~ Close Up On Cats ~ Part 3

Did you know tt...

• Cats can rotate the front half of their spine through 180 degrees relative to the back half, arch their backs into an inverted U shape, or sleep in a circle.

• An extremely mobile backbone is what gives cats their amazing flexibility. Discs between each spinal bone are connected less tightly than in many other animals so overall flexibility is greater.

• A high degree of muscle control means cats can hold a pose for very long periods. They have more than 500 separate skeletal muscles, and a much higher percentage of muscle relative to their body size than do humans.

• There are between 19 and 28 small vertebrae in the tail, which can twist and stiffen to help the cat maintain balance.

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