Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 17
The Musculoskeletal
System
A cat's body is shaped the way it is because of the cat's musculoskeletal
system, which is comprised of the bones, the muscles and the tissues
that connect them.The skeleton supports the structure of the cat's body
and protects some internal organs. The muscles enable the body to
move by controlling direction and range of motion. Cartilage, tendons
and ligaments hold it all together.
Cats carry 60 percent of their weight on their front legs, so during nor-
mal activity less stress is placed on the back legs. Jumping up initially puts
all the stress on the back legs, and jumping down puts all the stress on the
front legs.These factors should be kept in mind when dealing with injuries.
House cats are fairly sedentary animals, but they have bodies that are
designed for hunting and stalking. Cats are extremely flexible and quick
(unless they are overweight), and they are able to perform some very
athletic feats. It is not uncommon to find cats perched on top of
dressers, on the high shelves of bookcases, or even climbing up on roofs
of houses. This chapter will address some of the more common prob-
lems of the bones and muscles of cats.
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