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Unraveling Cat Physics: How They Land on Their Feet

3/10/2026

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Story summary
  • A recent paper in The Anatomical Record reviews four hypotheses for how cats land on their feet: tuck and turn; falling figure skater; bend and twist; propeller tail.
  • The work traces centuries of study dating to the 1700s on the feline righting reflex.
  • Physicist Greg Gbur has shifted from emphasizing bend and twist to reevaluating tuck and turn.
  • Ongoing research aims to deepen understanding of feline biomechanics and inform innovations in robotics and physical science.