How do cats hear mice? - briefly
Cats detect mice mainly via their exceptionally sensitive, high‑frequency hearing, capable of perceiving sounds up to 64 kHz—well above human limits. This acute auditory range, together with precise ear rotation, lets them locate tiny rodent movements even in complete darkness.
How do cats hear mice? - in detail
Cats possess a highly specialized auditory system that enables detection of tiny rodents. The outer ear captures sound waves and funnels them into the ear canal, where they strike the tympanic membrane. The membrane’s vibrations are transmitted via three ossicles—the malleus, incus, and stapes—to the oval window of the cochlea. Inside the cochlea, hair cells convert mechanical motion into electrical signals that travel along the auditory nerve to the brainstem and auditory cortex.
Key features of feline hearing that facilitate rodent detection include:
- Frequency range: 48 Hz to 85 kHz, with peak sensitivity around 8 kHz, matching the high‑pitched squeaks of small mammals.
- Sound pressure threshold: approximately 0 dB SPL, allowing perception of sounds far quieter than human hearing.
- Ear mobility: 20 mm‑long pinnae can rotate up to 180°, providing precise directional cues.
- Temporal resolution: ability to discern rapid sound bursts, essential for tracking the erratic movements of prey.
The brain processes incoming signals using binaural cues. Interaural time differences (sub‑millisecond) and interaural level differences allow precise localization in the horizontal plane. Vertical localization relies on the shape of the pinna, which creates frequency‑dependent filtering patterns. Combined, these mechanisms give cats the capacity to pinpoint a mouse’s position within a few centimeters.
Neural pathways involve the ventral cochlear nucleus, superior olivary complex, and lateral lemniscus, culminating in the primary auditory cortex. These structures support rapid reflexive responses, such as ear twitching and head turning, which precede the predatory strike.
Evolutionary pressure has refined these traits. Felines that could hear softer, higher‑frequency sounds had a higher success rate in capturing nocturnal rodents, leading to the retention of enlarged auditory bullae and highly innervated cochlear hair cells.
In summary, the feline auditory apparatus—characterized by broad frequency sensitivity, low detection thresholds, mobile pinnae, and sophisticated neural processing—provides the biological foundation for detecting and locating small prey such as mice.