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There are a lot of reasons why cats are so flexible. For one, they have evolved to be very agile creatures. Their hunting skills require them to be able to move quickly and effortlessly through tight spaces. In this blog post, we will explore the science behind feline agility and discuss some of the reasons why cats are so flexible.
Reasons For Cat Flexibility
It’s all about the science of feline agility. Here are the reasons why cats are able to contort their bodies in ways that would make even the most flexible human jealous.
Joints
One reason why cats are so flexible is that they have double-jointedness. This means that their joints can move in a wider range of motion than ours. For example, a cat’s shoulder joint can rotate up to 180 degrees. This allows them to twist and turn their bodies in ways we cannot.
Spine
Another reason for their flexibility is that cats have more vertebrae in their spine than we do. Cats have 30 vertebrae in their spine, while humans only have 24. They also have a higher number of joints between the vertebrae. This gives them greater mobility and allows them to arch their backs and stretch out their bodies in ways we cannot.
Cat spine is different from the human spine. Each vertebra is shorter and more loosely attached to the others. This allows them to twist and turn their bodies in ways that would snap our spines.
Muscles
Cats also have very strong muscles, which allow them to contort their bodies in ways that we cannot. Their muscles are also able to generate a lot of power, which allows cats to jump great heights and distances.
All of these physical adaptations make cats extremely agile creatures. They can easily twist and turn their bodies, jump high and far, and squeeze into tight spaces. So the next time you see your cat stretching or twisting into a new position, remember that they are just using their natural abilities to the fullest.
Shoulder Blade
Another reason has to do with their shoulder blades. Unlike human shoulder blades, which are attached to the rest of the skeleton, a cat’s shoulder blades are not connected which allows them to twist and stretch in ways that would dislocate our shoulders. This allows them to rotate their front legs almost 360 degrees.
Leg Bones
Their leg bones are also shorter and thinner than ours, making them more flexible. And their paws have extra joints that allow them to grip surfaces and make tight turns.
Cats also have very flexible hips. Their hip bones are shaped differently than ours, which allows them to extend their legs out to the side and rotate them in ways that would dislocate our hips.
All of these physical features come together to make a cat the ultimate acrobat. They can contort their bodies in ways that would make even the most flexible human jealous. So next time you see your cat stretching, remember, they’re just doing what comes naturally to them.
Cat spine vs Human spine
A cat’s spine is very different from a human’s. For one, it is much more flexible. The individual bones are shorter and more loosely attached to each other than in a human spine. This allows cats to twist and turn their bodies in ways that would snap our spines.
In addition, cats have more joints than humans. In fact, they have twice as many joints in their necks as we do. This gives them an incredible range of motion and allows them to turn their heads nearly 180 degrees in either direction.
All of these factors contribute to a cat’s agility and flexibility. Cats are able to contort their bodies in ways that we could never even imagine. So the next time you see your cat twisting and stretching, remember that they’re just taking advantage of their anatomy.
Conclusion
Cats are flexible for a variety of reasons. For one, they have more joints than dogs and humans. They also have very loose skin that helps them to twist and turn easily. Their lithe bodies are also able to contort in ways that would break most bones in other animals.
All of these factors work together to make cats some of the most acrobatic creatures around. They can squeeze into tiny spaces, jump great heights, and land on their feet even when falling from high up.
This flexibility also comes in handy when they’re hunting. Their agile bodies allow them to pounce on prey with speed and accuracy.