HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner)
Subject: Re: DECLAWING? (ALSO: PLUG FOR IL NO-KILL SHELTER)
Reply-To: rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner)
Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro NM
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 93 21:31:04 GMT

In article <1993Jan5.182755.2143@news.acns.nwu.edu> vleppert@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Valerie Leppert) writes:
>
>Here are the rules in their adoption agreement:

I have problems with a few of their rules. Not the common-sense ones like 
getting the cat neutered/spayed, annual vet visits, shots, basic care and
feeding, etc., just the ones where they impose their opinions on me.

>3. I will not allow my cat at liberty outdoors.  My cat is to be on a leash,
>in a carrier, or in a safe enclosed area when out of doors. (Note: this is in
>Chicago).

I'm assuming that the "Note:" is yours, not theirs. While it is obviously a 
good idea to keep your cat indoors in a busy urban area, what if I move to a 
rural one, where there are lots of trees, mice, etc. and the risk of being run 
over/kidnapped/whatever is negligible? At that point, I believe it is crueler 
to keep the cat indoors.

But perhaps a fenced 5-acre field could be considered a "safe enclosed area". 
At the very least, it's open to varying - and conflicting - definitions.

>9. If I move, I agree to notify Felines promptly of my new address and
>telephone number.

Am I supposed to notify Felines every time I move in the next 15 years? Even
if I go overseas? Nuts. I have too many people to notify already.

>11.  I hereby give Felines perission to telephone me and/or visit my residence
>during reasonable hours to check my cat.

Telephone, no problem. But visits? Not without reasonable notice and at a 
mutually-convenient agreed-upon-in-advance time, I don't. And even then ...

I have no argument that their hearts are in the right place, but I think 
they're pushing it a bit.

What happens if someone doesn't live up to some of these "rules" even if it's 
clear that the cat is in very good hands?
-- 
Ruth Milner                          NRAO/VLA                  Socorro NM
Computing Division Head      rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu
From: kkv@inel.gov (Jamie J Ferguson)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Low Magnesium Cat Foot?
Date: 8 Jan 93 15:17:17 GMT
Article-I.D.: inel.1993Jan8.151717.5049
Organization: Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho


One of our kitties needs special food too, but it didn't work well.
What we are doing now is buying only cat food with low ash (2.5% or
less) since high ash content is one of the contributing factors
in the urinary blockage problem.  From what you said it sounds like
your problem is different, but this might be worth a try.  Dry cat
food tends to have higher percentages so we make sure our cats
eat their canned before we give them any dry (otherwise they'd just
eat the dry!).  We also try to make sure ours (especially Zak, the
problem cat) get enough water -- they love to drink out of the faucet
in the bathroom, so we encourage them.


Jamie

========== 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: hannah@pomponio.ai.sri.com (Marsha Jo Hannah)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: is it too cold?
Date: 6 Jan 93 23:06:41 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park, CA
In-reply-to: amys@matt.ksu.ksu.edu's message of 6 Jan 93 22:37:11 GMT

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

   We have an ongoing debate at our house about where my cats should spend
   the night.   ...   Right now they
   have been relegated to the basement ... I
   measured the temp at 63 degrees (F), which ... seems kinda cool.  ...

   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? 

Our house isn't heated at night, and this time of year, the inside
temperature usually drops to somewhere between 55 and 65 by morning.
Our 2 cats have the alternatives of sleeping on the waterbed (heated
to 95 degrees), sleeping on the couch (at room temperature), or
sleeping outdoors (lows around 35 to 50 recently).  Usually, only the
heat-seeking calico sleeps on the waterbed, with her (black-and-white)
brother sleeping on the couch.  However, it is not unusual for one or
both of them to choose to sleep outside (weather permitting---being
wet is far more uncomfortable to them than being cold).  So, no, 63
isn't too cold, especially if they have a piece of furniture to sleep
on (i.e. can get up off the presumed concrete floor).

However, it IS cruel and unusual not to permit the cats to CHOOSE where
they sleep....

Marsha Jo Hannah
La Honda, CA
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner)
Subject: Re: cats' eye sight
Reply-To: rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner)
Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro NM
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 93 21:52:51 GMT

In article <C0KE4t.Jzs@cs.dal.ca> maillet@cs.dal.ca (Andre' Maillet) writes:
>In article <UfHMYk_00WBK01NXsc@andrew.cmu.edu>, am2x+@andrew.cmu.edu (Anna Matyas) writes:
>|> 
>|> Can someone explain what kind of eye sight cats have?  Do they see
>|> colors?  Does their day/night vision differ?  
>
>     As for their day/night vision, cats can see reasonably well in the day,
>but at night, their pupils become very large to take in minimal light. When 
>there is no light at all, they are as blind as we are.

I recall reading somewhere that one of the reasons cats' night vision is so
much better than ours is because the surface of their retina is partially
reflective, so it amplifies the available light. Not sure exactly how the
mechanics/optics of this work, but it's the same reason cats' eyes reflect
light so eerily when you spot them at night at just the right angle (usually 
with you directly between them and the light source).
-- 
Ruth Milner                          NRAO/VLA                  Socorro NM
Computing Division Head      rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu
From: jshouman@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Joan-Marie Shouman)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Cats and TV
Date: 11 Jan 93 00:05:43 GMT
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX


In article <111860027@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM> barryf@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Barry Fowler) writes:

>One of my four cats has been "watching TV" for about 2 years.  Actually, it
>watches the TV when it is off for 10 or 15 minute periods of time, looking
>at reflections on the screen.  

one of my cats does this too:

she normally will watch t.v. in the living room -- when it's on.  Then, one
day, we moved an ancient Zenith that we never use onto the floor (in the 
"to Goodwill" corner).  Now, she stares at it for up to 15 minutes at a time.
i thought maybe Tasha was smart enough to realize that the box was a t.v. and
was patiently waiting for it to turn itself on. guess the reflection theory is more reasonable 8-).

-- 
___________________________________________________    	      
Joan-Marie Shouman	      |non cogito ergo	   
(jshouman@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu) |non sum :)	   
___________________________________________________
Organization: Arizona State University
Date: Tuesday, 12 Jan 1993 13:27:41 MST
From: <IDJMW@ASUACAD.BITNET>Jo
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: How many cats do *you* have?
Distribution: na

just bought a condo cuz i was tired of apartment managers telling
me how many cats i could have!

in a two bedroom, two story, there are nine cats that allow me to live
there too.... two of which are kittens (but not for long)

Peanut - will be 11 years old in April-she rules the roost/black and fluffy
Oliver - 3 year old male, looks like a Holstein cow
Emily - 2 year old female, gray tabby but looks airbrushed

children:
Squeaky - will be 1 yr old next month, black short hair male
Worfy - has that Klingon face! 1 yr old next month, brother to Squeaky
        but has long fluffy hair
Angel - sister to above, gray tabby. definitely not an angel!

kitties:
Crockett - black semi fluffy male. baby brother to above.
Tubbs (alias Rico) - black skinny little brat brother to above. Both
                     are almost 4 months old

new addition, stray rescued from ASU campus:
Goldie (named after the Goldwater Building where she was stranded and
        crying so pathetically)
        calico approximately 8 months old. i think......

things only get a little strange when they decide to have steeple chases
up and down the stairs at midnight. ZOOM ZOOOM thump thump thump.



jo
From: joann.glenn@sdrc.com
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Shopping bag monsters
Date: 11 Jan 93 21:31:47 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: SDRC

My calico, Samantha, had the same experience.  She was sitting in the plastic
bag and decided to leave when her head got caught in the handle.  She ran from
room to room, bag in tow, peeing the entire time!  It took hours to retrieve
her from under the computer desk!
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: disaacs@pietrzak.carleton.ca (Dave Isaacs)
Subject: Re: Cats and TV
Organization: Carleton University
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 20:10:34 GMT

In <1ig8k1INNfh3@umbc8.umbc.edu> ac999257@umbc3.umbc.edu (ac999257) writes:

>I'd like to know if anyone else's cat does this. Carmen watches
>TV. Seriously! She sits on the end of my lazyboy recliner in the
>meatloaf position and watches TV for about 15 minutes at a time
>before curling up against my leg. The other night, a special
>on cats was on and she noticed it from her curled up position.
>She sat up and watched. The camera zoomed in on a cat face and
>she growled! Then they showed kittens. She got up, walked to the
>TV and stretched up and pawed the screen. This is NOT an isolated
>incident! And I'm totally serious!

I shared an apartment with a friend who had a TV watching cat.  Her cat,
Diamond, liked to watch hockey games.  I noticed her once watching a hockey
game: she would clean herself during the commercials and only watch when the
game was on.

Dave-- 
__________________________________________________________________________
 ____  ____  __  David Paul Isaacs ________________________________________
 _____ _____ __  Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering ________
 _____ ____  __  Carleton University ________________________________________
 ____  __    __  Ottawa, Ontario ___________________________________________
_________________disaacs@ccs.carleton.ca __________________________________
From: ac999257@umbc3.umbc.edu (ac999257)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Timing
Date: 6 Jan 1993 20:47:44 -0500
Organization: University of Maryland, Baltimore County Campus
NNTP-Posting-Host: umbc8.umbc.edu
Keywords: Heat, vet, hell.

In article <1674@ncrclm.ClemsonSC.NCR.COM> hack@ncrclm.ClemsonSC.NCR.COM (Elaine Hacklaender) writes:
>In article <1993Jan5.170619.2292@mtu.edu> jclannom@mathlab.mtu.edu (Joe
>
>C decided it for me.  He told me that a female cat goes into heat
>and stays that way until she mates.  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 g right back into  heat again.  I'd never

Can I have your vet's telephone number and address? I'd like to 
ask him about my experience with unspayed female cats. The two
I have in mind are both siamese, so they howl quite a bit while in
heat. Funny, but they didn't stay in heat for 6 months at a time.
They were in heat around a week every 6-8 weeks, as I recall. I
could be a little off, but no way did they *STAY* in heat. And with
a siamese cat, there is no shadow of a doubt as to when that cat
is in heat! Okay, no I am not a veterinarian. But I know my cats.
They were not in heat for six months at a time -- and no, they 
never mated. Are there any vets reading this that could clarify??

Mary



Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: amyk@netcom.com (Amy Kurtzman)
Subject: Re: Cat survives washer!
Organization: Amy's Boca-By-The-Sea Resort (sm)
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 02:40:07 GMT

In article <berthiau.726336331@iros1> bunny@gnu.ai.mit.edu (Eva Chan) writes:

>Well folks!  It's hard to believe it but this is what I read in today's
>paper....
>
>(not verbatim) 18-month old white kitty somehow got into the washer and 
>survived and entire wash cycle. He meowed his heart out throughout the 
>wash, spin and rinse cycles. Only when the washer had stopped did someone
>hear and rescue him.  It was only a miracle that the feline survived!

I always do a nose count before starting my washer or dryer. Ever
since I saw Lucy hop into the dryer as I was loading it, I've been
afraid of something like that happening. Lucy is all black, and the
bottom-of-the-line dryer supplied with this apartment has no interior
light, so I really do have to double check!

-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Amy Kurtzman                   |  "By August I'll be just a puddle."
amyk@netcom.COM                |     
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: reid@tsd.arlut.utexas.edu (Robert Reid)
Subject: Re: Need advice about older cat and new puppy.
Organization: Applied Research Labs, University of Texas at Austin
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 19:51:01 GMT

minsky@media.mit.edu (Marvin Minsky) writes:

>As a kitten, our now ~8 year old tiger cat Whiskers became attached to
>our semi-labrador dog Adrian, who died recently.  Whiskers always
>followed Adrian everywhere, worried when he was missing, comforted him
>during the long illness, and is now quite disconsolate.  My son and
>daugher-in-law live in an adjoining apartment and have just acquired a
>new (3 month? old) puppy, and we thought Whiskers might bond to her,
>but when we try to arrange a meeting, Whiskers hides.  Any ideas?
>Sprinkle catnip on the puppy?

>.

Mine is the same way around any new dog; just goes to hide. However, given
three days of uninterrupted time around the dog she is fine. I'd just
leave the two in either of your appartments for a week.

Rob
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: robyn@rs1.tcs.tulane.edu (robyn williamson)
Subject: Re: Cats and TV
Organization: Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 23:05:20 GMT
Nntp-Posting-Host-[nntpd-25056]: rs1.tcs.tulane.edu

In article <111860027@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM> barryf@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Barry Fowler) writes:
>One of my four cats has been "watching TV" for about 2 years.  Actually, it
>watches the TV when it is off for 10 or 15 minute periods of time, looking
>at reflections on the screen.  I recently moved to another home and it    
>continues to watch it (only when off).  She appears intriqued with
>the reflections on the screen and just stares at from the side.  Often there
>is no movement in the reflections and I am unsure whether she is looking
>at the reflective room items or herself on the screen.
>
>Actually, it must be a pretty smart cat.  The TV program selections are 
>generally pretty bad anyway :-)

My kitty does this also!  I know he's not watching himself because when I
move (and my reflection moves), he follows the movement with his head.
He can watch for hours.  He doesn't sit, but stands on his hind legs and
puts his front paws on the bottom of the screen.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner)
Subject: Re: I need help. My kittens like to run through my vertical blinds.
Reply-To: rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner)
Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro NM
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 93 23:17:41 GMT

In article <1993Jan8.151231.2986@titan.tsd.arlut.utexas.edu> reid@tsd.arlut.utexas.edu (Robert Reid) writes:
>rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner) writes:
>>The house we recently moved to has Venetian blinds (narrow horizontal strips).
>>Boots has figured out that she can see better if she puts her paw up and pulls
>>down a few of the ones right in front of her face. 
>
>Mine has decided that it is easier to just walk through the Venetian blinds
>so she can sit on the window sill. 
 
In our house the blinds are right against the window, with lots of room for
sitting on the ledge. I suspect it is uncomfortable behind the blinds; I've 
seen Boots do it, and she came back out again pretty quickly.
 
Once or twice I've raised them so she doesn't have to do this, but then she
forgets about the outside and plays with the pile of cord instead :-).
-- 
Ruth Milner                          NRAO/VLA                  Socorro NM
Computing Division Head      rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: levine@symcom.math.uiuc.edu (Lenore Levine)
Subject: Re: Things my strange cat likes to eat!
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1993 20:54:52 GMT

My cat likes to eat strange things too. She doesn't like people
food such as fish or chicken very much; as a matter of fact,
if I offer some to her, she'll give me a really dirty look!

However, she likes cornbread, and some canned vegetables. I once
saw her jump almost 6' up to get at some canned hearts of
palm. And then, there are those old favorites: Styrofoam,
cat hair (I have to keep it away from her when I'm combing
her), and barf!
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: margaret@infonode.ingr.com (Margaret Wiginton)
Subject: Please send FAQ
Organization: Intergraph Corporation, Huntsville, AL.
Distribution: rec
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 20:55:42 GMT

Could someone please send me the FAQ for rec.pets.cats?

Thanks, 
-- 
___________________
Margaret Wiginton
margaret@msw104i.b24b.ingr.com
From: delisle@astro.phy.ulaval.ca (Sonya Delisle)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Homemade Cat Food
Date: 7 Jan 93 23:47:39 GMT
Organization: Universite Laval, Ste-Foy, Qc, Canada

In article <1993Jan7.081525.4911@memstvx1.memst.edu> nvonstein@memstvx1.memst.edu writes:
>In article <1993Jan6.233439.18224@capalo.ingr.com>, joann@capalo.ingr.com (Joann Miller) writes:
>> Does anyone out there make their catfood?  I found some recipes
>> in a Cat Care Book which includes mashed vegetables, brewers
>> yeast, etc.  I followed the recipe for fish and my little dearies
>> stuck up their noses!  I also have a recipe for using liver, 
>> poultry and beef products, such as heart but haven't tried them
>> yet.  I would be happy to share if anyone is interested.
>
>I cook for mine - and it's a decision I don't regret.  Some of my kitties
>seemed to be having a problem with food allergies (I suspected the color added
>to commercial cat food - and canned food is just too expensive for 7 cats).  So
>I started cooking for them.  The basic recipe is ground meat (I use turkey -
>you can use beef, chicken, NOT PORK), liver, rice, water, salt, cooking oil
>(just a little) and I add vitamins and a can of tuna (with the oil).  I also
                                          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I read somewhere that tuna destroys vitamin E. This vitamin is important
for the fur of the cat, so tuna should never be fed to cats if you want
their coats to be glossy and soft. Don't know if it is true, though...

>chose to add greens (kale, collards, turnip).  
>
>Nancy

I used to cook for mine too, and I will start again as soon as my new kitten is
old enough to eat adult food. The recipe I have finally settled on is the
following:
1 cup of chopped, FRESH raw poultry (usually chicken, but turkey will do)
1/3 cup of grated, raw carrot
1/3 cup of cooked rolled oats
1/3 cup of chopped, cooked chicken liver.
I add to each meal 1 teaspoon of a mixture which contains brewer's yeast
and other things I forget, and once a week I give vitamin tablets.
I split up the resulting mixture into 4 jars, and freeze 3
immediately. One jar will feed my cat about 2 days (she has a strong
appetite), and raw chicken can last that long when kept in the fridge.
I got this recipe from Anita Frazier' book, The New Natural Cat (or
something like that, it's at home, can't remember exactly). My two-
year-old female turtoise shell, Puce, really loves this. I know the kitten,
Boule, will love it too (he goes crazy when he smells chicken). The book
suggests lots of other ingredients but this is the combination they love
best. 

==========================================================
Sonya Delisle		delisle@phy.ulaval.ca
==========================================================
Insert usual disclaimer here....
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: hyler@ast.saic.com (Buffy Hyler)
Subject: Re: Fill Him Out Diet
Reply-To: hyler@ast.saic.com
Organization: SAIC
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 18:33:34 GMT

Thanks for all the help!

I went to the local Petco and bought the Nutri-Cal supplement.  While
my 12-year old Fred cat isn't particularly enthused with this stuff
despite it's "palatable" label, he's hungry enough to still eat it
when mixed with his food.  Although he did check with me about six
times before reluctantly deciding I wasn't going to change the food.
And it was all gone by this morning.  Anyway, it seems to be the key
for now, thanks again!

(Now, the other two 1 year olds are mad because they think that Nutri-Cal
is kitty catnip and aren't getting any.  Those two are perfectly filled
out for their frame and I don't want to have to deal with slim down diets!
But they can have their Petramalt (?stuff for hairballs) treat each week,
so they're not too mad.  Of course Fred hates that stuff.  I think I see
a pattern...BTW, Fred also hates Pounce which the two others love.  What
is in all this stuff?!?!)

---
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Buffy Hyler (hyler@ast.saic.com)
SAIC, Campus Point
San Diego, California
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: ramirez@julia.math.ucla.edu (Alice Ramirez)
Subject: cat IQ test
Organization: UCLA Mathematics Department
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 93 17:25:19 GMT

So there sits Buster, my marmelade tabby, a good hunter, an excellent mouser.
He is sitting on the cat shelf, a shelf installed for him and his fellow
cat at the bedroom window.  For whatever reason, his tail is wagging. 

Suddenly he becomes aware of the tip, twitching back and forth.  

A-ha!! Prey!!   

He attacks, grabbing and biting.

He rears back, shocked at the sensation of pain.  Sits there looking 
puzzled.  Moments pass.  The tail begins to wag again.  Buster becomes
aware of the twitching again.  Once again attacks, once again retreats
in shock and pain.  Once again looks puzzled.  And so on and so on. 

Can this be considered a measurement of feline intelligence.  If the cat 
is dumb, he'll chase and attack his own tail?  If smart, he won't.