Lots of people believe that cats have nine lives, a belief that has gone through history and into movies, books, and cartoons. While this idea may seem interesting, is this true? Do cats have nine lives?

Essentially, cats only have one life. The truth behind the nine lives legend falls on the cats’ remarkable survival skills. 

These are what make them able to escape predators and get through obstacles. So, even if cats don't exactly have nine lives, they're definitely living the high life. 

In this blog, we’ll debunk the myth and see how we can help our cats enjoy the one life they have. 

Where Did the “Cats Have Nine Lives” Myth Come From?

The saying “cats have nine lives” came from ancient history, with this appearing in old literature and even ancient beliefs. 

This belief was thought to have originated in ancient Egypt. During this time, cats were associated with ancient gods like Bastet. The people believed that cats had a special protective power. 

The myth most likely began because of how agile and resilient cats are, as they’re able to survive plenty of situations that would injure other animals.

The Secret Behind a Cat’s “Nine Lives”

While cats may really not have nine lives, they have amazing physical abilities that make it easy for them to adapt to several situations.

Righting Reflex

One of the most fascinating survival traits in cats is their righting reflex. 

• Body Rotation. When a cat begins to fall, its body starts to prepare itself for the fall. It starts by orienting itself. The cat's inner ear, which controls balance, plays a crucial role in this process. This is the beginning of the balancing mechanism.

• Mid-Air Adjustment. The cat then twists its spine in a coordinated manner. The front half of the body turns in one direction, while the back half turns in the opposite direction. This action helps the cat align its body for a safe landing.

• Leg Extension. As the cat approaches the ground, it extends its legs to absorb the impact of the fall. The flexibility in the legs and the ability to spread out the impact force help reduce the risk of injury.

Flexible Spine

A cat's spine is another extraordinary feature that contributes to its extraordinary life.

• Elastic Discs. The intervertebral discs between the vertebrae in a cat's spine are very elastic, allowing for a greater range of motion. This elasticity enables cats to twist their bodies more extensively than most animals, for up to 180 degrees.

• More Vertebrae. Cats have more vertebrae in their spinal columns compared to humans, particularly in the tail. This additional flexibility allows them to perform acrobatic feats, such as high jumps and quick directional changes. More bones give more mobility.

• Shock Absorption. The spine's flexibility also helps absorb shock during falls by allowing cats to rotate both halves of their bodies. This prepares their bodies and reduces the risk of injury from falls.

Sharp Senses

Cats have incredibly sharp senses. These help them survive and thrive. While they may not have a detailed sense of taste, they have other sensitive senses. 

• Sight. Cats have great vision at night. Because of the higher number of rod cells and the tapetum lucidum, a cat’s retina gains more light, enabling better vision in the dark. 

• Hearing. A cat’s cone-shaped ears help amplify the sound and know where the sound is coming from. Another thing is that they can adjust and rotate their ears to find the sound's origins.

• Smell. Cats have a highly developed sense of smell, which they use to detect food, identify territory, and recognize other animals. They have the usual olfactory receptors, as well as an additional nose called the vomeronasal organ, located on the roof of their mouth.

• Touch. Cats have sensitive touch receptors all around their body. Their paw pads and whiskers are the most sensitive ones, being able to identify changes in their surroundings. This helps them with navigation, balance, movement, and identifying threats.