A domestic cat usually has 18 claws. This breaks down to:
- 5 claws on each front paw (also known as forepaws)
- 4 claws on each back paw (also known as hindpaws)
There can be exceptions, though. Some cats are born with a genetic mutation called polydactyly, which means they have more toes (and claws) than usual. These cats can have up to nine toes on each paw! However, polydactyly is not very common.
