Concerned cat owner! Can you answer my questions?

Question

My cat, Odie, is really cool when she wants to be but a couple of things concern me. For one, she's been declawed but she still goes up to walls and cabinets and acts like she's sharpening her non-existant claws. Shouldn't she know they're not there? Also, she loves me and my boyfriend but when we have company she hisses and "claws" at them (before she was declawed she left some ugly marks on a friend of ours one night). No one messes with her, she just doesn't like company for some reason. And when me and/or my boyfriend play with her, she purrs the whole time. Even when she starts getting serious and throws her ears back, she still purrs! When she was declawed she was purring while she was still under all the drugs! She's the purring-est cat I've ever seen! Why does she do these things?

Maybe I'm just paranoid. Odie is the first cat I've ever owned, lol

Serenity4u2find, I haven't tried the laser beam thing, but she does chase shadows and it's the funniest thing I've ever seen!

kristin k, Odie was declawed and spayed in the same day.

Answer 1

Kneading, or clawing is a behavioral instinct, all cats do it whether they have claws or not. Not wanting to be around company isnt odd, most cats arent that social. Cats will purr for all types of reasons, not just happiness, sometimes when they are scared, stressed or painful. She sounds like a normal cat to me, no need to worry.

Answer 2

It's normal for declawed cats to "pretend" to scratch. "Scratching" is more than just scratching to cats. That's why declawing should only be a last resort. Cats scratch as a way to condition their nails, but also to stretch/exercise, to mark their territory with scent glands in their feet, and just because it FEELS good. Also, she "knows" she doesn't have any claws, but it's still in her nature to act the way cats act. She is more likely to bite now that she doesn't have claws, but she will still give warning swipes when she's angry.

Some cats just don't like strangers. They grow attached and like their own family and nobody else. Some cats just love everybody. Some cats only purr when they are happy, some purr when they are nervous or scared, and some just do it all the time!

Watch your cat's behavior. If you are doing something she doesn't like and she is telling you she doesn't like it (by laying back her ears, flicking the tip of her tail, or growling) stop doing it. Don't push her to the point that she lashes out. That will only make her more mad.

Cats can be taught to behave appropriately just like dogs and kids can. You have to show her what is acceptable and what is not. If she growls and attacks you, spray her with a water bottle and ignore her. If she comes up nicely and behaves well to get attention, pet her for a very short time to reward her, give her a treat, or play with her, but don't push her until she gets mad or she won't feel rewarded for her previous good behavior.

Answer 3

Even though the claws are not there anymore cats still need to scratch to stretch and exercise the muscles in their paws. It feels good to them. Plus scratching is a learned behavior and it's hard to just quit something you have done for so long.

As for her being hissy towards guests, that's because she is territorial of her home and of you and is hesitant to share you with others. Cats are funny creatures. Like you said she purrs and has her ears turned backwards. This is from her being able to enjoy something that she would normally have a problem with if it was anyone else but you. She has marked you and your home as her territory, she feels she owns you not the other way around. It sounds like she has a great personality and that you two get a lot of joy out of her and the things she does. You should try using one of those pen laser beams, you can get your cats to chase the beam all over the house. Just like using a flashlight. It's a lot of fun.

Answer 4

Yes, it is normal for cats to "claw" even without claws. Mine does the same thing. Here is a website that answers that question: http://www.catchow.com/catcarecenter_emotional3.aspx?combinedID=20312
My cat has been declawed - why does he still go through the motion of clawing with his paws?

The desire to claw goes deeper than physical relief of claw maintenance. This instinctive behavior offers an emotional outlet to the cat, and may actually help relieve stress through the marking behavior.

Cats that have claws use the visual signs of scratch marks to identify territory as "owned." Never make the mistake of replacing an old, tattered claw object with a fresh new one—Kitty wants that raggedy message posted for the whole world to see, kind of like a feline Post-It note.

But the claw marks are only one part of the message. Glands in the paw pads leave behind invisible scent marks that label the object just as clearly as visible shred marks. So the declawed kitty goes through the motions out of instinct, habit, and to continue the marking behavior.


As far as the doesn't like company thing. My kitten who is now 8 months old, loved company in August. In December, he turned on the same people and became "Evil Kitty". He would go up and litterally start hitting them and yell at them. He had my 5 year old neice backed up in a corner. My sister says that this is his teritory and he didn't want anyone around me and in his territory. He has started becoming more aggressive. I have taken him to the vet, and low and behold, my kitten is very sick. The vet said he has every right to be grumpy. His blood work was very bad and he probably has heart worms too. You may just want to have your kitty in for a check up to make sure he isn't sick. Otherwise, you may want to try some behavior modifications. I had to put my kitty in another room when I had company. My cat purred when he shouldn't. I looked it up and cats purr when they are sick, when they are unhappy, nervous, and when they are happy. They said basically, they purr when they want to. Mine purred when the vet took his temp the first time! I wish you the best with your kitty and hope some of this information was helpful.

Answer 5

My cat is also declawed yet still "scratches" on my wicker chair. I'm believing it's an instinctual thing so they're going to do it whether they have claws or not.

Purring is a defense mechanism. Cat purr when they're happy, mad, scared....My cats purr like motorboats when they're at the vet, it's almost like they're saying "don't hurt me, look how loving I am".

My Mom's cat hates me, and I saved her life! There's just something about me that rubs her the wrong way. She really only loves my parents. Who knows what goes through their minds. But Odie seems pretty normal to me.

Answer 6

Don't be concerned about the clawing. A cat that has been declawed will do that no matter what. It is good excercise for Odie also to flex its claws. Cats purrrr, that is what they do, some more than others. Every cat has their own personality, and your cat does not like extra people around. I have two cats that run and hide when other people come in. My other cat is so friendly, she wants to get on everyones laps.

Answer 7

Declawed cats will keep the instinct to scratch their non existent claws. Very normal.
HIssisng and clawing strangers is her way of saying, "this is my house!" It's a territorial thing. Don't worry. Also, if you have visitors, have one visitor at a time. She might not like too many people in the house. She loves you and your boyfriend because you guys feed her and play with her. My cats don't go to my husband for food. They come to me. Once I make eye contact they will go straight to their bowl, stare at the bowl, stare at me, and keep staring until I walk over with the food. Pathetic, really.
Have a close friend that would be willing to come over and give the cat a few treats and see how that works. Slowly try to get her to socialize with strangers, but don't force her. Good luck.

Answer 8

My cat that is decalwed never used to scratch at things until I got my other cat that isn't decalwed and now he thinks he should do the same and it's funny cause he try's to scratch at the scratching post and has no claws. I think it is very cute, I think in the situation where your cat doesn't like other people it's just the way cat's are. My cat Magz came from my ex-husband and he wasn't nice to him and the cat never liked to be held and loved. Now he sits in my lap and purr's all the time that he get's the chance! He is a great cat and has done a complete change, he has learned he can trust me I have had him for 9 years and he knows he is loved and feels comfortable. Cats can tell if people like cats or not, they have good senses about people. Your friends might not like cats.!

Answer 9

It is probably just her personality. Both my cats scratch things (one is declawed and one isnt) and like others have said they are marking their territory by doing that. My calico she is very moody. She doesnt like people picking her up or she growls and fights with them, but when she is happy she purrs a lot. And sometimes when you are petting her and she is purring she will try to bite you and be purring the whole time. She is goofy. Cats are just odd animals and are never predictable. Your cat sounds like a normal (if there is such a thing) healthy cat. Good luck with your cat.

Answer 10

Every cat I have ever had "scratches" even without claws. This is completely normal. It is a way for them to mark their territory. In fact, our newest cat hasn't been declawed so we bought one of those cardboard scratching posts and the other cat without claws uses it too. It has catnip in it which helps but it has stopped the clawing on everything else. Purring is really her way of showing you she's content.