How many claws does a domestic cat have?

A cat generally has five toes on the front two paws including a dewclaw and four toes on the back two paws. Because their claws are located on their toes, most cats have 18 claws.

Some cats may possess a genetic mutation whereby they have six or more toes on one paw. A cat that has this mutation is referred to as a polydactyl cat, and such cats may have more than 18 claws. The cat that holds the record for the most toes is a Canadian cat, Tiger, reported to have 27 toes. Tiger is recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records.