HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jbuckley@iti.org (Jean Marie Buckley)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Smoke-colored cat
Date: 6 Apr 92 15:40:54 GMT
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

I have a book, "Legacy of the Cat" that has a pretty extensive
section on coat color.  It describes the genetic basis for this
kind of banding and distinguishes three degrees of coloration of
the hair: chinchilla (only the tip is colored), shaded, and smoke
(where enough of the hair is colored that you need to part the
hair to see the pale "roots").  I'm afraid I don't remember the genetic
details, but I do recall that some pigmentation is heat-sensitive
such that the warmer parts of the cat are pale while the cooler
parts are dark (e.g. pointed cats such as the Siamese).  I suppose
your cat could have a pigment that is slightly temperature sensitive.
But I'm really guessing here.
From: ac@apmaths.uwo.ca (alka chandna)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Declawed cat growing new claws!!
Date: 16 Apr 92 03:21:17 GMT
Organization: Applied Mathematics, University of Western Ontario

In article <49560004@hpcvnb.CV.HP.COM> julieu@hpcvnb.CV.HP.COM (Julie_Unruh) writes:

>I had the same thing happen to me, and this is what my vet told me:

>The claws are growing back because they were not declawed correctly.  A
>correct procedure involves cutting AT THE JOINT, not just across the
>claw itself.  You need to have the claws looked at ASAP, preferably by
>another vet, because it needs to be fixed right.  My cat was in a lot of
>pain, and the vet said it would feel like walking with rocks in your
>socks to the cat.  The second surgery took out lots of little slivers
>and deformed claws.  The only reason I took her in was because an abcess
>developed on her paw! So it was a surprise to me.

>Anyway, I'm still mad at the vet that didn't do a good job the first
>time.  When I called that vet, they offered to redo the surgery at no
>cost, but I had already moved to another state.  I wouldn't have let
>them have a second chance to botch it up anyway!  I suggest you have
>your vet diagram exactly what the declaw procedure was or will be.  If
>it is not cut at the joint, it is not correct.

>It sounds like you have the same situation.  An X-Ray might verify the
>problem?  Hope this helps.

>Julie

i've logged onto rec.pets.cats because i have two lovely cats (both of whom 
i rescued from nasty circumstances), and i thought i might get some ideas on 
how to better spend "quality time" with my dear companions and other 
things.  i was ***SHOCKED*** to read this posting referring to someone 
having had their cat declawed.  what a manipulation of the trust that 
the cat places in human hands!  i've heard that declawing a cat is akin to 
removing the finger nails of a human ... any info out there on this matter?
thanks,
alka
  
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: ames@biostat.washington.edu (Diane Ames)
Subject: Re: Cat Facial Expressions
Organization: Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 16:14:58 GMT

In article <1992Apr3.210548.13629@linus.mitre.org> cln@cooley.mitre.org (Carol L. Nowacki) writes:
>
>I think cats faces are very expressive, with the combination of eyes,
>ears, whiskers, and sometimes lips.  However, has anyone else ever
>noticed that photographs of cats rarely seem to capture the facial
>expressiveness of cats?  

The only expression I've ever captured on film on my Zoe's face is her
"witch kitty" look.  'Course, she *hates* having her picture taken.
But yes, I agree, their expressions just don't come across in pictures.

And on the subject of cats expressions.....I once dated a guy who told me
cats couldn't smile.  He said it was physically impossible.  Needless to
say, it was a short-lived relationship!  :-)

>does anyone have a more "scientific" explanation for the phenomenon?

No, but I'll just bet I could come up with a *less* scientific one!
i.e. cats expressions are little glimpses of their souls, and the soul
cannot be captured on film.

Oh well, works for me!  :-)

-Diane


"Stately, kindly, lordly friend condescend
	here to sit by me, and turn
		Glorious eyes that smile and burn..."

				Algernon Charles Swinburne
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Indoor/Outdoor Kittys!
From: tracey@otago.ac.nz
Date: 10 Apr 92 08:32:58 +1300
Organization: University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

I am intrigued by this indoor/outdoor cat business, could someone please
enlighten me?  Here in good old NZ all cats I know have free access inside
and outside, some people even put their cats out last thing at night.  (Not
us, our monsters prefer to sleep on (or even better inside) the waterbed.)
Do people actually have cats that NEVER go outside?  Ours love the outdoors,
and when we're out there they follow us around and 'help' with the gardening.
Is it done because people live in apartments and have no back yard, or do
some people feel their cats are better off indoors?

Thanks in advance!
                     Tracey.
From: julieu@hpcvnb.CV.HP.COM (Julie_Unruh)
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 92 17:00:50 PDT
Subject: Help! Any Farm Cats Out There?
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Corvallis, Oregon
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats

I have a cat that I have raised from a kitten.  Her name is Samantha,
and she is a gorgeous fluffy calico-tabby, almost 4 years old now.  The
problem is that she has gotten very grumpy and wants to be outside all
the time.  I'm moving to a place where she couldn't go outside, and a
friend has offered to take her on his farm.

I need some reassurances here!  How well do cats adjust to farm living?
She would have a constant supply of cat food and water, but she would
live in the barn.  I've never lived on a farm, so I don't know if that's
good or bad.  I do know we would both be miserable if she had to stay
inside a small apartment all the time. 

Does anyone have farm cats?  Can you tell me a little bit about what
they do and if they have fun?  Do they chase and eat mice?  Is that ok?
Are they healthy and happy?

OK, I'm a worried mommy.

Help!  Julie
From: coody@nauvax.ucc.nau.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Giardia
Date: 15 Apr 92 23:41:06 GMT
Article-I.D.: nauvax.15APR92.23410628
Organization: Northern Arizona University

I have a new kitten which I rescued from the Humane Society.  The kitten has
Giardia (intestinal parasite).  I treated him for 8 days with medicine from the
vet.  He is not better.  I aparently contracted Giardia as well.  I have a
three-year old daughter whose health is at risk.  The vet has recommended
another 8 day treatment.  If the cat does not respond, he will have chroni
c Giardia.  If I return him to the Humane Society, they will put him down
immediately.  Has anyone had a cat with Giardia.  Did the cat respond to
treatment.  Do you know of any humans who have contracted Giardia from a pet?
Thank you for your input.  Advice about how to face a moral dilemma is also
welcome.  Please respond to this account or Karen Underhill  KUU@NAUVAX.UCC.NAU.EDU.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: meagher@watson.bms.com 
Subject: Animal Prayer??
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.4-b1  
Organization: Bristol Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1992 18:46:00 GMT

    	Does anyone out there have a copy of the animal prayer? Please 
    	E-mail or post. I saw it years ago on a Hallmark card and I'm 
    	still trying to locate it. Thanks to anyone who can help.

    	Debi
 		     ___________________________________	
   		    (	Scientific Information Systems  )
    		     \	      Debra. A. Meagher        / 
    		      \	  Scientific Support Analyst  /
    		       \   E-mail: MEAGHER@BMS.COM   /
    		        \   Phone : 609.252.4647    / 
    		         \_________________________/
    			  

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: edotto@uipsuxb.ps.uiuc.edu (Edward C. Otto III)
Subject: Re: FUS diet
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 20:43:44 GMT

sasjyb@castanea.unx.sas.com (John McDonald Brown III) writes:


>I was astounded when I read this. My understanding of vitamin
>C was that only a handful of the species that inhabit this planet
>harbor the genetic defect that results in a dietary requirement for
>vitamin C. I didn't remember cats as being one of them. I had read
>some time ago in _Harrison's Priciples of Internal Medicine_ that
>we (humans) lack the genetic info for a single enzyme in the
>metabolic pathway for the production of vitamin C.

The purpose of prescribing ascorbic acid for a cat is NOT as a dietary
supplement - it's to lower the Ph of the urine. A lower Ph makes it a
LOT ( read 99.99%) less likely of a reocurrence.  (For the same reason,
doctors will request that a female with a bladder infection drink
cranberry juice - lots of it.)

If you make the bladder a REAL NASTY place for the bacteria, then they
will all die.  End of flareup.  And the continued usage prevents
reocurrence.
--
Edward C. Otto III   	    *  E-mail addresses:  e-otto@uiuc.edu
Printing Services Office    *  Phone:  217/333-9422
54A E. Gregory Drive	    *  "The only thing we have to fear is
Champaign, IL  61820	    *  24 line .signature files..."
From: cchapman@matd.gatech.edu (Charles H. Chapman)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Cat Thoughts
Date: 13 Apr 92 13:12:03 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology

A month or two ago there was an article in the paper about someone who had
declared that day to be "Answer Your Cat's Question Day."  They listed
several questions that your cat may have such as:

  1.  Why do you wear clothes?
  2.  Why do you voluntarily get in the shower?

There were others but I can't remeber what they were.

Chuck

Charles H. Chapman  (GTRI/MATD)             (404) 528-7588
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
uucp:     ...!{allegra,amd,hplabs,ut-ngp}!gatech!matd!cchapman
Internet: cchapman@matd.gatech.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: edalton@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Elizabeth M Dalton)
Subject: Re: Declawing (need options)
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 02:13:53 GMT

I've used human-type nail clippers for years with *no* troubles. The trick, as
an earlier post mentioned, is to hold them "sideways"- so that you are clipping
the thinnest cross-section of the nail. I always gave my cats plenty of extra
attention while I was clipping them (back claws as well as front) and got good
enough that now my mother has me do her cat when I come to visit. Just be
extra careful about how close you cut them-- don't overdo it-- and make sure to
cut *vertically*, as described above.

Elizabeth Dalton
Linguistics, OSU
I speak for no one but myself.
From: ddoug@dl5000.bc.edu (Debra R.Douglass)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Tie-Died Blimp
Date: 11 Apr 92 03:45:54 GMT
Organization: Institute for Space Research, Boston College

In article <1992Apr8.222307.20384@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> levine@symcom.math.uiuc.edu (Lenore Levine) writes:
   Unfortunately, my 11-year-old Torbie is getting to look sort of like a
   tie-died blimp.
   (...)
   She is getting Science Diet cat food. I tried the Science Diet low
   calorie wet cat food and she would not eat it.

   Do people think that she might like the Science Diet lite dry cat food?
   Or what about the Maxi-Cat?


Shop around all of the Pet shops in your area. Buy the sample sizes
of the various brands of dry diet cat food and try them out on her
first. I would recommend 'Iams for Less-Active Cats'. 

I don't know about what brands of diet wet cat food are available on
the market because I've cut the serving of wet food way down with my
four monsters of the feline purr-suasion. The older cats were getting
a little hefty on regular quantities, but I don't have the heart to
cut it out totally. Cats can be verrrry persuasive (groan!).

I serve wet food twice a day (very small amounts) and leave dry food
out all day. I leave out _only_ enough dry food that they will consume
during one day because they start to fatten up if I keep the bowls
full (not to mention that I don't like stepping on those little hard
nuggets which seem to escape well filled bowls.)


One of my felines is just now 8 months old so I am still serving Iams
dry kitten food (everybody eats it though). Well, Tasha, my oldest
cat, has put on some extra weight since I got the kitten (its
definitely not from lack of exercise), so in order get Tasha sleek
again, I have now decided to stop serving the Iams kitten food (after
all K'ehlar is old enough that she doesn't _really_ need the extra
rich stuff any more [sounds of cat-mother worrying about treating her
little girl-cat properly]).

This means that my favorite cat shelter will soon be receiving a
donation of 5 lbs of Iams kitten food.

Hope this helps.

-Debbie Douglass
--
ddoug@dl5000.bc.edu
System Administrator and Programmer
Institute for Space Research
Boston College
From: pamh@sco.COM (Pam Hassell)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Cat Facial Expressions
Date: Thu, 09 Apr 92 19:04:18 GMT
Followup-To: pamh@sco.com
Organization: The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.


>In article <2062@cronos.metaphor.com>, pstevens@Metaphor.COM (Paul Stevens)
>says:
>
>>In my cat's case I think the combination of light colored fur and my
>>familiarity with her makes it easy to read her face.  For example,
>>there's the forehead furled "I'm annoyed" look, the lips taught and
>>relaxed cheeks with a "grin" when totally contented, the mouth slightly
>>open and eyebrows raised look when she's surprised or interested by
>>something.  And if she's really mad at you (fortunately this rarely
>>happens) she has a special "mean face" that is unmistakeable!
>
>>Does anybody else notice special "looks" that their cats have?

I am always amused when one of our cats begins sniffing something 
that they're *very* interested in.  They open up their mouths about
halfway and their eyes get real wide.  They'll hold this expression
it seems, for several minutes after sniffing whatever wonderful smell
they found.  It's like they're in a cat trance! (Oooh, how unusual ;-)

I guess they have scent glands in the backs of their throats which are
very sensitive.  Is this correct?

Pam
Owned and operated by Puddin'Tat and the Fat Thing
-- 
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est."  (The designated hitter rule has 
got to go.)                       - Henry Beard, _Latin for All Occasions_
From: scm@harvee.UUCP (S. Mudgett aka little gator)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Maine Coon Cat?
Date: 17 Apr 92 09:05:38 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: gators 'r us
X-Version: Rodney's UUCP modules 02/11/90 V1.18



In article <1992Apr16.200232.3014@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> jhoskins@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
(James M Hoskins) writes:

> What is a Maine Coon Cat?
> 
> Does the American Alley Cat (the generic 'cat') have a more formal breed
> designation?
> 
> Do Alley Cats come in longhaired varieties?
> 
they aren't breeds names, since these are mixed breed cats, but a shorthaired
mix is called a domestic shorthair, or dsh, and a lonhaired mix is called a
domestic longhair, or dlh.

a maine coon cat is a large, longhaired breed, which comes in many color 
patterns but most commonly has tabby(also called "tiger") markings.  many
domestic longhairs look a lot like maine coons.
--
-- little gator aka S. Mudgett     email: scm@harvee.uucp
-- friend of a gator is a friend of mine
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 02:08:12 -0400 
From: Deborah Nina Cherry <dc30+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Please Re-post FAQ

Hi, I'm new to this group, I plan to be adopting a kitten on Tues. from
the local shelter, I've heard there is a very good FAQ (and seen some
praises of it), but it is no longer on our system, could someone plese
re-post it or send it to me.

Thanks
Debbie Cherry,
dCarnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA

INTERNET: dc30@andrew.cmu.edu
BITNET:	  dc30+%andrew.cmu.edu@carnegie (preferably) 
	  or debbie@drycas
	
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: cindyz@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Cindy Zimmerman)
Subject: KalKan (Re:  Hill's Science Diet)
Organization: The Ohio State University
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 1992 14:45:10 GMT

In article <44519@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> saavik@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Marla Belz
owski (K-9's)) writes:
>
>First of all let me say I worked all summer at KalKan as a chemical
>engineering intern.  I saw EVERYTHING that went into the dog and cat food
>produced there.  First of all all pet food must meet the same standards that
>human food does.    

     In the early 80's I worked with a woman whose husband was a
     salesman for KalKan here in Columbus.  According to this guy,
     the elderly woman who was in charge was very particular about
     the quality of the dog and cat food the company produced and
     insisted on personally *tasting* a sample of each new product.
     I heard the same thing a few years ago from the sister of
     another coworker who also worked at KalKan.  Personally, I
     think KalKan products look absolutely disgusting, but then so
     does most wet cat food....try convincing Casey Kitty that the
     can of turkey Sheba I'm holding isn't something to go crazy
     over though!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cindy Zimmerman                             Internet:  clz+@osu.edu
Academic Computing Services                 Bitnet:    clz+@ohstmail
OSU, Columbus, Ohio                         614/292-4843
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: kdw@icd.ab.com (Kenneth D. Whitehead)
Subject: Re: cats
Organization: Allen-Bradley Company, Inc.
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 13:54:36 GMT


bjork@telebit.com (Steven Bjork) writes:
>
>Please consider sending a message to the person in charge of the
>domain where the evil posting originated. The data from whois:
>
>whois -h nic.ddn.mil unm.edu
>University of New Mexico (UNM-DOM)
>   Albuquerque, NM 87131
>
>   Domain Name: UNM.EDU
>
>   Administrative Contact:
>      Bauerschmidt, Gary  (GB95)  gbauers@ARIEL.UNM.EDU
>      (505) 277-8035
>
>   Record last updated on 22-Sep-91.
>
>If enough folks request that the user that sent the evil message
>out have their network access restricted then perhaps we will see
>fewer things like this occurring. This has worked before in this
>newsgroup, by the way.
>
>Again send your request to: gbauers@ARIEL.UNM.EDU
>
>--Steven


	Might I humbly disagree?  It's only happened once (so far) and while
	it might have really PO'd some of us (myself included), it's hardly
	an act which seriously threatens any of us.  Unless it becomes a
	common occurrence, let the children play...there's always the "n"
	key, right?

-Rich (young@serum.kodak.com)

I agree with Rich.  The person who posted the "cats" message was a jerk, I 
think that's pretty obvious.  On the other hand, I believe that his message 
was a protest against a cat lover that got after him for a stupid joke that 
he posted in rec.humor;  he didn't originally come HERE looking for trouble, 
and I really doubt that we'll hear from him any more, unless somebody provokes 
him again.
  
Let's face it, his level of humor is that of a high school kid, and that 
sort of thing has been around as long as I can remember.  Anybody remember 
"dead baby" jokes?

But let's keep "political correctness" and it's attendent censorship out 
of this group.  

Ken (kdw@icd.ab.com)
From: young@sasquatch.serum.kodak.com (Rich Young (x37176))
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: How much food should a cat eat?
Date: 9 Apr 92 21:59:57 GMT
Organization: Clinical Products Division, Eastman Kodak Company

white@Ingres.COM (Bill White) writes:

[...]

>So, what I'm wondering is:  How do other netters feel about free feeding?
>Is this good for cats, bad for them, or does it make no difference?
>
>--Bill

	You asked, so...

	I've been free feeding my cat, Bigfoot, for about 16 years on various
	kinds of dry food and he's fine.  His recently departed companion,
	Tornado, was also free fed for 17 years, until she succumbed to
	kidney disease.

	I have absolutely NO justification for this, but my personal opinion
	is that, if they are raised to expect that food is available all the
	time, they will free feed naturally.  If they are raised to expect
	limited food at specific times of the day, they will glut themselves
	at the first opportunity.  On the other hand, both Tornado and
	Bigfoot were strays (with unknown feeding backgrounds) and adapted
	quite nicely.  I HAVE noticed that my cats were MUCH more likely to
	control their appetites if soft-moist or canned food hadn't been
	supplied for a while (I think they forgot it existed).

	Since I'm single and often leave for the odd weekend, the ability
	to free feed my cat is extremely convenient...not to mention the
	fact that dry food (the only kind free feed-able) is far less
	expensive than other kinds AND discourages plaque and tartar
	formation on his teeth (no dental visits in 16 years).

	If your cat(s) will free feed, I __highly__ recommend it!


-Rich (young@serum.kodak.com)
From: anne@cs.UAlberta.CA (Anne J.R. Nield)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Parrots and Cats
Date: 14 Apr 92 19:37:09 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

Two of my vicarious experiences with parrots/cats -- for what
they're worth.

1.  A California parrot/cat combo who supposedly had been raised
TOGETHER and were the best of friends.  Cat would sleep by parrot's
cage -  and the door was always open.  A somewhat unusual situation,
I would say -- but wonderful to observe!

2.  An African Grey parrot who had been raised alone and then had
two kittens added to his household.  This bird had somewhat neurotic
tendencies anyway (was terrified of peanut butter and routinely
 plucked out his red tailfeathers), but this really
traumatized him.  The kittens would "merely" balance on the edge of
the table by his cage and STARE at him, sometimes for hours. I suspect
that they also swung from the cage, but I never saw that.  Anyway, he
just started plucking out all his feathers -- until he looked like
a chicken you would buy at Safeway.  No-one actually got hurt, as in
a physical battle, but the parrot had to be moved back to his previous
cat-free home.  It was quite hard on everyone -- with the possible
exception of the kittens!

So -- I would recommend a good deal of caution and protection for
everyone concerned. 

Good luck!

Anne
From: amo@cbnews.cb.att.com (arlene.m.osborne)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: comforting cats in car
Summary: AGAIN!
Date: 15 Apr 92 19:17:32 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T

In article <CMM.0.90.2.703352969.jdieter@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>, Jill M Dieterle <jdieter@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> writes:
> 
> One drawback of this method of travel:  accidents.  If you get in an
> accident, your cat won't be secure.  Of course, he could hurt himself in a
> carrier too, but the leash method seems more dangerous.  I decided that the

I had a funny thing happen.  I was taking one of my cats (DaLiang, who
has the IQ of a dinner mint) to the vets in my husband's car.  He was
in the back seat in his carrier, and we had the seat down so the hatchback
interior of the backseat was flat.

Some idiot pulled out in front of me from a blind driveway and I
had to jam on my brakes.  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the
carrier flip completely over and come to rest in roughly the same spot it
had been in.  DaLiang, sitting in the carrier looking at me in his best
absent-minded expression, could only remind me of the baby on
Dinosaurs, who says "AGAIN!".  He sure looked like it was fun.
(I was a wreck!)

Arlene Osborne