Jerry/Darlene Yarnetsky on mon 18 nov 96
I write this question remembering the long thread about felines in pottery
studios that we all had a few months back.
**The background --
My potter wife -- Darlene Yarnetsky of Mudcat Pottery -- is setting up a
new studio in an old 3,600 square foot 19th century brick warehouse
building with a pair of glass blowers just a block from the Ohio River in
Madison, Indiana.
We were planning out the floor space when it hit us that a cat would
make a great addition to the place.
The glass blowers -- Ben and Pat Shapera from Lombard, Ill., for what its
worth -- and my wife and I are big cat lovers. My wife and I are a tad
allergic, but we figure a single light-shedding feline wouldn't kill us.
**The question ...
We figure a cat is smart enough to stay away from the kilns and the
glass furnace, but what do all of you do about glaze chemicals?
We fear that a cat would wander upstairs to our glazing area and walk
through chemical dust that might settle on the floor (or be like a cat and
jump onto the table), then lick off the chemicals when washing itself.
One possibility would be to close off the glazing area entirely, but it
would make it hard to maneuver the pots around the studio.
Any suggestions before we take a trip to the animal shelter to see if we
can save a furball?
sincerely yours in mud,
Jerry Yarnetsky,
the potters husband, no relation to the butcher's wife.
** P.S. --
We are planning an our first open house on the Friday and
Saturday before Christmas. If anyone happens to be around the
Louisville-Indianapolis-Cincinnati area we're only a couple of hours away
and would love to hear from you -- free munchies and we can talk dirty ;)
Mudcat Pottery and Zuku Glass, 313 E. First St., Madison IN 47250 -- For
directions or more information e-mail us at:
jyarnet@ideanet.doe.state.in.us
Kirk Morrison on tue 19 nov 96
On 18 Nov 96 at 16:18, Jerry/Darlene Yarnetsky wrote:
>
> **The question ...
>
> We figure a cat is smart enough to stay away from the kilns and the
> glass furnace, but what do all of you do about glaze chemicals?
>
> We fear that a cat would wander upstairs to our glazing area and walk
> through chemical dust that might settle on the floor (or be like a cat and
> jump onto the table), then lick off the chemicals when washing itself.
>
> One possibility would be to close off the glazing area entirely, but it
> would make it hard to maneuver the pots around the studio.
>
> Any suggestions before we take a trip to the animal shelter to see if we
> can save a furball?
>
> sincerely yours in mud,
> Jerry Yarnetsky,
> the potters husband, no relation to the butcher's wife.
>
>
I would say, from what I know from working in a Vet hostpital several
years ago, I would keep the fur ball at home, or else use auto closing
doors and near perfect hygene in the place. I have seen fur balls die
from many household chemicals, many which are as poisonous as the
compounds in glazes, but not as often available. I would hate to see
you lose your cat due to your glazes or spend several thousand dollars
to save it from a poisoning which could have been avoided. I am a bird
lover, but I will not be keeping a double yellow head near my kiln even
with a kiln vent, for the same reason, toxins
Kirk
Laura Kemper on tue 19 nov 96
Jerry,
I too am curious about 'cats in studios'
I just recently have fired up a new raku kiln in the back yard and was
surprized that my cat was so unafraid of it. . .
I had visions of my cat on fire running through my back yard.
I suppose that I'll grab a squirt gun the next time I fire it. This will
deter him from most anything. . .
My cat likes to wander around in my studio when I'm in there, and loves to
drink the water in my scrap clay recycling buckets. I used to think this
wasn't very good for him, but figure all the sediment is at the bottom, and
he probably likes it for nutritional purposes, of which I am curious about.
Anyone have any insight into this?
Just returned from Chicago after having seen the Degas exhibit.
Was this guy a voyeur?
I didn't read anything saying so but a few of my friends seemed to think so.
.. .
From the land of perpetual sun, Laura
chull@startext.net on tue 19 nov 96
Jerry/Darlene Yarnetsky wrote:
> We fear that a cat would wander upstairs to our glazing area and walk
> through chemical dust that might settle on the floor (or be like a cat and
> jump onto the table), then lick off the chemicals when washing itself.
The cat then walks out again and perhaps across the grass, the carpet,
garden dirt. There is a good chance that whatever chemical got onto the
paws would be walked off before bath time. Unless the cat spends a
great deal of time in the glazing area I don't think it would be a
problem. My cats don't like the dusty areas and I am always careful to
wipe up the chemicals for all our sakes. They have been in and out of
my studio all their lives and I haven't noticed any strange twitches
yet.
Cynthia
TX
Celine.Gura@alz.org on tue 19 nov 96
Jerry/Darlene:
One thing I did was put covers on my glaze buckets. My cats like to lick the
water off the top when the glaze and reclaim settles. My vet said that eating
clay isn't bad. I too would worry about the glazes.
On Mon, 18 Nov 1996, Jerry/Darlene Yarnetsky
wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I write this question remembering the long thread about felines in pottery
>studios that we all had a few months back.
>
>**The background --
>
>My potter wife -- Darlene Yarnetsky of Mudcat Pottery -- is setting up a
>new studio in an old 3,600 square foot 19th century brick warehouse
>building with a pair of glass blowers just a block from the Ohio River in
>Madison, Indiana.
>
>We were planning out the floor space when it hit us that a cat would
>make a great addition to the place.
>
>The glass blowers -- Ben and Pat Shapera from Lombard, Ill., for what its
>worth -- and my wife and I are big cat lovers. My wife and I are a tad
>allergic, but we figure a single light-shedding feline wouldn't kill us.
>
>
>**The question ...
>
>We figure a cat is smart enough to stay away from the kilns and the
>glass furnace, but what do all of you do about glaze chemicals?
>
>We fear that a cat would wander upstairs to our glazing area and walk
>through chemical dust that might settle on the floor (or be like a cat and
>jump onto the table), then lick off the chemicals when washing itself.
>
>One possibility would be to close off the glazing area entirely, but it
>would make it hard to maneuver the pots around the studio.
>
>Any suggestions before we take a trip to the animal shelter to see if we
>can save a furball?
>
>sincerely yours in mud,
>Jerry Yarnetsky,
>the potters husband, no relation to the butcher's wife.
>
>
>** P.S. --
>We are planning an our first open house on the Friday and
>Saturday before Christmas. If anyone happens to be around the
>Louisville-Indianapolis-Cincinnati area we're only a couple of hours away
>and would love to hear from you -- free munchies and we can talk dirty ;)
>
>Mudcat Pottery and Zuku Glass, 313 E. First St., Madison IN 47250 -- For
>directions or more information e-mail us at:
>jyarnet@ideanet.doe.state.in.us
>
>
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Celine Gura
Associate Director
Alzheimer's Association
Benjamin B. Green-Field National Alzheimer's
Library and Resource Center
312-335-9602 : 312-335-0214 fax
Personal: celine.gura@alz.org
Library: greenfld@alz.org
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Cobalt1994@aol.com on tue 19 nov 96
I've had no problem sharing my studio with cats. in fact i had 2 kittens who
loved to curl up in bowls, sometimes together, sometimes seperately. 2 of
them lived long lives, 15 and 19 years. No health problems at all, which I
attribute to their habit of drinking glaze water. As to their tracking
through the dust, if they can track through it so can you, the stuff on the
floor anyway. There shouldn't be any chemical dust on the floor OR the
tables.....sorry to sound so strict, but what's good for you is good for the
cats! I had a cat who used to like to jump onto my back while I was
throwing. Cats definitely liven up a studio.
Jennifer in VT( nursing a hubbie with an achilles tendon that ruptured and
had to be surgicly reattached over the weekend. Anyone know of any great
recovery stories? This guy's an athlete)
Ken Moore on tue 19 nov 96
>My cat likes to wander around in my studio when I'm in there, and loves to
>drink the water in my scrap clay recycling buckets. I used to think this
>wasn't very good for him, but figure all the sediment is at the bottom, and
>he probably likes it for nutritional purposes, of which I am curious about.
> Anyone have any insight into this?
Laura,
I have three cats that have complete access to the studio area. They tend
to keep their distance when my electric kiln is really hot. All three have
been drinking the scrap bucket water for years with no ill effects. I do
try to keep glaze and chemical spills cleaned up to minimize potential
exposure to them and us lowly humans, too.
Julie Moore
Dirty Bird Pottery
Manassas, VA
kenmoore@pop.erols.com
.....still looking for a used pugmill....I'll pay shipping
Scott Harper (201) 540-2868 on tue 19 nov 96
:->----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Jerry, I too am curious about 'cats in studios' I just recently have fired up a
new raku kiln in the back yard and was surprized that my cat was so unafraid of
it. . . I had visions of my cat on fire running through my back yard. I suppose
that I'll grab a squirt gun the next time I fire it. This will deter him from
most anything. . . My cat likes to wander around in my studio when I'm in
there, and loves to drink the water in my scrap clay recycling buckets. I used
to think this wasn't very good for him, but figure all the sediment is at the
bottom, and he probably likes it for nutritional purposes, of which I am
curious about.
:-> Anyone have any insight into this? Just returned from Chicago after having
seen the Degas exhibit. Was this guy a voyeur? I didn't read anything saying so
but a few of my friends seemed to think so. . .
:->
:->From the land of perpetual sun, Laura
Having read this reply from Laura, who has let her cat into her studio, and
Kirk's reply, discouraging the practice, I have to come down on the cautious
side myself. I've set up a hobbyist's pottery operation in my basement; when I
was only throwing, I let my cats have free access. Since my old cats survived
to 20 and 17 years, I assume that this did not hurt them. After all, they can
get into mud all by themselves outside.
However, since I have recently started making glazes, I have started keeping
the cats out, figuring that certain glaze ingredients are far more toxic than
clay and clay dust.
I too had concerns regarding the hazard of letting the Troublecat walk through
dust then lick his paws. Therefore, I keep the basement door closed, try to
keep the glazemaking and glazing areas as clean as possible, and even keep a
separate pair of old shoes that I wear only in the pottery area, to minimize
tracking hazardous dust into the living areas. I figure that excess concern
about hygiene won't hurt any of my family, either cat or human, who have to put
up with the mudslinger in the basement.
Scott Harper
Kevin P. O'Hara on wed 20 nov 96
This reminds me of a cat I used to have. I had painted the floor on the
front half of my flat, with oil base paint. I then left for about a week
and had a friend look in on my 2 cats. When I returned I found that one of
my cats had made himself comfortable on my newly painted floor. Finding
forest green paint on his fur, he proceeded to lick it off. My friend had
told me that he put my cat in the dumpster.
My suggestion would be to keep the glaze area as clean as possible all the
time and let the cat go where it pleases.
__________________________________________
**The question ...
We figure a cat is smart enough to stay away from the kilns and the
glass furnace, but what do all of you do about glaze chemicals?
We fear that a cat would wander upstairs to our glazing area and walk
through chemical dust that might settle on the floor (or be like a cat and
jump onto the table), then lick off the chemicals when washing itself.
One possibility would be to close off the glazing area entirely, but it
would make it hard to maneuver the pots around the studio.
Any suggestions before we take a trip to the animal shelter to see if we
can save a furball?
sincerely yours in mud,
Jerry Yarnetsky,
the potters husband, no relation to the butcher's wife.
** P.S. --
We are planning an our first open house on the Friday and
Saturday before Christmas. If anyone happens to be around the
Louisville-Indianapolis-Cincinnati area we're only a couple of hours away
and would love to hear from you -- free munchies and we can talk dirty ;)
Mudcat Pottery and Zuku Glass, 313 E. First St., Madison IN 47250 -- For
directions or more information e-mail us at:
jyarnet@ideanet.doe.state.in.us
Kerr - M. Christine on wed 20 nov 96
> We were planning out the floor space when it hit us that a cat would
> make a great addition to the place.
I am a great cat person myself and applaud your thingkin of rescuing a
pound cat from its fate. But... have you considered how much broken
stuff youll end up with assuming the can doesm ost normal cat things of
jumping up on shelves holding fragile ware? I knnow my 3-legged cat is
especially clumsy, but he sure breaks a lot of stuff! and thats not im
ny studio where there greenware and bisque.
> The glass blowers -- Ben and Pat Shapera from Lombard, Ill., for what its
> worth -- and my wife and I are big cat lovers. My wife and I are a tad
> allergic, but we figure a single light-shedding feline wouldn't kill us.
Are you sure - a little cat dander goes a long way and is an especially
airborne allergen.
> **The question ...
>
> We figure a cat is smart enough to stay away from the kilns and the
> glass furnace,
yes, probably
but what do all of you do about glaze chemicals?
>
> We fear that a cat would wander upstairs to our glazing area and walk
> through chemical dust that might settle on the floor (or be like a cat and
> jump onto the table), then lick off the chemicals when washing itself.
I think thats pretty likely. Unless you consider this an opportunity to
be sort of forced into keeping the floor religiously clean - which in one
respect would be a good way to keep down dust which we all know isnt good
to breathe anyway! And if you provided your feline with a nice window
platform so he could look outside a lot, and an area with warm snuggly
things to be comfy in, hed probably hang out there mostly anyway.
Tho cats are awfully contraty and have this great need to get into
places you dont want them into.
> One possibility would be to close off the glazing area entirely, but it
> would make it hard to maneuver the pots around the studio.
a dillema for sure,
> Any suggestions before we take a trip to the animal shelter to see if we
> can save a furball?
I would just say that you ought to be pretty committed to geting a cat
before you actually do, since would be emotionally distressing for the
cat and presumably you to have to give it up should problems arise. Cah
you keep thi cat in your home at all? can it be outdoors some of the
time?
Chris
MSPOTTS@aol.com on wed 20 nov 96
We have cats in our studio and they indeed walk through the clay and glaze
dust and then wash themselves (as most cats do). We haven't noticed any
immediate consequences but I can't imagine that it does the kitties any good
and probably in the long run will harm them. In general we just try to keep
them in the house and out of the studio. We've even caught them drinking out
of the slop buckets. I guess they like the "salts." And I KNOW that's not any
good! There just isn't any way to control where cats go. They go pretty much
where they can; unlike dogs who can be trained NOT to do things.
Cummings Pottery on wed 20 nov 96
In my experience, you don't choose to have a cat in your studio,
they choose to be in it. Cats have no consideration for human wants or
needs, they have their own agenda!
My cats have always hung out in the studio when I'm working. I
enjoy their calm presence, and I think they like the warmth and company.
The only problem I ever had was with my old calico Annie. She had a
favorite place on a certain shelf, and all was fine, unless dumb me decided
to place a pot there. She'd see it, and go up and dump it off lickety
split, and look at me like, "why are you so hard to train?"
So go ahead and set up your studio, and if you are deemed fit to
hang out with by a feline, feel honored......Pat :D
{{{|}}}
( o o )
-------------------------.oooO----(_)---Oooo.--------------------------
Vashon Is., Wa. ***Pat*** patpots@wolfenet.com
http://www.vashonisland.com/holidaytours
Vashon Potters' Tour Dec. 7-8 & 14-15
.oooO
-------------------------------( )-----Oooo.-------------------------
\ ( ( )
\_) ) /
(_/
Toni Martens on wed 20 nov 96
My cats and dogs are a bit like biblical Ruth. Wither I goest they
will go. In my studio they are constantly underfoot,overhead and
somewhere in between!They too like the clay water and some of them
love to lick at lumps of dry clay that I 'meant' to recycle.
Is this possibly a mineral thing like those parrots in Oz that go to
a claybank for calcium?
It has never harmed any of them, and my friends live to ripe old age.
I am very careful with glazes though.
Toni M
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