FlipFact of the Day: As surprising as it may sound, it’s true: Cats can, in fact, bark.
In 2011, a video of a barking cat on YouTube elicited much attention (and amusement) from users of the platform. As it turns out, however, there’s a scientific reason behind this meowing mix-up.
In an interview with LiveScience, veterinary behaviorist Nicholas Dodman explained: “The arrangement of the cat’s larynx, trachea and diaphragm is similar enough to a dog’s that if they operate the machinery in the right way, it will produce a noise that’s like a bark.” Dodman added that the cat may have been overly excited, causing a sudden rush of air through its air passage that made its “meow” sound more like a “woof.”
Today’s Science History Milestone: On September 11, 1997, NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor reached Mars.
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Cover: Shutterstock
References
- https://www.livescience.com/14793-cat-barking-video-explained.html
Author: Mikael Angelo Francisco
Bitten by the science writing bug, Mikael has years of writing and editorial experience under his belt. As the editor-in-chief of FlipScience, Mikael has sworn to help make science more fun and interesting for geeky readers and casual audiences alike.
