art by Toma
This page is dedicated to all who consider bare paws a part of furry lifestyle.
Furries are non-human animals in art and literature, anthropomorphized or not, who have assumed some part of culture (as humans have it), such as speech, the use of tools and technology or living in houses and cities. Some furries are wearing clothes - from some basic covering sensitive zones or rain protection to full clothing covering all or most of their bodies, similar to what humans wear or different. Others consider them useless, or mostly so, as they are well enough protected by their fur. However, it is only a small minority among the furries who wear shoes - most furry characters that you can see in furry artwork, read about in stories or meet in MUCKs go barefoot (or bare-pawed, as a more appropriate term). Head, tail and four paws (handpaws/forepaws and footpaws/hindpaws) are the spots traditionally left exposed on most furries.
Some hints for artists and those who play furries ....
Many furry fans have `personal furry' characters, which represent their personality, and try to take some of their furry lifestyle into reality. As you see above, going barefoot is a part of this furry lifestyle - so don't be surprised if you meet furries in reality, and notice that they wear nothing on their footpaws.
Why don't you try it yourself? You will see that human feet are just as good for many surroundings (especially natural ground, such as grass, forest floor or sand) as furry paws are - that shoes are not always necessary, and that you will feel your environment much better if you leave them away. Just pad around with direct ground connection as nature intended and imagine you were your furry character .... You will find it both enjoyable and healthy.
The easiest place to start is your own home. Just leave shoes and socks behind whenever you enter your door, forget about slippers, pad around barepawed year-round, it's easy! If you tend to get cold feet on stone or tile floor, put a rug on the floor where you normally sit or stand. The ability to wiggle toes freely can actually keep your footpaws warmer than if you covered them. For furry indoors gatherings, bare paws are an obvious choice for quite a number of reasons.
Of course, don't stop there! Go out and explore how the surfaces there are to the touch underfoot. Start with short barepawed walks on comfortable ground such as grass or sand. Actually a beach holiday is a great chance for an easy start as the sand gives good muscle training. Gradually extend your range by trying new grounds and going on longer walks. Be safe by always watching the ground ahead and stepping softly, straight down, without shuffling your feet over the ground. Be cautious when you can't see the ground clearly due to darkness or obstacles such as tall grass, leaves or snow, so you don't accidentally step on something spiky.
Some furries live in very hot areas. There it's advisable to avoid dark asphalt which can become hot like a frying pan. Seek the shadows, go out in dusk and dawn, look for grassy strips to cool down. Or do it like those desert lizards and lift up your foot to cool it in the wind.
Paws need little maintenance, small injuries heal remarkably fast, and best of all, they actually grow thicker skin when walking on rough ground long enough. However, many tend to have dry skin on their paws, which develops cracks when it grows (especially on the heels) - this can hurt if not treated right. To prevent this, use fine sandpaper or an emory board to keep the surface nicely smooth, and apply cream to keep the skin moist and flexible. If foreign objects such as thorns or bits of broken glass have entered the skin (it happens rarely), pull them out completely before they are pushed in further. For your longer trips, it's advisable to take tweezers and band-aids with you so that small injuries don't hold you up.
Some furries live in the forests and savannahs, others in the cities. Be well prepared for obstacles you may encounter, but rest assured that your paws will conquer your surroundings with ease. In nature, you may find thorny bushes, thistles and such - keep to areas where you can see the ground easily to avoid these. Being a true furry means to be aware of your surroundings and reacting accordingly - even if it means to change your trail from what you originally intended.
The city mostly has hard, flat ground of varying roughness for you. Exhausting for long walks, but less so if you are bare-pawed. In dry weather, city dirt will turn your pads to a dusty gray or almost black. Some city furs even enjoy it when their pads stand out like this. It will wear off in grass and puddles, or can be cleaned with water, soap and a brush in the shower. Watch out for tiny bits of broken glass - even though a tough paw withstands most of them, better don't push your luck. Sometimes a grassy strip next to the sidewalk allows some variation - or try passing through a park and crossing the lawns for softer surfaces. But even the streets can be highly enjoyable, so that you may not need shoes at all when going to the city.
Climb on trees or rocks, which is much easier if your toes can grab the surface. Some barepawed furries can climb vertical poles without any footholds! Just make sure you can safely climb down again without falling.
Splash through puddles and mud in rainy weather - paws are waterproof!
Lawns and meadows are a pleasure for all paws. They make walking easy, for hours and hours without wearing you out - if you find such a long grassy trail! But watch out for thistles in dry meadows, and avoid flowering clover in the sun as bee stings can be painful.
Leave pawprints on soft ground such as sand, mud or snow, or with wet paws on dry streets. Try walking digitigrade for a while, heels not touching the ground, leaving digitigrade pawprints.
Approach unassuming individuals silently on bare soles, without making a sound.
And of course, it goes without saying, all kind of cuddling, a definitely furry thing, is best done bare-pawed! Experience yourself that a footpaw can be just as gentle as a handpaw for stroking and scritching.
art by Toma
See also links inside text. Mail meif you know of other sites of general interest for furry barepawers - thanks!
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