What is the cat righting reflex?
Q: What is the cat righting reflex?
A: The cat righting reflex is a cat's natural ability to turn itself around as it falls so it will land on its feet.
Q: At what age does the righting reflex start to happen?
A: The righting reflex starts to happen at 3–4 weeks of age.
Q: When has a cat entirely learned how to do this?
A: A cat has entirely learned how to do this by 6–7 weeks.
Q: What allows cats to do this?
A: Cats are able to do this because they have a flexible backbone and a clavicle that does not move.
Q: Is a tail needed for this skill?
A: No, cats without a tail can also do this because they mostly move their hind legs and don't use much angular momentum when landing.
Q: Can cats always land safely using the righting reflex?
A: No, cats can still break bones or die from extreme falls even with the righting reflex.
Q: What did a 1987 study find regarding injuries in cats who had fallen from buildings?
A: In the 1987 study, written in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 132 cats were looked at after having fallen from buildings. The injuries per cat increased depending on height fallen up to seven stories high; however, above seven stories, the injuries were less likely due to terminal velocity being reached whereupon cats relaxed and spread their bodies out increasing drag.
