Video · 1:08
Do cats really have nine lives?
No, cats do not really have nine lives—it is just a story. People say this because cats can survive big falls by using a super fast reflex to twist their bendy backs and turn their heads mid-air. Spreading their legs like a furry parachute and landing on soft toe pads helps them land safely. Even with these reflexes, cats can still get hurt, which is why windows should stay closed.
Watch on YouTube ↗Key facts
- In mid-air, a cat twists its bendy back, turns its head first, and spreads its legs like a parachute.
- Soft toe pads help cats land safely after falling.
- Cats walk quietly on their tiptoes with their sharp claws hidden.
- A cat's pupils open wide and round in the dark and shrink to thin slits in bright light.
- Cats can sleep up to 16 hours a day.
Questions people also ask
How do cats survive big falls?
Cats rely on a super fast reflex to turn their head, twist their bendy back, and spread their legs like a furry parachute. Their soft toe pads also cushion their landing.
Why are cat footsteps so quiet?
Cats hide their sharp claws and walk on their tiptoes. To stay extra silent, their back paws step directly into the prints left by their front paws.
How much sleep do cats need?
Cats sleep up to 16 hours a day.
What the video says
People say cats have nine lives because they survive big falls. How do they do it? They use a super fast reflex.
In mid-air, a cat quickly twists its bendy back. It turns its head first. Then it spreads its legs like a furry parachute!
Soft toe pads help them land safely. But nine lives is just a story. Cats can get hurt, so keep windows closed.
Back on the ground, the cat hides its sharp claws. It walks on its tiptoes. This makes its footsteps super quiet.
Its back paws step into its front paw prints, so it stays silent. In the dark, its pupils open wide and round. In bright light, they shrink to thin slits.
Cats sleep up to 16 hours a day, so after all that sneaking, it's time for a long nap!
