Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site x.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!harvard!think!mit-eddie!cybvax0!frog!x!wjr From: wjr@x.UUCP (Bill Richard) Newsgroups: net.pets Subject: Re: Better mousers?? Message-ID: <541@x.UUCP> Date: Mon, 26-Aug-85 02:43:06 EDT Article-I.D.: x.541 Posted: Mon Aug 26 02:43:06 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 29-Aug-85 20:45:49 EDT References: <247@drutx.UUCP> Reply-To: wjr@x.UUCP (PUT YOUR NAME HERE) Organization: Charles River Data Systems, Framingham MA Lines: 59 In article <247@drutx.UUCP> mrl@drutx.UUCP (LongoMR) writes: > 1) Which is usually a better mouser - male or female I've heard a lot of people claim females work harder, because they're feeding, growing, or recovering from kittens, but my guy cats have brought me as many gifts as gal cats. > 2) Does the fact that a cat has been spayed or neutered > effect its hunting ability/desire Yeah -- neutered cats have more time to hunt ;-) -- I don't have any real information, though. > sex, which sex (this question refers to compatability > of the animals) If they're of similar age, acquired at the same time, and neutered, no difference. If they're whole males, they'll spend a lot of time fighting each other instead of munching mousies. One thing, though. Even if (personal experience) your cat drops a half-dead bat on your pillow, act pleased. Say something like "Oh, what a great cat. What a great present." And wait till the cat leaves the room to ashcan the pest. Reverend Dammit (a whole male who once brought me a pigeon when I had run out of money before running out of month) once gave me a very hurt look when I chucked his gift. After that (yes, I know I'm a sucker) I kept a coffeecan in the freezer, so I could carefully put his gift of food in the foodplace (and carefully pitch it later -- dead mouse stew gotta be at least as bad as newcoke). Sometimes if I made a fuss over the fine present and explained I wasn't really very hungry and he should enjoy it for me, he would take it to his girlfriend or eat it himself. BTW, you should discourage him from eating his possibly rabid, or otherwise diseased, captives. Make sure the cat has had rabies shots, and if someone tries to tell you the cat will hunt better if you keep it hungry, lock that idiot in the basement for a week and then suggest it chase down a steer for dinner. (This smiley-field intentionally left blank!) I've read this to my cats, and they haven't mentioned any corrections, so I guess they agree. Good luck! I hope your cats will be friends as well as mousers. STella Calvert (via decvax!frog!wjr) Disclaimer: So far as I know, CRDS has no opinion on cats as mousers. If there are mice in their building, and THEY have an opinion, let them post an article. wjr and I are jointly owned by Merlin, Gandalf, Luna, Hillary, and Cat'n Hook. Their opinion on cats and mice follows: Why doesn't she get us a house with mice in it? -- ---- William J. Richard @ Charles River Data Systems 983 Concord St. Framingham, MA 01701 Tel: (617) 626-1112 uucp: ...!decvax!frog!wjr