In defense of clawless cats defending themselves...
My parents cat was declaws on her front claws and we still trimmed her back claws. The neighbor dog came over to investigate our dog and cat who were outside. Our cat got between the dogs (our dog was cowering against the deck steps) and growled and hissed. When the neighbor dog didn't take the hint she smacked that dog on the nose with her bare paw (trust me she could really make it sting) and then when the dog jerked away she leaped to his back. He freaked and ran, with our cat attached, hissing, and yowling, to the edge of the yard and beyond. When he got to the edge of the yard he leaped off.
As for letting them out... My parents cat would not leave the yard. She'd even walk the property line like a sentinal to defend it from rogue squirrels and dogs.
Our cat now is a master of slipping out between your feet when you try to go out the door. Finally I gave in to the point that I put her on a light leash outside. She has the run of the whole back yard on that leash. She's to the point now that when I open the door she'll dash out and flop on the deck to wait for me to hook up the leash. But she doesn't stay out there if we're not home.
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"Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama
My Karma just ran over your Dogma.
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