Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat General => General Cat Chat => Topic started by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on March 04, 2010, 00:16:14 AM

Title: learnt something about cat claws today
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on March 04, 2010, 00:16:14 AM
was flickimg through this quartes The Cat......and I didnt realize that most cats back paws have claws that dont retract..only used for walking was the comment.

Is that true?

I have always wondered why the back claws were different to the front.
Title: Re: learnt something about cat claws today
Post by: Rosella moggy on March 04, 2010, 13:28:15 PM
Don't know Gill but Ruby also has dew claws on her back feet  :).  Not at home atm so can't say if they retract or not  :-:
Title: Re: learnt something about cat claws today
Post by: Leanne on March 04, 2010, 13:35:34 PM
I thought in the feline world it was only cheetahs that have claws that don't retract - I maybe wrong though.

My boys have dew claws too and I'm pretty sure these don't retract and aren't supposed to.
Title: Re: learnt something about cat claws today
Post by: dolcetta46 on March 04, 2010, 17:26:30 PM
what in the world are "dew claws"??? :-:

I have noticed that my cat's back claws were always sticking out long since.  I can feel them digging in when he tramples on me too.  And when I hear tsk, tsk, tsk... when he is walking on our parquet floor I know it's time for the nail trimming.
Title: Re: learnt something about cat claws today
Post by: Den on March 04, 2010, 17:50:15 PM
You know the claw on the inside, partly up the front leg. That's the dew claw.
Title: Re: learnt something about cat claws today
Post by: dolcetta46 on March 04, 2010, 17:56:07 PM
aaah, thanx Den  :)  He doesn't have them on his back legs, but I just rechecked and there are a slight bump where they might have been, I guess it's a sign of an evolution... :innocent:
Title: Re: learnt something about cat claws today
Post by: Karon on March 04, 2010, 18:26:23 PM
My lot's back claws don't all fully retract, there's a bit of the central two sticking out on 3 of our house cats and all yard cats.  Ellis, who got hit by a car as a young cat, doesn't retract any of his back claws now.
Title: Re: learnt something about cat claws today
Post by: Rosella moggy on March 04, 2010, 19:08:31 PM
Quote from: Rosella moggy on March 04, 2010, 13:28:15 PM
Don't know Gill but Ruby also has dew claws on her back feet  :). 

Sorry not to be clear but I knew Gill would know.  Dew claws are virtually always on front legs but Ruby is polydactyl (extra 2 toesies on each front paw and dew claws on hind legs)  I've just examined her tootsies and all seem retractable front and back including dew claws.  No difference as far as I can tell  :-:
Title: Re: learnt something about cat claws today
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on March 04, 2010, 19:14:00 PM
As far as I know dew claws dont retract and I knew that front claws ones did.

All my cats have sticky out claws on the back but didnt know it was unusual if they retracted.

The writer of the article did have one cat whose back claws did retract......was hoping there would be a rush of people all agreeing or not   :rofl: :rofl: