Perpetual Repair

Just as this self-repairing skin covers and protects the cat's body, every living cell inside the body has a covering wall that protects the contents inside.

Just like the skin, these cell walls are not static structures; sections of wall are constantly being dragged inside the cell for examination and necessary repairs. Scavengers inside each cell, called lysosomes, recognize and eliminate any defective parts of the cell wall.

At the same time, chemical regulators called cytokines, proteins so small and scarce that they are almost impossible lo detect, work to either stimulate or inhibit new cell growth according to what is best for that organ.

For example, when a cat's skin is torn through fighting ore some other injury, it is cytokines that stimulate the growth of new cells to cover the skin defect. This kind of repair is happening continually in all organs.