HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: Jack_Webb@mindlink.bc.ca (Jack Webb)
Subject: Re: Adding a cat to our menagerie
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 00:46:19 GMT

> Marian Macchi writes:
>
> Msg-ID: <1992Dec7.204611.27576@walter.bellcore.com>
> Posted: 7 Dec 92 20:46:11 GMT
>
> Org.  : Morristown Research and Engineering
>
> Keywords:cats dogs
>
> Because of requests from our children, my husband and I are
> considering adding a cat to our "menagerie".  We already
> have two 12-year old dogs (a male and a female Welsh terrier),
> a parakeet, a hamster, and numerous fish.  We have plenty of
> house space, plenty of yard space, and we have someone in the
> house most of the day.  The dogs can go outside if someone
> lets them out, and I'd hope that eventually the cat would go
> out, too.
>
> Here are our goals and concerns:
>
> (1) A cat that can co-exist with the dogs. This is our
> biggest concern, because our terriers have never been very
> friendly to other animals.  Especially when the two of them
> "gang up" against a third animal.  So we are concerned
> about the dogs injuring the cat.  We also, of course,
> are concerned about the cat injuring the dogs!
>
> (2) A cat that will not spray in the house.
> This is our second biggest concern. I've heard that a neutered
> male will not spray, but other people have told me that that's not true.
>
> (3) A cat that will not destroy our furniture.
> This is tied for second.  Do we need a scratching post?
>
> (4) A cat that will not kill the hamster, bird or fish.
> Is it possible to have all of these animals coexist happily?
>
> (5) A cat that is affectionate with people.
>
> Our vet has recommended that we get an adult, neutered
> male cat.  Another local vet has available for adoption
> a 20-month old male cat who was abandoned and has been
> living at the vet's for almost a year. This cat still has claws,
> was neutered a week or so ago, seems extremely friendly
> and affectionate.
>
> We have a reasonable plan, I think, for introducing the
> cat into the household, and for introducing the cat to the world
> outdoors once all the animals are adjusted to each other
>
> But I'd love some opinions -
>
> Thanks.
>
>         Marian Macchi
>

Carole Wilbourn's book CATS ON THE COUCH has a lot of tips for people who
want cats... she has ideas on the best kind of cat to get in almost any
household.  The book also discusses things like spraying and scratching...
it's a good book to have for the new feline owner.
*j*
p.s. yes, you need a scratching post... :)
--
WE SAIL TONIGHT FOR SINGAPORE - WE'RE ALL AS MAD AS HATTERS HERE!!

*******************Jack_Webb@mindlink.bc.ca***********************
****VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA...HOME OF THE NEUROTIC****
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: hirschon@ast.saic.com (Donna Hirschon (x5177))
Subject: Re: Lap-loving cats
Reply-To: hirschon@ast.saic.com
Organization: SAIC
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 22:07:38 GMT

My cat looks to see if I'm sleeping.  If I am (or playing possum), she leaves or sleeps on the other side of the bed.  If I'm awake, she gets up on my chest to purr and (sometimes) drool.  She's a riot!

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: erhart@athena.mit.edu (Julia Erhart)
Subject: Kd food
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 19:54:56 GMT

Funny, my cat (the one with the respiratory problem that I wrote about
a couple of days ago) absolutely LOVES kd diet (the dry food), more than
she ever did Science Diet or Eukanuba (sp?) -- two other specialty cat
foods that offer products similar to kd.  Did you try getting your cat 
to switch gradually?  I.e., mix the kd with her regular food, bit by bit; 
increase the amount of kd gradually over a period of several days or even 
weeks.  I've heard this helps, but don't know from personal experience 
(I'm not a picky eater, myself).  

Anyway, good luck!

Julia
From: emilio@acupain.UUCP (Elizabeth Milio)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: The Incredible life of...
Date: 10 Dec 92 14:37:37 GMT
Reply-To: emilio@accurate.com.UUCP (Elizabeth Milio)
Organization: Accurate Information Systems, Eatontown, NJ

> From :  Message-ID: <1992Dec7.212519.1838@lclark.edu>
>Date: 7 Dec 92 21:25:19 GMT
>Sender: larryw@lclark.edu (Larry Westdahl)

>I just wanted to tell you about my cat, Schroeder.  His life has been
>incredible.  

Very long wonderful story deleted.

Larry, thank you for the story -- my two kitties adventures could NEVER
match Schroeder's.

Liz
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: betty@funky.austin.ibm.com (Betty Riggle)
Subject: Cat Dancer and other toys
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 18:58:54 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: IBM AWD Austin, TX

After reading about various toys in this group, I decided to give the
Cat Dancer a try.  Previously, I've tried various balls (with and without
bells), spools, catnip stuffed things on strings, etc.  Neither Delilah nor
Spot were ever interested for long.  Both found the other cat to be more
fun.  Also, the various bugs which enter any home are more fun than store-
bought toys.
  But I tried anyway.  I have to admit that the Cat Dancer was a modified
success.  Both cats have actually played with it for more than 5 minutes
at a time and for more than 1 day.  It did take me awhile to figure out
the best position for the toy.  It doesn't work well for my cats if it is
just on the floor.  I ended up attaching it to a breakfast table chair leg
so that it could bounce appropriately when attacked by a cat.  And it dangles
enticingly.  They don't play with it all of the time but do occassionally.
  At the same time I purchased the Cat Dancer, I bought a fur mouse toy.  It
had an interesting life as a toy.  Spot took one look/sniff and said basically
"What the heck am I supposed to do with this?".  Delilah (who in her youth
was quite a huntress) thought it interesting.  Di attacked the mouse, and
proceeded to "kill" it.  After ripping out the fur and detaching the tail,
Di was extremely upset to find that this "mouse" didn't have any juicy
insides like the "real" mice she use to catch.  After finding out this
unpleasant fact of toy mice, Di has ignored the fur mouse.  So now it is
another dead toy.
  Both cats still think that each other is the best toy available.  But this
is the way it should be -- even at 4 in the morning I suppose.
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: Jack_Webb@mindlink.bc.ca (Jack Webb)
Subject: Re: Kitty acne?
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 00:38:37 GMT

> Michelle Berteig writes:
>
> Msg-ID: <1ggin4INN7pk@gap.caltech.edu>
> Posted: 13 Dec 1992 23:58:28 GMT
>
> Org.  : California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
>
> Hi everyone!
>
> I love this group and don't get to read it as often as I would like,
> but I have a question.  Rory, my mostly white, 2 yr. old, hunky male
> cat (the Rormeister, Rorinator, etc.), has what looks like a small
> tan patch under his chin.  I've heard that kitties can get kitty acne
> on their chins.  Does this sound like what he might have?  How is it
> treated?  Or, is it necessary at all to treat it?  I'd appreciate any
> advice anyone can give me.  I was thinking of having the vet check this out
> but thought I would ask you guys first.  Please e-mail me, as I said above
> I don't read this group too often!  Thanks!
>
> Sincerely,
> Michelle Berteig
>
> mberteig@cco.caltech.edu
>
>

It's too hard to tell whether the "tan patch" is acne or not!  It could be
any number of things... I advise taking your sweetie to the vet, just to be
sure.
*j*
--
WE SAIL TONIGHT FOR SINGAPORE - WE'RE ALL AS MAD AS HATTERS HERE!!

*******************Jack_Webb@mindlink.bc.ca***********************
****VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA...HOME OF THE NEUROTIC****
From: das@voodoo.boeing.com (Deb Schwartz)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Kitty toys for the poor of pocket
Date: 19 Dec 92 06:55:21 GMT
Organization: Yet Another Graphics Project, Bellevue, WA

KC's new favorite toy is:

* my potholder glove!*  

(if that's what it's called - one of those quilted gloves you wear when
handling hot pots).

I accidently dropped it on the floor - she leaped on it, and chased it
all over the house.  I usually keep it on a hook by the stove, but no more.
Every day when I come home, it's on the floor somewhere.  Covered in cat
hair.  I guess I'll just have to go back to using towels.
------
Debbie Schwartz // das@voodoo.ca.boeing.com  // ....uw-beaver!bcsaic!voodoo!das
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: Jack_Webb@mindlink.bc.ca (Jack Webb)
Subject: Re: I need help naming kittens
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 00:42:37 GMT

> SRS Consultant writes:
>
> Msg-ID: <1992Dec11.150559.2485@telesciences.com>
> Posted: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 15:05:5
>
> Org.  : TeleSciences CO Systems, Inc.
>
> In article <_k#@byu.edu> $stephan@sasb (Stephan Fassmann, Software) writes:
> >In article <1992Dec7.073956.19805@leland.Stanford.EDU>
> muaddib@leland.Stanford.EDU (Rob Dorfman) writes:
> >>I am about to get a male/female pair of kittens. The male
> >>is black and the female is silver grey.  They are very cute.
> >>I was wondering if anyone could recommend some names for me.
> >
> >Captain Midnight and the Silver Surver. :-)
> >Velvet and Silver
> >Fork and Spoon
> >Die (dee) and Der. German articles for Feminine and Masculine.
> >Night and Moon.
> >Sky and Planet.
> >Dark and Light
> >Bad and Neutral/Good
>
> Pygmalion and Galatea.
> Antony and Cleopatra
> Napoleon and Josephine
> George and Barbara .....  NOT!  ;)
>
>
>         Your choices are unlimited.
>
> --
> Mitch Gorman            srscnslt@telesciences.com               slave@work
>                         emrys@cellar.org                        god@home
>
> "Stand, on hills of long forgotten yesterdays..."


A nice set of names I saw for a white cat and a black cat were SOYA and
BECHAMEL... as in 'sauces'... :)
--
WE SAIL TONIGHT FOR SINGAPORE - WE'RE ALL AS MAD AS HATTERS HERE!!

*******************Jack_Webb@mindlink.bc.ca***********************
****VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA...HOME OF THE NEUROTIC****
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: wd6cmu@netcom.com (Eric Williams)
Subject: Re: cheap cat toys!
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 08:15:33 GMT

I just invented a new cat game: a ping pong ball in the bathtub!  Kept
my two busy for about an hour last night.  I finally had to take the
ball away, they were keeping me awake.  Make sure it can't roll down
the drain.
-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eric Williams     wd6cmu@netcom.com  |  Never attribute to malice that which
WD6CMU@WD6CMU.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NA       |  is adequately explained by stupidity.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: oexmann@convex.com (Carla Oexmann)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: What's Your Favorite Kind of Cat?
Date: 17 Dec 92 02:58:26 GMT
Organization: Engineering, CONVEX Computer Corp., Richardson, Tx., USA
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

>In article <1gl2fpq@rpi.edu> petitc@vccsouth02.its.rpi.edu (Christopher Jon Petit) writes:
>I was wondering---what's your favorite kind of cat?  Siamese, Persian,
>Tomcat, Rex?

It depends on which of the Terrible Trio I'm talking to : horrible 
gushy baby talk like "Who's Carla's pretty girl, so clever and so sweet !"
Purr, purr, purr.....  Strange knows that she's my favorite Coon kitty,
and the Q knows that she's my favorite Siamese, and Bandit that she's 
my favorite calico. 

Ritual disclaimer : My opinion and mine alone !  Convex, as best I can tell,
doesn't have opinions, being a corporate entity...
Carla Oexmann        {allegra, sun, harvard, uiucdcs, ctvax}!convex!oexmann
Convex Computer Corp.  3000 Waterview Parkway P.O. Box 833851 Richardson, TX
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: vicki@steam.atd.ucar.edu (Vicki Holzhauer)
Subject: Re: Do your cats know their names?
Organization: Atmospheric Technology Division/NCAR Boulder, CO
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 00:45:12 GMT

In article <1992Dec17.221905.8588@inel.gov> kkv@inel.gov (Jamie J Ferguson) writes:
>
>  Mine also
>remember people they haven't seen for a long time, which I think is
>probably pretty normal but also surprises people.

Oh, absolutely!  Only non-animal people would think (and I know some
do) that animals can't remember people.  Abigail is a *very* shy cat,
but she definitely knows who her friends are.  She runs and hides
under the bed for most company, but if it's someone she knows, she's a
shameless hussy!  Same with Zarabeth, who is generally a more friendly
cat.  ZB is especially fond of Shanti, now 10, with whom she spent her
first 7 weeks in 1988.  When Shanti leaves with her Mom, I've seen
Zarabeth follow her over to the door and stare at it after it closes.
You can't tell me she doesn't remember her first people!

My friend Mac has a dog (Sasha) that I've known since he got her in
late 1981.  When I go over to his house, she doesn't always recognize
me at first, but when I say her name with my particular inflection,
suddenly a little light dawns and she practically turns herself inside
out ("It's She Who Takes Me For Walks!").  I always get a big charge
out of her reaction to me ... :-)


--
Vicki Holzhauer, National Center for Atmospheric Research
Boulder, Colorado / / / /  vicki@ncar.ucar.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: kathrynw%radian@natinst.com (Kathryn Whitworth)
Subject: Re: Do your cats know their names?
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1992 16:18:01 GMT
Organization: Radian Corporation, Austin, Texas

In article <85524@ut-emx.uucp> jshouman@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Joan-Marie Shouman) writes:
>In article <1992Dec17.190159.1703@radian.uucp> kathrynw%radian@natinst.com (Kathryn Whitworth) writes:
>>Of Course cats know their names!
>
>How can you be so sure?
>
>One of my cats definitely knows her name and even responds occasionally.
>
>I don't think my other darling knows his name.  Or if he does, he is not
                                                                ^^^^^^^^^
>happy with it.  Ari (short for "Aristophanes") will respond to "Kitty,"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>"Tasha" (the OTHER CAT'S name), "Dorkmeister," and "Hey, Stupid."  If you call
>him "Ari" or "Aristophanes" you'll get no sign of recognition.
>
>Joan-Marie Shouman	      |non cogito ergo	   
>(jshouman@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu) |non sum :)	   
>___________________________________________________ 


There you have it:  *you* may think his name is "Ari", but clearly *he* does
not.  Maybe he thinks you're growling at him?

Every cat I've ever know (a limited sample, of course, compared to all the
cats in the world) if socialized at all -- that is, not feral, and aware that
humans communicate in limited range noises -- has responded to its name, if
only by looking around:  that is, unless the cat has better things to do.

I ended up with a cat named "Arienrhod" (in myth, a Welsh goddess).  That is
*not* my idea of a call name, but it is what *she* wished to be called.  
She won.  She knows her name, will look around when addressed; she will also
respond to "Lady Cat".  (Do you see a trend here?)

So my working theory is that cats all know their names, only sometimes their
humans insist on calling them something else.

Kathryn Roth Whitworth
From: v384rv4k@ubvmsd.cc.buffalo.edu (Lynn Harper)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: cat nicknames
Date: 11 Dec 92 18:41:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: acsu.Bz3yJz.FG
Organization: University at Buffalo
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

Minn Kota's "other names" = Pudgy (pronounced poo-gee),
Boo-Boo, Mr. Ears, Kitty Witty, Pudgy Wudgy (same as
above).  I also like to tell him he is other animals,
like a fish (because his tail is always waving back and
forth like fish tails), a mouse (because of his pointy
nose), a dog (just to irritate him, and because he follows
me around like a puppy), and a penguin (when he puts his
"arm" next to his side like a penguin wing so he can lick
his stomach).  I'm sure I've called him other animals.
I've also called him Fat Boy when he's bugging me for food,
or A Beast when he's getting into trouble.  :)

Lynn
From: ldh@svl.cdc.com (Lawrence D. Hare)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: animal testing
Date: 15 Dec 92 19:42:35 GMT
Organization: Control Data Systems
X-UserAgent: Nuntius v1.1.1d9
X-XXMessage-ID: <A75374C53D010456@ethelred.svl.cdc.com>
X-XXDate: Tue, 15 Dec 92 11:40:53 GMT

In article <If=St5C00WBMQ1sV0X@andrew.cmu.edu> Anna Matyas,
am2x+@andrew.cmu.edu writes:
>"The question is not, can they reason? Nor, can they talk?  But, can
>they suffer?"    -Jeremy Bentham, philosopher, 1748-1832.

Indeed - nice to see this here.  I usually confine myself to
rec.food.veg. I became a vegan vegetarian for ethical reasons earlier
this year. My wife, who had been paralysed with osteo-arthritis and two
ruptured cervical disks actually lead the way. Despite MANY doctors
telling us we would never dance again, we both now Jazzercise twice a
week and last week, for the first time in years, we went dancing :-)

There is NO questions that diet was the principle reason for this.

We shop at the Body Shop also. It started in Brighton, England, in (I
believe) 1976. It now has outlets in many coutries. Another store is
Crabtree & Evelyn (something like that). Both stores of English decent.
They have products for men as well as for women and they are extremely
good. Safeway products are cruelty free.

Keep the flag flying :-)

Lawrence
From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Declawing surgery
Date: 11 Dec 92 14:16:10 -0600
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

In article <1992Dec11.074136.14333@serval.net.wsu.edu>, jeffp@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu (Jeff Parke;S10000) writes:
> I just got done today doing a practice run at declawing surgery on a
> cat cadaver.  What a disgusting thing to do.  I hope I never work in a
> practice where performing this awful thing is required.  If not, I will
> certainly refer all such requests to some other vet.

Jeff, I don't know if this will help you or not, but I'm missing a portion
of my left index finger, due to chopping newspaper with a papercutter for
animal bedding... (my fingers are skinny enough that I managed to get one
stuck under the finger guard).  It hurt like ^&*!@ for a couple of months,
but soon after that I was able to get back to full use of the finger,
even playing guitar without pain.  (That's the finger that gets the
most abuse on the frets...)

Friends who are missing entire distal portions of fingers at various
joints report similar non-painful recoveries.

Kay
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: cs431109@umbc8.umbc.edu (cs431109)
Subject: Re: Question
Organization: University of Maryland, Baltimore County Campus
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 23:35:02 GMT

In article <--q2tjg@rpi.edu> petitc@vccsouth04.its.rpi.edu (Christopher Jon Petit) writes:
>lb04@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (Laura Bassi) writes:
>
>>Hi folks,
>>  I recently caught a bit of a news piece that was saying something about
>>  pregnant women and cat litter.  Apparently, contact w/ cat litter (used, I
>>  assume :), is dangerous to the developing fetus. Anyone hear of anything
>>  about this?  Thanks.
>

The disease is called Toxoplasmosis and is explained in detail in the
FAQ. I've known of this disease for a long time, but one thing I learned
by reading the FAQ is that many cat owners may have already been
exposed to the disease, and once exposed will not get it again. Since
toxoplasmosis produces cold like symptoms, the only way to tell if
you've been exposed is to have a test done. I suggest for any cat owner
who is pregnant or contemplating pregnancy to read the FAQ and to
consult with your doctor. Articles 18748, 18749, and 18750 are the most
recent FAQ (I think), and 18749 is the part that has details on
toxoplasmosis.

As one writer urged us all to remind our acquantences of the commitment
required when you bring a cat into your home, so I urge everyone to
inform pregnant cat owners about the diesease and about the precautions 
they can take to protect their unborn child. It's not always necessary 
to find someone else to empty the litter, or to go to the extreme of 
getting rid of the cat! Besides, toxoplasmosis exposure can occur in
places other than the litter box from sources other than a cat 
(e.g. raw meat). And if your doctor recommends getting rid of the cat,
get another doctor!

Mary
From: FELSON_ADJ@CCSUA.CTSTATEU.EDU
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: cat tree
Date: 17 Dec 1992 23:24:29 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

I originally got one of these at a garage sale for $5, but 
gave it away while moving...  My cat missed it so much it
built another..   

-------
|     |
|     |
|     |
|     |
|     |
|     |
|     |
|     |
|     |
|     |

The thing is 4.5 feet tall, one foot in width.  I used 4 5/8"x12"x4.5' boards
and a top cap equal in width to 12" plus two board widths ( 12" + 2* 5/8" )
I had a bunch of junk carpet to cover it... that part looks very 
unprofessional.. but since the back is against the wall, I put the seam there.

My cat treats it exactly like a tree.  Runs up it... sleeps in it ( on top
of it ) climbs up it halfway with his fur mouse in mouth...  Jazzy says "wow!"


Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: walker@Ingres.COM (Lynn Walker)
Subject: THANK YOU ALL......(was: a very sad day for me)
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.4-b1  
Keywords: none
Organization: ASK Computer Systems, Ingres Product Division
Date: 18 Dec 92 17:30:49 GMT

I received so many kind and thoughtful responses to my message regarding the
passing of my cat Max, that I thought it better to make a collective THANK YOU
to all. Oliver and I will miss Max, but I know that he is in a better place,
free from suffering.

It's nice to know that there are so many caring people out there in net-land.
Your support of appreciated.

			-- Lynn & Oliver
		 
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
      "you can't fool me, mister.       +    lynn walker
       there ain't no sanity claus."    +    walker@ingres.com
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: daj8m@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU (Deirdre A. Johnson)
Subject: Re: whiskers
Organization: University of Virginia
Distribution: rec
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 19:27:59 GMT

Actually, I believe that cats shed their whiskers - at least, I'm always
finding Tuesday Molly whiskers in my apartment, and I know that I don't
break them off!  Also, the whiskers I find always seem to have a root
attached & don't show any signs of breakage.

BTW, a friend of mine says that her indoor cat used to shed whiskers
constantly. She used to collect them and use them to repair/make stuffed
animals!

                                -Deirdre (daj8m@virginia.edu)
From: avi@rix.Corp.Sun.COM (Ann Adamcik)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: jellicle?
Date: 18 Dec 1992 19:22:33 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Distribution: world
Reply-To: avi@rix.Corp.Sun.COM
NNTP-Posting-Host: rix.corp.sun.com

In article 19906@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU, daj8m@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU (Deirdre A. Johnson) writes:
>
>     Jellicle cats are black and white,
>     Jellicle cats are rather small;
>     Jellicle cats are merry and bright,
>     And pleasant to hear when they caterwaul.
>

This description fits Mango perfectly, except maybe for the 'rather
small' part.  She's almost 8 months old, quickly approaching 10 pounds, 
and she still hasn't grown into her feet.  Is she too big to be called
a jellicle?

-Ann


Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats