FELINE-L is a discussion list for and about cats; all kinds, types and varieties of cats. Postings ranging from care and feeding of your household tom or tabby to scientific research concerning any aspect of wild or domestic feline populations are welcome. If you wish to discuss training, human-feline PSI experiences, cat "ghosts", seek a bit of comfort over the loss of a cherished cat, or find the best way to handle any aspect of cat ownership, you may reasonably expect to be welcome on FELINE-L.

FELINE-L is a very high-volume list. It is also unique in the sense of "community" and "belonging" which exists among subscribers. If you are seeking a "just-the-facts" list, this may not be the place for you. If you are seeking an environment wherein participants regularly share one another's feline joys and sorrows, you have found a home.

Managers and Administrators of any institution maintaining a feline population, such as zoos, game parks or research installations may discuss mutual problems and points of interest here. Graphic discussion of research techniques may be inappropriate for this list and offensive to some subscribers. Use good taste in what you post.

Reasonable discussion of conservation and environmental issues, as they specifically relate to feline populations, are welcome here. The same holds true for almost any aspect of feline veterinary care and management.

In short, absolutely anything that may reasonably be seen to have a relationship to felines and/or to human-feline interactions may be posted here... with one or two exceptions.

FELINE-L is not the place for flames in any form. Period. As list owner I do not expect to read every post on this list, nor do I want this to become a moderated/digested list. However, I will not look kindly upon deliberate attempts to disrupt the list, usurp it to some other topic unrelated to felines, or use it as a format for politicized "position statements" or axe-grinding over some emotion-charged subject.

This is not the place for campaigning for animal rights, debating the ethics of maintaining pets, pleading generalized environmental cases not directly bearing on a feline population, arguing the pros and cons of vegetarianism, hunting, logging or any similarly tangential topics.Arguing the pros and cons of declawing and indoor/outdoor cats is sternly discouraged. This is, first and foremost, a place for people who love cats. Any kind of cats.

Blatantly commercial postings, ads, solicitations, chain letters, etc., are forbidden. There will be NO cross posting to/from FELINE-L and other lists. FELINE-L is a private list -- that means posting privileges are restricted to subscribers only. Forwarding posts, notes, comments, solicitations, not related to Felines from non-subscribers is a breech of the usage guidelines of this list. Forwarding posts *from* Feline-L without express permission of the author, is also a breech of the usage guidelines.

Beyond an initial, bulletin-style announcement at startup, there will be no recruiting for other lists on FELINE-L. Requests and information are to be sent via private e-mail.

Occasionally you may receive private e-mail with comments about a post you sent in to the list. Please remember that these e-mails are *private* regardless of content and all discussion regarding them is to be kept *off-list*. Posting of private e-mails to the list, without specific consent, or by request of the author, is a breach of the usage guideline of Feline-L.

None of the foregoing is intended to stifle discussion; it *is* intended to ensure that problems which have sometimes plagued other discussion lists do not take root here. The List owner is not going to "look over your shoulder" to scrutinize every word posted.

This overview of Policy is to avoid future misunderstandings. It is necessary to state these restrictions at the outset, rather than attempting to impose them at some later date. It is my hope that all this will make FELINE-L the kind of place you want to return to often, and whose arrival in your mailbox becomes a welcome and anticipated event.