Can a particle attach to a counter?


I saw [this answer](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/a/47894/7944) to a
recent question which contained the sentence:

> 私は **猫二匹が** います

Is it okay to put the particle が after the counter. It seems strange to me. I
would have expected:

> 私(に)は **猫が二匹** います

The answer to [this
question](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/32539/use-of-number-
counter-as-a-noun) tells me that number+counter can be treated as a noun, so
putting が at the end should be fine. But somehow I feel that the two
situations are different.

In summary, is 私は **猫二匹が** います correct and why/when would I choose it instead
of 私は **猫が二匹** います?




The form of a noun compound with a counter itself is grammatically correct, as
you already read it.

As for when to use, I imagine situations where you treat several units each of
which is comprised of single or multiple things as in military operation or
something.

For example, if you ask for taking any two plates, you would say 皿を二枚取ってくれ,
and refer to them as 皿二枚は when you tell how to arrange them.




The form of a noun compound with a counter itself is grammatically correct, as
you already read it.

As for when to use, I imagine situations where you treat several units each of
which is comprised of single or multiple things as in military operation or
something.

For example, if you ask for taking any two plates, you would say 皿を二枚取ってくれ,
and refer to them as 皿二枚は when you tell how to arrange them.

