I'm sure you have heard of palmistry, which is the art of reading the palm of a person's hand to tell their fortune. Did you know there is also a theory of pawmistry which says you can tell the personality of a cat based on their paw shape? Lets learn more about cat paws personality!
TheCatConnection.org explains that a Japanese author named Akatsuki developed a way to determine cat characteristics based on the shape of their toe beans. In Japan it is called 'Nekteso', but I'll just call it paw reading (like of palm reading!). There are 5 or 6 major categories of cat personalities based on paw shape, dpending on who you ask, and according to petguide.com, 13 sub-types based on small variances in the paw shape!
The first of the major cat paw shapes is heart shaped. This paw shape has a little divot in the middle that makes the center of the cats pad look like a heart. Cats with this paw shape love to cuddle! They are friendly and "wear their hearts on their paws" to put a twist on the old saying. Cats with heart shaped paw pads are also known for their fondness for food!
According to ParadePets.com The next major paw shape is called the grain of rice shape. The center of this cat paw shape is a long oval that resembles a grain of rice. These cats are said to be more shy, and easily scared by noise. These cats may take a little more work to come out of their shell, but can be loving and gentle once they trust you.
The next paw shape is called the rice ball shape. The cat's paws shape are more rounded, with the sides and middle being close to the same size. Petpivot.com says these cats are loyal and protective toward their family. ParadePets.com says they can sometimes also be mischievous and dominant.
Another paw shape is called Mount Fuji because of it's resemblance to the mountain. This paw shape is more flattened on the top with smaller sides. These cats are more reserved and calm. I believe this type is what theCatConnetion.org would label the flat topped paw and they agree that this type more reserved and add that this type of cat's calm demeanor could make them perfect for filling up your photo reel!
Then there is the shamrock or clover paw shape. This cat paw tends to have a larger middle section and rounded sides. These cats are social and playful. Petpivot.com says they will keep you entertained with their high energy antics! But high energy cats can sometimes demand a lot of attention, so if you have a cat with clover shaped paws, make sure to make some time for playing!
The last paw shape is knows as the rocket shape. This type of paw will have a longer, egg shaped middle with smaller sides, making it look like a rocket ready to take off. These cats like to do their own thing according to ParadePets.com, and Petpivot.com adds that they can be stubborn and will flat out refuse to do something they don't want to do!
If you can read Japanese, you can check out Akatsuki-san’s book on Amazon to learn more about cat paw personality!
What about you? What shape are your cat's paws and does their personality match the shape of their paws according to the paw reading guide?
Cover Photo by The3dragons on Unsplash
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