There’s an almost magical quality to cats that we sometimes take for granted. Their incredible flexibility, sensory awareness, and uncanny ability to always land on their feet when they fall make cats some of the most unique creatures around. There’s an actual scientific reason for this! This is all thanks to something called “cat righting reflex.”

But how do they pull it off? Whether it’s falling off a seven-foot fridge or your couch, they always manage to right themselves before hitting the ground. While we’ve seen animals do some extraordinary things, these little feline acrobats are pretty impressive!

Let’s dive and look at the science behind cats always landing on their feet!

What is Cat Righting Reflex? 

Cat righting reflex is a cat’s innate ability to orient itself as it falls in order to land on its feet. This ability appears when the cat is still a kitten, around 3-4 weeks of age. 

Cats have two physical advantages to perfect this reflex. 

First, cats have an unusually flexible backbone and no clavicle (collar bone). While the cat’s tail is also an effective tool for maintaining balance, cats without tails also have this righting reflex. 

Secondly, a cat’s ears actually play a significant role in why they always land on their feet. As it turns out, their inner ear holds the vestibular apparatus. This is a sensory system that helps with balance and spatial awareness so a cat can tell up from down.

The Techniques 

According to University of North Carolina Physics Professor Greg Gbur, cats can employ a series of different techniques when they fall. 

First technique: “Tuck and Turn”

A cat tucks in a pair of its paws so it can twist rapidly before hitting the ground. 

Second technique: “Falling Figure Skater”

Proposed by nineteenth century physicist James Clerk Maxwell, a cat can shift its angular momentum by retracting or extending its paws in a flash. 

Third technique:  “Bend and Twist”

The front half of the body rotates on a different axis from the back half.

Fourth technique:  “Propeller Tail”

This may be the most hysterical of the techniques. This is when the cat rotates its tail in the opposite direction of its body to right itself. Let that image sink in for a second. 

While these furry trapeze artists use a combination of all of these techniques to avoid a splat, their bodies also have low terminal velocity. Meaning, their small size, light bone structure and thick fur decreases the maximum speed at which they can fall through the air.

Everybody Wants to Be a Cat!

I mean, who wouldn’t want the ability to always land on their feed?

But beyond their gravity-defying ability, cats are unique, and sometimes mysterious, animals.

For example, cats can purr for a variety of reasons and you may not be able to tell exactly why. They might be purring because they want you to keep petting them, because they’re sick, or, if they’re a younger kitten, they may be persuading their mother to keep nursing them. If you’re not paying close attention to their behavior, it can be impossible to tell. 

This complexity relates to their cat righting reflex as well. Some cats are longer than others, fatter, skinnier, older, younger. – you name it! All these factors are at play, leaving that precise certainty of why cats always land on their feet still a bit up in the air

The post Why Cats Always Land on Their Feet first appeared on History In Memes.

The Polish Army was not the only Allied power that got some help from the animal kingdom – so did the US government! The US military employed thousands of military working war dogs during World War Two. Additionally, Army, Marine Corps and Navy units unofficially adopted thousands of animals when they served in war-torn areas.

So, how did all these dogs end up fighting in World War 2? Keep scrolling to read about how these dogs became an incredible asset for the US military!

How Did These “War Dogs” End Up in WWII?

During their first six months involved in WWII, the US government realized the need for working dogs. There was a great fear of German and Japanese soldiers landing on US shores. So, huge numbers of sentry and guard dogs were needed for the big leagues! The military initially envisioned these dogs patrolling coastlines, protecting industrial facilities and guarding military bases from attack. But, there was just one problem: The US military had no dog program. They also could not wait to breed their own dogs.

Because of this, the Army launched the Dogs for Defense Program, which allowed patriotic citizens to donate their dogs for military service. They Initially accepted almost any breed. However, the Army soon narrowed down the list once they built training centers. Approximately 75% of dogs that ended up being recruited during the war were Doberman pinschers and 25% were German Shepherds. 

What Did War Dogs Do During WWII?

So, how many dogs did military forces adopt during WWII? It is estimated that 1,047 dogs were donated and trained for military service throughout the war. And photographic evidence from the National Archives shows that the practice was widespread. These war dogs successfully served in both the Pacific and European areas.

Working dogs were used as scouts, messengers and attack dogs. They were trained not to bark, alerting soldiers of Japanese presence through special signals. The trained dogs could also detect a human scent up to one-half mile away.

Dogs were also adopted by smaller units at the platoon and company level. Sometimes divisions even had official dog mascots. Though dog mascots were not expected to perform military functions, their role was crucial in keeping troops fighting. Regardless of how official it was, service members adopting animals proved to be a widespread practice. The dogs also a huge morale booster!

What Did The Dogs Do After the War Ended?

In 1945, the military retrained these dogs back to civilian life. All but four dogs were able to be retrained and re-homed. Though it was common to adopt cats, birds, goats and mules, dogs were by far the most popular choice among service members. 

Throughout World War Two, dogs played a crucial part in the US military. Military working dogs served in a variety of roles, both on the home front and in frontline combat. Numerous stories of dogs’ heroism solidified their use for future generations. Of the 1,047 dogs that served, 25 died during their service.

To this day, the US military still uses dogs to fight in wars. Take a look at their intense training:

The post Good Boys: The War Dogs of World War 2 first appeared on History In Memes.

Dogs are known as man’s best friend. But in the years of WWII, Smoky the Dog was more than Corporal Bill Wynne’s best friend – he was his heroic fellow soldier!

How Did Smoky the Dog Become Smoky the Soldier?

The 8-month-old Yorkshire Terrier Smoky, later nicknamed “Yorkie Doodle Dandy,” was abandoned in a New Guinea foxhole in 1944. She definitely could fit into small spaces – including a soldier’s pack. This little pup weighed in at 4 pounds, 7 inches tall – how cute!

Corporal Bill Wynne bought Smoky for a whopping $6. And he sure got his money’s worth – not only did the Corporal get a best friend, he got a soldier that would save so many lives during World War II combat. 

How Smoky the Dog Survived Combat and Enemy Attacks

Smoky learned over 200 hand signals and commands to survive and alert her team of incoming enemy attacks. She was involved in 12 air-sea rescue and photo reconnaissance missions, survived 150 air raids, and to top it all off, she survived a typhoon. There was nothing this little pup couldn’t handle!

Her most infamous mission was in February 1945. The US Army was in the Lingayen Gulf. Fearful of a repeated attack from the Japanese, Wynne desperately needed to send communications from his team’s spot back to the headquarters base. But, there was no way to get back to base without exposing themselves to attack, Wynne found a 70-inch pipe that traveled back to headquarters. Wynne sent Smoky through, which was littered with leaking sand from above. At some points, Smoky only had 4 inches of headway! Being that little has its perks!

They tied a string with their communications on it and nervously sent Smoky on her way through the pipe. Smoky was successful with her efforts. She not only spared her team exposure to bullets, bombs, and enemy attacks, but saved them from a three-day adventure that she resolved in minutes. The soldiers also gave Smoky the best reward of all: A large steak dinner as a thank you!

From The Battlefield To Therapy

Smoky’s legacy goes far beyond her war efforts. She also became known as the “world’s first therapy dog.” She entertained members of Wynne’s team with a number of learned tricks, as well as visiting injured veterans in hospitals to brighten up their days. Smoky also became the first dog to be awarded the honor of the Animals in War & Peace Distinguished Service medal, which is the highest honor an animal can be awarded. The president of Animals in War & Peace, Robin Hutton, commented on awarding Smoky such an esteemed honor:

“We don’t think of the animal sacrifice in war, but what they have done is truly stunning,” she explained. “The soldiers they serve with become their ‘pack,’ so they do these fierce feats because they want to please and out of love and devotion they have for their handler. They prove themselves time and time again.” 

– Animals in War & Peace President Robin Hutton on honoring Smoky

Honoring Smoky’s Legacy

Unfortunately, Smoky died on February 21st in 1957. Corporal Wynne buried his best friend in a World War II .30 caliber ammo box in Rocky River Reservation in Cleveland. She was later moved to the “Smoky and Dogs of All Wars” memorial in 2005. The memorial honors Smoky’s legacy of being a loyal, dedicated war dog and first therapy dog. Learn more about the heroic, wonder dog Smoky with this brief video!

The post Smoky the Dog: A WWII Hero first appeared on History In Memes.