There is a lot of humor being made on social media about whether cats are liquid or not. But did you know that someone has actually come out and researched this, putting out a research group to see if cats are fluid? This work, which received an Ig Nobel prize, was of course far from serious. In fact, the aforementioned award was given to absurd works, so to speak. However, let’s briefly mention that it results in “they can be solid or liquid depending on the situation”.
Rather than this study, we will take a look at this surprising feature of cats. Where does this flexibility come from, how is it that they can fit their whole bodies through tiny holes?” We will provide answers to questions such as:
Humans have between 32 and 34 bones lined up in their spine. How many do you think this number is in cats?
52. Now, “How can there be more bones in the spine of an animal that is so tiny compared to us?” you might think. At this point, let’s say that the same animal has 230 bones in its body compared to our 206 bones.
More importantly, the elastic supports between these extra bones in the spine give cats that jaw-dropping flexibility.
In this way, although they cannot turn their heads 180 degrees like owls, they can do so in their bodies.
We have only reached this point…
- (Don’t take it personally and try to go beyond)
But it’s not the flexibility of their spines that makes cats alien in our eyes.
This is because of the shoulder structures. We have collarbones in our shoulders and they connect to other bones in our arms.
In cats, this part is connected to the rest of the body with the help of muscles, not bones. In other words, they do not have a bone structure in their shoulders.
- NOTE: For this very reason, it is recommended not to lift cats from the front. Otherwise, hard contact with this bone can cause fatal injuries.
That’s why they can live with the motto “I’ll pass as long as my head passes”
- We wanted to highlight this moment (1:28)
Thanks to this flexibility, they can take their steps to the widest level when they want to run.
Cats owe their quick reflexes to the advantages of this skeletal structure.
As a result, we can say that the spine and shoulder structures allow cats to pass through narrow places.
- Sources: Live Science, Catonsville Cat Clinic, VetCheck, CCMR, Washington State University
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