HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: dnk@yarra-glen.aaii.oz.au (David Kinny)
Subject: Re: HELP! Cat with asthma
Organization: Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 00:02:04 GMT

ELIZABETH M DREIKE <ICEMD@ASUACAD.BITNET> writes:

>My cat has a persistent dry cough that does not seem to be a regular "fur ball
>cough".  The vet seems to think it was asthma and has recommended regular shots
>of quartizone.  Has anyone had any experience with asthmatic cats and treatment
>for it?  I'd really appreciate any advice!

Bliss is a 10 month old abby, who has suffered from an intermittent
cough for the last 6 months.  Starting about 3 months ago, her coughing
attacks began to be followed by crouching, distress, laboured breathing,
etc.  After many diagnostic tests, none of which were positive, the vet
has decided that she has asthma or some other allergy.  He prescribed
cortisone (Prednisolone tablets) and it seems to have done the job.

Currently, I am trying to find the lowest dose that reliably prevents
the attacks.  Half a tablet every 2 days is not quite enough, especially
in the recent warm humid weather here.  Half every 36 hours seems to
be working.  There seem to be some side-effects; slightly reduced activity
and increased appetite being the obvious ones.

Apparently cats tolerate long-term cortisone better than dogs or humans
(is this right Kay?), but obviously I would prefer not to have her on it
constantly.  One possibility is using anti-histamines as a preventitive,
the other is using Ventolin to treat attacks (like human asthmatics use).
I'm going to try taking her off the cortisone for a while and see how
using Ventolin goes.  The problem with this of course is that you have
to be there when she has the attack.  Perhaps I could train her to use
an inhaler :-).

>Thanks

Hope this helps.

>Elizabeth and Annie (the cat)

David and Bliss (and Axel)

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: pandit@ssd.intel.com (Milind Pandit)
Subject: Re: Declawing
Organization: Supercomputer Systems Division (SSD), Intel
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 18:46:11 GMT

In article <1992Dec30.162530.4800@memstvx1.memst.edu> nvonstein@memstvx1.memst.edu writes:
>I have one cat in my clowder who has a bit of the
>jerk in him - Mikey will for no obvious reason walk over and just slap someone. 
>Because of this, we have made more than one emergency trip to Ruth's (the vet) for
>a nasty abscess from a claw.  All of us know how sick an abscess like that can
>make a cat.  In all good conscience, wouldn't it be more right to declaw Mikey
>than for everyone else to suffer because of his nasty attitude?
>
>The point I'm trying to make, and others of you have also said the same,
>everyone just has to do what is right for our little charges. I don't think we
>should judge each other for that.  

There are good reasons and bad reasons for doing just about anything.
What you have to realize is that for declawing, you better have a
really great reaon.  There is a chance the cat will be no worse for
the procedure.  There is also the risk that it will be severely
physically and emotionally damaged.  I think you have a good reason,
the well-being of other cats in your household.  Another good reason
to declaw a cat would be because it has incurable seizures and claws
itself.  In general, doing it for the cat or other defenseless
animals, when all alternatives have been exhausted, is a good reason.
Doing it for yourself or other powerful animals as the first attempted
solution is a bad reason.

-- 
Milind S. Pandit			| pandit@ssd.intel.com
Operating Systems Engineer		|
Intel Supercomputer Systems Division	| Standard Disclaimers Apply
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: phz@cadence.com (Pete Zakel)
Subject: Re: Favorite kind of cat - glad you asked
Organization: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 21:52:38 GMT

In article <1992Dec22.163839.9970@zia.aoc.nrao.edu> rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner) writes:
>I always felt the person who wrote the lyrics to "Lady and the Tramp" got the
>Siamese approach to life right:
>
>  We are Siamese, if you please,
>  We are Siamese, if you *don't* please.

Exactly right, but you have to give the full verse:

	We are Siamese, if you please.
	We are Siamese, if you don't please.
	We are former residents of Siam.
	There are no finer cats than *we* am!

All the 'r's are purred, of course.

Of course my favorite kind of cat is any cat that sits in my lap, rubs against
my leg, talks to me, meows, or purrs.

B^)

-Pete Zakel
 (phz@cadence.com or ..!uunet!cadence!phz)

Clothes make the man.  Naked people have little or no influence on society.
- Mark Twain
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Kitty Valium
Date: 31 Dec 92 13:31:49 -0600
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

In article <1hnm1iINNe94@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu>, ah881@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Joyce Brabner) writes:
> 
> Who has been giving this to their cats?  Why?  Any problems or
> successes noted?  The drug was suggested as way to help deal wi/
> some behavior problems ( not *MY* cats!  they are perfect! ;-) 
> RUTH has three little monsters, and it's been suggested that she
> ask her vet about this drug)

By kitty valium, I guess you're talking about acepromazine, which
is the most common tranquilizer for cats around this neck of the
woods.  It's chemically related to the human tranquilizer chlorpromazine,
not to valium.

I've used ace for travel problems (though it's a moot point as to
whether a screeching terrified cat or a silly-drunk singing cat
is harder to put up with), and for cats who freaked with changes in
their environment (Lucy was very upset when a friend was sleeping
on our living room floor till his apartment was ready-- the ace was
the ONLY way any of us got any sleep).   I've also used it on a
short term basis when introducing a new cat to the crew -- Dumdum
used to spray whenever there was a stranger around.

It seems to be quit safe and effective for short-term use.  HOWEVER,
it does rev some cats up (so if you're planning on using it to shut
the little darlings up on a long car trip, try it ahead of time), and
it seems to cause some problems with thermoregulation in some animals--
they can't maintain their correct body temperature in very hot or
very cold situations.

Best advice I have is talk to your vet.

Kay Klier  Biology Dept   UNI
From: dave.yuhas@ggcs.org (Dave Yuhas) 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: RE: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE
Date: 29 Dec 92 20:10:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Golden Gate Computer Society BBS - Marin, CA - 415-927-1216
Reply-To: dave.yuhas@ggcs.org (Dave Yuhas) 

I presently have two DSH's: a gray tabby and a calico.  They're both
nice cats, even if they do hate each other's guts.  But a few years ago
I met and fell in love with a Tokinese.  He was the most delighful cat
I've ever met.  He also needed a good home as his owner wasn't taking
very good care of him.  But I had three cats at the time and couldn't
think about bringing him home.

Dave Yuhas
---
 . OLX 2.2 . I got real close to seeing Elvis, but my shovel broke.
From: jerryg@jaiser.pail.com (Jerry Gaiser)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: What's Your Favorite Kind of Cat?
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 92 11:17:27 PST
Organization: Jerry's Attic, Gaston OR

petitc@vccsouth02.its.rpi.edu (Christopher Jon Petit) writes:

> I was wondering---what's your favorite kind of cat?  Siamese, Persian,
> Tomcat, Rex?
> 

The two I have now.... The brothers are DSH police cats. One sits on my
lap now, pinning my left arm down. Who could ask for more?

--
Jerry Gaiser (jerryg@jaiser.rain.com)              (voice) 503-359-4017
Fidonet 1:105/380                                    (bbs) 503-359-5111
PBBS n7pwf@n7pwf.or.usa.na
                                                 .. I read banned books ..
From: hecate@ac.dal.ca
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: re:favourite cat
Date: 31 Dec 92 11:35:11 -0400
Organization: Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Hmn, neat stroy about the Seattle non-apartment cats.
I was given a brief tour of the Canadian Navy base here
in Halifax last night. My friends took me there to see the
Christmas lights on the ships(they have a contest each
year), but the high point of the trip for me was being
told of the black cat colony on the base. It seems that 
there are about two or three dozen of these wild cats
(not stray, wild) who live around the base. A building
shelter is available to them in case of cold weather, and
the sailors bring in treats, food, etc. It's the only base
in Canada which is allowed to buy cat food! Neato! So, 
three cheers for the Navy. 
	And the cats I saw looked healthy and well-adapted
to their life. I wouldn't want it for my three spoiled
rotten babies, but if you gotta be wild, this seems a fair
arrangement. 

Julia Holland
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: minsky@media.mit.edu (Marvin Minsky)
Subject: Need advice about older cat and new puppy.
Organization: MIT Media Laboratory
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1993 06:29:53 GMT

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?

.
From: wd6cmu@netcom.com (Eric Williams)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Perils of Antifreeze
Date: 23 Dec 92 02:34:22 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)

One of my books says the first-aid antidote for antifreeze is vodka and
milk, but doesn't give any details.  Is this right?

-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eric Williams     wd6cmu@netcom.com  |  Never attribute to malice that which
WD6CMU@WD6CMU.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NA       |  is adequately explained by stupidity.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: diana@com (CatWoman )
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Post-spaying rejection - by older cat
Date: 25 Dec 92 15:05:54 GMT
Organization: Castle WetWare MouseCatcher

wall@cc.swarthmore.edu (Matthew Wall) writes:

] Well, we had a weird week. We took Didi, our six month old kitten, to the
] vet last Friday for an overnight stay for her sterilization operation.
] 
] The older cat, Gogo (5 yrs), who took about 2 months of surly growling to
] even accept Didi, spent the next day sulking around the house, running from
] room to room, presumably looking for Didi. It was kind of touching. Here
] was this grumpy old cat missing her kitten friend.

First off - Gogo most likely WAS missing Didi.  Cats don't
like change.  With three left, there's not as great a
problem with Chaplin gone - but there IS still a noticeable
change in the behaviour of the others.

The reason Gogo was grumpy when Didi got home is most
likely a two-fold reaction.  First off, Didi smelled
like vet.  Antiseptic, other animals, etc. - and since
the antiseptic is put on thoroughly, it continues to
be noticeable for several days.

Also - most animals are apt to avoid injured and sick
animals - unless they are trying to fight them or catch
them.  I don't know if it's an instinct to avoid 
infectious diseases, or a "respect" of the pain of an
injured animal, but I've noticed in mine that except
when un-avoidable, they will not go near one who is
sick (possibly because sick animals strike out?).  I
think this is mostly for bad injuries - I've seen them
try to comfort each other when I'm DOING them an
injury (like brushing one...) - first they'll come to
see why the one is screaming - but then they'll go hide
when they realize what's happening...

So it also may be that Didi smelled "injured".  

Hope all's calmed down now!

Diana
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: cc4507@u.cc.utah.edu (Chucki Carpinello)
Subject: Cat's top ten favorate christmas songs..
Organization: University of Utah Computer Center Student Mail Machine
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 92 03:11:33 GMT

Hey, I dont know if this was already posted, but I thnk it's real cute :)

CAT'S TOP THEN FAVORATE CHRISTMAS SONGS

10. Up on the Mousetop
9.  Have yourself a furrly little Christmas
8.  Joy to the curled
7.  I saw mommy hiss at santa Claus
6.  The first Meow
5.  O' come all ye fishful
4.  Silent Mice
3.  Fluffy,  the Snowman
2.  Jingle Balls

AND THE #1 CATS' CHRISTMAS SONG. . .

1.  WRECK THE HALLS!!
heh :)


-- 
Chucki Carpinello
__
\/	Chucki.Carpinello@M.CC.Utah.EDU
From: co940@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Nicholas E. Damato)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Q: Cats & Valerian root, what's the deal here?...
Date: 21 Dec 1992 07:57:36 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


Dear cat lovers,
I must confess, i like cats but am allergic, i grew up with
Dogs...(blasphemous around here i'm sure...)
 
However, I've come upon an interesting behavioral anomaly with
regards to cat's of a friend of mine, who asked me to post
this question:
 
I recently gave my neighbor some Valerian root tea to help
her relax and concentrate during finals. Guess what?
Her cat goes ape over Valerian root. (I get the root in
bulk from a local natural food-mart) It likes it more than
catnip. It paces back and forth in fron of the cupboard where
she 
keeps the herbs.
It ingests the root directly and becomes extremely hyper
it appears to hallucinate, chasing and scratching at
things that aren't there. then it mellows out, rolls around
and stares into the air batting at imaginary prey.
 
She recently gave some to a friend of hers who gave it to her
cat, with similar although not as marked results.
 
Q: is this a fluke?
Q: Is this bad for dottie ?
(that's the cat not my neighbor...)
Q: how much is too much?
 
any answers would be helpfull.
lllllll.
anybody else ever experience this phenomenon?
thanx,
happy holiday
nick.
From: dan@msen.com (Dan Sugalski)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: snowshoe cats
Date: 24 Dec 1992 19:50:47 GMT
Organization: Msen, Inc. -- Ann Arbor, Michigan
NNTP-Posting-Host: garnet.msen.com
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]

Jack Webb (Jack_Webb@mindlink.bc.ca) wrote:
: The snowshoe cat is a recent, manmade breed of cat.  They look kind of like
: Birmans, but without the long hair.  They are also known as Silver Lace cats.
: They are not widely recognized by any animal associations yet, so there
: aren't really any set standards for how they look.

: They have the same kind of points as a siamese (mask, ears, legs, tail), but
: at the end of each paw is a white mitten.  Usually found in seal point or
: blue point.

: I understand that they are medium size cats, have a loving character, and
: need a good amount of attention.  Hope that helps!

The Snowshoe is registered by both the American Cat Association and the
Cat Fanciers' Federation.  CFF recognizes the breed for championship
competition.

Here in Michigan, there seem to be a few showing in HHP classes at CFA shows.

Karen

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: Jack_Webb@mindlink.bc.ca (Jack Webb)
Subject: Re: cat colds?
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 01:22:18 GMT

> Gary Brower writes:
>
> Msg-ID: <8219@news.duke.edu>
> Posted: 22 Dec 92 21:59:47 GMT
>
> Mr. Growl has started sneezing over the last few days.  We're wondering
> if he has a cold.  All of his other behavior seems pretty normal.
>
> My sister-in-law's cat began sneezing, so she took him to the vet -- s/he
> told her that it would be gone in a couple of days.  And so it was.
>
> Any thoughts on suddenly-sneezing-cat-syndrome?  What do you do for a cat
> with a cold?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Gary
> GBROWER@ACPUB.DUKE.EDU


A lot of cats start to sneeze out of the blue due to allergies... something
to look out for.  They sometimes paw at their noses as well... just something
to look out for if your meower starts sneezing...

*j*

--
WE SAIL TONIGHT FOR SINGAPORE - WE'RE ALL AS MAD AS HATTERS HERE!!

*******************Jack_Webb@mindlink.bc.ca***********************
****VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA...HOME OF THE NEUROTIC****
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: hersh@expo.lcs.mit.edu (Jay Hersh)
Subject: Re: gunky eyes
Organization: X Consortium, MIT Laboratory for Computer Science
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 17:24:32 GMT

hmmm, my orange hair tabby-coon mix gets this all the time.
She has been to the vet (just recently for her shots) and was given
a completely clean bill of health.

Is it possible that some amount of gunk around the eyes is normal??
I know I often wake up in the mornings with crusty stuff around my eyes.

Unless this appears to be some off colored discharge I think it
may not be uncommon, but it is of course safest to check with your vet.


	JaH

--
Hopfen und Malz, Gott erhalts
From: pstevens@Metaphor.COM (Paul Stevens)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Cat "Toys"
Date: 21 Dec 92 23:50:22 GMT
Reply-To: pstevens@Metaphor.COM (Paul Stevens)
Organization: m4

My cat loves the holiday season.  All the wrapping of presents and boxes
for mailing is great fun for her!  I remembered a great cat game while
preparing some packages for mailing last night.  Take a brown paper bag
and place it on the floor.  Wait until the cat goes into the bag 
(shouldn't have to wait long).  Turn bag upright.  Tear a small hole in
corner of the bag.  Take a piece of ribbon (from wrapping presents) and
wave it tantilizingly just outside the hole, keeping all fingers and hands
at a safe distance.  A cat paw will soon begin darting in and out of the
hole, furiously attempting to grap the ellusive piece of ribbon.

Happy Holidays to everyone and feline friends!

+------------------------------------------------------------------------+

   Paul Stevens                        {apple|decwrl}!metaphor!pstevens
   Metaphor Computer Systems           pstevens@metaphor.com
   Mountain View, CA
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: rajeev@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (rajeev.dolas)
Subject: Re: Pregnant women/litter question
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 14:42:45 GMT

In article <1992Dec20.185844.16260@serval.net.wsu.edu> jeffp@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu (Jeff Parke;S10000) writes:
>In article <18717@mindlink.bc.ca> Jack_Webb@mindlink.bc.ca (Jack Webb) writes:
>>> Laura Bassi writes:
>>>
>>> Hi folks,
>>>   I recently caught a bit of a news piece that was saying something about
>>>   pregnant women and cat litter.  Apparently, contact w/ cat litter (used,
>>> I
>>>   assume :), is dangerous to the developing fetus. Anyone hear of anything
>>>   about this?  Thanks.
>>
>>
>>Yes, there is a danger of pregnant women contracting TOXOPLASMOSIS.  A
>>parasite that lives in cat feces can cause it.  Pregnant women don't have to
>>get rid of their cats, they just have to:
>>
>>a) get someone else to handle the litter box or:
>>
>>b) wear rubber gloves and a cheap filter mask that you can find at hardware
>>stores over your mouth and nose when you do it.  Wash your hands thoroughly
>>after handling the feces.  If you follow these precautions, you will have NO
>>PROBLEM.
>>
>>Also, remember that unused cat litter poses ABSOLUTELY NO THREAT.
>>Also, the incidence of this happening is VERY low... I have heard of many
>>women who didn't do the above, and were okay.  It's just that if you want to
>>be perfectly safe, that's the way to go.
>
	In addition to above precautions, our doctor recommended that
	my wife should not to collect leaves after raking if she notices cats
	hanging out in the yard. 
	After my wife got pregnant, I took over the litter cleaning job. Last
	month our Nosey died :-( , a terrible loss to both of us.

	Raj Dolas
From: matt@centerline.com (Matt Landau)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Cats and temporary adoption: is this wise?
Date: 3 Jan 1993 21:29:41 GMT
Organization: CenterLine Software, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: 140.239.1.32

I've had a lot of cats in my life (something like 50 altogether, if you
include the period when I was growing up and there were 32 of the little
wonders living in and around my house :-), but I've never had a cat like
Lucifer, the demon kitty.

Lucifer is the most striking cat I've ever seen -- the long, sleek body 
of a Bombay, black satin fur that glistens in the light but is so dark 
that he becomes invisible in almost any shadows, and copper/gold eyes 
that seem to positively glow.  

He's a 9 month old half-feral foundling that we adopted about 3 months
ago (he was found in the woodshed behind a friend's house, along with 
his mother and two brothers) and been trying to domesticate, with some 
limited success.  

He no longer runs out of the room if you walk past, and for the past 
couple of weeks he's been coming out into my girlfriend's living room 
(he lives with her) to play with things on the carpet, at least for a 
few minutes at a time.  When he's really hungry, he'll also deign to 
eat out of your hand, at least until he looks up and notices what he's 
doing :-)  Then it's back into the cat carrier that he's made into his 
safe little place of refuge.

The problem is that my girlfriend has to move on February 1st, so she's
moving in with me, but my landlord is allergic to cats.  Hence, there 
is no way we can keep Lucifer at my place.  My current thinking is that
we should try to find friends in the area who would be willing to look
after him until June, when we can move into a completely new place that
allows cats.  But I'm worried about the possible traumatizing effects of
taking him out of his home, just when he's beginning to trust us, and
leaving him in the care of strangers for four months, then trying to 
pick up where we left off.  

Even if we manage to go and visit him a few times a week, so he doesn't 
forget us, I'm not sure what the effect on him would be.  Obviously, I'm 
very attached to this kitten, and don't want to simply give him up; in
fact, I'd miss him terribly -- there's something very special about a wild 
cat who finally starts making tentative gestures toward you, as each bit 
of trust has to be painstakingly earned.  But on the other hand, I also 
don't want him to suffer needlessly just because I like having his 
company (on those still-rare occasions when we actually get to see him
out in the open for more than 5 minutes at a time :-)

So, does anyone have any words of wisdom to offer?  Has anyone tried to 
do this with a cat, and did it work out?  Or would Lucifer be better off 
if we just tried to find him a new permanent home?
--
 Matt Landau			Waiting for a flash of enlightenment
 matt@centerline.com			  in all this blood and thunder
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: green@ie.utoronto.ca (Marc Green)
Subject: Re: declawing?
Organization: University of Toronto, Department of Industrial Engineering
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 01:32:30 GMT

Cats should never, never be declawed. It is not just a matter of self
defense. The claws are necessary for cats to properly scratch, preen
and clean themselves. Desmond Morris, one of the top experts in animal
behavior, says that declawing is a horrible mutilation for a cat. People
considering declawing should read up on it first. It is a more drastic 
step than you might think.

Marc Green
Trent University