extended claw![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
A cat uses its claws only when necessary, mainly for climbing or killing its prey.
plantar pad ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Thick cutaneous bulge, elastic and resistant to wear, supporting the metacarpus; the cat uses it to move about and it absorbs shocks.
digital pad ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Thick cutaneous bulge, elastic and resistant to wear upon which the toe rests; it contributes to locomotion and absorbs shocks.
elastic ligament ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Strong and elastic fibrous tissue located on the back of the distal and median phalanges allowing the claw to retract into the sheath.
tendon ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Fibrous tissue connecting the muscle to the bone; the tendon’s traction causes the claws to extend.