These pads act as a cushion for the load-bearing limbs of the animal. The paw is characterised by thin, pigmented, keratinised, hairless epidermis covering subcutaneous collagenous and adipose tissue, which make up the pads. Right front paw of dog showing A) claw, B) digital pads, C) metacarpal pad, D) dew claw, E) carpal pad.Ī paw is the soft foot-like part of a mammal, generally a quadruped, that has claws. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker.For other uses, see Paw (disambiguation). Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by veterinarian Marty Becker and journalist Kim Campbell Thornton of. Keeping claws sheathed until needed prevents wear from striking the ground and allows cats to move silently on those soft paws. (The exception is cheetahs, with semi-retractable claws that act like cleats, providing traction for the speedy cats.) When the cat is at rest, the tiny but sharp sabers are too, cloaked by protective skin folds and fur. In the case of cats, the claws are protractible, meaning that the cat can extend them at will. Those hormones inadvertently activate the sweating mechanism that was designed to provide thermal regulation to the body."Īnother characteristic of paws is that they have claws. ![]() They are designed to provide a cooling mechanism through evaporation during hot external temperatures, but when cats are scared or nervous, cortisol and adrenaline flood through the bloodstream. "Paw pads are one of the only places that have sweat glands in the cat's body. "I have seen the presence of a wet paw print left by patients who are nervous during a veterinary exam," said Julie Reck, a Fear Free Certified veterinarian and owner of Veterinary Medical Center of Fort Mill in South Carolina. ![]() If you notice that your cat is leaving damp paw prints on surfaces, it might be a signal that she's feeling nervous. They are loaded with scent glands, which release pheromones that deliver chemical messages when the cat scratches objects. You may also have seen your cat holding her paw beneath a dripping faucet or dipping it into her water bowl and then licking water from it. A classic image is of a cat licking her paw and then using it to wash her head, ears and face. Interestingly, males tend to prefer using their left paw for these actions females prefer the right paw.Ĭats use their paws for grooming and for drinking water. For instance, in the Ocicat breed, chocolate-colored cats have chocolate-pink paw pads, fawn cats have pink pads and blue cats have blue (gray) pads.Īt least two studies have shown that cats have paw preferences when it comes to stepping over an object, going down steps or which side they prefer to nap on. Paw pad color is usually related to the color or pattern of a cat's coat. If you've ever looked closely at your cat's paw pads, you've probably noticed that they are a particular color, usually black, pink, lavender or spotted. They can, however, suffer frostbite from prolonged exposure to the bitter cold. It doesn't contribute to weight-bearing, but it does help to provide traction if a cat jumps down, skids to a stop or is moving downhill.īecause cats have greater circulation in their paws than humans do in their feet, they can withstand lower temperatures - and even snow on the ground - without booting up. Cats also have a carpal pad on the backside of each front leg. The digital pads and the larger metacarpal (foreleg) and metatarsal (hind leg) pads help support the cat's weight. Their sensitivity also makes them valuable in detecting vibrations of approaching or fleeing animals.Įach paw has at least four small digital pads, often nicknamed "toe beans" for their appearance. This well-designed, soft-yet-tough covering overlays an impressive supply of blood vessels, nerve endings, fatty tissue and connective tissue, which all work together to provide shock absorption, balance, cushioning, insulation and tactile information about surfaces and prey. Here's how they work:Ī paw is gloved in thin, pigmented skin. They sheathe lethal blades of death - for mice, anyway.īeautiful, soft and deadly, paws are an integral part of felinity. ![]() They touch the ground silently as cats stalk their prey. Our cats' paws tap us gently on the face to wake us.
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