Domestic cats are distinguished not only by the ability to land on all four legs, but also by an extremely graceful, truly unique gait. Unlike dogs, they move completely imperceptibly, and while running they can reach speeds of up to 45 km / h. How do they do it?
Instructions
Step 1
What makes a cat's gait different? First of all, cats are famous for their gracefulness and ability to move silently. Their secret is that they are able to retract their claws and release them only when necessary: when danger approaches or when you need to climb a tree, etc. On the run, they also rely only on the soft pads of the fingers.
Step 2
The average stride length of a domestic cat is 30 centimeters. When walking calmly on firm ground, she puts her hind paw in the imprint of the front. If the cat is trotting, then the footprints left by the front and hind legs overlap, forming a long chain of prints. Foxes leave a similar one. If the cat had to gallop, there are gaps of different lengths between the tracks - this is due to the change in speed during the run.
Step 3
The outline of a cat's footprint is usually round and clear, without claw prints. But if the cat is a long-haired breed, then the trail is more blurred, since the fur of the fluffy representatives of the cat also grows on the soles.
Step 4
Stealthily, the cat uses the so-called cross walk. First, it lifts one front leg off the ground, then the opposite hind leg.
Step 5
Sometimes, while running, cats move to amble. Amble is a type of gait of average speed, in which the cat alternately raises and lowers both left and then both right limbs. Amble is common in breeds such as the bobtail. However, in most cases it is considered a defect and a disqualifying defect: this means that cats running in this way cannot be allowed to participate in shows and competitions. It should be noted that besides cats, only giraffes and camels can amble.
Step 6
Finally, another interesting feature that affects the gait of cats - almost 25 percent of them are ambidextrous, that is, they are equally good at using right and left paws.
