| Title: | Meower Power is Valuing Differences |
| Notice: | FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY |
| Moderator: | MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO |
| Created: | Sun Feb 09 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Tue Jan 11 1994 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 5089 |
| Total number of notes: | 60366 |
We just lost Beth, our cat from an "undetectable" heart defect. She was only seven years old. She was a terrific cat - even though I feel she never knew she was one. You see, she thought she was one of the dogs. Everything the dogs did - she could too!! (You couldn't tell her differently!) When I gave the dogs treats - she HAD to get the SAME things too. That included real bones too. She would eat ANYTHING! In fact, where folks have trouble with dogs getting into the trash - we had the same problem with her. She would jump on the barrel and pull the cover off, then tear open the bags with her claws (I watched this...) then, she would throw things out for her "sisters" (the dogs would NEVER actually "touch" the cans) and they would all happily chow down - while I galloped screaming from the house. We have about three hundred acres around our house and I love to take the dogs into the woods - of course Beth would come too! Although, if I went for more then two hours she would complain (loudly) and throw herself on the ground in front of me - this was to make me feel guilty so *I* would drag her home. Well, I am going to be looking for another feline type cridder in the spring (April - May) because even tho she didn't know she was a cat - she still took care of the field mice around the house and barn! But, I will say... they will be trying to fill BIG pawprints after having Beth. The cat I will be looking for must be a short hair (I would kill for a Siamese!!) and able to get along with two canines (both loved Beth) and two horses. My husband is *highly allergic* to felines so the cat could not be a "housecat". I have a heated basement with a bed etc.. so Beth had her own double bed for herself on winter nights. (I would NOT leave anyonw out on winter nights!!) We have a comfy hay loft in which to play "hide the kitty" in and there is a "cridder door" in the garage so the cridders can go in and out as they please. I would be looking for an altered cat - and one that has had shots regularly. As I mentioned before - we have about three hundred acres in which to hunt and tromp in. Beth was a "death row" cat..... I would like to do the same for another cat - I think Beth was happy with her family.... I know we sure miss her. Pets ask for so little..... and give SO VERY MUCH!!
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 207.1 | PEN::KALLIS | Tue Feb 04 1986 18:34 | 13 | ||
My sincere condolences on the loss of Beth. Every kitty who dies diminishes us. On a cat for an Alleregic husband: There are three separate and distinct breeds of hairless cat. These "naked" cats were continued as breeds so that those who suffer allergies from cat dander need not be catless. For those who can's stand skin-cats, I suppose a Dacron fur-suit could be made.... Steve Kallis, Jr. | |||||
| 207.2 | LAUREL::REMILLARD | Tue Feb 04 1986 18:53 | 16 | ||
Gee, I didn't even know there were "hairless" cats! I have this "thing" though.... All my animals *MUST* be able to go out when they want to. I never even shut in the horses - they go in and out as they please. I think that I would worry that lil' "hairless" wasn't getting enough excersize. Funny thing is that my husband was fond of Beth and was ok if he was with her out in the breezeway or outside - but she knew that she couldn't sit on him and they both accepted this (although sometimes she would sneak a rub on his leg!). I guess you'd say I need another "rough and ready" type of cat. thanks for the information!! Susan | |||||
| 207.3 | SHOGUN::HEFFEL | Wed Feb 05 1986 01:17 | 10 | ||
Re: .1 (& .2) Interesting! I had only seen the Sphinx cat in books. I've not seen any others. What are they called? The Sphinxes are very delicate, as far as health is concerned, and need to be pampered. Personally, I can't see having a kitty without hair, but if it were my only choice, I wouldn't say no. Gary | |||||
| 207.4 | Some contradictions | SHOGUN::HEFFEL | Tracey Heffelfinger | Mon Feb 10 1986 14:31 | 23 |
The only hairless breed I know of is the Sphinx. Much as I hate
to disagree with my husband, from what I remember, they are *not*
fragile. As a matter of fact the Sphinx breed was developed in
Canada and I believe that I read that there were no problems with
the cold. I'll have to look it up to make sure.
Another misconception is that these cats are good for people who
have allergies. They are not completely hairless, they have a down
on they heads, feet and, I believe, tail. They *do* have a dander.
the dander is made of dry skin flakes. Also, since the most recent
word from the experts is that people who are allergic to cats, are
allergic to a chemical in the cat's saliva, it really matters very
little as to whether the cat has hair or not. The part the hair
plays is that it is an additional irritant as well as a mechanism to
spread the allergen all over the residence. The cat owners will
still most likely have to follow the bathe the cat and rinse with
fabric softener every 2 weeks routine.
This is from memory, so I'll try to remember to verify from written
sources REAL SOON NOW.
tlh
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