Cat Bones

Flexible Bones

Ha! We have more bones than humans. OK, the extra ones in the tail are obvious but take a look at those extra back bones. And, they help us balance in those places where humans might fall. 

Here's the drill on the back bones from Wikipedia

Cats have seven cervical vertebrae like almost all mammals, thirteen thoracic vertebrae (humans have twelve), seven lumbar vertebrae (humans have five), three sacral vertebrae (humans have five because of their bipedal posture), and, except for Manx cats and other shorter tailed cats, twenty-two or twenty-three caudal vertebrae (humans have three to five, fused into an internal coccyx). The extra lumbar and thoracic vertebrae account for the cat's enhanced spinal mobility and flexibility, compared to humans. The caudal vertebrae form the tail, used by the cat as a counterbalance to the body during quick movements. Between their vertebrae, they have elastic discs, useful for cushioning the jump landings.

They're why we are more supple. And we have extra padding between those bones.

And, humans wonder why we can move through such small openings. Whiskers are the limit! Our shoulders attach to our forelegs by free-floating bones so we can pass through any space where our head will fit.

I get into some tight spots in Tails from the Park like down holes and under houses, but I'm still here to tell my stories thanks to my bones.

Hey, don't you think the cat in the illustration looks almost like me? Except, not as handsome of course.

If you are way into details, here's more on all of our fantastic cat bones.

A – Cervical or Neck Bones (7 in number). B – Dorsal or Thoracic Bones (13 in number, each bearing a rib).C – Lumbar Bones (7 in number).D – Sacral Bones (3 in number).E – Caudal or Tail Bones (19 to 21 in number).

1 – Cranium, or Skull.
2 – Mandible, or Lower jaw.
3 – Scapula, or Shoulder-blade.
4 – Sternum, or Breast-bone.
5 – Humerus.
6 – Radius.
7 – Phalanges of the Toes.
8 – Metacarpal Bones.
9 – Carpal or Wrist-bones.
10 – Ulna.
11 – Ribs.
12 – Patella, or Knee-cap.
13 – Tibia.
14 – Metatarsal Bones.
15 – Tarsal Bones.
16 – Fibula.
17 – Femur, or Thigh-bone.
18 – Pelvis, or Hip-bone.

Max