General information about the internal structure of cats. A brief excursion into the world of cat anatomy. Anatomy of a cat, top view.

The reproductive system of a female cat consists of the following organs:

ovaries;
the fallopian tubes;
uterus;
vagina;
vestibule of the vagina;
external genitalia.

The ovaries are a paired organ located in the lumbar region. This organ is responsible for the formation of hormones and the maturation of germ cells. Pets regularly ovulate, which allows them to become pregnant.

Important! If the owner does not plan to breed cats, then it is advisable to sterilize the cat. Otherwise, hormonal imbalances, tumor development, cystitis and other diseases are possible.

The fertilization process takes place in the fallopian tubes, after which the egg passes into the uterus. The uterus is a hollow organ that consists of a cervix, body and horns. The vagina is an organ that connects the cervix and the external genitalia. At the onset of puberty, the cat's ovaries increase in size.

The structure of the reproductive system of cats

The vulva serves as the external organ of the reproductive system in cats. It is located below the anus.

Muscles are made up of fibers that contract under the influence of nerve impulses. The ends of the muscles are attached to the bones by tendons. The contraction and relaxation of muscles causes the bones in the joints to move, causing them to flex and extend.

There are about 500 muscles in a pet's body

Features of the anatomy of a cat and its internal organs make this animal a real predator. Smooth movements, clear and high jumps are ensured by the work of muscles and ligaments. Sharp fangs help chew the coarsest food, and hearing and smell allow them to capture information.

Representatives of cats have many features that are hidden not only in the structure of organs and systems, but also in their functions.

Dimensions and weight

The average weight of a domestic cat is 2.5–4 kg for females and 4–6 kg for males (they are larger in all breeds), the body length is 50–60 cm, and the tail is 20–35 cm. These are average data that can vary greatly depending on the specific breed.

Cats became pets much later than dogs. Therefore, they retained the body structure characteristic of all representatives of the cat family. Body length domestic cat varies within 60 cm, and the length of the tail is 25–30 cm. The average weight of a cat is 2.5–6.5 kg, but there are also impressive specimens weighing 7–9 kg.

On average, cats weigh up to 6.5 kg, but Maine Coons and Siberians can reach a weight of 13 kg

There are 4 parts of a cat's body:

Head. It distinguishes between the brain (cat's skull) and facial (muzzle) parts. The front part also includes the forehead, nose, ears, and teeth.
Neck. Here the upper part and the lower region are distinguished.
Torso. It is represented by the withers (it is formed by the first five thoracic vertebrae and the upper edges of the scapula, which are at the same level with them), the back, lower back, thoracic region (chest), croup, groin, abdomen, area of the mammary glands and prepuce, anal area, tail.
Limbs. Thoracic (front): shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist, metacarpus and pelvic (posterior): thigh, knee, shin, heel, metatarsus.

General scheme The structure of the cat's skeleton is similar to that of other mammals, with the exception of some differences in the shape and arrangement of individual bones, which is associated with the horizontal position of the spine and maximum adaptability to the lifestyle of a predator. In addition, differences in the shape and structure of individual bones may be due to breed characteristics.

The skeleton of a cat consists of an average of 244-250 bones. Some sources mention the figure 230-236, since some fused bones are considered as one whole. How many total bones a cat has is influenced by the length of the animal’s tail, since it contains almost a tenth of all bones cat body(a “normal” tail has about 26 vertebrae).

There are two sections in the skeleton of a cat’s limbs:

A belt of the forelimbs (shoulder), the peculiarity of which is the elastic fastening of the limbs, which is necessary for cats for safe jumping and comfortable landing. It is represented by a spatula, humerus, radial and ulna(form the forearm), with a hand. The latter consists of the wrist, metacarpus and phalanges of the fingers, of which there are only 5 on the forelimbs.

Another unique feature of feline anatomy is the absence of a full collarbone. It is represented by two non-functional bones that are not attached to the shoulder joint, but are located freely inside the muscles. The shoulder blades are attached to the spine by muscles, ligaments and tendons, due to which the shoulders have virtually no restrictions in movement.

Interesting! Due to the unique structure of the collarbone, a cat is able to crawl into even the narrowest holes if the animal’s head fits in, since it is the latter that is the most voluminous, but not subject to deformation, part of the body.

The belt of the hind limbs, which, unlike shoulder girdle, rigidly and motionlessly attached to the sacrum. It includes: the pelvic and femur bones, the kneecap, the tibia and fibula, the tarsal and metatarsal bones, to which the phalanges of the fingers are attached. The pelvic bones of the hind legs are longer and better developed compared to the front legs, and metatarsals greater massiveness, which is associated with the characteristics of the animal’s movement (in particular, jumping). Due to this structure of their limbs, cats can move quickly in horizontal and vertical planes, which is why they are excellent tree climbers. The hind legs rest on the phalanges of the 4 toes. Like other mammals, cats' elbows bend backward and knees bend forward. That part of the paw that can be mistaken for a knee bent back is actually the heel, and the true knee is located in the lower abdomen of the animal.

Initially, it is necessary to consider the structure of the animal's skeleton. A cat, like a person, belongs to the class of vertebrates, however, a significant difference in the structure of the skeleton of furry pets is the horizontal position of the spinal column and the corresponding place of the remaining bones in the skeletal system, which, in turn, is determined by the lifestyle and habits of the animal.

The cat's skull is short and round in shape, the size may vary and depend on the breed or other hereditary characteristics. In this case, the size of the bones of the skull exceeds the size of the bones of the muzzle.

The spine consists of 27 vertebrae, divided into cervical, thoracic and lumbar sections. Interestingly, the sacrum is formed by three vertebrae fused together. The tail can consist of a varying number of bones, with an average of ten to fifteen vertebrae. However, depending on the breed of the animal, there may be much less of them (for example, bobtails).

In general, this organ performs important function in the life of an animal. With the help of their tail, cats maintain balance, and also communicate with their own kind and humans, making it clear through its movements what mood they are in.

The limbs of most cats have well-developed muscles, with the help of which furry hunters are able to sneak up on the prey and attack it with lightning speed. The noiselessness of a cat's gait is possible due to the presence of unique pads on the animal's paws, which have a large number of nerve endings.

Also, all cats have claws located on their fingers. The cat is capable of controlling these weapons, hiding them and releasing them again as needed, thanks to the presence of muscles and tendons on the phalanges specially designed for this purpose. The shape of the claws of most animals is sickle-shaped.

Shape and appearance determined by the skeletal system with its bones, cartilaginous and connective tissues, movable joints various bones, joints. All of them, together with the muscles, provide the cat’s mobility, which we value so much, a miracle generated by nature itself.

Scull. The cat has the shortest skull of all domestic animals, and the round skull is larger than the bones of the muzzle. It is this round head shape that makes a cat attractive.

Spine. Adjacent to the skull is an extremely elastic spinal column, consisting of the cervical (7 vertebrae), thoracic (13 vertebrae) and lumbar (7 vertebrae) parts. The three sacral vertebrae are fused to form the sacrum. 20-23 caudal vertebrae adjoin it as an ossified base of the tail. The entire cranial and spinal system protects the highly sensitive central nervous system, which consists of the spinal cord and brain.

Front legs. They are connected by muscles to the body and shoulder blades, and are very movably fixed on the body. The collarbone looks like a thin, stick-like bone entangled in muscle. If we hang a cat only by its front legs, as sometimes happens, its whole body will hang on the muscles and tendons that connect the body to the legs. In animals that are too heavy, this can lead to muscle strain and, as a result, prolonged lameness.

Hind legs. The hind legs are more firmly attached to the body. This is ensured by a strong joint, which is located between the sacrum and the pelvis.

Fingers. On the feet, we are primarily interested in the toes: five on the front and four on the hind legs, equipped with retractable claws. With the help of muscles and tendons, sharp sickle-shaped claws can be retracted into leathery “sheaths”, so that when running they do not touch the floor and therefore do not become dull. When grasping prey or in defense, the fingers move apart and the claws come out of their “sheaths.” For all cats, except cheetahs, they are a formidable weapon in attack and defense.

Tail. The exceptionally mobile tail, which takes a certain position depending on the situation, primarily plays the role of a stabilizer when jumping and falling. The opinion that the tail saves a cat from many troubles when falling is unfounded. Proponents of this assumption believe that a cat is able to use its tail to force its body to land on its feet.

Respiratory system

Breathing provides the body with oxygen and also gets rid of excess water.

Respiratory system cats are similar to most mammals

Respiratory organs include:

The very process of a cat's breathing can be described as follows: under the action of the pectoral muscles and diaphragm, the lungs expand and pull air through nasal cavity V Airways until reaching the alveoli, which come into contact with the blood vessels and saturate them with oxygen, while at the same time removing carbon dioxide from them.

The anatomy of the respiratory system of cats is similar to other carnivorous mammals and consists of the nose, nasopharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi and, of course, lungs. The respiratory system is designed to carry out gas exchange in any conditions environment(if there is oxygen), as well as saturating the body with this oxygen through its processing by the lungs. The structure, functions and principle of operation of the lungs are similar to other animals, and have no distinctive characteristics.

The task of the respiratory organs is to ensure gas exchange and deliver oxygen to the tissues. The process of releasing excess moisture also goes through them. The respiratory system participates in heat exchange and removes excess heat and harmful gases.

Respiratory organs of a cat:

nasopharynx;
bronchi;
trachea;
lungs.

Bengals and other breeds weigh up to 6 kg, the Maine Coon can weigh up to 13 kg

The nasal cavity is surrounded by mucous membrane, which performs the function of smell. Thanks to the villi on the epithelium, the nose serves as a filter that cleans the incoming air from dust and dirt. The larynx has vocal cords that allow the animal to meow.

A cat's lungs are made up of many alveoli. The left lung is slightly larger in volume than the right (8 and 11 cm3, respectively).

The most important body The cat's circulatory system is the heart, which is muscular organ, weighing 0.6% of the animal’s weight. It drives blood through two circles of blood circulation. Moving through the arteries and capillaries, the blood is saturated with the products of cellular activity and carbon dioxide, enters the veins and goes through the heart into circulation through the second (lesser) circle of blood circulation.

The respiratory system of an animal can function remarkably well in different conditions environment. It ensures the exchange of vital gases and the delivery of oxygen to organs and tissues.

The organs that ensure the performance of these functions are: the nose and nasopharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi and lungs. The main organ is the lungs. It is important to know that the blood entering this organ from the heart, after passing through the first circle of blood circulation, has dark color because it contains very little oxygen.

The cat, like humans, belongs to the class of mammals. But evolution has taken us very far apart, which is noticeable in our anatomy and external morphology. Cats have unusual structural features that largely determine the animal’s lifestyle. Knowing about the external and internal structure of their pets is useful for every owner, as this information helps to understand their pet and not make mistakes in caring for it.

Features of the external structure of cats

On average, the length of an adult cat excluding the tail is 50–60 cm, with a tail - 75–85 cm. Sexual dimorphism is weakly expressed - females are only 5–7 cm smaller than males. The height of cats at the withers is 25–28 cm.

The largest cat, according to the Guinness Book of Records, is a Maine Coon from Melbourne named Omar, its length is 121.9 cm.

A pet weighs on average from 2.5 to 6.5 kg, but there are breeds whose representatives are considered real heavyweights. For example, the jungle cat, Siberian cat and Maine Coon can gain weight up to 13 kg.

Head

Cats have an elongated or rounded head. Relative to the entire body, it is small in size. For example, wild relatives like the tiger and lion have a larger muzzle due to a more massive jaw and pronounced fangs.

The surface pattern of a cat's nose is unique, like a human fingerprint.

The cat can rightfully be called a big-eyed animal. And it's not just a matter of keen eyesight. Cats are among the top ten animals with the most large sizes eyes relative to the size of the muzzle. Thanks to this feature, cats can immediately see a picture with a 200° field of view without moving their head (for comparison, a person’s visual range is only 180°).

Each cat’s ear is controlled by more than 10 muscles, thanks to which cats can change the position of the ears on the head - press them, bend them, turn them towards the sound, etc.

A special feature of the cat is the presence of very sensitive whiskers on its face. These are hard whiskers, which at the base are penetrated by a large number of nerve endings. Under no circumstances should you pull or even tear out these whiskers - this causes pain to the animal.

With the help of whiskers, the cat receives information about everything that surrounds him - about objects, about the weather, approaching enemies and even the temperature of food

Torso

The body of a cat is divided into the back, chest, and abdomen. According to the relationship of the body to the head and paws, cats have three body types:

Heavy - these cats have a wide body, a large head and rather short but dense legs and tail.
Lungs - the body is slender and elongated, the head seems miniature in comparison.
Medium - in this case, there is maximum harmony between the sizes of the body, head and tail. As a rule, outbred animals have an average body type.

Hair coat is of great importance for a cat. There are no wild naked cats (sphynxes are the result of artificial selection, they are not able to survive in nature). Wool protects the animal from cold, direct rays of the sun, and injuries. Miniature muscles located at the roots of the hairs can raise them on end - at such moments, cats seem larger than usual. This defense mechanism, designed to scare away the enemy.

Cats love to climb higher - their long tail allows them to maintain balance.

Limbs

Some people mistakenly consider only the pads on which the animal steps when walking and running to be a cat's foot. In fact, it is longer and reaches the outgrowth, which is a vestigial finger (it can be easily felt, since the claw never retracts into it). It turns out that the cat moves “on tiptoe” all the time.

The photo shows that cats have five fingers - 4 on one side of the pad and one, rudimentary, located away from their “comrades”, on the opposite side

Anatomy of a cat

The internal structure of cats is a set of all vital systems inherent in any other representatives of mammals. But there are some peculiarities in the structure of individual organs.

Musculoskeletal system

The cat's skeleton consists of 230 bones, which is 24 more bones than in humans. But cats have fewer muscles - 517 muscles versus our 650.

The cat's musculoskeletal system allows it to accelerate to 50 km/h

10% of all bones in the skeleton in cats are in the tail (of course, this does not apply to breeds with short tails or their complete absence). The skull has pronounced facial and cerebral sections. This tells us that our pets' brains are well developed.

Ulna, radius, femur and tibia - these bones are the most vulnerable and most often break in cats

An interesting feature of the musculoskeletal system of cats is that the bones of the paws are not directly connected to the skeleton, but are held in place only by muscles and tendons. The collarbones are atrophied. This makes the animal more flexible and maneuverable, allowing it to crawl into narrow crevices.

Cat skeleton video

The cardiovascular system

Device of cardio-vascular system in cats it is standard, like in all mammals. But they still have their own characteristics. For example, there are many leukocytes in the blood of cats, which explains the strong natural immunity of these animals. In addition, cats' blood can clot twice as fast as that of humans.

The cat's heart is four-chambered and weighs from 16 to 30 grams, which is much less than that of other warm-blooded animals leading an active lifestyle. The “motor” beats twice as often as ours - in calm state, when the animal is not sick, makes 120–140 beats per minute.

Cats have a faster heart rate than cats, but the reason for this is unknown

Respiratory system

When inhaled, air enters the nasal cavity, which is lined with mucous membrane. It contains many glands that produce mucus and hairs-cilia - this is a protective barrier that holds dust and germs. After the nasal cavity, the air passes through the pharynx, larynx, trachea and lungs. The latter organs are large in a cat - they occupy the largest space in the chest.

Cats breathe on average 30–40 times per minute, with kittens under 3 weeks of age and pregnant and lactating cats breathing more rapidly than other cats when at rest.

Nervous system

Kittens are born with an incompletely formed nervous system, which explains the cubs' inhibited reflexes. The brain, spinal cord, and associated nerves are present but are unable to transmit electrical impulses adequately and in a coordinated manner. By the second week, the system comes into order, which is noticeable in how the baby begins to react to stimuli, learn, and move.

The weight of the brain of an adult cat is 30 grams, the spinal cord is 8–9 grams

Under the skin of the withers, cats have nerve endings that cause a specific behavior - the “neck reflex.” When a mother cat takes her kitten for this place, he automatically relaxes, stops twitching, and presses his tail and paws to his stomach. In adult cats, this reflex remains.

Digestive system

Cats have a single-chamber stomach and are not suitable for digestion. large quantity plant food. You can verify this if you remember why pets eat grass - to induce vomiting and cleanse themselves. The approximate volume of a cat's (adult) stomach is 300–350 ml, which is equal to one large tea cup. In newborn kittens, the stomach can hold only 2 ml; by three weeks it can already hold 14 ml. The intestines are three times longer than the body of cats (it is approximately 1.6–1.7 meters). There is no appendix, so pets are not at risk of appendicitis.

Peculiarity digestive tract in cats it is such that it can digest fairly large pieces of food - this is important, since the animal is not inclined to chew food thoroughly

Genitourinary system

Among the features of the urinary system of cats, it is worth noting the structure of the urethra. In males it is long and narrow - it is because of this that a male animal is prone to developing urolithiasis(the channel quickly becomes clogged with solid particles). Females are less susceptible to this pathology, since their urethra is shortened and wide.

The genital organs of cats are represented by the testes with appendages, vas deferens, spermatic cord, penis and prepuce (a fold of skin that hides the cat's penis when the animal is not aroused). Sperm formation begins when the cat reaches 6–7 months of age. Reproductive system cats are the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina and external genitalia. The reproductive system of a female is fully formed only by the age of 1.5 years, which is why it is not recommended to breed an animal before this age.

The genital organ in cats is small and hidden by a fold of skin - this structure makes it difficult to determine the sex of small kittens

Deviations in the internal and external structure of cats

Sometimes kittens are born with anomalies of external or internal structure. The reason is disturbances in intrauterine development (for example, due to exposure to toxins on the embryo) or genetic failures. There are thousands of types of deviations - it is impossible to list them all in one article. Here are the most common:

Polydactyly is a pathology in which a kitten is born with 6 or more toes. There are cases of oligodactyly, when one or more fingers are missing.
Micromelia - the front legs are too short, the pathology is also called “kangaroo disease”.
Flattening syndrome chest, in which it is 3–5 times less than normal in length (but wider). The pathology is dangerous because it interferes with the cat’s breathing.
Transposition of the heart is the location of the organ on the wrong side. As a rule, this pathology is not accompanied by any complications and does not in any way affect the cat’s well-being.
Pituitary dwarfism is growth retardation and physical development caused by underdevelopment of organs endocrine system and, as a consequence, insufficiency of produced hormones.
Dysplasia hip joint- underdevelopment of the joints, which leads to shortened paws and their weakness (the animal constantly limps and is prone to dislocations and fractures).
Megaesophagus is a pathology of the digestive system in which a kitten is born with an enlarged esophagus.
Neuroaxonal dystrophy is an anomaly of the nervous system associated with underdevelopment of the brain.

An example of polydactyly is a cat with 7 toes on its front paws, whereas normally there should be 5

Important: many deviations in the external structure that arose unintentionally (without human participation) are initially considered deviations, but later become the basis for a new breed and are recognized as the norm. Example: curled ears, lack of tail or fur, too short legs or body, etc.

A cat is an animal with an interesting inner and external structure. It has something in common with human physiology and anatomy, but there are still more differences. The entire structure of its body is the result of evolution: nature has endowed the animal with the ability to hunt, run quickly, nimbly climb, jump high and easily adapt to changing conditions.

Variety of unique physical capabilities cats owe a lot to their skeleton. Lightning-fast tree climbing, balancing on high altitude, crawling, various kinds of jumps and safe landings - all this is possible thanks to the features of the cat’s anatomy and, in particular, the skeleton, so we suggest taking a closer look at its features and structure.

The general structure of the cat's skeleton is similar to that of other mammals, with the exception of some differences in the shape and arrangement of individual bones, which is associated with the horizontal position of the spine and maximum adaptability to the lifestyle of a predator. In addition, differences in the shape and structure of individual bones may be due to breed characteristics. For example, Siamese have narrower and longer bones compared to Persian cats. From the photo below you can understand what a cat’s skeleton looks like without taking into account breeding characteristics.

The skeleton of a cat consists of an average of 244-250 bones. Some sources mention the figure 230-236, since some fused bones are considered as one whole. How many bones a cat has is influenced by the length of the animal's tail, since it contains almost a tenth of all the bones in a cat's body (a "normal" tail has about 26 vertebrae).

Scull

Due to the smaller number of teeth compared to other predators, the cat's skull is characterized by a rounded shape. Its size will depend on the membership certain breed or other hereditary traits. Representatives of the Persian, exotic and Himalayan breeds are brachycephalic - owners of a shortened skull, which is why they have an abnormal structure of the palate, larynx and trachea. This explains the common problems in these breeds with impaired nasal breathing, snoring and poor tolerance to exercise and heat.

The skull consists of 29 bones, with the brain part being formed from 11, and the facial part from 13 bones. The bones of the skull themselves are larger in size compared to the facial bones. Characteristic features also include big size eye sockets, narrowly spaced fangs, adapted for hunting small animals. The main attribute of a predator, which is a cat, is a powerful jaw, which is equipped different types teeth. They allow you to grab and hold resisting prey, bite and grind food, and defend yourself if necessary.

Spine

The cat's spine is incredibly flexible because it is formed from small, movable bones. It is represented by many vertebrae, which are divided into several sections:

Cervical spine - consists of larger 7 vertebrae, which are responsible for support and mobility of the head. Two of them with their own names - epistropheus (axial) and atlas - have the property of rotating 180°. They are connected by a thin process, so they are among the cat’s vulnerable spots: with blows and falls, there is a high risk of rupture of the connection, respectively, fracture of the cervical vertebrae and death.
The thoracic region consists of 13 vertebrae, to which 12 pairs of rib bones are attached on both sides. Of these, the first 5 pairs are called true, since they are attached to the sternum, and the remaining ones are called false, since they look like arches.
Lumbar - formed from the 7 largest vertebrae, the size of which increases as they approach the tail. They have special protrusions on the sides on which muscles and internal organs are attached abdominal cavity.
Sacral region - in contrast to the superflexible lumbar region, it is characterized by a rigid intervertebral connection of three fused vertebrae. This need is due to the fact that the hind limbs are attached to this area, which bear the main load during the movement of the animal (especially jumping).
The caudal region plays one of the key roles in maintaining body balance during jumps or falls from a height. Strong muscle ligaments provide these animals with ideal “jumping ability,” and cartilaginous pads between the vertebrae provide the possibility of various movements (bending and rotation). The number of tail vertebrae varies depending on the breed, and some breeds may have none at all.

Limb structure

There are two sections in the skeleton of a cat’s limbs:

A belt of the forelimbs (shoulder), the peculiarity of which is the elastic fastening of the limbs, which is necessary for cats for safe jumping and comfortable landing. It is represented by the scapula, humerus, radius and ulna (forming the forearm), and the hand. The latter consists of the wrist, metacarpus and phalanges of the fingers, of which there are only 5 on the forelimbs.

The girdle of the hind limbs, which, unlike the shoulder girdle, is rigidly and motionlessly attached to the sacrum. It includes: the pelvic and femur bones, the kneecap, the tibia and fibula, the tarsal and metatarsal bones, to which the phalanges of the fingers are attached. The pelvic bones of the hind legs are longer and better developed compared to the front legs, and the metatarsal bones are more massive, which is associated with the characteristics of the animal’s movement (in particular, jumping). Due to this structure of their limbs, cats can move quickly in horizontal and vertical planes, which is why they are excellent tree climbers. The hind legs rest on the phalanges of the 4 toes. Like other mammals, cats' elbows bend backward and knees bend forward. That part of the paw that can be mistaken for a knee bent back is actually the heel, and the true knee is located in the lower abdomen of the animal.

Surely every owner of a mustachioed four-legged pet will be interested and useful to know “what his miracle consists of” and how much the cat’s anatomy differs from that of a human. Cats, as you know, belong to the class of mammals, just like us, and therefore we should have a lot in common. But to learn more about what a cat’s skeleton is and how all vital processes take place in the body of our beloved purrs, our educational article will help you!

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Cat skeleton

Since ancient times, the cat has been considered the standard of grace and elegance. It is unlikely that anyone can compare with her in the ability to climb trees, in agility and the ability to land on her soft cat paws. Nature created our beloved purrs as ideal dexterous predators, but we turned them into pampered pets. However, in necessary situations, the cat quickly “remembers” its purpose, and the cat’s skeleton and its muscles help her in this.

Scull

The cat's skull has almost equally pronounced facial and brain sections. This tells us that the intelligence of domestic predators is very well developed. The bite of the purr is straight and pincer-like, and the size of the jaw is impressive compared to the small dimensions of the animal, which makes the predator dangerous and unpredictable. Cats' teeth tend to change, but by seven months the animal should acquire 30 permanent teeth.

The main role is played by the fangs, which are quite long and sharp, and the auxiliary role is played by the incisors. The cat's skull has very large eye sockets, because keen-sighted cat eyes are impressive in size.

Torso bones

Cats have an unusually flexible spine. This flexibility is created due to the fact that it consists of small movable bones that have high density. Larger bones make up cervical region, it has 7 vertebrae, two of which have poetic names - atlas and epistropheus. These vertebrae have the property of rotating 180 0 .

The thoracic region consists of 13 vertebrae, to which 12 pairs of ribs are attached on both sides. 8 pairs of them end up attached to the sternum, and 5 pairs are not attached to anything. This ensures the flexibility of the cat's body and its ability to turn around even in very limited space.

Next comes the lumbar region, which consists of 7 vertebrae, becoming larger as they approach the tail. Vertebrae lumbar region They have many strong protrusions, because the muscles and tendons that hold all the organs of the abdominal cavity are attached to them. In the sacral region there are 3 powerful fused vertebrae. And the longest is the caudal section, 21-23 decreasing towards the end of the vertebrae; some breeds, which are characterized by a shortened tail, have fewer caudal vertebrae.

One of the leading features of the cat's skeleton is the structure of its collarbones. The fact is that they are in a rudimentary state and do not limit the animal’s movements, as, for example, happens in dogs. Thanks to the “underdeveloped” collarbones, a cat can fit into any gap, as long as its head fits through.

Limb bones

Our fellow cats walk on their toes, and the lower back of their paw was once a foot. The cat's front paws have 5 toes, the outer phalanx of which forms the basis for the claw. The first finger is a rudiment and the claw cannot be removed from it.

The hind limbs of cats are longer, and the joints there are stronger, this allows the cat to withstand sudden strong loads. In addition, this structure of the limbs allows the cat to develop tremendous speed both horizontally and vertically. This is why cats are such good poison dart climbers.

The cat's hind legs have fewer toes - 4, and the fifth is also a rudiment. Based on how many fingers a cat has, she may have polydactyly (more fingers than normal) or oligodactyly (not enough fingers).

Internal organs

The internal structure of a cat is a set of all the same vital systems that are inherent in other mammals. Let's look at them in order.

Circulatory and respiratory systems

The circulatory system of a cat is not particularly different; the animal's pulse at rest ranges from 100 to 150 beats per minute and can be measured by pressing the femoral artery. Normally, blood in an animal’s body should be approximately 7% of its mass; cat blood is specific and clots faster than human blood.

With each beat, a cat's heart pumps about 3 ml of blood. The blood circulation of a cat occurs similarly to that of a person: in the lungs the blood is saturated with oxygen, and in the digestive organs useful substances. After which the heart carries fresh blood through the arteries to all organs. And through the veins, blood flows back to the heart so that it again sends it to the lungs to be enriched with the necessary oxygen.

The respiratory system, in addition to supplying the blood with oxygen, is also involved in thermoregulation. The breathing rate in cats is 20-30 breaths per minute, in kittens about 40 breaths, and inhalation is through the nose. The air inhaled by a cat through the nose is first warmed and filtered, then passes through the pharynx into the larynx, trachea and lungs of the animal. There is an assumption that a cat makes purring sounds using pocket-like folds that are located in the larynx.

Excretory and digestive systems

The cat's digestive system also has much in common with humans. It begins with the mouth and ends with the rectum and sphincter. Between them are the pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines. The pancreas and liver are also considered components of the digestive system.

It is noteworthy that the cat's stomach can digest fairly large pieces of food, which the cat bites off thanks to its strong and sharp incisors and fangs. The cat's intestine is approximately 3 times longer than the animal's body and is 1-1.8 m. The cat also has a cecum, but the murka does not have an appendix.

Fluid is removed from the cat's body through the urinary system - the kidneys, bladder and ureters. Urine formation begins in the kidneys, which are also regulated chemical composition blood. The urine then moves into bladder through the ureters, from where it is removed from the body. The process of urination occurs under the control of the closing muscle, which prevents spontaneous urination. The following video will help you understand the structure of a cat by literally looking inside the cat's body!

Reproductive system

The purpose of the reproductive system is obvious - it is a continuation feline kind. A cat's reproductive organs are the gonads, testicles, vas deferens and penis. In a cat, these are the ovaries, uterus, oviducts and external genitalia. The time for male cats to reach puberty is 6-8 months, however, the safe age for mating, when full-fledged offspring can be expected, is at least 10 months. During puberty, the behavior of cats changes greatly and they show in every possible way their readiness to reproduce.

Sense organs

Nature has endowed our smaller brothers with unusually developed sense organs. Our pets see, hear and smell much more keenly than we do.

Eye

A cat's eyes are much larger in relation to the size of its body than those of a human. The cornea of the cat's eye is more convex, which means that the quality of the image perceived by the cat's eye is higher. Cats can distinguish colors, it is believed that they see at least 3 colors - red, green and blue. The pupil of a cat's eye, just like a human's, is able to expand and contract thanks to a special constrictor muscle. Our mustachioed friends have an extraordinary sharp vision, but they don’t see what’s going on under their noses, optimal distance for the perception of information by a cat's eye - this is 2-6 m.

The structure of a cat's eye is distinguished by the presence of a special vascular layer called tapetum, thanks to which the cat's eyes can see in the dark and glow mystically. In addition, our pets may have differently pigmented irises, which is why they are so “different-eyed.”

Ear

The structure of a cat's ear gives it the ability to perceive sounds in the range from 30 hertz to 45 kilohertz, and purrs can also detect ultrasound. Almost all cats have erect ears, with the exception of some breeds. Cats, unlike humans, can actively move their ears; 27 muscles help them do this. All purrs have a fold of skin on the inside auricle, which some call the “third ear.” It is noteworthy that sometimes completely white cats are born deaf due to gene mutations.

Nose

A cat's nose is considered one of the most vulnerable organs of a purr's body, especially its tip. By the way, the tip of the nose is completely devoid of vegetation and can be of different colors depending on the breed of the cat. Cats' sense of smell is quite well developed because they have a larger number of olfactory receptors compared to us.

In terms of their ability to recognize odors, cats are macrosomatic animals, while humans are microsomatic creatures and the number of odors they perceive is very limited. However, compared to dogs, cats still have weaker olfactory abilities.

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Video “Cats from a scientific point of view”

A very interesting and educational video with a selection little known facts about our furry pets to conclude our tour of cat anatomy!

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The gracefulness of cats is admired by many people. Pets have flexibility, unique hearing and sense of smell. Animals received such abilities due to their body structure. Knowing the structure of a cat’s internal organs is useful for every owner who cares about the health of their pet.

Respiratory system

Respiratory organs of a cat:

nasopharynx;
bronchi;
trachea;
lungs.

Bengals and other breeds weigh up to 6 kg, the Maine Coon can weigh up to 13 kg

The nasal cavity is surrounded by mucous membrane, which performs the function of smell. Thanks to the villi on the epithelium, the nose serves as a filter that cleans the incoming air from dust and dirt. The larynx has vocal cords that allow the animal to meow.

A cat's lungs are made up of many alveoli. The left lung is slightly larger in volume than the right (8 and 11 cm3, respectively).

Digestive system

The insides of a cat form digestive system, which is responsible for eating, processing and removing undigested residues. A cat’s body processes food within a day.

Participating in this process are:

oral cavity;
pharynx;
esophagus;
stomach;
small and large intestines;
kidneys and liver.

A cat's stomach is more acidic than a human's, so it can process rough food. The structure of a cat's intestines does not allow it to digest carbohydrates well. This must be taken into account when planning your diet.

Digestive organs

Digestion begins as soon as the food enters the oral cavity. Saliva softens food and promotes quick chewing. Then the food passes through the pharynx and esophagus into the stomach. There, the active breakdown of foods into liquid, carbohydrates, proteins and fats begins. The content then goes to duodenum And small intestine. Unprocessed residues form feces and pass through the rectum.

Interesting! The pet's stomach is in constant activity. This is why animals often eat, but little by little.

Reproductive system of cats

The internal structure of a cat and a tom differ in the reproductive system. The cat's genitals provide the formation and transfer of seminal fluid, which includes sperm.

Diagram of the male reproductive system:

prostate;
vas deferens;
scrotum;
penis;
testes.

The testes produce sperm and produce testosterone. Sperm is produced throughout the cat's life, or until castration.

Internal and external genitalia of a cat

The reproductive system of a female cat consists of the following organs:

ovaries;
the fallopian tubes;
uterus;
vagina;
vestibule of the vagina;
external genitalia.

Important! If the owner does not plan to breed cats, then it is advisable to sterilize the cat. Otherwise, hormonal imbalances, tumor development, cystitis and other diseases are possible.

The structure of the reproductive system of cats

The vulva serves as the external organ of the reproductive system in cats. It is located below the anus.

Cardiovascular system and heart

The cardiovascular system is one of the main ones in the animal’s body. It is responsible for vital processes, transports blood throughout the body and saturates tissues with oxygen.

Circulatory system

The anatomical structure of the blood of cats differs from other animals. It cannot be supplemented or replaced. Red blood cells, which are part of the blood, provide the body's organs with oxygen. As blood passes through the body, it moves through the right ventricle to pulmonary artery. Oxygenated blood returns to left side atrium and then into the ventricle. In total, cats have 2 circles of blood circulation.

Interesting! The weight of the heart depends on the weight of the pet and usually accounts for 0.6% of the total figure.

urinary system

When studying the structure of a cat, internal organs and their functions, it is worth noting the urinary system. It consists of the following organs:

kidneys;
ureters;
bladder;
urethra.

The kidneys are a paired organ located on the right and left in the lumbar region. They perform the following functions:

regulate blood volume and extracellular fluid;
control ionic balance in the body;
stabilize the acid level in the blood;
participate in blood clotting and blood pressure regulation;
remove excess metabolic products from the body;
regulate metabolism.

First, primary urine is formed, which contains glucose, vitamins and amino acids. It then passes through the convoluted canals and accumulates in the renal pelvis. From this point on, urine is considered secondary. It enters the ureters and bladder. As a result, urine comes out through the urethra. Spontaneous leakage is facilitated by a muscular organ - the sphincter.

Important! In healthy animals, urine has virtually no color. If it turns orange or brown, this may indicate urolithiasis.

In cats, the urethra is wider and shorter than in cats. Because of this feature, females are less likely to experience urinary problems.

Endocrine system

The endocrine system is responsible for the production of hormones that are carried throughout the body through the blood. Thus, the activity of the body is monitored. Hormones can make organs work faster or vice versa - slower.

The amount of hormones in the blood is constantly monitored and adjusted to always meet the body's needs.

In textbooks and atlases you can find the following division of the endocrine system:

glandular;
diffuse.

The glandular system includes:

hypothalamus;
pituitary;
pineal gland;
thyroid;
thymus;
adrenal glands;
gonads.

Interesting! The diffuse system is scattered throughout the body, but accumulates most in the gastrointestinal tract.

Nervous system

The nervous system of cats consists of the following organs:

brain;
spinal cord;
nerve trunks and endings.

Nervous activity is carried out through the senses. Under the skin there are many nerve endings that can change your pet's behavior. This system is closely related to hormones, so it quickly responds to internal and external events.

To understand how a cat and his nervous system, it is necessary to study the classification. This part of the body is usually divided into 2 classes: central and peripheral. The first consists of the head and spinal cord. With their help, nerve impulses are carried out in the body. The peripheral nervous system receives information about pain, pressure, touch, and also transmits commands to the muscles.

Musculoskeletal system

The location of a cat's organs in the musculoskeletal system is throughout the body. The movement apparatus consists of bones, muscles, ligaments and cartilage that form the skeleton.

The axial skeleton includes:

scull;
spine;
thoracic region

The skeleton of a cat consists of 230 bones.

The dexterity and mobility of cats is ensured by the special structure of the skeleton.

Sense organs

The sense organs are represented by a group of important components, which include: vision, smell, taste, hearing. The correct functioning of this system ensures the health of the cat, as well as survival in different conditions.

Visual

Cat eyes are the largest of all pets. Developed vision, allows the animal to see not only small details and prey, but also navigate in the dark. The cornea protrudes forward, so the viewing angle is 250°.

Interesting! Experts have found that cats are able to distinguish up to 6 colors.

Auditory

Cats' hearing allows them to detect sound with a frequency of up to 65 kHz. The ear canal consists of 3 parts:

Outer ear. This part is located on the pet’s head. With its help, sounds are captured and collected, and then transmitted to the eardrum.
The middle ear transmits the signal from the membrane to the inner ear.
The inner ear transforms sound vibrations into nerve impulses.

Taste buds

Felines are able to distinguish almost all tastes, except sweet. Special papillae located on the tongue help recognize food. Each papilla contains about 30,000 taste buds.

Smell and touch

The sense of touch is accomplished through the whiskers. They are located in front of the pet's face. Animals are able to perceive 2 times more odors than humans. The main organ of smell is the nose. However, there is an additional organ on the upper palate - Jacobson organ.

Interesting! A cat's nose has a unique imprint comparable to a human finger.

The structure of a cat's muscles

There are about 500 muscles in a pet's body

The anatomical features of a cat and its internal organs make this animal a real predator. Smooth movements, clear and high jumps are ensured by the work of muscles and ligaments. Sharp fangs help chew the coarsest food, and hearing and smell allow them to capture information.