The ears of cats are built for both hearing, movement, and more. These furry funnels are packed with intricate structures that allow cats to hear frequencies far beyond what humans can. A pair of ears can move independently of each other. They are also highly muscular. Their position is also part of mood expression.
Beyond Whiskers and Paws: Random Interesting Facts About Cats and Their Ears
1. Incredible Hearing Range
Cats can hear sounds far beyond the human range. These include high-pitched noise at ultrasonic frequencies and vibrations that humans are unable to detect. They can hear frequencies ranging from 48 Hz to 85 kHz. Humans can hear within the range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz while dogs can hear between 67 Hz and 45 KHz. This is the reason why they can detect sounds made by rodents and bats. Their superior hearing range is part of their overall hunting prowess.
2. Balance and Coordination
Two of the amazing physical capabilities of cats are their strong balance and coordination. Located within their inner ear is the vestibular system made of fluid-filled canals and miniscule hair cells that detect head movements and the position of the head relative to gravity. Their brains then use the signals from the vestibular system to coordinate movements of the eyes, head, and body to maintain balance. This also enables them to land on their feet during free fall.
3. Highly Muscular Ears
Cats have 32 muscles in each ear. Humans have 3 each and dogs have 9. This allows them to rotate their ears a full 180 degrees and helps give them direction hearing capabilities by pinpointing the source of sound with accuracy. Cats can also listen to multiple sounds simultaneously by independently controlling their ears. For example, one ear can focus on a nearby sound, while the other tunes into a distant noise, allowing them to stay aware of their surroundings.
4. Temperature Regulations
The ears of cats also play an important role in helping regulate their body temperature due to their vascular structure and surface area. The blood vessels dilate when overheated to allow more blood to flow through and allow carried heat to be released into the air through the thin skin of the ears. These blood vessels constrict in cooler temperatures. The relatively large surface area of their ears aids in efficient heat exchange. Cats may position their ears to optimize heat exchange.
5. Communication and Cues
Cats use ear movements to express emotions and communicate with other cats or humans. Forward ears indicate either alertness or interest. Flattened ears show fear or aggression. Airplane ears or ears turned sideways signal uncertainty, annoyance, or mild discomfort. Twitching ears indicate heightened vigilance or irritation. Behavioral scientists, veterinarians, and some owners reference these ear positions, along with other body language, to assess the mood or health of cats.
6. Ear Tufts and Hair
Most cats also have small tufts of fur or ear furnishings at the tips of their ears. These help keep debris out by acting as physical barriers and can enhance their ability to detect sound vibrations by filtering out auditory clutter from excessive noise. Breeds like the Maine Coon and Norwegian Forest Cat have prominent ear tufts. These make them better suited to colder climates. Breeds with shorter fur are adapted to warmer climates and have less pronounced ear tufts.
7. Mystery of Henry’s Pockets
The outer edges of the ears of cats have a small fold of skin. These are called Henry’s Pockets or cutaneous marginal pouches. Other animals like dogs and bats also have this feature. Their exact purpose is still not understood. However, according to some hypotheses, these can help in fine-tuning hearing toward high-pitched sounds. Some scientists also believe that these are vestigial features or remnants of evolutionary development with no significant function.