Paw Morphometric And Foot Imprint In Predicting Feline Weight

An abstract of research paper presented to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, in partial requirement of the course DVT 55204 – Research Project.
This study investigates the relationship between paw morphometric indices and body weight in domestic felines, with implications for forensic, veterinary, and conservation applications. Among the variables examined, RightTotalLength and RightTotalWidth exhibited statistically significant positive correlations with body weight (r = 0.449 and r = 0.364, respectively), indicating that larger paw dimensions are moderately associated with heavier cats. However, measurements such as LeftPadLength and LeftPadWidth showed no significant predictive value. A regression model explained 31.8% of the variability in body weight, highlighting RightTotalLength as a key predictor (p = 0.032), although additional variables such as age, sex, or breed may further improve accuracy. Comparison with prior studies underscores the potential of paw morphometrics in non-invasive body metric estimation, mirroring applications in wildlife species like tigers and black bears. Despite its strengths—such as the use of simple, non-invasive data collection methods—the study was limited by its small sample size (n = 38) and lack of additional morphometric variables, which could enhance predictive power. Future research should involve larger, more diverse feline populations and advanced techniques like the Footprint Identification Technique (FIT) to improve model robustness. Practical applications include quick weight estimation tools for veterinary and conservation use, as well as forensic models for identifying felines from pawprints at crime scenes. The findings contribute valuable insights into feline morphology, supporting interdisciplinary applications in health, welfare, and forensic science.