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Why do cat tracks usually show only four toes on each foot?

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Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) with tufted ears and spotted fur walking through snow in a winter landscape. — feline The Eurasian lynx (*Lynx lynx*), a member of the family Felidae, can be found in forests that range from Scandinavia to far eastern Russia. It is the largest member of the genus *Lynx* and the third largest predator in Europe.

Cats have five toes on each front foot and four toes on each rear foot. While they possess five toes on their front paws, the first toe (the dewclaw) and its associated pad are positioned higher up on the leg. Consequently, when a cat walks, this first toe does not make contact with the ground, resulting in only four toes registering in a track.1