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Conference misery::feline_v1

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

359.0. "Pets are real life enhancers" by WHYVAX::HAMPTON () Mon Oct 20 1986 16:45

    I'm looking for some information about how animals (pets) enhance
    our lives.  More specifically, my wife is doing a research paper
    on "the effects of companion animals on the mental and physical health
    of the mentally underdeveloped, physically handicapped, elderly,
    and the terminally ill."  Yes, she has plenty of information in
    the forms of books, periodicals, professional jounals, information
    services, et al, but was wondering about information published by
    companies like Purina (and others who have a vested interest in
    promoting pets).  Does anyone have any phone numbers for any such
    companies?  Does anyone know where I can find such materials?
    Also, while I'm here, if anyone has a direct experience
    to relate, I'd be very appreciative (it might even make it in the
    research paper!)
    
    Thanks,
    Phil
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359.1Grandma and "her Bow"MASTER::EPETERSONTue Oct 21 1986 14:0025
    
    I think I can help with the story of how and why my grandmother
    came to own a sweet old tom cat named Bow.
    
    When I was about 10 years old my grandfather died.  Shortly after
    that,  my grandmother moved into a duplex that was located across 
    the street from my partnts home.  She had only lived there for
    one week, however, when a real problem developed.  She had never
    lived alone, and she would become terrified at the slightest little
    sound that she would not explain.  At least twice or three times a 
    week, grandma would call my father at 3am and tell him that she heard 
    a noise at the back door, in the livingroom and so on.  Poor old Dad 
    would troop across the street to find nothing unusual in the house.  
    This situation had gone on for months, but right after Grandma had
    adopted a stray tom cat which she called "my Bow", the midnight
    phone calls stopped completely.  When we questioned her about why 
    she was no longer frightened of every little noise, she explained 
    it this way - "If I hear a noise in the middle of the night, and
    my Bow is not on the bed, I just figure that he is the one makeing
    the noise.  If I hear a noise and my Bow is on the bed with me,
    I watch for his reaction.  If he doesn't get up to investigate it, 
    I figure why should I."
    
    I hope this story will help your wife with her study.  It sounds
    very interresting!
359.2For the love of a CatJACOB::TRACHMANFri Oct 31 1986 15:3019
    It might be helpful for your wife to talk with those folk that live
    alone - I do and without "my five", I'd be lost.  I know that I
    would never be without a cat or two, or three or four, or five,
    and probably six (am thinking about getting my fourth black male)
    good lord, did I really say that!!  
    
    Actually, my oldest boy, Nicholas, lets me know every time someone
    either walks through the yard or drives into a nearby driveway,
    or when there is a dog around the house.  He growls and makes
    lots of noise - all five of them, from the yongest to the oldest
    know when I'm not feeling up and do their best to make me feel
    better!  All they ask for is love and give nothing but love in
    return.  What more could a person ask from her cat or a cat
    ask from their person??  Cats aren't afraid to be intimate
    cats aren't afraid to show their feelings, cats aren't
    afraid to share their love and affection, cats aren't
    afraid to be open, honest, and trusting.
    it's a shame that people don't behave like cats!