The Five Senses of Cats

Cats rely on their senses for survival. The five senses of cats are utilized for the purposes of hunting, navigation and protection.

The Sense of Hearing
Cats are adept at hearing high-pitched sounds - 1.6 octaves above humans and 1.0 octave above dogs. The ears of a cat will swivel in the direction of a sound, while their ear flaps can move up, down and sideways to pinpoint the source of sound.

The Sense of Sight
 Studies show that cats have good night vision. Cats have a reflective layer behind the retina that sends light that passes through the retina back into the eye. In very bright light, the iris closes over the eye, reducing the amount of light on the retina. This improves their depth of field which is beneficial to hunting.

The Sense of Smell
Cats have a stronger sense of smell than human beings. Cats have approximately two times the number of receptors in their olfactory epithelium as humans do. They also have a scent organ in the roof of their mouths known as Jacobson's organ. When a cat lowers its chin and their tongue hangs down this is called gaping and they are using their sense of smell through their mouth.

The Sense of Taste
Scientist theorize that cats are obligate carnivores due to a genetic mutation regarding their sweetness sensory receptor. Therefore, they would not feed on plants which have high contents of sugar. A diet high in protein would stimulate their sense of taste.

The Sense of Touch
The whiskers of cats help in navigation and in the sense of touch. The upper and lower rows can move independently from one another, giving the cat greater tools to measure objects within the vicinity. Also, whiskers have nerve endings where the cat can sense nearby movement or stationary objects. When the whiskers point forward, a cat is said to be friendly and curious. A defensive attitude is reflected when the whiskers lie flat against the face.

The Five Senses Of Cats