Have you ever watched a cat fall and land perfectly? Cats almost always land on their feet. This amazing skill has puzzled scientists for over 100 years. A French scientist first studied this problem in 1894. He used early cameras to film a falling cat. The photos shocked the science world at that time.
Now, researchers from Japan have found a new answer. They discovered that a cat's spine is not the same everywhere. The upper spine is about three times more flexible. The lower spine is much stiffer and stronger. This difference is the key to the cat's trick.
The team also filmed two live cats falling safely. They dropped them from about one meter onto soft cushions. The front half of the body turned first. Then the back half followed shortly after. The whole movement happened in less than one second.
This skill is called the air-righting reflex. Kittens begin to learn it at just three weeks old. The research might help doctors treat spine injuries in cats. It could also help engineers build better robots. Scientists say there is still more to discover about cats.