The Skeletal System of a Cat

The skeletal system of all vertebrate creatures consists of a framework of bones and joints surrounded by soft tissues, muscles and organs. Without the support of the skeletal system, no vertebrate creature could survive. The skeletal system of a cat consists of bones and joints that are very similar to humans, with a few differences.

  1. Function

    • The main function of the cat's skeleton is to provide support to the animal's body and provide a lever system along with joints to allow mobility. The skeleton also protects the vital organs and tissues in the body by surrounding them fully or partially. In addition, in cats, just like humans, bones act as a storage site for fat and minerals like calcium and phosphorus, and as a production site for red blood cells.

    Skeletal Features

    • Unlike humans, a kitten is born with all the bones and joints, ligaments and tendons (tissues that connect bone to bone or muscle) that it will ever have in its life. The cat's skeleton has an average of 250 bones total. There are two main differences between the skeleton of a cat and a human. The cat has more vertebrae that make up the spine or backbone, mainly because of the presence of a tail. Also, the vertebrae are not as closely connected to each other, allowing the cat greater flexibility to arch its back and squeeze into tight places. In addition, the cat's skeleton does not include a clavicle, or collarbone, which would broaden the cat's chest.

    Axial Skeleton

    • The axial skeleton consists of the bones in the head and trunk, such as the skull and spine. The many bones in the skull are nearly the same in all mammals, they just differ in size and shape. For example, the parietal bone in cats is large and well developed but in other animals such as horses, it is small. The cat's nasal bones are short because they have relatively short faces, and their zygomatic arches (cheek bones) are the widest part of the skull and easily felt.

    Vertebrae

    • The cat's vertebral column consists of seven cervical vertebrae, 13 thoracic vertebrae, seven lumbar vertebrae, three sacral vertebrae, and between five and 23 coccygeal vertebrae. The first cervical vertebra in a cat is called the atlas, and consists of two large wing-like processes that can be felt just behind the cat's skull. The coccygeal vertebrae make up the tail and the number of bones in the tail varies between species and even within a species of cat.

    Appendicular Skeleton

    • The appendicular skeleton makes up the bones of the appendages, such as the front and hind legs and pelvis. Again, the bones in the limbs are very similar to human bones, but they just may be in a different place than expected. For example, cats are a digitigrade animal, meaning they do not walk on a foot like humans. Cats walk on paws consisting of four digits similar to human fingers, and consist of a row of two or three bones called phalanges to form toes. The cat's dewclaw, the non-weight bearing claw higher up on the foot, is similar to our thumb.