What makes cats so mobile and flexible?

Cats are natural yoga teachers. Sleek, flexible and mobile, we admire their talent for stretching, bending, and getting in and out of tight spots. We can copycat some kitty postures, but cats are the masters when it comes down to the stretch.

So what makes a cat so limber? Their anatomy plays a big role. For starters, they have thirteen thoracic vertebrae to our twelve, and seven lumbar vertebrae to our five. This gives cats a big advantage in spinal mobility and flexibility. Cats also have a tail that acts as a counterbalance. Add to this a set of free-floating clavicle bones, and you know why it’s so hard to get a squirmy kitty into a carrier when it’s time for a trip.

– Dr. Larry McDaniel, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series

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