A paw is the clawed soft foot-like portion of an animal, usually a quadruped.

The paw is distinguished by a thin, pigmented, keratinized, hairless epidermis that covers the pads’ subcutaneous collagenous and adipose tissue. These pads function as a cushion for the animal’s load-bearing limbs. The paw is made up of four load-bearing digital pads and a big, heart-shaped metacarpal or palmar pad (forelimb) or metatarsal or plantar pad (rear limb), with five or six toes in the case of domestic cats and bears (including giant panda). In digitigrade species, a carpal pad is also found on the forelimb, which is used for extra traction while halting or descending a hill. There may also be more dewclaws.

On each finger of the paw is a horn-like, beak-shaped claw. The soles of certain animals’ paws have fur, despite the fact that they are generally hairless. The red panda, for example, has hairy soles that assist insulate them in their cold habitat.

Animals that have paws

• Felids, such as cats and tigers, have toe tufts on some of their toes.
• Dogs and foxes are canids.
• Rabbits’ paws have very sharp claws and no pads beneath them.
• Raccoons and bears
• Mustelids, such as weasels and other mustelids
• Rodents

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