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Don\u2019t you love the cat\u2019s paws? They\u2019re cute and they\u2019re rather fascinating the way they work, the things they do, the damage they cause\u2026Oh, well, let\u2019s don\u2019t go there. Have you ever had a cat indoors that didn\u2019t contribute to damaging a piece of furniture in your home?<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re like most cat people, you have at least one ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/LilyLickPaw-e1580934097221-225x300.jpg\")
scratching post and maybe a few sisal fabric rugs, and cardboard scratchers. We have three cat trees\u2014one is huge and solid wood, plus scratchers of various types for our cats, including two large pieces of carpet that they enjoy clawing and that can take the abuse without incident. But Olivia still wants to claw my favorite ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/LilySophieBoxSlapping-224x300.jpg\")
chair. Isn\u2019t it always your favorite chair? I have large swatches of double-sided tape up on one side of that chair\u2014but it\u2019s actually like closing the barn door after the cow escapes. It still needs to be reupholstered.<\/p>\n
I know a Maine coon cat who has clawed the heck out ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/lilycontest-e1551354753568-225x300.jpg\")
of the legs of an antique dining room table. It\u2019s some sort of soft wood and even though this cat has access to the out of doors, she comes home at night and claws on those table legs.<\/p>\n
But clawing is different from kneading. A cat will use claws (or not) to knead her bed before curling up\u2014even if that \u201cbed\u201d is your lap. But there\u2019s more to a cat\u2019s paw than her claws. I adore their little paw pads (beans)\u2014especially when the paws are white or creamy-colored and the pads are dark brown or black. CUTE. I also like furry paws\u2014where tufts grow between the toes.<\/p>\n
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But a cat\u2019s paws aren\u2019t designed to be cute, they\u2019re the cat\u2019s tools. Cats use their paws to groom themselves, to play, to dig (in their litter box, dirt or to try digging a toy out of a box or from under a piece of furniture). They use their paws (with or without claws) to play. And those claws come in handy when the cat does any climbing. Cats sometimes need help getting out of a tree, however, because of the way the claws are positioned and designed.<\/p>\n
Did you know that a cat sweats through her paws? When she is overheated or stressed, her paws may become moist as a mechanism to help her cool down.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a site with information on how to care for your cat\u2019s paws. It covers tips for trimming claws to massaging the paws. And they recommend trimming those tufts of fur that grow between their toes. Who knew? https:\/\/www.wikihow.pet\/Care-for-a-Cat’s-Paws<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Don\u2019t you love the cat\u2019s paws? They\u2019re cute and they\u2019re rather fascinating the way they work, the things they do, the damage they cause\u2026Oh, well, let\u2019s don\u2019t go there. Have you ever had a cat indoors that didn\u2019t contribute to … Continue reading