Why Do Cats Have Retractable Claws?

Virtually all types of felines, from common house cats to large cats such as lions and tigers, have retractable or semi-retractable claws. Retractable claws are tools that cats are able to use at their discretion in order to help them survive in the wild. Many house cats are declawed, a process that removes the claws, in order to keep them from damaging the home and scratching their owners.

  1. Climbing

    • One of the first things kittens learn to do is climb. They use their retractable claws to maintain their hold on perches and help gain traction while climbing up a variety of surfaces, which may include trees, furniture and even the legs of their human owners. When not in use, the cat will retract its claws so that it does not get stuck and get its claws hung up on the surfaces it is trying to walk across.

    Hunting

    • In nature, cats have to hunt for their food. Retractable claws give wild cats a handy weapon to use when catching mice and birds that they need to eat in order to survive. Cats can use their claws to grab onto and injure prey. Big cats, such as African lions, will use their claws when bringing down large prey.

    Defense

    • In the wild, cats are predators but they may also fall prey to larger or more dangerous animals. Cats may fight with dogs, birds of prey, raccoons, possums or one another, and claws provide them with a valuable weapon. A cat can scratch the face of an opponent with its claws, damaging the opponent's eyes and allowing it to get away or cause the opponent to retreat. Sometimes dog owners have to take their dog to the veterinarian for treatment and medicine after a cat has scratched its cornea.

    Claw Care

    • Claws can be a real nuisance for the owners of an indoor cat. Cat claws that grow too long and are not being worn down naturally will get caught in furniture, carpeting and may cause the cat to scratch various objects in an attempt to wear the claws down. Giving your cat a designated scratching post to use its claws on can help with this problem. Some people opt to declaw their cats, but once a cat has been declawed, the owner must take special measures to make sure the cat never gets loose outside because it will have no way to protect itself or catch food.