# Do cats die if you put razors in their eyes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 10, 2005, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487 "2005-10-10T02:34:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487/21 "2005-10-10T16:24:20Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I don’t think healthy curiosity is anything to worry about, This isn’t a scenario where an enterprising middle school student decides to conduct a science fair experiment where he demonstrates immune response by lopping off two cats tails and tries to re-attach them (each to the other) cat, but is stymied by the vascular complexity and surgery necessary after sedating the cats with his mother’s valium he powdered up and mixed with sardines, so he has to bury his mistakes in the woods, and does a stupid “Organisms in Pond water” experiment instead. It’s not like that \*at all. \* I’m suspicious of how much thought you put into that experiment. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![sciguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@sciguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciguy)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487/22 "2005-10-10T16:46:06Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I don’t think healthy curiosity is anything to worry about, This isn’t a scenario where an enterprising middle school student decides to conduct a science fair experiment where he demonstrates immune response by lopping off two cats tails and tries to re-attach them (each to the other) cat, but is stymied by the vascular complexity and surgery necessary after sedating the cats with his mother’s valium he powdered up and mixed with sardines, so he has to bury his mistakes in the woods, and does a stupid “Organisms in Pond water” experiment instead. It’s not like that \*at all. \* Is this “hypothetical” experiment just a tail transplant, or attaching the stump of CatA to CatB to create a Pushmeow-Pullmew? ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487/23 "2005-10-10T17:11:06Z")
And to think all these years I thought it was the cat’s **own** curiosity that killed it… ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487/24 "2005-10-10T20:38:19Z")
> [@Dominic Mulligan](#): > > Are you taking the piss? Ever thought that it may, you know, be an innocent question from an inquisitive child? > > Jesus Christ. Did you miss this line in the OP? > [@](#): > > he said that even though he keeps shining the flashlight in Jessie’s eyes he has yet to go blind. It doesn’t strike me as an innocent hypothetical question, but as something he plans to try. Finding out why he thinks the cat should be blind isn’t a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487/25 "2005-10-10T20:48:50Z")
Gah! Mine eyes! Mods, can we have a change in the thread title, something along the lines of “Do cats die if you aim laser pointers at their eyes?” Everytime I scroll past this thread I get squicked out. ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487/26 "2005-10-10T20:52:36Z")
> [@Dominic Mulligan](#): > > Are you taking the piss? Ever thought that it may, you know, be an innocent question from an inquisitive child? > > Jesus Christ. Yes, I considered that fully first. Based on the potential consequences if it _isn’t_ an “innocent question”, but an indicator of something more serious, I concluded that further queries were warranted. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487/27 "2005-10-10T21:42:59Z")
::: shrug::: I know a number of people who consider lasers to among the best cat (and dog) toys ever. Not pointed in the eyes of course. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487/28 "2005-10-10T22:51:31Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > ::: shrug::: > I know a number of people who consider lasers to among the best cat (and dog) toys ever. > Not pointed in the eyes of course. The Infernal Red Dot! ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487/29 "2005-10-10T22:55:59Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > It doesn’t strike me as an innocent hypothetical question, but as something he plans to try. Finding out why he thinks the cat should be blind isn’t a bad idea. I think that the question is much more likely to arise naturally than from a willful attempt to blind the cat, as you’ve assumed: 1. Nephew teases the cat with a flashlight. 2. Later, does same with laser-pointer. 3. Is told by adult “Don’t do that! You’ll hurt the kitty!” 4. Wonders “WTF? A bigger light comes out of the flashlight – why is this little light so dangerous?” There’s no reason to assume that the kid was playing with the flashlight with the _intention_ of blinding the cat, or that he was planning on finding a better way to blind the cat. It’s not unreasonable to assume that someone _told_ him that a laser could blind the cat, rather than that he deduced it himself. The most natural reason that someone might tell him this was because they were worried about his innocent play. It’s natural that he might wonder why a lasers aren’t allowed but flashlights are. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2005, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487/30 "2005-10-10T22:59:26Z")
I’d guess that he noticed the strange reflection that the flashlight made in kitty’s eyes and it’s been fascinating for him. Just try and move him on to something else interesting. Most six year olds have a relatively short attention span. “Oh, look! Shiny!” :: wanders off to another thread :: ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487/31 "2005-10-11T01:05:50Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > They say the best way to learn science is hands on. I know it was for me . I’m glad to see your nephew has a strong inquisitive side. You know what you need to get him for Christmas. You only need to worry if he starts hurting dogs or monkeys. **shagnasty**. I’d be interested to know what you’re implying here. If you’re into your usual snarky mode, and it involves injury to animals other than dogs or monkeys, then we need to talk. If I’m mistaken, then **I** apologize. If I’m not, then **you’d** damn well better. **samclem** GQ moderator. And you’re getting an email on this. Please respond. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487/32 "2005-10-11T02:00:57Z")
Since this one never really had a GQ, let’s move it to MPSIMS. **samclem** GQ moderator ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487/33 "2005-10-11T02:18:42Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > I’d guess that he noticed the strange reflection that the flashlight made in kitty’s eyes and it’s been fascinating for him That was my impression as well. The Na-Baron was using a flashlight to study the irridescent effect caused by the reflective layer of cells in the cat’s eyes. He then realized ‘Mother informed me that shining the flashlight in my eyes would result in blindness, not unlike that created by the detonation of a Stoneburner. Yet, this specimen of felinus domesticus is clearly not blind. Perhaps his different occular structure affords him immunity. Hmm, mother informed me that shining a laser in my eyes (even when unshielded) would result in death. Does the cat’s immunity also extend to lasers? I shall ask my uncle, the Kwizatz Haderach.’ The proper response, IMO, is to tell your nephew to never shine lasers in the eyes of any animal, and to give him a simplified explanation that cats are nocturnal hunters and that the reflective wall in their eyes improves their nightvision. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487/34 "2005-10-11T02:18:48Z")
Well to answer the question in the title. You stick a razor in one eye and the cat will scratch your face off. So it is impossible to put razors in a cat’s eyes. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487/35 "2005-10-11T15:27:31Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > You stick a razor in one eye and the cat will scratch your face off. So it is **impossible** to put razors in a cat’s eyes. (Bold text via me.) Gotta respectfully disagree, having done just that. I have removed dermoids from the corneal surface of a cat’s eye using a razor blade piece broken off using an instrument called a Castroviejo Blade Breaker (cite: [http://www.delasco.com/pcat/2/GSInstruments/RBH13C/RBH13C/](http://www.delasco.com/pcat/2/GSInstruments/RBH13C/RBH13C/)) Here is a picture of one such tumor: [http://www.catvet.homestead.com/Dermoid.html](http://www.catvet.homestead.com/Dermoid.html) Note, while it is possible to stick a razor in the eye of a cat, it should be done under a general anesthetic using appropriate surgical technique. ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487/36 "2005-10-11T17:49:13Z")
> [@sciguy](#): > > Is this “hypothetical” experiment just a tail transplant, or attaching the stump of CatA to CatB to create a Pushmeow-Pullmew? I got this joke. I’m laughing my frillin’ ass off. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487/37 "2005-10-11T20:41:20Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I don’t think healthy curiosity is anything to worry about, This isn’t a scenario where an enterprising middle school student decides to conduct a science fair experiment where he demonstrates immune response by lopping off two cats tails and tries to re-attach them (each to the other) cat, but is stymied by the vascular complexity and surgery necessary after sedating the cats with his mother’s valium he powdered up and mixed with sardines, so he has to bury his mistakes in the woods, and does a stupid “Organisms in Pond water” experiment instead. It’s not like that \*at all. \* It’s amateurs like you that give Trespassing In God’s Domain a bad name. 😃 Try it with Schroedinger’s Cats, where the two conjoined felines simultaneously do and do not exist: _then_ we’re talking science fair experiment. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487/38 "2005-10-11T21:07:13Z")
When’s Q.E.D going to return to tell me if my laser assertions are correct? I’m actually curious, as laser safety is not my specialty. ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487/39 "2005-10-12T00:05:57Z")
Won’t a cat chase a laser beam? Like a dog chases a flash light beam? This might be fairly innocent play. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487/40 "2005-10-12T00:13:51Z")
> [@Unregistered Bull](#): > > Won’t a cat chase a laser beam? Like a dog chases a flash light beam? This might be fairly innocent play. Some will. My Luna loves to chase the laser bug. I try to make sure the beam doesn’t go into her eyes while we’re playing that game. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-cats-die-if-you-put-razors-in-their-eyes/325487.md?page=3)