Content
- Myth or truth?
- The process, why do they fall on their feet?
- What if the cat goes down badly? What should we do?
The cat is an animal that has always lived accompanied by several ancient myths and beliefs. Some are unfounded, like thinking that black cats bring bad luck, and others that have some scientific basis, like in this case the ability to fall on their feet.
Want to know more about this phenomenon? If you've ever wondered if really cats always fall standing up or if it's a legend, at PeritoAnimal we tell you the truth about this popular myth. Keep reading!
Myth or truth?
Saying that cats always fall standing up is a belief that has led to the belief that cats have seven lives. However, it's not right that the cat always lands on its feet, and even when he does, it does not mean that he will save himself from injuries, in some very serious cases.
Although on a large number of occasions the cat is able to fall from considerable heights without being injured, this does not mean that you should allow your feline access to balconies, balconies and other places that need adequate protection, as an accident can cost your life.
The process, why do they fall on their feet?
In a fall into the void, two things play a fundamental role for the cat to be able to straighten its body and fall on its feet: the ear and flexibility.
As with the rest of mammals, the inner ear of the cat is the vestibular system, responsible for controlling balance. Within this system is a fluid that moves in the ear, indicating to the cat that it has lost its center of gravity.
This way, when the cat falls, the first thing it tries to straighten is its head and neck. Then, a physical law on the conservation of angular momentum is applied, which states that a body that rotates on its axis generates resistance and changes its velocity.
Through this principle it can be explained that the cat, when it falls, is able to perform a 180 degree turn and straighten its entire spine, while retracting its front legs and stretching its hind legs; all this thanks to the flexibility of your body. Once this is done, he is already looking at the ground. Afterwards, he will retract his legs and arch his spine, in a position that earned him the nickname of parachutist. With this movement, he intends to cushion the impact of the fall and, in many cases, he succeeds.
However, the speed of the fall does not decrease, so if it is too high, it is likely that, although you fall standing up, you will suffer terrible injuries to your legs and spine, and even die.
The reflex generated in the ear takes a thousandth of a second to be activated, but the cat needs other vital seconds to be able to perform all the necessary turns that allow it to fall on its feet. If the fall distance is too short you will not succeed, if it is too long you may be able to reach the ground unharmed, or you may turn but still hurt yourself a lot. In any case, it is about a useful but not infallible reflex.
What if the cat goes down badly? What should we do?
Cats are excellent climbers as well as extremely curious animals, for this reason, it is very common for them to try to explore new places such as the balcony or some windows of their house.
We must understand that for them these small incursions are a source of enrichment and fun, so we must not avoid it, on the contrary: add a mesh or safety net to cover up your balcony is an excellent way to make your cat happy and allow him to enjoy the outdoors.
However, if you do not have this material, it can happen that the cat falls from a considerable height, something that, if repeated several times, is called "parachute cat syndrome". In any case, if the cat falls and looks hurt, we should assess the situation and apply first aid to go to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
