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Claws
It is a common mistake to refer to the feline claw as retractable, but this actually gives a false impression of the way in which they really work. It is when a cat is relaxed that the claw is retracted or to be more precise, sheathed. When the cat voluntarily tightens certain muscles the claws are unsheathed and ready for action. Thus the feline claws are not retractile, but rather protractile. If the latter were true the poor cat would have to keep its muscles tensed all day long.
Another common mistake we often make is when our cat is seen
stropping its claws, hopefully not our furniture
we say "he's sharpening his claws". What he is actually doing is
removing the old, worn-out claw-sheaths, revealing new pin-sharp claws
underneath and not sharpening them as we might do a knife. You must have found
the old sheaths laying around the house at some time! Often when a cat catches
its claw in a piece of material you will find what looks like a "torn-out
claw" but usually it's only the discarded sheath left behind as it was
ready to be discarded anyway. The hind feet do not receive the same treatment as
the front. Cats use their teeth to chew off the old outer-casings.
The feline has a great advantage over many other clawed animals who's fixed claws are kept worn down by day to day wear and tear. The cat is permanently carrying ten pin-sharp sheathed daggers and can bring them into action in a split-second.
Stropping
Exercising is another reason for stropping, it strengthens the muscles of protraction of the claws, which is vital to climbing, fighting and catching prey.
The third function of stropping is that of scent-marking. The cat has scent glands located under its front paws and when the paw is rubbed vigorously against fabric it releases the scent depositing your cat's personal signature. That is why your favourite chair is more likely to attract the most attention...your cat is adding its own personal fragrance to yours. It is very difficult to persuade your pet to stop stropping its favourite spot.
Please don't resort to having your pets claws removed. This practice is illegal here in England, but not so in many Countries. Apart from the physical and emotional pain it causes, it also takes away the cats ability to climb effectively, hunt, play... in fact resorting to this cruel practice is like, I believe, cutting the hands from a person. Personally, I can not understand any "veterinary surgeon" performing an operation which actually maims an animal.