Hearing and touch

Cats can hear sounds 2 octaves higher in pitch than we can. They hear the high pitched squeaks of mice and other small rodents and can even distinguish the different species. We think this is why cats prefer us to talk in a high pitched voice. Perhaps low tones remind them of an angry tomcat?

Their mobile erect ears track prey. They pinpoint their victim’s position by the difference in time it takes sounds to reach the left and right ears. The ear flaps, known as pinnae, are independently mobile so that they can point away from or toward a sound to confirm the direction it’s coming from. Even the corrugations in the pinnae function to tell whether the source of the sound is from on high or from down low.

Cats’ paws very sensitive. They hate us handling their feet because their pads and claws are packed with nerve endings. In the wild this helps them know what their prey is doing – especially if it’s trying to escape! Remember they can’t see this close. Their vision is best from 2-6 metres.

Their long canine teeth are also super sensitive to touch. This allows them to direct the killing bite with deadly accuracy.

Their whiskers are super sensitive and very mobile. They  sweep them forward when they are pouncing to make up for their short-sightedness. In a fight they prevent damage to their precious whiskers by holding them back along the cheek.

The stiff hairs on the sides of the head, near the ankles and above eyes allow them to squeeze through small openings.

Cats senses of hearing and touch fit them well for finding, pouncing and killing their prey.