One of the most common domestic cat behaviours is a feline's ability to land on its feet. No matter which way a cat is positioned it can always turn itself right side up to land on its feet. Although this amazing feline ability is common knowledge, is it really true that cats always land on their feet? And if it is true, how are cats able to right themselves no matter how long or short the fall?
Do cats always land on their feet?
The simple answer to this question is yes, most of the time. Cats have quick reflexes and are able to turn themselves upright in a matter of seconds. This means that in most circumstances a feline will be able to land on its feet from even the shortest fall.
So how do they do it?
A cat's ears and unique skeleton are to thank for this remarkable domestic cat behaviour. Inside of a feline's ears is a fluid that acts similar to a balancing scale that a person would use to hang a shelf. This fluid moves from side to side in a kitty's ears when it is upside-down or not parallel to the ground. When a feline recognizes that the liquid is not level, it will turn its head to make the liquid level again, which also begins to turn the cat upright.
Next, a cat will begin to turn the rest of its body. Cats lack collarbones, which gives them a greater range of motion than many other mammals. This lack of a collarbone allows felines to turn from an upside-down position to an upright position. When a cat is upright, it can then extend its legs to land on the ground and make a quick getaway.
Unfortunately, falling upright is the least of a cat's worries when it falls down a long distance. If a cat falls several storeys (or more than 10 feet) it can be severely injured. Although kitty is able to land on his feet after this fall, the aftermath of the fall actually does his legs and paws more damage than good. Some cats have even damaged their teeth or chin from the sheer force of the fall. Therefore, it is best to make sure your kitty has no chance of being the victim of a high fall. If you live in an apartment or a home with several storeys, make sure that kitty has no chance of escaping from an open window or an open door that leads onto a terrace.
The next time you witness a cat showing off this domestic cat behaviour perhaps you will recognize the different movements that the kitty had to go through to successfully land on its feet.
Niki Rebin, along with her parents Norm and Delva have helped over 3,000 stray and feral cats through their non-profit cat sanctuary Paws On Your Heart. Having worked with cats for over 70 years, the Rebin family is often asked: "Why do cats do such strange things?" To find out what makes cats such unique animals, download our FREE e-book "95 Fun and Fabulous Feline Facts" here:http://www.pawsonyourheart.org/squeeze_pages/7165-95-fun-and-fabulous-feline-facts
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