Edited by: Ingrid King. Last updated: February 6, 2023 by Crystal Uys
A cat’s hearing is much better than a human’s. A human ear can hear very low frequency sounds from 20 Hertz to a very high frequency of 20,000 Hertz. Cats’ hearing is about the same in the low range, but they can hear high-pitched sounds up to 100,000 Hertz. Everything about a cat’s ear is designed by nature to help it hunt, and that includes the ability to rotate its ears. But what are those little pockets on the side of your cat’s ear for?
Feline Ear Anatomy
Your cat’s ear, like the human ear, has three main parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. The outer ear is made up of the pinna, which is the large triangular part, and the ear canal, which normally has little hair and is white or pink in color. The middle ear is contained in a small bony pocket at the base of the skull and is not visible from the outside. The inner ear contains the true organ of hearing (organ of Corti). This is where sound waves transmitted through the middle ear are converted into nerve impulses that are sent to the brain. The inner ear also contains three small, fluid-filled canals placed at angles to each other which are responsible for the sense of balance.
Henry’s pockets
As we know, cats are mysterious creatures, and the little pockets on the side of your cat’s ear, also known as “Henry’s Pockets”, are one of those mysteries that no one really seems to understand. They are part of a cat’s ear anatomy, but appear to have no known function. One theory, according to Wikipedia, is that the pockets aid in the detection of high-pitched sounds by attenuating lower-pitched sounds, especially when the ear is tilted. So maybe those pockets are helping your cat hear the mouse before she can smell or see it.
This article was first published in March 2017 and has been updated.
Ingrid King is an award-winning author, former veterinary hospital director, and veterinary journalist with a passion for cats.
