Cats have a very special tool. It’s not just their whiskers or their ability to land on all four feet. It’s their retractable claws.  Cats are the only animal in the world who can pull their claws in completely when they want to be gentle or deploy them when they want to attack.  This amazing ability sets cats apart from other animals. Your cats claws enable him to run, jump, catch prey and defend himself.  To keep their claws sharp, cats pull their claws in when they walk.  Their claws are constantly growing so to keep them sharp, they have to dig or claw. That’s why your cat may go after that expensive living room sofa.  To train a cat to use a cat scratching post instead, sprinkle it with cat nip.