# That's Where The Cat Piss Smell Comes From.... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 1, 2005, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513 "2005-03-01T23:54:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![inkleberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@inkleberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inkleberry)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513/41 "2005-03-03T17:49:03Z")
> [@GingerOfTheNorth](#): > > I’m pretty sure insurable interest isn’t the issue here. Inkleberry has a 3 month-old baby who will more than likely be severely injured should the apparent meth lab explode. You are right. Although if computer goes boom I will be sad. We are calling the cops today. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513/42 "2005-03-03T17:56:17Z")
Good - let us know what happens! ---
**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:** [March 3, 2005, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513/43 "2005-03-03T18:08:28Z")
> [@inkleberry](#): > > You are right. Although if computer goes boom I will be sad. > > We are calling the cops today. Your child is…computer? ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513/44 "2005-03-03T18:14:35Z")
And how is **babyberry** doing, by the way? ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513/45 "2005-03-03T18:19:04Z")
Don’t use bleach to clean that wall… ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513/46 "2005-03-03T18:34:37Z")
Is it possible some of the supplies the hairdresser uses could cause the cat piss smell? “Freeze! Police! Put down the Barbicide and back away slowly.” ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513/47 "2005-03-03T20:29:31Z")
Man, I’ve had several bunches of drug dealers live in one house across the street, and a meth lab complete with meth dealers in the house next to that, and I always tell the police who I am, where I live, be sure to stop by anytime if you want to catch some drug dealers. Back before I got a 900Mhz cordless, one set of drug dealers had a scanner that could pick up cordless phone conversations and I could clear that house out by just calling the sheriff. In fact that got to be such a problem, I would plug a dial phone in just to make my calls, since the customers would flee before the sheriff’s office could respond. I made no bones about the fact that I didn’t like them being in my neighborhood, and made them feel as unwelcome as possible. Just last summer I saw some action in my front yard and went out and there were a dozen or so police coming up to MY door. They said they had a report of one of my neighbors smelling a meth lab, and though it was coming from my house. Well, it was across the alley, but I saved them the trouble of going around the block and let the pass through my yard ( large yard, high fences) and into the alley just in time to catch the guy cooking (this was a different meth lab than across the street, FWIW) and I’m sure it looked like I sent them his way, to him. That guy went back to prison, the meth heads across the street moved out, (a nice older lady lives there now) and the house that has historically been populated by drug dealers is now occupied by a single mom (both of the houses across the street are HUD homes, or something. They are always rented out to low-income people, and by luck of the draw most of the ones I got were drug dealers). I know it sounds like I live in hell, but my neighborhood is mostly retired couples and such, a VERY quiet neighborhood, usually. As for the OP, the hair styling stuff sure could smell like a meth lab, let’s hope that’s what it is instead of cookers. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513/48 "2005-03-03T20:34:42Z")
Not a determination I’d want to make on my own, and I’m sure the cops don’t mind proving that something isn’t a threat. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513/49 "2005-03-03T21:44:28Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > I’ve used some pretty nasty stuff in lab and (illegality aside) I wouldn’t want to try cooking up meth without a fully equipped hood and a way to block any possible explosions. Maybe something suitable for perchloric acid use. Every time I’ve heard stories about people running meth labs–in Albuquerque, it often seems to happen in hotel rooms–I’ve thought they are completely nuts. Yes, I agree. Were I interested in doing a cook, I’d utilize appropriate lab procedures and wear protective garments, but hey, that cuts down on the net proceeds. What was the last time you heard of OSHA inspecting a meth cook? 😉 Kinda like going after Tim McVeigh for not having a proper HazMat manifest in the door pocket of his truck. ---
**Author:** ![inkleberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@inkleberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inkleberry)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513/50 "2005-03-03T22:28:39Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > Is it possible some of the supplies the hairdresser uses could cause the cat piss smell? > > “Freeze! Police! Put down the Barbicide and back away slowly.” That’s what I’m wondering. Or perm solution. Or hair dye. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513/51 "2005-03-03T22:35:47Z")
Man, what a mess. It sure would be nice if meth was legal - not because I’d use it (hate the stuff), but because it would eliminate this scary trend of morons risking blowing themselves and their innocent neighbors into millions of pieces. As long as cooks can still buy all the needed chemicals at Wal-Mart, cops don’t have a prayer of solving this problem. To those who would say “think of the children,” I’d reply, “I _am_. I’m thinking of them not exploding.” You can say no to legal drugs. You can’t say no to a wall of fire. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513/52 "2005-03-03T22:49:33Z")
I am not a stylist, but I’ve had both coloring and perms done in salons, and there is no hair process I can think of that smells like cat piss. Besides, are they perming their hair every day? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513/53 "2005-03-03T23:18:59Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > Obviously: if it IS the cats, they must be cooking the meth. I hate you …there is soda on my keyboard now 😃😛 ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513/54 "2005-03-03T23:24:38Z")
> [@lisacurl](#): > > I am not a stylist, but I’ve had both coloring and perms done in salons, and there is no hair process I can think of that smells like cat piss. Besides, are they perming their hair every day? Are we claiming that the ammonia used in meth manufacture smells like cat piss, or that another chemical does? Because cat piss can turn to ammonia, but it doesn’t smell much like it to me. And I’ve fucked around with my hair enough to know what hair chemicals smell like. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513/55 "2005-03-04T01:05:47Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > Yes, I agree. Were I interested in doing a cook, I’d utilize appropriate lab procedures and wear protective garments, but hey, that cuts down on the net proceeds. What was the last time you heard of OSHA inspecting a meth cook? 😉 > > Kinda like going after Tim McVeigh for not having a proper HazMat manifest in the door pocket of his truck. Hey now. I know that meth heads aren’t exactly the brightest bulbs in the light fixture, but I could still probably find a way to cook meth fairly safely in a kitchen if I wanted to. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513/56 "2005-03-04T01:39:00Z")
> [@inkleberry](#): > > OTOH, they are very nice people when we do see them on their porch. > > Next time it comes back, we will drop a dime to the local PD. Then maybe the mystery will be solved. You’re doing the right thing. Tweakers are not human. They are intolerable subhumans who have learned how to tie their shoes and in some instances, not defecate on the floor (my sincerest apologies to Robert Heinlein). Always remember this. They should all be locked up into state operated concentration camps, and we should offer monetary rewards for voluntary sterilization. Having said that, if you have any suspicions whatsoever that your neighbors are cooking meth, contact the authorities immediately. Don’t fall into the “oh, but they’re just such nice people, and I wouldn’t to cause any trouble for them” horseshit mentality. If they are cooking meth, then you are living next door to the lowest form of life imaginable. They need to be eradicated as quickly as possible. ---
**Author:** ![PinkMarabou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@PinkMarabou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PinkMarabou)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513/57 "2005-03-04T15:37:38Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > Tweakers are not human. They are intolerable subhumans who have learned how to tie their shoes and in some instances, not defecate on the floor (my sincerest apologies to Robert Heinlein). Always remember this. They should all be locked up into state operated concentration camps, and we should offer monetary rewards for voluntary sterilization. Am I being whooshed here??? Using a broad brush there much? That was pretty harsh. You must be the type who believes in “Reefer Madness”. I know plenty of tweakers and they are not “subhuman” and don’t “defecate on the floor”. In fact, many of them are valedictorians of the colleges and universities surrounding you, working their asses off with school and a job. Yes, there are plenty who abuse it and do nothing, but many people abuse things every single day. Like caffeine? Nicotine? Two of the most addictive chemicals? The point of the argument is COOKING it in residential areas and the harms therein, not bashing people because of their recreational choices and/or their addictions. Maybe those who make sweeping generalizations like yourself need to be locked away and sterilized so you don’t pass your stupidity onto others. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513/58 "2005-03-04T15:49:43Z")
We must know 2 different breeds of tweakers. The one’s I know would sell their mother for another fix, steal from family and friends with no remorse, resort to crime without hesitation, just to get some more meth. These guys make crack addicts look like school marms. ---
**Author:** ![PinkMarabou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@PinkMarabou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PinkMarabou)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513/59 "2005-03-04T16:12:37Z")
> [@Duke of Rat](#): > > We must know 2 different breeds of tweakers. The one’s I know would sell their mother for another fix, steal from family and friends with no remorse, resort to crime without hesitation, just to get some more meth. These guys make crack addicts look like school marms. Peering out your windows at your neighbors and experiencing it are two different things. You shouldn’t pass judgement on those who are doing something you don’t want to do. Not every drug-user is scum. Do you drink coffee? You’re a drug user. Ever smoked a cigarette? You’re a drug user. Does that mean you defecate on the floor? Don’t know how to tie your shoes? Not every USER is an ABUSER. Know the difference. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2005, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513/60 "2005-03-04T16:31:26Z")
Let’s not get into a big debate about the ethics of drug use. It’s fruitless. The issue is whether or not **Inkleberry** is reasonable in assuming her neighbors are risking their lives and the lives of her and her child by cooking meth in their apartment building. The consensus seems to be that is a reasonable assumption. Regardless of whether her neighbors are using it or not, if they’re cooking it there, they deserve whatever the law can throw at them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thats-where-the-cat-piss-smell-comes-from/292513.md?page=4)