Why do cats always land on their feet?
Cats usually land on their feet because of their righting reflex. They use their flexible spine and inner ear balance system to twist their body upright while falling.
When a cat starts to fall, its inner ear quickly tells it which way is up. The cat turns its head first, then twists the front half of its body, followed by the back half. Its extremely flexible backbone and lack of a fixed collarbone make this possible. It can also spread its legs to slow its fall slightly, like a parachute.
Kittens start to show the righting reflex at around three to four weeks old and usually master it by about seven weeks. The movement puzzled scientists for years, because it seemed to break the laws of physics. High-speed photos in 1894 helped show how cats rotate without anything to push against.
Not invincible
Cats do not always land safely. Falls from even moderate heights can cause serious injuries, especially broken jaws and legs. Vets see many cats injured after falling from windows and balconies, a problem known as high-rise syndrome, so screens on windows are recommended.
Did You Know?
A cat's spine has more vertebrae than a human's, many of them in the tail, and the cushioning discs between them are especially elastic.