Cats’ paws deserve the closest attention and a separate story, so important they are for all aspects of kittens’ lives. They are nice and fluffy, soft and graceful – you just want to stroke them (which is not always to the liking of our pets).
But a cat’s paws are also the most universal and important part of the cat’s body, which helps him to do many different things and increases his chances of survival in the wild.
Did you know that a cat uses its paws for many purposes:
-communicating with humans and other animals
-Checking the environment for danger
-hunting and defense
-care for their fur
-regulating body temperature
-hooking on objects and agile climbing
-cushioning for high jumps or falls
-eating and drinking
-self-soothing
This story provides some interesting facts about cats’ feet, their pads and claws, and how skillfully animals use them.
- A cat normally has five toes on its front paws and four on its hind paws, unless it is multi-fingered (six or more toes)
The multi-finger mutation of cats is called polydactyly (from the Greek “poly” meaning many, and “dactylos” meaning fingers).
Multifingered cats are also called “Hemingway’s cats” because the famous writer had a large pack of six-toed cats in his house.
Polydactyly is a genetic inheritance, not a defect. These cats perceive it as a positive trait and use the extra toe to increase stability and agility. There is a belief that polydactyl cats bring good luck and happiness into the home. ? Any regular cat has 5 toes on its front paws, 4 of which have pads, and one stand off, has no pad and does not touch the ground. There is another pad on the foot, which is called a carpal pad. A cat has 4 toes each on its hind legs.
- Cats have dominant paws, i.e. they are “right-handed” and “left-handed” just like people.
Various studies on the function of the forelegs of cats have proved that cats have left and right forelegs, and sometimes both forelegs are equally dexterous. More often than not, the cat prefers to use the dominant paw for complex tasks.
A study conducted by the Queens University in Ireland found a link between the dominant paw and the gender of the cat – cats prefer to use their right paw and cats more often use their left paw.
You can check which paw your cat prefers to use by giving it a difficult task – to get a toy or a treat from a hard-to-reach place or to fish a tasty treat out of a bowl of water.
True, scientists insist that it takes at least 75 observations to get a good understanding of which front paw is dominant in your cat. So, this fun task will not be fast. But you can play with your kitty.
3.Cats move so easily and silently, because they walk on the tips of their fingers (on tiptoe).
Many people don’t know that cats walk on their fingertips. They are also called Digitigrades. The reason cats move on their tiptoes is that it gives them a good chance of survival, allowing cats to pick up speed when they need to escape or suddenly attack prey.
The cats’ feet lightly touch the surface, so the cats experience less friction and help them conserve maximum energy. Digitigrade animals like cats are very fast runners. Whenever a cat walks or runs, it retracts its claws into a paw.
When a cat tiptoes silently, it becomes easier to chase its prey without disturbing it.
Even animals such as foxes and dogs also tiptoe, as do cats. So whenever you notice an animal running, be sure to observe the movement of its feet, it gives insight into how the animal moves and says a lot about its ancestors.
- Cats’ paws are very sensitive
Cats have very sensitive paws. This is one of the reasons they often don’t like people touching or playing with their paws.
If you try to touch your paws, there is always a chance that your cat will bite or scratch you. They may even run away. Cats’ paws have very delicate sensory organs necessary for hunting and balance. Cats’ paws contain nerve receptors that help in the hunt. Cats can literally sense the world through their paws.
When a cat is in an elevated and calm mood, it often “kneads with its paws,” as in the first months of life, kittens massage their mother’s belly while feeding to get more milk. Those pleasurable sensations remain in the animal’s memory for life, and cats (especially those weaned early from their mother) often “stomp” on their beloved owner or on a soft bed.
Through sensitive sensors on their paws, cats can sense vibrations, pressure and surface textures, which are essential for tracking prey.
Sensitive cat paws can create many problems for cats. Extreme sensitivity in the paws makes life very difficult for our feline friends at times.
The delicate paw pads are sensitive to changes in the environment, which include fluctuations in temperature and pressure. Because paws are not insulated, cats experience a lot of pain and discomfort. Extreme cold, sharp, hot and other surfaces can cause serious damage to a cat’s paws.