What Are the Similarities Between Cat and Human Anatomy?
According to Melodie Anne Coffman for The Nest, cats and humans share many anatomical similarities within the lungs, heart, digestive system, urinary tract and sex organs. Cats also share very basic elements of anatomy with humans, including eyes, mouths, ears, noses, bones, tongues, teeth and skin.
Cat and humans both begin digestion in the mouth and pass food through an esophageal tract, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and colon. Cats also have a liver, pancreas and two kidneys, which work together to aid in digestion and urination. The role of these organs is identical to their role in humans. For example, a cat’s pancreas secretes digestive juices, called enzymes, to aid the intestines in breaking down food after it has left the stomach. A cat’s kidneys, like a human’s, functions by filtering harmful and unneeded substances from the urine before it continues its path through the urinary tract. Cats and humans possess ureters, which are the connective tubes that move urine from the kidneys into the bladder. Coffman explains that while the gestation period of female cats is different from humans, they do possess the same reproductive organs as human females, including fallopian tubes, ovaries, a uterus and a vagina. Male cats are also similar to human men due to the presence of a prostate gland, testicles and penis.
