# Feeling guilty....please help me not feel so bad. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 1, 2003, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399 "2003-05-01T15:50:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Marathon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Marathon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marathon)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399/121 "2003-05-01T20:48:31Z")
Is the flagrant abuse of the ellipsis something that is commonly favored by the militant anti-declawing people, or is there some amazing sock-puppetry going on here? ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399/122 "2003-05-01T20:48:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ENugent \* > \*\*For what it’s worth, my experience differs from yours, perhaps because my cats _have_ been wearing them since kittenhood. > \*\* Sorry I didn’t make myself clearer. I _did_ use them since she was a kitten. I meant to say that someone who doesn’t may have a _very_ difficult time. The main reason I used them is that my cat loves to knead my lap, not furniture. You sure aren’t kidding about how sharp those talons could be when the nail fell off! She never once used scratching posts, but she loves the tree outside… so now I don’t need the caps. It was fairly easy to apply them by myself. Then again, my cat is used to taking baths and such with out a fit. I just think its one of those things that either your cat likes them or doesn’t, kind of how women feel about fake nails. Some love them, some hate them. Here are some pictures of kitties with coloured caps. [http://www.softpaws.com/gallery/](http://www.softpaws.com/gallery/) I also found that the nail glue people use was cheaper and lasted longer. It gave me the best results. ANd if you do use it often: you can buy at a hardware store thin thin plastic tubing. You can use that instead of the tips. You can buy it by the yard for pennies, practically. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399/123 "2003-05-01T20:49:35Z")
. . . Actually, I am rarely aided by wells. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399/124 "2003-05-01T20:50:47Z")
p.s. Your cat is darling! He looks like my Booboos with a short hair do. ---
**Author:** ![Rock\_Fluff\_smom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5daacb/32.png) [@Rock\_Fluff\_smom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rock_Fluff_smom)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399/125 "2003-05-01T20:52:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by alice\_in\_wonderland \* > \*\*Is it just me or does **ItsNotMe’s** posting style look eerily similar to that of **Rock&Fluff’smom**? > > Just asking. \*\* nope…it isn’t me…just so you know…there are lots of others who feel the same as me:D ---
**Author:** ![katie1341](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/91b2a8/32.png) [@katie1341](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katie1341)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399/126 "2003-05-01T20:55:02Z")
Actually, **ItsNotMe** reminded me of **Wildest Bill**. Gotcha ya! ---
**Author:** ![Rock\_Fluff\_smom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5daacb/32.png) [@Rock\_Fluff\_smom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rock_Fluff_smom)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399/127 "2003-05-01T20:55:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by alice\_in\_wonderland \* > \*\ ***Rock** …&… **Fluff** …why…do…you…insist…on…doing…this…it’s…really…annoying…make…sense??? \*\* Do I not have a right to say how I feel??? Is this not a debate board? or am I mistaken? I don’t really mean to make anyone feel like they are a bad person at all…I just am against declawing and I want the world to know how I feel about it…I know I know…everyone knows now, I have made my point…I guess I will shut the fuck up now like you said I had a right to do… Maybe I should go introduce myself so yall can get to know me better…then maybe yall may decide I am really a fun person to hang out with… ---
**Author:** ![Emperor\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@Emperor\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emperor_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399/128 "2003-05-01T20:59:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rock&Fluff’smom \* > \*\*nope…it isn’t me…just so you know…there are lots of others who feel the same as me:D \*\* Never has my .sig been so appropriate. [sub]this isn’t directed at all anti-declawing folk. Just the ones above who overreact and struggle to push a coherent though through their minds, despite the fact that all their fuses were blown along time ago.[/sub] Apologies if it has been done already, but… [Helen Lovejoy] Won’t somebody please think of the kitties? [/Helen Lovejoy] ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399/129 "2003-05-01T21:03:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rock&Fluff’smom \* > \*\*spaying and nuetering is the best choice you can make for your cat…if you do this, the world wouldn’t be overpopulated due to not enough people who can take them in…less animals, more people to care for them,…make sense??? \*\* What the _fuck_ were you on when you read my post? Do you understand basic communication? I _said_ it was _bad_ that more people don’t fix their pets. In fact, the _whole point_ of my post what that there are so many cats out there because _stupid_ people let them breed that _giving a cat a loving home is always a good thing_. Thus, de-clawing, especially when done in a thoughtful and responsible manner as the OP is suggesting, is a much better alternative than giving up the cat. My point is, that more than likely, giving up the cat is _not_ giving it a better home because there are so many cats to choose from, someone is not going to choose a cat that ruins furniture. The OP is keeping a cat that ruined her furniture, when many other people would have given it up immediately, or worse. …make sense?:smack: ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399/130 "2003-05-01T21:13:14Z")
\*\*Hectar? From people, cats, dogs out, it breath - they have nurves, them meat and blodd are formed! Furniture - can be replaced, it believe not a thing! \*\* It’s almost like Shakespear. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399/131 "2003-05-01T21:24:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rock&Fluff’smom \* > **Do I not have a right to say how I feel??? Is this not a debate board? or am I mistaken?** Actually, I was referring to your apparent total disregard for such things as spelling, grammar, punctuation and sentence structure. To answer your question, of course you can post your opinion - posting in the way you did, in the original MPSIMS thread, when a fellow human being was clearly hurting, however, was ignorant and rude. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399/132 "2003-05-01T21:28:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Barrytown \* > \*\*Is the flagrant abuse of the ellipsis something that is commonly favored by the militant anti-declawing people, or is there some amazing sock-puppetry going on here? \*\* [Henrietta Pussycat] Meow meow thinks meow meow second option meow true meow meow meow. [/Henrietta Pussycat] ---
**Author:** ![carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrot)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399/133 "2003-05-01T21:32:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rock&Fluff’smom \* > \*\*Maybe I should go introduce myself so yall can get to know me better…then maybe yall may decide I am really a fun person to hang out with… \*\* _Examines **Rock&Fluff’smom** closely_ You know, it’s amazingly life-like! ---
**Author:** ![carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrot)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399/134 "2003-05-01T21:34:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*It’s almost like Shakespear. 😃 \*\* I mean, of course, **Wilhelm Shakespear** , the very famous German author. No? Well, what about Farles Pikkens, then? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399/135 "2003-05-01T22:00:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by carrot \* > \*\*I mean, of course, **Wilhelm Shakespear** , the very famous German author. > > No? Well, what about Farles Pikkens, then? \*\* 😛 ---
**Author:** ![cabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@cabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cabbit)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399/136 "2003-05-01T22:10:55Z")
Lady Venom, I’ve read everything that you’ve written in this thread, and I just want to send a little sympathy your way. My cat is very important to me, and I feel for you right now, this is a very difficult decision to have to make. When I adopted my little furguy he was already declawed, and if I had to make the choice of declawing or not, I’m not sure what the outcome would be. So, let’s look at all that you’ve done: Provided a loving, safe environment for the cat. Attempted to stop the problematic behavior. Researched the best, least traumatic procedure available to your cat. Agonized for weeks over this decision. Evaluated the possible dangers to a declawed cat. In my opinion, you’ve put a greal deal of effort into caring for and protecting your cat. You seem to be really caring pet owner, and I’m confident that your kitty will be over any trauma and back to business as usual within a day or two. The benefits that your love and protection afford your cat far outweigh the possible detriments of the declawing procedure, and it’s obvious that you’ve done all that you can up until this point. Do what you have to, keep your chin up, and hug your kitty. ---
**Author:** ![Deadly\_Nightlight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Deadly\_Nightlight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deadly_Nightlight)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399/137 "2003-05-01T22:13:37Z")
I said somewhere in my post the cat never had a chance- but The cat could not even defend itself anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Deadly\_Nightlight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Deadly\_Nightlight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deadly_Nightlight)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399/138 "2003-05-01T22:18:05Z")
Ugghhh Folks, sorry I should have been more clear with my point, I am aware that The cat would not have made it, but the fact that she could not even claw the dog that attacked her is the reason why I would not have another cat declawed. ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399/139 "2003-05-01T22:24:52Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by World Eater:_ > They cannot verfluchen If a cat can’t verfluchen, what the hell CAN it do? **Rock&Fluff’smom** , **alice\_in\_wonderland** was referring to your incessant use of ellipses. These things --\> **…**. Normal puncuation calls for separating thoughts with a single period. Like so. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399/140 "2003-05-01T22:27:50Z")
\*\* Lady Venom\*\*, I think you’re making the right decision. You’ve tried to train the behavior out w/out success. If you were to return the kitty to the shelter with the reason of “she clawed the furniture all to hell,” they in all probability will not be able to adopt the cat out to anyone else - any responsible shelter will be honest about why a cat was returned to them, including behavior problems. I’m not a big fan of declawing myself, though I have two declawed beasties. When I got them 13 years ago, the requirements of my lease were that cats must be declawed, and so I had them declawed. They have absolutely no behavior problems as a result. They keep the dog in line, who outweights them by about 25 lbs, with attitude alone. They are strictly indoor cats, and are spoiled rotten. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feeling-guilty-please-help-me-not-feel-so-bad/172399.md?page=8)