On 20/05/2022 05:09, Lewis wrote:
> One of my moms was also very allergic to cats,

[AbAUE] How many moms do you have in total?

On Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 9:55:37 AM UTC-7, Sam Plusnet wrote:
> On 18-May-22 14:39, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
> >
> > Yes, you're probably right. I was forgetting that cats have servants.

> From which I deduce that you do not share accommodation with cats.
>
That depends on how serious his statement was. This business about humans
being cats' servants is a nice conceit and a shared joke, but people who keep
cats know they are actually pretty good company. They add homey to a home
and if you treat them well, they repay you in all sorts of ways. For one thing,
they are alarm clocks that purr. Also, they don't have to be walked two or
more times a day.

bill

On Thu, 19 May 2022 23:32:05 -0700 (PDT)
"bil...@shaw.ca" <billvan@shaw.ca> wrote:

> On Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 9:55:37 AM UTC-7, Sam Plusnet wrote:
> > On 18-May-22 14:39, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
> > >
> > > Yes, you're probably right. I was forgetting that cats have servants.
>
> > From which I deduce that you do not share accommodation with cats.
> >
> That depends on how serious his statement was. This business about humans
> being cats' servants is a nice conceit and a shared joke, but people who keep
> cats know they are actually pretty good company. They add homey to a home
> and if you treat them well, they repay you in all sorts of ways. For one thing,
> they are alarm clocks that purr. Also, they don't have to be walked two or
> more times a day.

Do they bring in dead animals (either in tribute to their Lord or to show that they are, indeed, Mighty Hunters)
and piss off the neighbours by crapping on their gardens?

--
Bah, and indeed Humbug.

On 20/05/22 18:18, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:
> On Thu, 19 May 2022 23:32:05 -0700 (PDT) "bil...@shaw.ca"
> <billvan@shaw.ca> wrote:
>
>> On Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 9:55:37 AM UTC-7, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>>> On 18-May-22 14:39, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Yes, you're probably right. I was forgetting that cats have
>>>> servants.
>>
>>> From which I deduce that you do not share accommodation with
>>> cats.
>>>
>> That depends on how serious his statement was. This business about
>> humans being cats' servants is a nice conceit and a shared joke,
>> but people who keep cats know they are actually pretty good
>> company. They add homey to a home and if you treat them well, they
>> repay you in all sorts of ways. For one thing, they are alarm
>> clocks that purr. Also, they don't have to be walked two or more
>> times a day.
>
> Do they bring in dead animals (either in tribute to their Lord or to
> show that they are, indeed, Mighty Hunters) and piss off the
> neighbours by crapping on their gardens?

They do, but catshit is a lot more discreet than dogshit.

These days, our mighty hunter brings in grasshoppers. That's a big
improvement over her previous supply of mice, frogs, lizards, and snakes.

The mighty hunter's brother doesn't bring in anything.

--
Peter Moylan Newcastle, NSW http://www.pmoylan.org

On Friday, May 20, 2022 at 12:32:08 AM UTC-6, bil...@shaw.ca wrote:
> On Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 9:55:37 AM UTC-7, Sam Plusnet wrote:
> > On 18-May-22 14:39, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
> > >
> > > Yes, you're probably right. I was forgetting that cats have servants.
>
> > From which I deduce that you do not share accommodation with cats.
> >
> That depends on how serious his statement was. This business about humans
> being cats' servants is a nice conceit and a shared joke, but people who keep
> cats know they are actually pretty good company. They add homey to a home
> and if you treat them well, they repay you in all sorts of ways. For one thing,
> they are alarm clocks that purr.

I'm told that setting them for the time you want can be difficult, though.

> Also, they don't have to be walked two or more times a day.

--
Jerry Friedman

On 20-May-22 9:18, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:
of cats
> Do they bring in dead animals (either in tribute to their Lord or to show that they are, indeed, Mighty Hunters)
> and piss off the neighbours by crapping on their gardens?

You omit "bring in live animals (e.g. mice), let them loose in the
house, and thereafter ignore their presence."

--
Sam Plusnet

On Friday, May 20, 2022 at 1:21:46 AM UTC-7, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:
> On Thu, 19 May 2022 23:32:05 -0700 (PDT)
> "bil...@shaw.ca" <bil...@shaw.ca> wrote:
>
> > On Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 9:55:37 AM UTC-7, Sam Plusnet wrote:
> > > On 18-May-22 14:39, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Yes, you're probably right. I was forgetting that cats have servants.
> >
> > > From which I deduce that you do not share accommodation with cats.
> > >
> > That depends on how serious his statement was. This business about humans
> > being cats' servants is a nice conceit and a shared joke, but people who keep
> > cats know they are actually pretty good company. They add homey to a home
> > and if you treat them well, they repay you in all sorts of ways. For one thing,
> > they are alarm clocks that purr. Also, they don't have to be walked two or
> > more times a day.

> Do they bring in dead animals (either in tribute to their Lord or to show that they are, indeed, Mighty Hunters)
> and piss off the neighbours by crapping on their gardens?

I don't recommend people who dislike cats keeping one around the house. Sounds as if
that includes you.
>
But if you enjoy a cat's company, those other things can be dealt with. When we had a cat
that killed birds, we hung a small bell from its collar, and the killing stopped. When we got
a new cat, we'd keep it indoors until it was completely trained to use the litter box, and
that ended the outdoor pooping even when the cat went out again. It would come inside
to do its business, and then demand to be let out again.

But we still had to strain the lumps from the litter with a slotted plastic spoon, and occasionally
there would be territorial squabbles with another outdoor cat. When our last cat retired
from life, we -- hitting 70 at the time -- decided not to get another one. That has made some
household maintenance -- fur on the furniture, especially -- easier to deal with, and we no longer
miss having a critter around the house. Well, perhaps a little, once in a while.

bill

On Friday, May 20, 2022 at 12:17:54 PM UTC-7, Sam Plusnet wrote:
> On 20-May-22 9:18, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:
> of cats

> > Do they bring in dead animals (either in tribute to their Lord or to show that they are, indeed, Mighty Hunters)
> > and piss off the neighbours by crapping on their gardens?

> You omit "bring in live animals (e.g. mice), let them loose in the
> house, and thereafter ignore their presence."
>
That happened once or twice over about 20 years of keeping cats in our present home.
It wasn't hard to deal with. If it was dead, we disposed of it. If it kept on moving, the
cat's chase instincts took over again.

bill

On 20-May-22 21:57, bil...@shaw.ca wrote:
> On Friday, May 20, 2022 at 12:17:54 PM UTC-7, Sam Plusnet wrote:
>> On 20-May-22 9:18, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:
>> of cats
>
>>> Do they bring in dead animals (either in tribute to their Lord or to show that they are, indeed, Mighty Hunters)
>>> and piss off the neighbours by crapping on their gardens?
>
>> You omit "bring in live animals (e.g. mice), let them loose in the
>> house, and thereafter ignore their presence."
>>
> That happened once or twice over about 20 years of keeping cats in our present home.
> It wasn't hard to deal with. If it was dead, we disposed of it. If it kept on moving, the
> cat's chase instincts took over again.

I wish.
When it happened to us we had (I think) 4 cats at the time and, once the
wood mouse was in the house they _all_ completely ignored it and left it
up to us to chase & catch it.

I think they realised that by hunting & catching it they would be doing
something we thought useful - which of course is anathema to any
sensible cat.

--
Sam Plusnet

On 20-May-22 21:54, bil...@shaw.ca wrote:

When our last cat retired from life, we -- hitting 70 at the time --
decided not to get another one. That has made some household maintenance
-- fur on the furniture, especially -- easier to deal with, and we no
longer miss having a critter around the house. Well, perhaps a little,
once in a while.

We have done much the same, but several of our neighbours have cats
(next door have 4) which like to spend time in our garden.

It must be like having grandchildren - we can enjoy their company & then
send them home when they get to be too much bother.

--
Sam Plusnet

On Friday, May 20, 2022 at 6:32:52 AM UTC-7, Jerry Friedman wrote:
> On Friday, May 20, 2022 at 12:32:08 AM UTC-6, bil...@shaw.ca wrote:
> > On Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 9:55:37 AM UTC-7, Sam Plusnet wrote:
> > > On 18-May-22 14:39, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Yes, you're probably right. I was forgetting that cats have servants.
> >
> > > From which I deduce that you do not share accommodation with cats.
> > >
> > That depends on how serious his statement was. This business about humans
> > being cats' servants is a nice conceit and a shared joke, but people who keep
> > cats know they are actually pretty good company. They add homey to a home
> > and if you treat them well, they repay you in all sorts of ways. For one thing,
> > they are alarm clocks that purr.

> I'm told that setting them for the time you want can be difficult, though.

True, but I've had some success by keeping the bedroom door closed until
an acceptable wake-up time. Eventually they figure it out, although the daylight
saving time switch tends to throw them off.

bill

On 2022-05-19 23:57, occam wrote:
> On 20/05/2022 05:09, Lewis wrote:
>> One of my moms was also very allergic to cats,
>
> [AbAUE] How many moms do you have in total?

Abdominal AuE?
Abnormal AuE? Or perhaps Abbey Normal, AUE/

--
Autocorrect has become my wurst enema.

On 21/05/2022 07:03, lar3ryca wrote:
> On 2022-05-19 23:57, occam wrote:
>> On 20/05/2022 05:09, Lewis wrote:
>>> One of my moms was also very allergic to cats,
>>
>> [AbAUE] How many moms do you have in total?
>
> Abdominal AuE?
> Abnormal AuE? Or perhaps Abbey Normal, AUE/
>

Abominable Usage of English?

On Sat, 21 May 2022 02:23:30 +0100
Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:

> On 20-May-22 21:54, bil...@shaw.ca wrote:
>
> When our last cat retired from life, we -- hitting 70 at the time --
> decided not to get another one. That has made some household maintenance
> -- fur on the furniture, especially -- easier to deal with, and we no
> longer miss having a critter around the house. Well, perhaps a little,
> once in a while.
>
> We have done much the same, but several of our neighbours have cats
> (next door have 4) which like to spend time in our garden.
>
> It must be like having grandchildren - we can enjoy their company & then
> send them home when they get to be too much bother.
>

I'm glad you're happy. Our neighbour's cats seen to regard our garden as a dumping ground and for (not) resolving territrial disputes.

Advice to get one of my own will be ignored (but I expect you to feel me seething).

--
Bah, and indeed Humbug.

On Sat, 21 May 2022 08:40:37 +0200, occam <nobody@nowhere.nix> wrote:

>On 21/05/2022 07:03, lar3ryca wrote:
>> On 2022-05-19 23:57, occam wrote:
>>> On 20/05/2022 05:09, Lewis wrote:
>>>> One of my moms was also very allergic to cats,
>>>
>>> [AbAUE] How many moms do you have in total?
>>
>> Abdominal AuE?
>> Abnormal AuE? Or perhaps Abbey Normal, AUE/
>>
>
>Abominable Usage of English?

Abdominal Urge for an Enema?

Athel Cornish-Bowden <acornish@imm.cnrs.fr> wrote:

> On 2022-05-19 00:58:49 +0000, Peter Moylan said:
>
> > On 19/05/22 03:00, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
> >> On 2022-05-18 16:55:31 +0000, Sam Plusnet said:
> >>
> >>> On 18-May-22 14:39, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>> Yes, you're probably right. I was forgetting that cats have
> >>>> servants.
> >>>
> >>> From which I deduce that you do not share accommodation with cats.
> >>
> >> Many years ago I did. The first house we bought (in 1971) came with a
> >> cat already in residence.
> >
> > The cat wasn't willing to move, right?
> >
> > At least twice I have changed addresses while being owned by a cat.
> > Getting the cat to settle in the new place was a major problem, both times.
>
> When we moved from South Devon to Greater Manchester in 1954 our cat
> was extremely displeased with the move, and tried to get back, but it's
> a long way to walk. It disappeared for several months, but was
> eventually found about 50 km from where we lived, but we were never
> sure it was the same cat, as it was uniformly black, and not easy to
> distinguish from other uniformly black cats. There is a cat around here
> (not ours) that would be recognizable anywhere, as it's a very obvious
> example of X-inactivation.

Friends of mine have a black cat with the ability to teleport.
While being quite sure they have seen her early in the evening
she is regularly seen on camera at midnight at their second home,
more than a thousand kilometer away,

Jan