Cat Paw Pads Are Extremely Sensitiveīut cats’ pads and their paws’ hairy skin folds are also packed full of nerves, which makes them really sensitive! and Wells and Millsopp also support this theory.ĭoes your cat fit in with this pattern? 4. Other studies by people such as McDowell et al. They suggest female cats often prefer using their right paw, whereas male cats are more likely to prefer their left paw! have suggested that a cat’s paw preference could be linked to its sex. Looking into what affects a cat’s paw preference can be really interesting. This is something you can try to observe by watching your own cats interact with objects around your home!ĭoes your cat have a paw preference? 3. Wells and Millsopp suggested that cat paw preferences develop by the time your cat is a year old. suggested that 78% of cats they studied had a paw preference! Several studies have looked into whether cats have paw preferences, just like humans have hand preferences. There is a lot to know about your cat’s feet so let’s look at something we tend to think of as a human trait, and that’s paw preference. And on the front paws, there’s a fifth toe higher up on the side of each front paw which is the equivalent of your thumb.Ĭat paws are perfectly designed for climbing, balancing and sneaking up on prey, and for self defence. There is also a larger central pad underneath a cat’s paw, in-between those four toes. In the picture below you can see that a regular cat paw has four toes bunched tightly together, two at the front and one slightly further back on either side.Įach toes has a thick pad on the bottom, and the tip of each toe ends in a very sharp claw, that your cat can use for all sorts of tasks. Cat Paw Anatomy – Toes & ClawsĪ cat’s paw is made up of several parts, so let’s take a look at cat paw anatomy. If you’re a cat fanatic, you’ll love these 25 fascinating cat paw facts! 1. There are a lot of really interesting facts about our cats’ paws that most people don’t know. Which is why they are left looking silly at the bottom of the fence while your cat mocks them from above! This ability to retract and extend claws gives cats a huge advantage when they are climbing.ĭogs of course, cannot do this at all. Inside your cat’s paw is a clever system for retracting and extending those razor sharp claws.Ī powerful elastic ligament pulls the claw right inside its furry housing and the cat is able to pop those claw out again when they are needed. And while they look similar from a distance, the difference between cat vs dog paws is striking. Trim your cat’s nails regularly, and provide plenty of scratching surfaces.Cat paw anatomy is fascinating. Image Credit: JumpstoryĮven though cats usually groom themselves thoroughly, you should periodically check your cat’s paws to make sure they’re clean. In multicolored cats, paw pads may range from pink to black. In solid color cats, paw pads are usually the same color as your cat’s fur. The same pigment that colors your cat’s coat also colors her skin. They are designed to help them regulate their body temperature, but they will also secrete sweat when the cat is stressed or anxious. Cats also have sweat glands in their paws. Cats use their paws to mark territory: when your cat scratches a surface such as a scratching post or tree, she deposits some of the scent from these glands, marking it as hers. Cat paws contain scent and sweat glandsĬat paws have glands between their toes that secrete a unique scent. Everything about the cat’s walk is designed to help her move silently. Unlike humans, who walk on the heels and balls of their feet, cats walk on the tip and balls of their toes. Claws are vital for a cat’s well-being, and are used for scratching an itch, hunting, self-defense, climbing, and for extra traction. The claws on the front paws are usually sharper than the ones on the rear. This can help the cat in her evaluation of prey.Ĭats have retractable claws on their front and rear paws. The paws have skin pads that are tough enough to protect the cat’s feet when she walks on rough surfaces, yet sensitive enough to be able to discern hot, cold, and other signals.
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