# The rents want to get a cat and immediately have it declawed. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 9, 2017, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181 "2017-05-09T05:22:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181/21 "2017-05-09T14:32:14Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > Am I the only one who thinks that referring to your mother as “the rents” is disrespectful? I wouldn’t go so far as “disrespectful” but I don’t care for it; what’s most bothersome about it is it’s _pointlessly_ lazy, like referring to pizza as “'za.” It saves you minimal effort in exchange for being significantly less intelligible. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181/22 "2017-05-09T14:35:42Z")
Like capital punishment, many would be surprised to hear this is even conceivable; eg such practices are forbidden and/or criminal offenses throughout Europe. In any case it quite obviously violates Hippocratic-type ethical standards, so no wonder no veterinarian is willing to perform it. This isn’t the 20th century any more… ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181/23 "2017-05-09T14:46:54Z")
> [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](#): > > I don’t think **Idle Thoughts** is trolling… I do. > [@](#): > > At least if trolling is defined as posting something controversial to get an emotional rise out of others, it is hard for me to see how the OP fits the bill. Because a mod, of all people, knows well what the hot button topics are on the SDMB. As **BubbaDog** points out. > [@](#): > > Now, about your post. It does not seem to add to the conversation about declawing cats, nor about living with parents or being frustrated with their ingrained attitudes. It is not intended to add to the conversation - that would be feeding the troll. > [@](#): > > In fact, you post seems to be designed to insult the OP and get people spun up on either agreeing with the insult or defending the OP. To me, this looks like more of an example than the OP of trolling than what **Idle Thoughts** posted. I am NOT accusing you of trolling, to do so would be against the rules… You aren’t real clear on the rules in the Pit, are you? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![JcWoman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jcwoman/32/2889_2.png) [@JcWoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JcWoman)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181/24 "2017-05-09T14:47:47Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > I don’t want a cat tearing up my furniture…ohh, my precious furniture…and you know that if you get a scratching post, it will never use it, it will still use the furniture anyway… Everybody’s focused on the declawing (FTR, I’m anti-declawing also) but I want to just comment on this part. People like this make me grind my teeth. They should not have pets. People who don’t realize that pets make messes, or get angry when they do, should not have pets. The best trained pet will occasionally tear up a toy and leave the pieces all over the room, get a tummy ache and puke on the carpet, get a virus and have diarrhea in the house, all kinds of things. If you aren’t prepared to wear at least a little pet hair on your clothes (I wear my dog hair with pride, but that’s me), buy and use a spot carpet shampooer, and train your pet in basic house manners, then you should not get a pet. Tell them to get a pet rock instead. Or a stuffed toy kitty. It would be more appropriate for them. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181/25 "2017-05-09T14:51:12Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I do. I am reasonably certain he is not. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181/26 "2017-05-09T14:57:42Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I am reasonably certain he is not. I am reasonably certain that he is a she. > [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > I told her they are seen as some of the worst kind of people in this world. Yes. As I have learned from this board that besides Republicans they are the worst people in the entire world. Worse than terrorists, murderers, rapists, Trumps, Hitlers and even people who don’t take their shoes off when entering a domicile. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181/27 "2017-05-09T15:06:25Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > I am reasonably certain that he is a she. You had to go there, didn’t you? 🙂 Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/section_maker_jupe/32/1424_2.png) [@Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Section_Maker_Jupe)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181/28 "2017-05-09T15:14:02Z")
> [@JcWoman](#): > > Everybody’s focused on the declawing (FTR, I’m anti-declawing also) but I want to just comment on this part. People like this make me grind my teeth. They should not have pets. People who don’t realize that pets make messes, or get angry when they do, should not have pets. The best trained pet will occasionally tear up a toy and leave the pieces all over the room, get a tummy ache and puke on the carpet, get a virus and have diarrhea in the house, all kinds of things. If you aren’t prepared to wear at least a little pet hair on your clothes (I wear my dog hair with pride, but that’s me), buy and use a spot carpet shampooer, and train your pet in basic house manners, then you should not get a pet. > > Tell them to get a pet rock instead. Or a stuffed toy kitty. It would be more appropriate for them. yes total agreement…I live in a multi family “compound”…8 rescue cats, 6 dogs, etc etc… pets require constant work, money and attention. Cats do like the scratching posts, not all of them… Declawed cats, when in trouble, will now bite instead of swipe and this can/will send a person or other animal to the hospital with an ready to infect puncture wound. Just a heads up, that happened here, to my employer, and it was a pretty bad deal. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181/29 "2017-05-09T15:16:57Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > I am reasonably certain that he is a she. I’m reasonably certain it’s not April 1. Seriously, though, hundred bucks this is for real, but I suppose there’s no real way to ascertain. Anyhow, what is to be gained by doubting the veracity of the OP? Just ignore it. (ETA: Oh, forgot it’s the Pit. Anything goes, so carry on, I guess.) ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181/30 "2017-05-09T15:23:48Z")
See if you can get a letter from a vet explaining to your mom how painful this is to cats and if her cat to escape from home it would have no way to defend itself . I heard of cats refusing to use the litter box after being declawed b/c it too painful ! If your mom doesn’t believe what on the internet does she believe the news on TV?? How frustrating this has to be you . You should also tell your mom that some cats will take to biting people b/c that the only way they can defend their selves after being declawed. Check out some shelters and see if they have any cats that already been declawed. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181/31 "2017-05-09T15:26:26Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > **Happy Fun Ball** > > Search de-clawed cats , phone solicitors, gun control, left lane or any other number of SDMB hot button topics to see what **Shodan** talking about Phone solicitors, gun control, left lane cruisers, sure. But declawed cats are a hot button topic? I am really glad I missed those threads! ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181/32 "2017-05-09T15:29:03Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > \ You aren’t real clear on the rules in the Pit, are you? > > Regards, > Shodan I was sure this thread was in MPSIMS when I posted. Now that I see it was in the pit, please ignore it. Or mock me. Whatever. I don’t really give a shit. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181/33 "2017-05-09T15:32:55Z")
> [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](#): > > Phone solicitors, gun control, left lane cruisers, sure. But declawed cats are a hot button topic? I am really glad I missed those threads! It’s one of those topics that comes up from time to time. Not as “hot topic” as the ones you mentioned, but maybe somewhere around the “pit bulls are evil/pit bulls are the best!” level of hot topicity. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181/34 "2017-05-09T15:40:40Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > What’s wrong with outside cats? In my case, Coyotes. We lost two cats in a week. I like giving cats a chance to run around outside, so–no more cats for us. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181/35 "2017-05-09T16:00:00Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > What’s wrong with outside cats? Strictly outdoor cats have a life expectancy somewhere between just 2 - 5 years. Strictly indoor cats have a life expectancy somewhere between 12 - 15 years. Indoor/outdoor cats have a life expectancy about 20% shorter on average than strictly indoor cats. > **[Indoor and Outdoor Cat Life Expectancy Differences](https://www.vetinfo.com/indoor-outdoor-cat-life-expectancy.html)** > > VetInfo: Your Trusted Resource for Veterinary Information If you’re fine with that, then the answer is “nothing.” ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181/36 "2017-05-09T16:28:29Z")
Get the cat circumcised instead. I’m pretty ambivalent on declawing. My wife wanted the current cat declawed and so it was, and it was as difficult as calling the vet and saying “Declaw my cat” and them saying “Bring it on by”. I’ve owned cats with and without and they all acted approximately the same within the bounds of being separate animals. None were more prone to biting or litter box refusal or writing emo poems about being half a cat or anything else. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181/37 "2017-05-09T16:34:30Z")
Although I’d never have a cat declawed, at some point you have to realize that whoever owns the home gets to make the rules. I’ll give you a ride to the airport, but don’t you dare touch the controls on the radio. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181/38 "2017-05-09T16:38:54Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I am reasonably certain he is not. Let’s take a vote. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181/39 "2017-05-09T16:39:58Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > What’s wrong with outside cats? Nothing wrong with the cats themselves, I suppose. I do, however, find it extremely unpleasant to find someone’s squashed pet lying dead in the road, or worse yet, beside the road with some indication that it might have crawled, in agony, from where it was run over to the road shoulder. Also unpleasant to clean up cat parts from my yard left by local predators like coyotes who didn’t finish eating the entire cat. Then there are the dead and sometimes dismantled songbird and rodent carcasses left about by the roving cats. Also have live-trapped and taken to the local pound cats that insist on using my garden as their personal litterbox, tearing up the plants I intended to eat later on in the summer. I suppose, for the ones with collars or chips, they get reunited with their owners at least some of the time but the unclaimed ones probably get euthanized because there are too many cats wandering around the neighborhood, encouraging increasing coyote populations, making for roadkill, and decimating the smaller local wildlife. None of which is the fault of the cats, who are just being cats. I do blame the owners. If you let your cat roam don’t come crying to me when you discover it’s been bisected by the wheel of a semi. I mean, yeah, I feel bad for you losing your pet but a part of me will think that if you really did care for the animal you wouldn’t let it roam free like that and risk violent, horrible death. Likewise, your pet being eaten by a coyote or feral dog - why on Earth would you risk an animal you care about being _eaten alive?_ ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2017, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181/40 "2017-05-09T16:42:05Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Strictly outdoor cats have a life expectancy somewhere between just 2 - 5 years. > > Strictly indoor cats have a life expectancy somewhere between 12 - 15 years. > > Indoor/outdoor cats have a life expectancy about 20% shorter on average than strictly indoor cats. > > [Indoor and Outdoor Cat Life Expectancy Differences](https://www.vetinfo.com/indoor-outdoor-cat-life-expectancy.html) > > If you’re fine with that, then the answer is “nothing.” All of our barn cats are outside cats, many have lived beyond 5 years, but some less. Every once in a while we’ll have a feral/stray that will show up that doesn’t get along with the rest, so I take care of him. I also clear out most of the males every so often. They are primarily there for the rat and rodent control. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rents-want-to-get-a-cat-and-immediately-have-it-declawed/786181.md?page=3)