Where Is the Heel of the Cat?

The heel on humans makes up part of the joint called the ankle, or hock, and in cats, the hock is the recognized terminology for the largest joint found low in the rear legs. An identifying component of the heel or hock is the Achilles tendon, which is present in both cats and humans.

  1. Location

    • The hock is the joint found on the lower part of the rear limbs of your cat, below what would be equivalent to the knee joint. This joint is composed of several bones held together by tendons, ligaments and cartilage. These same structures form the equivalent of the heel in people.

    Species Comparison

    • Although these joints are in the same anatomic location in cats and people, they differ greatly in their position and function. This difference is related to the purpose of the joint in each species. People and other mammals who bear weight on their feet have hock joints that are flat on the ground. The setup is ideal for mammals who spend most of their time walking or moving more slowly. But cats and other mammals who will spend their lives running and jumping have hock joints developed to bear weight differently. These animals bear most of their weight on their toes, allowing them to jump and run more easily. Normal cats will always have hocks that do not come in contact with the ground when they are walking or running.

    Abnormalities

    • In cats, abnormalities of the hocks are either present at birth or develop due to injury. One abnormality that your cat may be born with is described by the term ̶0;cow-hocks.̶1; It results from abnormal development and alignment of the hock joint. In this condition, the hock joints point inward, toward each other, in the back, causing the toes to point outward at an abnormal angle. Although this condition will not affect your cat̵7;s ability to walk, run or jump, it can limit stability of the rear limbs. It can also increase the tension present on ligaments and tendons, making them more prone to injury. The most common injury to the hock joint is damage to the Achilles tendon, causing a ̶0;dropped hock̶1; in which the hock joint becomes flat on the ground like a human̵7;s foot. This injury can result from cat fights, automobile trauma or other injurious events. Other conditions that will cause the hock to drop into an abnormal position are nerve damage or metabolic diseases that affect the nerves.

    Conclusions

    • Although your hock or heel may look different than your cats -- because they are each suited to different function -- the bones and structures of the joint are essentially the same. Due to their similarities in structure, both are subject to many of the same abnormalities and injuries. Try spending some time on your tiptoes to see how your kitty̵7;s hock is normally positioned, and then you and your cat can truly relate.