ASPCA- Cat Anatomy 101

What is your cat trying to tell you?
According to the ASPCA, one way to tell is to look at what the cat body is doing.

Back To Back

Supple feline spines help make cats remarkably limber. This is because their vertebrae are flexibly connected and have cushioning disks between them, enabling your little gymnast to suddenly change direction while running and adjust himself mid-fall.



Tails Do Tell

An extension of his backbone, your cat’s tail is not only important for keeping balance during sudden maneuvers, but it communicates his mood. A greeting with tail held high indicates a friendly kitty. If his tail curves gently down and then up again at the tip, he’s most probably relaxed. Watch out for the side-to-side tail swish—this means your cat is irritated!






cat with mouth wide open

Grabbing A Bite To Eat

A feline’s 30 teeth serve a variety of functions. Twelve small incisors are efficient nibblers, used for grooming and the removal of meat from bones. The four canines, or fangs, can deliver a swift bite to his prey’s neck. Premolars and molars on upper and lower jaws work together to strip meat from the bone and chew.

Tongue Twister

The surface of a cat’s tongue is covered with hooklike, backward-pointing bristles. If used with force, the tongue can remove flesh from bone. Your civilized domestic kitty, however, most often utilizes this perfect grooming tool to keep his coat clean and neat.



Whiskers


A cat’s whiskers are sensitive information-gathering tools that are especially helpful during night explorations. At the base of each of these thick hairs are nerve endings that make the whiskers sensitive to subtle changes in the environment. When walking in the dark, your cat may extend his whiskers to the side to feel for obstructions or for slight movements, such as a breeze.


Fur Follows Function

Your cat’s coat repels water, keeps in her body heat and helps protect her from harsh elements in the environment. And of course, it’s sleek and soft shine keeps her on the permanent best-dressed list.


Claw And Order

Can you name the most powerful tools in a cat’s arsenal? Claws are used for hunting, climbing, marking and self-defense. This is why a cat spends a lot of time scratching surfaces—to remove the dulled outer layers and keep his “weapons” sharp.

Ears

Cats can detect sound in ranges a good two octaves higher than humans. They’re also especially good at detecting the source of the sound—why else do you think they come running from the other end of the house the second you pop the lid on that can of cat food?!


Talking Points

Your kitty’s affectionate and mysterious purrs, chirps and hisses can be placed into three categories: murmurs, vowels and high-intensity sounds.

* Murmurs (including purrs) are the sounds cats make with closed mouths, from grunts to short sounds of acknowledgement.
* Vowel sounds (think “Me-ow!”) are projected through a cat’s open, then gradually closing, mouth. Cats express many different meanings this way, from mating calls to bewilderment.
* High-intensity sounds, like growls, are made with open mouths, usually during emotionally charged experiences.


Eyes

Though cats can’t see in total darkness, they can see objects in dim light much more clearly than we can, needing only one-sixth the amount of light humans do. This is because feline pupils can widen to take up over 85% of the eye, allowing a maximum amount of light in for excellent night vision.


Nose

Cats use their “common scents” to communicate with other cats. Your cat may rub his cheeks against objects, people or other cats, leaving a comforting trail of facial pheromones to let other cats know he’s passed through. Wanna learn more about cats? Check out our photo essay on feline body language.