Do you know why a cat has a tail? It is not easy for him to live without this part of the body.

The biologist spoke about three reasons why it is very difficult for a cat to live without a tail.

The fluffy tail of a pet seems to be an absolutely necessary part of his body. But, on the other hand, are there also tailless breeds? And they perfectly exist in such a “circumcised” form. What is a cat’s tail?

A bit of anatomy

The tail is a continuation of the animal’s spine. It does not have a spinal cord, but a lot of nerve endings. Have you noticed that every cat is nervous and does not like to be touched for this part of the body? The number of vertebrae in the tail, depending on the breed, varies from 19 to 28.

The main purpose of the tail

One of the main functions of the tail, the length of which depends on the breed, is to provide balance to the cat’s body. This is simply necessary, for example, when hunting, when a cat is trying to catch a bird or a mouse – without a tail it is difficult to maintain balance with a rapid change in body position.

When moving an animal along a fence or a tree branch, it is also necessary to maintain balance, in which the tail helps flawlessly. And also the well-known ability of cats to land successfully on all fours when falling or jumping – the tail also helps here, with its help the cats take the desired position “in flight”.

Mood indicator

A cat’s tail is an unmistakable indicator of an animal’s mood. In a state of calm, it is lowered down, and the tip is slightly raised. “Pipe tail” denotes joy and self-confidence. The tip moving back and forth shows curiosity or alertness.

And if the tail irritably and abruptly walks from side to side or is curved with a hook, it is better not to touch the animal, the cat is not in the mood for communication. In the state of attack or defense, the tail is fluffy, and the hair is reared all over the body.

The third function is warming

A fluffy tail is used by a cat and for warming – a sort of fur coat. Animals step on it with frozen paws or cover their muzzle from wind and frost, writes BB.LV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w4UVq594mc

Source link