Research overview: the dewclaw and the function of the first digit in cats

The cat first digit, carried high on the inner foreleg as the dewclaw, does not touch the ground in walking but plays a role in grasping. This overview reviews its anatomy and function: a mobile, claw-bearing digit used to hook and hold prey, to aid climbing, and to grip during grooming. Unlike the ground-contacting toes, the dewclaw is freed for manipulation. Researchers describe its musculature and mobility through dissection and observe its use in feeding and climbing behaviour. Why it matters: the dewclaw is a small but functionally important part of the feline hand, illustrating how not all toes serve locomotion, and it features in discussions of prey handling, polydactyly in domestic cats, and the manipulative abilities that distinguish cats from less dexterous carnivores.