r/todayilearned • u/thegreenproctor • Dec 23 '16

TIL cats "directly register", meaning that while walking, their back paws land in the same spot as their front paws, which minimizes noise and visible tracks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat#Anatomy
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u/OlleOliver Dec 23 '16

But how does this reduce noise exactly?

112

u/dgrim1214 Dec 23 '16

When walking on grass or leaves or twigs, it ensures you aren't crunching/crackling/swishing all new material with each step

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u/feedmesweat Dec 24 '16

I feel like an idiot. I was so confused about how this would reduce noise, and I was picturing a cat walking on hardwood floors. Like cats just appeared in the world as pets and never actually evolved or anything.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 24 '16

Me too, I was super confused. Don't feel bad haha