HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: v087mxgb@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Shawn E Thompson)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: good pro-cat story! (tell *this* one to your dog-lovin cat-haters)
Date: 26 Aug 92 02:12:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41


Hi-ho,

1st time to this group and all that.....


I now have a neurotic cat, but....well, thats for another time...



I lived with my parents (I *hate* saying when I lived at 
home.....I *always* live at my home, hence the name)...sorry
, I digress, and this really is a good story.


During college I lived with my parents and commuted. They had
a Lhaso-Apso and Poodle cross-breed (this was an original :
father was a Lhasa and mother was a poodle, unlike today's
second+ generation LhasaPoo's). His name was Charlie. He was
okay, kinda snippy, but ok. They also had a tabby cat named 
Dooley (had another named Schultz after the beer mugs).

Charlie was always on an outside chain-leash, near the driveway.
Often he would get bothered by neighborhood dogs, whose owners
would let run loose.

One particular time, a German Shepherd attacked Charlie (now
Lhasa-Poo's are tiny compared to Shepherds) and beat him up
quite badly. Charlie started to howl as the Shepherd bit into
him, when all-of-a-sudden (no lie! it was very much like this)
an orange *blur* came around the front of the house, and flew
(literally) over the driveway and onto the Shepherd's head.

Dooley was clawing and chewing the *crap* out of this shepherd's
face. The German Shepherd immediately let Charlie go (being dumb,
he attacked it back). Dooley rode like a rodeo pro, clinging to
the massive shepherd's back as he ran into the neighboor's yard.

Soon, Dooley jumped down and confronted the German Shepherd
face to face. The dog just cowered. Dooley was balancing on
his back paws with his fore paws held like a boxer (all claws
drawn). Every time the dog tried to move (even to run away),
he would get a series of speed-punches to the face and nose 
that made him yelp. He-he........

Eventually the dog bolted and Dooley moseyed back to our yard
where Charlie was still barking at the end of his chain.


It all happened so fast, but all I remember is thinking 
how in a flash of orange, he countered every cat-hating,
statement about cats not having any personality/value/strength/
etc...




He-he......



Well, I like dogs too (thinking of adopting a Greyhound in fact)
but this is good ammo for your "cats are better than dogs" 
tirades....





Shawn E. Thompson                         | Project Engineer/Mgr  (716)891-3375
v087mxgb@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu             | Leica, Incorporated
University @ Buffalo                      | PO Box 123
Graduate School of Mechanical Engineering | Buffalo, NY 14240-0123
------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------
"Nothin ever grows in this rotten old hole, and everthing is stunted and lost..
and nothin really rocks n nothin really rolls and nothin's ever worth the cost"
                                                               --- Meatloaf
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: cmickan@cc.curtin.edu.au
Subject: Insecure Cat
Organization: Curtin University of Technology
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 08:27:50 GMT

I took my 2 to the vet today for their annual injections and check-ups and
came away feeling like a bad parent!

Fatstuff (who got his name by the way cause when he was tiny, he was wider
than he was tall and he used to get in his food dish and stuff his face)
has just started spraying in the house and he makes sure I'm watching before
he does this.  The vet told me he was feeling insecure and wanted more
notice taken of him.  He also gave him a hormone shot which he said would
help.

When I get home from work tonight, I'll have to make a special effort to give
him extra cuddles.  This is hard though as Josephine is a jealous cat and 
demands most of my attention while Fatstuff has always sat quietly in the
background.  The vet seems to think that he has had enough of sitting back 
and is demanding in his own way to be noticed.

Hope the vet is right as I've had enough of the spraying.  Didn't make me
feel very good though knowing I've been neglecting one of my cats (so my
cat thinks).
-- 
Judy Mickan                    
Curtin University               Internet: CMICKAN@cc.curtin.edu.au
Perth, West Australia           Bitnet: CMICKAN%cc.curtin.edu.au@cunyvm.bitnet
From: lb04@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (Laura Bassi)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Declawing question (Oh no, not another one...)
Date: 25 Aug 92 18:21:41 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University


I, too, would like to hear what folks have to say on this issue.  I have 2
cats, neither declawed.  Most of my friends' cats are declawed.  What's the
story?  I think I can figure out the Pro's for myself.  The con's, however,
I would like to hear from you all.
thanks,
Laura
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: tastewar@athena.mit.edu (Tom Stewart)
Subject: Re: Problem with Feline
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 11:41:31 GMT

In article <1556@lysator.liu.se> ceci@lysator.liu.se (Ceci Henningsson) writes:
>
>Before you give up, try to avoid the area just above the root of the
>tail. Some female cats simply hate being stroken there.
>
>                   / tail
>                   |  Avoid area under the star.
>                  *|
>        head ------|

This is a cat?  What's its head doing down there?  What's its tail doing
up there?  Is the star _h_a_l_f_w_a_y down its back?  Sorry, I'm only
half serious, but I don't quite get this picture.

Anyway, this just confirms that all cats are different, but our two both
_l_i_k_e to be scratched there (root of tail).
From: jlecher@pbs.org
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: The best litter alternative I've seen, next to going outdoors.
Date: 1 Sep 92 17:59:30 EDT
Summary: Litter
Organization: PBS:Public Broadcasting Service, Alexandria, VA

After all of the discussion about 'scoopable' litter, I had to put in my
2 cents worth.
My boyfriend uses something called 'PineFresh'. It's a natural pine wood
litter that comes in little pellets that disintegrate when the cats pee;
the solid waste is just scooped out.
Yes, it runs a bit more expensive then you're used to, BUT you don't have
to change it very often, as long as you scoop out solid waste ASAP and
sift it about twice a week to remove the disintegrated stuff. Our cats
don't mind it at all, and best of all, there is NONE of that distinctive
'litter box odor'. No one would know that we had cats if they didn't
trip over them every time they moved.
It flushes, too. We've been flushing it for 2 years now, and there has
never been a plumbing problem.
The bag it comes in is made of recycleable plastic.
It's hard to find - you have to look around a bit.
Here's the address from the back of the bag.
Manufactured by:
Cansorb Industries
555 Kesler Road
Cleveland, NC  27013

Product of U.S.A.

Trust me - this is GREAT stuff!
No more problems with litter disposal - no dust from the 'clumping' stuff.
And there's a money-back guarantee on the back of the bag!

Jane
From: churley@warren.med.harvard.edu (Carol Hurley)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Two questions
Date: 26 Aug 92 20:19:07 GMT
Followup-To: rec.pets.cats
Organization: Harvard Medical School

Well, Coltrane has been gone a while and my new cat Charlie (looks like his
twin) it growing like crazy.(about 6 mos. old)  The problem is this.  He
suckles at his paw when he's feeling cuddly.  Why does he do this?

Also, there are two other cats in the house that he generally plays with. 
He's pretty aggressive with them but, enough smaller that they usually
don't care.  One of them however is pregnant right now and it seems like
his is singling out this one and getting a little too rough.  Is this
normal?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Carol Hurley
churley@warren.med.harvard.edu

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: tdlg9831@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Tracey Dianne Layng)
Subject: too young
Summary: too young
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 17:31:36 GMT
Keywords: kittens

In response to the 4 week old kittens- yes that is too young. The kittens
should stay with their mothers until they are at least 8 weeks old. Some people
say 6 weeks, but at 6 weeks they have not learned all the required cat
etiquette from their mothers.

When they are that small, you need to use a damp cloth to wipe their rears so
they will go to the bathroom. You also need to watch out that they are able to
drink sweetened condensed milk or petmilk (avail from any pet store) out of a
dish. They will probably wade around in it the first few times and lick if off
themselves before they get the hang of it. If they don't get the hang of it,
try an eyedropper for a while and hand feed them both. I would also provide a
secure place like a box for them to sleep in maybe with a stuffed animal or
something. They should be ok in a few weeks.

Hope this helps.

Tracey
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: jhoskins@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (James M Hoskins)
Subject: Re: How about kitty noises?
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 19:48:19 GMT

In article <GIBSON.92Sep4125507@dl5000.bc.edu> gibson@dl5000.bc.edu (Rene Gibso
n) writes:

>In article <1992Sep3.060214.1720@walter.cray.com> bonni@snoid.cray.com (Bonni
Ensminger) writes:
>
>> My cat also makes a noise I don't think I can describe very well.  It's the
>> 'aren't I so cute you want to give me anything I want' noise.  It's kind of
>> a meow and a purr mixed together, similar to a pigeon cooing.
>
>Both of mine do this, although one is particularly good at it.  I call it a
>purred meow.  They usually do this when they're *REAL* happy.
>
>--

Yes!  My cat does this too.  The pigeon cooing, purred meow is a good
description.  I once referred to it as a kind of chortle.  Valerie of
Alaska described this noise as "the Maine Coon Cat Chirp."

Anyway, my cat does this to announce her presence in a room.  When she
is happy, she will coo/trill/chirp as if to say "I am now entering this
room."  This is about my favorite thing that my cat does!

JH/Ohio State Univ./Horticulture
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: krissie@locus.com (Krissie Griffiths)
Subject: Re: Naming cat behaviors
Organization: Locus Computing Corporation, Los Angeles, California
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 03 Sep 1992 21:31:23 GMT

In article <H.mbD4zvhyDPU@harvee.billerica.ma.us> scm@harvee.billerica.ma.us writes:
>anyone have a name for the way a timid or scared cat will slink around with
>the belly less than an inch from the floor?  we call it "needing new shocks".

you betcha!!!  my physical therapist used to call that the "army crawl."

you know, when they are out on maneuvers or in basic training and have to 
go under all that barbed wire stuff, they sort of scoot along on their
bellies.  well that certainly is what it looks like.  

in our house, meggie does that exclusively after an earthquake.  she does not
take kindly to those.

kg


-- 
so what if i am a vegan?  so what if i try to live a cruelty free lifestyle?
i'll tell you what, i sleep better at night knowing that nothing suffers for
anything i eat or wear and i try to use products that have not involved 
animal testing.  
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: dbriggs@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Daniel Briggs)
Subject: Re: Abyssinian (Blue)
Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro NM
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 92 19:47:07 GMT

In article <1992Aug28.204946.24329@cornerstone.com>
  dgates@cornerstone.com (D. Gates) writes:
>What can I expect to pay for a female blue Abyssinian of
>pet quality?  Show quality?  I'm looking for a kitten.

You're looking at some real cash, there.  In general, females are more
expensive than males, and blues are the most expensive recognized color.
(Fawns may cost more, but they are not a recognized show color yet.  At
least, they weren't recognized last I time I was showing.  It's been a few
years.)  In 1986, (87?) we paid $800 for a medium (show) quality female
blue Aby.  They color has been catching on (and is drop-dead gorgeous,
IMHO), so there are likely more animals out there by now.  But you have to
remember that blue is recessive to ruddy, but that you have to keep
breeding back to ruddy to keep it deep.  And when you do that, you'll get
more ruddies than blues.  If you breed a line straight blue to blue, the
color lightens up unpleasantly.  The bottom line is that even in
established lines, there aren't that many blue kittens to be had.  You
might possibly find a pet quality female blue for $350-$450, but you'd have
to get lucky I think.  I'd guess that $600-$700 would get you a "show
quality" animal.  Mind you, that's not going to be the best of the line,
but simply an animal which will do all right at the city/state level.
Again, I'm a few years out of date on current prices, though.  Good luck,
btw.  Abys in general are absolutely amazing animals, and blues are as
pretty as they come!

For the people who feel obliged to followup telling us how they'd *never*
spend money for a show animal while there are kittens in the shelters....
Please, save it.  You're not likely to change any minds, and all it will
do is promote bad feelings.

-- 
| Daniel Briggs  (dbriggs@nrao.edu)                      |        USPA B-14993
| New Mexico Tech / National Radio Astronomy Observatory |            DoD #387
| P.O. Box O / Socorro, NM 87801   (505) 835-7391        |
Support the League for Programming Freedom  (info from league@prep.ai.mit.edu)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: jill@cray.com (Jill McAllister)
Subject: Re: Please Help... I think my cat is ill
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Date: 28 Aug 92 21:20:40 CDT

In article <59955@mimsy.umd.edu> dawn@umiacs.umd.edu (Dawn Vance) writes:
>I disturbingly noticed that after a bowel movement, she
>would sort of scrape her behind on the carpet next to the litterbox as if
>she were wiping remnants of cat do.

Is she throwing up?  One of my cats has mega-colon (something like that).
It means that she cannot move her bowels without mineral oil.  We used to
be able to control it by putting metamucil in some wet food for her twice
a week, but now we have to give her mineral oil every other day.  The
reason I ask is that she frequently rubs her bottom after trying to go.
Make sure that the vet palpates her to see if she's constipated.

Jill McAllister
(jill@cray.com)

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: hamon@a.cs.okstate.edu (HAMON SHARON ANN)
Subject: Cat Antlers
Organization: Oklahoma State University, Computer Science, Stillwater
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 92 19:27:55 GMT

Has anyone seen these?  They are soft reindeer antlers attached to a
piece of cloth with a strap that goes under the cat's chin.  Saw them
in a McCrory's the other day.  Cute, but what cat would actually put
up with wearing them?  And in what circumstances would an owner actually
want their cat to wear them?  Comments, anyone?

Sharon
From: alclark@RWASIC27.AUD.ALCATEL.COM (Amy L Clark)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: introduction of cats
Date: 2 Sep 92 20:57:56 GMT

I've been trying (unsucessfully) to introduce my cats to the net for
a while now.  I've enjoyed reading about all of your kitties.  Now I
get to participate.  I am owned by two cats (they are nice enough to
allow me to pay the rent so that I can coexist with them).  The oldest
cat is a neutered siamese male named Donchu.  He is five years old.
The youngest is Bagheria (Baggy for short) and is a black DLH.  He is
about six months younger than Donchu.  Baggy was found in a trash
dumpster in Lubbock, Texas by my brother.  My brother asked me to only
keep Baggy "a little while" until my brother graduated from school (my
brother knew that if I kept Baggy a little while I would become extremely
attached).  I've had Baggy and Donchu since they were kittens and would
not consider giving them up for anything.  Each cat has his own personality.
I'm sure these personalities will emerge with more frequent postings.

To catch up on a number of (old and new) threads-- Baggy loves Q-TIPS and
has been known to root through trash cans for them (couldn't be tied to
his humble beginnings could it?).  Also, I loved the term "playing the
violin" for the "tuning in" position of leg-lifing-washing cat.

It's nice to finally get to talk to you.  Keep up the great postings.
I've already fallen in love with all of your "babies".

Amy Clark
(notorious for spoiling her babies rotten)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: cid@athena.mit.edu (Derek H Cedillo)
Subject: Forever puking cat...
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 00:19:55 GMT

hi,
my year and a half old kitty seems to be throwing up a lot lately.
not real throw up, but rather just her food.  Before it was occasional, and 
probably due to her over eating in a sitting.
but it seems to occur more and more often...
I think we have been changing food a little more often than usual.
so this may be the problem. How sensitive can cats be to new foods?
We don't change to exotic foods or something, just
from Alpo Gormet (the garfield kind :)
and Meow Mix.  Any bad experiences with either?
thanks for any info.  She is normal at all other times.  Walks on 
over, throws up, and then she goes back to doing whatever she was doing before
without so much as a hint of sickness.  Please send Email replies only.
I will be out of town for a short while, so my list will be long to read!
Thanks!

Derek & Lisa
(George and Gracie)

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: shan@niwot.scd.ucar.edu (Val Shanahan)
Subject: Re: HELP a 19 yr old cat
Organization: Scientific Computing Divison/NCAR Boulder, CO
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 14:53:41 GMT


My 19 year old, Daisy, does the same thing. It seems to be a seasonal thing,
skinny in hot weather, fatter in cold weather.  Maybe it's beacuse she is not
able to get around like she used to to find cool/warm spots, so she eats more
or less to compensate.  There is ALWAYS food out, so she can eat whenever she
wants to.  This is just a guess, but the vet did blood tests of all types last
spring before dental surgery, and Daisy is in perfect health, so in her case,
it's nothing to worry about.  Ask your vet to be sure though.

Val

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: exuptr@exu.ericsson.se (exuptr@exu.ericsson.se)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: HELP:  my cat doesn't like human males
Date: 26 Aug 92 19:47:46 GMT
Organization: Ericsson Network Systems, Inc.

In article <1992Aug24.183504.1715@zmax.com> mary@zmax.com (Mary C. Papp) writes:
>From: mary@zmax.com (Mary C. Papp)
>Subject: HELP:  my cat doesn't like human males
>Date: 24 Aug 92 18:35:04 GMT

>I have a year and a half old male cat whose name is Slash.  He is neutered and 
>an indoor cat.  He is very friendly around me, he rubs against my legs and sits
>with me.  He only likes to be held when he wants it (very independent).  
>However, when I have visitors (especially male friends), he acts very badly.  
>He doesn't bite anyone, he just makes noise and does things that he normally
>wouldn't do (i.e., cry for no reason, get into places he knows he is not
>allowed).

>He doesn't do the same things around females or in mixed company, he just goes 
>and sits quietly.  How do I make Slash understand that visitors do not mean 
>that he is going to be replaced?  I have also thought about getting another
>cat, but the way he acts around humans, I am afraid that he would try and kill
>another kitten.

>Does anyone have any ideas.

>Mary
>mary@zmax.com

Maybe Slash thinks you are his mate :-)
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    "This must be Thursday.  I never could get the hang of Thursdays"
                                                       - D Adams
  - Patrick Taylor
    Ericsson Network Systems
    exuptr@exu.ericsson.se                       "Don't let the .se fool you"
    alternately, exuptr@ZGNews.Lonestar.Org
From: keller@ohstpy.mps.ohio-state.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: *****PLEASE ADVISE- NEW CAT PROBLEMS*****
Date: 28 Aug 92 16:12:59 EDT

I need advise from anyone who has brought a new cat into a home that has
already been claimed by another cat.

I found a stray a while ago, and if no-one answers my flyers, I would like
to keep "Bob". The only problem is Madeline, our existing cat.
Maddy is a female, not fixed and has all her claws. Bob is a big male, no 
claws, neutered. Madeline has no idea what to make if this intruder.

She is getting better about it, but has been hesitant about letting my
husband or myself pet her, and she's usually quite friendly.
She follows Bob around and hisses at him every chance she gets.

Bob has been a gentleman, hasn't made any agressive move towards Maddy,
eats his own food (shares a litter box) and avoids Maddy for the most part.
I'm just wondering how long it will be before Maddy gets used to this male.

They have frequent mock fights wherein they paw furiously at the air in front
of each other, no-one lands a hit. 

What can I do to help Maddys acclamation to this new presence?
I can't keep Bob if she's going to be constantly upset...

PLEASE ADVISE ASAP!!!!!
Lori Keller
From: mverman@msus1.msus.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: stained hardwood floors
Date: 28 Aug 92 05:22:04 -0600
Distribution: usa
Organization: Minnesota State University System

The contractor who checked out the black stains in our newly purchased house
said replacemnt was only option.  But a specialist in floor installation had
other options, including sanding + bleaching.  Depends on extent and depth of
stain.  Check your yellow pages for hardwood floor repair.  They'll give
advice over the phone and might come out to offer a free estimate on the work 
-- at which time you can also get specific advice from them. 

Good luck!

... Shu

In article <59930@mimsy.umd.edu>, costello@cs.umd.edu (Lisa A. Costello)
writes:
> 
> This is my first real post here, so I hope this comes out OK!
> 
> Does anyone know of products that will clean urine-stained hardwood
> floors?  The floor is very badly damaged -- stained black, but the
> wood is still firm.  I'm willing to do just about anything to fix
> the floors, up to and including replacing them, if need be. (I'm sure
> my landlord would be glad to hear that!!)
> 
> Any advice?
> 
> Lisa Costello
> mom-cat to Gibson and Roxanne
> 
>
From: hannah@pomponio.ai.sri.com (Marsha Jo Hannah)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Naming cat behaviors
Date: 3 Sep 92 17:18:17 GMT
	<H.mbD4zvhyDPU@harvee.billerica.ma.us>
	<1992Sep1.155200.10149@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>
	<JOANM.92Sep2101349@moe.coe.uga.edu>
Distribution: usa
Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park, CA
In-reply-to: joanm@moe.coe.uga.edu's message of 2 Sep 92 15:13:49 GMT

In article <JOANM.92Sep2101349@moe.coe.uga.edu> joanm@moe.coe.uga.edu (Joan Maxfield UCNS) writes:

   Cat purring: motor running, ideling <- my personal favorite

   Joan

My dad (not a cat person, unfortunately) used to refer to purring
as "boiling".

Marsha Jo Hannah
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats