# Having a Pet is Cruel? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 14, 2008, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228 "2008-05-14T01:28:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/61 "2008-05-14T15:49:23Z")
It’s cruel to let cats wander outdoors where they will fight with other cats, contract disease, and fall prey to predators. Also, it’s cruel to keep cats you claim to “own” imprisoned indoors. Clearly the only humane thing to do is to completely eradicate the species. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/62 "2008-05-14T15:53:30Z")
[QUOTE=Beware of Doug] How is it possible that this thread hasn’t yet turned into a thrash? Are animal righties really all that uncommon on the Dope? [/QUOTE] Many people see vegetarians a little odd but that is their choice. It doesn’t hurt anyone else. Vegans are worse because it is hard to accommodate them and they tend to have strong views about such things but they are usually tolerable. Most of us have had pets at some point. We love them and it is offensive to say that no one should ever have them at all. However, the most important point is that the viewpoint in question makes no sense whatsoever at all in any time or place. I mentioned up thread that our 15 year old dog died while we were on vacation. Our 5 year old daughter was devastated and she has had to deal with more serious things already than many people do in their lifetime. We got her a kitten this weekend. She named it “Domino” because he is black with white stockings and he is the cutest and spunkiest little thing I have seen in a long time. She adores him and I haven’t seen her so happy in a few years if ever. I am a big advocate of never stating a position unless you follow the logic through to all alternatives. Little Domino is 9 weeks old and as happy as can be. According to the position at hand, choose from the following choices. 1. Have him euthanized so he doesn’t have to deal with animal slavery. 2. Set him free into the wild. 3. Move him into a protective facility that mimics earlier cat habitat many thousands of years ago. 4. Let him live but have a major effort to sterilize all domestic cats until there are none left. This might take decades. Do the same for dogs and all domestic animals. 5. Close every zoo and animal research facility in the world. 6. Other Ask him for his proposed solution in detail and that will tell you what you need to know. “I don’t like people having pets” is a non-answer and a no-starter. See if there is a logic neuron or two firing. The problem isn’t just with the position. It is with the insane illogical and the self-righteousness and complete lack of logical skills that such a statement implies. It is the inability to follow through with complete options and consequences that always kills me. Why would you want to be around a person like that? That is one admitted viewpoint and there are undoubtedly others. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/63 "2008-05-14T16:08:28Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] I’m all for animal rights (against racing, circuses, sport hunting, etc.), but being against having a pet you love and care for and treat well is insane. If pets have it so bad, why don’t they spend all their time trying to escape? [/QUOTE] My dog will if you let her out without a leash, but I think it’s more that she’s just completely hyperactive and wants to explore. Or, she’s just a pain in the ass, who has to have constant attention. Now, more pictures of animal cruelty: [Talk about torture!](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v220/Guinastasia/Kitties/buffychair.jpg) [I mean, how can we be so cruel?](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v220/Guinastasia/Kitties/maggietowelsbasket.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Duhkecco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8491ac/32.png) [@Duhkecco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duhkecco)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/64 "2008-05-14T16:12:41Z")
[QUOTE=Beware of Doug] How is it possible that this thread hasn’t yet turned into a thrash? Are animal righties really all that uncommon on the Dope? [/QUOTE] From PETA’s website: > [@](#): > > We at PETA very much love the animal companions who share our homes, but we believe that it would have been in the animals’ best interests if the institution of “pet keeping”—i.e., breeding animals to be kept and regarded as “pets”—never existed. > … > Because domesticated animals retain many of their basic instincts and drives but are not able to survive on their own in the wild, dogs, cats, or birds, whose strongest desire is to be free, must be confined to a house, yard, or cage for their own safety. > … > Contrary to myth, PETA does not want to confiscate animals who are well cared for and “set them free.” What we want is for the population of dogs and cats to be reduced through spaying and neutering and for people to adopt animals (preferably two so that they can keep each other company when their human companions aren’t home) from pounds or shelters—never from pet shops or breeders—thereby reducing suffering in the world. > **[Uncompromising Stands on Animal Rights | PETA](https://www.peta.org/about-peta/why-peta/)** > > PETA's uncompromising, unwavering views may be controversial, but they are always true to our driving mission: to stop animal abuse worldwide. ---
**Author:** ![Duhkecco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8491ac/32.png) [@Duhkecco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duhkecco)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/65 "2008-05-14T16:45:12Z")
[QUOTE=TroubleAgain] Well, if he truly believes what he said, and he’s not a vegan, then he’s a hypocrite [/quote] How so? ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/66 "2008-05-14T16:48:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by **TroubleAgain** > > Well, if he truly believes what he said, and he’s not a vegan, then he’s a hypocrite, and you should dump him. Of course, if he truly believes it, he’s a nutcase anyway, and you should dump him. But I’d find out first, if he’s all you think he is otherwise. I asked him where he wanted to go for dinner and he recommended pizza and in another conversation lamented the fact that you can’t find European cheeses in his neighborhood (he is from Germany) so he isn’t a vegan. He did say he was a vegetarian but he obviously eats cheese so I don’t know why it would be okay to imprision cows to get dairy products but not okay to imprision cats to pepper their bellies with kisses. I am hoping he just misspoke or something and can explain his theory in such a way that he doesn’t look like a nutball, but we shall see. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/67 "2008-05-14T16:49:50Z")
I’ve got a view on this. First, we’ve always had pets. At the moment we have two cats, goldfish and a hamster. We have the latter two because Mrs. Nine and the Misses Nines insist on having them. I love having cats as pets. We’ve had them since birth and they’re thirteen years old. We have a cat flap, so they have complete freedom to come and go as they please. We love them, feed them and enjoy their company, and they seem to reciprocate (well, not the feeding bit). But the nub of it is that we don’t imprison them; if they decide we’re not up to scratch, they have the choice to go elsewhere. As in human relationships, we have to earn their love and respect. That seems a pretty good deal to me. With goldfish and hamsters we can’t have that sort of relationship. They have to be confined. I feel guilty about that: they are sentient creatures who we have restricted. And I don’t know about you, but I find it difficult to build up a relationship with a goldfish. They are there to be gawped at. One of those aquarium screen savers would be the best solution. So, I feel guilt about restricting animals. Cruel? Well, I suppose it depends on how you treat them. ---
**Author:** ![beanpod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9adbd/32.png) [@beanpod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beanpod)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/68 "2008-05-14T16:49:57Z")
Definitely have a date escape planned and ready for this one, but go ahead and see what’s up. If nothing else, I’ll make for great entertainment for us. 😃 Also, there’s a chance that he’s not really a nutjob, and just has limited experience with pets. Maybe his parents told him that when he asked for a puppy when he was a boy, and he’s believed it ever since. He \*could \*just be innocent, idealistic, and ignorant of ethical pet owning. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/69 "2008-05-14T17:10:08Z")
**pbbth** , good luck! My experience has been that people who hold odd extreme views \*usually \*hold many such. They may not all show up early like this one, but I fear that down the road you are going to hear: All women who have tattoos are tramps! Or: I could never marry a woman who has had sex with someone else. Or: All gay people should be shot. Or other extreme views. I hope I’m wrong though and you have a lovely time and enjoy nice relationship together. ---
**Author:** ![LVgeogeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b19c9b/32.png) [@LVgeogeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVgeogeek)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/70 "2008-05-14T17:55:01Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] Those people are crazier than a sack full of weasels and a badger. [/QUOTE] Thanks, I just choked on my rice from laughing at this 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Contrary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/db5fbb/32.png) [@Contrary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrary)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/71 "2008-05-14T17:59:04Z")
[QUOTE=pbbth] I don’t know why it would be okay to imprision cows to get dairy products but not okay to imprision cats to pepper their bellies with kisses. [/QUOTE] _whispers_ I kiss my kitties’ bellies too! ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/72 "2008-05-14T18:41:30Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by **Contrary** > > _whispers_ I kiss my kitties’ bellies too! Of course you do! Kitties bellies were made for kisses. Evolution has spent millions of years developing kitties with kissable bellies so that we humans would bring them into our homes as pets and lavish attention upon them. Well, that theory makes as much sense as the pets=animal imprisionment theory! ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/73 "2008-05-14T18:52:47Z")
If I tried to kiss Bruno’s belly I’d be wearing him for a hat. Now that’d be cruel to both of us. ---
**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:** [May 14, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/74 "2008-05-14T19:27:53Z")
[QUOTE=NineToTheSky] I don’t know about you, but I find it difficult to build up a relationship with a goldfish. They are there to be gawped at. [/QUOTE] I had some goldfish that I managed to train to beg. They would swim around near the surface in the corner of the tank where I fed them until I gave them a brine-shrimp or tubifex-worms treat. (Yes, I’m an extreme soft touch for begging pets) ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/75 "2008-05-14T19:29:42Z")
[QUOTE=Dung Beetle] If I tried to kiss Bruno’s belly I’d be wearing him for a hat. Now that’d be cruel to both of us. [/QUOTE] But hilarious to everyone else around you. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/76 "2008-05-14T19:36:50Z")
I just had a consultation with my cat, and her belly, about whether she feels I’m cruel to her. She purred and licked my nose. That’s a definitive answer. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/77 "2008-05-14T19:49:48Z")
[QUOTE=Sattua] I just had a consultation with my cat, and her belly, about whether she feels I’m cruel to her. She purred and licked my nose. That’s a definitive answer. [/QUOTE] You bastard! Set her free. Set her free. The mean streets are where she belongs and where nature meant for her to be. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/78 "2008-05-14T19:52:29Z")
[QUOTE=Duhkecco] I get that. I just disagree with you. 😉 [/QUOTE] So you’re tolerant of _anyone’s_ intolerance? Really? ---
**Author:** ![Contrary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/db5fbb/32.png) [@Contrary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrary)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/79 "2008-05-14T20:38:58Z")
[Today’s](http://picasaweb.google.com/elizabeth.d.johnson/Kitties/photo?authkey=SyJjpqEh55I#5200296402763903522) torture. Also a rare sighting of my girl kitty with the boys. She tends to think SHE rules and they drool. She’s probably right. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/80 "2008-05-14T21:24:21Z")
I would definitely be wary of this guy. Cruel? If I open the door and let my cats & dogs outside, they’ll all be back quickly looking for food and cuddling. If they’re being imprisoned and abused, then they’re suffering from the world’s worst case of Stockholm Syndrome. Tonight when my cat is stretched out upside-down in my lap purring at 80dB while I rub his belly, I’ll ask if I’m being cruel to him. - And my son’s stupid cat will spend two hours outside with his legs crossed and then come running inside to use the litterbox. _sigh_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228.md?page=5)