Does anyone have a cat that tries to sharpen their claws...but don't have any?
@suddenly_i_see (50)
United States
January 30, 2007 6:11pm CST
We have four cats in our household, and all of them have their front paws declawed. We have two big rugs in our house, and when we turn a corner over, its rough and they like to scratch their front, declawed paws on it like they are sharpening them. Im so curious as to why they do this or if anyone else has a cat that does this. Do you think that the cats think they still have claws, or are my cats just strange? =]
1 person likes this
5 responses
@suddenly_i_see (50)
• United States
31 Jan 07
That could be it! because the cat that mainly does it, Zeb, runs up to the rug with his tail up and he just seems so happy. Then afterwards he lays on the rug like his job is done and now he needs to rest. Cats are funny, arent they?
@RealIolo (1854)
• United States
31 Jan 07
Yes! And so beautiful! I have my Tigger which is always in my lap. She has defiantly chosen me! She and her sister were de-clawed before they came into our home. The others have their claws and we try to teach them where it is ok to work those claws to save the furniture.
@suddenly_i_see (50)
• United States
31 Jan 07
ive heard, its kind of disgusting, but when people have a body part amputated, they say it still feels like they can move it. Im guessing thats the same thing with cats claws then. it feels like theyre still there. very strange...
@bhchy1 (6047)
• United States
3 Feb 07
Oh no, not strange at all. My cats do the same thing and they have been declawed for years. All the cats I have ever owned as an adult have been and they all still try tp scratch and knead things where they want to sleep. I think it is just instinct, whether or not they know their claws are gone I don't know. We just laugh and tell them to get those claws nice and sharp...lol
@Seattle2007 (344)
• United States
3 Feb 07
Hi there...even though cats are declawed all their instincts are still strongly ingrained. When cats claw at objects it is not only the phantom clawing behavior that we observed, but cats also have pheromone scent glands located in the paw pads of their feet in addition along the sides of their mouth, top of the head (between the ears), the obvious anal glands to mark territory. Exotic cats will claw at trees not only to shed the sheaths of their claws but also to scent the tree to tell other cats this is theirs. So when you observe your cats clawing this is not only to have a good stretch, but also to mark their territory with their pheromone scents.
Source: 27 year friendship with a veterinarian and working as an animal trainer to both exotic and domestic felines
@Seattle2007 (344)
• United States
4 Feb 07
I'm not sure where I may have confused you and I apologize if my answer wasn't better clarified.
Declawed cats will still scratch because it is instinctual because from within their paw pads they emit a pheromone scent to mark territory. Not too many people know about "Pheromones" which are chemicals secreted by some animals that cause specific reactions in other animals. Cats have these in the pads of their paws, along the side of the mouth, top of the head and around the bum. I hope this better explains my answer.
