Cat Anatomy and Physiology explores the structure and function of the feline body. Learn about how cats’ muscles, bones, organs, and senses work together to keep them agile, healthy, and curious.
There are about 500 muscles attached to a cat’s flexible skeleton. They allow the cat to use various gaits (patterns of locomotion) and to make an amazing range of graceful movements, suitable for an athletic hunter of small rodents and birds. The cat’s muscles are adapted not only for the short bursts of speed necessary … Read more
Without a functioning immune system, our pets would easily fall prey to every hostile organism that came around. Immunity is designed to protect against such infectious invaders and eliminate any foreign matter or cells that somehow gain entrance into the body. Preventing the growth of cancer cells and tumors is also in its job description. … Read more
The heart and the blood vessels form the cardiovascular system. The cat’s heart is a four-chambered pump, about the size of a walnut, made of special non-tiring cardiac muscle. It beats between 140 and 220 times each minute, depending on the level of activity, and its resting heartbeat of 140–180 beats per minute is about … Read more
The nervous system involves a complex interaction between special elements designed to originate or carry unique electrochemical charges to and from the various organs within the body. Like its endocrine counterpart, the nervous system initiates and regulates bodily functions and ensures its owner of an awareness to the surrounding environment. Anatomy and Physiology The smallest … Read more
The digestive system of the cat is made up of a collective network of organs designed to supply the body with the nutrition it needs for growth, maintenance, and repair. It also functions to rid the body of waste. Because of this, diseases involving the digestive system can have a profound effect not only on … Read more
The heart is a hollow organ that serves as a double pump and is located approximately in the center of the thoracic cavity. Its walls consist of muscular tissue called myocardium. The pumping action of the heart causes blood to flow through the circulatory system, supplying oxygen and nutrients to the body tissue. Inside the … Read more