the tact
One of the most important senses in the cat is the tact. By means of this one it can appreciate five different sensations at least: the smooth and strong pressure, the heat, the cold and the pain. All these sensations put it in conditions for knowing the means that surround it. The developed tactile receivers more, than are in addition those that use most frequently, is located in the face, follow in importance those of the plantar pads.
The naked skin of the nose has fine receivers to the tact, heat and cold that are complemented with moustaches. These hairs have a rigidity so that hard surfaces do not bend when touching, reason why can feel and investigate the objects.
The cats use much their moustaches when the light is low or tenuous and then the great expansion of the pupils prevents them to focus the near objects. The moustaches also could be sensible to the airflows, being able then to find the way in the dark. They act like protectors of the eyes, since before a pronounced stimulus they cause a reflected blinking.
The plantar pads transmit on the position that must adopt the body as the animal is moved and perceive vibrations that allow to detect situations him through the locomotive members. In this place sensitivity is so delicate and sensible that it puts of the bad humor to the subjects that caresses them there.
The claws have a tactile function net and they use them to investigate the size, texture, it forms and it distances of an object. It uses, finally, the nose for a near verification and if it is a food to determine its temperature, consistency and scent.
The hairs of the cat are of an extreme sensitivity, to point so that it is not absolutely necessary that the stimuli arrive at the skin so that the animal does not react before them. Also the skin is populated with tactile receivers of heat and cold.
The cat looks for to always sleep in the hottest places and reacts before the cold coiling itself on itself. It has been able to settle down that, except for the face, the rest of the body needs thermal variations much greater than those than they support the humans like incomodar itself. It is not rare to be to the cats sleeping over too hot stoves for the human tact, being considered that just they signal pain when the temperature of the skin arrives at the 52 degrees Celsius.
The painful sensations also worry to the scientists. Some wounded cats diminish themselves or they become aggressive. Hurt others with serious adopt glad attitudes and them its classic drone can even be perceived. This means that the painful sensation is different for each individual.
That the cat has seven lives, as affirms the popular saying to it, much it must to these sensible mechanisms that allow, by means of his different receivers, to recognize environment that surrounds them and to prevent them with the imminent dangers in immediate form.