I’m guessing that learning re-orientation like that can be used in a zero-G environment, but as cats do it largely on instinct, they can’t immediately apply it when exposed to zero-G. Like how dancing teaches you all sorts of motor skills, for which reason martial arts and dancing are associated in some cultures, but someone who is good, but ‘instinctively’ so at one or the other would have trouble transferring the skills; while someone who is practiced and educated on theory would find it easier to do so.