Mark,

Many years ago, we had a "shop cat" that just sort of adopted us.  One day
we came into work and found the cat curled up in the corner looking bloated.
We took him to the local vet and were told that he was suffering from
complete renal failure.  The vet told us his kidneys had completely shut
down from drinking anti-freeze.

As far as the taste, I've had anti-freeze spill on my head (and in my eyes,
under my contacts, ouch!), and I've inadvertently tasted my share.  Perhaps
it's the brand, but I can tell you from personal experience that anti-freeze
actually tastes pretty good.

Cheers,

Jeff
www.vanagonparts.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of Mark Edwards
Sent: Sunday, August 15, 2004 8:55 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Things to put under the driver's seat<-- Kill this thread!

>>
>> Oh, by the by, if a small animal were to be
>> attracted by the sweet odor of
>> the spilt antifreeze and lap it up, I am
>> ***certain*** it would be harmed.

I am thinking of submiting this one for consideration as an urban legend.

I can put a bowl of antifreeze in my cat/dog/rabbit-and-whatever infested
neighborhood, and no animal will come within five feet of it. I have put
some down, and shown it to a many, many cats and dogs, and they have no
interest in it and in fact, make an effort to avoid it.

Sadly, and I have since repented so leave me alone, but many years ago,
during a darker time in my life, I TRIED to kill stray cats with it, and
not a one of them would go near it. There are ways to verify it an animal
has "taken the bait" and not a one ever did.

I don't think it has a sweet odor, and I don't think animals will drink
it. It tastes and smells like total crap. I am sure it ain't good for
them, but I am weary of reading over and over again about how animals will
'come a running' at the first wiff of antifreeze. I think its like
political mantra; if you say it often enough, everyone assumes it must be
true.

Mark