Anatomy of the cat: we list in infographic 20 curiosities about the body of your feline

 Anatomy of the cat: we list in infographic 20 curiosities about the body of your feline

Tracy Wilkins

A cat's anatomy is more curious than you might think, which allows felines to develop very powerful abilities. Have you ever wondered why cats always land on their feet? Or how they manage to accommodate themselves inside different spaces, such as cardboard boxes, and reach very high places? Well, much of this happens thanks to feline anatomy. The body of kittens haveparticularities that many people do not know, and some structures - such as the cat's paw or the cat's mustache - may surprise you. To better understand how your friend's anatomy works, we have prepared an infographic with various information and curiosities!

The cat's anatomy has several curiosities that make felines very skillful

Cat anatomy: how cats' eyes work

How do cats see? Cat vision is quite different from ours: unlike humans, cats do not see all colors. This is because humans have three types of photoreceptor cells, while cats have only two, which greatly limits the amount of colors they see. Another curiosity is that up close cats see very well, but they cannot focuson objects that are far away

Despite this, cats' vision works very well in the dark. Anyone who has a kitten will have noticed that these animals love to roam around the house at night, and even in low light they can walk without bumping into anything. The explanation behind this keen vision is simple: cats have a large number of cells that help to capture light, called rods. They alsohave a membrane that sits inside the eyeball (called the tapetum lucidum) that acts as a light reflector, improving visual ability. So when it's dark, the cat's pupil dilates in search of any remnant of light, the rods pick this up and the tapetum lucidum reflects the luminosity. This also explains why the cat's eye glows in the dark.

The cat's ear is responsible for hearing and feline balance

Did you know that a cat's ears can rotate up to 180 degrees? Just pay attention to the movement of your friend's ears when he hears a noise. This flexibility combined with the shape of the feline skull is precisely what enables hearing that can reach an incredible 65,000Hz - while a human can only reach, at most, around 20,000Hz.

But don't think that the curiosities about the cat's ear end there: the anatomy of the region still has another characteristic that draws a lot of attention. That theory that cats always fall on their feet has a good foundation: these animals have a structure located in the ear - called the labyrinth - which is responsible for feline balance. So when a cat is falling, the pressure in the ear is higher than in the ear.labyrinth increases and sends an alert to the nervous system, which will try to "correct" the cat's position in time for it to hit the ground on its feet.

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Curiosities about your cat: anatomy of the feline paw allows great leaps

If you want to get to know your cat better, their paw anatomy is something that will surely surprise you! The sweat glands of felines are located in the region of the pads, causing them to release sweat through their paws. This same sweat even has a very specific smell that also serves to mark territory - although it is often not noticeable to the human sense of smell.

Still about the cat's paw, another curious fact is that the claws of these pets are not always on display. This is because they are retractable, so they spend part of their time hidden and only appear when the cat is preparing to attack or intends to sharpen its nails. This is also the reason why cats are super quiet and do not make noise when walking around the house.

If you've ever seen a cat jump, you may have wondered how it does it. The answer also lies in the paws, as the back has longer toes that allow for greater momentum when the cat jumps - and believe it or not, felines can jump up to 5 times their height. They can also run up to 49 km/hour. Tactile sensitivity, combined with other sensesfelines, is able to detect an earthquake up to 15 minutes before.

The cat's tail plays an important role in feline language

Understanding feline body language is key to knowing what your four-legged friend means by certain behaviors. One of the ways to improve communication with cats is to learn to interpret the movements of the cat's tail. The feline tail moves according to each situation. If he is happy, the tail is usually pointed upwards and with few movements. If he is happy, the tail is pointed upwards and with few movements.he is under stress, he may stand with his tail fully erect and his hair bristling.

The cat's tail is nothing more than an extension of the vertebral column. It contains about 18 to 23 bones of the cat's entire body, which is equivalent to 10% of the bones of the species.

Each cat's muzzle is unique and exclusive

Just as humans have fingerprints that distinguish them from each other, cats also have a similar characteristic. The difference is that feline fingerprints are located on the muzzle.

The cat's whiskers are another part that we can't fail to mention. 12 hairs are located on each side of the muzzle. Very sensitive to touch, the cat's vibrissae help with balance and spatial awareness - so they should never be trimmed.

The cat's tongue has a structure that aids self-cleaning, but taste is limited

One of the most curious parts of feline anatomy is the cat's tongue. Felines don't need to bathe, since they can clean themselves with licks. But did you know that the cat's tongue has specific bristles that facilitate this whole process? They are called filiform papillae and have a very rough texture, as if they were small "spines" in the oral cavity. This shape of the cat's tongueallows them to perform their own hygiene very effectively, making traditional bathing totally unnecessary in their routine.

On the one hand, a cat's tongue is equipped to take care of hygiene, but on the other hand, the feline palate is quite limited. These animals can only taste salty, sour or bitter flavors, but not sweet ones. The reason for this is because they only have 400 taste buds, while humans have between 2,000 and 8,000.

Anatomy of cats the species' exquisite flexibility

You've probably noticed that cats are very flexible. That's why they can get into almost any place, no matter how small. The explanation is simple: cats don't have a collarbone, but rather a small clavicular cartilage that ensures greater flexibility. Another factor that contributes greatly to this is the number of vertebrae present in the cat's back. They have 53vertebrae, while humans have only 34, so they can move around more easily and fit basically anywhere - including the little cardboard boxes they love.

Cat's heart rate and temperature are different from those recorded in humans

Did you know that a cat's heart beats twice as fast as ours? That's right: cats' heartbeats usually vary between 110 and 240 beats per minute, which is almost twice as fast as human heartbeats. So don't be alarmed if one day you feel your cat's heart racing, because it's totally normal.

Another curiosity about the feline anatomy is the body temperature, which must vary between 38º and 39º to be considered healthy. Because of this, cats tend to be very warm.

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Tracy Wilkins

Jeremy Cruz is a passionate animal lover and dedicated pet parent. With a background in veterinary medicine, Jeremy has spent years working alongside veterinarians, gaining invaluable knowledge and experience in caring for dogs and cats. His genuine love for animals and commitment to their well-being led him to create the blog Everything you need to know about dogs and cats, where he shares expert advice from veterinarians, owners, and respected experts in the field, including Tracy Wilkins. By combining his expertise in veterinary medicine with insights from other respected professionals, Jeremy aims to provide a comprehensive resource for pet owners, helping them understand and address their beloved pets' needs. Whether it's training tips, health advice, or simply spreading awareness about animal welfare, Jeremy's blog has become a go-to source for pet enthusiasts seeking reliable and compassionate information. Through his writing, Jeremy hopes to inspire others to become more responsible pet owners and create a world where all animals receive the love, care, and respect they deserve.