A century-old puzzle
As far back as 1894, French physiologist Étienne-Jules Marey set out to discover why a cat always lands on its feet. His observations confirmed that cats do indeed right themselves in mid-air without pushing off from any surface. However, the precise mechanism behind this action remained a subject of debate for decades.
The spine's incredible flexibility
A recent study published in the scientific journal The Anatomical Record offers an explanation for this phenomenon. Researchers examined the structure of the feline spine and analysed images of controlled falls.
According to them, a large part of the secret lies in the flexibility of the spine, particularly in the thoracic region. This area can twist and pivot to an extraordinary degree, allowing the cat to reorient its body during the fall.
"A cat's thoracic spine can pivot like our neck," explained Dr Higurashi, who took part in the study.
Even with these breakthroughs, scientists believe that further research is needed to fully understand this remarkable phenomenon.
