How Cats Drink

Hey, we seem to be getting quite a bit of pet physics lately. First we had the study on the wet-dog shake, which I thought was quite informative and entertaining. Now along comes a study on how cats lap at liquids when they take a drink[1].

Watching in slow motion reveals that cats of all sizes, from tabbies to tigers, have a very elaborate way of drinking. First, they move the tip of their tongue onto the surface of the water to flick the water up so that a little jet of liquid flies into the air. Then, in a flash, they catch the jet in their mouth.

So you can watch the motion of this yourself.


And now, for the dogs.


Zz.

[1] P.M. Reis et al., current published on Science Express.