Why Do Cats Always Fall On Their Legs?

The vestibular system of a cat is highly developed and they are capable of making gyroscopic turns while falling. This capability make cats turn quickly so that their legs point downwards no matter what their orientation was at the start of the fall. This makes them able to disperse the impact of the fall through all the four legs. As such cats have a higher rate of survival when compared to other animals such as dogs. When a cat falls from a very great height, it stretches its legs into a position somewhat like that of a flying squirrel. This not only decreases the speed of the fall but also allows a greater area of its body to absorb the impact. When a cat falls it falls with its feet flexed. As such most of the impact is dispersed through the soft tissues.