5 Facts About Your Cat's Paws

You might think of your cat's paws in the same way you think about your feet: They're for standing and walking and not much else. But your cat's paws are engineered to help her be the best predator she can be -- and, of course, for maximum cuteness, too. Here are some things you should know about cat paws. Share this image Each of your cat's paws contains about 27 bones, although there are fewer bones in the hind paws than there are in the front. Radiograph of cat paws by Shutterstock 1. Cats walk on tiptoe Your cat is a digitigrade walker, which means that instead of walking on her heels and the balls of the feet like we do, she walks on the balls of the feet and the fingertips. The small size of her paws and the softness of her pads make it easy for her to move silently through all kinds of terrain. 2. Cats' paw pads are tough and tender The skin pads on your cat's paws are strong enough to offer protection from punctures when she's walking on rough terrain, but they don't offer much insulation against extreme temperatures. Why? Because nature made a trade-off so she can hunt effectively: Her paw pads are loaded with touch receptors that allow her to evaluate the texture, location, and liveliness of her prey. Another effect of your cat's exquisite sensitivity to touch? She can very quickly detect how hot or cold a surface is. 3. Cats leave "paw mail" with their touch Cats have glands tucked between their paw pads that secrete oil with a scent only cats can detect. When your cat scratches a surface such as a scratching post, a tree, or your couch, she deposits some of her scent -- almost like a graffiti tag that reads "Fluffy was here!" Share this image This cute kitten's paw pads match his fur. Gray kitten relaxing on a bed by Shutterstock 4. Cats sweat through their paws If you've ever taken a nervous cat to the vet and seen little paw marks on the exam table, that's your cat's sweat. Not only do the sweat glands on their paw pads help them keep their body temperature balanced, the glands go into overdrive when a cat is very anxious. 5. Paw pads are as colorful as fur The pigment that colors your cat's fur also colors her skin, so when you look at your cat's paw pads, you'll see that they're often the same colors as your cat. Black cats have black pads, gray cats have grayish pads, orange cats have orange pads, and when it comes to multicolored cats, anything goes. What color are your cat's paw pads? Do you know of any other cool facts about cats' paws? Let us know in a comment.

5 Weird Cat Breed Folktales

The world is replete with stories about the history of the domestic cat. From its initial domestication -- most sources say the cat domesticated itself as people settled down into agricultural societies -- to the worship of cats in ancient Egypt and the demonization of cats in Dark Ages Europe, cats are indeed creatures of legend. But purebred cats have plenty of origin myths and folktales of their own.

Here are five of my favorites;

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Birman cat by Shutterstock 

1. The Birman's coat was a monk's dying gift

Legend has it that the first Birman was the companion of a monk named Mun-Ha. One night when he entered a transcendental state so deep that he felt no pain, Siamese invaders murdered him. His cat, Sinh, placed his paws on Mun-Ha's robes to comfort him as he lay dying; as a gift for his devotion, the cat's fur became gold like the golden statue of the goddess before which Mun-Ha meditated, and his eyes became bright blue like those of the statue. Sinh's legs, tail, ears and face became a velvety rich brown, and his paws, which he'd laid on Mun-Ha's body, became pure white.

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Manx cat by Shutterstock 

2. Manx cats lost their tails to save their lives

My favorite Manx origin myth is a typically Celtic tale: mother cats used to bite off their kittens' tails in order to keep them from being stolen by Irish or Viking invaders, who would steal the kittens and use their tails as good luck charms.

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Maine Coon cats by Shutterstock 

3. The Maine Coon is a cross between a cat and a raccoon

First of all, this is biologically impossible. Even if the two species ever developed an amorous inclination towards one another, no kittens would arise from such a mating. The Maine Coon is one of the oldest breeds native to North America, and if you compare a Maine Coon and a Norwegian Forest Cat, you'll see they look very similar. I wouldn't be surprised if the two breeds shared at least one common ancestor.

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Siamese cat by Shutterstock

4. The Siamese's kinked tail and crossed eyes were the price of devotion

Long ago in days of yore, all the men of Siam left their homes to defend their kingdom. Two Siamese cats, Tien and Chula, stayed behind to guard the Buddha's golden goblet. Tien got restless (not before getting Chula pregnant, though) and set off to find another monk to guard the temple. Chula, meanwhile, was so diligent in her guard duties that she never looked away from the goblet. She even wrapped her tail around it in case someone stole it while she slept. Her kittens were born with the crossed eyes and kinked tail Chula had developed while waiting for her mate to return. Of course, crossed eyes and a tail kink are not desirable traits in today's Siamese breed standard.

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Ragdoll cat by Shutterstock

5. Ragdoll cats are the result of a car accident ... and government experiments

It supposedly all started in the early 1960s when a white cat named Josephine was in a terrible accident that left her with severe injuries including a broken pelvis. After Josephine recovered, she had a litter of kittens, three of whom were taken in by Ann Baker. Baker was apparently quite a storyteller (and a bit of a publicity hound, and probably a bit loopy, too) because she told people Josephine only produced floppy kittens after the accident. Not only that, Baker said, but Ragdolls were insensitive to pain. Oh, and get your tin foil hats on for this one: Baker also announced that a secret government lab ran experiments on Josephine, apparently cross-breeding her with a skunk (!) to develop the ragdoll's mellow temperament.

What are the best myths and folk tales you've heard about your favorite breed? Please share them in the comments below.


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11 Ways to Cat-Proof Your Home

While cats are seemingly mellow creatures, they can get into all types of mischief. It's up to conscientious cat parents to ensure the home is safe. Here are 11 areas you should cat-proof. 

1. Food

Never assume your cat won't eat something. Cats have been known to get into all kinds of surprising foods, including Cheez-Its (guilty in my house), marshmallows, and cookies. Just keep food off the counters when you're not around and stash it somewhere your cat can't access. Otherwise, you may have some major GI issues on your hands.

2. Blinds and cords

What isn't a toy to a cat? Cords on blinds seem to be made to play with. Unfortunately, cats can ingest the cord, get tangled up in it, or even get strangled. And while cats love to dive through mini-blinds, they can easily get stuck, panic, and hurt themselves. Keep the cords out of reach by tying them up or tucking them behind the top of the blinds. If you find your cat has a penchant for mini-blinds, you may want to rethink your window treatments.

    

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For safety's sake, you may want to rethink your window treatments. Naughty kitten by Shutterstock

3. Plants

Plants have been banished from many cat households. It's hard to keep cats from gnawing on leaves, and many common household plants are toxic to cats. The Cat Fanciers Association Web site lists more than 200 plants that are harmful to cats; here's our list of 10 cat-safe plants.

But even if the plant's not toxic, your cat may still leave ragged chew marks on the leaves. If you can find a place to put a plant that's out of your cat's reach, like a hanging basket, or if you can train your cat to stay away from the plants, great! You also might be able to divert your cat's attraction to houseplants by offering a pot of cat grass he can nibble on. Otherwise, you may have to give up the greenery.

4. Large appliances

Cats seek out warm spots, and big appliances usually fit that bill. Especially dryers. Always check the inside of your washer or dryer before you turn it on. You just never know who might be taking a nap in there. Also, some cats don't recognize a hot stove until they are on top of it and have singed their paws. If your cat is a little slow on the uptake, you can place foil or double-sided tape around the stove top to keep kitty boo off the hot surface.

    

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Always, always check the washer before turning it on. Red kitten in washing machine by Shutterstock

5. Holiday decorations

New items are always alluring to a cat. If you're decorating your house for the holidays, think about what might be dangerous for your resident kitty. If your cat is a chewer, reconsider dangling things like tinsel or garlands. One year for Christmas I had fake garlands all over the house -– until I came home one day to find a pile of cat barf with pieces of the garlands in it. Down came the decorations.

    

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Those dangling decorations are really appealing to your cat. Kitten in Christmas tree by Shutterstock.

6. Cleaning products and medicine

Again, don't make assumptions about what your cat will or won't get into. Keep cleaning products and medicines stashed away. Also, once you are done cleaning, make sure to rinse drains well. Sometimes cats like to lick freshly cleaned sinks and tubs. Here's our guide to cleaning your home the cat-friendly way.

7. Trash

If you have a trash-tipper kitty, you're going to need to get a can with a secure lid, or you should put the can in a closet. Not only is it a pain to clean up coffee grounds and banana peels, but there could be some dangerous stuff in there -- sharp-edged cans, grocery bags that could get around your cat's neck, and any number of other hazards.

    

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Keep a lid on the trash can when you have inquisitive kitties around. La Perm kittens in trash by Shutterstock.

8. Electrical cords

Why do cats like to chew on cords? Beats me, but they do. And that can be extremely dangerous. To prevent your cat from electrical shock or worse, secure your dangling electrical cords with duct, electrical, or even packing tape. You can tape cords to the floor or the side of the appliance, for example.

9. Couch and chair covers

There's really no way to keep your cat off the furniture. If you have a way, please leave a comment below and share! In the meantime, your upholstered furniture is going to take a beating. You can do what I've done and get leather furniture (or some synthetic form of leather) or you can use throw blankets, which are super cozy. You might look into furniture covers as well. Like blankets, these can be thrown into the washer.

    

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One solution to excess cat fur: Get a leather couch. (But keep your cat's claws trimmed.)

10. Scratchers

If you don't have a scratching post or a scratcher, go out and get one. Now. You don't have to live with scratched up furniture and walls. Once you have an "approved" place for the cat to scratch, take some time to make the other surfaces undesirable –- use double-sided tape on the surface your cat likes to scratch or secure tin foil around furniture edges.

11. Shelves

Cats are notorious for climbing everywhere and anywhere they want. And they aren't always so smart about it. Remove fragile objects, and make sure the shelves are securely fasted to the wall. Also, some shelves can flip if there is a heavy cat on one end, so secure your shelving to the wall or the brackets.

    

Share this image. Photo by Lauren Littleton.

Also, try cat trees. Your cat climbs because he wants to get up high on something. Give him options, and he might just forgo the bookshelf.

Every cat is drawn to different types of havoc. Some cats chew plants, others don't. It's best to be aware of all potential hazards and take measures to keep your home as cat-safe as possible!

Do you have a suggestion not listed here? Please share in the comments below!

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5 Cool Facts You Should Know About Your Cat's Tail

Nothing is quite as wonderful as walking into your home at the end of a long day and being greeted by your cats, cooing their happiness, their tails held high as if to say, "Welcome back! We missed you so much!" But your cat's tail does much more than help you understand how she's feeling. Read on for some cool facts about the tail and what it does. First, let's start with a quick anatomy lesson. The cat's tail has 19 to 23 vertebrae, about 10 percent of the total number of bones in her body. An extensive group of muscles, ligaments, and tendons hold the tail together and provide its amazing mobility. The average tail length for a male cat is 11 inches, and for a female it's 9.9 inches. Share this image This kitten is giving the "happy tail" sign. Calico kitten by Shutterstock 1. The tail is a balancing tool The tail acts as a counterweight when the cat walks along narrow surfaces like fence tops or chair backs. It also helps a running cat to stay standing as he makes sharp turns in pursuit of prey ... or his favorite toy. 2. It's a communication aid, too Cats communicate largely through body language, and the tail is one of the most important parts of your cat's communication toolbox. By understanding "tail talk," you can understand how your cat is feeling with just a glance. A happy cat, for instance, walks with her tail held high, and a super-happy cat will add a quiver at the tail tip to demonstrate her joy. A mildly annoyed cat will twitch the end of her tail, but if she's lashing her tail back and forth, you'd better step away, because the claws are about to come out. A cat concentrating on prey will have her tail held low to the ground, although there might be a very slight twitching at the end as she tries to control her excitement. 3. Tail injuries can cause permanent damage Even though the spinal cord doesn't extend all the way into the tail, an injury can still cause serious nerve damage. When the spinal cord ends, the nerves that help to control and provide sensation to the tail, hind legs, bladder, large intestine, and anus have to extend outward without the protection of the spine's bones. Yanking on your cat's tail can over-stretch or even tear these nerves and cause temporary (or permanent) inability to walk, inability to hold the tail upright, incontinence, or chronic pain. Share this image Manx cat by Shutterstock 4. Cats can live without tails A cat whose tail is amputated because of injury learns to compensate for the loss pretty easily. Manx cats are born without tails, and I've never heard any reports of excessive clumsiness in these breeds. 5. Not all tailless cats have the same tailless gene The gene that produces the unique tailless look of the Manx is dominant, which means it automatically expresses itself even with only one copy of the gene. Being homozygous for (having two copies of) the tailless gene is semilethal, and kittens with two tailless genes are usually spontaneously aborted, so tailless Manx cats are bred from one tailless parent and one tailed parent. But even having only one copy of the gene can cause a condition called Manx syndrome, which includes spina bifida, fused vertebrae, and bowel or bladder problems. The gene that causes the kinky, curly tail of the Japanese Bobtail, on the other hand, is recessive -- a cat needs to have two copies of that gene for the trait to express itself -- and doesn't have the same potential for health problems as the Manx gene. www.catster.com