If something is clear to us who live with cats, it is that our kittens are owners of many admirable abilities that can surprise us daily, right?
As if their keen senses and the independence that underlines their character weren't enough, felines seem to be able to become true 4-legged ninjas without requiring much effort. And to continue getting to know our beloved felines, on our site we invite you to discover 7 cat skills that will surprise youCan you come with us?
1. Flexibility and elasticity
Have you noticed that kitties can get into really tight places or sleep in awkward positions? It's amazing how, sometimes, your body seems to become "liquid", right? Well, this is due to the great flexibility and elasticity that their bone structure gives them. A he althy adult cat has about 244 bones (nearly 40 more bones than the human skeleton), and the discs between its vertebrae are thicker than ours. This is added to and complemented by a well-developed resistant musculature.
This combination allows cats to have abilities such as entering tight spaces, performing real aerial acrobatics and jumping distances that exceed 5 or 6 times the length of their own body.
two. Excellent balance
You must have also already noticed that cats can walk calmly on the edges of very fine or unstable surfaces, without losing their balance or even losing the elegance of their walk. This is possible because cats have small canals in their inner ears, which are filled with fluid and covered by tiny hairs. This structure acts in sync with their vision and physical resistance to allow excellent balance and wide mobility, another of the abilities of cats that never cease to amaze us.
3. Silent and ste althy movement
As if their flexibility, balance and resistance weren't enough, another of the abilities of cats that will surprise you is their ability to move, and that is that cats can also move absolutely ste althily, just like a perfectly trained ninja. Surely, you have already been surprised to find your cat right next to you without even having heard it arrive. The pads that cover and protect their front and back feet, combined with their retractable claws, allow them to walk and run silently. They are adaptive capacities developed during the evolution of their species, whose objective is to guarantee optimal hunting. By moving ste althily, cats can approach their prey and prepare to catch up without being noticed.
4. Super Night Vision
Cats, as well as wild felines, are owners of a privileged night vision, since they evolved to be able to hunt in the darknights feature. The structure of their eyes is different from ours and is prepared to perceive better under dimmer lights. On the other hand, their ocular structure hinders their daytime vision, since the cells of their eyes, when they have been subjected to intense light, are unable to transmit detailed information to the brain. Therefore, for a cat, the images are blurrier during the day, and very sharp at night.
However, this does not mean that cats can see in total darkness, as one of the false myths about cats often claims, but it is true that cats have excellent night vision.
5. Multipurpose language
You may have already noticed that your cat's tongue has a texture much rougher than ours or a dog's. This is because feline taste buds have a different structure and are concentrated in a specific way (different than in other mammals).
In addition to a sharp palate, the composition and texture of their tongue also allows them to have better daily hygiene. Cats use their tongue like a little brush, sweeping impurities and tiny particles from their skin and fur. In this way, they manage to stay clean without losing the layer of fat that protects their body. The pH of your saliva also helps keep your body clean and disinfected, preventing the proliferation of various microorganisms and parasites. However, it is important to bear in mind that the natural grooming habits of our kittens do not replace or eliminate the need to vaccinate, deworm and brush them periodically. Although felines are naturally clean animals, they need adequate preventive medicine to maintain their good he alth in their home life.
The taste buds on their tongues also give them a well-developed sense of taste, although they don't have as varied a palate as humans humans. In addition, cats do not perceive the sweet taste, because their body does not produce one of the two proteins necessary to achieve this sensation. This would be an adaptive capacity that your body developed to avoid consuming prohibited substances and foods that can harm your body or poison you. It is worth remembering that we should not offer sugary or industrialized foods to our kittens. A cat's diet is decisive for its good he alth, and the consumption of inappropriate foods tends to favor the development of disorders in its digestive tract.
6. Transform a simple cardboard box into a whole world
If you have already offered a cardboard box to your kitty, you understand perfectly what we are talking about. A cat is capable of having fun for hours and hours at a time with this simple element, playing hide-and-seek or simply feeling safe in its new shelter. Humans also have this amazing ability of cats during childhood, however, and unfortunately, most tend to lose it as they grow up. So take the opportunity to recover the child in you and have a fun time with your feline, he will thank you and so will you!
If you are looking for a way to entertain, stimulate and tire your cat, you can find a good and sturdy cardboard box, and also Discover the tips in our article: "How to tire my cat - games and recommendations".
7. Hearing and smell privileged
Felines have a much higher number of olfactory cells than humans. In addition, they use their whiskers, eyelashes, and the hairs under their chins as motion sensors. Thanks to this, they have a very sensitive and keen sense of smell, which allows them to quickly detect prey, females in heat, poisonous or decomposing food, the territories of other felines, possible predators, among others.
The Feline Hearing is also noteworthy. Cats can hear a wide range of frequencies, even very high-pitched sounds. This sensitivity to high frequencies allows them to hear ultrasound up to 50,000Hz, while humans can only hear around 20,000Hz.
His hearing capacity is added to the extreme mobility of his ears and the hairs inside his ear pavilion to guarantee privileged hearing worthy of an accomplished hunter. Cats can move their ears to more easily detect where sounds are coming from. And just like their whiskers, the hairs located on their pinna vibrate when they detect movements or soft noises. All this allows them to quickly perceive the presence of prey or a possible threat.
Does your cat also have skills that surprise you? Well, tell us a little more about your cat and his antics in the comments!
