July 11, 2025, 1:38 pm | Read time: 7 minutes
Most people are familiar with palm reading, where fortune-tellers interpret fate or character based on the shape of our palms. However, it’s said that a cat’s personality can also be discerned from the shape of its paws. This trend from Japan, known as Nekteso, occasionally circulates on social media. Some even claim it is based on scientific principles. PETBOOK editor and biologist Saskia Schneider has investigated the matter.
Can you discern a cat’s personality from its paw pads? That’s exactly what Nekteso promises—a trend from Japan that works similarly to palm reading at a fortune teller’s booth at the fair. It’s no surprise that it originated there. The concept was created by the Japanese Akatsuki, “a great cat lover and palm reader,” as described in his book “Nekoteso” on Amazon. The term combines “neko” (cat) and “teso” (palm reading). The first edition was published in 2013—so the paw reading trend isn’t new.
However, it occasionally resurfaces on social media and seems to have taken on a life of its own. There are now posts on TikTok claiming that the whole thing is based on a study involving over 2,000 cats. But can that really be true?
Nekteso—What the Paw Says About a Cat’s Personality
For paw reading, you need to look at the cat’s paw pads. The shape of the so-called sole pad is crucial. This is the largest pad located in the center.
Depending on the source, different classifications can be found. Typically, five—sometimes four or six—shapes are distinguished. The classifications don’t always align, and without having read Akatsuki’s book “Nekteso,” it’s hard to determine which classification is closest to the author’s original. Here is an overview of the most common pad shapes and their meanings.1 2 3
Heart Shape
Description: The middle part of the pad looks like a heart.
Personality: Cats with this paw shape are considered true cuddle monsters. They love to snuggle with their owners and are big gourmets. Sometimes it’s said they meow a lot.
Round Shape or “Rice Ball”
Description: The middle part of the pad is round like a ball.
Personality: This shape is said to belong to cats that are adventurous and social. “These cats do well in a multi-cat household,” some sources say, while others write that the cats are loyal and determined to protect their owners when danger arises and will defend their territory.
Flattened Tip with Notch or “Mount Fuji”
Description: The sole pad is flattened at the top, with a notch.
Personality: These cats are described as calm and solitary. They prefer to be the only cat in the household and are wary of strangers. They stand out for their calmness and dignified demeanor.
Flattened Tip, but Without a Distinct Notch
Description: The sole pad is flattened at the top, but without a distinct notch.
Personality: These cats are considered aloof. They are said to have little interest in most things and can only tolerate people they have deemed worthy.
Triangle or “Rocket Pad”
Description: The upper part of the pad tapers to a point and forms a triangle with the rest of the sole pad.
Personality: The character of these cats is described as “quirky” or somewhat crazy. These animals don’t want to be touched constantly and prefer to be alone. They can sometimes clearly show when something doesn’t suit them—then their fiery temperament comes to the fore.
“Rice Grain”
Description: All three parts of the sole pad resemble the shape of a rice grain.
Personality: These cats are described as having a rather shy, reserved personality. They are easily frightened and duck at loud noises. Nevertheless, they are gentle with people.
“Cloverleaf”
Description: All three parts of the sole pad have a similar shape and form a noticeable indentation at the lower part of the pad.
Personality: These cats are described as very emotional. They demand a lot of love and attention and can be very clingy. The animals love to play and are often fascinated by unusual things or objects.
The Self-Experiment with My Own Cat
Looking at the various descriptions, there are indeed significant differences between the individual characters. Nevertheless, the formulations—just like horoscopes—are so vague that you would always find some character trait in your own cat.
Still, I was curious about what Nekteso would reveal about my own cat. The first thing I noticed: It’s not easy to “read” the pad shape, as you first have to get close to the cat’s paw. This works best while cuddling. With Sweety, my Maine Coon mix senior, the challenge is that the fur between the pads is quite long. The “Rocket” or triangle shape fits best.
Description Fits Surprisingly Well
It says: “These kittens are loved by their owners and other cats alike and are adventurous and social. These cats do well in a multi-cat household, and although they don’t have a great need for cuddling, they tolerate their humans’ affectionate outbursts.”
This description fits Sweety surprisingly well. She gets along well with other cats but doesn’t like to be picked up. Cuddling only happens on her terms. The description of being adventurous also fits, as Sweety actually joins in the backyard for a walk. So is there something to Nekteso after all?
Nekteso Is Not Based on Scientific Evidence
There are some posts on social media claiming that Nekteso is based on a study analyzing over 2,000 cats. There is no evidence for this, as some users point out in their comments. As mentioned earlier, the idea came from the Japanese Akatsuki. He is considered a famous palm reader and is said to have interpreted the fate of many celebrities. He simply applied his knowledge and experience to the cat’s paw and defined different paw types. Later, other authors picked up the idea, and the trend took on a life of its own.
So Nekteso is more of a playful, esoterically inspired method that attempts to interpret a cat’s personality based on the shape of its paws—comparable to palm reading.
What Science Says About Cat Paws and Personality
There are indeed studies that have examined the character of cats in relation to their paws. However, these studies focused on usage rather than shape. A U.S. research team found that a strong paw preference also influences the personality and character of cats. Cats that prefer to use their left paw are more anxious and avoid new stimuli. Right-pawed cats, on the other hand, are more exploratory and approach the unknown more readily. The study was published in 2016 in the journal “Journal of Comparative Psychology.”
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Conclusion
Although Nekteso is not scientifically grounded and falls more into the category of esoteric play, the trend clearly shows one thing: our deep fascination with cats and the desire to understand them better. The character descriptions feel familiar and charming—similar to horoscopes—and invite us to rediscover the quirks of our own pets with a wink.
Even if the shape of the paw pads probably reveals little about a cat’s personality, paw reading can certainly be fun and enrich the relationship between humans and animals in a loving way. In the end, it holds true: Those who know their cat well don’t need a paw shape to read its character—but a little cat mysticism never hurt anyone.
About the Author
Dr. Saskia Schneider is a biologist with a Ph.D. During her studies at the Free University of Berlin, she focused primarily on zoology and animal behavior. In addition to training as an editor, she completed training as a behavior consultant with a focus on cats.