HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: scm@harvee.billerica.ma.us (S. Mudgett aka little gator)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Organization: gators 'r us
Subject: Re: Spaying cat? HELP!
Reply-To: scm@harvee.billerica.ma.us
X-Software: HERMES GUS 1.04 Rev. Sep  5 1992
Date: Sun, 08 Nov 1992 10:53:14 -0400

the only personality change from spaying is that she won't go in heat.
all of my cats have been just fine within a few days od spaying, except for
one who had an infected incision, which almost never happens.  and she was fine
within a week or two.

over half of unspayed female cats get breast cancer in middle age.  cats
spayed young almost never do.  spaying also prevents uterine infections.

a cat in heat is not only frustrated but will drive you crazy.

as a vet aide i've seen thousands of cats go home 24 hours after surgery,
with almost no problems.  usually they act like nothing happened.
-- 
-- little gator aka s. mudgett     email: scm@harvee.billerica.ma.us
-- friend of a gator is a friend of mine
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: liana@nexus.yorku.ca (Liana Becker)
Subject: Re: Soft Paws (tm?)
Keywords: declawing,surgery,furniture
Organization: York University, CS Dept. Toronto
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 13:34:22 GMT

Hi,

	We used softpaws for aprox 5-6 months while we trained Spirit
that the couch was not a scratching post, neither was the wall paper, 
our legs...etc.  Basically they are plastic claw covers that are 
glued on over her own claws.  They allow the cat to scratch everything
without doing damage.  After six weeks they fall off, the plastic is a
non toxic one that can be swallowed by children or pets without side
affects.
	They are really easy to put on, first the vet sizes the cat
and then you put some glue in the claw cover and then onto the claw.  
No problem and it only takes aprox 20 min for the cat to get use to 
them.  Spirit did some foot shaking and a little bit of extra foot
grooming the first time but after that not a problem.  The only problem
that we found is that you have to check the claws close to the  six week
time as once a claw cover did not come off and the claw started to 
curve in with the cover on, no problem just snipped off the claw cover.
	The vet and ourselves agreed that this was not a permament solution
but one that could be used while training her.

Liana and Spirit
From: mas5@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (MICHELLE A. M. SZENA)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: WHAT TO NAME A WHITE MALE KITTEN
Date: 11 Nov 92 18:45:44 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

In article <1992Nov11.012010.26137@tc.cornell.edu>, mdw@theory.TC.Cornell.EDU (M
att Welsh) writes:
>>In <1992Nov4.014446.175240@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu> gjs2@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (GEORGE J
. SCHLOGL) writes:
>>
>>ITS MY FIRST TIME TO EVER HAVE A PET IN MY LIFE.
>>ANY ADVICE GIVE IT. ILL NEED IT.
>>ALSO I NEED A GREAT NAME.
>>NOTHING STUPID OR TIPICAL LIKE WHITEY OR SNOWBALL,FLUFFY
>>THANK YOU.
>>GEORGE AND ? signing off
>>and im living here in allentown

Well, here's another one I thought of...Coconut.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: "doug powless" <doug.powless@canrem.com>
Subject: muffin and princess
Reply-To: "doug powless" <doug.powless@canrem.com>
Organization: Canada Remote Systems
Distribution: rec
Date: 13 Nov 92 22:27:08 EST

Hi there!

I've been following this group for a while now, and thought I'd take the
time to tell my story (well, part of it, that is).

We had to put down two cats a year and a half ago - ones that I had
lived with for well over 8 years.  This broke my heart.  Don't really
want to go into details except to say that I stayed with them and the
vet until the end:  I didn't think they should be alone with a stranger
at the end.

Anyway, my little girl was heartbroken as well.  So when Father's Day
this year came around, she asked me ahead of time what I wanted.  I
half-jokingly (and half not) said that I wouldn't mind a kitten, if she
could talk her mother into it.

Father's Day came and that night, when there was no cat, I figured that
"Mom" probably didn't go for the idea.  I mentioned it to my daughter,
saying "Did you remember what I wanted?".  To my surprise, she turned
totally white - she had forgotten!  She felt so bad.  So I felt really
bad that I made her feel that way, which was NOT my intent.  She left
the room in tears and my wife went with her.

(She is such a thoughtful and sensitive person!)

Anyway, we all just let it go.

The next day my wife picked me up from the commuter train and told me we
were going out, but that she had to stop by the house to pick something
up.  She told me to go get some bread out of the freezer (which is in
our garage).  I opened the door, and the first thing I saw was a litter
box - then a tiny little kitten.  She looked at me and started to run
away, so I called her.  My wife came in and said "Where's the other
one?"

To be honest, I kind of suspected, by the way she was acting, that they
had gotten a cat, so I was totally surprised when I leared they got two.
(Sister and sister).

So here it is six months later, and they are both as cute as ever.  They
wash each other and fall asleep in each other's paws (!!!).  They
playfight and caterwaul whenever we shut the door to whatever room we're
in (they want in, too).

I'm totally captivated by them, as is my family.  My daughter is totally
happy.

They really add a dimension to our house that was missing after we lost
the first two.

Now it's truly a home.

         
          Doug Powless Oshawa  
          Ontario 
                        CANADA  
                       
---
  1st 1.01 #818  
--
Canada Remote Systems  - Toronto, Ontario
World's Largest PCBOARD System - 416-629-7000/629-7044
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Spaying cat? HELP!
Date: 9 Nov 92 12:01:08 -0600
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

barlow@prodigal.psych.rochester.edu (Rebel) writes:
> I really need some advice from cat lovers...did your cats' personaliity
> change following spaying? was it really traumatic for you and the cat?
> Am I being silly?  Are spayed cats healthier/live longer? Has anyone
> else felt this way? HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I strongly support neutering and spaying.  The animals are more content,
the owners are happier, and there are many fewer accidental litters
that wind up being put to death, or dying from disease and starvation.

All my cats (70+ over the last 20 years-- I sort of operate a cat
adoption agency) are spayed or neutered at 6 months, or as soon as I
get them.  I have never seen permanent personality changes attributable
to spaying a female.  I *have* seen permanent personality changes
with neutering (emasculating) toms -- they become much less agressive,
more playful, more inclined to stay in their own neighborhood.

Do it.

Kay Klier  Biology Dept  UNI
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: sarah@albnyvms.bitnet
Subject: Re: Spaying cat? HELP!
Reply-To: sarah@albnyvms.bitnet
Organization: University of NY at Albany
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 92 09:21:44 GMT

No!
 
If she's a fluffball destined to be mellow then age would have done it
eventually.
 
But all but 1 of my girls are fixed and LET ME TELL YOU I WISH THEY WERE
MORE MELLOW!!! They run around like my apartment is a racetrack, my snowshoe
leaps into the air, and shimmies up the doorjambs to the CEILING with all 4
legs to help her then leaps into the closet... after opening those sliding
doors, of course... they have a 24 hour wrestling match declared... they love
to jump on whatever trampolines are available - usually at 3AM they use the
back of my HEAD. 
 
Trust me - fixing the cat makes them saner, but not necessarily calmer.
And I think I like it that way.
 
Sarah, stuck with the Migraine
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: morin@noao.edu (Marg Morin)
Subject: Re: Spooky things
Organization: National Optical Astronomy Observatories, Tucson AZ
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 18:43:37 GMT

(lots of good previous stuff deleted
>
>I figure we're the poster couple for unsuccessful leash
>training.  Any advice?
>
>
>I'd like to hear a success story 
>
>
>

You think you're the poster couple? Check this out:

Chessie was a 4 week old abandoned baby when I rescued her from
the bushes at a friends house. She spent lots of time at the vet
getting treated for GI infection and such (just some intro info).

She was about 4 _months_ old when I couldn't tolerate her cries
to go outside all the time, so I thought I'd try training her to
halter and leash. BIG MISTAKE!

She took to the halter and leash relatively cooperatively, was
reeaally excited when she discovered we were headed out the door.
Outside, all was cool for about 5 seconds ... when she realized
she had limited range she rolled over on her back and started
fighting with the leash. THEN ... a couple of neighborhood kids
walked up to me to pitch some candy sale and Chessie totally
freaked! As she started to choke herself trying to get free,
dumb do-do that I was, I grab her by the scruff to try to calm
her ... NEVER, NEVER, NEVER grab a freaking cat! I learned
fast, after having all four sets of claws dug deeply into my
arm, AND teeth, I let go! Chessie streaked off (I found her
cowering a half block away after an hours search) ... I
first went indoors to quickly clean and dress my wounds.

If anyone deserves being poster-person, hey! Of course, I
could be poster person for common sense in this situation, too.
I should've known better, but I reacted out of concern for the
cat's safety ... not realizing JUST HOW WELL EQUIPPED she is
for her own defense.

So there!
-- 
 MARG MORIN  "Call me M"		(morin@noao.edu)  
	aka: The Seeker   		 AURA/NOAO Tucson, AZ
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 "I'm just a person trapped inside a woman's body" - Elaine Boosler 
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: gtall@ogre.cica.indiana.edu (Gerry Allwein)
Subject: Re: JELLO PUDDING for cats?
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 11:23:27 GMT

In her younger days, my Kandy had a thing for lime Jello. I never could teach
her to do John Belushi immitation though...

Gerry
From: lpj@col.hp.com (Laura Johnson)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Raw pork ok for cats?
Date: 13 Nov 92 19:10:12 GMT
Organization: HP Colorado Springs Division

Nimtz.1@nd.edu (Rick Nimtz) writes:
> Is it ok to feed cats raw pork?
> 
> 
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> Rick Nimtz                              INTERNET: Richard.D.Nimtz.1@nd.edu
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

No. As I understand it, the problem with raw pork is some kind of parasite, 
which can live in the pork and can affect people, cats, or dogs (probably
other animals as well).
-- 
Laura Johnson
lpj@hpcsos.col.hp.com
Opinions expressed are my own, but may be licensed for a nominal fee.
From: sstover@sumax.seattleu.edu (   Kate   )
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: College students
Date: 13 Nov 92 20:34:02 GMT
Article-I.D.: sumax.5752
Organization: Seattle University

Hear, hear, Dierdre.  I'm another 'dreaded college student' living in my
own apartment with two of my own cats.  Speaking from the experience I've
had with my friends (admittedly I don't have any non-cat-people friends :) )
college students are just as devoted to their pets and just as loving of
animals as any 'grownup' ;).

Ciao,
--
       Sheryl Stover  %  If you ask me what I have come to do in the world,
  & Hemingway & Clio  %  I who am an artist, I will reply: "I am here to
sstover@seattleu.edu  %  live aloud."                    -Emile Zola
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: mary@zmax.com (Mary Papp)
Subject: Re: What to name a male BLACK kitten...
Organization: Z/Max Computer Solutions, Inc.
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 19:08:07 GMT


How about Shadow or Ink?

Mary (and Slash)

-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mary Papp                          | "What to do I find it hard to know
Z/Max Computer Solutions           |  the road I walk is not the one I chose"
8287 Loop Road                     | "So you want my heart and all my time
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Kitty's 1st christmas!
Date: 9 Nov 92 13:09:44 -0600
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

In article <1992Nov9.120056.9798@news.cs.indiana.edu>, "angela allen" <angie@moose.cs.indiana.edu> writes:
> Use non-breakable ornaments, and tie them onto the tree with ribbons
> instead of just hanging them there with hooks. If you have a tall
> tree, consider putting a plant-hanger hook in the ceiling directly
> above the tree, then tie the top of the tree to the ceiling hook with
> clear fishing wire. 
                line.  Picture wire works fine, too.

Also consider bolting the tree holder to a large sheet of plywood,
so there is a larger "non-tip" base.  This and the ceiling hook have
withstood many assaults by kids, cats, and dogs...

Kay
Organization: Penn State University
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 12:49:30 EST
From: Tina Hay <TMH1@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Special food for cat with kidney disease?

One of my two 14-year-old cats has chronic kidney failure -- she had an
acute episode in June and, although she has since been looking great, I know
that I need to be careful about what I feed her (low protein, etc.).  The
problem is that she is not crazy about the canned version of Feline KD, the
stuff that the vet recommended.  Sometimes she'll eat it, but most of the
time she turns up her nose at it.  I have a little bit better luck with the
hard version (pellets) of Feline KD.

My question is whether there are other cat foods on the market that are (1)
good for cats with declining kidneys and (2) more palatable than Feline KD.

Thanks.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: chalmers@ora.com (Leslie Chalmers)
Subject: Cat poem
Organization: O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 14:53:07 GMT


                        Sleeping Cat


          I wish I could be so comfortable.
          If fur could wrap me in a
          dusty blanket,
          willing to shed itself bit by bit
          when the heat rises.
          And if my back would be so supple
          as to bend like blown lavendar.
          I'd sleep a lot too if my neck would bow,
          and my breathing wisp the air,
          and my dreams paint
          the room around me--
          draw the pinks together
          and nestle in the creases
          of the hard day.

                            --leslie chalmers



          


          I love cats because I
          enjoy my home; and little
          by little, they become its
          visible soul.

                            --Jean Cocteau
                              French poet and filmmaker


Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: jeffp@yoda.eecs.wsu.edu (Jeff Parke - Vet med staff)
Subject: Re: Ok to feed tuna daily ??
Organization: Washington State University!
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 92 00:13:51 GMT

In article <1dhhj7INNi3t@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> bt630@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Rich Michaels) writes:
>
>Hi.
>
>I have a ~3 year old (indoor-outdoor/castrated) male cat who loves
>tuna.  I feed him mostly dry food (DAD'S Special Mix).  I also
>treat him, almost daily, to approximately 1-2 ounces of tuna canned
>in spring water.  Is this a bad idea??  In the long-term -- will
>this diet harm him or shorten his life expectancy?

As long as your cat is getting enough essential nutrients from the dry
food, tuna treats would do no harm.  Pure tuna has a lot of protein, but
is not going to supply much in the way of vitamins, and may be low in
calcium & phosphorus.


-- 
---------------------
Jeff Parke <jeffp@vcs10.vetmed.wsu.edu>
also:   jeffp@WSUVM1.bitnet     CIS: 71511,1512    AOL: JeffParke
Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine class of 1994
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: aki <aki@akidamme-233324.worldbank.org>
Subject: Re: My roommate broke my kitten's leg!!!!
X-Xxmessage-Id: <A72837384D042631@akidamme-233324.worldbank.org>
X-Xxdate: Thu, 12 Nov 92 21:30:48 GMT
Organization: The World Bank
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1.1d11
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 21:32:36 GMT


....terminate....with extreme prejudice...

nuff said...



-Aki
The Worldbank Wash. D.C.
E-mail: aki@akidamme-233324.worldbank.org
(202)458-1112
DoD 0628
PBA 2294
*************************************
"How come the best bowling ball for
me is always the one I don't own?"
*************************************
From: McGuire@solbourne.com (Jim McGuire)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re:  Other Monsters
Date: 13 Nov 1992 12:09:11 -0700
Organization: Solbourne Computer, Inc., Longmont, CO
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: solcat.solbourne.com


The Crazy Cabinet Monster hides in the kitchen, and must
regularly be fought back into submission.  Fortunately, the house
is defended by Leo, a very macho grey tiger striped warrior, and
Lucy, the silky black commander in chief.

The battle starts when Leo stands up on his back paws, and puts
his front paws on the top of the right sided cabinet door.  He
then backs up until both he and Lucy can start the search.  Since
the Crazy Cabinet Monster often hides behind the stuff stored in
the cabinets, the stuff must all be pushed out onto the floor.  A
furious battle ensues, but a brave cat is always victorious.

The Dreaded Drawer Monster also must be battled regularly. This
battle starts after the Crazy Cabinet Monster has been defeated,
because to open the drawer, Leo knows he must first open the
cabinet door, go inside, stand up with his front paws on the back
of the drawer, and just push it out.

Then there was the day a brand new POUNCE Monster came to live
with the Dreaded Drawer Monster.  The Crazy Cabinet Monster was
summarily defeated, and then the Dreaded Drawer Monster was
attacked.  One POUNCE Monster was carried kicking and screaming
into the living room, where the plastic lid and foil proved no
match for two determined kitties.  All in all, it was a most
enjoyable victory.  BURP!

The POUNCE Monster that survived this battle was discovered the
next day lurking on the top shelf of a kitchen cabinet.  There
was a furious battle, one in which a jar of Ragu spaghetti sauce
became a casualty of war when it fell off the shelf, broke into
pieces as it bounced off the cabinet top, and then splattered
blood and guts all over the floor.  The POUNCE Monster retreated
to a new hiding spot while Jim, the Cat Dad, was cleaning up the
mess.
-- 
Jim McGuire			Solbourne Computer, Inc.
McGuire@Solbourne.COM		1900 Pike Road
				Longmont, CO 80501
Speaking for Myself Only!	(303) 678-4311
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Help!  How to get car oil off my kitty
Date: 6 Nov 92 16:46:44 -0600
Distribution: usa,na
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

tom@vexcel.com (Tom Baltzer) writes about his cat who has gotten into
 engine oil:
> Indeed this is true, however, she has been an outdoor cat for all of her
> near 2 years, and enjoys the outdoors immensly.  I absolutely refuse to 
> take that away from her, knowing quite well that she has a greater probability
> of dieing at a young age, and although I don't feel I need to explain 
> myself to the net, I will anyway.  

Tom:  Please take this as a suggestion, not a flame.  What if you were to
provide her with an insulated house with a warming mat-- there are rubber
mats especially made for use in outdoor doghouses, double insulated and
waterproof, that cost about $30.  You obviously love your cat, and want
her to have a good life, and I'm sure wouldn't want her to be eaten by
a car engine.  If she has a spot that is outside but reliably warm, she
probably will be less interested in car warmth.

Kay Klier, who has i/o cats.
From: lm03@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (LINDA E. MUCKEY)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: SHRINKING CAT FOOD CANS!
Date: 10 Nov 92 20:16:26 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

My cats are not gourmets as some - they eat Purina Premium.

When I went to feed "the girls" last week, I noticed the cans all had "better
flavor" plastered all over the labels.  Funny, though - something else was
different...  Then it came to me!  Found a can from before = 6 oz.  New can is
now 5.5!

I guess they figured my girls need to go on a diet, as they will now be
splitting a 5.5 oz can instead of the usual 6 oz.  I found it to be most
irritiating.

So watch your cat food cans!  (BTW, they did the same "shrinking" thing with
the Nutra-Max I get my other girls <dogs> - so it's not only happening in the
grocery stores, as I get the dogs food at a pet supply place.)

Linda
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: wlhadley@swift.mitre.org (Bill Hadley)
Subject: Help!  I'm Getting a Second Cat and I Need Advice......
Reply-To: wlhadley@swift.mitre.org (Bill Hadley)
Organization: The MITRE Corporation
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 19:40:12 GMT

Hello all!  I am going to be taking in a cat this weekend (King Tut) and I am not sure how to introduce him to the cat I already have (Pepper).  Pepper is a one year old, neutered, male cat that is extremely friendly!!  He is an indoor cat and still has his claws.  Tut is not very friendly to people all the time, but he is used to being around other animals (Pepper is not).  Tut is a little over 1 year old, neutered, and semi-friendly.  He is also an indoor cat who has had his front claws removed.  The pro


blem is that he bites (hard).  Where he currently lives, he has bitten one of the children twice.  He bites me (when I go over there) once and a while, but not too badly.  (I think he just doesn't like kids, but I'm not too willing to bet my fingers on it 8-)  Anyway, I need some advice.  I need to know how to bring Tut into my apartment with freaking out Pepper too badly.  I also need for them to get along.  If Tut goes nuts and tries to attack Pepper and bite him, at least Pepper still has his claws to d


efend himself.  But I *REALLY* don't want them to fight (especially not like that!!!).  Any pieces of advice along those lines will be greatly appreciated.  I also need any advice on how to break Tut of this biting problem.  I don't want to see anything bad happen to Tut just because he bites.  If I cannot keep him, I do plan on trying to find a home for him (not just "get rid of him").

Any advice will be greatly appreciated!
Bill
-- 

       ******************************************************************
       * William L. Hadley           Technical Aide - Sun Administrator *
       * The MITRE Corporation                             703-883-5446 *
       * 7525 Colshire Drive, MS W291      Internet: wlhadley@mitre.org *
       * McLean, Virginia 22102-3481     UUCP: linus!mitre.org!wlhadley *
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       *              My opinions!  Do you hear?  MINE!!!!              *
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Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats