From head to toe, from whiskers to tail tip, cats are unique animals! Here are some things you may not know about your cat’s body.
A cat’s spine has more vertebrae than a human’s spine, making it far more flexible. The main spine has thirty vertebrae; the tail may have between fourteen and twenty-eight vertebrae, depending on the breed.
Do cats always land on their feet? Not always, but a lot of the time. A cat can quickly turn downwards, thanks to amazing flexibility, strong muscles, and an amazing sense of balance. The longer the fall, the greater chance a cat has to land on her feet. A cat’s feet and legs are designed to handle the impact, thanks to tough paw pads, sinews, and ankle bone structure.
Just like humans can favor the right or left hand, cats may favor the right or left paw for climbing or play. Research suggests that more cats are left-pawed than people are left-handed. However, a cat must be steady, able, and agile with all four paws! And speaking of climbing — if your cat climbs trees, you may see her climb down backwards. This is thanks to her claws, which curve forward. A cat climbing down backwards will have a more secure grip than one who climbs down head first.
A cat’s vision covers approximately 285 degrees of the circle. In general, cats have a slightly wider field of vision than dogs, who may see as little as 250 degrees or as much as 290 degrees. For comparison, humans can see approximately 210 degrees. Cats’ eyes reflect light thanks to a layer of reflective cells behind the retina known as the tapetum. Any light that is not absorbed for vision is reflected back out. Many land carnivores (like dogs) have a tapetum.
A cat’s tongue is rough because it is covered with tiny hooked papillae. These little hooks serve as miniature teeth, helping a cat clean flesh from bones and enhancing grooming.