Big cats

[alan30]

Do big cats, leopards, puma etc. use their claws for better grip when running or turning after prey or are they kept sheathed to avoid injury?

[logman]

HI alan,

At a guess i would say, big cats would use their claws where extra grip was required, ie running, turning, climbing and retract them when not needed.

I'm no expert on big cats, but only base my ideas on observations on smaller domestic cats.

[wildwood]

If you've watched a domestic cat chasing something on a smooth floor you can see that the claws are mainly kept sheathed. They will only use their claws to steady themselves if there is danger of bodily damage. The very fact that they can sheath their claws is so that they stay sharp and are mainly used for climbing and grabbing prey.

The cheetah is the only cat that can't retract its claws, this assists the cat with traction when it starts its run after a gazelle etc.