One Quick Cat Question

WhenWeAreQueen ^ | September 5, 2008 | pharmamom

[pharmamom]

Before Max and I are off to the gym. Why do cats sharpen their claws? You may be tempted to fire off a quick, “Duh!” in response to my query, but hold off and hear me out. Sometimes one of my nails will have a tear in it, and hence it will snag on things—sometimes even my sheets, but especially anything knit. When that happens, it drives me nuts to the point that I have to stop whatever I am doing and fix the problem. But there I was, sitting on the bedroom floor and putting on my running shoes, and there was Horus—sharpening his claws on the ugly yellow chair whose only purpose is to keep the clothes I toss in that direction from falling on the floor and to be a whetstone for cats’ claws. His claws did nothing BUT snag. Rip, snag, catch. At one point, one of his claws got stuck; and I had to come to the rescue. Why doesn’t that drive him crazy?

And on a related note…why does Jetta still sharpen her claws when she is declawed? Paw-sharpening doesn’t yield much in the way of results.

[pharmamom]

Kitty ping

[conservativehusker]

just a guess - When I have trimmed the cats nails they fall apart in layers..I assume these lower dull layers fall off and are replaced with the sharper top ones..

Not a vat but I have stayed in a holiday inn ONCE..

[Sacajaweau]

Maybe a result of domestication?

[smokingfrog]

Q: Why do cats sharpen their claws?

A: Because they can.

or maybe you should ask FaceKitty.

[t1b8zs]

They dont sharpen their claws they find a rough surface to claw into and help shed the outer layer of claw-age which I dont know the name of.I be sure some one will chime in....
My cat will also sit and grasp each claw and scrape it down by grasping each claw in her front teth and pulling back......I have numerous cat claw shells laying all over......Kinda like a cat claw molting....I guess?
BUH BYE

[doorgunner69]

The claws shed in husks. The clawing helps dislodge the outer layers. Look around the floor where they sharpen, and you will find the husks.

[t1b8zs]

wasnt that relatted to a dog joke and his nuts.....?

[SandyInSeattle]

My declawed kitty appears to sharpen her claws as well, but I think she’s marking.

As to my kitties with claws (which need trimming; they’re punching holes in me) they will shed the outer sheath of their claw after they go at it for awhile. Maybe that’s what Horus is doing.

[The South Texan]

Ged rid of the cat.

They make nice chew toys for dogs.

J/K {:>

[t1b8zs]

AH alert

[Ronin]

What makes you think they are sharpening their claws? Cats just have a mission in life to destroy furniture.

Ask any of my five furry owners. They’ll tell you.

[redstateconfidential]

more animals

[San Jacinto]

They sharpen their claws so they can tear your stuff up better while you’re gone to the gym.

[trisham]

LOL! Finally!

[muggs]

I want to know why my cat can’t retract her claws. When she walks across the carpet she has to stop and pull her claws out of it, she gets stuck.

[Cyberwombat]

I don’t think it is sharpening, so much as trying to loosen up the outer layer. A cat’s claws sheds its outer shell, much as a snake sheds its skin. We have two cats and find the “shells” every know and then.

My opinion, worth price charged...

[defconw]

My declawed cat still does that as well. Maybe it’s from instinct, that they are supposed to do that to shed the husk of their claws. Or maybe it feels good.

[Sacajaweau]

We got a turntable toy (like a small table that spins)...and added catnip. The cat gave up on the furniture and at the end of the day, collapsed from exhaustion.

We also made a cloth tube and hung it on a door knob. Whack and Claw"

The tube worked, too,. Apparently the cat liked to be slightly "out of it" and most times chose the turntable.

[steveo]

It’s part of marking their territory. They can lose part of their outer claw sheath in the process. Marking their territory doesn’t have to be on a vertical surface, it could be on a rug or carpet.

You probably know that rubbing of head against your legs or other objects is also a marking behavior.

[steveo]

Kitty crack:

[Ronin]

That explains why Spidercat always sticks her butt in my face when I am laying on the bed trying to read. Usually when Piggy has decided to take a nap on whatever it is I am currently trying to read.

Why do I live with cats? I am stupid and gullible.

[BunnySlippers]

Their claws are miracles of design.

Pick your kittie’s paw up and squeeze the “finger” ... the claw comes out. Let go and the claw RETRACTS. When it’s out it is a formidable slicing and slashing weapon. When at rest a cat’s paw is soft.

Dogs cannot do this ... only our darling kitties.

[steveo]

Typical cat behavior:

every cat

[B-Chan]

[B-Chan]

[B-Chan]

[B-Chan]

[B-Chan]

[B-Chan]

[B-Chan]

[Hot Tabasco]

Why do cats sharpen their claws?

Set up a night vision camera in your bedroom then activate it when you're sleeping. That shadow sitting at the top of your pillow staring down at you while continuing to sharpen its claws with a nail file is your cat........

Never go to bed leaving your cat with a full food bowl.......It will think that it doesn't need you anymore.

Hope that answers your question......

[Paco]

That’s hilarious!

[Caramelgal]

Cats need to sharpen and trim their claws and to remove the excess derma and the excess dead claw growth that builds up around them. A feral cat or a mostly outdoor cat will do that on outdoor rough surfaces like a tree trunk – it is also a scent marking behavior (but more on that later). In your home, a chair is no different to him as is a tree trunk. In nature, a cat needs to have very long and sharp claws for hunting and self defense and in nature, unlike your soft and fabric filled home environment, they are very unlikely to get their claws snagged on anything.

What you need to do is trim his claws on a regular basis. And depending on your cat’s age and temperament, that may sound a lot easier than it is. My two cats were born in my home, have never been outside and from a very young age have become very accustomed and comfortable with me trimming their claws (a cati-cure) and my two cats actually seem to enjoy it, but a lot of cats don’t especially if they are not used to it and you don’t know what you are doing.

When Willie “the Wonder Cat” or Nonie “the Loving Dimwit” start catching their claws on things like fabric, window screens, carpet, bed clothes, etc. that is my signal that I’ve waited too long to trim their claws. It’s not their fault but rather my own. Cats really don’t want to or like to have their claws get stuck on things around your house.

My advice is to take Horus to your vet’s and ask them to show you how to best trim his claws at home. I would also go to you local pet store and buy some catnip imbibed and more attractive scratching materials for both Horus and Jetta to scratch on.

And cats left alone too long with little stimulus can also get easily bored and very destructive. Give them a variety of interesting toys to play with, a few at a time and take away old ones and introduce new ones or reintroduce old ones.

As for Jetta (and Horus too), they are also scent marking. Cats have scent glands in their paws and also in their cheeks. This is the reason that cats will often rub against you and door jams and other objects with the sides of their face or “knead” you with their paws. What they are doing is marking their territory and saying to any potential rivals that this “my” house, this object is “mine” and this human, “belongs to me”. As a long time cat owner, I feel very honored when my cats marks me and treats me as one of their own.

[Sacajaweau]

To make life even more exciting for kitty...after coming off her round and round running jag...Get the lazer pointer out....Man, does she look stupid but we’ve kept her thin and healthy.

[SkyDancer]

They’re removing the outer layer of claw. I’m always finding the outer layer of claw around the place. Itches I guess. Same reason fish jump out of water - fish mites and it’s their way of scratching ....

[pharmamom]

Well, that’s kind of gross. I would divorce my husband if he trimmed his nails and left the trimmings lying around. But I’d never divorce Horus. Just goes to show.

[pharmamom]

I think it is related to the breed of cat. Horus cannot retract his claws completely on his back paws. He is an Egyptian Mau. Right now, he has a front claw that is snagging on the carpet. I tried to figure out which one it is, but he gets snarky when I examine each one of his toes. Plus, I don’t really know what I’m looking for.

[pharmamom]

I swear your cat is getting taller.

[Nipfan]

Is your cat elderly? When they get older they can’t always retract them properly. They should be trimmed.

[steveo]

our kittahs can hear the click of the laser pointer switch from the next room. laser pointer = heaven...

[muggs]

She probably is elderly. I have had her about 10 years but I don’t know how old she is. She was an abandoned cat. She was able to retract them up until maybe a year or so ago. She sure has made a mess of my legs and most of my slacks have snags.

[B-Chan]

LONGCAT IS LONG

[BerryDingle]

Besides removing excess dead claw and scent marking, cats will use any well known clawing surface as a symbol of dominance over other cats. I have 2 cats that occasionally get into miner fights. Whichever one that declares himself/herself the winner runs to the scratching post and aggressively begins scratching, straight up on hind legs, arched back and ears flattened back with head up. It is a “I pwned your ass” display and the other cat will approach angry but just watch. The female will also go around and find semi-secluded areas and leave her scent mark (same as scratching) on smooth surfaces such as walls and cabinets as a sign of this is mine/ownership.

[muggs]

She is just a plain old house cat. It is probably as Nipfan said. She is getting old and can no longer retract them as she could in the past.

[pharmamom]

The winner is saying: “All your humans is belong to us!” Seriesly.

[Nipfan]

I have a cat like that. I bought a pair of cat nail cutters and haven’t had a problem since. He’s better of too because he’s not snagging himself in the carpet and tripping.

[muggs]

I’m going to buy a pair of cat nail clippers. I hope I don’t end up to bloody. :)

[alarm rider]

“They sharpen their claws so they can tear your stuff up better while you’re gone to the gym”.

Now that was funny. I have to clean monitor now....