WHY DO CATS HAVE ‘TOE BEANS’?

The round little pads on cats’ paws are more than just cute – they’re a feat of evolution that serve many important functions.

From their tiny noses to their fluffy tails, there’s so much to love about cats. For many feline enthusiasts, one of the most endearing features of their furry friends is their “toe beans” — the soft, round cushions on a cat’s feet, also known as paw pads. These little pads, which resemble actual beans, have become internet sensations, inspiring countless cute cat videos and even entire forums dedicated to them.

But why do cats have toe beans? The answer goes back millions of years of evolution.

“The question, in some sense, isn’t why cats have toe beans,” said Jonathan Losos, an evolutionary biologist at Washington University in St. Louis and author of The Cat’s Meow: How Cats Evolved from the Savanna to Your Sofa (Viking, 2023). He explained to Live Science that most members of Carnivora — the taxonomic order that includes cats, dogs, wolves, bears, raccoons, and otters — also have paw pads in some form. So, the real question is why all these animals have paw pads.

Losos explained that paw pads likely evolved around 50 million years ago, when Carnivora first appeared. “It’s a trait that has been around for a long time, and I believe, for the most part, all these animals have it for the same reason,” he said.

Paw pads serve several important functions for cats and their Carnivora relatives. One key function is aiding in running, jumping, and landing softly. Most importantly, Losos pointed out, they act as shock absorbers, which is why cats can survive falls from great heights without suffering serious injuries.

The inside of a cat’s toe beans consists of fat tissue bound to collagen, giving them their soft, bouncy texture and helping to absorb shock from impacts. One study that looked into the structure of domestic cats’ paw pads found that they stiffen as they compress, providing extra cushioning during a landing. The researchers also discovered that, at a cellular level, the paw pads are filled with elliptical pockets of fat, which absorb energy and prevent instability when the cat lands.

Feline toe beans are so effective at cushioning falls that some scientists have studied them to develop better footwear for paratroopers. Researchers replicated the fat-filled structure of paw pads to 3D print shoe soles designed to soften high-impact landings.

In addition to providing a soft landing surface, toe beans enhance agility by offering traction. Without paw pads, cats, dogs, and other members of Carnivora would slip and slide on their furry feet. Similar to human fingers, paw pads are highly sensitive. Amy Shojai, a certified animal behaviour consultant and pet care author, explained to Live Science that cats can detect subtle temperature changes through their toe beans, and the area is finely tuned to different textures.

Toe beans are also one of the few areas on a cat’s body that have sweat glands, a trait shared by most members of Carnivora. “You may notice damp paw prints when your cat is feeling stressed,” Shojai noted. While paw pad sweat helps regulate their body temperature to some extent, cats primarily rely on licking themselves to stay cool.

Shojai explained that the variety of paw pad colours in cats largely reflects the colour of their fur, with the amount of melanin in the area playing a key role. Generally, cats with darker fur have black or brown toe beans, while those with lighter fur tend to have pink toe beans. Multicoloured cats may even have multicoloured toe beans.

Shojai recommends that pet owners regularly check their cat’s toe beans. Since they serve crucial functions, any changes in colour, swelling, or excessive dryness should prompt a visit to the vet.

Ultimately, the science shows that toe beans are an evolutionary marvel, fine-tuned over millions of years to enhance a cat’s ability to hunt and survive. And, as Losos put it, “They certainly are adorable.”