# Lateral Thinking Puzzles - third time is best! **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [July 18, 2023, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214 "2023-07-18T13:39:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 145
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2881 "2025-03-13T21:33:19Z")
Were Nancy and Sluggo trying to sell the cat itself? Or were they having the cat perform some service for customers, while remaining in the custody of Nancy and Sluggo? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2882 "2025-03-13T21:37:31Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > I’m stumped. So this is an item that’s somehow at least vaguely similar to pillows, slippers, and/or hot water bottles, none of which make noise. Yet the cat’s ability to meow is the crucial factor which makes it possible for it to substitute for this item. Is that right? No. See above: From Saint\_Cad: So a cat meowing made money for Nancy and Sluggo due to the rationing (due to WW2) of a finished object (not raw material) that is not food? Yes Note the difference. ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2883 "2025-03-13T21:39:53Z")
Let’s trying sidestepping what the item actually is. Were Nancy and Sluggo’s customers paying for the cat to meow? Or to not meow? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2884 "2025-03-13T21:40:30Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Were Nancy and Sluggo trying to sell the cat itself? > Or were they having the cat perform some service for customers, while remaining in the custody of Nancy and Sluggo? No to all. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2885 "2025-03-13T21:41:23Z")
> [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Let’s trying sidestepping what the item actually is. Were Nancy and Sluggo’s customers paying for the cat to meow? Or to not meow? Neither. ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2886 "2025-03-13T21:43:03Z")
A step even further back: is it accurate to say they have customers? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2887 "2025-03-13T21:46:40Z")
replacement for a radio? Specifically a [cat’s whisker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_detector)? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2888 "2025-03-13T21:49:37Z")
> [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > A step even further back: is it accurate to say they have customers? Yes. At least one. Using this definition for customer from Oxford online: a person or organization that buys goods or services from a store or business. Or in this case, from two kids. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2889 "2025-03-13T21:50:54Z")
Did their customers realize that a cat was involved at all? If so, did they realize before or after paying their money? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2890 "2025-03-13T21:51:19Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > replacement for a radio? > > Specifically a [cat’s whisker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_detector)? No ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2891 "2025-03-13T21:51:44Z")
Did the cat’s meowing help with advertising somehow? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2892 "2025-03-13T21:53:42Z")
reply to Thing.Fish: Did their customers realize that a cat was involved at all? No. If so, did they realize before or after paying their money? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2893 "2025-03-13T21:54:21Z")
> [@Ana\_Byrd](#): > > Did the cat’s meowing help with advertising somehow? No. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2894 "2025-03-13T21:55:10Z")
Does it seem likely that the customers were happy with the deal they got? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2895 "2025-03-13T21:56:28Z")
. > [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Does it seem likely that the customers were happy with the deal they got? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2896 "2025-03-13T22:06:02Z")
Do not overthink this. This is a simple daily 4-panel strip. (This particular rationing was a theme all week in that comic). The kids see an opportunity created by a rationed item in panel one. Next they ponder how to take advantage of that opportunity while a cat wanders at their feet. In panel three they take the cat (and a blanket) and in panel 4 (meow!) they reap the benefits of their lateral thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2897 "2025-03-13T22:18:39Z")
Was the cat used as a way to mimic a baby, so the purchasers can obtain an item they would not have been able to get otherwise? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2898 "2025-03-13T22:49:13Z")
. > [@Sigene](#): > > Was the cat used as a way to mimic a baby, so the purchasers can obtain an item they would not have been able to get otherwise? No. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2899 "2025-03-13T23:00:58Z")
Are other people involved in this in any way (even if unwittingly)? Other animals? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2025, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/2900 "2025-03-13T23:48:27Z")
I need to ask better more exploratory questions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=144) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=146)