Paws are equally adorable and interesting features of cats. A cat’s paws play a role in several important functions, such as temperature regulation, movement, and even communication. While it’s obvious that their paws are primarily used to help them walk, there are other interesting facts worth knowing.

This article will dive into 15 facts about cat paws, some of which might surprise you!

The 15 Facts About Cats’ Paws

1. Cats Have a Different Number of Toes on Each Set of Paws

Cat paws are unique, and so is their structure. The number of digits (toes) on their paws can vary depending on whether they are the front or back set. They have about 18 toes in total. A cat’s front set of paws has a total of five digits on each paw because of their additional dewclaws (thumbs). Their back set of paws has only four digits each. However, cats with a genetic condition called polydactyly are an exception.

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2. They Sweat Through Their Paws

Cats do not sweat the same way humans do because their sweat glands are limited to specific areas of their body. Their sweat glands are located on areas such as their paws, noses, chin, and lips. A cat’s paws have a major role in their body’s thermoregulation, specifically their cooling system.

Cats will sweat from the eccrine glands on their paw pads, which is why they can leave foggy footprints on metal or glass countertops. Heat is not the only reason cats will sweat, as they might sweat when they feel stressed too.

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3. Polydactyl Cats Have More Toes Than Usual

Although the average cat has a total of 18 toes on all of their paws, polydactyl cats do not. Polydactyly is a type of genetic mutation or abnormality caused by a dominant gene. Polydactyl cats have more toes than normal, either by one additional toe on some paws, but it could be more. This type of condition does not necessarily affect a cat’s health as it is a superficial issue.

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4. Cats Rely on Their Paws for Grooming

If you have ever observed your cats groom themselves, you will notice that they use their paws a lot. Their paws are well equipped for grooming, and cats use them to smear their saliva over their faces and ears. This is why you will often see your cat lick their paws while they groom.

Most cats prefer to use their front paws to groom, but others rely more on their hind paws.

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5. Unlike Dogs, Cat Paws Are Flexible

Cat paws are incredibly flexible, which is useful when they are climbing and jumping. Their flexible paws also come in handy when they climb to narrow surfaces like branches or platforms. It helps to keep them stable by allowing them to turn their front paws inwards. This explains why cats can climb trees and remain stable on narrow branches.

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6. Act as Shock Absorbers When Landing

You are probably familiar with the phrase; cats always land on their feet. This is partially true thanks to their shock-absorbing paw pads which help soften their landings. Cats rely on their paw pads for traction, silent hunting, and stability while climbing. However, their paw pads also absorb some of the impact that happens from landing roughly on their paws.

This helps to protect the ligaments and bones of their limbs, although it can still somewhat hurt.

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7. Their Front Paws Have Extra Paw Pads

Cats have about five digital and metacarpal paw pads, but their front paws have two additional ones. The dewclaw only located on their front paws has a pad, but there is a second carpal pad on each of their forelimbs.

The carpal pad is thought to help a cat with traction if they stop suddenly or need to brace themselves before jumping from a narrow surface. Each of their paw pads is made up of hairless skin and filled with nerve endings, blood vessels, connective tissues, and glands.

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8. Gives Them an Advantage While Hunting

Cats are hunters by nature, and quite good at it too. They are designed to hunt silently and strategically, and their paws give them an advantage. Their paw pads are soft and full of nerve endings that allow them to detect different textures under their paws and change their movement accordingly.

If a cat is stepping on crunchy leaves, they will adjust their walking or running to limit the amount of noise they make. This allows cats to sneak up on prey and make a successful kill without alerting their prey. Furthermore, their paw pads allow them to land silently on their paws after a lengthy jump.

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9. Cat Paws Have Scent Glands

Cats have scent glands in many different parts of their bodies, including each of their paws. They are called the interdigital glands and release a scent each time your cat scratches or paws at something. Scent is an important part of feline communication and one of their strongest senses.

Cats don’t only scratch because it is fun, as they often do it to spread their scent and mark their territory using their paw’s interdigital glands.

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10. Cats Can Either Be Right-Pawed or Left-Pawed

Just like humans can have a dominant hand, some cats have a preference for using a certain paw. These possibilities were discovered from a published study that explored lateralized spontaneous behaviors in felines.

Researchers found that cats might have favored one paw over the other when performing certain activities. This behavior is comparable to humans who might prefer using their right or left hand to write, wave, or use for sports.

The study found that the preferences for using a certain paw could differ between the sexes. The male cats seemed to prefer their left paw, whereas the females preferred their right paw.

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11. A Cat’s Paws Control Their Claws

Cats have retractable claws that are pulled back into a sheath on each paw. They protract their claws out of the sheath using their superficial flexor tendons and digital flexor tendons located in their paws. An elastic ligament behind their claws keeps their retracted claws from touching the ground. Cats may retract and protract their claws for various reasons.

They commonly retract their claws when walking leisurely around the house or sleeping. They often protract their claws when hunting, scratching, playing, or during a good stretch.

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12. The Color of a Cats Paw Pad Varies

Not all cats have the same colored paw pads, which can vary depending on their coat color. Cats with black fur generally have dark-colored paw pads, whereas cats with white or ginger fur might have pink pads. Interestingly, Calico and Tortoiseshell cats usually have multi-colored paw pads. Some of the pads might be pink, while others have a bit of black.

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13. Kittens Use Their Paws to Stimulate Their Mother’s Milk

Kittens rely on their paws to stimulate their mother’s milk flow so that they can drink it. This is why kittens are often observed kneading at their mother’s belly, as they are targeting her mammary glands.

It is an instinctive behavior and might even bring kittens a sense of comfort and security. The kneading action also helps release calming pheromones from the mother, which is why some adult cats continue kneading behaviors even after being weaned.

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14. Cats Use Their Paws for Stress Relief

As we have already touched on above, some cats will knead to regain some of the comfort they experienced during kittenhood. This is why cats will knead at blankets or bedding using their front paws.

This type of behavior is likely their way of expressing comfort or trying to get comfortable and relieve stress as it is what they did as a kitten. Many cat owners affectionately refer to this behavior as their cats “making biscuits”.

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15. They Walk Tip-Toed

Cats do not walk flat-footed (plantigrade) like most humans. Instead, they walk on the tips of their toes in a digitigrade stance. Their digitigrade walking is believed to help them stay silent and move silently while stalking their prey.

Conclusion

Cat paws hold a lot of secrets and give them many advantages as skilled hunters. From being highly flexible for agility, acting as shock absorbers, having cooling properties, and aiding in territorial marking, cat paws are incredibly interesting.

There is so much you can learn about your feline just by observing many of their everyday behaviors, which easily explains why they make such popular pets.

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Featured Image Credit: Svetlana Rey, Shutterstock