The legs appear short when compared with the length of the body, but they are powerful. Strong muscles produce instant power for leaping upon prey or for great bursts of speed to catch prey on the run. The front legs are also powerful and extremely flexible. A cat can stretch its forelegs wide apart to hug the body of an enemy and hold it close. The forepaws can be tucked under the chest when the animal crouches, can be curved around the head when the animal washes behind the ears, and can be turned palm up for washing under and between the toes.
Cats have five toes in the forepaws and four in the hind paws.
A cat's claws are formidable weapons for defense and for hunting. They also are useful tools for climbing and for clinging to precarious perches. Each toe is equipped with a claw, which grows from the last bone of the toe. The claws are hidden most of the time under skin that protects them from injury and keeps them from becoming blunt as the animal walks. A cat sharpens them by clawing rough surfaces or by chewing at the tips.