The secret to helping cats 'flow' like liquid through very narrow spaces

Cats can squeeze their bodies through seemingly impenetrable holes. What secrets do they have that give them this special ability?

In humans, the shoulder joint connects the shoulder blade to the collarbone, creating a shoulder framework that supports the muscles of the arm.

The key to cats' ability to "flow" like liquid through very narrow spaces is their unique shoulder joints.

In cats, on the other hand, the shoulder blade is connected to the rest of the body only by muscle, not by any other bone. The collarbone is similarly connected to the rest of the body. Furthermore, a cat's collarbone is much smaller relative to its body than a human's collarbone is relative to the human body.

These anatomical features enable cats to shrink down to fit through very small openings. The ability to fit into small spaces is an evolutionary advantage for cats when hunting small prey such as mice and also for hiding and escaping from predators that cats eat.

In addition, the whiskers on the side of the cat's mouth also help it get through narrow gaps. Cat whiskers are hairs that are twice as thick as the hair on the body and penetrate the skin three times deeper than other hairs.

The bases of the whiskers are packed with nerve endings, giving cats a highly sensitive navigation system that transmits a huge amount of information about their surroundings. They are also aware of their own body size when approaching small openings to try to squeeze through.

Researchers have studied this issue and found that cats will take long, fast steps through tall, narrow gaps, even gaps that are narrower than their chest width, but they slow down before and during short gaps.

The researchers reasoned that the way cats handled going through long narrow holes and short narrow holes was different , demonstrating that they were aware of their body size and had appropriate ways of moving.

A small hole in a fence like this is no challenge for a kitten. (Photo: Getty Images).

So why do cats like to get into tight spaces?

According to scientists, cats often choose to hide in small spaces, such as under the bed, when they are afraid or uncomfortable, because hiding like this makes them feel safer. Cats also choose small spaces when they need privacy, such as when they need time away from their surroundings.

So perhaps we shouldn't bother a cat when it gets into small spaces, unless it's somewhere we think it might be in danger.