HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: hannah@pomponio.ai.sri.com (Marsha Jo Hannah)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: an embarrrassing tail
Date: 9 Oct 92 21:45:50 GMT
	<HANNAH.92Oct7130245@pomponio.ai.sri.com>
	<1992Oct9.104350.18235@gdr.bath.ac.uk>
	<1992Oct9.163022.2245@zia.aoc.nrao.edu>
Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park, CA
In-reply-to: rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu's message of 9 Oct 92 16:30:22 GMT

In article <1992Oct9.163022.2245@zia.aoc.nrao.edu> rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner) writes:

   >In the referenced article, hannah@pomponio.ai.sri.com (Marsha Jo Hannah) writes:

   >>This is not uncommon, especially with long-haired cats.  
   >>Seems one day the lady of the
   >>house noticed that "Suzy Cream-cheese" was washing a clearly male
   >>appendage....  

   I've known long-haired cats, but never one that had so much fur at the back 
   that an intact adult male couldn't be recognized as such. Are there some
   breeds that are "worse" than others in this respect? More fur and smaller
   "accessories"? :-)

   Ruth Milner

Forgive me for being excessively brief and/or "delicate".  "Suzy" was
an adult walk-in, who after a brief examination (difficult thru long,
thick fur) was assumed to be a female.  When "she" didn't go into
heat, she was assumed to be a spayed female.  Turns out HE was a
neutered male.  The appendage being washed was his extended penis.

Marsha Jo Hannah
From: stevel@Autodesk.COM (Steven W. Litras)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Why do cats......
Date: 12 Oct 92 20:12:22 GMT
Organization: Autodesk Inc., Sausalito CA, USA

klipec@homes.Princeton.EDU (Kathy Klipec Crow) writes:
> My cats do this too; my theory has always been that they need to "refreshen"
> the scent that identifies it as "their place."  Either that or it had been
> so dirty that they had been uncomfortably waiting for me to clean it up!


Mine do this too, but my theory is just that they want to tick me off. :)

Steve

--
Steven W. Litras          /\     | My opinions are mine and mine       /\
Autodesk, Inc.	         //\\    | alone. If you agree, cool, if      //\\
stevel@autodesk.com     ///\\\   | not, too bad; Life is full of     ///\\\
(415)332-2344x2510     Autodesk  | diversity, get used to it....    Autodesk
From: ccspjs@gdr.bath.ac.uk (Pete J Suters)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: does your cat do this?
Date: 15 Oct 92 09:42:28 GMT
Organization: Bath University Computing Services, UK

In the referenced article, ssnyder@sunai.er.usgs.gov (Steve Snyder) writes:
>In article <1992Oct9.213841.29884@linus.mitre.org> pdsmith.mitre.org (Pat Smith) writes:
>>
>>Our cats and dog are faithful sports companions for Monday night football. The
>>louder the TV the better too.  I don't get it and since I don't like loud
>>football, I generally go out and leave the "kids" home to watch (hubby
>>included).   The only other shows they watch are the nature ones with 
>>interesting birds noises.  
>
>  Hobbit likes to watch football and will attempt to intercept the ball
>with her paw.  

  When she was a kitten, Roo used to love the show-jumping on TV.  She
would sit on a chair within reach of the screen, and watch the little
horses running around, and jumping over things.  She even used to
try and catch them, and then look confused when they didn't fall
over when she hit them!
  These days, she's not in the slightest bit interested in the TV, but
the other night there was a program on about the cat-family with
lots of close-up shots of loins/tigers etc, and for the first
time in ages, she gave the TV her undivided attention.
  I don't think she'd want to meet one in person, though!

Pete
From: collene@unisql.UUCP (Collene Pearce)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Declawing older cats - long, of course ;-)
Date: 13 Oct 92 16:50:25 GMT
Article-I.D.: unisql.3941
Reply-To: collene@unisql.UUCP (Collene Pearce)
Organization: UniSQL, Inc., Austin, Texas, USA

In article <nlp-121092173859@fpdynamic8.pacersoft.com> nlp@pacvax.pacersoft.com (Nancy Pilsch) writes:
>
>DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!
>Declawing a cat is like amputating.... 

>Regarding the post about Persians and other breeds of the like not being
>like other cats:  That is the biggest piece of rationalization I have ever
>heard in my life.  It just sounds like you are trying to make yourself feel
>better for hurting your cat.  I'm not saying you don't love your cat, but
>the truth is, you did hurt her!  Yes declawed cats adjust eventually, but
>you should try adjusting to having no fingernails or fingertips!

You will always have your opinion about the practice of declawing and I
will always have mine.  Neither of us will ever change the other's opinion.
And, that is exactly what my post was -- opinion (as was yours).  

The comment you object to so strongly, was made in the context of "how
much would a cat miss its claws afterwards". (It had nothing to do with 
pain or the "morality" of the procedure.)  In my opinion, because 
of their behavior patterns, purebred persians usually engage in fewer 
activities where claws are needed, than do the "heinz57" variety of 
cats (this also holds true for the oriental breeds).  That is not to say
that some persians are not inclined to climb to the ceiling, but that as
a breed, they don't usually have those tendancys.

My Tamora is not declawed, because she seems to know that scratching 
furniture isn't something I will tolerate.  We have had discussions about 
this.  If the day ever comes that the "discussions" are no longer effective,
then we will visit the vet.  

-- 

********************* #include <std_disclaimer.h> **********************
* A. Collene Pearce (512-343-7372, x114) * Organization: UniSQL, Inc.  *
*                                        * Austin, TX                  *
* unisql!collene@cs.utexas.edu           * 512-343-7297 or 7383(fax)   *
************************************************************************
Xref: sparky rec.pets.cats:12175 rec.gardens:7394
From: feldman@flash.crd.ge.com (Sandra F Feldman)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats,rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Herbal repellants?
Date: 15 Oct 92 18:56:08 GMT
Article-I.D.: crd.1992Oct15.185608.6250
Organization: GE Corporate R&D Center

In article <1992Oct13.111433.973@telerama.pgh.pa.us>, kristen@telerama.pgh.pa.us (Kristen McQuillin) writes:
|> mike@ra.cs.umb.edu (Michael J. Thibodeau) writes:
|> : What about herbal insect repellants?
|> 
|> Some of the traditional herbal insect repellents are tansy, wormwood,
|> rosemary and pennyroyal. They do help, but are more subtle than Raid!
|> 
|> You can combine them or use them separately to help ward off flies
|> fleas and other pests. I like to dry them and sprinkle them around the
|> house, or use fresh herbs to make an strong infusion which can be
|> sprayed on places where I don't wnat crumbly dried herbs (like my
|> kitchen counters!). A rosemary infusion in very useful, as rosemary is
|> a mild disinfectant, as well as a fly repellent!


Just a note of caution: be careful when handling pennyroyal.  There was an
interesting article in American Scientist a few months ago that mentioned
pennyroyal as a possible abortificant.  (I may not have quite the right
spelling there.)  I don't think that there would be any problem just from 
handling the leaves, but you would certainly want to make sure that you wash
hands thoroughly and keep it away from food.

Sandy
From: smith@glinda.ctron.com
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Need FAQ
Date: 7 Oct 92 13:22:27 GMT
Reply-To: smith@glinda.ctron.com ()
Distribution: usa
Organization: Cabletron Systems INc.

Would someone please send me the FAQ for this group?
Much appreciated.

-- 
Larry Smith (smith@ctron.com)  No, I don't speak for Cabletron.  Need you ask?
-
How about we all do something reasonable?  I bet that'll confuse 'em!
From: feldman@flash.crd.ge.com (Sandra F Feldman)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Kitty Klaws
Date: 12 Oct 92 21:43:27 GMT
Organization: GE Corporate R&D Center

How to trim claws.  It's simple:
1) go to store and buy cat clips.  I like the kind that look like a little
scissors with a little indentation in the blade where the claw goes.
2)  Push on paw so that claw comes out.
3) Clip, without cutting into the pink part of the nail.

Two tips. 1) Try to cut nails while cat is napping and not aware of what you are
doing.  2)  If you don't have patience with 1) (we have 6 cats to trim!) get a 
helper.  I hold the cats' backs against me, fronts facing my husband, with one
hand supporting the chest and the other hand between the hind legs. This tends
to force the hind legs to stretch forward.  Voila' - easy access to all paws.  If
you experiment, you can learn how to hold a cat so that they cannot bite you
while this process is occurring.  (one of our cats will not tolerate any
handling that she does not initiate, and growls and curses me out while we trim
her nails.)

Sandy
From: marie@guppy.ai.mit.edu (Marie Lamb)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: More strange but amusing cat behavior
Date: 14 Oct 92 17:55:36 GMT
Reply-To: marie@ai.mit.edu
Organization: MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

Tros ("He Who Naps") has two new favorite spots.  The first is
on the couch, which I have wisely decided to cover with the keen
towel I got from the pet store for buying Science Diet.  He 
is so fond of this spot that he won't jump up there if the towel
is missing.  Domino expressed her jealousy the other day by 
chasing him away from his spot and then sitting there, cat-loaf
style, hissing at him if he tried to get back on the couch.  So
now the other end of the couch is covered with a towel for her
(if she'll deign to share the same piece of furniture with him!)

That is the daytime spot.  The nighttime spot is truly unique
in my experience--the bathroom rug.  I discovered this one early
morning as I stumbled to the bathroom and almost tripped over him
(good thing we leave a nightlight on!)  He didn't move a muscle.
I had to shake him gently to make sure he was OK.  He yawned,
stretched, started purring, then curled up and went back to sleep.
It's not a particularly nice rug--just one of those pink pile/
rubber-backed bath rugs you get in K-Mart type stores.  I would
think the bathroom floor would be kind of chilly too, with all
that tile, but he doesn't seem to mind.  So now the new morning
ritual is, hit the snooze button 10 or 20 times, stumble to
the bathroom, step over the cat...

Oh, and Domino likes to sit on top of the cable box and change
channels with her toes. :-)

Marie
From: ccd@ccadfa.cc.adfa.oz.au (Carol C Denehy)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: does your cat do this?
Date: 12 Oct 92 00:04:29 GMT
Organization: None, and I like it like that

In article <Bvuu63.9Kw@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> larsenp@mace.cc.purdue.edu (Paul Larsen) writes:
>My wife and I have come to the conclusion that our cat is a sports afficianado.
>Quite often when we have a basketball or baseball game on the cat will become
>quite interested in it.  This usually ends up with her jumping up onto the tv
>and peering down to the screen like a vulture.  After watching the game for a 
>little while, she will start following the ball with her head and then start
>batting at the ball with her paw.  This can go on for 15-20 minutes until she
>gets bored.  Does anyone else's cat do this?
>Oh yeah, one other thing.  The cat also practically refuses to drink water
>out of her bowl.   I guess that she thinks that she is above that.  She 
>"prefers" to drink water straight from the tap.  Is this weird or do all cats
>do this?
>
Penny likes football too, but AUstralian Rules, which is the only kind
watched regularly here. She has good taste and it's fast enough that
there aren't boring parts for her to lose interest. She has also been
interested in motor racing. She rarely reacts to cats on TV but birds
will interest her. She was VERY disturbed when we played a record of
bird calls. 

She drinks out of her water bowl, but likes to pick her food up in her
paw and eat it. She is fascinated with water in the bathroom sink. Not
only does she dip her paws in it, and allow me to soak her thoroughly,
she has taken to reaching into the filled basin and pulling the plug out.

Carol Denehy
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: ccd@ccadfa.cc.adfa.oz.au (Carol C Denehy)
Subject: Re: sad realities of cats running free
Organization: None, and I like it like that
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1992 08:16:27 GMT

In article <1992Oct7.184646.19809@linus.mitre.org> pdsmith.mitre.org (Pat Smith) writes:
>As a tribute to the poor cat that made a bad decision Monday 10/5 in Vermont.
>We tried to stop for you kitty but you ran directly in front of our car going
>55 mph. We hit the breaks as we saw you
>dart out but it was too late. The thud brought tears to our eyes.  More tears
>came as we thought about your owner when they learned of your demise. I then
>though of my own dear cats and am glad I made the decision to keep them inside
>where they are safe from the automobile.  
>
>This was the 1st animal my husband has hit and it was a tough experience.  So
>for all you animal lovers - keep your loved ones safely in your home and spare
>yourself the heartache of learning of their death and spare folks like us who
>were victims of circumstance just like the kitty. 

I have been wrestling with myself about whether to let my baby girl,
Penelope Sohia, go outside unattended. She is such a ditz and loves to race
full tilt from point A to point B. Here in Australia people look at me funny
when I try to explain that she is an indoor cat. There must be 8
cats within a couple of block radius of my house; they all come
into the yard and frequently fight here too. And the street we live on
seems to attract speed demons as there is a long downhill straightaway.
But I think I would die if something like what Pat describes happened
to my girl. I couldn't face the fact of something happening to her.
If I can only be strong and not let her piteous wailing make me give
in. And hope she can be happy with running around the backyard under
supervision.

Carol Denehy
From: jeremy@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (jeremy.l.radosh)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Second Cat, Following Death of Mother...
Date: 14 Oct 92 03:56:24 GMT
Article-I.D.: cbnewsj.1992Oct14.035624.18590
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T

The question is a common one, buut I have yet tofeel comfortable with a 
decision.  Here'is the situation:

	My first cat, Buddah, had a litter eight years ago. Five kittens
	were born, but only one lived.  This was and is Orson.  I kept
	Orson and the three of us have lived together since.  Buddah
	died unexpectently three months ago.  Orson, of course, is
	quite a mothers boy, even though he tops the scales at 18 lbs
	and is a good fighter (mouser).

	Since the death, Orson is listless.  He chases his tail, which he
	never used to do, and he is much more demanding of my time.  I
	try to play more, but ...

	So the dilemma: a new cat might just be so much lunch meat for
	Orson, or the two may live happily ever after.  On any given
	day I flip/flop between my fears and hopes.

	Feel free to give  $ 0.02  worth.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: trifid@agora.rain.com (Roadster Racewerks)
Subject: Re: Cat door for sliding door, not secured.
Organization: Open Communications Forum
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 01:23:55 GMT



If pre-made cat doors for sliding doors or windows are beyond your means, you
might do what we did with a window, make your own. I used 1/4 inch hardboard
with a formica-type finish, cut a door in the bottom, and hung very heavy,
overlapping clear vinyl strips over the hole. I wedge this into the window by
using a wooden bar which fits very tightly (and is more than an arm-length from
the hole!) and it has worked very well for us. I have a friend who made a
similar device, and since the window he uses is half a storey up, he built a
square "tube" that goes down to within two feet of the ground, so that 'possums
don't come in, but cats easily can. (I don't recommend leaving town with this
in place, but it seems to be fairly thief proof so far, so long as they don't
have a week or so to think about it...:-)

Suze

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: pdsmith.mitre.org (Pat Smith)
Subject: Re: Cats and newborns
Organization: The MITRE Corporation
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 19:10:53 GMT

I have a friend who has many animals (cats and dogs).  We then had a baby, they
ended up putting a screen door on the babys room.  This kept the cats out of
the crib and gave the parents some peace of mind.  I guess they are all 
adjusted now.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Cats and newborns
From: kristen@telerama.pgh.pa.us (Kristen McQuillin)
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 11:45:54 GMT
Organization: Telerama

steubrow@wam.umd.edu (Sharon Teuben-Rowe) writes:
: I (and hubby) am pregnant with our first, due first week in December.
: Any advice on introducing and tolerating will be much appreciated.

When my sister had her daughter about six months ago, they nurses gave
Joe (Jenn's husband) the baby's little cap to take home to show the
cat. That way, Poem (the cat) could smell Helen (the baby) and get
used to the scent before Helen showed up in the house.

Poem sniffed at the hat and then hid it under the couch pillow, but
she didn't bother the baby. Poem was very demanding of attention when
Jenn & Helen came home, but wasn't very interested in the new, loud,
people kitten.
From: oispeggy@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Peggy Brown)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Siamese Breed Rescue Organization - Is there one?
Date: 12 Oct 92 17:56:00 GMT
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

A friend of mine must find a new home for her 10 year old 
purebred Siamese cat.

Here son has severe allergies and asthma.

Is there a Siamese Breed Rescue Organization that would help 
place the cat?

Thanks!

- Peggy -

PS:  Please, no advice about giving the cat baths to reduce 
allergens.  My friend has already decided to find the cat a new home 
and with her son frequently being hospitalized she feels this is 
the best solution for her.
From: sweatn@nul.nil.edu (Never Sweat)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re:  Do antibiotics increase appetite?
Date: 16 Oct 92 01:10:11 GMT
Article-I.D.: nul.sweatn.8
Organization: The Fantasy Factory

In article <9210152046.AA17912@rwasic27.aud.alcatel.com> alclark@RWASIC27.AUD.ALCATEL.COM (Amy L Clark) writes:

>Reading Kay Klier's reply to this post where she talks about
>feeding her cats "the good expensive food" reminds me of when
>I was poor and in college.  The cats ate science diet (expensive
>good for them food) and used Better Way cat litter (expensive
>stuff-- it was the only clumping litter at the time) while I 
>survived on boxes of maccaroni and cheese and cheerios eaten
>straight out of the box.  I think it's great that Kay feeds
>her cats the good food while she eats peanut butter.  She's
>gotta really love her babies.  How are the kittens, Kay?


!

Before I started feeding my bunch Science Diet, I was spending $50 to $75 
per mo.  Now I spend $23-something/mo, and everybody's walking around with 
shiny coats and a spring in their step, including me!

Only problem; there used to be so many stray and strange chemicals in that 
old stuff that their poop came out in little plastic bags!  Now, there's 
less of it, but it seems to have an odor that condenses into a blue haze 
that hangs just about eye level....
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: erc@unislc.uucp (Ed Carp)
Subject: Re: Has my cat gone mad?
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Organization: Unisys Corporation SLC
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 20:40:24 GMT

Amy Roberts Shelton (ashelton@encore.com) wrote:

: maneuver, so I had to slide the hamper out and retrieve her.  She
: tried to pretend she had meant to fall like that, but we all know better!

Cats are like that -- "I knew what I was doing!"

<snicker> :)
-- 
Ed Carp, N7EKG                  erc@apple.com                     801/538-0177
"This is the final task I will ever give you, and it  goes  on  forever.   Act
happy, feel happy, be happy, without a reason in the world. Then you can love,
and do what you will."           -- Dan Millman, "Way Of The Peaceful Warrior"
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: davison@menudo.uh.edu (Dan Davison)
Subject: Re: Cat Door Recommendations?
Organization: University of Houston
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 18:33:50 GMT


I saw the following at a PetCo in Houston. This is a door that fits in
a sliding door and locks at both ends.

Johnson Pet-Dor, Inc.
27795 Avenue Hopkins
Valencia, CA 91355-1284

$177.99

77.5-82.5 inches high (adjustable). The cat flap locks so persons of
fur can be kept in or out.


There was another door I saw at PetsMart yesterday but I didn't have
a chance to take notes.  Let me know if you want more info.  It was
almost the same price.

dan
--
dr. dan davison/dept. of biochemical and biophysical sciences/univ. of
Houston/4800 Calhoun/Houston,TX 77204-5934/davison@uh.edu/DAVISON@UHOU

-----RIP Isaac Asimov 1920-1992     I'll miss him --------------------

Disclaimer: As always, I speak only for myself, and, usually, only to
myself.
From: dagnallr@helium.gas.uug.arizona.edu (robert a dagnall )
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: How to remove cat urine from bedding?
Date: 9 Oct 92 06:08:15 GMT
Organization: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

One of our cats recently registered his dissatisfaction with the 
state of the litter box by marking the comforter on our bed.  
All the sheets were soaked through by the time we discovered his
protest.

We have washed the comforter twice now, and the smell persists.
Is there any remedy for this, perhaps some home-grown concoction we
haven't tried?

We have put an end to any further problems through the use of 
a very small cork...

Help would be appreciated.

Robert Dagnall
dagnallr@gas.uug.arizona.edu
From: rebeccal@csugrad.cs.vt.edu (Rebecca S. Lawrence)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: does your cat do this?
Date: 9 Oct 92 16:08:14 GMT
Organization: Virginia Tech Computer Science Dept, Blacksburg, VA

larsenp@mace.cc.purdue.edu (Paul Larsen) writes:
> My wife and I have come to the conclusion that our cat is a sports afficianado.
> Quite often when we have a basketball or baseball game on the cat will become
> quite interested in it.  This usually ends up with her jumping up onto the tv
> and peering down to the screen like a vulture.  After watching the game for a 
> little while, she will start following the ball with her head and then start
> batting at the ball with her paw.  This can go on for 15-20 minutes until she
> gets bored.  Does anyone else's cat do this?
> Oh yeah, one other thing.  The cat also practically refuses to drink water
> out of her bowl.   I guess that she thinks that she is above that.  She 
> "prefers" to drink water straight from the tap.  Is this weird or do all cats
> do this?
> 
> 
> 
> Paul Larsen
> larsenp@mace.cc.purdue.edu



I think my cat christopher likes football- preferably Redskins games. He seems
to realize that if they win the super bowl, we will celebrate by giving him a
extra treat - a can of canned cat food, cause he gets dry all the time. It's 
funny to watch as he lies watching the screen with one eye open and the other
closed, as if sleeping.

Our other cat, suzie, has learned how to turn on the tap. Every once in a 
while she will walk over to the bowl and try to scoop the water out, as if to
drink from her paw (like humans make a cup out of their hands), but she tends
to get the water all over the floor instead. 
-- 
-----
Becky Lawrence                |  I saw you two days ago, I saw you 
rebeccal@csugrad.cs.vt.edu    | yesterday, I saw you today, but I 
VPI & SU                      | must see you tomorrow as well....
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats