Do All Cats Have Henry’s Pocket?

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If you’re a pet lover or even a pet owner, like me, then you’ve most probably stumbled upon this beautiful opening in your cat’s ears which felt so soft. That’s what we are talking about today; it’s called Henry’s Pocket.

Answer: Yes, all cats have Henry’s Pocket. I for one have never seen a cat without Henry’s pocket; it’ll have to be some sort of genetic mutation. Henry’s pocket in cats is pretty much like the fingers present in our hands. However, it’s really unclear, the purpose of this feature in a cat’s anatomy.

Simply put, Henry’s pocket is an empty pouch on the base of the outer ear of a cat. It is present in all cats. The reasons for the evolution of this structure are still relatively speculative. Some say that it serves as a site for housing against parasites and infective microorganisms; others say that it plays a role in hearing certain high-pitched notes. 

What is Henry’s Pocket?

Stephen Baker said that “Cats’ hearing apparatus is built to allow the human voice to easily go in one ear and out the other.” I always wondered why cats were designed this way until I had this crazy idea: ‘What if they simply pocket our voices using their Henry’s pocket?’ 

Henry’s pocket is an overlap of skin that is shaped like a little pocket around the ears of cats. Although the pockets are found on all cats, they are also present in some species of dogs and mainly in cats. 

A bit of the Anatomy of a Cat’s Ear 

It helps to delve into the anatomy of a cat’s ear. So, basically, a cat’s ear, like that of most mammals (man included), is divided into three discrete sections; the Inner ear, the Outer ear, and the middle ear. 

The ear canal and the pinna are the major components of the external ear of the cat. The pinna is the visible part of the cat’s ear that is made up of fur and skin. This is also where you can locate Henry’s pocket. I have found that generally, most cats enjoy being petted in this area! Perhaps you may try it too.

Just like in the human ear, the middle ear of the cat is composed of the eardrum and three little bones known as the stirrup, anvil, and hammer. There are also a couple of muscles present alongside the Eustachian tubes.

The cochlea and the vestibular system are the major components of the inner ear. The cochlea is mainly important for hearing while the vestibular system enables the cat to maintain its balance.

Why does my cat have Henry’s Pocket?

Did you know that cats are capable of hearing way lower and much higher frequencies of sound than we humans are? To be specific, cats are capable of hearing an estimated 48Hz to 85 kHz of sound. Compare this to our mere 20Hz to 20KHz.So much for cats being silent huh?

I cited this statistic because it has been proposed by some scientists that Henry’s pocket is present in cats to enable them to hear piercing sounds with progressively lower pitches.

This ability is an important evolutionary attribute of mammalian species. It enables the cats to hunt efficiently for their prey since they are sensitive to the slightest of sounds. Imagine a cat out there in the wild, alone and scared and hunted by a hungry wolf or coyote. We know that these predators are good hunters. As a result, they will definitely prefer to catch their prey while in “stealth mode”. How would cats then survive without Henry’s pocket? I bet you get the picture!

In addition to the hearing advantage, Henry’s pocket has another role that isn’t so good for the cats. Henry’s pocket houses several microorganisms and parasites. We all know that microbes are ardent lovers of dirty environments and this often neglected part of a cat (Henry’s pocket) foots the bill.

As a result of this parasite-containing tendency, I always ask my vet to examine Henry’s pocket of my cat whenever I book an appointment. I’d strongly advise all cat owners out there to do the same. This will help to significantly reduce the risk of ear infections in your cat. In addition, a veterinary examination of Henry’s pocket can also protect the cat owner from Zoonotic diseases (diseases caused by germs that are spread from animals to humans).

What Other Animals Have Henry’s Pocket?

You might have felt Henry’s pocket in your dog while petting it

I know that cats look cute with their Henry’s pockets however they aren’t the only animals around who have those. 

In Summary, Henry’s pocket is a common feature of certain mammals and these include:

  • Some species of dogs
  • Bats
  • The Fennec Fox
  • Weasels

It might interest you to know that the position of Henry’s pocket in bats is quite similar to the position of a muscle known as the antitragus in humans.

How Do I Care for my cat’s Henry’s Pocket?

Due to its conduciveness for the growth and incubation of parasites, Henry’s pocket of your beloved cat needs constant care and hygiene. I have found the following tips useful while caring for my cat Henry’s pocket:

  • Inspect Henry’s pockets carefully and regularly to check for mites or other parasites
  • Also, check for other signs of infection such as redness or inflammation
  • Another important sign of a possible infection will be a very foul odor originating from the ears.
  • If any of these indicators of possible infection are found present in your cat, it is wise to consult your veterinary doctor immediately.

Upon suspicion of these signs, the pet owner needs to maintain good hygiene and cleanliness to avoid zoonosis. 

Conclusion

Generally, all cats are known to contain Henry’s pocket.  Although its roles are not entirely clear, It can be said to be an essential part of the cat’s survival mechanism. If any cats didn’t have Henry’s pocket, they would have been lost during evolution because of the genetic law of Natural Selection.

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