Introduction
Cats are well known for having retractable claws that they can extend or retract at will. This allows cats to walk quietly without making noise with their claws, and also gives them sharp weapons to defend themselves. However, not all cats have fully retractable claws. Some cat species only partially retract their claws, while a few have claws that do not retract at all.
In this article, we will discuss the different types of cat claws and look specifically at cats whose claws do not fully retract. Understanding the purpose and function of non-retractable claws can provide insight into the unique traits of certain cat species.
What Are Retractable Claws?
Most cats have retractable claws that they can extend and retract at will. This allows them to maintain sharp claws for hunting, climbing, or self-defense, while also enabling silent stalking. A cat’s claw is attached to the terminal phalanx, or end bone, in their toes. When retracted, the claw is pulled back inside a protective outer sheath of skin and fur, keeping it safely tucked away.1
Cats use a system of tendons and muscles to control claw retraction. Flexor tendons connect the claw to muscles in the cat’s leg. When the cat extends its claws, the flexor tendons pull the claw outward. Extensor tendons then allow the cat to retract the claws back in.2 This gives cats the ability to stealthily prowl with claws retracted, then quickly deploy them when needed for climbing, capturing prey, or self-defense.
Cats With Non-Retractable Claws
There are a few cat breeds that do not have fully retractable claws. Some of the most notable include:
Cheetah
The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is one of the only cat species whose claws only partially retract. This adaptation allows cheetahs to gain better traction when running at high speeds to catch prey [1].
Fishing Cat
The fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is another wild cat species with claws that do not fully retract. Their partially retractable claws aid in catching fish, their main prey [2].
Iriomote Cat
The Iriomote cat (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis) is a wild cat native to a small Japanese island. They use their non-retractable claws for climbing trees and catching prey [3].
Lion
Lions are one of the big cat species whose claws only partially retract, which aids in hunting, climbing, and territorial marking [1].
Cheetah
The cheetah is one of the few cats that cannot fully retract its claws. Their claws are semi-retractable, meaning they do not fully sheath into their paws like other cats (Source). Cheetahs have semi-retractable claws that function more like cleats, providing them with better traction and grip while running at high speeds. This adaptation helps cheetahs excel as sprinters and gives them a physical edge when chasing down prey across open terrain.
Unlike other cats, the cheetah’s claws are shorter but sharper, with blunt tips. The blunt tips allow their paws to function more like a tire tread or athletic shoe, granting better adherence to the ground. The exposed sharp claws offer them more traction and acceleration when running and capturing prey. By keeping their claws partially extended, cheetahs can take longer strides and change direction quickly while maintaining full contact with the earth.
In essence, the cheetah’s semi-retractable claws strike an optimal balance between speed and grip. They evolved this unique adaptation to excel as specialized sprint-hunters on the open savanna.
Fishing Cat
The fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) is a medium-sized wild feline found primarily in wetland areas of South and Southeast Asia. Unlike most cats, the fishing cat has claws that are only partially retractable, meaning the claws protrude slightly even when retracted (EarthSky). This allows the fishing cat to have better traction when walking on muddy or wet terrain while hunting for prey. The partially retractable claws also aid the fishing cat in catching fish, their primary food source. When diving into water to catch fish, the exposed claws give the fishing cat a firm grip on slippery fish prey. In addition, the undersides of the fishing cat’s paws are less furry than other cats, making them more adept swimmers (Wikipedia). Their less fully webbed paws and exposed claws provide excellent functionality for both swimming and gripping prey.
Iriomote Cat
The Iriomote cat (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis) is a subspecies of the leopard cat that lives exclusively on the Japanese island of Iriomote. The Iriomote cat has several unique traits compared to other cat species.
One notable characteristic of the Iriomote cat is its non-retractable claws. Unlike most cats that can retract their claws fully into their paws, the Iriomote cat’s claws remain partially extended at all times1. This helps them grip and climb the island’s trees and rocky terrain. Their claws also aid in catching fish and aquatic prey in the island’s rivers and mangroves. The Iriomote cat’s claws do not retract fully to enable quick access for hunting and climbing in its densely forested habitat2.
The Iriomote cat’s island isolation and rainforest environment led to the evolution of its non-retractable claws and other adaptations for climbing and swimming. With no natural predators on Iriomote island, the Iriomote cat thrived with partially extended claws that provided hunting and climbing advantages in its unique habitat.
Lion
Unlike most felines, lions do not have fully retractable claws. Their claws only partially retract, and remain partially extended even when “sheathed.” This gives lions better traction when running and grasping prey. The claws also play an important role in lion hunting and defense.
When hunting, lions rely on their powerful claws to help seize and hold large prey like buffalo, zebra, and wildebeest. The claws provide an important gripping ability that enables lions to wrestle prey to the ground. Male lions also use their claws in territorial fights with other males. Claws are a key weapon lions use when defending their pride and territory. The claws can inflict serious wounds on opponents.
Overall, the lion’s protractable claws are an important evolutionary adaptation. They give lions better traction and gripping ability which aids their hunting and defensive abilities. Retractable claws would be disadvantageous for the lion’s lifestyle.
Source: https://blog.londolozi.com/2017/06/19/the-claws-of-a-lion/
Claw Care
Caring for non-retractable claws requires regular maintenance. Since the claws do not naturally wear down on their own, they must be trimmed regularly to prevent overgrowth, splitting, and cracking.
Aim to trim non-retractable claws every 10-14 days. Use high-quality nail clippers designed specifically for cats and clip only the sharp tip of the nail, taking care not to cut too short where you may hit the quick and cause bleeding. Go slowly and carefully.
Provide plenty of scratching posts and surfaces around the home so your cat can naturally shed the outer layers of their claws. Sisal, cardboard, and wood are ideal scratching surface textures.
You can try using cat-safe nail caps that gently cover the claws to prevent damage to household items. Only use vet-approved brands. Monitor your cat’s feet to ensure proper fit.
Keep an eye out for cracked, split, or broken claws which are prone to infection. Consult your veterinarian if you have any concerns about your cat’s claw health.
With proper care and routine trims, non-retractable claws can grow healthily without causing your cat discomfort.
Advantages of Non-Retractable Claws
While there are benefits to having retractable claws, there are also substantial advantages to non-retractable claws for some species of cats.
The biggest advantage is better traction and grip. Non-retractable claws are always extended and ready for climbing, allowing cats like lions and cheetahs to securely grip surfaces like tree trunks while hunting or scaling inclines. The claws provide significantly more traction compared to retractable claws that must first be extended before they can grip. This also benefits running speed and acceleration for cats like cheetahs chasing prey across open terrain.
Non-retractable claws are also better for traction and grip when holding and subduing prey. The permanently extended claws can help lions and other big cats maintain a firm hold on struggling prey in the midst of a hunt or attack. Retractable claws may not deploy quickly enough when a prey animal attempts to flee.
In summary, non-retractable claws provide superior climbing ability, running traction, and grip when capturing prey – all key advantages for certain feline species and their particular hunting behaviors.
Conclusion
In summary, most cat species have retractable claws that can be extended and retracted at will. However, there are a few exceptions. The cheetah is the only cat that cannot retract its claws at all. Cheetahs have semi-retractable claws that are exposed at all times to provide better traction when running. Other cats with non-retractable claws include the fishing cat, Iriomote cat, and lion. While retractable claws are advantageous for climbing and capturing prey, non-retractable claws allow for better grip and traction. They also require more diligent claw care. In the cat family, the cheetah, fishing cat, Iriomote cat, and lion are the main species whose claws do not fully retract.