Cats live side by side with people from ancient times. Despite the wayward and independent nature, these amazing creations of nature are the universal favorites of the cat owners of all ages. It has been observed that people who live in cats in dwellings have significantly reduced the risk of heart attack and stroke. In physical abilities they have no equal.
They are capable of performing masterful jumps, balancing on a narrow strip with a minimum footprint, moving silently, climbing tall trees, reacting with lightning speed to changing situations, and much more. Not the last role in such abilities belongs to the structure of their limbs and fingers on them.
Paw features
The specificity of the structure of the paws gives a special grace and elegance to the movements of all members of the cat family. On the paw pads there are many nerve endings and receptors that provide high sensitivity. Cats are able to catch the most subtle vibrations, which helps these universal hunters to detect prey at the slightest rustle. The forthcoming earthquake cat will feel much earlier than the owner.
Feline fingers have an elastic cushion without a wool covering, and each cushion has a sharp sickle-shaped claw. With the help of the tendons and muscles of the cat, they claw their claws into a kind of sheath made of leather. Retracted claws do not interfere with cats when walking. But if you need to climb vertically, defend yourself from enemies, grab your prey, the animals instantly push their fingers apart and “pull out of their scabs” their formidable weapon - they release sharp claws.
Important! All cats - pacers: when walking, they rearrange both right, then both left legs.
The amble gives the cat additional maneuverability and stability, helps to quickly pick up speed and change the direction of the run, almost without reducing the speed.
Functions
Cats walk on their fingers like ballerinas. It is the fingers that play the main role in the movement of cats. They do not step on the whole foot, but go on tiptoe. The mobility and flexibility of the cat's fingers allows animals to move quickly and silently, quietly sneak up on prey, make unexpected maneuvers and rapid jumps, which is very important for predators. The fingers are able to move separately from one another and turn in the right direction, which allows the cat to hold onto high-risk surfaces: slippery, almost sheer, vibrating, loose, uneven.
During high jumps fingers serve as shock absorbers, elastic pads make landing more soft and safe, protecting the paws from injury. Most likely, everybody had to observe more than once how cats “wash themselves” with the help of their front paws, and superstitious people associate various signs with this procedure.
In fact, cats do it solely for hygienic purposes, as these animals are clean by nature. These predators must secretly steal up to the prey and do not give themselves away with anything - neither by the sound of footsteps, nor by the smell of the body. For centuries, nature has noticed and consolidated everything valuable and useful for the survival of any existing species.
Sweating occurs through the paws. On the fingertips are sweat glands. Feline sweat not only in the heat, but also in stressful situations. Cushions provide thermal control, prevent overheating of the body. With the front fingers and claws of the cat, they catch and hold the prey;Among cats, as well as among people, there are "right-handed" and "left-handed", and the left side is more preferred by cats, the right - by cats. On the "priority" limbs in animals more developed fingers.
Count fingers and claws
As a standard, international organizations of felinologists consider it normal for ordinary cats to have 18 fingers. There are 5 toes on the front legs, 4 are in the same row when walking on the ground, and the fifth is above the rest, does not participate in walking, but helps the animals to climb vertically and move along an inclined surface. On the hind legs of the cat is 4 fingers.
Among the cats there are frequent births of offspring with non-standard number of fingers. Most often, abnormalities are found on the front legs, but there are also on the hind limbs. Instead of 5 on the front paws of a kitten there may be 6 or more fingers.
In the Guinness Book of Records listed Canadian cat Jake, who had 28 fingers, 7 on each leg. Known case of birth of a cat with 32 fingers. Individuals with “redundant” fingers are called poly-dactyles, and the phenomenon itself is polydactyly (“poly” is a lot, dactylos is a finger).
Possible anomalies
Gene mutations are characteristic of all multicellular, they are also found among felines. An abnormal number of fingers can be both in cats and cats. This genetic disorder is inherited. If at least one of the parents is a polydact, then the probability of the birth of multi-toe offspring is very high. "Extra" fingers can be on one paw of a kitten, on several or at once on all four.
Even if there is only one "extra" finger on one leg, then definitely it is nothing but a manifestation gene polydactyly. This feature of the structure is not considered a genetic deformity, does not affect health, does not bring any discomfort to animals. The only problem - such animals can not participate in exhibitions because of non-compliance with exhibition standards, which no one will be sorry if the cat is healthy, energetic and beautiful. When examining newborn kittens and finding a “special” kitten, it is recommended to contact a felinologist and find out the prognosis of the development of an animal with an anomaly detected.
If everything is in order, there is no threat to the development of other organs and the general state of health, no difficulties are foreseen in the ordinary life of the animal, the owner quietly raises the pet along with other kittens. When polydactyly usually happens.
Many owners of polydacts have increased intelligence in their pets, even compare it with a human and claim that cats have a special relationship with each family member and an understanding close to telepathy. Theodore Roosevelt lived for a long time with a multi-fingered cat, in which the president didn’t like his soul and often allowed him to attend official receptions, and in the close circle of the president they joke that the cat brought the White House good luck. However, people who are prone to prejudice and who believe in mystic should not make multi-fingered cats. In fact, this feature is nothing more than a kind of appearance.
In addition to polydactyly, there is a hypodactyly mutation when there are not enough fingers on the kitten's paws. Unlike polydactyly, it is a serious illness, which is usually accompanied by congenital pathology of the liver and urinary canals.
The hypodactyly gene activates the "junk" genes, causing the development of the most severe pathologies of internal organs. Fortunately, this deviation is extremely rare, but it still happens. The foot has a non-standard look and reminds a claw.
Animals can not fully move, run, jump, cope with natural needs. Such kittens live to the adult state rarely and constantly endure physical torment. Unfortunately, life consists not only of adorable admiring with fluffy pets.Having found a kitten with hypodactyly in the litter and having received a comprehensive consultation of a specialist, you will have to make a difficult decision and put the sufferer to sleep - this is more humane than to condemn him to an intolerable existence.
Paw care
Cat's paws need to be cared for no matter how many fingers a cat has. Due to the increased sensitivity of the paws, the cats do not tolerate sharp fluctuations in temperature and pressure, react painfully to the slightest damage to the pads, suffer greatly from physical pain, eat poorly, and can become aggressive or depressed. Causes of damage can be very different. These are cuts with sharp objects during walks, thermal burns during an occasional jump onto a hot surface, chemical ones during jogs over chemical-treated snow, frostbite in the cold.
All cats instinctively try to protect their paws from damage, as far as possible with the lifestyle of each animal. The task of the owners is to help the pet as much as possible. Paws of domestic cats need to be carefully examined every day. In the presence of damage, scuffs and even minor scratches, you should consult with the veterinarian and treat the pads with healing agents.
In addition, microcracks and weeping ulcers on the skin of the pads can appear from an unhealthy diet of the animal, from severe stress or latent disease of the internal organs. In this case, you need a deep diagnosis, comprehensive treatment and constant monitoring in the veterinary clinic.
Terrible-looking pets claws are also very sensitive, so they should be trimmed with extreme caution, without causing pain and without accidentally damaging the fingers, and prevent too long claws from growing back so that they do not split. In the wild, feline enough natural claws to claw about natural materials, your pet should have a quality claw.
Cat claws are an integral part of natural life. Having settled at home a kitten, you need to be prepared not only for positive emotions, but also for surprises less pleasant. For example, a pet can spoil with claws expensive furnishings, which is not at all his fault - this is the owner’s “school” in upbringing.
Unfortunately, some owners of animals, who were irresponsible to the acquisition of a cat, quickly get bored with problems with claws, they are solved on surgical operation of onypectomy - removal of claws. This is a very complicated procedure, which only young healthy cats are able to transfer. Together with the claws, the phalanges of the fingers are amputated. Many owners, depriving a pet of protective equipment, poorly represent what they doom their pets to. With any, even the most successful result of the operation, the future life of the beloved Fluffy will not be complete.
The reduced size of the foot redistributes the load on the foot, joint displacement and arthritis develop, the vestibular apparatus functions with impairments until the end of the cat's life. The negative attitude towards such an operation is common among the overwhelming majority of cat lovers and among veterinary surgeons themselves.
Look at the six-toed cat can be further.
