The front legs are able to rotate so that the cat can use the pads on the feet during washing. The claws are retractable and very sharp. Cats continually stretch and scratch on surfaces to keep them this way. They can use their claws to dig into a tree when jumping up or they can keep them retracted when jumping onto a table or chair. Cats actually walk on their fingers and toes which are supported by the pads. The hind legs don't have the same degree of rotation but are extremely strong to allow the cat to spring up onto high places or run very fast. The cat uses its front legs as springboards when jumping
The teeth are those of a carnivore and designed for killing prey. The canine teeth are used for killing while the incisors are used for gripping food (or fingers) while the sharp and heavy molars are ideal for chewing and tearing the food.
The eyes are protected by the deep eye sockets and the eyelids. Cats have binocular vision the same as humans. This allows the cat to have the depth of focus it needs to hunt prey. It also allows the cat to accurately judge distances, especially when jumping. Cats don't have the same range of color vision that humans do but they do see some color. The eyes are probably the most important of the cat's senses. The pupils dilate so the cat can use any available light to see. Cats have excellent night vision because of this.
The ears have a fairly good flexibility of movement and are very sensitive. Touching a cat's ear even with a feather will cause it to twitch. The shape of the ear allows it to hear a large range of sounds and cats can hear sounds at a much higher pitch than humans can. The ears are sensitive enough to pick up the sound of a mouse moving in the grass at distance, essential for catching prey. The top part of the ear, called the pinna, can be rotated in an arc of 180 degrees and they can rotate independently of each other. The inner ear helps with balance, the same as with us, and three semi-circular canals within the ear enables the brain to determine exactly where the cat is while in the air which helps the cat right itself and land on its feet. Ears can also be an indicator of mood in your cat.
The nose and sense of smell starts working shortly after birth which allows the kitten to find the nipple for feeding. There are special receptor cells within the nasal cavity which allow the cat to sense prey or danger such as a dog. Your cat's sense of smell is much sharper than ours, in fact it can be up to 14 times stronger.
The tongue has special hooks called papillae on it. This is what causes the rough feeling when a cat licks you. These hooks are used in grooming and feeding. Cats have taste buds and are able to detect bitter, acidic and salt. They cannot taste sweet substances as this is not something that carnivores need.
The whiskers are extremely sensitive and are full of nerve endings. Cats use their whiskers to find out about what is around them. The whiskers can detect minute changes in the air currents such as changes of air flow around objects nearby. This helps them move around safely in the dark. They can also detect the movement of prey through their whiskers. Like the ears and tail, whiskers can tell us about the mood your cat is in.
The body of any living animal be it human, cat, dog or elephant is an amazing thing. And each of these bodies has developed to enable us all to live, eat, breathe and procreate. That doesn't stop me wishing that I could be as supple as a cat at times.
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