Cats have a remarkable ability to always land on their feet, a phenomenon that has long fascinated scientists and animal lovers alike. This skill seems to defy the laws of physics as cats manage to reorient themselves in mid-air without any external force. But what is the secret behind this feat?
A cat uses several methods to twist itself during a fall in order to land on its paws.
images captured in a chronophotography by Étienne-Jules Marey (shown in the journal Nature, 1894).
The ability of cats to consistently land on their feet can be attributed to two main factors: physics and neurology. Greg Gbur, a physicist at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, explains that this phenomenon is related to the conservation of angular momentum. When a cat falls from an inverted position, it can right itself by bending and twisting the front and back parts of its body in opposite directions.
In addition to the "bend and twist" method, cats use the "tuck and turn" technique. They extend their front legs and tuck their back legs, decreasing their resistance to rotational motion changes, then do the opposite. This technique is similar to that of a figure skater who modifies their rotation speed by extending or contracting their arms close to their body.
Another mechanism used by cats is the "tail rotor," where the tail acts as a counterweight, aiding the body to rotate in the opposite direction. These contortions are made possible by the cats' extremely flexible lumbar region, located between the pelvis and the rib cage, as highlighted by John Hutchinson, professor of evolutionary biomechanics at the Royal Veterinary College in London.
From a neurological perspective, cats possess a righting reflex, a complex reflex that involves the conscious brain. This reflex relies on the vestibular system, which controls balance and includes the semicircular canals and otoliths in the inner ear. These components detect changes in position and acceleration, and command the necessary muscular movements to land on the feet.
This righting reflex is not only observed in domestic cats; many wild felines, as well as other animals like rats and rabbits, exhibit similar behaviors, often in response to predatory threats.
Thus, far from being a mere curiosity, the ability of cats to right themselves when falling is a complex blend of physics, body flexibility, and sophisticated neurological responses, developed over evolution to maximize their chances of survival in often perilous environments.