The claws are coming out after a giant inflatable cat — set up by a Midtown building owner to chase off an air-fueled union rat — toppled over because of a “malfunction,” sources said Friday.

Union workers called Thursday’s fallen feline, which was removed from the site at One Grand Central Place, a big win.

“Something broke down inside of it, he malfunctioned. The rat rules!” boasted Kenneth Botas, 50, of the Local 1 union. “I saw the cat fall down flat on his face. Cat-putz!”

A broken motor, which had pumped the cat full of air, caused the blow-up feline to come crashing down, the union workers said.

“It had a cheap motor. We were very happy for the cat to go away. Now we don’t have competition,” said Manuel La Rino, 58.

Owners of the building first set up the blow-up cat to symbolically chase off the blow-up rat last Friday. The union fired back Monday by erecting an even larger, foot-taller, inflatable rat.

But some union workers said Friday that the cat’s removal was likely just a temporary victory. They expect building owners to fix the motor and bring the cat back next week.

The rat was first set up by Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers union to protest contractor MDB Development Corp.

On Friday, union workers passed out fliers to protest of the company.

“Why should anyone pay big dollars to MDB when MDB does not pay its mansory restoration workers,” the fliers proclaimed.

Owners of the building, Empire State Realty Trust, erected the cat.