Understanding your cat's body is essential for providing the best care. Take a minute to look your cat over from head to tail and discover how the body works.
HEAD:
A very flexible neck is a sure sign of your cat's predatory nature. It provides a wide range of motion for a strong skull to watch for prey.
EYES:
Your cat's eyes are large and well protected deep inside strong sockets. Each eye is uniquely equipped with a depth of focus specialization to allow for better distance judgment while hunting.
TEETH:
Your cat's teeth are typical of a hunting carnivore. Fangs for killing, incisors for holding onto prey and molars for tearing. The lower jaw is particularly flexible to give an extra boost to chewing food.
EARS:
Your cat's ears are like cups that collect a wide range of sounds. Muscles in the ears are precision instruments that shape the ears in specific ways to detect specific sounds. Just like your ears, your cat's inner ears help balance.
Tasty Tips
BACK:
Your cat's back is marked by larger bones along the middle to support the weight of the torso. Muscles along the back are strong to help carry heavy prey over long distances if necessary.
BACK LEGS:
Your cat's back legs can only move backward and forward. The "knee" is the opposite of the "elbow" on front legs. They work together to give your cat a unique ability to spring and pounce.
FRONT LEGS:
Unlike the back legs, your cat's front legs can not only move forward and backward, but also rotate a bit so the underside of paws can be turned toward the face. This lets your cat clean and wash effectively.
PAWS:
Paws are so long that your cat actually walks more on its "fingers" supported by sensitive, dense pads. Claws can be retracted.
Related products
Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Salmon and Vegetables Stew Cat Food
Over 70% of cats lost weight within 10 weeks when fed this nutrition
Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Vegetables and Chicken Stew Cat Food
Over 70% of cats lost weight within 10 weeks when fed this nutrition
Hill's Science Diet Kitten Chicken & Vegetables Stew Cat Food
Precisely balanced nutrition with the delicious taste of minced liver & chicken to support 5 essential building blocks for lifelong health
Adult Urinary Hairball Control Vegetables & Salmon Stew Cat Food
Clinically shown to promote urinary health by supporting a healthy mineral content in the urine.
Related articles
Fun Games for Exercising Your Cat | Hill's Pet
Discover which cat toys games your feline friend might like, and how they are great sources of exercise. Explore our library of articles to learn more.
Cat Training: How to Train Your Cat the Easy Way
Discover how to train your cat, starting with very basic first steps that both reward good behavior and discourage the bad.
How to Litter Train a Kitten
Learn how to litter train a kitten with this guide to potty training, including when to start litter training kittens and troubleshooting tips.
Things to Consider When Adopting a Cat from an Animal Shelter
When you adopt a cat, you don't just gain a best friend; you also save her life. Here's why getting a cat from a local animal shelter makes so much sense.
Put your cat on a diet without them knowing
Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
Put your cat on a diet without them knowing
Our low calorie formula helps you control your cat's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.