Cats are extremely beautiful animals, which are able to conquer anyone only thanks to the sweetness of their faces and their purring when they are cuddled.
However, another aspect also makes them so unique and loved: their paws. If you too are a cat lover, you will surely be familiar with the elegant way in which they moveso silent and agile at the same time.
The one that allows them to walk, run and jump with all this mastery they are their bearingsi.e. those soft parts found under the legs, made of a thicker layer of fabric and from fat and which, being rich in nerve endingsmake their paws able to adapt to all different types of surfaces.
In fact, thanks to pads cats are able to cushion and absorb shock at every step, thus protecting the joints, and at the same time managing to improve their balance and their mobility. Furthermore, precisely because it is such a sensitive area, cats generally do not like to be touched under their paws.
In all cats have five pads for each paw, four oval-shaped and the fifth which is located in the central area and which has a shape more similar to a triangle. Bearings perform several key functions and, according to some people, the color or the shape of a cat’s pads they also define traits of their personality.
The functions of the pads in cats: here are the 4 most important ones
Bearings have several fundamental functions for the protection and life of cats and among them you can find:
- To cushion while walking: the pad located in the highest area of the paw has the purpose of helping cats to stop when they are walking or when they make a jump, as if it were a real brake;
- I am a sense organ: thanks to the bearings, in fact, cats are able to perceive all the vibrations that come from the ground and, in case of necessity, it is therefore an important weapon that allows them to understand which direction their prey is taking;
- To expel sweat: the pads are also useful for ensuring that cats are able to regulate their body temperature, given that their sweat comes out right from under their paws;
- Express emotions: finally, cats can emanate different types of pheromones from their pads and consequently can make their mood clear – generally you can see it if, for example, they leave wet footprints with their fingertips and if you have a cat for sure you will have noticed this situation especially when the cat is scared.
Finally, pads are important indicators regarding the state of health of your cat, given that if by chance should become dry and cracked wounds could form which would obviously hurt your pet with every step, and at the same time they could become infected with the different germs and bacteria found on the ground.
Precisely for this reason it is always essential to take care of your cat’s paws, keeping them hydrated and as clean as possible at the same time placing a scratching post at his disposal to ensure that his nails can be shortened naturally and do not bother the pads themselves. If the bearings do not have their normal appearance, it is better contact your vet to understand the causes and solve the problem.
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