Why Don’t Cats Like Their Paws Touched. But there is a reason why most cats don’t like their paws touched: they’re very sensitive.
This means that despite having pads that are highly receptive to changes in texture, pressure, and possibly vibrations, they can feel these sensations more keenly.
But this also means cobblestones or other harsh surfaces can be quite painful against the bottom of their paws unless padded, which is probably why most cats avoid walking on them whenever possible.
Why Don’t Cats Like Their Paws Touched
Ever had someone look at you and say “quit petting me!”? While it might sound a little bit rude to your ears, this is something that cats have in common with humans. While we may like the feeling of being pet from time to time, some of us definitely prefer to be left alone once in a while. For those people out there that own or want to own a cat, here are some fun facts of what they can tell you about your furry companion.
Reasons
Gentle petting is a great way to get caught up on the day with your cat. Touching or holding each of your cat’s paws is safe, too, but be mindful of where you touch them.
Just like people have their favorite spots, cats love being pet on different areas of their bodies, but they won’t always listen to you if you try and get away with tickling them in places they don’t want to be touched.
Sensitive Paws
You might not know this, but your cat’s paw pads actually help regulate their temperature in two ways.
Not only do they sweat and help control their body temperatures when it’s hot out, but they also flex with every impact your kitty takes from running around the house or pouncing on that unsuspecting toy mouse that decided to peek its head above the couch.
As researchers have found out, these thick and rubbery paws absorb some of the impacts your cat experiences during playtime or running outside which helps protect bones and joints from breaking.
Thanks to these resilient paws, cats can land from high distances without sustaining any injuries which makes them perfect for pouncing on a bird’s nest that had fallen from a tree branch.
Past Experiences
Some feline memory facts have been the subject of heated debate. We’re going to start by looking at the research published by some leading animal experts who are currently studying your average housecat’s cognitive abilities.
The results show that cats can in fact remember things even if they cannot recall specific details.
For example, felines remember what areas of a room are off-limits to them or where a food bowl is located for future use if there is an absence of food in their environment at that time.
High sensitivity
Cats have pads on the bottom of their feet which are usually firm, but flexible enough to support a cat’s entire weight and provide them with stability.
The pads help a catwalk more smoothly and silently.
Walk-on Tippy Toes
Cats are digitigrade, which means they walk on their toes instead of their heels and soles like the majority of other land animals.
Their digits or toes support their entire body weight as they move so stealthily around, helping them to get from point A to point B silently and carefully like a bandit.
Injury
If you sometimes touch your cat’s paw without any objections then one day they suddenly become defensive of their paw, it can be a sign that your cat is in pain.
Some common reasons for this could be that there is an open wound or a bruise from what seems to be rough-playing with another cat.
While playing may seem innocuous, too much rough-housing can cause injury without anyone noticing and that’s why it’s important to give your pet love and not just playtime!
Even the smallest cut or scratch can be painful and sensitive so they may want to keep their paw out of reach.