HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: prkenne@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov (CAROL SHARP)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Fill Him Out Diet
Date: 5 Jan 93 18:22:00 GMT
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <1993Jan4.182851.22249@ast.saic.com>, hyler@ast.saic.com writes...
>I'll be talking to the vet today, but was wondering if there were
>others with a similar problem and what their solutions were:
> 
> 
>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?

Maybe you could add a little oil to his food for added calories.



            " Learn from the mistakes of others
             you can never live long enough to
             make them all yourself"

                                *Carol*
From: spp@zabriskie.berkeley.edu (Steve Pope)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: help!!!
Date: 11 Jan 1993 01:10:41 GMT
Organization: U.C. Berkeley -- ERL
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: zion.berkeley.edu

> Help kitty friends! I need a lot of advice and facts/figures.
> 
> Background:
> me - Susan, 23, female, single, college grad student, live with sister
> and two cats (both male,neutered, under 2 yrs). Very emotional, lack
> of logic in my reasoning.Have been owned by up to 5 cats at a time 
> since birth.
> 
> boyfriend - 24,  male, single, college grad, lives w/ mom, very analytical
> and logical,  NEVER EVER HAD A PET IN WHOLE LIFE.
> 
> us - been dating for 2 years, never lived together.
> 
> problem - his lack of understanding of the importance of pets in pet
> lovers life. Of course that is rather an understatement. He says they
> are cute, they can be fun. Hates the smell, the 'inconvenience' of
> cleaning litter boxes, feeding etc. etc. Doesn't understand the
> emotional connection. "It is just a CAT" (heard that before?)

There may be hope for you.

There are some similarities between your present situation
and Kathy's situation when she met me.  I had never had
a pet in my whole life, whereas she had had several pets,
generally cats.

Although I objected to her getting a cat, on the basis of
it being a hassle, nuisance, and expense, she finally got one
and for two years thereafter I considered Mosis an
undesirable twerp.  But gradually, I started liking him
more and more and within a few years I eventually became
completely attached to Mo.  (of course, he's the best cat in
the world so that helps. :)  )

I was probably never as anti-cat as your boyfriend sounds
like he is, however I think my story implies that the
appeal of cats is pretty universal and with enough 
exposure, one will develop quite a bit of affection for them.

(Which BTW is the only thing you will ever catch from
your cat, except conceivably toxoplasmosis.)

So if you do manage to stick it out and keep both him
and the cats, the eventual outcome might well be that
his position will soften considerably.

Steve
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: linnco@microsoft.com (Linn Compton)
Subject: Re: cat food
Date: 12 Jan 93 15:50:29 GMT
Organization: Microsoft Corp.
Distribution: usa

In article <8JAN199309222474@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov> mpmarie@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov wrote:
> Someone posted a recipe for home made cat food.  I would like to try it but 
> I am concerned because it requires raw poultry.  Isn't this just as bad for 
> cats as for people?  Doesn't raw poultry contain some type of bad bacteria 
> or a parasite or something?
> 
> Thanks in advance
> 
> Marie, Spike and Harry 

Yes! Raw poultry can contain salmonella. I asked my vet about this because I make
my own cat food and I too was concerned about raw poultry. Her answer was that cats
can contract salmonella poisoning from eating raw poultry just like people can, and
that it is VERY dangerous. She recommended never feeding raw poultry to cats.

The recipe for cat food that I use comes from the book The New Natural Cat, by
Anitra Frazier. Here it is:
60% protein
20% grain
20% finely grated raw vegetables

I use:
3 cups raw hamburger (I buy the 23% fat kind)
1 cup pre-soaked oat bran
1 cup finely grated carrot and/or finely chpped alfalfa sprouts

I mix it all up, then pack it into plastic ice-cube trays and freeze it. When  it's
frozen, I dump the cubes into a plastic bag and keep them in the freezer. I take out
about 2 cubes per cat per meal, and defrost to room temperature in the micro. Don't
cook it--you'll lose a lot of the enzymes if you do. It's better for your cat raw.
But cats don't like cold food, so I get it up to room temperature or slightly
warmer before I feed it to them. The book also includes a recipe for a nutritional 
supplement that's very important for cats.

If your cats are "hooked" on commercial cat food,
it may take a while before they stop boycotting natural food, but the benefits are 
great. My elderly Siamese used to have a bad problem with goopy eyes. After two months
on the diet (with supplement) recommended in this book, her eyes had almost cleared
up and I noticed a definite difference in her fur.
From: dave.yuhas@ggcs.org (Dave Yuhas) 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Maine Coon
Date: 5 Jan 93 19:12:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Golden Gate Computer Society BBS - Marin, CA - 415-927-1216
Reply-To: dave.yuhas@ggcs.org (Dave Yuhas) 

HJ>Could anyone tell me something about Maine Coon cats?

Big, shaggy, intelligent - my experience.

Dave Yuhas
---
 . OLX 2.2 . Back Up My Hard Drive? I Can't Find The Reverse Switch!
From: amys@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (Amy Schlotthauer)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: is it too cold?
Date: 6 Jan 1993 16:37:11 -0600
Organization: Kansas State University
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: matt.ksu.ksu.edu

We have an ongoing debate at our house about where my cats should spend
the night. (Actually, the debate is about how long it will take for my
husband to realize that my cats, not us, run this home. (= ) Right now they
have been relegated to the basement, which I am just sure the cats think
is a meat locker. My husband says, "For God's sake, they are CATS, animals
that have fur all over their bodies, they can not possibly be cold." Well, I
measured the temp at 63 degrees (F), which really is pretty far off the
50 degrees I estimated but still seems kinda cool. "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." 

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?
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Halogen Torchiere--Cat Idol?
From: <FHSKRS@BYUVM.BITNET>
Date: Friday, 8 Jan 1993 13:16:44 MST
Organization: Brigham Young University

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
brass, but I've caught her in "worship" mode when the room is dark and
empty.  She likes it better than any of the cat toys I got her for
Christmas!
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: lhuffman@stsci.edu
Subject: Re: Picking a new kitten
Organization: Space Telescope Science Institute
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 15:03:58 GMT

In article <C0EJDv.DvB@dale.cts.com>, npm@dale.cts.com (Nancy Milligan) writes:
> My sister has been having a hard time getting a kitten that is
> compatible with her family.  The first kitten they picked was mean,
> or so they said, and would bite and scratch something awful.  It
> especially seemed to pick on my sister, and she's not the most
> tolerant person in the world.  So she took it back to the cat
> rescue place she got it from.
> 
> The second cat had a darling disposition, but it disappeared into
> the great outdoors and never returned.
> 
> Sister decided to get her daughter a new kitten to replace the one
> that disappeared, so they got a tyke from a pet store.  The shop
> said it was 6 weeks old, which in my opinion is just TOO young
> to take away from it's mom.  Who knows how long it had been away
> from momma anyway.  They didn't like this kitten because it meowed
> incessantly.  So they took it back.
> 
> I've had cats that were weaned too early, or taken away from their
> mothers too young.  They seemed to have difficulties adjusting
> to anything in life.  They often "nurse" on soft sweaters and blankets,
> and just seem to have weird personalities (IMHO).  I don't really
> like my sister's method of picking kittens out that are so young and
> then returning them because their dispositions or needs don't fit 
> her schedule, but she does it anyway.
> 
> So, I'm trying to encourage her to get an older kitten that has been
> with it's mom for a goodly length of time.  I tell her to be sure and
> pick it up and hold it and see how it reacts to humans and be sure to
> wear something soft.  I tell her if the kitten "nurses" on her clothing 
> that it isn't going to be a good choice for her.
> 
> Does anyone have any other suggestions for picking out a good amiable
> kitten?
> 


These are all cat characteristics cat onwers have taken the time and 
patience to learn to deal with. Perhaps what your sister really wants is a 
stuffed animal who comes with a guarantee that it has no cat personality 
traits she'll have to learn to accomodate.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: "Tossing cookies"
From: <FHSKRS@BYUVM.BITNET>
Date: Friday, 8 Jan 1993 13:20:43 MST
Organization: Brigham Young University

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.

From: jackiec@mothra.rose.hp.com (Jackie Christopherson)
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 14:54:35 GMT
Subject: Re: Excessive water drinking - and possible constipation
Organization: HP Networked Computer Mfg. Operation
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats


    Hi.

    My cat seems to be drinking an awful lot of water lately, and going to the
    litterbox a lot more often.  Sometimes it seems he is not doing anything in
    there.  He goes in, waits ten seconds or so, and then leaves.

    Is this an indicator that something is seriously wrong or is he just not
    feeling well?

    Any help would be appreciated.


    -- 
    --
    Regards,

    <<  -----------------------------------------  >>
    <<    mforget@elfhaven.ersys.edmonton.ab.ca    >>
    <<  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  >>
    <<               Michel Forget                 >>
    <<   The Key:  Spirit over mind over matter.   >>
    
      

      I hope you have a good vet because your cat *may* have a
      urinary infection.  Don't want to alarm you, but better safe
      then sorry as this infection can be bad. 

      jc
From: ssnyder@sunai.er.usgs.gov (Steve Snyder)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: more monsters
Summary: Here we go again
Date: 8 Jan 93 18:26:53 GMT
Organization: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston VA


   This morning, Tribble was chased downstairs by the dreaded shopping
bag monster. In my spare bedroom, I keep a bunch of paper bags lying
around the floor for the kitties to play with/destroy.  I was in the
bathroom shaving and I hear this loud rustling noise which was moving.
I looked up in time to see a shopping bag running down the steps. It 
had a tail too.  I went downstairs to see Tribble sitting on the back
of the sofa giving me this "What the heck was that?" look. At the base
of the sofa was a ripped up shopping bag with one of the handles torn
off. Hobbit took all of this in stride and just yawned.

Steve
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: srscnslt@telesciences.com (SRS Consultant)
Subject: Re: Fill Him Out Diet
Organization: TeleSciences CO Systems, Inc.
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 19:02:36 GMT

In article <6JAN199323522329@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov> afdenis@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov (Stephen Dennison) writes:
>in the diets of most cats... coincidentally, I have been reading that it's 
>*very* necessary for ferrets too. Some happy coincidence for a change. 


	Uh, not much of a coincidence, actually...

	Go check your World Book Encyclopaedia on the relationship between
	ferrets and felis domesticus.  It's actually pretty close.


-- 
Mitch Gorman		srscnslt@telesciences.com	emrys@cellar.org
"You can tell he's doing well by the look in inhuman eyes,
	Better not compromise -
		It won't be easy!"
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: wd6cmu@netcom.com (Eric Williams)
Subject: Re: Litterbox tip
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 03:09:27 GMT

shari@modcomp.uucp (Shari Bernhard) writes:
> I thought of something like this myself although I've never done it, but
> instead of having a second litter box with the screen and dumping the used
> litter into it, why not just leave the screen in the litter pan?  The
> cat(s) shouldn't mind it if the litter is deep enough.  Then each evening,
> just lift up the screen with all the clumps, and dump them.

I tried that first, but the clumps kept sticking to the screen, much as
they stick to the bottom of the pan.  It would be OK for non-clumping
litter, though.
-- 
Eric Williams     wd6cmu@netcom.com  |  Never attribute to malice that which
WD6CMU@WD6CMU.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NA       |  is adequately explained by stupidity.
From: dan@msen.com (Dan Sugalski)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Low Magnesium Cat Foot?
Date: 8 Jan 1993 22:54:51 GMT
Organization: Msen, Inc. -- Ann Arbor, Michigan
NNTP-Posting-Host: garnet.msen.com
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]

ELISE MARIE MEYER (emm@voodoo.physics.ucsb.edu) wrote:

: Does anyone know of any low Magnesium cat foods?  Our kitty just had a bladder
: infection, and the vet recommended that we feed her a restricted Magnesium diet.
: We have given her Hill's C/D, but she won't touch it.  We read the FAQ about
: training your cat vs. being trained by your cat, but this is a neighborhood
: cat that will just go and get food elsewhere.  Any suggestions?

I can't remember the percentages on the Hill's/Science Diet lines, but I
can give you information on Eagle for comparison.

Eagle Kitten -magnesium 0.095% by weight
             -ash not more than 6.5%
	     -crude protein not less than 32%
	     -crude fat not less than 20%

Eagle Maintainance -magnesium 0.095% by weight
		   -ash not more than 5.5%
		   -crude protein not less than 30%
		   -crude fat not less than 12%

Eagle canned liver and chicken -magnesium .025% max
			       -ash 1.7% max 
			       -crude protein 14% min
			       -crude fat 6.5% min
they also make a chicken and a beef canned food for which the values may
vary slightly.  I only have the on here right now.  The company has a toll
free number as well 800-255-5959

Karen
From: jim@n5ial.mythical.com (Jim Graham)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: klepto cat ... any suggestions? 
Date: Thu, 07 Jan 93 20:54:28 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Me? Organized? Hah! :-)

In article <Jan.6.21.00.16.1993.5208@andromeda.rutgers.edu>
giordano@andromeda.rutgers.edu writes:

> [I wrote]:
>> one of the cats living at my dad's house has an interesting trait...seems
>> she's a bit of a kleptomaniac!

>  This is really funny--to stop it I guess we need to
> know what kind of stuff, stuffed animals, clothing,
> plastic what.

well, let's see....  if I remember correctly, the day I saw her at this
it was mostly small, soft (i.e., cloth, furry, etc.) stuff.

and yes, it is funny!  :-)

> Herman would  take it around the house all night
> moaning like he found a prize mouse and tangling it
> up the stairs to my bed. He would keep doing it
> till all the yarn was taken upstairs.

you may be on to something there --- perhaps we're looking at her
``catch of the day'' or something along those lines?  :-)

later,
   --jim

--
#include <std_disclaimer.h>                                 73 DE N5IAL (/4)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERNET: jim@n5ial.mythical.com  |  grahj@valinor.mythical.com
          j.graham@ieee.org       (OLD): jim@n5ial.chi.il.us
AMATEUR RADIO: n5ial@w4zbb        AMTOR SELCAL: NIAL       ICBM: 30.23N 86.32W
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: jeffo@uiuc.edu (J.B. Nicholson-Owens)
Subject: Re: Cat static!
Reply-To: jeffo@uiuc.edu (J.B. Nicholson-Owens)
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 09:25:27 GMT

Bronwyn J. Scrutton writes
> but a humidifier took care of the problem (AND my dry skin!).

I agree that a humidifier is the best solution to problems bro 
 
ught on by a dry room, but if you do get one, be sure to try an evaporative humidifier before you get an ultrasonic one.  The evaporative one I've got is a simple machine: a tub of water over which spins a fan with 4 plastic blades and a filter on the side to help screen out low-altitude dust and airborne hairs.  The noise from the engine of this fan is so low, the tiny waves hitting one another inside the tub actually make more noise than the fan motor.

It's been my experience that ultrasonic humidifiers lea 
 
ve a fine power, like dust, on everything in the room being humidified.  I don't know if that powder would annoy a cat, but it makes no sense to have one and continue putting work into dusting one's house.
-- 
-- Jeff (jeffo@uiuc.edu)
-- NeXTmail welcome
e to help screen out low-altitude dust and airborne hairs.  The noise from the engine of this fan is so low, the tiny waves hitting one another inside the tub actually make more noise than the fan motor.

It's been my experience that ultrasonic humidifiers lea
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: muaddib@leland.Stanford.EDU (Rob Dorfman)
Subject: I need help.  My kittens like to run through my vertical blinds.
Organization: Department of Chemistry, Stanford University
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 93 22:12:33 GMT

Hi!

I have two 9 week old kittens from the same litter.  Their 
names are Sox and Sylvie (both are male).   At night, especially
when I am trying to go to sleep my kittens like to run through the 
vertical blinds that cover the sliding glass doors in my bedroom
and living room.  When they do that it makes a great deal of noise.
I am looking for suggestions on how to get my cats to stop doing that.

My kittens are very very cute and are extremely playful. :-)



Rob Dorfman   muaddib@d31mf0.stanford.edu  or  muaddib@star2.cm.utexas.edu
              ---------------------------      ---------------------------
From: at881@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (N. French)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: HELP! Kitten poops in bathtub.
Date: 11 Jan 1993 06:57:20 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: at881@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (N. French)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, npm@dale.cts.com (Nancy Milligan) says:
>I've read in various animal behavior books that you should put kitty's 
>bedding and food where they've been pooping, if you want to break them
>of the habit.  They won't poops where they eats.
>
>(But you're lucky it's the tub and not the middle of your bed, eh?)
>
You said it, Nancy. When I first got Darla at about 8 weeks, she
somehow decided the ultimate pee spot was my down comforter! After
switching to a nice soft litter she became fully reliable about
using the box. I've even gone back to the regular litter. 

Ya gotta love 'em...
From: delisle@fornax.phy.ulaval.ca (Sonya Delisle)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Homemade Cat Food
Date: 7 Jan 93 23:23:39 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: hirschon@ast.saic.com (Donna Hirschon)
Subject: Things my strange cat likes to eat!
Reply-To: hirschon@ast.saic.com
Organization: SAIC
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 17:47:17 GMT

>
>My cat Felix eats roaches... that one fact alone endears him to my
>father, who thinks that cats are wimps and real men have dogs.  (I
>can't keep a dog in my apt. ;-P)

Mine loves crickets.  She even found one a couple of weeks ago.  Mostly
she plays with them and eats them in the spring.

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats