Why do felines have retractable claws?

Answer 1

Cats claw are retractable because of their anatomy. The best way to explain this is to compare it to a dog's toe. Every dog and cat has three bones in each toe. These bones are called phalanges. In a dog each "phalange" are similiar in shape and the way they attach to each other. In a cat the very last bone in the toe which has the cat's claw attached to it is shaped a little different from the other two bones. There is a ligament that attaches from this bone to the second bone that keeps the claw in retraction when the cats paws are relaxed. The way this ligament is attached to these two bones allows for the claws to come out of retraction when the cat spreads out its paw to scratch or knead. So it is natures special engineering that allows a cat to have retractable claws.

Also So that the claws do not get worn down by constant abrasion on the walking surface. Stealth is also another reason.

Answer 2

Retractable Claws

Answer 3

They are the cat's weapons. If they were not retractable, the claws would eventually file down to nothing and the cat would have no form of defense as well as no way to catch and kill prey.

There is only one kind of cat that doesn't have retractable claws, I believe, and this is the cheetah. The cheetah doesn't use its claws to rip and shred prey to pieces. Instead, the cat outruns the animal and trips them using their claws, after which the cat takes hold of the animal's trachea and suffocates them.

Answer 4

Cats have claws so they can protect themselves, either by defending themselves or by running up a tree to avoid confrontation. Your cat should either be a stricktly indoor cat or an outdoor cat. If you let the cat outside, let it have its' claws to defend itself, you can teach it to claw on certain toys and teach it not to scratch you! It's just like training any other pet, butyou have to put aside some time to TRAIN it.

Answer 5

Yeah. They can take them in in out whenever they want. If a cat's claws were always out, than they would get blunt and dull and they would end up nopt being able to climb stuff.. just like dogs.

Answer 6

Actually, yes. There are a few breeds that do have retractable claws, like the Alaskan Malamute.

Answer 7

Because cats are carnivorous (meat eaters) and need claws to catch prey (food) in the wild. And they need claws to climb trees to escape harm. Since we feed the cats they use them for other purposes, not all that humans approve of. I clip my cats claws regularly and offer several scratching options for their enjoyment.

Answer 8

two reasons:
1) stealth, claws make noise when they hit the ground while walking
2) claws are a cat's weapons and they would be dulled and not effective catching and killing instruments

Answer 9

i don't know but i love that they do so they don't scratch you all the time

Answer 10

i think i heard that it was so they could have traction if they needed it??

i mite be wrong