Of cats’ claws

 

Of cats’ claws

When resting, a cat’s claws are sheathed in protective skin pouches. If a cat wants to climb or hunt, it flexes leg muscles to unsaddle or extend its claws.

Most cats, both domestic and wild, have retractable or sheathable claws. Hind paw claws are not always completely sheathed.

There are four exceptions to the retractability of cats’ claws. The first is the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), whose claws do not retract completely, giving it good traction when running.

The second is the endangered fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) which has partially webbed feet and semi-retractable claws, allowing it to maintain its footing in muddy marshland. It is a strong swimmer and has been observed swimming underwater and catching waterfowl by the legs.

The third is the also endangered small Southeast Asian flat-headed cat  (Prionailurus planiceps). This cat lives mainly on fish it takes from rivers. It plunges its head into the water and uses its front paws to feel for prey in the shallows.

The last is the rare and critically endangered Iriomote cat (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis) found only on the island of Iriomote, in Japan. It is closely related to the leopard cat.

Cats usually have eighteen claws, four on each hind paw and five, including dew claws, on the front paws. Some breeds, notably Maine Coons and Pixie-bobs, are polydactyl, meaning they have more toes than usual. Their ‘mitten paws’ may have any number from four to seven toes on each paw. Polydactyly usually occurs on the front paws, and it is rare for it to appear on all four limbs.

Sailors prized polydactyl cats, believing them to have superior balance, climbing, and mousing ability. They were thought to bring good luck. In the 1930s a ship’s captain gave Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) a white cat with six toes. She was called Snow White and Hemingway was enchanted by her, and the litters of kittens she bore. Because of his great affection for polydactyl cats, they are frequently referred to as Hemingway cats.

 At the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum in Key West, Florida, there is a colony of about sixty cats, many of whom are descended from Snow White. Hemingway started a tradition of naming the kittens after famous people, like Pablo Picasso, Audrey Hepburn, Clark Gable. The Museum continues the tradition today.

No matter how many claws a cat may have, it will shed the outer sheaths at regular intervals. The claws are made of keratin, like human hair and nails, and develop in layers from the inside out. Cats scratch to remove the outer layer every two to three months. Our stair carpet bears witness to this activity, and ‘ghost’ claws can be seen frequently.