# Cats and "Pawedness"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-and-pawedness/669001>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [September 16, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-and-pawedness/669001 "2013-09-16T20:05:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-and-pawedness/669001/1 "2013-09-16T20:05:37Z")

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Ummm…

Maybe the paw the cat sticks in a tube (and, therefore, has limited use of) may not be it’s “preferred” paw - it’s a tough world, and maybe cats are smart enough to keep their “fighting paw” free to defend the prize (rabbit meat) from any passing (potential) thief?

The fact that a robber uses his left hand to scoop money out of the cash drawer does not so much mean that he is left-handed, as it means his right hand is busy with a pistol.

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LINK TO COLUMN: [Is there such a thing as a left-handed cat? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/990/is-there-such-a-thing-as-a-left-handed-cat)

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**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2013, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-and-pawedness/669001/2 "2013-09-16T20:12:14Z")

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> [@usedtobe](#):
>
> Ummm…
> 
> Maybe the paw the cat sticks in a tube (and, therefore, has limited use of) may not be it’s “preferred” paw - it’s a tough world, and maybe cats are smart enough to keep their “fighting paw” free to defend the prize (rabbit meat) from any passing (potential) thief?
> 
> The fact that a robber uses his left hand to scoop money out of the cash drawer does not so much mean that he is left-handed, as it means his right hand is busy with a pistol.

Well, I’ve been careful to keep firearms out of reach of my kitties. Since that one time, anyway. :smack:

I can’t address questions of feline motiviation (other than noting that it’s guaranteed to be inscrutible and mysterious, like like everything else about cats)… but I see my cats striking their first blows in play fighting each other with pretty much the same paws they favor in utility reaching situations.

Yes, yes. “The singular form of ‘data’ is not ‘anecdote’.” But all science starts with observation. And that’s mine.

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**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-and-pawedness/669001/3 "2013-09-16T20:57:19Z")

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I had a left-handed cat once. Never really noticed a preference in others, but she was a confirmed lefty.

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cats-and-pawedness/669001/4 "2013-09-18T11:27:46Z")

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MODERATOR COMMENT: When starting a thread, it’s helpful to others to provide a link to the column in question. Saves searching time, helps avoid duplication of what’s said in the column, etc. Even though the column is on the front page today, it will soon fall back into the abyss of the Archives. So I’ve edited a link at bottom of OP.