<2>Why Falling Cats Always Seem To Land On Their Feet
<3>Introduction
Cats have long been known for their agility and ability to land on their feet, even when dropped upside down. This phenomenon has fascinated humans for centuries, and scientists have been trying to understand the underlying mechanisms behind it. In a recent study published in the journal The Anatomical Record, researchers have shed new light on the feline ability to right themselves in mid-air.
<3>The Anatomy of the Feline Spine
The researchers found that the feline spine is extremely flexible in the upper thoracic vertebrae, but stiffer and heavier in the lower lumbar vertebrae. This flexibility allows the cat to twist its upper torso to face the ground, allowing it to see and correctly twist the rest of its body to match. “The thoracic spine of the cat can rotate like our neck,” Dr. Yasuo Higurashi, a physiologist at Yamaguchi University in Japan and lead author of the study, said.
<3>The “Legs In, Legs Out” Model
The researchers found that the feline spine can twist an astounding 360 degrees, which helps cats make correcting movements with ease. The results are consistent with