How many fingers does a cat have?

Nov 10,2023
3Min

Cats have a total of 9 fingers, five on the front feet and four on the back feet. If you observe carefully, you will find that there is a finger on the cat's front foot that is not on the same plane as the other four fingers, and there is thick meat at the bottom of the cat's toes, which is called a fatty meat pad. The fatty meat pad makes the cat They walk silently, which greatly helps them hunt prey. Cats have sharp nails on the ends of their toes. The claws can be retracted freely. In order to prevent the nails from being blunted, they will retract when resting and walking, and extend when hunting and climbing.

What are the uses of cat’s claws

1. Natural shock absorbers: Cat’s claws are natural shock absorbers, mainly due to the fleshy pads on the claws. It can play a very good role in buffering and reducing friction, effectively preventing cats from being injured when jumping up and down.

2. Natural muffler: The fleshy pads on the cat’s paws also have a very good silencing effect, making the cat walk quietly.

3. Secrete odor: Cat’s claws also secrete odor, which helps cats occupy their own territory.

4. Sweating and dissipating heat: A large number of sweat glands are distributed on the cat’s paws, which allows the cat to regulate its temperature and dissipate heat.

5. Cleaning effect: Cats rely on their claws to wash their faces and scratch itches. Cats that are about one month old can be groomed and cleaned with their paws.

6. Hunting and climbing: Cat’s nails can be retracted freely. When hunting, they retract their nails to prevent being discovered by prey; when climbing, they extend their nails to help the cat climb steadily and quickly.

7. Sensors: Cats’ paws contain a large number of nerve receptors. They feel vibration, pressure, and texture through their paw pads to judge the surrounding environment.

Previous article:Can cats eat sesame seeds?
Next article:Is cat moss easy to treat?
Related articles