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Expert QA

Whenever my kitty sees me, he slowly lifts his front paw and leaves it hanging there like it’s broken. He’s not hurt, and he only does this with me. What can this mean?

From the Editors of The Daily Cat

The gesture you mention has not been fully studied and documented by cat behaviorists or featured in a major peer-reviewed journal. But there is a fair amount of anecdotal evidence from cat owners like you suggesting that cats use this gesture to attract your attention. The stance may have evolved from the gentle "tap" some cats give their owners with retracted claws, which is somewhat comparable to a person tapping you on the shoulder. (This is all assuming your cat is indeed not hurt and has been fully examined by his veterinarian.) Has your cat ever played a game involving that paw? Felines have an incredible memory, so your pet could be recalling some past activity. Far more common is when cats stretch in front of, or even on, their owners. That's not always just a sign that your cat is tired or waking up. Like a dog play bow, cat stretches can serve as a respectful greeting and may mean that your cat is ready for some fun quality time with you.

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		<h2>Expert QA</h2>
		<h1>Whenever my kitty sees me, he slowly lifts his front paw and leaves it hanging there like it’s broken. He’s not hurt, and he only does this with me. What can this mean?</h1>

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From the Editors of <em><a href="http://www.thedailycat.com">The Daily Cat</a></em>
				</p>
			The gesture you mention has not been fully studied and documented by cat behaviorists or featured in a major peer-reviewed journal. But there is a fair amount of anecdotal evidence from cat owners like you suggesting that cats use this gesture to attract your attention. The stance may have evolved from the gentle "tap" some cats give their owners with retracted claws, which is somewhat comparable to a person tapping you on the shoulder. (This is all assuming your cat is indeed not hurt and has been fully examined by his veterinarian.)

Has your cat ever played a game involving that paw? Felines have an incredible memory, so your pet could be recalling some past activity. Far more common is when cats stretch in front of, or even on, their owners. That's not always just a sign that your cat is tired or waking up. Like a dog play bow, cat stretches can serve as a respectful greeting and may mean that your cat is ready for some fun quality time with you.

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