This is why it is important to monitor your kitty for signs of pain, especially as they get older. If it can be flexed, it can be afflicted with osteoarthritis. Just like humans who develop arthritis in their ankles, wrists, toes, and fingers, cats can suffer from joint disease in every digit and moving part of their paws. Each individual joint in a cat’s paw can develop joint disease.Ĭat paws are dainty and made up of several tiny bones, articulated joints, and soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments, and tendons. When lonely, stressed, or ill, your cat may use their paws to create a calming, self-soothing mood through kneading. However, kneading can also be a coping mechanism. Cats knead their paws when they are happy or in need of comfort.Ī purring, kneading cat is usually a happy cat. Tabby cats and those with stripes can have multi-colored paw pads ranging from pink to black. This rule extends to their paw pads, which are typically the same color as their coat. Solid-colored cats have solid-colored skin, while cats with multi-colored coats have spots of color on their skin. Cat paw color often matches cat coat color. The skin on cat paws is as unique as a human fingerprint.ĭid you know that cat paws are equipped with tiny grooves that are unique to each individual kitty? Similar to a human fingerprint, your cat’s little toe pads can even be registered to unlock an iPhone! 8. This is why many cats leave sweaty paw prints on the examination table when visiting the vet. These same glands release sweat when your kitty is feeling anxious or stressed. These same temperature sensors even help cats evaluate their prey.Ĭats also have sweat glands in their paws that help them regulate their own body temperature. Your cat’s paw pads help them sense the temperature of their environment and quickly determine the difference between hot and cold surfaces. Cat paws help perceive and regulate temperature. It helps to sharpen their claws, but it also marks these areas with a message for other cats. This is one reason cats often claw at vertical surfaces. Cat paws are equipped with specialized glands that secrete a unique scent when they scratch something. You’ve heard of cats spraying to mark their territory, but that’s not the only method they use. Your cat’s paws help them mark their territory. This is called digitigrade walking, and it allows them to walk more delicately and quietly (as long as their claws are retracted, of course). They bear the cat’s weight on the balls and tips of their toes. When you walk, your weight is supported by the balls and heels of your feet. Your cat's retractable claws also help them climb and gain traction on slippery surfaces. When they are ready to attack - or scratch an itch - they flex their tendons, pushing their sharp claws forward and ready for action. This, in addition to their thick paw pads, allows them to creep up silently on their prey. Unlike dogs, cats can relax the tendons in their toes to retract their claws while walking. Polydactyl cats are perfectly normal and healthy in every way, except for their additional toes, which require frequent trims to prevent injury.Ī polydactyl ginger tabby named Jake holds the Guinness World Record for the most toes with seven toes on each paw for a total of 28! 3. The condition is known as polydactyly, and cats that have it are born with six or more toes on each paw. However, some cats have a genetic abnormality that causes them to have several more toes, complete with additional claws. The average cat paw is designed like a dog’s with four toes and one dewclaw on the front and four toes on the back for a total of 18 toes. Most cats have 18 toes, but some have many more. They also play a role in allowing them to silently sneak up on prey (more on that later). In addition to positioning their bodies to brace for impact, their tough paw pads act as shock absorbers to prevent injury. Our kitties can jump up to six times their own height. Not only does it protect your cat’s paws from rough terrain, but it also helps cushion the blow during physical activity. Indoor cats may have soft, velvety paw pads, but that same skin is extremely tough and capable of incredible things. Your cat’s thick paw pads serve as shock and sound absorbers. Check out our list of 11 amazing facts about cat paws.
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