HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: sstover@sumax.seattleu.edu (   Wilde Dame)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Cat static!
Date: 4 Jan 1993 12:07:16 -0800
Organization: Seattle University
NNTP-Posting-Host: sumax.seattleu.edu

In article <1993Jan4.183308.16517@oz.plymouth.edu> patstew@oz.plymouth.edu (Pat Steward) writes:
:I have a domestic long-haired cat that has amazing static during the
:winter!  It wasn't a problem last year, so I suspect the carpet in my
:new apartment is the culprit.
:
:Does anyone have suggestions for de-staticing my poor kitty?  She gets
:a big shock whenever anyone touches her -- an audible CRACK! that can
:be very disconcerting if she's giving "kitty kisses" with her nose!
:
:Thanks, all.
:-- 
:Patricia Martin Steward                      patstew@oz.plymouth.edu

Hemingway is short-haired but his fur is very dense and seems to be worse
about picking up static than normal (Clio never seems to have any
problems).  Jokingly, my friend suggested I rub him with a fabric softener
sheet.  After receiving a rather fierce bite on the nose (since the 'kitty
kiss' was such a shocking experience for him... :) ) from Hemingway, I
decided I was desperate enough to try it.  Sure enough, it worked! 
Re-application after a few days helps but usually there are days when it's
really bad, and that's the only time I do it.  You might feel silly
chasing your cat around with a sheet of Bounce (Hemingway thinks I'm
subjecting him to some weird torture by doing this), but she'll be
happier, I guarantee it. :)

Good luck....


-- 
       Sheryl Stover  %  If you ask me what I have come to do in the world,
  & Hemingway & Clio  %  I who am an artist, I will reply: "I am here to
sstover@seattleu.edu  %  live aloud."                    -Emile Zola
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: vicki@steam.atd.ucar.edu (Vicki Holzhauer)
Subject: Re: choose him or your cats??????
Organization: Atmospheric Technology Division/NCAR Boulder, CO
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 20:39:00 GMT


Give the guy up.  You can always find another man; cats are your
companions for life and cannot really be replaced.  You would always
feel guilty about getting rid of them.  Do you really love the guy
*that* much?

--
Vicki Holzhauer, National Center for Atmospheric Research
Boulder, Colorado / / / /  vicki@ncar.ucar.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: drl@sol.acs.unt.edu (Dianna Laakso)
Subject: My kitty is afraid of fans!
Organization: University of North Texas
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 01:28:01 GMT

A few weeks ago I found a very young kitten in the parking lot at school.
He was huddled under some leaves at the base of a tree, trying to keep
warm and dry in the rain. I took him home, and noticed he was in pain and
had difficulty moving around. The vet's diagnosis was a fractured pelvis.
I babied him until he was better, and decided to keep him. His name is
Data, and he's a black and white male with the short, soft fur and a 
bright pink nose.

Anyway, Data is afraid of fans. If he walks into a room and sees the ceiling
fan spinning around, he loses it...hisses ferociously and growls, then runs 
for cover and hides. My friend thought that maybe Data hurt himself by 
climbing into a car's engine to keep warm, and had to make a quick escape
when someone started it up. He _did_ have some black, oily dirt on his
legs when I found him...

I'd appreciate hearing any ideas or comments as to why he's so terrified of
fans!

Thanks in advance,
Dianna
drl@unt.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: wd6cmu@netcom.com (Eric Williams)
Subject: Re: Cat insomnia ritual..Help! 
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 20:16:06 GMT

You could try vigorous play just before you go to bed to try to tire
her out.  My pair are usually very active just as I am going to bed,
but luckily they mostly take it out on each other, though they sometimes
start a wrestling match on the bed and I have to shovel them onto the
floor.
-- 
Eric Williams     wd6cmu@netcom.com  |  Never attribute to malice that which
WD6CMU@WD6CMU.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NA       |  is adequately explained by stupidity.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: kkv@inel.gov (Jamie J Ferguson)
Subject: Re: Cat survives washer!
Organization: Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 93 19:54:10 GMT


When I was 3 or 4 years old my Siamese cat Chang got dried in the
dryer, but didn't survive (I think they put him to sleep at the
vet's).  He and I used to sit in there together on the warm towels,
and I guess my mom just didn't notice when he got in without me.
I always double check my dryer!  I still remember them taking
him to the vet in an old army blanket.


Jamie

the pack:  Kenzie   -- 1 yr old black Lab X
           Meggin   -- 8 month old Australian Shepherd X
           Harrison -- 4 month old Border Collie X

the herd:  Kieri -- 5 1/2 yr old lilac point Siamese
           Zak   -- 5 1/2 yr old blue point Siamese
           Duke  -- 1 yr old seal point Siamese

========== long legal disclaimer follows, press n to skip ===========

Neither the United States Government or the Idaho National Engineering
Laboratory or any of their employees, makes any warranty, whatsoever,
implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility regarding any
information, disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe
privately owned rights.  No specific reference constitutes or implies
endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States
Government or the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory.  The views and
opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the
United States Government or the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory,
and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.
From: tittle@ics.uci.edu (Cindy Tittle Moore)
Subject: Re: is it too cold?
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Reply-To: tittle@ics.uci.edu (Cindy Tittle Moore)
Organization: ICS Dept., UC Irvine
Date: 6 Jan 93 23:02:08 GMT
Distribution: na

In <1ifmunINNqch@matt.ksu.ksu.edu> amys@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (Amy Schlotthauer) writes:

>"Since you will never
>believe me in regard to a cat issue", my husband in all his wisdom says,
>"ask that cat group of yours."

Heh, heh...

>SO, don't you all agree that it is cruel and unusual punishment for my
>cats to have to spend the night in 63 degrees?

Naw.  As long as they have something soft and comfortable to sleep on.
But why banish them?  Do you have allergies?  Do they roar and race
through the house?

--Cindy
--
   Cindy Tittle Moore & Noisy Underfoot (bird watcher extraordinaire)

I post the rec.pets.cats FAQ (in three parts) every 25 days.  To get the FAQ:
ftp to pit-manager.mit.edu and look under /pub/usenet/news.answers/cats-faq/*
(part1, part2, part3), or send email to mail-server@pit-manager.mit.edu with
send usenet/news.answers/cats-faq/part1
send usenet/news.answers/cats-faq/part2
send usenet/news.answers/cats-faq/part3
in the body (leave subject line empty).  Send contributions and comments
to me; send questions not covered in the FAQ to the newsgroup.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: petitc@vccnw01.its.rpi.edu (Christopher Jon Petit)
Subject: Unusual Cat Abilities
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 14:06:21 GMT

I'd like to know what strange abilities your cat has shown, or what abilities
you think that cats generally have.

Personally, I've seen that cats can...

Be empathic (extremely so---if you're upset your kitty knows and tries to help
comfort you)

Predict the weather (to some extent)


-- 
Cat Owner/Passionate Romantic/Poet/Singer/Dreamer/Philosopher...
That's me!  Modest?  Sometimes.  Crazy?  BETTER BELIEVE IT!! :&)
"The greatest beauty in the world is beauty that is private."
"Protect endangered species!  Contribute to the Exxon Supporter's Fund!"
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Halogen Torchiere--Cat Idol?
From: <JMN101@psuvm.psu.edu>
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1993 18:29:49 EST
Organization: Penn State University

In article <93008.131644FHSKRS@BYUVM.BITNET>, <FHSKRS@BYUVM.BITNET> says:
>
>I got a brass halogen torchiere lamp for Christmas and Kit-Kat seems
>to be worshipping it!  She will sit for ages on the piano, staring up
>at the brass bowl.  Occasionally, she'll mew anxiously and reach a paw
>out.  I thought perhaps she could see reflections of movement in the

  It sounds to me like she is trying to figure out just how she can manage
to jump inside (or on top of) your new lamp.  That is the only reason my
cat will stare *UP* at things.  It usually doesn't take him too long to
make an actual attempt.  Good luck.  Jenae
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: dschlow@epas.utoronto.ca (Deborah Schlow)
Subject: Re: A favor to ask....
Organization: University of Toronto - EPAS
Distribution: rec.pets.cats
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 07:43:03 GMT
Followup-To: A favor to ask
Summary: sympathy
Keywords: cats sympathy loss favor

In article <1993Jan7.174823.1@hamp.hampshire.edu> mdorfman@hamp.hampshire.edu writes:
>
>
>I hope this is not against the rules, or in bad form or something, but I have
>a favor to ask.....
>
>
>My fiancee and I just lost our beloved cat of five years.  Gussie was hit by a
>car a few weeks ago, and we miss her very much.  She was a wonderful, noble
>cat, and taught us so much about love.  It has been a terrible loss for both
>of us.
>     
>
>
>My fiancee is taking it particularly hard.  We just moved into a new house
>(hence the busy road that took Gussie's life), and are new in town.  I know
>a lot of people from work, and they have been a wonderful support, but my
>fiancee is a student and hasn't made a lot of friends.
>
>The favor:  If it is not too much trouble, would some of you cat-lovers out
>there mind sending an e-mail sympathy card to my fiancee?  I am sure it would
>help her to know that there are other cat people who can understand her loss.
>It would really mean a lot.
>
>Her name is Liz Stearns, and her e-mail address is:
>
>e_stearns@uvmvax.uvm.edu
>
>Thank you for your understanding & patience if I am breaking the rules....
>
>
>Michael Dorfman



Dear Liz and Michael,

I tried to post to Liz a couple of times and the mail kept bouncing
back. You both have my deepest sympathy on the loss of your Gussie.
Vera and Sting send lots of kitty snuggles.

Deborah
From: nlp@pacvax.pacersoft.com (Nancy Pilsch)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Change in diet
Date: 11 Jan 93 23:17:03 GMT
Followup-To: rec.pets.cats
Organization: Pacer Software, Inc

I had this problem.  When I first got my cats I fed them Whiskas dry.  The
litterbox is in the bathroom in our bedroom and we would often be woken up
at 6am by this terrible stench.  I tried Iams, and that totally fixed that
problem!  Oh yea, and the poops were alot smaller and more solid.  I asked
the vet about this and he explained that the Iams and similar foods have a
higher nutritional content, and therefore more of the food is digested and
used by the cat's body.  I switched to Hill's Science diet because the vet
said it would be more palatable to the kitties than Iams.  That brand also
controls the stinky problem.  They do indeed like it better than Iams, so
much more that I've had to cut down the amount of canned food I feed them
because they don't eat as much of it.  The only problem I had was that
Hobbes gained about 4 lbs when I switched to Iams.  Thats alot for a cat,
so I just cut the amount of food in half.  
I don't thinks it hurts a cat to switch their food.  My cats don't seem to
mind a variety of canned foods.  Maybe the guy was giving you a sales
pitch.

Now I have a question.  The other morning Calvin pooped on the bathroom rug
(which isn't normal for him) and the stool had blood in it.  Of course I
panicked!  The vet tested a stool sample that came up negative.  He said
that sometimes cats get blood in their stools for no particular reason. 
Has anyone else experieced this?  If so, did you ever find out the cause? 
He hasn't pooped anywhere else besides the litterbox since then, and I
haven't found anymore bloody poops.  His appetite seems fine, and he was
wrestling enthusiastically with Hobbes when I left for work this am.

Nancy
Calvin & Hobbes  
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: ramirez@julia.math.ucla.edu (Alice Ramirez)
Subject: excessive water drinking/urination
Organization: UCLA Mathematics Department
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 93 16:15:36 GMT

Recently a poster asked a question about a cat that was drinking an excessive 
amount of water.  If the cat is an older cat, and is also urinating 
excessively, please have him given a kidney function test (I believe this
is a combination urine and blood test).  This can also be (in addition to
diabetes and infection) an early symptom of chronic renal failure.
Although the disease is ultimately fatal, early treatment can prolong the
affect cat's life for at least a year, maybe two, with little convenience
to the cat (involves a pill a day plus a change to a low-protein diet.)

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: hyler@ast.saic.com (Buffy Hyler)
Subject: Fill Him Out Diet
Reply-To: hyler@ast.saic.com
Organization: SAIC
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 18:28:51 GMT

I'll be talking to the vet today, but was wondering if there were
others with a similar problem and what their solutions were:

I have a 13 year old red tabby named Fred.  Both last Christmas and
this Christmas he caught some sort of bug.  Last Christmas the
antibiotics weren't working so the vet switched them and that did the
trick.  This Christmas he wasn't quite as sick and was bouncing back
within 24 hours of the first antibiotic.  BUT, last Christmas he ended
up very thin as a result of the length of the illness.  With a little
time and no real change in feeding he was finally filling out again at
the end of the summer (~9 months).  Well, now he's back to his ill
looking skinny self as a result of the latest bug.

So, are there any ideas on what to feed him to give him a little extra
heft and bulk?  When he was ill I was feeding him veal/beef baby food
since that was about all he was interested in. But I know he needs more
than just pure protein.  He will not eat dried food at all, he never
has.  And I'm not willing to "starve" him into eating it.  Especially
now!  He also will not eat that semi moist food.  So the solution has
to be either canned commercial or homemade (or baby food).  My hope was
to give him something for the next month or so until he's really
bounced back and then ween him back to his normal cat food.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

---
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Buffy Hyler (hyler@ast.saic.com)
SAIC, Campus Point
San Diego, California
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: thiessen@emr1.emr.ca (Tracy Thiessen)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: DECLAWING?
Date: 6 Jan 93 18:11:30 GMT
Organization: Energy, Mines, and Resources, Ottawa

In article <1ictmoINN972@agate.berkeley.edu> spp@zabriskie.berkeley.edu (Steve Pope) writes:
>> In my area, animals who are allowed to roam freely
>> rapidly become road pizza.
>
>Right.  This is why I qualified my statement that
>cats should be given sufficient time outdoors
>*if practical*.
>
>If it's not practical (i.e. safe) to let the cat out
>a bunch then obviously don't do it.
>
>In my opinion, if you are in a crowded high-traffic
>area you ought to reconsider whether it is practical
>to keep a cat in the first place -- unless you have
>a specific, known-good-behavior, indoor cat in 
>mind.  
>
Yes, but.  Nature or nurture?

In my opinion, a cat can be conditioned to
live happy, productive kitty lives indoors,
particularly if you adopt them at a very
young age.  Hell, this is one reason why some
people like cats better than dogs.

And it is also possible that
you wind up with a happy indoor cat who
submits to most of your indoor rules, but
who rips up furniture when you're not home.
(I, for one, have no doubt that the Dougmeister
frequents the forbidden kitchen shelf when
we are absent, only to deny that he was the one
up there playing with the plant when we get home.)

>Steve
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: jessica@wrs.com (Jessica Hart)
Subject: Re: I need help.  My kittens like to run through my vertical blinds.
Organization: Wind River Systems, Inc.
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 22:58:14 GMT



I used to get waked up regularly by the cats climbing through
the blinds (regular horizontal slats). Now we have an apartment
with cheap paper "accordion" blinds. 

Last night I'm awakened by a very LOUD rasping noise. Sounds like
an amplified version of a cat tongue licking out a bowl. There is
Hobbes (Balinese lookalike) licking the inside of the paper blind.
Why???? Not the outside; he had to get between the blind and the
window, then start licking assiduously. The paper blind seems to
act like the head of a drum, amplifying the sound of that little
barb-covered tongue.

Maybe we should get together and write a book about our cats'
strange eating habits, like "Paper blinds, coffee grounds, and
other gourmet feline treats".

jessica@wrs.com
From: ac999257@umbc3.umbc.edu (ac999257)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: "Tossing cookies"
Date: 9 Jan 1993 01:51:29 -0500
Organization: University of Maryland, Baltimore County Campus
NNTP-Posting-Host: umbc8.umbc.edu

In article <93008.132043FHSKRS@BYUVM.BITNET> <FHSKRS@BYUVM.BITNET> writes:
>I've got three cats and for the past several weeks, I've been finding
>little puddles of undigested food 2 or 3 times a week scattered around
>the house.  I'm not sure which cat is the culprit, but I've treated all
>three for hair balls to no avail. 
>

I wrote in a posting a few weeks ago about my cat Ms. Agnes Depesto
and her teeth problems. She had a terrible decay problem and had
to have 7 removed. (Don't worry, she's fine and I'm $300 dollars
poorer). She doesn't like me brushing her teeth and I never forced
the issue because I did not understand the consequences. I brush
her remaining teeth now. Anyhow...

Agnes often threw up undigested food. I just thought she was
eating too fast. She was healthy and seemed okay, so I had
no idea she was having problems. My vet told me that a cats teeth
don't meet like ours do, so they don't chew like us. They
can swallow their food in chunks we wouldn't expect. Agnes
was not chewing her food because it hurt, and I missed the
warning sign of her throwing up her food.

This is probably just one of the things that could cause a
cat to regularly throwup. You should think of making a visit
to the vet. Good luck!

Mary

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: david@tms390.micro.ti.com (David Thomas)
Subject: Re: Timing
Keywords: Heat, vet, hell.
Organization: Texas Instruments, Houston
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 00:22:14 GMT

hack@ncrclm.ClemsonSC.NCR.COM (Elaine Hacklaender) writes:

>...he said that for a cat who
>doesn't mate, the time in heat could last up to 6 months and then 
>she could turn around and go right back into  heat again.  
>I went ahead and had the Meekster fixed and I don't regret it (much).

Well, it just *seems* like 6 months.  When they start "fast cycling"--
two weeks on and one week off--it might as well be continuous.  I'm 
sure she's much more comfortable now.
-- 
David Thomas  Texas Instruments  (david@wotangate.sc.ti.com)  (713)-274-2347
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: Christine_Code@mindlink.bc.ca (Christine Code)
Subject: HELP! Kitten poops in bathtub.
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1993 16:17:29 GMT

What can we do to deter our kitten (he's about 2 months old) from pooping in
the bathtub?

We've tried keeping a bit of water in the tub, but we can't find a completely
leak proof tub-stopper, so the water soon drains out.  :(   We don't want to
fill the tub up all the way, because we'd be afraid of drowning our little
friend if he jumps in thinking that the tub is empty.

We change his litter frequently.   We scold him when we catch him pooping in
the tub.  We reward him with a kitty treat and much praise when we find him
pooping in the litter box.  Hopefully this will all have some effect.

Any additional ideas?  If there is a leak-proof bathtub stopper on the
market, please tell me how I can get one!

Thanks


...Christine

--

==========================================================================
Christine Code                 *
                               *  "A bear, however hard he tries,
Vancouver, B.C, CANADA         *   Grows tubby without exercise."
Christine_Code@MindLink.bc.ca  *                   -A.A. Milne
==========================================================================
From: ambar@cygnus.com (Jean Marie Diaz)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: cat in heat?
Date: 6 Jan 93 00:57:09 GMT
Organization: Redheads Anonymous
In-reply-to: deeds@oracle's message of 5 Jan 93 00:43:01 GMT

In article <24609@hacgate.SCG.HAC.COM> deeds@oracle (Deanna J. Deeds) writes:

   I understand that the vet community is now of the opinion that 
   females should be spayed even earlier than we'd thought before, more
   like 4 months than 6 months which was common practice just in the
   last year or so.  At least my vet is pushing me to bring mine in
   that young.  "But she's still so *LITTLE* !"  I whine...

Actually, I've read of papers showing successful spays and neuters at 8
weeks of age.  This is something I'm keeping a close eye on, as a
breeder, since the peace of mind I'd get from knowing that every
not-for-breeding kitten that left my house was already neutered would be
worth every penny.  (Mine don't go to their new owners until they're 12
weeks old, so that they're fully vaccinated as well as socialized.)

(ObBreedingNote: Jenny (red classic tabby and white Maine Coon) not only
collected grand points at her first-ever show as a champion this past
weekend, but went off last night for a tryst with QGC Mymains Mike
Malone of Suzeran (red classic tabby).  A whole litter of reds!  I'm
looking forward to it, can you tell? :-)

				AMBAR
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: lhuffman@stsci.edu
Subject: Re: "Tossing cookies"
Organization: Space Telescope Science Institute
Distribution: na
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1993 02:04:24 GMT

In article <93008.132043FHSKRS@BYUVM.BITNET>, <FHSKRS@BYUVM.BITNET> writes:
> I've got three cats and for the past several weeks, I've been finding
> little puddles of undigested food 2 or 3 times a week scattered around
> the house.  I'm not sure which cat is the culprit, but I've treated all
> three for hair balls to no avail.  None of the beasties seems to be
> sick; all have a healthy appetite and none is lethargic.  I'm getting
> concerned (as well as tired of cleaning up the mess!).  Any suggestions?
> If this is addressed in FAQ, please let me know how I can get a copy.
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
Perhaps this might help in solving your problem...

My cat Fanny who seems to shed more than my other 4, was ALWAYS throwing up.
I had cat-food colored stains all over my rugs, and the sounds of cats retching
became like background music in my house... the others also did their share
to augment the choral tones.

I got a flea comb and started a ritual with my cats, initially to help
control the fleas, by setting up a little grooming station at my favorite lounge
chair by the TV. I had my cup of soapy water, some paper towels, and the flea 
comb always available. Once they felt how good it was to be rid of the fleas 
and the dirt, and to be lightly scratched all over, as soon as they'd hear my
butt hit the chair, they'd all fight over who got to sit in my lap to get 
groomed, what with pushing and swatting and hissing.

Anyway, a side benefit of combing for fleas I found is combing out all the 
loose hair in their coats. Fanny especially loves it and I do get a lot of
loose hair out of her coat all the time.

It wasn't too long after the ritual became established that I noticed
the 'music' stopped and my rugs are clean. (I actually have a white runner
in my hall that is not pock-marked.)  So, I can only conclude that they
were all throwing up because of the hair in their bellies. Combing out the
fleas lessened their need to compulsively groom, and combing out the loose hair
lessened the hair that got to their stomachs when they did groom. 

Hope this bit of experience helps you figure out solutions to your problems.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats,rec.pets.dogs