Mackerel Tabby Cat

　　Have you ever noticed that cats are never afraid to jump down from very high places, and they always move gracefully and quickly, landing very steadily? Why is that?

　　It turns out that cats have thick fatty paw pads on their toes that can reduce the shock and vibration from the ground’s impact on the cat’s body, effectively preventing organ damage. At the same time, when cats fall from high places, their heads and front legs face downward. When there is still a certain distance from the ground, they immediately lift their necks up, and then the body becomes parallel to the ground, allowing all four paws to land simultaneously. This way, they will not get injured or die from falling. Moreover, the cat's tail acts as a balance organ, helping maintain stability. This helps cats quickly turn themselves in midair to land on their toes regardless of how they fall.

　　But why do cats have such a special ability? This relates to the reflex that restores balance.

　　When cats fall from high altitudes, the eyes and vestibular organs (complex organs located inside the inner ear) send information about the head’s position relative to the ground to the brain. The crystals and fluids in the vestibular organs can sense changes in the head’s position, so the sensitive hair cells contacting the vestibular organs can detect the cat’s head rotation. Within a fraction of a second, the brain receives signals and immediately sends nerve commands to the head to align it parallel to the ground, while the rest of the body forms a horizontal line with the head, preparing the cat to land.

　　After kittens are born, their vestibular organs are already developed, but because their eyes have not yet opened, they have no vision. Since healthy balance functions require information from both the eyes and inner ear, the balance reflex only becomes effective after the kittens open their eyes. (Source：PetsZone)