Anatomy of Cat

Anatomy of Cat

A sleepy animal in its appearance, a cat could be agile at times. The study of anatomy of cats reveal many interesting facts about their body.

A nice fluffy cat lying in the veranda or the couch in the drawing room; this is a common sight for those who own a cat. Behind the fluffy and loose skin of the cat, lies a slender and muscular body which helps them in many of its daily activities. Study of the cat anatomy is as interesting as observing its funny and occasional weird behavior.

Face
The face of cats is a bit round in shape. The smaller size of nose and jaws in comparison to other animals makes the face to appear flat. The teeth of cats are specially designed for the purpose of tearing the meat. The papillae present on its tongue supports the tearing of flesh. Papillae are hook-like structures, that cover the entire surface of the tongue. These parts which contain keratin are also used when the cat is grooming itself.

The ears of cats are flared i.e. they are larger at their base. The specialty of their ears is that the movement takes place in a manner, independent of each other. The ears of cats are composed of thirty-two muscles. These muscles help in keeping the ears upright.

The eyes of cats, which resemble that of human beings, are equipped with a binocular vision. The animal enjoys extensive field vision, as enough light enters the eyes of cats. The 'yellow crystalline needles' present in the eyes allow them to shine in dim light. Though the animal is nocturnal, it cannot see in complete darkness. However, a dim light is enough for the cat to prowl at the night, effortlessly.

Limbs
Cats have soft paws and sharp claws, which help them in stalking the prey. The claws too, are peculiar in their characteristics, such that they are retractable. The fore claws are sharper than the hind ones. The claws are used while preying, or to provide traction on a smooth surface. Cats are known to be digitigrade animals i.e. they use their toes for walking. Polydactylism is found in cats with genetic mutation. It occurs both in feral as well as the domestic felines. The polydactyl cats generally have six to seven toes.

Skin
The loose skin of the cats indicate more than just the laid-back attitude of felines. A loose skin helps the cat to defend itself, as the opponent faces difficulty in gripping it. Cats make use of the scruff to lift their kittens with the help of jaws. The loose skin present behind the neck is known as the scruff. It acts as a cushion against the sharp teeth present in the jaws. However, the scruff shouldn't be used to lift adult cats by their necks. Cat owners make use of the scruff to control their pets. Gripping the scruff calms down the cats. 

Metabolism
Cats need a lot of sleep; an average of 13-14 hrs per day. These animals are crepuscular in nature i.e. they turn hyperactive or playful at dawn and dusk. The crepuscular is a behavior found in many different animals. Many of us have noticed this playful and active nature of dogs, during a morning walk. The behavior is generally termed as the "evening crazies", "mad-half hour" or "night crazies".

The heart pulse rate of cats is between 150 and 180 bpm, and their average body temperature is 38.5° C.

The cat family have different animals ranging from tigers, lions, leopards, cheetahs, panthers and finally the smaller representative, the cat. The cat is considered to be one of the graceful animals found on earth.

By Shashank Nakate
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