Mary Allen
The physique of cats allows them to rotate even in free fall. The so-called turning reflex ensures that the fur noses land on their paws almost every time they fall. But does the reflex protect the cat from injury?
The turning reflex is innate in cats and develops as kittens gradually gain body control and also learn to walk. That doesn’t mean, however, that the skilled velvet paws can’t hurt themselves when they fall.
What Happens When Cats Fall?
When falling from a height of two to three meters, cats can spin in mid-air so that their paws point down and they can land on all four feet. Also, part of the rolling reflex is for the cat to arch its back as it falls, to cushion the shock of landing.
First, the cat turns its head and front paws to the ground, then drags its back paws, using its tail as a rudder, to steer itself into position. However, if the time in free fall is too short, the turning reflex will not take effect in time. This can happen when cats fall from a height of fewer than two meters.
Twisting Reflex in Kittens
From around the 39th day of life, kittens slowly begin to develop the turning reflex. In this phase – so between the fifth and sixth week of their life – the kittens also start to walk properly and go on a discovery tour. They can easily fall off the cupboard or scratching post while playing and romping around. However, if they already master the turning reflex, the risk of injury is lower.
Caution Risk of Injury!
Nevertheless, the danger that the cat will injure itself is still there – especially if cats fall from a very high or too low height. If the animals could not complete the turning reflex, they may land unhappily. From too great a height, the shock when landing is so great that the cat can no longer absorb everything and injures itself. It can also be dangerous if the ground is very hard or uneven, or if there are shards or objects scattered across the landing area.