Cat Anatomy 101: Part 1: The Claws

Cat claws. What are their main primary function? As we seen on most of National Geographic Channel, Their bigger brothers like the tiger or lions use their claws (combined function with their teeth off course) to hunt their preys. Cats do use it for similar function, only they hunt for smaller preys like birds, bats or mouse.

The basic features of the claws are they are rectactable and hide under their toe pads when not in use. This function able to avoid the sharped claws become blunt due to too much contact with ground. This soft fury toe pads also producing no noise feature as they use it to stalk preys.

Remember in my previous post i do mention about choosing the right toys? that is what the toe pad other function. Preventing the claws from broken while their playing. However, The curved design characteristic of the claw sometime resulting their claws accidentally stuck onto the carpet or any other furry stuff.

The is another part of cat claw that may become a contributing factor for cat to jump. It called carpal pad. It can be recognized as the carpal pad is located at the inside wrists of cats front paws.