cat anatomy

An old anatomy drawing of the skeleton structure of a house cat.

Why are Cats Flexible?

Caitlin Dempsey

Cats can stretch and bend their bodies in amazing ways thanks to their distinctive skeletal structure, which includes a flexible spine and loose joints.

A black and white cat with its mouth wide open and arrows labeling each type of arrow.

Cat Teeth

Caitlin Dempsey

Cats have very sharp teeth, which helps them catch prey as well as tear and chew their food effectively.

An orange tabby cat lying in a green window bed in the bright sun.

Dewclaw in Cats

Caitlin Dempsey

Cats have a fifth claw on each of their front paws known as a dewclaw.

A black cat with white socks and chest with yellow arrows pointing to different parts of the body.

External Anatomy of a Cat

Caitlin Dempsey

Curious about a cat's anatomy? Explore the names and functions of different parts of a cat's exterior body.

Twenty-four consecutive images of a cat running. Photos: Eadweard Muybridge, 1887.

How High Can Cats Jump?

Caitlin Dempsey

Cats are powerful jumpers.