Crazy Facts About Cat Anatomy
There is no doubt that cats are extraordinary creatures that sometimes even seem to defy the laws of nature. This has intrigued men for centuries and still does today. Their bodies are this master of design that enables them to perform some awesome feats. Today, we will take a look at some cool cat anatomy facts.
Interestingly enough, a cat´s skeleton is very similar to that of a human, except cats do not have shoulder blade bones. But this plays as an advantage to cats.
7 Crazy Facts About Cat Anatomy
1. The Tail
This graceful part of cat anatomy, besides being a rudder, especially when a cat moves through narrow spaces, is also a communication beacon. A tall and straight tail indicates that he is in charge and is loving it. Relaxed and swaying means he needs your attention. If the tip bends, it means he is irritated.
2. Eye Pupil
As light goes inside a cat´s eye, it is absorbed the cones and rods in the retina. The light that is not absorbed reaches a section known as the tapetum lucidum, which bounces it back to the retina allowing it to take more light. This makes cats more functional as they can do fine with 1/6 the amount of light that is good for us.
3. Whiskers
The length of the whisker is equivalent to the width of a cat body. So, before entering a narrow space, his whiskers tell a cat if he will be able to get through it or not. Awesome, right?! A cat’s whiskers are very sensitive, even to changing air currents.
4. The Tongue
A cat´s tongue is filled with tiny hooks or barbs which become very useful when it comes to hair grooming. In this way, when a cat is combing, he picks up dirt and debris, which he will swallow.
5. A Cat’s Hearing
In case you did not know, a cat’s hearing is better than a dog’s. As a comparison, the hearing range of a human being is 20 to 20,000 Hz, whereas the range of a cat´s hearing is from 45 to 60,000 Hz.
6. Cats Always Land on Their Feet?
This myth though is based on aerodynamic truth. When a cat is landing, his inner ear’s vestibular system indicates him that he is not in upright position. His feline instincts indicate him to correct this course. The ears and eyes make his head swivel fast, followed by his body. His 32 vertebrae (compared to 24 in humans) and flexible backbone make this an easy task. Like a parachute, the cat spreads to land and the paws absorb the shock. Of course, the distance of fall will determine if his legs get injured as they try to absorb this shock.
7. Nails
The nails or claws are a fascinating part of the cat anatomy. The claws are extendable or “protractile”. A cat uses them to signal other cats what are the spots they usually frequent. They take care of them by sharpening them against coarse surfaces. Feline claws grow in layers, making the outer layers look frayed. The cat will nibble on loose rags of nail to reveal the new one coming underneath.
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