EXTERNAL ANATOMY OF A CAT

Head
The head of a cat has specialized structures to enhance the feline’s hearing, smell, vision, and
movement.

Cat’s Face Diagram

Here are the main parts of a cat’s face.

Whiskers
Most of a cat’s whiskers, also known as vibrissae, grow on the face. The cat’s muzzle, above
the eye, and cheek all sprout whiskers. On each muzzle of most cats, there are four rows of 12
whiskers. These highly sensitive, stiff hairs help cats to navigate through small spaces and to
sense the location of prey near the cat.
Cat Eyes

Cats have very large eyes that are adapted to seeing in low-light conditions. As crepuscular
animals, cats tend to hunt and are most active at dawn and at dusk where light lows are
lower.

Pupils
A cat’s pupil will constrict or enlarged depending on the light conditions. In high levels of light,
the pupil will become a vertical slit. In low light levels or when the cat is alarmed, the pupils will
widen into a large circle.

Eyelashes
Eyelashes are a row of stiff hairs called cilia that line the upper and lower eyelids on a cat. On
some cats, the cilia blend in with the rest of the soft fur that lines the cat’s eyes. Eyelashes are
as long as the rest of the cat’s fur.

Nictitating membrane
Also known as the third eyelid, the nictitating membrane sits tucked away into the inner
corners of the cat’s eyes. The purpose of the nictitating membrane is to protect the cat’s
cornea from debris and bacteria. On a healthy cat, the nictitating membrane is hard to see
when the cat is awake. The membrane also helps to lubricate the eyes. The best time to spot
the nictitating membrane is when a cat is first waking up and it hasn’t retreated back into the
corner of the eyes.
Cat Ears

The shape and features of a cat’s external ears have evolved to help enhance the cat’s
hearing. The feline ear has 30 sets of muscles that are used by the cat to rotate the ear up to
180 degrees in any direction. Humans need to move their entire head towards a sound while
a cat can move just one ear or both.

Cat pinnae
The pinnae (pinna for just one) are the external ear flaps and the shape of these structures
helps to amplify sound. Most cats have ears that are straight up although breeds like the
Scottish Folds have a genetic mutation that results in folded ear flaps. An interesting fact is that
researchers found that the temperature of the right ear (and not the left ear) can be a
measurement of the stress levels of a cat.

Henry’s pocket
At the lower outside ends of the pinnae are folded structures called cutaneous marginal
pouch or Henry’s pocket. Researchers aren’t sure what the exact function of these structures
is – one hypothesis is that the cutaneous marginal pouch helps in the detection of high-
pitched soundsby attenuating lower pitches. Most prey that a cat hunts emits high frequency
sounds which the Henry’s pocket may help to filter for.

Ear Fur in Cats

The wisps of fur found just inside the pinnae are called the ear furnishing. These hairs help to
capture vibrations from sounds to enhance the cat’s hearing. Some cat breeds have
prominent fur that extends from the tips of the ears called ear tufts. Ear tufts are also known as
lynx tips and are rare on short-haired cats. The ear tufts also help to funnel sounds down into
the cat’s ear and to keep debris out.
Cat’s Nose and Mouth

The ability to smell is thought to be fourteen times more sensitive in cats than in humans. One
place that cat’s lack fur is the rhinarium, also referred to as the nose leather.

Cat pheromones and their face

Cats have pheromones from glands in their cheeks and chin. These glands spread the cat’s
scent anytime they rub their cheeks or chin on another animal, person, or object. This is the
cat’s way of saying, “you belong to me.” When an intact male cat sexually develops, their
cheeks will thicken due to testosterone which is a hormone. These fleshy pads give tom cats
widen facial features in the cheek area.

Back of a Cat’s Head

The back of a cat’s neck is called the nape. The nape is also known in medical terms as the
nucha. The nape contains loose skin known as the scruff. This non-sensitive area of skin is used
by the mother cat to carry her kittens using her teeth. The act of grabbing the scruff
immobilizes the kitten so it doesn’t wiggle or squirm while the mother is transporting her
offspring.
Body parts of a cat
The hock is equivalent to a human’s ankle joint. Cat’s walk on their toes which means they
are digitigrade. Walking on their toes allows cats to move faster and quieter. The withers on a
cat is the highest point of the shoulder blades. The loose skin in this area is often where a vet
will grab to inject medicine or vaccines into a cat. The tail helps the cat to balance.
Primordial Pouch
The primordial pouch is loose skin that protects a cat’s belly and vital organs during a fight.
Researchers also believe the the primordial pouch helps a cat to extend the power of its jump.

Cat Paws
The majority of cats have 18 digits and claws: five on each forelimb—the dewclaw is the fifth
digit—and four on each hindleg. Cats with more than 18 digits are called polydactyl.

Cat Fur
There are three possible layers of fur that a cat might have: guard hairs, awn hair, and down
fur. Cats that have all three are known as having triple coats. Some cats only have two types
of cat fur and some cats only have one layer of cat fur.
INTERNAL ANATOMY OF A CAT
Endocrine

Respiratory
Digestive
Urinary & Reproductive
 PROCEDURE
A. Preparing the Cat
1. With gloves on, remove the cat from its bag and lay the cat on a dissecting tray. Keep
any liquid preserving solution that remains in the bag.
2. Review the directional terms for the cat.
• Anterior is toward the cephalic (head) end of the cat
• Posterior is toward the caudal (tail) end of the cat
• Superior is toward the dorsal (back) surface
• Inferior is toward the ventral (belly) surface
3. Place your cat ventral surface up on the dissecting tray.
4. Identify the gender of your cat. Males have a scrotum and a prepuce, a small mound
anterior to the scrotum in which the penis is located. Females have a urogenital
aperture, an opening located anterior to the anus that is a common passageway for
the urinary and reproductive systems. Four or five teats (nipples) are present on both
male and female cats. Be able to identify both sexes externally.

B. Removing the Skin

1. Pinch the skin on the ventral surface of the neck. Using scissors, carefully make a small,
longitudinal incision at the midline through the skin only. Use care not to cut into the
underlying muscle layer.
2. Continue cutting longitudinally along the midline toward the lower lip and then
posteriorly, stopping anterior to the genital area.
3. Cut the skin around the neck.
4. Make a horizontal cut across the chest and continue cutting down the midline of the
extremities. Make diagonal cuts in the groin and continue midline down the extremities.
Cut the skin around all paws.
5. Use your fingers to carefully peel the skin from the underlying muscles. Cutaneous
muscles, such as the platysma, are attached to the undersurface of the skin and will be
removed as you peel away the skin.
6. Continue peeling the skin until it is only attached at the face and the tail. Cut around
the base of the tail, leaving the skin on the tail. Cut the skin around the face of the cat,
leaving the skin on the face, ears, and forehead. Peel the skin from the head and save
it.
7. Carefully remove as much fat and superficial fascia as possible with your fingers or
forceps.

C. Opening Ventral Body Cavities

1. At the midline, just above the pubic bone, carefully make a longitudinal incision through
the abdominal muscles. Continue the incision to the ribs.
2. Cut either to the right or left of the sternum, cutting through the costal cartilages.
Continue cutting midline through the neck.
3. Cut horizontal incisions at the top and at the base of the neck.
4. Cut horizontal incisions anterior and posterior to the diaphragm and cut the diaphragm
away from the ventral body wall. Open the flaps to expose the thoracic and abdominal
cavities, leaving the diaphragm intact.
5. Use a scalpel to make a longitudinal cut down each inner wall of the rib cage. Bend
the walls outward to break the ribs, allowing the flaps of the thoracic wall to stay open.
 CHECKLIST
EXTERNAL INTERNAL
Parts Found Picture Parts Found Picture