Our feline friends are renowned for exhibiting endearing behaviors that bring joy to our lives. We love it when our cats “knead” us, bread loaf for us, follow us around our homes, and so much more. While some purrfect cat antics are easy to decipher, others can require some insight to explain best. Among the many cute cat behaviors, cat owners have often polled the internet to discover why cats curl their paws. Dogs do this too at times, and although cats and dogs have stark differences, the reason why both species do this is quite similar. Best of all, if your cat curls their paws around you, take it as a compliment! Cats will curl their paws for a few specific reasons, and it’s not just to keep those cute little toe beans warm.
What does it mean when cats curl their paws?
Your cat is a predator at heart, but in the wild, it is always on high alert, as it is fast prey for larger predators. With that being said, your pampered feline is hardwired with a fight-or-flight response, regardless of their lifestyle. Sure, your kitty just dined on the finest wet food, but this doesn’t mean that they’ll let go of dashing away at a moment’s notice. 
When cats curl their paws, this is the ultimate symbol of trust. A cat will only tuck away those murder mittens when they do not sense any potential threats. Your cat is at rest when those paws are curled. This means your cat feels safe, secure, and comfortable in their environment. If a cat curls its paws, it is a sign to others that it is at rest. Perhaps you can relate it to when you’re cozy on the couch with your feet tucked in. However, it has been suggested that some cats curl their paws because they don’t want their paws to be touched. Think of this as your cat’s Do Not Disturb signal.
Cats curl their paws because it’s a nice stretch.
We know that cats are super flexible and the masters of stretching. It might seem silly that cats need to stretch so much, seeing as they live lives of leisure, but stretching is vital to their anatomy. Cats curl their paws for an extended period, allowing their legs to stretch nicely. This position helps them to stretch their muscles.
A cat will curl their paws to help them conserve body heat
For centuries, both wild and domesticated cats have craved warmth. This instinctual behavior is why you’ll often find cats curled up when they’re sleeping, or managing to locate the only sunny spot in the house to take a cat nap. When cats curl their paws, this helps them to conserve body heat.
See also
You may not be aware of this, but your cat’s paws play a crucial role in regulating its body temperature. When it’s hot outside, your cat can sweat through its paw pads to help cool itself off. If you touch their paw when they are in cool-off mode, they can feel damp to the touch. This makes sense when you think about it because I know for myself that when my hands or feet get cold, so does my whole body! So perhaps this is a similarity that we share with our feline friends.
It’s likely that when the temperatures stop dropping in the cold months of the year, you might see your cat curling their paws more often. This cute curl helps to keep warmth in, which cats love! This cute habit can be observed when the warmer months arrive, as your cat has grown accustomed to it. I have a cat that often curls only one of his paws; always the same one. When doing this, he extends the other fully out. It’s a habit that makes me smile, especially since it’s always the same paw. Additionally, I notice that the stretched-out front leg is the one he enjoys swiping at me with when I walk by, which explains the silly cat scratches I often have on my shins. I’ve quickly discovered that my cat is right-pawed because of this!
Watch for signs of pain if your cat is curling their paws.
Cats are the masters of hiding their pain, especially from their favorite humans. If your cat isn’t one to curl their paws, and now curls them constantly, take notice. A cat curling their paws can sometimes be a sign of pain, but if you notice that your cat is hiding their paws from you, this is different. A cat with a paw injury could curl their paws as a means to hide them. Be sure to pay close attention if you notice this sudden behavior, as it could indicate a paw injury.
Did you learn anything new about our feline friends? We sure hope so! Don’t forget to share this article with another cat lover in your life so they can learn something, too.
Was this article helpful?
YesNo
