They look so innocent, those soft little paws on a sleeping cat.
But buried within are razor sharp claws, fast as any switchblade.
Tucked away when not needed for climbing, hunting or getting into mischief.
Capable of drawing blood, even in play, if only accidentally.
“Sorry, Sue.”
Each front paw has 5 claws, 4 from the toes and one opposable like a thumb. Hind legs have 4 claws each, giving cats 18 retractable claws. Benji gets by on 14, having a lost a back leg last year. It hasn’t slowed him down much, rodents beware.
‘Right, Benji?’
“When relaxed, strong elastic ligaments pull the claws back into protective sheaths, keeping them sharp and ready for action. This retraction happens automatically, requiring no conscious effort from the cat. When needed, cats engage specific muscles in their paws to extend their claws. This action occurs through a sophisticated system of tendons that flex the last joint of each toe, pushing the claw forward and downward. By keeping their claws protected when not in use, cats maintain their sharpness for critical moments. This feature also allows them to walk silently, making them more effective hunters.”
Absolutely beautiful Benji photos, Susanne! I love cats, they are the perfect survival machine. It’s so amazing how their claw system works too. A sleeping cat is a beautiful thing to behold!! 🥰😍😻😻
I laughed out loud at some of the photos of them playing with the string, and grimaced at the claws enjoying the delicate sewing material! Cats are so fun, Susanne! I had 3 over the years, but not now. I miss having one though. Fun post and fascinating info about how their claws work.
Thanks, Terri! Benji gets pretty intense when he plays so I have to be careful of those murder paws!! 😉 🙂 I’ve had many cats over the years, but Benji ranks among the best, 3 legs or not!
I love cats but I’m always a little wary of their claws – with good reason as your photos illustrate! I’d never read about how they actually work so I found that especially interesting 🙂
Thanks, Sarah. It was interesting for me to learn more about the paws/claws, too. By default, they are kept tucked away but can be brought out at any time. I rarely see them in my kitties, except when they’re stretching, scratching, or playing. I was playing with Benji recently and didn’t get my hand out of the way fast enough and learned once again how sharp those claws are!
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 
Excellent claw photos Susanne. Cats can certainly leave a nasty wound with those little razors.
Thanks, Graham. He got me recently when I was playing with him. I forgot how quick he was!
Absolutely beautiful Benji photos, Susanne! I love cats, they are the perfect survival machine. It’s so amazing how their claw system works too. A sleeping cat is a beautiful thing to behold!! 🥰😍😻😻
Thanks, John! I agree they are beautifully designed!
You’re welcome Susanne, have a great day! 😻
You too! 🙂
😌
😻
I laughed out loud at some of the photos of them playing with the string, and grimaced at the claws enjoying the delicate sewing material! Cats are so fun, Susanne! I had 3 over the years, but not now. I miss having one though. Fun post and fascinating info about how their claws work.
Thanks, Terri! Benji gets pretty intense when he plays so I have to be careful of those murder paws!! 😉 🙂 I’ve had many cats over the years, but Benji ranks among the best, 3 legs or not!
Wow! Great info about claws and paws! And such a cute example! 🥰
Thanks so much! I didn’t realize how unique those kitty claws are, perfect by design!
🐾🐾 💚 i never had my cats declawed. It’s important to respect the paws and the claws 🐾
Yes, truly! I find declawing a brutal practice, detrimental to cats.
And more and more localities are banning declawing !
Yay! As they should!
A little of both. 🙂 Such a cutie.
Yep!! 😺😻
I love cats but I’m always a little wary of their claws – with good reason as your photos illustrate! I’d never read about how they actually work so I found that especially interesting 🙂
Thanks, Sarah. It was interesting for me to learn more about the paws/claws, too. By default, they are kept tucked away but can be brought out at any time. I rarely see them in my kitties, except when they’re stretching, scratching, or playing. I was playing with Benji recently and didn’t get my hand out of the way fast enough and learned once again how sharp those claws are!
I can vouch for the effectiveness of cats’ claws, having been lacerated by them on numerous occasions. 😺 Best wishes, Pete.
Oh dear! They are quite effective, aren’t they? I get scratched sometimes playing with Benji when I don’t retract my hand fast enough!