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Why Do Cats Have That Weird Flap on Their Ear? | Smartest Year Ever (Aug 6, 2025)
There’s a strange little flap of skin on almost every cat’s ear—but what is it? Why is it there? And who the heck is Henry?
In today’s episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy dives into one of the weirdest features in feline anatomy: a mysterious skin fold called Henry’s Pocket. Also known as the cutaneous marginal pouch, this odd ear structure shows up in cats, foxes, and even some bats—but science still isn’t sure exactly what it’s for.
Gordy explores the leading theories, from sound wave filtering to evolutionary leftovers, and reveals what little we actually know about this strange feature—and why it's become a beloved curiosity in the world of pet lovers, veterinarians, and animal anatomy nerds alike.
This episode is packed with fun animal facts, evolutionary oddities, and conversation-ready trivia. Perfect for fans of cats, biology, and all things weird but true.
Don’t forget to like, follow, and share if you want to keep learning every single day.
Sources:
Dyce, K. M., Sack, W. O., & Wensing, C. J. G. (2010). Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy (4th ed.). Saunders Elsevier.
Evans, H. E., & de Lahunta, A. (2013). Miller’s Anatomy of the Dog (4th ed.). Elsevier.
Brown, C. M., & Lumsden, C. E. (1971). Functional morphology of the ear of the cat. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 141(4), 529–565.
Palmer, M. (2017). Why Do Cats Have That Flap on Their Ears? Live Science.
American Veterinary Medical Association. (n.d.). Common anatomical features of domestic cats. https://www.avma.org
#CatFacts #AnimalAnatomy #WeirdScience #SmartestYearEver #HenrysPocket #dailyfacts #pets #cats #animalfacts Music thanks to Zapsplat.
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By GordyThere’s a strange little flap of skin on almost every cat’s ear—but what is it? Why is it there? And who the heck is Henry?
In today’s episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy dives into one of the weirdest features in feline anatomy: a mysterious skin fold called Henry’s Pocket. Also known as the cutaneous marginal pouch, this odd ear structure shows up in cats, foxes, and even some bats—but science still isn’t sure exactly what it’s for.
Gordy explores the leading theories, from sound wave filtering to evolutionary leftovers, and reveals what little we actually know about this strange feature—and why it's become a beloved curiosity in the world of pet lovers, veterinarians, and animal anatomy nerds alike.
This episode is packed with fun animal facts, evolutionary oddities, and conversation-ready trivia. Perfect for fans of cats, biology, and all things weird but true.
Don’t forget to like, follow, and share if you want to keep learning every single day.
Sources:
Dyce, K. M., Sack, W. O., & Wensing, C. J. G. (2010). Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy (4th ed.). Saunders Elsevier.
Evans, H. E., & de Lahunta, A. (2013). Miller’s Anatomy of the Dog (4th ed.). Elsevier.
Brown, C. M., & Lumsden, C. E. (1971). Functional morphology of the ear of the cat. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 141(4), 529–565.
Palmer, M. (2017). Why Do Cats Have That Flap on Their Ears? Live Science.
American Veterinary Medical Association. (n.d.). Common anatomical features of domestic cats. https://www.avma.org
#CatFacts #AnimalAnatomy #WeirdScience #SmartestYearEver #HenrysPocket #dailyfacts #pets #cats #animalfacts Music thanks to Zapsplat.