• Question: Why do cats always land on there feet?

    Asked by beth.nicholls to Angela, Claire, Ian, Robert, Sarah on 11 Nov 2014. This question was also asked by Ian21.
    • Photo: Angela Stokes

      Angela Stokes answered on 11 Nov 2014:

      Hi _bethnicholls_
      Cats land on their feet most of the time when they fall but not all of the time. When a cat falls its body reflexively corrects its course so by the time it hits the floor its paws are in a position to hit first.

      If you look in slow motion, you will see that a falling cat begins to shift his balance immediately and his body works out which side should be up. The cat begins to rotate his head directed by his eyes and ears (his vestibular system helps him determine which way is up) until he is facing the right way up. Next his spine (very flexible in cats) arches and his feet come underneath him so he lands much like a parachute with his front feet near his face to protect it.

      Clever cat!!

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