Exploration of a purrfect enigma

John Bradsha, of Bristol University, quotes an Irish legend at the beginning of his new book on cats; ‘a cat’s eyes are windows enabling us to see into another world’.

Cat Sense: The Feline Enigma Revealed, an exploration of the domestic pet’s biology, tries to enter that world.

Cats have extraordinary senses. Their ears, tuned to locating rodents shuffling in dense vegetation, working independently of each other, detecting sounds two octaves higher than ours. The eye, though ideal for night vision, has its limitations; objects immediately in front of the cat can’t be seen clearly. The whiskers move forward, using touch to compensate. When pouncing, these long hairs act like a radar antenna, guiding the cat’s mouth to the prey. If falling, a cat will twist itself upright, spread its legs and claws parachute-style, limiting its speed to around 80km per hour, less than half what a human would attain. Cats, plunging from great heights, have survived, thanks to this, and their shock-absorbing legs.