The Feline Skeleton

Light yet marvelously sturdy, the feline skeleton evolved for a lifestyle that called for sudden bursts of speed combined with dexterous agility.

This substructure is the basis of the extraordinary grace of the cat's movement. Cats have more bones than humans have, mostly because of their tails.

 All parts of the feline skeleton, from the skull to the tail vertebrae, are in proportion: the legs are slender but robust, supporting a narrow rib cage and highly supple spine.

The cat's shoulder blades are unattached to the main skeleton, permitting superb flexibility at any speed. The entire structure is held together by strong but elastic ligaments

The hard, rigid structure of the cat's skeleton protects the internal organs, provides points of attachment for muscles, and acts as a system of levers and joints necessary for fluid movement.

It is held together by fibrous ligaments, elastic tendons, and rapid-acting, powerful muscles.