How Many Bones Does A Cat Have?

One thing is undeniable: the flexibility, speed, and height that cats possess, so this is made possible by their unique bone structure.

So looking at the spine and legs of a cat, we can see that this gives them good footing and agility while giving them the power in their legs to reach high areas.

While a cat has somewhere around 230-245 bones in its system, depending on the type, you might be thinking about how all of this works, so to find out more, we'll look closely at each section to remove the air of mystery that surrounds  your feline friend.
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An Overview Of A Cat's Skeletal System 

We know that a human has around 206-213 but starts with 270, so you can get a good idea of how this stacks up, and this is made possible by a human's bones fusing as they grow, but what if we want to take a closer look?

 You can find out how each section of the skeleton is made up, so this can be seen as:
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• In the skull, 29 bones make up the facial and cranial bones.

 

• The spine is divided up into four sections which are made up of 30 vertebrae, which gives your cat more flexibility and allows them to land on their feet.

 

• There are 18-23 bones in the tail, and here is where 10% of a cat's bones can be found, with cartilage and nerves giving the tail more sensitivity. 

 

• From the spine to the pelvis, all the way to the feet, can have as many bones as there are in a human foot, which is about 26, but it depends on whether we're talking about the front or hind feet as you can find more toes on the fore leg. 

 

• Cats have a free-floating collarbone, which gives them more flexibility, and this clavicle is buried in the shoulder region and doesn't connect with other bones.

 

• A cat's ribs are made up of 13 bones, which is just one more than a human's ribs, and are a great way to determine the weight of a cat and whether it's healthy or not. 

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How Tough Are A Cat's Bones?

You can see from many examples that a cat's musculoskeletal system can absorb quite a lot of shock from falls or damage, so it's going to take some considerable shock or sustained pressure to break or fracture a bone.

However, cats do experience broken leg bones more often than any other part of the body, and there are usually signs that your cat shows that there could be a fracture or break.

• They might have a stumbled gait where they try to avoid walking on a part that gives them pain.

 

• If your cat is struggling to move or is acting out of the ordinary, avoid situations that could cause the cat more pain.

 

• You might hear them before you can locate them, as, like us, some cats like to moan or cry, but some will suffer in silence, so knowing your cat's temperament is essential here. 

 

• If your cat is older and is starting to take it easy, so in this state, their metabolism slows down, and it loses muscle and bone mass, and here is where more issues can occur, so it's best to keep an eye on your cat. 

 

• If your cat is unlucky to be hit by a car or fall from a significant height, don't assume that any fractures picked up will heal on their own, as we know how cats like to wander and get into trouble. 
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Are There Any Interesting Aspects Of A Cat's Skeleton? 

The way the structure remains light while allowing them to walk on the tips of their toes and sneak around is more to do with sneaking up on prey, although the domestic cat doesn't need this and is similar in explaining why they spend so much time sleeping.

What's more interesting is that a cat's skeleton is made up of four distinctly-made types of bone, and these are known as the long bones, irregular bones, short bones, and flat bones, which all work to keep everything in place and allow movement.

This all means that a cat can jump as high as 4-5 feet, which is five or six times its height on average, and through their evolution, they have developed a righting reflex that has made landing easier for them with retractable claws that assist them.
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Are There Any Limits To How Far A Cat Can Fall? 

The thing here is that there isn't a definitive answer, and you'd not want to put it to the test, but it is said that a cat fell 32 stories and suffered a damaged tooth and a collapsed lung, but don't worry, the cat was discharged after two days.

There have also been stories of cats that have fallen seven and even 19 stories and received minor injuries, with a relatively large surface area in proportion to its weight, and can slow their descent if you compare this to humans. 

This means that your cat can go wondering up trees and high balconies and have gained a fundamental instinct for being able to sense which way is down, so cats are more adept to these kinds of environments than what we initially expect.

Final Thoughts 

You love your cat, and now you know more about them, you can perhaps work out why they act the way they do, as this is something that has puzzled many and may feel like spontaneity instead of instinct.

The bond that exists between you and your cat is something you cherish, so picking up on these behaviors is an excellent way to identify issues that may arise with your cat, plus you two make the best of friends.
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