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Show me a more adorable part of a cat (or dog) than toe beans. I’m obsessed. But have you ever stopped and wondered…why do toe beans exist?
Well, here’s the lowdown on the toe bean scene. And the remarkable role they play every day that you may never forget…
But first…
Why are toe beans different colours?
Toe bean colour relates back to the level of pigment (or melanin) in the skin. While white cats (with no pigment) will often have pink toe beans and black cats will usually have black beans, mixed colour cats (like tabbies, tuxedos and tortoiseshells) will often have mixed coloured toe beans. In fact, the colour of their nose is considered the biggest clue to their bean colour!
So what’s the point of toe beans?
They may be cute but they’re also one of the most finely tuned and heavily engineered parts of a pet. So here are the big jobs…
1. Shock mode: Underneath that bean is a soft ball of fat and fibrous tissue. And every leap means the toe pad spreads and compresses…and then springs back; softening any impact.
2. Stealth mode: That soft pad means cats (and dogs) don’t generate the sound of hard foot steps like our firm heels do. This means that when their ancestors were hunting, they could sneak up close before pouncing.
3. Grip mode: There’s some pretty rapid acceleration and braking happening through those fast feet of their. And if there was just soft fur, they’d be slipping and sliding everywhere. The ‘tread’ on the toe bean surface actually has a microscopic pattern that gives them grip; even on slippery surfaces.
4. Scent mode: It’s a surprise. But the toe pads are actually one of the only places cats (and dogs) sweat. But this means that they leave a tiny scent trail with every foot step. It’s also why a cat scratching a chair, lounge or tree has a deeper purpose than just the claws digging in. They’re actually leaving a scent mark behind.
See! Those beans are pretty remarkable (and adorable) little foot accessories that need to be admired even more than they already are. And yes, cats and dogs are ticklish in their beans. But don’t tell them I told you…
