DEAR ABBY: My children were over at my in-laws' recently. When we came to pick them up, they told us their cat had scratched our son. Sure enough, there were five scratch marks on his face, circling his left eye.
In the past we have recommended they have the cat declawed so this wouldn't happen. They told us that cats can make mistakes just like kids do. We do not share their opinion. Would it be unreasonable to not allow our kids to be over there unless they declaw that cat? -- "DISCATIFIED" IN WISCONSIN
DEAR "DISCATIFIED": Cats do not normally "attack" children out of nowhere. Before you insist they declaw their pet, perhaps you should investigate what led up to your child being scratched. Could your child have done something that caused the animal to react defensively? If that might be the case, then your son should be taught about the proper handling of animals, because declawing a cat is not minor surgery. It's like having the tips of one's fingers amputated, and some cities have outlawed the practice.