Physiognomy and anatomy of the cat

Worked by : Paulo Rrapaj

Siamese history One of the oldest and most recognizable cat

breeds in the world, the Siamese traces its royal roots back to the 14th Century in Thailand when it was known as Siam. This elegant breed belonged to members of the Siam royal family who would bestow them to visiting dignitaries. 

This breed began showing up in Europe and the United States by the late 1800s. The first known Siamese to reach American shores was a gift to First Lady Lucy Webb Hayes from the American consul in Bangkok in 1884. Siamese also enjoyed time in the White House during the Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter presidencies. 

Siamese cats originated from Thailand, formerly known as Siam. They were first documented in a book that has been estimated to have been written between the 1350 and 1767.  The book describes this ancient cat breed as "pointed cats" with pictures that look very similar to today's modern Siamese cat. 

 

Today, the Siamese ranks fifth in popularity among all breeds recognized by the Cat Fanciers Association, the world’s largest breed registry.

The look of a siamese The Look of a Siamese Highly recognizable, the Siamese sports

deep blue, almond-shaped eyes, a chiseled, wedge-shaped head, sleek, tubular body and large pointed ears. The body is muscular but delicate. 

Its short hair coat contains a mutated enzyme in its pigment that produces its cream colored torso offset by darker points at the ears, face, and toes. The CFA recognizes four “points” or colors of Siamese: seal (black), chocolate (brown), blue (grey dilution of seal) and lilac (dilution of the chocolate). TICA allows more colors, including lynx and tortoiseshell. 

Females weight between 5 and 6 pounds and males average between 6 and 7 pounds. 

Regarded as a healthy breed, the Siamese can be genetically predisposed to problems with gingivitis and a liver-destroying disease called amyloidosis.

How to care for a siamese cat

 Siamese cats are a cat breed that is related to the Balinese cat. They look almost look like this related breed, but some things are a little different. When caring for any kind of cat, you need to prepare before you buy your cat. This includes keeping a budget for the cat,buying the supplies for caring for a cat, and knowing how to care for a cat.

Personality and Behavior Siamese cats are boisterous, loving, athletic, highly intelligent and extremely vocal. Their loud cries are

varied and can be interpreted as warnings, pleas or demands, depending on their intent. Ironically, Siamese tend to not like loud noises.

They are very social, demand a lot of attention and can be possessive of their humans with their tendency to bond to one person. It is not uncommon for a Siamese to be jealous when their human gives attention to other humans or pets.

Siamese are smart and eminently trainable, especially if handled by owners from kittenhood. Playful and inquisitive, these cats will teach themselves to open doors, cupboards and refrigerators. It is not uncommon to see a Siamese retrieve a toy or walk with its owner in a harness, much like a dog.

Siamese cats love to climb and jump, so time should be set aside each day to release that energy with play. A cat tree is advisable for owners who don't want to become one.

They are extremely social animals, and will bond readily with humans and other household pets and do not appreciate being left alone for long periods of time.

Health A well-bred Siamese cat usually has no significant health problems beyond those of all breeds.

Unfortunately, over the course of many years of tight breeding for desirable characteristics, some inbreeding and genetic problems have occurred. When this happens, the resulting cat may have a weakened immune system that leaves it susceptible to a number of common diseases.

Feline hip dysplasia is one, but can be corrected with proper screening and surgery. Upper respiratory infections, diabetes and feline asthma are also problems for the Siamese. They are also prone to gingivitis, cardiomyopathy (heart disease) and amyloidosis (a type of destructive liver disease).

  Females can go into heat as early as 6 months of age, so talk to your vet early about spaying. Their coats require little brushing, but they love being groomed and petted. A chamois cloth is a great

grooming tool for these glossy-coated cats as it helps bring out their natural shine. A clean litter box, wet or dry food in correct proportion for the cat's life stage and plenty of fresh water

are recommended to keep a Siamese cat healthy. With abundant playtime and affection from their owners, these cats can live up to 20 years as fit and healthy members of the family.

Siamese Cats Siamese Cats You might wish this breed came with a mute button. Siamese are vocal and

demanding, capable of conveying its wants in a range from mews to loud raspy calls. Siamese are also curious, affectionate and athletic. Their vocalization sounds like human baby cries. They love to be around their favorite people and tend to share your pillow at bedtime.

Quick Facts weight: 9 – 14 pounds | male

6 – 10 pounds | female height: about 23 inches | male

about 21 inches | female Ideal Human Companions

Busy, active families Singles with other pets Experienced cat owners

Trademark Traits Very talkative Deep blue eyes Lean, angular body Intelligent and energetic People oriented

What They Are Like to Live With Highly intelligent, this

breed can be trained to perform commands and tricks and has proven to be a viable competitor in feline agility.

Things You Should Know

Their coats darken with age. 

Siamese cats are very vocal. 

Responsible breeding practices have bred out the cross-eyed and kinked tail tendencies.

Signs That Your Cat is Sick

Wouldn't it be nice if our pets could tell us when they were sick? Unfortunately, they can't and it's up to us as pet parents to monitor their health and behavior for any unusual changes. Cats are especially good at hiding their symptoms of illness. In fact, many cats can go weeks or even months without their owners ever realizing something is wrong.

Here is a list of symptoms to look for in a sick cat and what they could mean. If you suspect your cat is sick, the best thing to do is take them to the vet to find out what the problem is.

Weight Loss. This seems like a symptom that would be so easy to pick up on, but truthfully it's not. We see our cats everyday and just may not pick up on gradual weight loss until a lot of time has passed. This is one reason why visiting the vet regularly is important. Unfortunately, weight loss can be caused by any number of serious health conditions. 

Urinating outside of the litter box. Has your cat suddenly started having accidents outside of his litterbox? Don't assume it's a behavioral problem until you have him check out by the vet. It's very common for cats to experience urinary tract infections, urinary crystals, and/or bladder stones. 

Change in appetite. When cats don't eat, they can become very sick. If your cat's appetite has decreased, it could be a sign that something is wrong. However, if your cat has suddenly become very hungry for food, this is also a sign that something could be wrong. Cats with hyperthyroidism often become very ravenous and will constantly meow for more food. 

Jaundice. Jaundice or icterus means "yellow skin". This may be most noticeable on your cats gums and the insides of their ears. There are many health conditions that can cause jaundice in a cat, but one of the most common is hepatic lipidosis or "Fatty Liver Disease". 

Hair loss. Hair loss in cats can be due to allergies, parasites, ringworm, compulsive disorders, and much more. 

Sneezing. It's common for cats to experience upper respiratory infections. They may experience symptoms like sneezing, ocular discharge, nasal discharge, decreased appetite, and decreased energy levels. Just like a cold is for people, these infections are usually contagious to other cats. 

Diarrhea. This is another symptom that could be caused by any number of health conditions. Some of these conditions could be minor problems that are easy to fix, or the diarrhea could be due to serious health problems. 

Bad Breath. It might be obvious that bad breath in cats could be a sign of dental disease. But, did you know that bad breath can also be an indicator for other diseases? If your cat's breath is unusually sweet smelling, it could be a sign of diabetes. Cat breath that smells similar to urine is a symptom of kidney disease. And really stinky and foul cat breath can be a sign of liver disease. 

Body language: Your cat speaks with his whole body Does your cat arch her back up to meet your hand when you pet her? This

means she's enjoying this contact with you. Does she shrink away under your slightest touch? Save the petting for later: She's not interested right now.

Pay attention to your cat's eyes, ears, body and tail—they're all telling the story. Here are some basic (though sometimes contradictory) clues:

Ears Forward: alert, interested or happy Backward, sideways, flat ("airplane ears"): irritable, angry or frightened Swiveling: attentive and listening to every little sound Eyes Pupils constricted: offensively aggressive, but possibly content Pupils dilated (large): nervous or submissive (if somewhat dilated),

defensively aggressive (if fully dilated), but possibly playful Tail Erect, fur flat: alert, inquisitive or happy Fur standing on end: angry or frightened Held very low or tucked between legs: insecure or anxious Thrashing back and forth: agitated. The faster the tail, the angrier the cat Straight up, quivering: excited, really happy. If your cat hasn't

been neutered or spayed, he or she could be getting ready to spray something.

Body Back arched, fur standing on end: frightened or angry Back arched, fur flat: welcoming your touch Lying on back, purring: very relaxed Lying on back, growling: upset and ready to strike Rubbing When your cat rubs his chin and body against you, he's telling you he loves you,

right? Well, sort of. What he's really doing is marking his territory. You'll notice that he also rubs the chair, the door, his toys, everything in sight. He's telling everyone that this is his stuff, including you. But he does love you, too.

Kneading This is sometimes called "making biscuits," because the cat works her paws on a

soft surface as if it she's kneading bread dough. It's a holdover from kittenhood, when a nursing kitten massaged her mother's teats to make milk flow. Your cat does this when she is really happy.

The Flehmen response Have you noticed times when your cat—perhaps while sniffing your shoe—lifts his

head, opens his mouth slightly, curls back his lips and squints his eyes? He's not making a statement about how your shoe smells; he's gathering more information.

Your cat's sense of smell is so essential to him that he actually has an extra olfactory organ that very few other creatures have: the Jacobson's organ. It's located on the roof of his mouth behind his front teeth and is connected to the nasal cavity.

When your cat gets a whiff of something really fascinating, he opens his mouth and inhales so that the scent molecules flow over the Jacobson's organ. This intensifies the odor and provides more information about the object he's sniffing. What he does with that information, well, we'll never know.

A Key to Your Cat's Moods Wondering if your cat is happy, meditating or having a bad day? Here's are some

tips: Content: Sitting or lying down, eyes half-closed, pupils narrowed, tail mostly still,

ears forward and purring—a really happy cat will often knead on a soft surface. Playful: Ears forward, tail up, whiskers forward and pupils somewhat dilated—

playing is hunting behavior; your cat may stalk her prey (a toy, a housemate or you), then crouch down with her rear end slightly raised. A little wiggle of the butt, then…pounce! Your cat will grab her prey, bite it, wrestle it the floor and kick it with her hind feet: Her toy is now dead.

Irritated or over-stimulated: Pupils dilated, ears turned back and tail twitching or waving—your cat may growl or put his teeth on you as a warning to cease and desist. Intense play can quickly turn into overstimulation in some cats, resulting in biting and scratching.

Nervous or anxious: Ears sideways or back, pupils dilated and tail low or tucked between legs—your cat may slink through the house close to the floor, looking for somewhere to hide.  He may turn his face to the wall to shut the world out.

Frightened or startled: Think Halloween cat—ears back and flat against her head, whiskers back, back arched, fur standing on end and tail erect or low. She may yowl, growl, hiss and spit.

Defensive: Crouched, ears flattened, whiskers back, tail between his legs or wrapped around his body, and pupils dilated—he may meow loudly, growl, hiss and spit.

Angry, aggressive: Ears back, pupils very constricted, and her tail may be up or down with the fur standing on end—an aggressive cat will stare down another cat and growl or yowl until the other cat gives way. Cats don't really want to fight; they prefer standoffs, but this can progress to fighting if one of the cats doesn't back down.

Senses The cat has high quality senses that

are nearly always better than ours. They are:

The cat’s whiskers are sensitive and feel the touch of a breeze in the air or an object. They can feel prey and help the cat to bite in the right place to kill animals particularly at night.

Hearing and balance: the cat has great hearing. The ear is like a person’s ear in the way it is made. The inner part of the ear to do with balance. The cat has great balance too.

Eyesight: the cat has high quality eyesight for nighttime but the cat sees color less well than people; the colour red is seen poorly. The cat’s eyes are special. They are like our eyes i the way they are made except they have a mirror behind them. This makes what they see brighter so they can see in the dark. Also, there is a third eyelid that protects the eye.

A cat can sense where it is and how to get home. People think this is because the cat can sense where north, south, east and west is the the “magnetic field” of the earth.

People believe a cat can sense earthquakes coming.

Cats can taste well but cannot taste sweet things.

A cat has a superb sense of smell. You will see a cat sniff almost everything to check it out, eve

THE ANATOMY OF THE CAT The anatomy of the domestic cat which includes its muscles, nerves, bones, teeth, claws,

hormones and senses, is almost perfect for hunting prey or escaping danger and is also almost exactly the same as the anatomy of a tiger or lion.The cat can survive where other animals can’t, going without water and particularly food for longer than other domestic animals. There are lots of stories of cats being trapped for ages and surviving.The cat can mate and produce kittens with great success. The domestic cat’s anatomy makes him very athletic with fantastic, running, climbing and jumping skills. The anatomy is truly very impressive. As the graceful cat moves, the powerful muscles of its long, lithe body ripple under the soft fur, which is often beautifully marked. At rest, every line of its body curves into a graceful arc. The overall impression of the animal sometimes is one of complete indolence. This impression is shattered when the cat springs and attacks with ears flattened and fangs and claws bared. The cats as a group range widely in size. The great (or "big") cats, including the lion and tiger, are the largest. The domestic cat is one of the smallest. An adult domestic cat is about 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 centimeters) high. The length from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail averages 18 to 20 inches (46 to 51 centimeters), and the tail is about 10 to 15 inches (25 to 38 centimeters) long. Females usually weigh from 6 to 10 pounds (2.7 to 4.5 kilograms) and males from 10 to 15 pounds (4.5 to 6.8 kilograms), depending on skeletal size.The head is large compared with the rest of the body. The nose and jaws are short, so the face seems flat when compared with the faces of many other kinds of animals. The ears are large and flaring at the base. They taper to rounded or pointed tips and stand erect in almost all breeds. A cat has keen hearing and can detect many sounds that humans cannot hear. A cat usually turns its head, not only its eyes, in the direction of a sound. This aids both hearing and vision. In the cat, as in humans, the inner ear--a bony structure of fluid-filled semicircular canals--contains a complicated mechanism for maintaining body balance. It is this mechanism, not the cat's tail, that enables the animal to land on its feet when it falls.The cat's large and prominent eyes are placed well forward on the head and, like the eyes of humans, they face forward. The cat comes closer than does any other animal except the owl and the ape to having binocular vision similar to that of humans.The size and position of the eyes permit as much light as possible to enter them and ensure an extensive field of vision--important factors in hunting and nocturnal prowling. A cat cannot see in total darkness, but it can see better in dim light than can most other kinds of animals.

 Cat anatomy internal organs

Brain – controls the cat’s body. It is the center of the nervous system. Spinal Cord – connects brain to nerves of the body which control the body. Diaphragm – separates lungs from the organs lower down such as the stomach. It helps

in breathing. Liver – a very important organ. It does lots of different things including getting rid of

bad stuff in the body. Stomach – helps to digest food. This means it helps to make food ready so that it can be

taken into the cat’s blood where the broken down food can feed the cat. Kidney – helps to keep the body stable and get rid of waste from the body. Large Intestine – part of the system that breaks down food so it can be used by the

body. Anus – where solid waste leaves the body. Testis – part of the male cat’s reproductive system where sperm is created and which

makes a hormone, testosterone, that makes a male cat male. Urethra – where waste liquid, urine, leaves the body. Bladder – where waste liquid, urine from the kidneys, is stored before leaving the body

through the urethra. Spleen – filters the cat’s blood. Gallbladder – helps break down (digest) a substance in food called “fat”. Heart – pumps blood around the cat’s body through blood vessels. The heart contracts

and expands in the same way, day and night, non-stop until the cat dies. Lungs – there are two lungs. They take oxygen from the air and make sure it gets into

the bloodstream. Also they get rid of carbon dioxide, which is waste gas, from the body. Esophagus – called the “gullet” it is a tube that goes from the back of the mouth to the

stomach. Food passes through it. Trachea – “windpipe” — the main tube that connects the mouth to the lungs. Air passes

through it. Buccal Cavity – the inside of the mouth. Nasal Cavity – the inside of the nose.

Cat anatomy The anatomy of the domestic cat is similar to that of other members of the genus

Felis. Mouth

Cats have highly specialized teeth for the killing of prey and the tearing of meat. The premolar and first molar, together the carnassial pair are located on each side of the mouth. These teeth efficiently function to shear meat like a pair of scissors. While this is present in canids, it is highly developed in felines.

The cat's tongue has sharp spines, or papillae, useful for retaining and ripping flesh from a carcass. These papillae are small backward-facing hooks that contain keratin which also assist in their groom.

The cat's oral structures provide for a variety of vocalizations used forcommunication, including meowing, purring, hissing, growling, squeaking, chirping, clicking, and grunting.

Ears

Thirty-two individual muscles in each ear allow for a manner of directional hearing a cat can move each ear independently of the other. Because of this mobility, a cat can move its body in one direction and point its ears in another direction. Most cats have straight ears pointing upward. Unlike dogs, flap-eared breeds are extremely rare When angry or frightened, a cat will lay back its ears to accompany the growling or hissing sounds it makes. Cats also turn their ears back when they are playing or to listen to a sound coming from behind them. The angle of cats' ears is an important clue to their mood .

Nose 

Cats are highly territorial and secreting odors plays a major role in cat communication. The nose helps cats to identify territories, other cats and mates, to locate food, and for various other causes.[2] A cat's sense of smell is believed to be about fourteen times stronger than that of humans. The rhinarium (the leathery bit of nose we see) is quite tough to allow it to absorb rather rough treatment sometimes. The color varies according to the genotype(genetic makeup) of the cat. Cat's skin has the same color as the fur but the color of the nose leather is probably dictated by a dedicated gene. Cats with white fur have skin susceptible to damage by ultraviolet light that may cause cancer. Extra care is required when she/he goes outside in hot sun.[3]

  Heart and Lungs

Cats have a heart and lungs that are made for controlled movement and moments of high activity that requires lots of energy. The cat breathes in air through the nose, where it is filtered. The air passes through the windpipe to the lungs where oxygen in the air is transferred to the blood. The heart pumps the blood around the cat’s body.

The amount of blood in a cat is about the same as the amount of coke in a can. The cat has three blood types: A, B and AB. Most cats have type A. The type of blood in a cat depends on where the cat lives. In Switzerland all the moggies have type A. In Italy 89% of the cats have type A blood.

  Teeth Stomach and Intestines

The adult cat has 30 teeth. They are called incisors, canines, premolars and molars:

  Cat’s Teeth

Food that is eaten is broken down so that is passes through the intestine into the blood to feed the cat. The cat’s “digestive system” is like ours but a bit simpler. The intestines are shorter than ours because the cat does not need to break down fiber in plants as it is a carnivore (the cat only eats the flesh of animals).

The Coat

The cat’s coat is what see most when you look at a cat. Hair is mainly made of a hard susbtance called “keratin”. It is the same stuff that makes claws. There are hundreds of different colours and patterns of cat coats. The most common pattern is called a tabby cat. You can read about the tabby cat coat on this page. There are short haired and long haired cats. The long haired cats live in colder places. Whiskers are part of the coat and they are very sensitive to movement of any sort. Whiskers are thick hairs. They are not just around the mouth. If you look carefully you will see them in other places especially on the face .There are three types of fur: undercoat (down), middle and top (awn) and top and the longest hairs (guard hairs). You can read more (for adults but straightforward) on this page.

 The Skin

The skin defends the cat’s body from disease. There are two layers of skin: epidermis and dermis. The cat’s skin not only protects the organs of the body and makes fur it also makes scent which is the liquid that smells in a way that tells other cats that it belongs to a certain cat. Cats put this scent on things to tell other cats that they are around. This stops fights. It also tells other cats where a place is owned by a cat. The skin also makes an oily substance that keeps the skin elastic and helps protect it.

Legs

Cats, like dogs, are digitigrades. They walk directly on their toes, with the bones of their feet making up the lower part of the visible leg.[4] Domestic cats are capable of walking very precisely, as is true for all cats. Like all felines, they directly register; that is, they place each hind paw (almost) directly in the print of the corresponding forepaw, minimizing noise and visible tracks. [

citation needed] This also provides sure footing for their hind paws when they navigate rough terrain. The two back legs allow falling and leaping far distances without injury

Unlike most mammals, when cats walk, they use a "pacing" gait; that is, they move the two legs on one side of the body before the legs on the other side. This trait is shared with camels and giraffes. As a walk speeds up into a trot, a cat's gait will change to be a "diagonal" gait, similar to that of most other mammals: the diagonally opposite hind and forelegs will move simultaneously. Cat height can vary depending on breed and/or gender, but is usually around 12 inches or 30.5 centimeters

Claws

 Like nearly all members of the family Felidae, cats have retractable claws. In their normal, relaxed position, the claws are sheathed with the skin and fur around the toe pads. This keeps the claws sharp by preventing wear from contact with the ground and allows the silent stalking of prey. The claws on the forefeet are typically sharper than those on the hind feet. [6] Cats can voluntarily extend their claws on one or more paws. They may extend their claws in hunting or self-defense, climbing, "kneading", or for extra traction on soft surfaces (bedspreads, thick rugs, skin, etc.). It is also possible to make a cooperative cat extend its claws by carefully pressing both the top and bottom of the paw. The curved claws can become entangled in carpet or thick fabric, which can cause injury if the cat is unable to free itself.

Most cats have five claws on their front paws, and four or five on their rear paws.[7] Because of an ancient mutation, however, some domestic and feral cats are born with polydactylyism (particularly in the east coast of Canada and northeast coast of the United States), with six or seven toes

Skin

Cats possess rather loose skin; this allows them to turn and confront a predator or another cat in a fight, even when it has a grip on them. This is also an advantage for veterinary purposes, as it simplifies injections. In fact, the lives of cats with kidney failure can sometimes be extended for years by the regular injection of large volumes of fluid subcutaneously, which serves as an alternative to dialysis.

Temperature and heart rate

The normal body temperature of a cat is between 38.33 and 39.0 °C (101.0 and 102.2 °F).A cat is considered febrile (hyperthermic) if it has a temperature of 39.5 °C (103.1 °F) or greater, or hypothermic if less than 37.5 °C (99.5 °F). For comparison, humans have an average body temperature of about 37.0 °C (98.6 °F). A domestic cat's normal heart rate ranges from 140 to 220 beats per minute (bpm), and is largely dependent on how excited the cat is. For a cat at rest, the average heart rate usually is between 150 and 180 bpm, about twice that of a human, which averages 70 bpm

Scruff

The particularly loose skin at the back of the neck is known as the scruff, and is the area by which a mother cat grips herkittens to carry them. As a result, cats tend to become quiet and passive when gripped there. This behavior also extends into adulthood, when a male will grab the female by the scruff to immobilize her while he mounts, and to prevent her from running away as the mating process takes place.

This technique can be useful when attempting to treat or move an uncooperative cat. However, since an adult cat is heavier than a kitten, a pet cat should never be carried by the scruff, but should instead have its weight supported at the rump and hind legs, and at the chest and front paws.

Primordial pouches

Some cats share common traits due to heredity. One of those is the primordial pouch, sometimes referred to as "spay sway" by owners who notice it once the cat has been spayed or neutered. It is located on a cat's belly. Its appearance is similar to a loose flap of skin that might occur if the cat had been overweight and had then lost weight. It provides a little extra protection against kicks, which are common during cat fights as a cat will try to rake with its rear claws. In wild cats, the ancestors of domesticated felines, this pouch appears to be present to provide extra room in case the animal has the opportunity to eat a large meal and the stomach needs to expand. This stomach pouch also allows the cat to bend and expand, allowing for faster running and higher jumping.

Skeleton of a cat Skeleton

The skeleton is light and strong. The bones of the skeleton are joined together by ligaments. Ligaments are like strong threads of string that connect one bone to another so the bones can work together. Cats have more bones than humans. The cat has 244 bones. A person has 206 bones. The biggest difference is in the cat’s tail where there are 19-28 bones

Cats have seven cervical vertebrae like almost all mammals, thirteenthoracic vertebrae (humans have twelve), seven lumbar vertebrae(humans have five), three sacral vertebrae (humans have five because of their bipedal posture), and, except for Manx cats and other shorter tailed cats, twenty-two or twenty-three caudal vertebrae (humans have three to five, fused into an internal coccyx). The extra lumbar and thoracic vertebrae account for the cat's enhanced spinal mobility and flexibility, compared to humans. The caudal vertebrae form the tail, used by the cat as a counterbalance to the body during quick movements. Between their vertebrae, they have elastic discs, useful for cushioning the jump landings.

Unlike human arms, cat forelimbs are attached to the shoulder by free-floating clavicle bones, which allow them to pass their body through any space into which they can fit their heads.

Skull

The cat skull is unusual among mammals in having very large eye sockets and a powerful and specialized jaw.Compared to other felines, domestic cats have narrowly spaced canine teeth, adapted to their preferred prey of small rodents.

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Muscles Internal Abdominal Oblique

This muscle's origin is the lumbodorsal fascia and ribs. Its insertion is at the pubis and linea alba (via aponeurosis), and its action is the compression of abdominal contents. It also laterally flexes and rotates the vertebral column.

Transversus Abdominis

This muscle is the innermost abdominal muscle. Its origin is the second sheet of the lumbodorsal fascia and the pelvic girdle and its insertion is the linea alba. Its action is the compression of the abdomen.

Rectus Abdominis

To see this muscle, first remove the extensive aponeurosis situated on the ventral surface of the cat. Its fibers are extremely longitudinal, on each side of the linea alba. It is also traversed by the inscriptiones tendinae, or what others called myosepta.

Deltoid

The deltoid muscles lie just lateral to the trapezius muscles, originating from several fibers spanning the clavicle and scapula, converging to insert at the humerus. Anatomically, there are only two deltoids in the cat, the acromiodeltoid and the spinodeltoid. However, to conform to human anatomy standards, the clavobrachialis is now also considered a deltoid and is commonly referred to as the clavodeltoid.

Acromiodeltoid

The acromiodeltoid is the shortest of the deltoid muscles. It lies lateral to (to the side of) the clavodeltoid, and in a more husky cat it can only be seen by lifting or reflecting the clavodeltoid. It originates at the acromion process and inserts at the deltoid ridge. When contracted, it raises and rotates the humerus outward.

Spinodeltoid

A stout and short muscle lying posterior to the acromiodeltoid. It lies along the lower border of the scapula, and it passes through the upper arm, across the upper end of muscles of the upper arm. It originates at the spine of the scapula and inserts at the deltoid ridge. Its action is to raise and rotate the humerus outward

Neck and back Rhomboideus The Rhomboideus is a thick, large muscle below the Trapezius muscles. It extends from the

vertebral border of the scapula to the mid-dorsal line. Its origin is from the neural spines of the first four thoracic vertebrae, and its insertion is at the vertebral border of the scapula. Its action is to draw the scapula to the dorsal.

Rhomboideus Capitis The Rhomboideus capitis is the most cranial of the deeper muscles. It is underneath the 

Clavotrapezius. Its origin is the superior nuchal line, and its insertion is at the scapula. Action draws scapula cranially.

Splenius The Splenius is the most superficial of all the deep muscles. It is a thin, broad sheet of

muscle underneath theClavotrapezius and deflecting it. It is crossed also by the Rhomboideus capitis. Its origin is the mid-dorsal line of the neck and fascia. The insertion is the superior nuchal line and atlas. It raises or turns the head.

Serratus Ventralis The Serratus Ventralis is exposed by cutting the wing-like Latissimus Dorsi. The said muscle

is covered entirely by adipose tissue. The origin is from the first nine or ten ribs and from part of the cervical vertebrae.

Serratus Dorsalis The Serratus Dorsalis is medial to both the scapula and the Serratus Ventralis. Its origin is

via apoeurosis following the length of the mid-dorsal line, and its insertion is the dorsal portion of the last ribs. Its action is to depress and retracts the ribs during breathing.

Intercostals The Intercostals are a set of muscles sandwiched among the ribs. They interconnect ribs,

and are therefore the primary respiratory skeletal muscles. They are divided into the external and the internal subscapularis. The origin and insertion are in the ribs. The intercostals pull the ribs backwards or forwards.

Caudofemoralis The Caudofemoralis is a muscle found in the pelvic limb and is unique to the felids (cats).[19]

 The Caudofemoralis acts to flex the tail laterally to its respective side when the pelvic limb is bearing weight. When the pelvic limb is lifted off the ground, contraction of the Caudofemoralis causes the limb to abduct and the shank to extend by extending the hip joint.

Pectoral Pectoantebrachialis Pectoantebrachialis muscle is just one-half inch wide, and is the most superficial in the pectoral

muscles. Its origin is themanubrium of the sternum, and its insertion is in a flat tendon on the fascia of the proximal end of the ulna. Its action is to draw the arm towards the chest. There is no human equivalent.

Pectoralis Major The pectoralis major, also called pectoralis superficialis, is a broad triangular portion of the pectoralis

muscle which is immediately below the pectoantebrachialis. It is smaller than the pectoralis minor muscle. Its origin is the sternum and median ventral raphe, and its insertion is at the humerus. Its action is to draw the arm towards the chest.

Pectoralis Minor The pectoralis minor muscle is larger than the Pectoralis major. However, most of its anterior border is

covered by the pectoralis major. Its origins are ribs three–five, and its insertion is the coracoid process of the scapula. Its actions are the tipping of the scapula and the elevation of ribs three–five.

Xiphihumeralis The most posterior, flat, thin, and long strip of pectoral muscle is the Xiphihumeralis. It is a band of

parallel fibers that is found in felines but not in humans. Its origin is the Xiphoid Process of the sternum. The insertion is the humerus.

Trapezius In the cat there are three thin flat muscles that cover the back, and to a lesser extent, the neck. They

pull the scapula toward the mid-dorsal line, anteriorly, and posteriorly. Clavotrapezius The most anterior of the trapezius muscles, it is also the largest. Its fibers run obliquely to the ventral

surface. Its origin is the superior nuchal line and median dorsal line and its insertion is the clavicle. Its action is to draw the clavicle dorsally and towards the head.

Acromiotrapezius Acromiotrapezius is the middle trapezius muscle. It covers the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the

scapula. Its origin is the neural spines of the cervical vertebrae and its insertion is in the metacromion process and fascia of the clavotrapezius. Its action is to draw the scapula to the dorsal, and hold the two scapula together.

Spinotrapezius Spinotrapezius, also called thoracic trapezius, is the most posterior of the three. It is triangular

shaped. Posterior to the acromiotrapezius and overlaps latissimus dorsi on the front. Its origin is the neural spines of the thoracic vertebrae and its insertion is the scapular fascia. Its action is to draw the scapula to the dorsal and caudal regions.

Head

Masseter

The Masseter is a great, powerful, and very thick muscle covered by a tough, shining fascia lying ventral to the zygomatic arch, which is its origin. It inserts into the posterior half of the lateral surface of the mandible. Its action is the elevation of the mandible (closing of the jaw).

Temporalis

The temporalis is a great mass of mandibular muscle, and is also covered by a tough and shiny fascia. It lies dorsal to the zygomatic arch and fills the temporal fossa of the skull. It arises from the side of the skull and inserts into the coronoid process of the mandible. It too, elevates the jaw.

Integumental

The two main integumentary muscles of a cat are the platysma and the cutaneous maximus. The cutaneous maximus covers the dorsal region of the cat and allows it to shake its skin. The platysma covers the neck and allows the cat to stretch the skin over the pectoralis major and deltoid muscles.

Genitalia Female genitalia

In the female cat, the genitalia include two gonads, the uterus, the vagina, the genital passages and teats. Together with the vulva, the vagina of cat is involved in mating and provides a channel for newborns during parturition, or birth. The vagina is long and wide.[20] Genital passages are the oviducts of the cat. They are short, narrow, and not very sinuous.[20]

Male genitalia

In the male cat, the genitalia includes the penis, which has a very similar surface texture to the tongue.

 

Nerves There are millions of

nerves inside a cat. The nerve cells are called “neurons”. Nerves carry “messages” from the brain.  They work a bit a like sending a letter to someone you know only the message in the nervous system is carried by a substance, a chemical called a “neurotransmitter” that creates an electrical “impulse”.

Cats control one part of the nervous system. So, for example, if a cat wants to jump the cat’s brain tells the muscles in the legs to contract (become shorter). The other part of the nervous system makes parts of the cat’s body work automatically like the heart and lungs.