# Question about cats **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 21, 2002, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-cats/104844 "2002-04-21T19:34:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Thirsty\_Mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Thirsty\_Mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thirsty_Mind)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2002, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-cats/104844/1 "2002-04-21T19:34:25Z")
I have a few friends that claim if you split a cat’s tongue down the middle, that when it tries to meow it will be saying hello. I think this is totally false but what are your opinions? ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2002, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-cats/104844/2 "2002-04-21T20:12:23Z")
My opinion is if you have friends who think splitting a cat’s tongue down the middle is okay, it’s time to get new friends. And change your locks. And your phone number. ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2002, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-cats/104844/3 "2002-04-21T20:24:46Z")
The most ethical way to test this hypothesis is to split your own tongue down the middle, and attempt to say “hello.” If it comes out as “meow,” there you go. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-cats/104844/4 "2002-04-22T00:46:36Z")
That is a really stupid and sick question. Did you honestly raise it as a serious question, or are you trolling? ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-cats/104844/5 "2002-04-22T02:34:47Z")
Your friends are either A) not very smart, or B) pulling your leg. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-cats/104844/6 "2002-04-22T02:59:05Z")
Never mind. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-cats/104844/7 "2002-04-22T04:22:58Z")
**Thirsty Mind** , rehydrate your brain. ---
**Author:** ![Jenner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@Jenner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenner)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-cats/104844/8 "2002-04-22T05:37:49Z")
Splitting the cat’s tongue will have no effect on the quality of the meow, since cats do not use their tongues to meow. -DP ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-cats/104844/9 "2002-04-22T08:20:27Z")
Get near my cat’s tongue and she’ll scratch your eyes out… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![breaknrun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbce88/32.png) [@breaknrun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breaknrun)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-cats/104844/10 "2002-04-22T14:54:40Z")
I hope no one would seriously consider mutilating an animal but they possibly got the idea from Tolkien. IIRC, and it’s been about 22 years since I’ve read the book, in _The Hobbit_ a crow was able to converse with Bilbo up near the entrance to Smaug’s lair because the crow’s tongue was split. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-cats/104844/11 "2002-04-23T03:32:30Z")
No, the crow was able to converse with Bilbo because it’s a crow. Crows can talk. ---
**Author:** ![GopherGod72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f0a364/32.png) [@GopherGod72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GopherGod72)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-cats/104844/12 "2002-04-23T06:21:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chronos \* > \*\*No, the crow was able to converse with Bilbo because it’s a crow. Crows can talk. \*\* no Ravens can talk… crows only caw. yes I KNOW ravens are a TYPE of crow but not just a CROW. Damnit Chronos… just believe me and dont go looking shit up. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-cats/104844/13 "2002-04-23T06:21:18Z")
Thread closed in 5…4…3…2… ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-cats/104844/14 "2002-04-23T14:52:37Z")
It really doesn’t qualify as a “General Question” anyway, so I’m closing it. Jill