HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: Valaria_Vorlop@mindlink.bc.ca (Valaria Vorlop)
Subject: Should I Toilet Train My Cats?
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 00:28:28 GMT

I have two cats who use the litter box reliably, but lately I have been
thinking it would be nice to toilet train them...no more buying litter, no
more smell, no more litter spilled from the litter box! I used to think I
would wait until I had a guest bathroom so that the cats could use it, where
I live now I only have one bathroom. I was thinking, "I wouldn't like dirty
cat feet on my toilet seat!" but it finally occured to me that without a
litter box to scratch in, the feet aren't going to be all that dirty (my cats
are indoor only).

I know HOW to train them, I am still not sure I should and I'd like to hear
from those of you who have toilet trained cats, had toilet trained cats, or
tried to toilet train your cats. How reliable are your cats?? I'd rather
stick with a litter box if it means risking cat pee under the bed! Did you
have any problems? Is it a bad idea for hygenic reasons? Do you keep a litter
box out for them too? Is there a big line-up to use the washroom in the
morning :)
If it helps to know, my cats are very un-fussy when it comes to their litter
box: I have used every possible type of litter and they have never refused to
use it even if I haven't been too quick to clean it.

Thanks for any advice, please send a copy via E-mail as I don't read this
group regularly...I can summarise if anybody is interested...


--
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *   ********************************************
Valaria_Vorlop@mindlink.bc.ca   *For YEARS I wondered what ceiling wax was.*
or:      a4080@mindlink.bc.ca   ********************************************
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *                        *******
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: petitc@vccsouth04.its.rpi.edu (Christopher Jon Petit)
Subject: Re: soft paws
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 23:38:35 GMT

hirschon@ast.saic.com (Donna Hirschon (x5177)) writes:

>Re press-on nails for cats.  Now I've heard everything!

 Yeah, I can imagine a whole new line of Kitty Fashions coming out:

 "Does your kitty 'get it' as often as she likes?"
 "Does she hear the other male kitties tell her 'Let's just be friends' when-
  ever she's in heat?"
 "If so, then SHE needs Kitty Fashions.  We've got Lee Press-on Claws, Fish
  Cannery #5, and a whole line of kitty accessories that no self-respecting
  female feline should be without."

 :&)

-- 
Now on sale, in Aisle 5 of the Divine Supermarket---Lives, and Clues.  Buy
yours now and avoid the rush!  They make great Christmas gifts!
Cynicism is only realism projected into the future.
If your fondest wish is to fly, don't draw up plans for flippers.
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Fur Balls (Hair Balls)
Date: 16 Dec 92 18:45:36 -0600
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

In article <1992Dec16.223535.10343@ast.saic.com>, hirschon@ast.saic.com (Donna Hirschon (x5177)) writes:
> What do people feed their cats to take care of the fur ball problem 
>when the cat detests the medicine (such as Petramalt)?  
>I've been giving mine 1/2 teaspoon olive oil per can of cat food 
>(and she gets half a can each night in addition to dry food left 
>out all day) but we still occasionally have problems with her 
>throwing up in the house. She has no access to grass, so eats 
>"spider" plant, which happens to be growing on our walled in patio.  
>Should I get grass for her???  Any suggestions will be apprecia

Hi, Donna!  Don't forget the carriage returns!  Some of us
have hiccupy newsreaders...  ;-)

Personally, I just put a stick of margarine down for my crew when
we seem to be having hairball trouble.  They like butter better, though...

If you're talking Chlorophytum as spider plant (long leaves in clumps,
then sends out long runners with a clump of new leaves at the end;
occasionally produces small white flowers on long inflorescences),
spider plant won't hurt her, and has about the same effect as grass.

Kay Klier  Biology Dept  UNI

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: chelf@lunatix.uucp (Chad Helfenberger)
Subject: Re: UL: Monumental LSD overdose taken (was: Re: Brands of LSD)
Organization: Lexington Public Access Unix. -KY- (606) 255-9121
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 09:57:21 GMT

In article <sf=2q6m00iV445H9dw@andrew.cmu.edu> sl31+@andrew.cmu.edu (Stephen M. Lacy) writes:
>Excerpts from netnews.alt.drugs: 14-Dec-92 Re: UL: Monumental LSD over..
>by Michael J Maryo @udecc.e 
>> thing that gets me is that even know we all know the effects and dangers (?)
>> associated with drugs, there are still a lot of us who do use them.  But the
>> difference is that we use them wisely and responsibly.  The knowledge that
>
>Please, let me know how to take an illegal drug "wisely and responsibly"
>  I'm quite interested.
>
>Steve

The legality of a drug has NO bearing whatsoever on whether or not it can be 
used wisely and responsibly.  Do you use aspirin wisely and responsibly (ie, 
you don't take the whole bottle at a time?)  I'm sure you do.  I rest my 
case.


-- 
Chad Helfenberger
(chelf@lunatix.uucp) 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats,alt.drugs,talk.bizzare
From: lewis@aera8700.mitre.org (Keith Lewis)
Subject: Re: Leakage from alt.drugs
Organization: The MITRE Corporation
    <1992Dec18.032106.7733@tms390.micro.ti.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 17:30:52 GMT

In article <1992Dec18.032106.7733@tms390.micro.ti.com>, david@tms390.micro.ti.com (David Thomas) writes:
>Well, considering the source of these messages (alt.drugs), it's no wonder 
>that the original posting was cross-posted to an inappropriate newsgroup, 
>and that all the people who replied are unaware that they are doing the 
>same on every follow-up.

Actually, some random asshole on talk.bizzare got tired of the thread and
posted an article to rec.arts.startrek.misc complaining about it being
posted there (which it wasn't until he did it), along with some inflammatory
anti-drug comments.  He set followups to alt.drugs and rec.pets.cats.  The
asshole's post has since been cancelled (so I can't tell you his name).

It was a juvenile ploy to pit a group of irritable people against a group of
politically incorrect people.  Did it work?

Keith Lewis             klewis@mitre.org          "Mr. Cheap"
I don't dance to music; music dances to me.  Email me for my PGP key.
The above may not (yet) represent the opinions of my employer.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: amanda@rana.usc.edu (Amanda Bischoff)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: fat kitty
Date: 11 Dec 1992 15:37:54 -0800
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Distribution: usa,na
NNTP-Posting-Host: rana.usc.edu

In article <1992Dec11.074629.1@stsci.edu> lhuffman@stsci.edu writes:
>In article <1992Dec11.025647.2811@cgrg.ohio-state.edu>, demetri@cgrg.ohio-state.edu  writes:
>> Just to clear this point, we are feeding Socrates and Moxie quality grub.
....stuff deleted....

>Dad's though 'cheap' is a high quality food. My cats eat it and IAMs and while
>the kitties are kitties of substance, they are in excellent condition and 
>weight. Don't feel guilty about feeding Dad's.
>
>I do know I ran into a lot of problems with some of my cats, I had 15 at the
>time, when I used Science Diet Lite. About a third of my cats began to get
>bloody stools, probably from the high roughage, and they started to eat more 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I hate to admit that in a way I'm relieved to hear that.  My housemate and I
had switched our two to Science Diet, and I noticed that Ozzy started getting
bloody stools.  Now they eat Natural Life and the occasional Fancy Feast or
Friskies, and they are much happier.


Amanda and Ozzy
From: wd6cmu@netcom.com (Eric Williams)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: main coon kittens?
Date: 16 Dec 92 05:40:21 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)

mpmarie@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov (MARIE HUCOVSKY) writes:
> I was wondering how to tell a main coon kitten from any other breed of 
> kittens?

I just received in the mail a copy of, "That Yankee Cat, the Maine Coon"
by Marilis Hornidge, who has this to say about picking a kitten that looks
like a Maine Coon:

"A Maine Coon kitten at five to six weeks will usually begin to look
 shaggy as well as fluffy.  The tufts in its ears, on top of its ears,
 and both on and under the paws will be quite apparent, and the
 thickening neck ruff will begin to appear.  The plumy tail will not; it
 seems to be one of the last characteristics to appear;  which it then
 does overnight in the middle kittenhood.  The kitten's legs will look
 sturdy, its paws unusually large, and its ears gigantic.  These
 characteristic exagerations of the extremeties are somewhat less evident
 in the female, which will be proportionally smaller anyhow, but they
 will be in evidence."

Maine-Coon-type (sometimes called "shag") kittens are often available
for adoption in northern New England, according to the book. 

Several excelent stories in the book which I'd love to share, but would
probably get me in trouble for copyright violation.
-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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: srscnslt@telesciences.com (SRS Consultant)
Subject: Re: alternative disciplinary measures?
Organization: TeleSciences CO Systems, Inc.
Distribution: world,local
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 14:34:52 GMT

In article <15DEC199208411358@milori.ccit.arizona.edu> stoddard@milori.ccit.arizona.edu (MJ STODDARD) writes:
>In article <1992Dec13.194338.3409@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>, ses3n@fermi.clas.Virginia.EDU (Sharon Elizabeth Silverman) writes...
>>Help! Alexei doesn't mind being squirted with a water pistol!
>>	..........
>>	She knows exactly where the water is coming from, and thinks
>>it's cool - she runs over to play with the pistol! I don't want to hit her.
>>Is there another way to discipline her?
>
>Try cat-language to explain that you are annoyed.  Hiss loudly while
>glaring at Alexei with narrowed eyes.  

	It seems that hissing is not merely an audible event, it is physical
	as well.  Apparently, when cats hiss, there is a fairly forceful
	expulsion of air.  It is the combination of the noise and the air
	blown in the face that puts a cat's ears back when two cats confront
	each other.

	This being the case, you should not only make the loud noise, but blow
	in her face!  I use this method quite a bit on my crew - I know I am
	quite safe getting up from the dinner table to go into the kitchen for
	something, even though both Emrys and Roxy are sitting mere inches
	from my plate.  They only needed a few puffs in the face to get the
	message!  (It "helps" that I am a smoker - I would never blow smoke at
	them, but you know that the scent of the tobacco is still on my
	breath, as far as their sensitive noses are concerned.)

		Mitch


-- 
Mitch Gorman		srscnslt@telesciences.com		slave@work
			emrys@cellar.org			god@home

"Stand, on hills of long forgotten yesterdays..."
From: eowyn@dewey.soe.berkeley.edu (Eowyn Mader)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Introducing new kitten
Date: 18 Dec 1992 23:06:22 GMT
Organization: School of Education, U.C. Berkeley
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: dewey.soe.berkeley.edu
Originator: eowyn@dewey.soe.berkeley.edu

Hello!

I'm sure this comes up a million times, but I have some questions about
adding a kitten to our one-cat household. I've read the relevant parts
of the FAQ (which is great!), but would like more advice if people
are willing!

We have a 2 or so year old neutered male who is an incredibly
friendly, calm, yet playful cat. When we moved into our current
neighborhood about a year ago, Elvis very quickly made friends with
the neighboring cats and they hang out at each other's houses.  It's
very funny--Conan and Chester hate each other and fight all the time,
yet both love Elvis.  My boyfriend's apartment complex burned to the
ground in the Oakland Hills fire last year, and Elvis was caught in the
blaze, yet survived.  He had badly burned paws and couldn't walk for a
few months, but is fine now except he makes noise when he walks.

So anyway, it seems like he'd be the kind of cat who'd like a
companion especially since he gets bored when we don't have time to
play with him as much as he'd like (all the time!). However, since
we have a one bedroom apartment in which the only rooms we could put
the kitten in for awhile are the bedroom and bathroom, I'm afraid
this wouldn't be possible.  Kitty has the run of the household and
would probably be upset if we kept him out of any part of HIS
house. What do you think? We'll probably put the new kitten in the
bedroom when we're gone during the day and leave Elvis the rest of
the house or let him out.

Also, how long before a kitten could go outside on his or her own? Our
neighborhood is pretty safe.  Last question: Is it important to have
separate water bowls and litter boxes for the two?  I'm not sure
if the new kitten is a boy or girl, but he was the most playful of the
litter!  Thanks for any advice and suggestions!

Eowyn (for Elvis)

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: shari@modcomp.uucp (Shari Bernhard)
Subject: Re: a very sad day for me....
Organization: MODCOMP, an AEG company
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 19:15:39 GMT
Keywords: tears, tears

walker@Ingres.COM (Lynn Walker) writes:

>Today is a very sad day for me. My Siamese cat Max passed away. He was in
>surgery at the vet, and it was discovered that he had cancerous tumours in
>his colon and liver. He had lost some weight over the last few weeks, and it
>seems that he was gone in no time at all. His approximate age was 8 years old.
>My other cat Oliver has been howling all over the house because he misses his
>buddy. His cries almost sound angry. Could he know what was happening? They
>both have been with me for the past four years.

Our hearts go out to you.  Most of us have endured the loss of a loved
companion.  It hurts.  You really should get Oliver another buddy, though.
It doesn't demean Max's memory, and will help you and Oliver to recover.

>Time will tell.

Time will also heal, Lynn.  Many hugs from all of us,

Shari, Gray One, White One, Little One, Cassandra, and Raven the WonderDog
(group sniff :-< )
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: kkv@inel.gov (Jamie J Ferguson)
Subject: Re: Wool Fetish
Organization: Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 92 19:54:11 GMT

In article <-7m2xch@rpi.edu> petitc@nuge114.its.rpi.edu (Christopher Jon Petit) writes:
>AMREGR07@ysub.ysu.edu (Kelly Doctor) writes:
>
>>  I need help.  I have a 6 month old blue Burmese that will find anything
>>  that is 100% wool and chew major holes in it!  He has ruined approximately
>> $300.00 worth of clothes so far!! I love him to death so I wouldn't even
>> consider getting rid of him but I wondered if maybe there is something lacking
>>in his diet that would make the wool so attractive to him. 



There is probably nothing wrong with your cat, although if you're really
worried you might ask a vet just to feel better.  Eating wool is a
recognized problem with cats, it just doesn't seem to occur very often.
I don't have my cat book with me, but I believe the term is called
"sucking wool" (or something similar).  From what I remember it is
more common in Siamese, and aren't Burmese related?  In any case, 2 of
my 3 Siamese do this and it IS a pain and they DON'T grow out of it!
I think my book said they are attracted to the lanolin.  Our cats
have eaten sweaters, socks (they don't care if it is 100% wool), blankets,
and part of our couch.  They know they aren't supposed to
do this, but I guess it's too tempting.  We keep our sweaters and socks
picked up and the closet doors closed (they only ate the couch once,
which is good since that would be hard to hide from them...).  Once
you get in the habit of not leaving stuff out its not so hard to keep
it up.  If I can find my cat book I'll post more.  I hope your second
kitten doesn't pick this up...our newest one hasn't really had much
of a chance to eat anything, so he may do this too!


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: HF.CLN@forsythe.stanford.edu (Cynthia Ng)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: abdominal tumors in cats
Date: 16 Dec 1992 16:37:57 -0800
Organization: Stanford University
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: morrow.stanford.edu

In article <1992Dec15.030423.7012@cgrg.ohio-state.edu>,
demetri@cgrg.ohio-state.edu writes:
>
>You've most likely heard me mention that our cat Socrates, has a tumor.  It
>is in his lower abdomen & we can feel it slide back & forth between our
>fingers if we squeeze gently from both sides.

>My fourteen year old cat, Maojai, had a tumor on her intestine.
The first sign of illness was increased incidents of vomiting that
was not hairball related.  When she started vomiting almost every
day I took her to the Animal Medical Center in NYC.  It took
several visits before they figured out the problem.  An oncologist
took over the case and basically said there was no cure and that
radiation etc. would only make the cat sick without curing the
illness.  She said that Maojai was probably nauseous when vomiting.
The vet let me know when she thought the quality of life was no
longer tolerable for Maojai and I said my goodbyes and had her put
to sleep.  I guess you would have to assess how sick Socrates feels.
 I'm sorry I couldn't give you any better news and good luck.


>gotten slightly thicker. He is still barfing (2 or 3 times a day) so we
>aren't sure if he is actually getting any of the food he's eating through
>his system. The x-ray did not show that the tumor was in an
>intestine, so we don't know if there is a blockage.  He meows pitiously
>when he is about to throw up but is otherwise the same cat he was before
>the tumor...  Does the meowing mean that he is in pain when he throws up?
>Does this mean that he is likely in pain the rest of the time too?  The vet
>said that this type of tumor is rarely benign.  Surgery could cost as much
>as $400, with no guarantees.  If they open him up and find the situation
>hopeless, they would (at our word) give him a lethal overdose of the
>anesthetic (this would only cost $100).  Money isn't the main issue, but I
>can't see paying $400 for a "maybe" for an 8 year old cat.  ...also, if
>they are going to find the situation hopeless, I would rather not put
>Sock-boy thru the trauma of the surgery.  I would rather let him live out
>his last days at home. (I could even tolerate the constant barfing if I
>knew he wasn't in pain.)  I guess I would like to know is anyone has had to
>deal with a similar situation.  We are going to be away for the holidays.
>Normally, leaving the cats for a few days wouldn't be a problem, but we are
>worried about the kitty.
>
>Demetri
From: HF.CLN@forsythe.stanford.edu (Cynthia Ng)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: How can I get cat/mouse X software?
Date: 16 Dec 1992 16:14:21 -0800
Organization: Stanford University
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: morrow.stanford.edu

In article <FROUD.92Dec10014705@SunLab41.sx.ac.uk>,
froud@SunLab41.sx.ac.uk (Froud D D M) writes:
>In article <1992Dec7.132013.28445@news.cs.indiana.edu> angie@moose.cs.indiana.edu (angela allen) writes:
>
>> I know there exists a program (that sounds very cute) that runs under
>>X that displays a graphic of a cat that chases your mouse pointer
>>around the screen.
>
 MacIntosh After Dark (screen saver porgram) has Boris the cat that
chases butterflies, washes his face, scratches the side of the
screen, meows and purrs. Option for 1-3 cats.









>
>Maybe someone who is a good artist/drawer of cats can draw loads of cat sprites
>so that someone else (maybe me - but not at the mo) can write this again?
>
>Am I mad or has anyone else seen this too?
>
>Dominic
>--
>Name: Dom. Species: Spod. Breed: 2nd year. Body: long
>Other features: ugly, boring, funny eye, says 'barf' a lot.
>For more information: email the address above. " <- a quote
From: williams@admin.ogi.edu (Julianne Williams)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Declawed and clawed cats
Date: 18 Dec 92 03:02:10 GMT
Article-I.D.: ogicse.47475
Distribution: usa
Organization: Oregon Graduate Institute


We have a declawed cat (was declawed, fixed, and dumped at our place) and
two other clawed cats and two dogs.  Everybody gets along just fine.
They groom each other, sleep together, play together.  Once in a very great
while NC (No Claws, aka New Cat, aka Noir Chat) gets the weaker end of a
deal, but this is very seldom.  She is the best hunter of the crowd when
we take her outdoors (under supervision since we have coyotes in the area),
and the most laid back.  She would also be a real terror to the furniture if
she did have claws since she sharpens her toes more than any of the other
cats.

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: srscnslt@telesciences.com (SRS Consultant)
Subject: Re: How can I get cat/mouse X software?
Organization: TeleSciences CO Systems, Inc.
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1992 15:42:36 GMT

In article <1g0ds0INNo0k@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> at881@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (N. French) writes:
>
>In a previous article, angie@moose.cs.indiana.edu ("angela allen") says:
>>I know there exists a program (that sounds very cute) that runs under
>>X that displays a graphic of a cat that chases your mouse pointer
>>around the screen. It was discussed on this group several months ago,
>>but I don't see any references to it in the FAQ. Any ideas how to find
>>it, or what the name of the program is?
>>
>I notice that others have responded with the details on the program,
>I just wanted to add that my real cat Darla will watch neko for
>EVER if I let her. Now *that* is cute to watch :-)



	Just thought I'd point out that there also exists a version that runs
	under MS Windoze (I believe it requires version 3.1, but I'm not
	positive).  Anonymous ftp to ftp.cica.indiana.edu, you'll find it in
	/pub/pc/win3/games/neko20.zip

	As I write this, I realize that I'm also not certain that it is
	actually located in .../games; if you don't find it there, poke around
	in that win3 directory:  it _is_ there somewhere!  It's basically the
	same exact thing as runs under X.


-- 
Mitch Gorman		srscnslt@telesciences.com		slave@work
			emrys@cellar.org			god@home

"Stand, on hills of long forgotten yesterdays..."
From: at881@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (N. French)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: jellicle?
Date: 17 Dec 1992 19:29:08 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: at881@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (N. French)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


excuse me if this is a stupid question, but what the heck
is a jellicle cat?

Nicole