Your cat is surely an amazing creature already in your eyes. But did you know that cats hear better than dogs? Or that their noses are unique? Here are more fun facts about your cat’s amazing anatomy.
The Tufts of Fur inside the Ear Have a Purpose
In addition to making kitties look cute, the tufts of hair located in their ears are called “ear furnishings” and they serve to insulate the ear and direct sounds.
A Cat’s Nose Pattern is as Unique as a Human Fingerprint
If you look closely at your kitty’s face, you’ll notice that the cat’s nose features a distinct ridged pattern. Like human fingerprints, no two patterns are alike.
A Cat’s Tongue Works like a Rake
If your kitty has ever licked you, you know that their tongues feel an awful lot like sandpaper. There’s a good reason for this: cat tongues feature backward-facing barbs that assist the cat in removing dead skin cells and loose hair while grooming. Additionally, the rough surface of the tongue helps the cat remove meat from the bones of his prey in the wild.
Cats Hear Better Than Dogs
Cats are capable of hearing sounds in the range of 45,000-60,000 Hertz. This means that they are capable of hearing high-pitch sounds that dogs and humans both miss.
Cats Have a Built-in Heating and Cooling Mechanism
In the summer, they slather their coats with saliva in order to stay cool and, in the winter, they lick their coats to poof them up for more insulation. Because of this, cats are capable of remaining comfortable in most temperatures.
Most Female Cats Are Right Pawed
Cats, like humans, often favor one “hand,” so to speak. Females tend to favor the right while males tend to favor the left.
Cats Sweat in a Strange Way
Much like how dogs pant to release excess heat, cats sweat through their paws. This, in addition to the saliva-cooling system described earlier, allows them to stay cool on hot days.
Cats Don’t Always Land on Their Feet
Despite their reputation, a falling cat won’t always land on his feet, although he’ll certainly try! When a cat falls, the body will twist reflexively in an attempt to place the feet in a good position to hit the ground. The cat’s inner ear allows the animal to sense how far he is from the ground in order to adjust properly. Additionally, the cat’s flexible backbone allows him to tuck his paws around the face in order to protect his head and neck.
There you have it – in addition to being fun, cuddly companions, cats boast an amazing anatomy that can do things of which few other species are capable.
Photo ©iStock.com/grase
