixen and Charlotte
sound asleep together, both with all four legs in the air.

The other three kittens have made a move to a new home with me-- and
have met a 35-lb Cocker Spaniel named Hoover (yes, like the vacuum
cleaner!).  They spent the first few nights getting schnarfed (Hoover
was in his crate), and puffing up like halloween cats.  Now they seem
to look forward to their visits from Hoover, because he's so much
fun to bedevil.  They were less impressed when he snaffled off half
a can of kitty food.  Me-ee-ow!!!?!?!!!

Kay
 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner)
Subject: Re: Kitty's 1st christmas!
Reply-To: rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner)
Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro NM
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 92 21:05:06 GMT

In article <1992Nov9.121834.1@kean.ucs.mun.ca> janet@kean.ucs.mun.ca writes:
>
>our cat (9 months in December) will be experiencing his first
>Christmas this year. Any suggestions how we can keep our Christmas
>tree and our sanity in tact?

We didn't have any problems this way. We hung all the glass balls high up
and deliberately bought cheap plastic ones covered with shiny thread to
hang low down, where our girls could bat at them. Not once did they try to 
launch themselves higher up. We also kept the lights and especially the
tinsel out of easy reach.

Our girls are pretty good; every time we spotted them getting close to the 
plug for the lights, we said "No!" and after a while they just ignored it.
-- 
Ruth Milner                          NRAO/VLA                  Socorro NM
Computing Division Head      rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: My roommate broke my kitten's leg!!!!
Date: 11 Nov 92 12:37:05 -0600
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

In article <40840@sdcc12.ucsd.edu>, ph600fcy@sdcc14.ucsd.edu (Matthew Harrington) writes:
> The problem is dealing with the roommate.  She is from Ecuador, and
> from what I've heard, Latins aren't generally kind to animals.

Don't rely on stereotypes-- a friend from Venezuela is an even bigger cat
sucker than I am.  Deal with the roommate, not with all latin-americans.

I would start with presenting the vet bill, and demanding payment and
an apology.  I'd probably follow it up with a copy of the local anti-
cruelty laws (both state and local).  After I had the money, I'd inform
her that we were no longer roommates...  Maybe even before I had the money.

Good luck to you and your kitten.

Kay Klier  (still boiling)
From: lsnow@ncrclm.ClemsonSC.NCR.COM (Linda Snow)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: My roommate broke my kitten's leg!!!!
Date: 11 Nov 92 18:04:20 GMT
Reply-To: lsnow@ncrclm.ClemsonSC.NCR.COM (Linda Snow)
Organization: NCR E&M CLEMSON Liberty, SC

Lose the roommate. Now.  How could you live with a person like this?
Your cat is going to grow up warped if this bitch stays around.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats