The Complete Cat: Cats' Ears

Cats' ears, like ours, are instruments of both hearing and balance. The balancing function of cats' ears is particularly unique, in that, combined with the cats' remarkably supple spine, it enables them to twist and turn in order to land on their feet after falling from high places.

How do they do it? Cats, even very young kittens, have an amazing sense of balance. When falling, the fluid in the semi-circular canals of the interior ear shifts and the cat rotates its head until it equalizes and the fluid is level. The body automatically shifts to follow the head, and the cat lands on its feet. The attached picture demonstrates the incredible synergy of Zoey's ears, supple spine, and front and back legs, as she prepares to land safely back on the ground. Photo © Chris Pierce

Unlike us poor humans, cats have 30 muscles attaching their ears to their bodies, so they can rotate their ears for "directional hearing." Cats also use this ability by expressing emotion with their ears, and for self protection. Beware a cat with ears totally flattened back; he is about to spring into battle, and I suspect those ears are flattened because they make biting targets when erect. Ears slightly backward indicate displeasure. My family calls this form of ear carriage "annoyance ears." Billy, pictured here, was mildly annoyed at the attention, as demonstrated with one ear.

Cats can hear a far higher range of acoustical signals than humans (From 50 to 60 kilohertz, compared to 16 to 20 kHZ of human ears). Small wonder that a cat can hear the rustling of a mouse in grass from 20 yards away long before he spots the motion of his prey.

A unique gene which causes folding or curling of the outer ear, the pinna, in cats, is responsible for the development of the Scottish Fold and American Curl cat breeds.