An Illustrated Guide to Cat Anatomy! A Detailed Explanation of Each Body Part and Its Function

Why are cats so cute?

Many cat lovers probably find everything about them endearing: their unique gestures and expressions, their squishy paw pads, their lithe bodies, and their flabby bellies, to name a few.

This time, we'll introduce the very charm of cats—the names and roles of their body parts—with easy-to-understand diagrams.

Utterly Adorable! Names of Cat Face Parts

A cat's face is concentrated with its charming features. We'll explain the parts of a cat's face and their respective roles, such as the fluffy fur in their ears and their expressive whiskers.

A Cat's Sparkling Eyes

A cat's eyes are large for its body size and have highly mobile pupils. In dark places, their pupils expand fully, becoming perfectly round.

Additionally, behind the retina of a cat's eye is a reflective layer called the "tapetum", which allows them to see well even in faint light. This tapetum is why a cat's eyes glow in the dark.

Although their eyesight isn't sharp, they have excellent motion perception. The thin membrane near the inner corner of their eye is called the nictitating membrane, which prevents dryness and protects the eye.

Ear Tufts are a Charming Feature

Cats' ear muscles are well-developed, allowing them to move their ears extensively. When they find something interesting, they point their ears forward, and when they are scared, they flatten them sideways, forming "squid ears."

▲Model cat Chaa-chan with squid ears

They can hear ultrasonic sounds undetectable to humans and don't miss even the slightest noise.

The secret lies in the short hair growing at the tips of their ears, called "ear tufts" (房毛, fusage). Ear tufts are also known as lynx tips and are said to be able to sense air vibrations.

Among them, Maine Coons often have prominent ear tufts. Of course, many cats have hardly any, and Norwegian Forest Cats do not have ear tufts. It is said that one can distinguish between Maine Coons and Norwegian Forest Cats by looking at their ear tufts.

Additionally, the slightly longer hairs growing inside the ear are called "tufts", and they serve to prevent insects and debris from entering the ear.

Plump "Fugufugu"

The area where a cat's whiskers grow is commonly called "fugufugu", and officially referred to as the "whisker pad". When a cat gets excited during play, its whisker pads swell up.

Cats actually have about 50 to 60 whiskers. There are five types of whiskers, each with its own name. (Knowing the names of the whiskers makes you quite an advanced cat enthusiast!)

Furthermore, the base of a cat's whiskers contains nerves, making them extremely sensitive. They are also called "tactile hairs" or "sensory hairs" and act like sensors.

Where is a cat's muzzle?

A cat's "muzzle" refers to the entire area around its mouth, including the nose, mouth, and chin. Many cat lovers are captivated by the muzzle line when viewing a cat from the side.

Incidentally, the hairless part of a cat's nose is called the "nasal planum" (鼻鏡, bikyō) and is slightly moist.

Why is a cat's tongue rough?

A cat's tongue is rough, and being licked by it can be a bit painful. A cat's tongue has many small spines, which are called filiform papillae (糸状乳頭, shijō nyūtō).

Although cats are carnivores, their jaw strength is not actually that powerful. It is believed that the filiform papillae developed to help them scrape meat from bones when eating prey.

Thanks to the filiform papillae, they can also groom themselves effectively!

What are a cat's "paws" and "toe pads"?

A cat's cream-puff-like hands and paw pads are also incredibly cute. These comforting parts also have somewhat complex names.

We'll introduce some of these parts that also have roles characteristic of a hunter cat.

What is a cat's paw?

The rounded part of a cat's foot, extending to the bent part, is called a "paw". Even the name of this part is cute.

Both front and back paws are very soft and serve to skillfully move their hands and support their bodies.

Cat paw pads also have names

A cat's paw pads are made of elastic fibers and fat, and they serve to muffle footsteps. Also, cats hardly sweat, with only their paw pads and nose getting slightly damp. The sweat on their paw pads is said to act as a non-slip agent.

The formal name for a cat's paw pad is "shokyū" (蹠球) in Japanese, and "paw pad" in English.

A cat's front paw has seven pads. The bear-shaped pad is the "palmar pad" (掌球, shōkyū), the small pads on the fingertips are the "digital pads" (指球, shikyū), and the isolated pad higher up is called the "carpal pad" (手根球, shukonkyū).

The back paw has five pads, with the largest pad being the "plantar pad" (足底球, sokuteikyū), and the pads on the toes being the "digital pads" (趾球, shikyū).

Whiskers on a cat's front paws too!?

The area near a cat's wrist, corresponding to a human wrist, is called the "carpus" (手根, shukon). Whiskers also grow on the slightly protruding part near the carpus. They are very short, so they might be hard to spot.

Their formal name is "carpal vibrissae" (手根触毛, shukon shokumō), but their purpose is not fully understood...

The hair between the paw pads also has a name!

The slightly longer hairs that grow between a cat's paw pads are also called "tufts". These often grow on long-haired cats living in cold regions and are said to help them walk on snow without slipping.

For indoor cats, these hairs can cause them to slip on flooring, so they should be trimmed if they grow long.

Parts of a Cat that Bring Comfort

Cats are comforting just to look at, but their flabby bellies and neck area are also parts that bring happiness.

What is the name for the flabby belly?

A cat's flabby belly doesn't mean it's overweight; instead, it serves to prevent the skin from stretching too tightly when the cat jumps or runs.

It even has proper names: the "loose skin" or "primordial pouch."

What is the name of the fur around the neck?

The ornamental fur around the neck, often seen in long-haired cats and resembling a lion's mane, is called a "ruff" or "mane". It is rarely seen in short-haired cats and is an elegant feature unique to long-haired breeds.

Names of body parts you should know

When buying collars, harnesses, or clothes for your cat, you need to measure its neck circumference and body length. Since a good fit is crucial, knowing which parts of your cat to measure will be helpful.

At Poponeko, we define "chest circumference" as the measurement around the cat's armpits, and "belly circumference" as the measurement about 4-5 cm back from the armpits towards the tail.

"Back length" refers to the length from the collar to the base of the tail, while "body length" is the length from the chest to the base of the tail.

Summary

A cat's body is full of charm. Knowing the names and roles of its parts makes them even more endearing.

You might be tempted to touch or "cat sniff" them, but cats have areas they enjoy being touched and areas they dislike. It's important to be careful, as this can lead to your cat disliking you.

For more details on the areas cats enjoy being touched, please refer to the article "How to pet your cat to make them happy? Understanding the places they enjoy being petted."

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