My youngest jumps onto my back and nips at my ears if she thinks she's not
getting enough attention or wants to play. My cats still have their claws, I
can saw this, be happy with the nudging, and the tapping.  When they start
to jump on your back (this one can be rambuncious when she wants attention
"I want attention and I want it NOW!), not a good feeling.  Funny thing is
they just got played with and they just got attention.  ;)

But at night my Zoe whines and comes up for attention as well, sometimes I
have to literally pick her up (she's on the bed already), lay her on the
blanket she loves so much, and pet her a little bit.  Now here's the
downside about living in the desert.  When you pet your cat, you have to be
careful, if you pick your hand up, the come back down to pet your cat,
you'll give them a little shock.  See there's a lot of static electricity in
the desert.  So were in the process of getting used to petting them properly
without shocking the hell out of them ;).

Oh and my oldest Wylie, when my husband comes home from work, she'll whine
and follow him all around the house until she gets the attention she wants,
then she'll leave him alone :).

All in all cats will demand the respect, attention and play time they want
out of you :).  which is why I always feel that cats are smarter than dogs,
they have a way of almost conning us with their fluffiness and cutesiness
and we'll do it without thinking twice because we just can't resist our
furry friends :). I know I can't.  My husband refers to them as our kids,
Wylie is nicknamed Trouble, and Zoe has two, Whiner and Scooby Doo ;).

- Leigh