A New Study Details How Cats Almost Always Land on Their Feet

"What makes cats masters of falling is their spines, which are not uniformly flexible. In particular, the thoracic region is very flexible: It can rotate about 50 degrees with very little effort. The lumbar region, by contrast, is much stiffer and acts as a stabilizer."

"When straightening in the air, therefore, cats first rotate their head and front legs toward the ground because the thoracic spine is flexible, then the entire back of the body follows. The stiffer lumbar region functions as a kind of anchor, allowing felines to rotate the front without losing control."

"The results of the new study suggest that the complex midair righting maneuver performed by cats occurs according to a precise sequence. During air-righting, anterior trunk rotation was completed earlier than posterior trunk rotation."

Researchers at Yamaguchi University studied cat spines to understand how felines execute their famous midair landings. By analyzing spinal mechanics of deceased cats and filming live cats dropping onto cushions, they discovered that cats possess non-uniformly flexible spines. The thoracic region rotates approximately 50 degrees with minimal effort, while the lumbar region remains stiff and stable. During a fall, cats rotate their head and front legs first using thoracic flexibility, then their back follows. The rigid lumbar spine functions as an anchor point, enabling controlled rotation without loss of stability. This precise sequential process explains how cats consistently land safely.

Read at WIRED