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I said a while back I'd look for a decent pic of a dewclaw, and Drifter volunteered for the pose!
While this isn't the perfect reference pic, it does show the paw in a semi-flexed state, with both the dewclaw about 90% extended and the "index" digit’s claw about 25% extended. Unfortunately, there's not frame-of-reference for this pic, so it's really hard to have a relative sense of size. That's further compounded by the camera angle of versus the paw's angle, which also throws off the visual reference. In this case, you'll just have to take my word for it, that the dewclaw here (Drifter's right paw) is about 1.5 inches (3.8cm) from the edge of the sheath to the very tip, which is pretty impressive for a kitty of his size; Drifter's only about 130lbs (59kg).
Feline trivia-of-the-day: the dewclaws are the biggest of the claws, and in some cases are up to 50% larger than the main claws. These are the claws that can really do the slicing and dicing of a prey animals. In a chase, the cat's use this to either trip a prey animal (this is one of the prime tactics of a cheetah), or to rip at a animal's Achilles Tendon, to slow them down and make them less maneuverable, thus making them easier prey. These claws are extremely sharp, as very rarely do they come into contact with the ground or various things during routine clawing. It's one thing to get slices by a main claw, but a dewclaw can be like a straight-razor.
In this pic, Drifter is just stretching. Drifter's got all his claws all the way around, and even in his deviant moments, doesn't use them at all. He's always been good about that, even as a kitten. He was more interested in having fun and getting attention than accidentally hurting anyone, which I've always been glad for, personally. :)
So I can't say this is a really good artist reference pic, but it's at least a good display of that lethal dewclaw at almost full extension. In other words, don't let a kitty reach out and touch you with this one! Ouch! That's gonna hurt!
This picture was taken 07-May-04. The image was taken with a Canon EOS 10D and the EF 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 USM lens. The original was taken at full frame of 3072x2048x24b, ISO eqv 400, 1/90 shutter, f/5.6. This image was cropped and shrunken down for space conservation.
Disclaimer: I hate to have to put this on here, but the pic is copyright me. Please do not distribute, copy, alter, etc, without my permission. Having said all that, feel free to download and use it for your own inspiration.
While this isn't the perfect reference pic, it does show the paw in a semi-flexed state, with both the dewclaw about 90% extended and the "index" digit’s claw about 25% extended. Unfortunately, there's not frame-of-reference for this pic, so it's really hard to have a relative sense of size. That's further compounded by the camera angle of versus the paw's angle, which also throws off the visual reference. In this case, you'll just have to take my word for it, that the dewclaw here (Drifter's right paw) is about 1.5 inches (3.8cm) from the edge of the sheath to the very tip, which is pretty impressive for a kitty of his size; Drifter's only about 130lbs (59kg).
Feline trivia-of-the-day: the dewclaws are the biggest of the claws, and in some cases are up to 50% larger than the main claws. These are the claws that can really do the slicing and dicing of a prey animals. In a chase, the cat's use this to either trip a prey animal (this is one of the prime tactics of a cheetah), or to rip at a animal's Achilles Tendon, to slow them down and make them less maneuverable, thus making them easier prey. These claws are extremely sharp, as very rarely do they come into contact with the ground or various things during routine clawing. It's one thing to get slices by a main claw, but a dewclaw can be like a straight-razor.
In this pic, Drifter is just stretching. Drifter's got all his claws all the way around, and even in his deviant moments, doesn't use them at all. He's always been good about that, even as a kitten. He was more interested in having fun and getting attention than accidentally hurting anyone, which I've always been glad for, personally. :)
So I can't say this is a really good artist reference pic, but it's at least a good display of that lethal dewclaw at almost full extension. In other words, don't let a kitty reach out and touch you with this one! Ouch! That's gonna hurt!
This picture was taken 07-May-04. The image was taken with a Canon EOS 10D and the EF 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 USM lens. The original was taken at full frame of 3072x2048x24b, ISO eqv 400, 1/90 shutter, f/5.6. This image was cropped and shrunken down for space conservation.
Disclaimer: I hate to have to put this on here, but the pic is copyright me. Please do not distribute, copy, alter, etc, without my permission. Having said all that, feel free to download and use it for your own inspiration.
Category Photography / Animal related (non-anthro)
Species Feline (Other)
Size 2048 x 1366px
File Size 382.6 kB
Hey, a fly picture:D Just what i was hoping you'd put up someday:p
But seriousely, you've been slashed at by a big cat before, right?
Are the claws so sharp that you can't actually feel the slashing wound until you actually SEE the wound? (I mean, is it like you cannot feel it while it slashes because it's claws are so sharp? Ach, you know what i mean i hope:S)
Or is is more like with small cats that it just hurts from beginning to the end?:p
But seriousely, you've been slashed at by a big cat before, right?
Are the claws so sharp that you can't actually feel the slashing wound until you actually SEE the wound? (I mean, is it like you cannot feel it while it slashes because it's claws are so sharp? Ach, you know what i mean i hope:S)
Or is is more like with small cats that it just hurts from beginning to the end?:p
I can't say that I've ever been "slashed". It's more that I happen to be in the way of a claw or tooth here and there, and come away bloody, and most of the time, you don't really know until you see the red.
But if a kitty's really after you, they could literally lay you open in four, even trenches that are more cuts than rips, but oh yeah does it hurt! I've seen it happen, and it's not a pretty sight!
But if a kitty's really after you, they could literally lay you open in four, even trenches that are more cuts than rips, but oh yeah does it hurt! I've seen it happen, and it's not a pretty sight!
Well, as the cliche' goes:
"There is nothing so gentle as real strength."
I'd guess that claws are the same; they are absolutely wicked weapons of awesome power, but they're held in paws that can be so amazingly gentle. Felines truly have a poise and finesse when it comes to how gracefully they can use their paws. It's one of the reasons why I find them to be so magnificent.
"There is nothing so gentle as real strength."
I'd guess that claws are the same; they are absolutely wicked weapons of awesome power, but they're held in paws that can be so amazingly gentle. Felines truly have a poise and finesse when it comes to how gracefully they can use their paws. It's one of the reasons why I find them to be so magnificent.
That is a great cliche' ShastaCat, and well worth remembering.
On a very minor note about claws, my big cat (a house cat) occasionally puts his forepaw on top of the back of my hand and gently, ever so gently, presses the tips of his claws aginst my skin. I take it as his way of physically saying "I love you and you are mine." Kinda nice. :)
On a very minor note about claws, my big cat (a house cat) occasionally puts his forepaw on top of the back of my hand and gently, ever so gently, presses the tips of his claws aginst my skin. I take it as his way of physically saying "I love you and you are mine." Kinda nice. :)
The feline mind is a very complex thing. I suppose that there is a lot of truth in the ideal that cats are simply violent creatures, so even in displays of affection and gentleness, some of that bleeds through, such as "love bites" and getting kneaded with claws out. It's really just a part of who they are. Being fiercely independent creatures, they ways they show you that they are very happy with you being a part of their world, can sometimes come out a little weird in practice and application.
Sometimes, you simply have to have faith that you're profoundly important to them, and accept that for a cat, its a really long journey from being solitary, to inviting you warmly to be part of their lives.
Sometimes, you simply have to have faith that you're profoundly important to them, and accept that for a cat, its a really long journey from being solitary, to inviting you warmly to be part of their lives.
Drifter's always been really good about things. He's only scratched me a few times, and it wasn't that he was trying; it's more about him reaching up and capturing your leg with his paw, and you trying to pull away. The natural and spontaneous reflex is for the claws to come out, which can be more you're accidentally hurting yourself than the cat's "trying" to do something.
Please forgive my two-year+ absence and a year in delay to your post. Life, for a while, has been a bit overwhelming and depressing, but I'm trying to recover and get back into things here (hopefully updating my page here eventually).
Like so many cats (domestic and wild alike) wil very often "bat" at things in play. With many of the felines I've had the privilege on directly interacting with (such as Drifter and Macumba) I've all-too-often found a big paw into my face, of course, very much playfully. I've been dinged a few times by those paws-n-claws, of course, but that's just a part of the magical moments these creatures sometimes share with us. :)
Like so many cats (domestic and wild alike) wil very often "bat" at things in play. With many of the felines I've had the privilege on directly interacting with (such as Drifter and Macumba) I've all-too-often found a big paw into my face, of course, very much playfully. I've been dinged a few times by those paws-n-claws, of course, but that's just a part of the magical moments these creatures sometimes share with us. :)
No, problem. I understand about the real life thing. But thanks for getting back to me. Though it's kinda creepy and sadenning knowing that the comment I gave you was just a little over a month
since my husband died... Ahh, it's kinda awkward sometimes seeing old posts. Luckily my husband didnt post on this picture too or else I would have cracked.
since my husband died... Ahh, it's kinda awkward sometimes seeing old posts. Luckily my husband didnt post on this picture too or else I would have cracked.
Mostly. If have more than a few, shall I say "Trials of Faith", which are always difficult, as you are left questioning so many of the things you once held near-and-dear, and all the certainty they once brought you is now left in tatters with nothing else you can rely on and find stability within. So...
But, I am healthy, my boys are still well and good, and my house is still standing, so I really have some very good things to focus on. :)
But, I am healthy, my boys are still well and good, and my house is still standing, so I really have some very good things to focus on. :)
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