HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: sstover@sumax.seattleu.edu (   Wilde Dame)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Cat survives washer!
Date: 7 Jan 1993 15:44:21 -0800
Organization: Seattle University
NNTP-Posting-Host: sumax.seattleu.edu

In article <1993Jan7.024007.17953@netcom.com> amyk@netcom.com (Amy Kurtzman) writes:
>
>I always do a nose count before starting my washer or dryer. Ever
>since I saw Lucy hop into the dryer as I was loading it, I've been
>afraid of something like that happening. Lucy is all black, and the
>bottom-of-the-line dryer supplied with this apartment has no interior
>light, so I really do have to double check!

Clio has this thing for getting inside things (I think it was once
referred to here as the "in or on" principle).  Anyhow, I don't have a
dryer, but whenever I close *anything* in my apartment (closet, cupboard,
bookbag, especially refrigerator) I have to do a "Clio-kitty!" call first
to make sure she is somewhere else.  Learned this after a friend of mine
shut her in the fridge but I luckily opened it up right away to get out
another ingredient for our soup.... furry things do not belong with the
onions. :)

-- 
       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: jeffp@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu (Jeff Parke;S10000)
Subject: Re: Feline Leukemia, stray visitor and our cats
Organization: Washington State University
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 93 22:55:04 GMT

Confusing stuff, and there are no real "hard" answers.

Transmission:  primary source is cat saliva, also other fluids and feces from
infected cats.  Virus is fairly fragile away from cat's bodily fluids, so
transmission by humans (on boots, etc.) is *not* very likely.

Few cats are latent (negative test, but still infected) for long periods.
Another way of looking at this is that the cat that was positive, became
negative, and stays that way is probably cured.

A latent cat probably needs to become viremic (positive test) before it
can infect other cats, *unless* it is a queen nursing kittens.

The ELISA test has a significant false postive rate, depending on fluid
tested.  The IFA test correlates better with actual virus isolation from
tested cats.

Cats do shake off the infection.  I have no experience with any that have.
I don't know of any figures of the percent infected that sucessfully combat
the infection, though there must be some figures published.

The best way to reduce risk is to keep negative cats away from positive
cats.

---------------------
Jeff Parke <jeffp@vcs10.vetmed.wsu.edu>
also:   jeffp@WSUVM1.bitnet   AOL: JeffParke
Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine class of 1994
Pullman, WA  99164-7012
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: wdo@TEFS1.acd.com (Bill Overpeck)
Subject: Re: FUS (was Re: Excessive water drinking - and possible constipation)
Organization: Applied Computing Devices, Inc., Terre Haute IN
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 18:59:21 GMT

In <1993Jan7.170759.12741@serval.net.wsu.edu> jeffp@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu 
   (Jeff Parke;S10000) writes: >

>I may be confused by the original article.  Feline Urologic Syndrom (FUS)
>is a serious condition.  It is also known as "blocked" cat.  Many folks
>have had a blocked cat, and it is indeed an emergency.  Cats will die
>acutely if blocked and not treated.  A cat that is straining to urinate,
>or trying to urinate without anything happening is a cardinal sign.  Any
>cat observed in this situation should be taken to the vet immediately.

Upon the arrival of Velcro, our third cat, I (in my ignorance) decided 
that Iams was too expensive and convinced my wife that we should try a 
less expensive brand of cat food.  The cats didn't really seem to mind 
the change, and the two females were apparently unaffected.  Wooster, 
(our male Himalayan) however, was subsequently seen crouching in various 
corners in the house, leaving the unmistakable scent of urine behind.  
Despite the fact that he'd been neutered for over a year, we were con-
cerned that he was starting to spray.  But his behavior convinced us 
otherwise.  He looked decidedly uncomfortable.  After a couple of days, 
we decided that something was definitely wrong and took him to the vet, 
who determined that he was suffering from the development of crystals 
in his urinary tract (which, I think, is FUS?) and needed *immediate* 
treatment to unblock him.  A few days (and over $200.00) later, he was 
feeling much better.  The vet informed us that the magnesium content 
of many off-the-shelf cat foods contributes to this condition in male 
cats (whose urinary tracts are much smaller than those of females) and 
that we should go back to Iams or Science Diet.  She also said we were 
fortunate to have brought him in when we did because, left untreated, 
it would have killed him shortly thereafter.

Since we waited several days before taking him in, I can only assume 
that he was partially blocked, as toxicity levels can apparently build 
up very quickly in situations where the animal is totally blocked(?). 

Bill (a contented purchaser of Iams products)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: prh2s@faraday.clas.Virginia.EDU (Patrick Ray Harrison)
Subject: minikiti
Organization: University of Virginia
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 04:43:39 GMT

Is there a breed of cats noted for small size?  If such a breed
does exist, is it more susceptible than other varieties to any
diseases or physical problems?

Patrick Harrison
prh2s@faraday.clas.virginia.edu
From: mas5@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (MICHELLE A. M. SZENA)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Cats and whistling
Date: 6 Jan 93 19:09:24 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

In article <93004.172612SAS15@psuvm.psu.edu>, SAS15@psuvm.psu.edu writes:
>I happen to have a rather shrill whistle.  One day I was whistling along
>merrily when my cat Marti (female tabby) came up and started sniffing my
>face.  I thought, "Oh, isn't that cute!  She wonders where the sound is
>coming from." Then, to my surprise, she bit my nose!  Obviously, this was
>effective in getting me to stop whistling, but I am wondering if this was
>her purpose.  Since then, I have noticed that whenever I whistle, she comes
>running, meows at me, and--if she can reach it--bites my nose.
>Alternatively, she rubs up against my legs or wrestles with her father,
>Ferris.  Ferris has never bit my nose, and my whistling doesn't seem to
>bother him.
>
>I am wondering why Marti is doing this!  Is it that the sound hurts her ears
>and she wants me to stop?  Or is it that she is just being affectionate?  I
>don't want to hurt her, but why wouldn't Ferris respond in this way?  Any
>insights?  Any similar experiences?  Thanks for you help!
>
>Susan Stoner
>Bitnet: sas15@psuvm
>Internet: sas15@psuvm.psu.edu
>
The same thing happened to me.  A few weeks ago I was sitting on the couch and
I started whistling.  Merlin came *running* up to me, jumped on my lap and put
his face right into mine.  It really threw me because Pookie never responds
when I whistle.  But Merlin seemed totally amazed.  I've tried it since and I
always get the same reaction; he gets as close to my face as he can and stares
at my mouth.  It's strange but that's why we love them.

Michelle
and Pookie and Merlin
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: ramirez@julia.math.ucla.edu (Alice Ramirez)
Subject: choose him or your cats??????
Organization: UCLA Mathematics Department
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 93 02:36:01 GMT

I tried sending this message, but it bounced back. It is in response to the
23 year old woman whose boyfriend was trying to force her to choose between
him and her cats.  


To: dante@nmsw.edu
Subject: your boyfriend and cats

If he gets pregnant, toxoplasmosis could be a problem.  Ringworm can be
trnasmitted.  Feline leukemia, feline aids cannot be.  

I don't know whether or not you can change this guy.  You are young.
There are plenty of other men out there.  Can you REALLY be happy with
someone so anal-retentive, so over-controlling?  Are you cats demanding
that you choose between them or him?  If he is making this demand, he 
obviously cares more for his own comfort than your happiness.  Is
this what you really want?  And if you get rid of these cats, to the pound
or whatever, are you going to be able to live with yourself.  You sound as
if youwouldn't be.

There are sweet, gentle men out there who like animals, including cats.
Unless you are already prego or something, why are you so tied to this
one.  You might want to read Smart Women Foolish Choices by 
Dr. Donnell Cowan and Dr. Melvyn Kinder published by Signet in paperback.

Right now he wants you go give up your cats.  As time goes by, what else is
he going to demand you give up or lose him?  Ditch the bastard, you can do
better.

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: kjc7435@ultb.isc.rit.edu (K.J. Cater)
Subject: Welcome New Arrival!!!!  also: Fox freaks out cat story
Originator: kjc7435@ultb
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 20:55:45 GMT

Give a big welcome to my new arrival,  Lady Jane!  a 2 yr. old american
longhair with grey fur and black tabby markings and big extra-toe paws..
yellow eyes, and a mouse-squeak of a meow!

She is SO funny!!  I got a stuffed fox toy for Xmas.  Lady Jane had been
rolling around on her new catnip post and the fox was on a pillow.  Lady
Jane sauntered into the bedroom and crept up the blanket..when she
caught sight of the fox she FROZE!!  and her fur got all fluffed up and
her eyes got big...I laughed and grabbed the fox and showed it to her,
but when I moved it towards her, she JUMPED back off the bed and RAN
away!!  Now whenever she sees the fox, she tenses up and runs away!!
funny cat!!!!!!

anyone else's cat had these reactions to a stuffed toy???

Miss Kerry Cater.

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: jo@irvine.com (jo (still))
Subject: xneko and oneko
Organization: Irvine Compiler Corp., Irvine, California, USA
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 01:32:23 GMT
Distribution: usa

Howdy y'all!

I botched it when I got the files for xneko and oneko, and can no
longer access the message which contained their location.  I have a
note that indicates cs.ort.edu (not where I originally got them), but
I can't connect to that location (unknown host).

Could some kind soul provide me with a (or several) location?  Mail or
post as suits you.

thx in advance

jo

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: jlw44726@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (angeles)
Subject: Re: Trimming claws
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 20:23:33 GMT

In article <IfGlroG00iV4Q2AWAN@andrew.cmu.edu> am2x+@andrew.cmu.edu (Anna Matyas) writes:
>
>What does she hate?  BRUSHING!!  She won't sit still for more than 20 or
>30 seconds.  She needs to be brushed badly.  Anyone have a suggestion on
>making it a pleasurable experience?  I bought one of those rakes.  She LOVED
>it the first time I used it but every time since it gets the same reaction
>as the brush.

Perhaps she has the sort of "sensitive scalp" problem that some people
have.. if so, a softer brush and a very gentle hand might help.

Also, Annie really gets into long, loving grooming sessions.. she especially
enjoys a fingertip massage (mainly on the back and sides) before her
brushing.  


  -Jenn (and Annie)

-- 
        "There is a kind of happiness and wonder  |    Jenney Wilson
         that makes you serious.  It is too good  |     
         to waste on jokes."   -C.S. Lewis        |   kaleid@uiuc.edu
From: lyndap@Novell.COM (Lynda Peterson)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Choice (was Cats and LSD)
Date: 12 Jan 93 20:55:56 GMT
Organization: Novell, Inc.

Maybe you could explain to him that part of your adorable personality is  
loving cats. It makes you tolerant of creatures who don't understand  
reason. I told my boyfriend (now spouse) that loving me was loving EVERY  
part of me and that included my love of cats. He used to torment my Boo  
until I pointed out to him that this behavior would cause him great  
distress in the afterlife.

Mine story ended good, good luck with yours.
_______________________________________________
lyndap@novell.com			 /\_/\ 
"My life is a country song		= o o =
and you just added another verse."	  /^\  
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: berthiau@iro.umontreal.ca (Eva Chan)
Subject: Cat survives washer!
Summary: found in today's paper
Reply-To: bunny@gnu.ai.mit.edu (Eva Chan)
Organization: Universite de Montreal
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 16:05:31 GMT

Well folks!  It's hard to believe it but this is what I read in today's
paper....

(not verbatim) 18-month old white kitty somehow got into the washer and 
survived and entire wash cycle. He meowed his heart out throughout the 
wash, spin and rinse cycles. Only when the washer had stopped did someone
hear and rescue him.  It was only a miracle that the feline survived!

I guess he won't be wanting another bath anytime soon =)

Oh yeah!  This was in the UK somewhere.

- Eva


-- 
= Eva Chan 		| Never lose my youth, I hope it never ends. =
= bunny@gnu.ai.mit.edu	| Hope I never lose my wallet!               =
= on IRC: bunny 	|	- Bosstones			     =
=			| 					     =
--
	Andre Berthiaume 	 |  "Sometimes you're the windshield,
				 |   Sometimes you're the bug"
    berthiau@iro.umontreal.ca    |			
				 |	       Dire Straits, The Bug
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: greg.grainger@rose.com (greg grainger)
Subject: Re: Human Nail Clippe
Organization: Rose Media Inc, Toronto, Ontario.
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 10:31:54 GMT
X-Gated-By: Usenet <==> RoseMail Gateway (v1.70)


Date Entered: 01-12-93 05:23
On Jan. 11, shroymp@wkuvx1.bitnet (Mike Shroyer) wrote:

S(>        I lost my copy of the FAQ so shoot me if this is in there.
S(>Can you use regular human clippers to trim a cats nails?  I friend of
S(>mine said his mom used to use them when he was a kid and it didn't
S(>seem to bother them.


Been doing it for years - I find it gives me much better control over where
the actual cut goes - that way there's less danger of cutting too far back.

They hate it, but most cats don't like people fooling with their paws, and
they've learned that they're not going to die, so they mostly just put up
with it now.

Hope this helps . . .

                                                Cheers,
                                                Greg.

Greg Grainger
Toronto, Ontario.
greg.grainger@rose.com
1:16:22 am, Tue 01-12-1993.
---
   OLX 2.2   A fool and his computer are soon parted....
   RoseMail 2.00 : RoseNet<=>Usenet Gateway : Rose Media 416-733-2285
From: ac999257@umbc3.umbc.edu (ac999257)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: is it too cold?
Date: 7 Jan 93 02:14:29 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Maryland, Baltimore County Campus
NNTP-Posting-Host: umbc8.umbc.edu

In article <1ifmunINNqch@matt.ksu.ksu.edu> amys@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (Amy Schlotthauer) writes:
>We have an ongoing debate at our house about where my cats should spend
>the night. (Actually, the debate is about how long it will take for my
>husband to realize that my cats, not us, run this home. (= ) Right now they
>have been relegated to the basement, which I am just sure the cats think
>is a meat locker. My husband says, "For God's sake, they are CATS, animals
>that have fur all over their bodies, they can not possibly be cold." Well, I
>measured the temp at 63 degrees (F), which really is pretty far off the
>50 degrees I estimated but still seems kinda cool. "Since you will never
>believe me in regard to a cat issue", my husband in all his wisdom says, 
>"ask that cat group of yours." 
>
>SO, don't you all agree that it is cruel and unusual punishment for my
>cats to have to spend the night in 63 degrees? 

I think it's pretty cruel to have a nice warm upstairs and relegate
the cats to the nasty lonely basement. Why on earth does he object
to them sleeping upstairs?

But if I'm not mistaken (and I'm sure I'll find out soon), cats that
routinely spend time in colder temperatures grow thicker fur. Our outside
cat Figaro gets a very thick coat in the fall and sheds it in the
spring. She only comes in when its REALLY cold outside (<40), and even 
then she begs to go out for a little bit during the day. The only
time she doesn't like going out at all is when it's 0 degrees and there's
16 inches of snow on the ground. Since she's 11
years old (ancient for an outside cat), cool temperatures aren't
life threatening. But I don't know if your indoor cats will get that
nice warm thick cold-weather coat by just spending time in the 
basement.

If your husband insists, fix them some cozy catbeds near any heater
with lots of cushiony blankets. I've even seen little plush kitty
tents at stores like K-mart that would keep them nice and warm.
But he really is being ridiculous.

Mary
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: tony@ph-meter.beckman.uiuc.edu (Tony Rimovsky)
Subject: Feline Leukemia, stray visitor and our cats
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 15:11:56 GMT

Hello all!  My wife, cats and I have run into a problem and seem to be
getting different opinions from the experts.  Central Illinois was
plastered with snow this weekend, and in the midst of it, a stray came
knocking at our back door.  We had seen this kitten over the summer
and it was very tiny in mid august.  We didn't rescue it then because
we didn't know if it belonged to anyone or not.
	After this cat came to our door saturday and we brought it in, we
agonized over keeping it or not.  We already have two cats and wern't sure
we wanted another, but over the course of the weekend we decided to keep
her.  We kept her seperated from our other cats all weekend and took her to
the vet monday.  She tested positive for Feline Leukemia.
	Our vet told us that young cats will sometimes test positive for unknown
reasons, but will work the virus out of their system as they get older
sometimes.  She said that this cat was just in the age where she couldn't
tell.  A book my wife and I had says that it is very possible for cats to
recover from this disease given the proper diet and the chance to build up
its immune system.  On the other hand, I had always thought that Feline
Leukemia was incurable, although it might never manefest itself in a given
cat as an illnes.  I have heard that other vets think that it is very
catching and that even indoor only cats should be vaccinated because they
can catch it from people bringing it in from outside.
	My wife and I definately do not want to infect our cats to this.  They
have both been vaccinated against it, but I understand that this isn't a
sure thing.

Has anyone had any experience with "curing" a young cat of Leukimia and has
anyone else heard about this?  What do you all think the chances are of my
wife and I carrying the virus to our cats?  What would you do in this
situation?  We want to give this cat a chance, but we don't want to lose
our cats.

Thank you,

Tony Rimovsky
Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Lab
University of Illinois
rimov@uiuc.edu

Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner)
Subject: Re: new kittens for my mom!!
Reply-To: rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Ruth Milner)
Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro NM
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 93 21:58:31 GMT

In article <1993Jan12.181441.2023@ra.msstate.edu> jonesk@ur.msstate.edu writes:
>FYI, I believe the character on Star Trek: The Next Generation spells
>his name Worf.

Or at least the writers do. :-)
-- 
Ruth Milner                          NRAO/VLA                  Socorro NM
Computing Division Head      rmilner@zia.aoc.nrao.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: feldman@flash.crd.ge.com (Sandra F Feldman)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: Change in diet
Date: 12 Jan 93 13:08:14 GMT
Organization: GE Corporate R&D Center

In article <nlp-110193180311@192.156.173.150>, nlp@pacvax.pacersoft.com (Nancy Pilsch) writes:
|> 
|> Now I have a question.  The other morning Calvin pooped on the bathroom rug
|> (which isn't normal for him) and the stool had blood in it.  Of course I
|> panicked!  The vet tested a stool sample that came up negative.  He said
|> that sometimes cats get blood in their stools for no particular reason. 
|> Has anyone else experieced this?  If so, did you ever find out the cause? 
|> He hasn't pooped anywhere else besides the litterbox since then, and I
|> haven't found anymore bloody poops.  His appetite seems fine, and he was
|> wrestling enthusiastically with Hobbes when I left for work this am.
|> 
|> Nancy
|> Calvin & Hobbes  


Pepper has the same poop problem.  The vet hasn't been able to find anything,
and we are unwilling to subject Pepper to a full internal exam.  We've tried
switching him from diet food to regular food, and next we're going to try Iams
instead of Science Diet.  (l. huffman (I'm sorry, I don't know her first name)
found that her cats did better on Iams.)  We've already tried a full variety of
deworming and anti-parasite medications, which seem to end the episode but it
always comes back.  At any rate, the problem does not appear to be "catchy" as
none of the other cats have developed it.  I strongly recommend that you put
an extra rug under the litterbox.  When Pepper is having a bad episode, he
will actually drip one or two drops of blood as he gets out of the box.  What's
amazing to me is that he doesn't appear to have any discomfort at all (I've 
watched him poop).  

To anybody who was reading this over breakfast, I'm sorry for being so graphic.
-- 
Sandy Feldman
feldman@crd.ge.com

my opinions are mine and do not reflect a position of General Electric
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
From: guru@camelot.bradley.edu (Jerry Whelan)
Subject: Re: Things my strange cat likes to eat!
Organization: The Smelly Ditch
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 93 07:23:30 GMT

In article <EMLEE.93Jan9193943@sun.com> emlee@sun.com (Edward M. Lee) writes:

-} My cat Felix eats roaches... 

	When I lived in Hawaii, my cats would eat the geckos that pervade
the islands.  However they would always end up puking them back up so
in the morning we'd find little lizard skeletons lying around the lanai.
It was kind of surreal.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
``written by a drunken insane pathological liar''        guru@stasi.bradley.edu
From: ac999257@umbc3.umbc.edu (ac999257)
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Re: help!!!
Date: 11 Jan 93 04:13:34 GMT
Organization: University of Maryland, Baltimore County Campus
NNTP-Posting-Host: umbc8.umbc.edu

>> 
>> problem - his lack of understanding of the importance of pets in pet
>> lovers life. Of course that is rather an understatement. He says they
>> are cute, they can be fun. Hates the smell, the 'inconvenience' of
                              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>> cleaning litter boxes, feeding etc. etc. Doesn't understand the
   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>> emotional connection. "It is just a CAT" (heard that before?)
>
There is something that has changed my life with my cats in a way
nothing ever has before -- scoopable cat litter! It really really
really cuts down on the aweful amonia smell from clay litters. It's
also cost effective since you don't use as much as the other stuff.
Even if it weren't cost effective, it's worth it because of the
ease of cleaning and the lack of that horrible smell. You rarely
if ever have to change the litter box if you scoop it often. I
have a two cat home, and scoop it once a day. It is flushable,
although I bag the big clumps since I rent and my roomate/landlord
is afraid of clogging the drains. The best brand I've found is
Scoop Away -- least amount of breakup in the clumps. It won't
make your boyfriend love your cat, but it will make him happier
about the litter box. And if you don't have a hooded litter box
with a charcoal filter, get one. They improve the smell lots too!

Mary