Why do cats have five toes on their front paws and four toes on their back paws

Question: Why do cats have five toes on their front paws and four toes on their back paws
- Keywords:
  cat,
  paw,
  toe
Asked by amy98 to Charlotte, Jo, Kevin, Louise, Valeria on 19 Jun 2012.
- Joanna Cruden answered on 19 Jun 2012:
  
  The extra front toes probably helps them climb and balance when they are jumping onto trees or trying to balance on thin branches, they may not need to have extra toes on the back feet for this purpose
- Kevin Mahon answered on 19 Jun 2012:
  
  I don’t think we actually have solid evidence to say why this is the case!

Question: Why do cats have five toes on their front paws and four toes on their back paws