I don’t think people think about cat dexterity that much (dexterity: “skill and grace in physical movement, especially in the use of the hands; adroitness.” – The Free Dictionary).
The skills of a cat using paw and eye coordination with finely tuned muscle control are somewhat hidden or played down. But they are there. It’s perhaps that the typical domestic cat often has little in the way of activity to show it off.
In the wild a cat’s dexterity is called upon all the time. It is a matter of life and death. For example, there is the caracal; a stealthy, high jumping cat that silently stalks guinea fowl plucking them out of the air in a great leap and fantastic coordination:
Then there is the serval which also leaps at prey but this time it might be a small mammal in long grass some distance away that the serval hears with its fabulously sensitive hearing. It leaps up and stuns the animal with its front paws as it lands from a height. The hearing acts as a kind of radar and it is very accurate. The serval’s kill rate is high at 50%.
The fishing cat grabs and flips a fish out of the water from the bank of a stream with its paws and claws.
This wildcat dexterity is in all our domestic cats. Here is a really nice video that shows it off. I have not seen this sort of accomplished catching before in a domestic cat. There has been some practice! That seems certain.
SORRY THIS VIDEO HAS BEEN REMOVED AT SOURCE AND THEREFORE DOES NOT WORK HERE….
Our cats can’t grab in this most delicate and efficient of ways without their claws. They are part of the cat. Let’s remember that.
Cats have much more manual dexterity than dogs. It’s amazing some of the things they can do. Please don’t declaw!!!
My boy, Teddy Bearz has finally been caught in the act! He can pick up a pen with one paw! I can likely get a better video. You are more than welcome to share this, since I see your other videos don’t work. This one will always be there. 🙂 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ8c3LoM_W4
Thanks for the link. I have added a fresh video. The other one works. Maine Coons are pretty dextrous. Big paws. Smart cats.