# Cat Physics **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 30, 2014, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-physics/702969 "2014-10-30T04:19:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-physics/702969/63 "2015-01-03T01:35:21Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > I can buy that for the 180 but, he _gained_ elevation. That’s your perception of it, that doesn’t make it true. My best guess is cat’s can contort in certain ways that make it _look_ like what you saw. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2015, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-physics/702969/64 "2015-01-03T02:17:51Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > That’s your perception of it, that doesn’t make it true. > My best guess is cat’s can contort in certain ways that make it _look_ like what you saw. He could raise part of his body above his center of mass. Consider the Cat Tummy, the above center of mass. He can move his long, skinny feline body above or below the center by arching up or down. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-physics/702969/65 "2015-01-06T19:40:29Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > A friend of Pepper Mill wrote this book on the theory of Cat Gravity > [The Theory of Cat Gravity: Wood, Robin: 9780965298421: Amazon.com: Books](http://www.amazon.com/The-Theory-Gravity-Robin-Wood/dp/0965298426) I just got my copy of this book from amazon, and I wanted to say thanks to you for mentioning it, **Cal**. The book is thin but hilarious; a very worthwhile addition to my library. It’s going to sit right next to [The Solar Cat Book](http://www.amazon.com/Solar-Cat-Book-Jim-Augustyn/dp/0898150183/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420573162&sr=8-1&keywords=solar+cat+book) on my bookshelves. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2015, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-physics/702969/66 "2015-01-07T10:45:57Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > I thought it was incredibly fascinating when I took one of our indoor cats outside (the one most amenable/obnoxious about it) when it had snowed heavily. His front paw steps. Then he steps forward again, while his hind paw lands exactly where the front paw just was. In the snow it was a lot more apparent. {…} Direct registering ([scroll down 1/3](http://www.ussartf.org/animal_tracking.htm)). Not certain if it’s every species of _Felidae_ (I’m pretty sure it is) and only Foxes in all other species. Sure sign that you’re tracking a fox and not a small dog, and if there are no claw marks (the vast majority of the time) a larger felid and not a fox. CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![DoggyDunnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@DoggyDunnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoggyDunnit)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-physics/702969/67 "2015-01-09T04:47:03Z")
When I saw the thread’s title, the first thing that came to my mind was [this smartphone game I used to be addicted to with the same name](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.donutgames.catphysics&hl=en). Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s time for me to get re-addicted… ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-physics/702969/68 "2015-01-15T15:32:37Z")
[13 Reasons Why Cats are Basically Magic.](https://www.thedodo.com/cats-basically-magic-930287101.html?utm_source=HuffPo) Some of which has already been covered in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-physics/702969/69 "2015-01-15T17:45:11Z")
[An interesting video here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WEMtYj2pJc) in which the owner coaxes his cat to jump higher and higher to retrieve a toy hanging in a loose sling. At first the cat easily jumps up and grabs the toy with both front paws; by the end, he’s jumping for all he’s worth and then batting the toy out of the sling with one paw reaching as high as he can. Lots of interesting camera perspectives and slo mo at all the right times. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-physics/702969/70 "2015-02-21T11:21:15Z")
“In ancient times cats were worshiped as gods; they have not forgotten this.” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-physics/702969/71 "2015-02-21T21:51:47Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > [An interesting video here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WEMtYj2pJc) in which the owner coaxes his cat to jump higher and higher to retrieve a toy hanging in a loose sling. At first the cat easily jumps up and grabs the toy with both front paws; by the end, he’s jumping for all he’s worth and then batting the toy out of the sling with one paw reaching as high as he can. Lots of interesting camera perspectives and slo mo at all the right times. Loved that - thanks! ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2015, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-physics/702969/72 "2015-02-22T05:14:50Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > […] > > For OP: why do they always sit on papers, particularly if you are currently using/reading them? Something eldritch, right? And more modern cats seem to update this idiosyncracy, by walking on your keyboard and knowing just which key to step onto, to erase your letter/post/program AAUUGGGGHHH!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cat-physics/702969.md?page=3)