You may have noticed that your Maine Coon’s paws are pretty distinct from other kitties. Beyond their large size, they are remarkable adaptations to your cat’s early environment on the snowy coasts of Maine. However, there is far more to these XL Maine Coon appendages.
Maine Coon paws are large and broad, with tufts of fur between their toes. Your Maine Coon’s paws play several roles, such as scent markers, climbing and hunting tools, and enhanced impact absorbers. Maine Coon paws need extra care in terms of grooming and trimming.
Cat’s paws are a fantastic example of feline evolution and serve multiple functions in your Maine Coons world. The breed also has one of the highest percentages of polydactyly or extra toes out of all the cat breeds. Let’s explore the fascinating structure, function, and care requirements of your Maine Coon’s perfect paws.
Contents
Decoding the Anatomy of Maine Fluff Paws
Most cats have 18 toes and claws, with five on each front limb (the first digit being the dew claw) and four on each hind leg. The dew claw sits high on the front legs and is not weight-bearing, and although they seem superfluous, they aid a cat in climbing and catching prey.
Each paw has four uber-cute digital pads, otherwise fondly named “toe beans,” which help support the cat’s weight. They also have a carpal pad on the back of their front legs, which provides traction when jumping down, moving downhill, or coming to a sudden stop.
The role of the Maine Coons paw is multiple, including:
- Balance
- Shock absorption
- Insulation from extreme temperatures
- Tactile information about surfaces
- Information about prey position
- Leaving chemical signature scents
- Thermoregulation
Cat Paw Movement
Cats walk on their toes, which biologists call a digitigrade,making them super agile and offering an excellent ground reaction force (GRF). The GRF is a physics term for the force exerted by the ground by a body in contact with the ground. This force increases with acceleration and impact from elevated areas.
Cats have an exceptionally high GRF because their weight is concentrated on a smaller surface area, up to six times higher GRF for their body weight per limb. Other animals, such as us humans, have a GRF of only three.
Maine Coons Paws: XL Snowshoes
The XL, hardy Maine Coon has perfectly adapted to survive in the extreme temperatures of Maine, New England, in the Southeastern United States. The Maine Coon is substantially larger than average domestic cats averaging 10-25 lbs and 32 inches, compared to the average cat of 8-11 lbs and 18 inches long.
The size of Maine is likely a manifestation of Bergmann’s rule, which states that animals in colder climates evolve larger bodies to radiate less body heat per unit of mass. They also adapted their paws to fit the terrain.
The Maine Coon evolved naturally in the harsh Maine weather with average winter chills of 15-25°F. Similarly, the coastal areas experience almost 70 inches of snow and up to 110 inches inland each winter. The rugged Maine Coon’s paws adapted to these extreme conditions by:
Large and Wide Paws
Thus the Maine Coon paws are not only large but wide to provide a larger surface area to cope with snowy terrain. The broader surface area prevents the paws from sinking deeper into the snow. The claws also offer traction for high-speed hunting.
To get a better idea about snowshoes, just look at this gorgeous Coon running through the snow:
Pronounced Toe-Tufts
Maine Coons also have quite prominent toe tufts, which are cute pieces of fur that stick out beyond the paw pads. Their thick toe tufts play multiple roles in the Maine Coon, the foremost being an adaptation to the city of Maine Winters.
Toe tufts kept Maine Coons paws protected from the cold snow and added size to increase surface area to keep on top of the snow without adding excess weight.
Paws tufts also allow a cat to hunt silently, creep up on tasty prey, and protect the paws from temperature extremes and rough terrain.
The 6 Main Functions of Big Coon Paws
The cat paw is a multi-functional tool (and weapon) that fulfills several roles in a cat’s everyday life. Let’s explore these roles in more detail.
1. Amazing Impact Absorbers
Scientists have been looking closely at the cat paw to create footwear replicating their uncanny ability to absorb impact from tremendous heights. The paw contains a complex combination of nerve endings, blood vessels, connective collagen fibers, and fatty tissues.
These structures are tightly anchored to the tendon sheaths while the arrangement of their internal compartments absorbs energy and changes the pads’ shape during impact to prevent injury.
2. Cat Paws Have Sweat Glands
Humans aren’t the only ones to get sweaty palms; cats also sweat through their paws when nervous or excited. I noticed this first when I took my Maine Coon Halo to the vet, and he left trails or clammy little paw prints all over the metal examination table.
Cats’ paws ‘ sweat glands play a minor role in cooling a cat’s body. Unlike dogs, sweating and panting only play a minor role in regulating their body temperature. When the paw surface releases sweat, the evaporation only provides a modest amount of cooling due to its small surface area. Cats’ main cooling systems are to seek cool and shaded places or grooming to provide the cooling evaporation of saliva on their fur.
3. Maine Coon Paws Leave Scent
The cat paw has sebaceous glands on its feet and between its toes, which release pheromones that act as chemical messengers. These hidden scent glands are the reason why Maine Coons love to scratch posts and other irresistible surfaces (like my couch)!
Scratching leaves a visual signal for other cats in their territory and olfactory messages to mark their favorite areas. The scent-marking behaviors are most likely very similar to their common ancestor, the African Wildcat, a solitary hunter who used scent to communicate with other cats in their territory.
4. Cat Paws Are Adapted To Hold Food and Prey
The Maine Coon paw is uniquely adapted to hunting and holding food and prey, as well as adapted for the essential act of grooming. The front paws pivot inwards so your cat can clean those hard-to-reach areas, such as behind the ears.
A scientific study found that most cats have a paw preference just like humans and can be “right-pawed” or “left-pawed.” The study found that most male cats are lefties with a dominant left paw, while ⅓ of the tested cats were “ambipawstous.”
5. Maine Coon Paws Are Sophisticated “Weapon Carriers”
The cat paw is like a feline Swiss army knife, fulfilling multi-tool functions. The most essential tools in the Maine Coons paws are undoubtedly their claws. Cat’s claws are protractible and not retractable like many describe them. The cat claw only retracts at rest, but muscular contraction protracts the claw from the sheath to reveal their multiple ninja weapons.
The fact that cats can reveal or conceal their claws allows them to fight, scratch, sheath their weapons, walk silently, or stalk their prey.
6. Maine Coons Paw Pads Are Ultra-Sensitive
A study published by Stanley Finger et al. for the Journal of Physiology found that cats’ paw sensitivity was so delicate that they could distinguish even a 1° drop in temperature. The cat paw is also sensitive to vibration to alert the cat to encroaching danger or the subtle movement of prey.
Polydactyly and the Maine Coon: Extra Toes Anyone?
The Maine Coon breed has a unique physical quirk which is extra toes. The scientific name for this condition is polydactyly, an unusual number of fingers or toes (digits) found in many species, including humans. Beyond the 18 digits on an average cat, polydactyly can create several extra toes on the front or back limbs. In fact, the current record holder is a ginger Tabby called Jake, who has 28 toes!
Okay, Let’s Get a Little Sciencey!
The fault is not genetic per se but within the feline’s DNA. A regulatory gene in the DNA acts as a control switch that switches on the correct gene in the right place to organize the paw digits when they form in the womb. So, it’s not technically a fault in the gene itself but in the complex DNA processes that activate and organize the genes.
A regulatory gene controls the polarizing activity regulatory sequence (ZRS) area and instructs the SHH gene, which governs how the limb grows and develops in utero (inside the womb). The name of this protein-coding gene is, funnily enough, called the Sonic Hedgehog Signaling Molecule (SHH). Scientists found that fruit flies that lacked this organizing gene came out in spikes all over their bodies, which gave the SHH its uber-cute name.
Polydactyly is a congenital abnormality that is a non-sex-linked (autosomal) dominant trait passed on from cats to their kittens, meaning that the cat only needs one copy of this gene to grow extra toes. The abnormality occurs in distinct geographical areas such as the East Coast of North America, Canada, South West England, and Wales.
Types of Polydactyly
There are three types of polydactyl Maine Coons, depending on how and where the extra digits grow.
- Postaxial polydactyly: These extra toes grow on the outer edge of the paw.
- Preaxial polydactyly: The toes grow on the inner edge of the Main Coon’s paw.
- Mesoaxial polydactyly: The extra toes grow on both sides of the paw.
This genetic anomaly made some Maine Coons famous, and that’s why Maine Coons with polydactyls are often called Hemingway Cats.
The Famous Hemingway Cats
Ernst Hemingway, the eccentric author and journalist, had a hoard of much-loved Maine Coon’s with extra digits. A sailor friend gifted Hemingway with a snow-white Maine Coon, who he named “Snowball.” Hemingway took the cat home to Key West, where she became a much-loved member of his household and produced many other polydactyl kitties.
In fact, there is a Hemmingway museum in the very house where he wrote, drank, and lived his colorful life. Almost half of the 40-odd cat tenants in the museum have extra toes!
Maine Coon Paw Myths
Legend says that the extra toes on the Maine Coon’s XL paws not only made them champion mousers but also provided extra grip on the rigging of ships when these cats were treasured companions of sailors. They were considered lucky omens at sea, and sailors sought these rare creatures out to protect them from the ever-changeable moods of the ocean.
Explore the intriguing Secrets of Polydactyl Maine Coon on our website for more information.
Maine Fluffy Paw Care in 3 Steps
1. Toe Tufts, To Trim or Not To Trim?
Your Maine Coon toe tufts are a natural adaptation and shouldn’t cause much concern. You should only consider trimming them if they cause issues like the following.
- Your Maine Coon has outdoor access, and the toe tufts are often dirty or pick up debris.
- You have wooden or vinyl floors, and your Maine Coon is constantly slipping or sliding on the surfaces.
- The toe tufts are often matted, and your cat frequently licks and bites the hair.
- Your cat often trails litter box waste on their toe tufts.
How To Trim Toe Tufts
- Choose a time when your cat is relaxed and gently lift their paws.
- Choose round-tipped scissors to gently trim the hair that protrudes from the paw pad back to the paw pad level.
2. Keeping the Paw Pads Healthy
Cats can suffer from dry and cracked paw pads, which can be uncomfortable and cause irritation. Keep an eye on your Maine Coons paw pads, especially if they are outdoor cats, as they may suffer cuts or scrapes.
Caring for Your Maine Coon’s Paw Pads
- Wipe down your cat’s paw pads with pet-friendly wipes such as Bert’s Bees for Pets Natural (available on Amazon.com). They are sulfate, fragrance, and colorant-free and also help reduce dander.
- If your cat paw pads are dry or cracked, gently rub them in olive, coconut, or other food-quality oil.
3. Trimming Your Maine Coons Claws
Indoor cats don’t enjoy the same access to the abrasive surfaces that naturally keep their claws in shape. Most of the time, you won’t need to worry about trimming your cat’s nails as they shed their claw sheaths during everyday scratching. However, you should trim their nails if your cat is older, less active, or has robust claw growth.
How To Trim Your Cat’s Nails
- Choose a relaxed time, such as the evenings after play, to trim the claws.
- Ensure you have good lighting to trim the nails carefully.
- Choose a position where your cat is relaxed and facing away from you, or wrap them in a towel or blanket with one leg free.
- Gently take hold of the paw and press the top of each toe to expose the claw.
- Avoid the quick area of the nerves (the darker area within the claw center), and only remove the transparent tip.
- If your cat becomes frightened or anxious, consider taking the cat to a professional to do the trimming.
If you’re craving more in-depth knowledge, find information on trimming Maine Coon cat nails right here.
Closing Thoughts
Your Maine Coon are oversized kitties with hearts big enough to match their super-size snowshoes. Their paws reflect their frosty origins and are a remarkable example of evolutionary adaptation. Maine Coon paws may need care, however, so you should teach your kitten trimming and grooming practices when they are kittens so they become accustomed to the process.
