Ever wonder how cats always land on their feet? It’s not luck, or magic. It’s science! Here’s how they do it:
Cats have a built-in ability to twist and land on their feet when they fall. This is called the righting reflex. Kittens develop this reflex as early as 3 weeks old and perfect it by 7 weeks.
When falling, cats twist their bodies in two parts, they pull in their front legs and rotate their upper body. Next, their back legs push in the opposite direction to finish the twist. This is based on the principle of angular momentum, which is when one part of the body moves, the rest follows to balance it out. This same principle allows a figure skater to spin!
What makes it so easy for cats to always land upright?
- Flexible Spine: Cats can bend their spine like a rubber band, making it easier to twist.
- No Collarbone: This gives their limbs more freedom to move.
- Soft Paws: Cats have padded feet to cushion the landing.
Cats have amazing reflexes, flexible bodies, and a built-in instinct to land on their feet. Next time you see your cat take a tumble and stick the landing, just know: it’s all thanks to evolution, physics, and their incredible abilities.
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