Answer: No, there sweat glands over the entire skin surface with the exception of the skin of the nose which is the completely free of glands.
The misunderstanding probably arises because the sweat glands are of two types, eccrine sweat glands found only in the pads of the feet, and apocrine sweat glands found everywhere else, especially in the skin of the scrotum (the pouch covering the testicles of tom cats).
The apocrine glands produce a secretion which is broken down by the bacteria normally present on the skin to substance that are responsible for the cat’s characteristics body odour. The mammary glands are also apocrine glands but especially modified to produce milk.
In man, the eccrine glands are important as the source of sweat, which in a hot environment cools the body as it evaporates. In this way the glands assist in regulating the body temperature, i.e. maintaining a constant temperature. But in the cat, where these glands are confidence to the pads, they are of little importance temperature regulation. Nevertheless, on a hot day it is noticeable that the cat leave wet footprints behinds it. These glands are also activated by emotional stimuli, just like the glands on the palms of the hand in man which cause ‘sweaty palms’ at time of anxiety. Consequently, a frightened cat e.g. on being examined by the vet, can also be seen to leave damp footprints, which are particularly obvious on a dark surface.
