Do lions have retractable claws?

A: There are only a few species of animals that have retractable claws, including all members of the cat family (except cheetahs, whose claws are only semi-retractable), fishers, viverrids and the Japanese Otton frog. While almost all cats have retractable claws, foxes are the only species of dog that possess this feature. read more

In addition to cheetahs, there are also some animals with semi-retractable claws, such as wolverines. Some viverrids (a family that closely resembles and is often mistaken for cats) also have semi-retractable claws, while others, such as genets and civets, have fully retractable claws. read more

The retractable claws in lions’ front paws aid them primarily in hunting. A lions sinks the 1 ½-inch-long claws into its prey to hold it in place for a swift kill. The retractable nature of the claws keeps them in prime condition for hunting by protecting them when they are not in use. read more

The retractable nature of the claws keeps them in prime condition for hunting by protecting them when they are not in use. Being able to retract the claws also allows the lion sneak up silently on its prey, which is vital to the lion’s hunting strategy. Lions often retract their claws when playing to avoid hurting each other. read more