The cat's tail is one of the most curious parts of the feline body. Its fluffy and furry appearance gives the animal a special charm. But, in addition, the cat's tail plays a fundamental role in the pet's body balance. The cat's anatomy is surprising in this region, because, incredible as it may seem, the tail is formed by many bones and is actually a continuation of the cat's body.Patas da Casa has prepared an infographic explaining everything about the anatomy of the cat's tail so you can learn more about this impressive body part. Check it out!

The cat's tail is responsible for flexibility and balance

Do you know what a cat's tail is for? If you think that this part of the feline anatomy is just there for decoration, you are very wrong! The cat's tail plays a fundamental role in the balance of the pet's body. It works as a counterweight that helps the animal to perform movements such as jumping, running, walking and even passing through narrow places without losing balance. In addition to helping supportof the cat's skeletal system, the cat's tail also helps to give the animal flexibility. Finally, the cat's tail plays an important role in communication. A cat shaking its tail or leaving it static is actually giving indications of certain feelings it is having at the moment.

The cat's tail is an extension of the spine

The cat's tail is so furry and fluffy-looking that many people have no idea that it is actually full of bones. The cat's tail is part of the feline spine and is considered an extension of it. Humans have the so-called cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. In the cat's anatomy, in addition to all of them, there are also the caudal vertebrae, which are the vertebrae of the tail.responsible for the formation of the tail. It is therefore true to say that the cat's tail is a continuation of the spine.

Cat anatomy: how many bones are in a cat's tail?

The cat's tail not only has bones, but in fact has a large number of them. If we compare the entire anatomy of the cat, the tail concentrates about 10% of all the bones present in the cat's skeleton. The number of bones present in this region varies, as some cats have larger tails than others. On average, the cat's tail can have between 18 and 24 caudal vertebrae. A curiosity: whilethe cat's tail is bigger in some pets and smaller in others, there are breeds that have no - or almost no - tail! This is the case of the Manese, which can have a very short tail or even no tail at all.

The cat's tail is fragile and you need to be very careful when touching it

Despite being very soft and flexible, the cat's tail is not meant to be squeezed or fluffed. It contains many bones that, just like any other part of the cat's anatomy, can suffer injuries and even fractures. Simply petting the animal's tail seems harmless to us, but it can trigger serious trauma to the area. Therefore, you should not keep touching the cat's tail.

Other situations that can cause injuries or fractures in the cat's tail are falling from high places and accidents at home, as well as fights in the street and being run over, especially in the case of felines that are used to leaving the house. The cat's tail is a sensitive region. Therefore, a fracture in the region causes a lot of pain, making the cat have difficulty walking and presenting behavioral changes, such asmeow a lot or be quieter.

Cat shaking its tail, tail between its legs... know what the cat's tail can tell us about feline behavior

The cat's anatomy is very curious because it allows it to communicate with us in many ways, even if the cat doesn't talk like us. The cat's meow, the position of the ears and the direction of the eyes are some of the ways to establish communication between humans and felines. But in addition to them, the cat's tail is also a strong indicator of how the cat is feeling. Check out some of them.things that the position of the cat's tail can mean:

• Cat's tail up: This position can indicate two different things. If the cat's tail is up with bristly hair, it means that it is feeling threatened and defensive. If the cat's tail is up and the hair is down, you can rest assured that it is a common position that means tranquility.

• Cat's tail down: this may indicate that the cat is not very well. Keep an eye out for other possible symptoms, as the cat may be ill.

• A cat's tail between its legs: this is usually a sign that the animal is sad and depressed.

• Tail wagging: there are several reasons why cats wag their tails. If the movement is too intense, it may indicate a bad mood - so get away. If the cat is relaxed and has shorter, quicker movements, it is probably excited (quite common when it receives a tasty food or a nice toy). Another reason why cats wag their tails is because they areThe reason cats twitch their tails is curiosity. If something catches their attention, they will make longer movements.

  See_also: Otodectic mange: learn more about this type of disease that can affect dogs