Are Cats Supposed to Fall on Their Backs?

The Righting Reflex

• Cats have what is sometimes called a "righting reflex," which is a combination of physical adaptations that enable him to right his body in midair. No matter his position when he begins his fall, a cat contorts his body during the fall so that he lands on his feet when he hits the ground. It is a true reflex -- the cat performs this action without a conscious choice made. His body automatically rights itself because of an inner ear organ called the vestibular apparatus, which is fully developed by the time he is 7 weeks old.

Skeletal Advantage

• The righting reflex, triggered by the vestibular apparatus, prevents your cat from landing on his back, but other physical adaptations play a part. For example, the cat has no collarbone, and his highly flexible back has 30 vertebrae that allow him to quickly and easily twist himself upright while falling. One he is upright, his spine adjusts itself again to arch his back, helping him absorb the shock of landing.

Other Adaptations

• Because cats don't typically land on their backs, they are able to use the rest of their bodies to land without significant injury. For example, the pads on your cat's feet help him absorb shock on impact, and his body automatically positions itself in midair so he maintains balance when he lands. While falling, his vestibular apparatus can actually shut itself off, allowing his body to relax before impact and reducing the stress that landing places on his joints.

Failure to Land

• Despite all his remarkable adaptations, a cat doesn't absolutely always land on his feet in a fall. It depends on the circumstances of his fall, and in cases to the individual cat. For example, if your cat's vestibular apparatus isn't well-developed, or if he is still a very young kitten, he won't necessarily be able to correct himself in the air. Similarly, if he has back problems, it may affect his ability to contort while falling. Old age and arthritis can limit a cat's ability to right himself whether his righting reflex is true or failing. The height of a fall makes a difference. A fall from a chair or table or stool is too short for a cat to fully right himself, for instance.

  A famous 1987 study published by the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association shows that cats falling from lower than seven stories may suffer more serious injuries than cats falling from greater heights. This is likely because higher falls give cats more time to correct themselves, brace for impact and relax their muscles. They may even spread their bodies out in midair to slow the fall.

Watching His Falls

• If your cat regularly fails to land on his feet, consider taking him to a veterinarian. Injury and illness can make it difficult for a cat to land as gracefully as he should, and repeatedly crashing on his back can exacerbate any problems he may already be experiencing. Because cats so reliably correct themselves during falls, if yours is apparently unable, he may require medical attention before he seriously injures himself.