Every meow, especially when you wake up in the morning and your cat sits there grooming themselves with their paws, just makes you want to snuggle them like a plush toy.
Cats are the cutest, and cat toe beans just add to that cuteness. Cat toe beans are not just cute, they are necessary as well.
In the list below, you will find the top 15 facts about cat toe beans.
1. Definition Of Cat Toe Beans
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Cat toe beans are the little pads on a cat’s paws. They are called toe beans because they resemble jelly beans.
It is not officially known who invented this name, but it is widely used to describe cat’s paw pads, especially amongst people on the internet.
The official name for a cat’s paw pads is digital pads. Digital pads are divided into metatarsal (paw pad on hind feet) and metacarpal pads (front feet).
The name digital pads comes from the anatomy of a cat’s feet; carpal means wrist, digits are toes, and tarsal pad is for the ankle area.
2. Function
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Some of a cat’s scent glands are stored in between the toe beans, just as sweat glands are.
These glands are between the toe beans, so whenever your cat does anything with their paws, these glands are used.
Cats sweat with their sweat glands (in between paw pads), and they mark territories with their scent glands. They do this by scratching and releasing pheromones.
Cat toe beans also serve as shock absorbers when a cat jumps, for example, from a high tree down to the ground, the toe beans’ squishiness helps to absorb the shock of the fall so your cat is not injured.
Toe beans are really like jelly beans, they contain fatty tissues and are able to absorb the shock of falling or stopping suddenly.
3. Cat Toe Beans Are Sensitive
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The toe beans have many nerve receptors in them, so cats often do not want them to be touched.
Cat’s toe beans being extremely sensitive helps cats when hunting and staying silent while hunting or hiding from danger.
4. Cat Toe Beans Serve A Cooling Purpose
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A cat’s sweat glands are located only between the toes. By sweating, they cool their bodies.
Cat’s toe beans come in very handy; it’s like your cat has its own AC. When cats sweat, this helps them to regulate their body temperature. Sweating cools your cat’s body.
You may think that these pads are not enough to cool the whole body because they are small, and that is true. This is why cats prefer to lay in the shade during hot weather, and they groom themselves a lot.
Cats sweat when feeling too hot, but also when they are feeling nervous. When it gets too hot, you might find cute paw prints all around the house.
5. Cat Toe Beans Are Buttons?!
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Cat toe beans are not real buttons, but if you press them gently, your cat’s claws will appear.
The claws do not grow out from the beans but from the bones, however they are hiding inside of the paw pads. If they weren’t, your cat would scratch everything it touched and this would not be cute at all.
For cat parents who need to cut their cat’s nails, you can use this hack to do it more easily.
6. Color Of Toe Beans And Cat Fur Is Related
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Orange cats usually have orange paw pads while black cats’ paw pads are black. In most cases, the color of a cat’s pads will be the same as their coat color.
White cats have pink pads because they lack melanin in their skin. Tabbies usually have gray, brick red, or black colored pads like black cats.
Calico or multicolored cats can have multi-colored pads.
Purebred cats often have the same colored pads, coat and nose. Naked cats will usually have pads the same color as their skin.
Cats are fashionistas; fur color has to be matchy-matchy with paw pad colors.
7. Color Of Beans Changes
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This is not that common, but it can happen. If you notice any change in color, you should consult your veterinarian.
Your cat’s beans can change their color as a result of injury, or even worse, conditions such as anemia or pododermatitis.
8. More Toes More Toe Beans
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Extra toes are always welcome, because more toes means more beans. Cuteness overload!
Cats usually have 5 on each front, and 4 on each hind paw, a total of 18 toes and beans. Polydactyl cats have more than 18.
The fifth toe bean on the front paws is called dewclaw since it does not touch the ground, instead it is in the position where humans have thumbs.
Polydactyl cats are the ones that have more than 18 toes, so it might be worth having a count next time you are cuddling your cat!
9. Cats Use Their Toe Beans For Walking
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Cats are digitigrade, i.e. mammals that walk on their tiptoes. Cats do not walk on their feet, but on their toes i.e. toe beans. If humans did this, it would hurt and look quite silly!
This is probably why cats are so flexible and such very good hunters. Just as when people walk on their tiptoes when surprising someone or wanting to stay silent while coming home late at night!
Cats do this so they are not heard or noticed, especially when hunting.
10. Cat’s Toe Beans Help Mark The Area
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As we discussed, while scratching or using their paws, scent glands are also being used, and this is one way that cats mark their surroundings.
They do this in order to mark the territory, while scratching or stretching with their paws touching some spot.
11. Cat Might Need Help Cleaning Their Jelly Beans
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Cats clean themselves by licking themselves, especially their paws. They can bite or lick them, and sometimes it is good to help keep their paws clean so nothing gets stuck in there.
The best way you can do this is by cleaning their paws and in between the toe beans with warm water and a cloth. Also, check their toes every now and then for cuts or cracks.
If there is something concerning you about your cat’s paws or toe beans, go to the vet.