Pris

coming out of my lurking mode for a split second to say ... ***3~CHEERS***
for you Lynda, thanks for saying what I'm sitting here thinking ~>
***ohhhhhhh nooooooo, not again*** ...

Pris ~> I'll be going back under my rock now, happy day all :)
WARNING: I cannot be help responsible for the above, as apparently my cats
have learned how to type ...




----- Original Message -----
From: "Lynda" <lurine@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, September 02, 2000 12:34 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Differences with DH


> Well, like a few others, I don't think that corporal punishment is an
> unschooling issue, it is a parenting issue and a very volitile one! Also,
> each and ever discussion of corporal punishment on all but one
> home/unschooling list I belong to has gone down hill into at the least,
the
> next thing to a flame war. AND, that includes this list! So, as a
> courtesy to all of us who are, quite frankly, tired of the topic raising
> its head every 6 months or so, please keep the same subject line so we can
> delete and get on with the business of unschooling.
>
> Lynda
>

M & J Welch

That subject line is kinda' strange, I know. Sorry! but my funnybone was
tickled when imagining cats typing at a computer keyboard. :-)

I adore cats. I have 5, and would own more if I could stand the upkeep (and
if my husband would let me!). My problem is smell. Ugh.

Can the cat lovers on this list share their best remedies for that
mystifying odor which wafts through the home containing cats? My boys and
girls are potty trained very well. No accidents for several weeks now.
(Three of them are only babies-2 3 month olds and 1 6 month old.) I've found
all the old messes and do a good smell check every day for possible new
ones.

And does anyone know at what age a male cat can be neutered? I want to get
my boys taken care of before any of that territorial spraying instinct
begins to manifest itself.

AND has anyone ever tried unschooling 5 cats? :-)

Lee
Momma to 8 children-Seamus Abe and Henry (homo sapien sapien), and Ishtar,
Tik Tok, Harry, Mustard and Cosmo (felis cattus)


-----Original Message-----
From: Pris [mailto:x_t_sipr@...]
Sent: Saturday, September 02, 2000 2:21 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] corporal punishment ...



coming out of my lurking mode for a split second to say ... ***3~CHEERS***
for you Lynda, thanks for saying what I'm sitting here thinking ~>
***ohhhhhhh nooooooo, not again*** ...

Pris ~> I'll be going back under my rock now, happy day all :)
WARNING: I cannot be help responsible for the above, as apparently my cats
have learned how to type ...




----- Original Message -----
From: "Lynda" <lurine@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, September 02, 2000 12:34 PM
Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Differences with DH


> Well, like a few others, I don't think that corporal punishment is an
> unschooling issue, it is a parenting issue and a very volitile one! Also,
> each and ever discussion of corporal punishment on all but one
> home/unschooling list I belong to has gone down hill into at the least,
the
> next thing to a flame war. AND, that includes this list! So, as a
> courtesy to all of us who are, quite frankly, tired of the topic raising
> its head every 6 months or so, please keep the same subject line so we can
> delete and get on with the business of unschooling.
>
> Lynda
>



Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com

Addresses:
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aworthen

----- Original Message -----
From: M & J Welch <seamus@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, September 02, 2000 3:05 PM
Subject: RE: [Unschooling-dotcom]cats!!--was corporal punishment

I'm surprised your vet hasn't already given you all of the neutering info. I
have 2 male cats, both neutered at 6 mos. I have heard of others being done
sooner. As for the smell, change your litter box often and use air
fresheners. I find Glade plug ins work the best. Good luck.

Amy
Mom to Samantha, Dana, and Casey

Lynda

Well, as mother to Az-re-el, Gargamel and Boo, I can tell you what we have
done, present and past. No one ever knew we had cats, even when we had
Krispy Kritter, Blacket and Poppy and her 4 kittens all in the house.
Blacket used the toilet and Poppy would yowl until you let her outside, so
we really only had one using a litter box. We used baking soda in the cat
box before sprinkling in the litter. If you can afford it, the clumping
kind is the best. The box itself was washed out each week using hexol (?
spelling) and then let soak for about 15 minutes with a baking soda bath.

As to accidents, you need to be sure that the spots are well scrubbed with
something like Dial soap because that is the first place a male will mark,
sometimes even if they are neutered.

Neutering should be done at six months at the latest because cats mature
real early and once they start thinking that way if does no good to neuter
them as far as the marking of territory is concerned.

Lynda

----------
> From: M & J Welch <seamus@...>
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: RE: [Unschooling-dotcom]cats!!--was corporal punishment
> Date: Saturday, September 02, 2000 12:05 PM
>
>
> That subject line is kinda' strange, I know. Sorry! but my funnybone was
> tickled when imagining cats typing at a computer keyboard. :-)
>
> I adore cats. I have 5, and would own more if I could stand the upkeep
(and
> if my husband would let me!). My problem is smell. Ugh.
>
> Can the cat lovers on this list share their best remedies for that
> mystifying odor which wafts through the home containing cats? My boys and
> girls are potty trained very well. No accidents for several weeks now.
> (Three of them are only babies-2 3 month olds and 1 6 month old.) I've
found
> all the old messes and do a good smell check every day for possible new
> ones.
>
> And does anyone know at what age a male cat can be neutered? I want to
get
> my boys taken care of before any of that territorial spraying instinct
> begins to manifest itself.
>
> AND has anyone ever tried unschooling 5 cats? :-)
>
> Lee
> Momma to 8 children-Seamus Abe and Henry (homo sapien sapien), and
Ishtar,
> Tik Tok, Harry, Mustard and Cosmo (felis cattus)
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Pris [mailto:x_t_sipr@...]
> Sent: Saturday, September 02, 2000 2:21 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] corporal punishment ...
>
>
>
> coming out of my lurking mode for a split second to say ...
***3~CHEERS***
> for you Lynda, thanks for saying what I'm sitting here thinking ~>
> ***ohhhhhhh nooooooo, not again*** ...
>
> Pris ~> I'll be going back under my rock now, happy day all :)
> WARNING: I cannot be help responsible for the above, as apparently my
cats
> have learned how to type ...
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Lynda" <lurine@...>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Sent: Saturday, September 02, 2000 12:34 PM
> Subject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Differences with DH
>
>
> > Well, like a few others, I don't think that corporal punishment is an
> > unschooling issue, it is a parenting issue and a very volitile one!
Also,
> > each and ever discussion of corporal punishment on all but one
> > home/unschooling list I belong to has gone down hill into at the least,
> the
> > next thing to a flame war. AND, that includes this list! So, as a
> > courtesy to all of us who are, quite frankly, tired of the topic
raising
> > its head every 6 months or so, please keep the same subject line so we
can
> > delete and get on with the business of unschooling.
> >
> > Lynda
> >
>
>
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> Addresses:
> Post message: [email protected]
> Unsubscribe: [email protected]
> List owner: [email protected]
> List settings page: http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
>
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> Addresses:
> Post message: [email protected]
> Unsubscribe: [email protected]
> List owner: [email protected]
> List settings page: http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>

Susan (mother to 5 in Fla)

I've used white vinegar for getting smell out of carpet. I used a clumping
litter & checked it several times a day. Pre-DH I had 7 cats in an
apartment owned by a friend who didn't allow pets. But he came into my
prior apartment & was surprised when he saw all the cats. Now I have 2 that
are outside & 5 children (2 step). It was a lot quieter then & not nearly
the work but I wouldn't trade for anything. Now dd 7 wants a Husky.

M & J Welch

I've heard of white vinegar, and have tried it. I notice an initial
elimination of odor, but after a day it comes back. I've never heard of the
dial soap idea. Does using liquid dial soap work just as well?

I was using this spray pet odor stuff that was 8 dollars a bottle-too much
money!! So I stopped buying it. It helped, but again, was temporary-lasted
about a week or two. (puh-enzyme action my eye! that's the last time I buy
into that!)

There this cat litter called Feline Pine. I really suggest you try it! It's
expensive, 9 dollars a bag, but so long as you remove the tootsie rolls
there is no smell, no tracking and it is very light, easy to change. I ran
out of it and had to use my emergency litter (multiple cat formula gritty
kitty). I put only about an inch in and change it every other day (I have 5
pans!) but the smell returns before I change it. (I can't bear the thought
of changing the litter more than that! Eek!)

My biggest problem right now is the kitchen floor. There's carpet in there,
and after multiple kitty messes, potty training mistakes (poor Abraham, just
can't remember to go to the bathroom!) and doggy piddles (brother in law's
english springer spaniel) the musty odor will not go away! Yuck. Yesterday
we invested in a dehumidifier. (What an exciting way to spend money.) The
odor from the cats is non existent now yay!! but the kitchen floor smells
hideous.

I am going to try the dial suggestion. Hey, at this point, I'll try just
about anything!

7 cats!!!?? How Glorious!! Maybe someday-sigh-

Anyway, my son is learning that keeping animals is a big resonsibility-and
my dh is teaching him that in order to live with someone you love you make
compromises. (Dh doesn't like cats much! But he loves me! :-)

Lee
helping to unschool to 3 humans and 5 cats!

Lynda

Ahhh, the Siamese cat of the dog world. Have fun if you get one <g>

Lynda

----------
> From: Susan (mother to 5 in Fla) <samiot@...>
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: RE: [Unschooling-dotcom]cats!!--was corporal punishment
> Date: Sunday, September 03, 2000 5:18 AM
>
>
> I've used white vinegar for getting smell out of carpet. I used a
clumping
> litter & checked it several times a day. Pre-DH I had 7 cats in an
> apartment owned by a friend who didn't allow pets. But he came into my
> prior apartment & was surprised when he saw all the cats. Now I have 2
that
> are outside & 5 children (2 step). It was a lot quieter then & not
nearly
> the work but I wouldn't trade for anything. Now dd 7 wants a Husky.
>
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> Addresses:
> Post message: [email protected]
> Unsubscribe: [email protected]
> List owner: [email protected]
> List settings page: http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>

[email protected]

In a message dated 9/2/2000 2:07:15 PM Central Daylight Time,
seamus@... writes:

> Can the cat lovers on this list share their best remedies for that
> mystifying odor which wafts through the home containing cats? My boys and
> girls are potty trained very well. No accidents for several weeks now.
> (Three of them are only babies-2 3 month olds and 1 6 month old.) I've
found
> all the old messes and do a good smell check every day for possible new
> ones.


Several years ago, we visited an animal behaviorist (don't laugh -- she was
really helpful!) because one of our cats had "forgotten" how to use the
litter box. She suggested that we get a big bus pan, like they use in
restaurants. (I got one from the Container Store -- any big plastic storage
bin at least 6 inches tall will do.) Fill it with about 20 pounds of plain
clay litter, no fancy deodorants. It really works! She said that most
people just don't keep enough litter in their cat pans.

>
> And does anyone know at what age a male cat can be neutered? I want to get
> my boys taken care of before any of that territorial spraying instinct
> begins to manifest itself.
>
We did it before 6 months.

> AND has anyone ever tried unschooling 5 cats? :-)

Did you ever try schooling them?

Carron

[email protected]

In a message dated 9/2/2000 2:24:23 PM Central Daylight Time,
aworthen@... writes:

> As for the smell, change your litter box often and use air
> fresheners. I find Glade plug ins work the best.

I like those air freshener candles. They do a great job when I need a quick
fix before company comes over.

Carron

Tracy Oldfield

I have no idea what age to neuter males, since ours came to us
already 'done,' he moved in to our old house shortly after we did.
Females, otoh, need doing asap before they get preggie,
preferably. By the time we were thinking of having our Tribble
done, she was already pregnant and therefore living up to her
name. She only produced three, but still. And NO more.

Not sure on how to stop the smell from returning, but Febreze (not
sure of the North American spelling, but I'm sure you know what
I mean) does get rid of tom-cat smell! Oh, and apparently tin-
foil's a good deterrent if you put it down in the places they
frequently 'mark,' seemingly they don't like the feel on their feet.

Best of luck!
Tracy (and Arnie and Tribble)

[email protected]

In a message dated 9/3/2000 3:04:42 AM Central Daylight Time,
lurine@... writes:

> As to accidents, you need to be sure that the spots are well scrubbed with
> something like Dial soap because that is the first place a male will mark,
> sometimes even if they are neutered.
>

We've had a lot of success using enzyme cleaners like Nature's Recipe. I've
been told never to use an ammonia based product to clean up an accident
because urine itself is basically ammonia. The point is to get rid of the
smell (for our sake and so that the cat won't come back to that spot). On
the other hand, spraying ammonia in the cat box will sometimes induce a cat
to use the box when he's had accidents elsewhere.

Of course, if your cat is having unexplained accidents, it could have
cystitis or crystals in the urine or could be diabetic. We have one of each.

Carron