Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activities.
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- PlutoniumLounger
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Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activities.
I have noticed two aspects of cat behavior over the years, and wonder if any loungers can corroborate my observations in their own pets. The aspects are related in that they concern the cats discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activities.
(1) I pick up a cat with my right hand under their chest/forearms and my left hand under their rear end, and the cat will settle against my breast, facing towards my right. I've noticed identical behavior in Jupiter (7 years) and Bumpous (1 year): If I am wearing a shirt, sweater or any other covering, they hold on to my right shoulder with some slight clawing, not deep, just a grip. But if I am not wearing a shirt or sweater, then no claws are extended; their soft paddy-paws rest against my naked shoulder. It is as if they KNOW when I'm not wearing fur, and decide not to make use of their claws.
I should add that the clawing isn't painful, it's more of a "re-assuring grip"
(2) I noticed soon after I got him that Jupiter loved playing games around me on the floor. One game involves me kneeling down, with my bum on my heels and a slight gap between my legs, a tunnel, if you will. Jupiter will lie on his side and "swim" down the tunnel, starting at a position between my knees until he re-appears out of the tunnel behind me. He paddles with his paws, using a light claw-grip to pull himself through, the claws making contact with my trouser legs. Unless I'm wearing shorts, bare-legged, in which case he elects to claw his way along the carpet.
I would re-assure non-cat-owners that the only times I have been clawed are when I get too close or too boisterous in play - my fault entirely - or I am holding a cat and a sudden noise such as a door slamming startles them; then they use their claws to catapult themselves to safety, which is usually somewhere at my feet.
(1) I pick up a cat with my right hand under their chest/forearms and my left hand under their rear end, and the cat will settle against my breast, facing towards my right. I've noticed identical behavior in Jupiter (7 years) and Bumpous (1 year): If I am wearing a shirt, sweater or any other covering, they hold on to my right shoulder with some slight clawing, not deep, just a grip. But if I am not wearing a shirt or sweater, then no claws are extended; their soft paddy-paws rest against my naked shoulder. It is as if they KNOW when I'm not wearing fur, and decide not to make use of their claws.
I should add that the clawing isn't painful, it's more of a "re-assuring grip"
(2) I noticed soon after I got him that Jupiter loved playing games around me on the floor. One game involves me kneeling down, with my bum on my heels and a slight gap between my legs, a tunnel, if you will. Jupiter will lie on his side and "swim" down the tunnel, starting at a position between my knees until he re-appears out of the tunnel behind me. He paddles with his paws, using a light claw-grip to pull himself through, the claws making contact with my trouser legs. Unless I'm wearing shorts, bare-legged, in which case he elects to claw his way along the carpet.
I would re-assure non-cat-owners that the only times I have been clawed are when I get too close or too boisterous in play - my fault entirely - or I am holding a cat and a sudden noise such as a door slamming startles them; then they use their claws to catapult themselves to safety, which is usually somewhere at my feet.
He who plants a seed, plants life.
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- 5StarLounger
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Re: Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activit
Chris,
Speaking as the owner of two Birmans I can safely say ...
Speaking as the owner of two Birmans I can safely say ...
Spoiler
That what you do in your spare time, should stay with you!
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- 5StarLounger
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Re: Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activit
Sorta related, discretionary use of talons in light-hearted play activities: My wife the Zookeeper has hand-raised a Great Horned Owl (Frodo) from age ~7 days, to verging on maturity at the moment. When Frodo alights on her gloved arm, the owl grabs on with light talon pressure. When Frodo alights on her bare arm, the owl does not sink its talons into the flesh. She believes it's a learned behavior, undoubtedly responding to my wife's loud screams ( ) when the infant Frodo dug in.
This is a good thing: Wikipedia says "These birds have 500 pounds per square inch of crushing power in their talons. An average adult human male has about 60 pounds per square inch in his hands."
This is a good thing: Wikipedia says "These birds have 500 pounds per square inch of crushing power in their talons. An average adult human male has about 60 pounds per square inch in his hands."
Sundog
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- PlatinumLounger
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Re: Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activit
How do you make out when attempting to trim their claws?
Our otherwise docile pussy cat turns onto a jungle tiger of sorts. Mayhem!
The German Shepherd just watches and allows a quicky manicure. Then goes back for a snooze.
Our otherwise docile pussy cat turns onto a jungle tiger of sorts. Mayhem!
The German Shepherd just watches and allows a quicky manicure. Then goes back for a snooze.
BOB
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If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.
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If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.
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- 5StarLounger
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Re: Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activit
We have found that a Dremel loaded with a "sanding band" works great, vs. clippers. Easier to avoid getting to the quick, and it allows rounding off the sharp edges.viking33 wrote:trim their claws?
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Sundog
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Re: Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activit
Wossa Birman?Bowlie wrote:two Birmans
He who plants a seed, plants life.
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- PlutoniumLounger
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Re: Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activit
That's part of my puzzle.Sundog wrote:She believes it's a learned behavior, undoubtedly responding to my wife's loud screams
I can't recall, ever, Jupiter digging in his claws when I picked him up, and hence I can't recall screaming at him.
it is uncanny (literally, I suspect, from connaitre - to know).
Is he smart enough to recognize that the alpha male has times when a light grip could be permitted, and other times when not?
If I had scolded him in any way when he climbed to my shoulder, i could understand learned behaviour.
But this "instinctive" behaviour in BOTH cats is weird.
He who plants a seed, plants life.
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- PlutoniumLounger
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Re: Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activit
I don't trim claws.viking33 wrote:How do you make out when attempting to trim their claws?
Jupiters are razor-sharp, literally.
Odd times when I'm out of line and he takes a swipe at my nose he leaves a very clean cut, like a paper cut on the finger; not deep, but doesn't "stitch" well.
He bites off his claws from time to time. My living-room floor looks like the shadow of a tree during a solar eclipse, littered with translucent crescents.
I should vacumn before I move.
He who plants a seed, plants life.
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- PlatinumLounger
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Re: Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activit
I suppose we have a hyper-sensitive cat. The mere sound of a Dremel would send her off to her bunker for the day. [sigh]Sundog wrote:We have found that a Dremel loaded with a "sanding band" works great, vs. clippers. Easier to avoid getting to the quick, and it allows rounding off the sharp edges.viking33 wrote:trim their claws?
BOB
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If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.
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If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.
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- 5StarLounger
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Re: Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activit
Use positive reinforcement; reward your critter when you turn the Dremel on some distance away. After not too long of doing that, our dogs stretched out and enjoyed their nail trimming (looking forward to a treat).viking33 wrote:I suppose we have a hyper-sensitive cat. The mere sound of a Dremel would send her off to her bunker for the day. [sigh]
Don't know how that would work with a haughty cat, however.
Sundog
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- PlutoniumLounger
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Re: Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activit
You've just given me a great idea.viking33 wrote:The mere sound of a Dremel would send her off to her bunker for the day.
He who plants a seed, plants life.
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- 2StarLounger
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Re: Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activit
Played by Burt Lancaster as a prisoner in Alcatraz.Wossa Birman?
Regards
wasbit
wasbit
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Re: Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activit
Programme on BBC2 (UK TV) over the last 3 nights called The Bear Family & Me.
Gordon Buchanan a renowned wildlife cameraman, filming black bears in Minnesota was bitten by one mother when he did something to startle her cub.
Nary a swear word passed his lips as he reported the event live on camera, saying that the bear applied just enough pressure to let him know that she didn't like whatever it was that he had done.
As for claw cutting, try a misogynist cockatoo. Only the male owner can hold him whilst his wife wields the cutters. The squawks & screams are so bad that they have to pre-warn the neighbours.
Gordon Buchanan a renowned wildlife cameraman, filming black bears in Minnesota was bitten by one mother when he did something to startle her cub.
Nary a swear word passed his lips as he reported the event live on camera, saying that the bear applied just enough pressure to let him know that she didn't like whatever it was that he had done.
As for claw cutting, try a misogynist cockatoo. Only the male owner can hold him whilst his wife wields the cutters. The squawks & screams are so bad that they have to pre-warn the neighbours.
Regards
wasbit
wasbit
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Re: Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activit
Hello Chris and All,
We (still) have a Kat (her name). I call her 'dark matter' because no light escapes her coat.
Understand that my experience having a cat is only the last 4 months; but I have noticed that when playing or asking for attention, she will use a single claw expressed just heavily enough to be sure she gets your attention but not enough to puncture anything. She leaves her paw placed and retracts the claw.
Kat has another funny behavior that I hope some day to get on film and send to YouTube. We have a miniature dachshund who preceded the cat in our family. Molly is older and a real loving lap dog. The Kat will sometimes want to show Molly that she, too, deserves attention (even if she really doesn't tolerate it much). On those occasions, I've seen Kat jump over Molly's back landing and turning on her hind feet and using the front ones to shadow-box Molly's tail. She moves so fast that I don't know if she actually smacks the tail - Molly doesn't respond - but it is a perfect demonstration of her independence and latent dominating capacity.
We (still) have a Kat (her name). I call her 'dark matter' because no light escapes her coat.
Understand that my experience having a cat is only the last 4 months; but I have noticed that when playing or asking for attention, she will use a single claw expressed just heavily enough to be sure she gets your attention but not enough to puncture anything. She leaves her paw placed and retracts the claw.
Kat has another funny behavior that I hope some day to get on film and send to YouTube. We have a miniature dachshund who preceded the cat in our family. Molly is older and a real loving lap dog. The Kat will sometimes want to show Molly that she, too, deserves attention (even if she really doesn't tolerate it much). On those occasions, I've seen Kat jump over Molly's back landing and turning on her hind feet and using the front ones to shadow-box Molly's tail. She moves so fast that I don't know if she actually smacks the tail - Molly doesn't respond - but it is a perfect demonstration of her independence and latent dominating capacity.
Bob's yer Uncle
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- 5StarLounger
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Re: Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activit
That is toooooo funny BowlieBowlie wrote:Chris,
Speaking as the owner of two Birmans I can safely say ...
Spoiler
That what you do in your spare time, should stay with you!
♫...Take a sad song and make it better . . .♫ |
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- 5StarLounger
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Re: Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activit
The funniest BBCA show I have ever watched was "Are You Being Served" with Mrs. Slocombe head of the ladies' department; also known for her changing hair colour and conversations about her cat, which she always refers to as her pussy Such hilarity. I was sad to see that Mollie Sugden has passed on.
♫...Take a sad song and make it better . . .♫ |
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- PlutoniumLounger
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Re: Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activit
So let me get this straight.wasbit wrote:Played by Burt Lancaster as a prisoner in Alcatraz.Wossa Birman?
Burr Lancaster used his tool to trim the claws of a Great Horned Owl?
He should have been flying out of jail, instead of filing in jail, no?
He who plants a seed, plants life.
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- PlatinumLounger
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Re: Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activit
John Gray
If you are having problems with solitude, you are not alone.
If you are having problems with solitude, you are not alone.
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Re: Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activit
There seems to be a problem:
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Best wishes,
Hans
Hans
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Re: Discretionary use of claws in light-hearted play activit
Well, it works fine for me! This is the link I used between [ img] [ /img] tags.
John Gray
If you are having problems with solitude, you are not alone.
If you are having problems with solitude, you are not alone.