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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!magic!kolling
From: kolling@magic.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: re: unniceness
Message-ID: <133@magic.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 21-Jan-85 15:15:16 EST
Article-I.D.: magic.133
Posted: Mon Jan 21 15:15:16 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 24-Jan-85 05:47:27 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: DEC Systems Research, Palo Alto
Lines: 43


>> The ethics of tormenting cats
>> with water pistols I will refrain from commenting on.

>You're the one who added the word "tormenting"...

The original suggestion came from someone who recommended shooting cats
with water pistols as "great fun", as I recall.  I don't view making a
cat uncomfortable as "fun".

>	2.  The effect of either spraying or scolding is to startle the
>	cat, and the psychological effect of either is about the same:
>	nil...

Scolding is verbal.  Shooting with a water pistol is physical violence.

>	3.  Water is harmless to the cat.  On the other hand, cats have
>	VERY sensitive ears, and careless scolding when you're angry about
>	something can be loud enough to be painful to the cat.

Water is not harmless, ref previous messages.  I said scolding, not
shouting.  It sounds like you're envisioning someone in a fit of temper
screaming at a cowering cat.  Try envisioning someone saying, "No, no", in
a quiet, disapproving tone of voice, like civilized folks use.

>	4.  Squirting causes the cat to associate the undesired activity
>	with an unpleasant result, but not necessarily (or strongly) with
>	you.  Scolding and physically removing the cat, while sometimes the
>	best or only thing you can do, has the adverse side effect of
>	making the cat associate the unpleasantness with you, and may have
>	a bad effect on the cat's temperament in general or affection
>	toward you.

My cats are certainly smart enough so that they'd know where the water came
from.  I've never had a cat "turn mean", probably because I don't carry
on to the entremes you seem to envision in dealing with cats.

>Please don't inflict your ethical judgments on other people, especially by
>innuendo, if you don't know anything about the issue.

I sure will, if I think they're about to cause unnecessary discomfort or
worse to an animal.  As for innuendo, I thought my opinion was pretty
obvious.....