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From: scott@hou2g.UUCP (N. Ersha)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: cat claws
Message-ID: <556@hou2g.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 18-Jul-85 09:33:37 EDT
Article-I.D.: hou2g.556
Posted: Thu Jul 18 09:33:37 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 20-Jul-85 02:02:57 EDT
References: <14928@mgwess.UUCP>
Organization: rest, relative to the universe
Lines: 59


->> Can anyone out there, by MERELY PLACING their
->> hands on a horizontal bar (no grasping), do pull-ups?
->> 
->> I thought not.
->> 
->> 			Scott

-> Tell me, do your fingernails retract when you're not using them?
-> I thought not. Cats are NOT people!

What does this have to do with my above quote?  My point was that
cats use their claws to "hold onto" a post.  People use their fingers.
It's great that your cats don't seem to need their claws to get
the proper exercise.  They've apparantly gotten used to their "handicap".


-> I have a cat that I can lift off the floor by having him hook his
-> front paws over my fingers. I do nothing to help him hang on and
-> I can sure feel the grip he uses!

This is great!  (How much does he weigh?)


-> My youngest female cat can attest to the above statements about
-> hunting and protection. Three of the other cats (1 female and 2 males)
-> manage to inflict many wounds on her by holding her down and biting on
           ^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^
-> her head. For some reason, she won't swipe at them with her paws, but
-> prefers to try and run away instead.

Maybe she won't swipe because without claws the action is ineffective?
Sounds like you're proving MY point.


-> The oldest (and grouchiest) female manages to keep the other cats in
-> fear most of the time because of the whallop she packs with a right
-> cross to the head. The two males go out of their way to go around her
-> because of the brain-rattling punches she has given them in the past.

Maybe if they had claws they could overcome her strength advantage.


-> All five of my cats don't seem to be in the least concerned they have
-> no front claws.

I disagree.  You indicate above that some of your cats beat up on
others which have little or no *effective* defense.


-> wrestle with each other, chase (and catch) flies, ants, other assorted
-> bugs and insects, and birds, all without the benefit of their 'finger-
-> nails'.

To be a little extreme, I could say that plenty of animals (us included)
get along OK with just 3 extremities.  Does that mean it's alright?

			Scott