Cat Skeleton

Skeleton and muscles form the important anatomical structures in cat’s body. The cat owners should know the basic anatomical facts on these structures. Nuchal crest is well developed in cats, unlike man and similarly, at the point of symphysis; the mandibular structures are easily separable.

Thirty five to forty separate skull bones are present in cats. The skeleton and muscles comprise the main body regions in cat anatomy.

Cats have seven cervical vertebrae like almost all mammals, thirteen thoracic vertebrae (humans have twelve), seven lumbar vertebrae (humans have five), three sacral vertebrae (humans have five because of their bipedal posture), and, except for Manx cats, twenty-two or twenty-three caudal vertebrae (humans have three to five, fused into an internal coccyx). The extra lumbar and thoracic vertebrae account for the cat's enhanced spinal mobility and flexibility, compared to humans. The caudal vertebrae form the tail, used by the cat as a counterbalance to the body during quick movements. Cats also have free-floating clavicle bones, which allows them to pass their body through any space into which they can fit their heads.

Cats have a loosely jointed wrist (carpus) which can rotate inward (supinate). This comes in handy when swatting at prey or scampering up a tree. There are two major bone types: compact bone and spongy bone. Compact bone is sturdy but slow growing; spongy bone grows more quickly. Bone marrow comes in two main varieties: red marrow lies in the end of the bone and produces blood cells; yellow marrow resides in the center of the bone and stores fat.

The bones in the feline back (thoracic and lumbar vertebrae) have slightly looser joints than those of many other animals, which enables cats to twist around completely while falling...and land with all four feet on the ground.

Cats, on average, have 244 bones (about 40 more than we do). Many of the extras are in the cat's tail which has 19-28 vertebrae while our tailbone only has 4. The number of tail bones (caudal vertebrae) varies from cat to cat. The tailless Manx has fewer than 5. The cat also has 3 more vertebrae in its back than we do. That's why your cat is so good at stretching, twisting and curling into impossible positions and small spaces.

Cats are fortunate that their bones rarely suffer from congenital malformations or disease and they seldom break a bone except when they are hit by a car.

This page gives you information about cats bones, skeleton, parts, names and anatomy.

Description :

1. Neck, cervical bones, consist of 7 cervical bones (vertebrae cervicalis)
2. Shoulder, Scapulla
3. Backbone, 13 bones, vertebrae thoracic
4. Backbone, 7 bones, vertebrae lumbar
5. Backbone, 3 bones, vertebrae sacralis joined become 1 bone
6. Hip bones (ischium)
7. Thigh bone ( femur)
8. Fibula (calf/leg)
9. Tibia (calf/leg)
10. Tarsus
11. Meta tarsus
12. Digits (phalank)
13. Tail, 18-23 bones (vertebrae coccigea)
14. Knee cap (patella)
15. Ribs
16. Paw (meta carpus)
17. Claw
18. Wrist (carpus)
19. Ulna (arm bones)
20. Radius (arm bones)
21. Elbow (humerus)
22. Chest (sternum)
23. Lower jaw (mandibula)
24. Upper jaw (maxilla)
25. Skull