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The Feline Body

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Interesting creatures that they are, cats have many unique characteristics. Their eyes and ears aid them with every move while their coat functions as a blanket in winter and their tounge acts as a comb as well as a warming and cooling device. Learn more about the different features of the feline body.

 
  • Coat and Color
    A cat's coat is one of its most unique -- and identifiable -- characteristics. But it also serves many important functions.
     
    Eyes and Vision
    Cats keen, nighttime-adapted vision helps them identify the location of a potential meal with deadly, laser-beam accuracy.
     
    Ears and Hearing
    The cat's ear is another marvel of feline engineering. Learn why!
     
    Smell and Taste
    A discriminating sniff will help a feline determine if a morsel of food is fit to eat.
     
    Cat Claws
    Felines, seemingly incorrigible scratchers, rake their claws over rough surfaces to both clean and hone them.
  • Sense of Touch
    Of all the cat's finely tuned senses, its sensitivity to touch is perhaps the most sophisticated and wondrous.
     
    Body Size and Shape
    Think all cats are made the same? Think again!
     
    Flexible Spine
    What allows a cat to contort itself into unusual positions? Their flexible spines ...
     
    Tail
    The cat's tail is a highly specialized tool of communication that helps balance the body.
     

Cat Clips

Cat People Cats and the People Who Love Them
Go behind the scenes of cat shows to meet some of the biggest cat enthusiasts around.
Bizarre Cat Tales Bizarre Cat Tales
Gold teeth, circus cats, tricked out cat homes. Check out some of the most bizarre feline finds.
 
 
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How Stuff Works

Dealing With Cats That Scratch Furniture
Cats, by nature, need to scratch. But that scratching can do some serious damage to your furniture. Get tips on how to limit this destructive behavior from HowStuffWorks.com.

How Cat Behavior Works
Communicating with your cat can be tricky. Understanding his behaviors is key. Learn more about what his sounds and movements mean at HowStuffWorks.com.

Dealing With Cats That Bite and Scratch
Learn how to eradicate this unfavorable feline behavior. Visit HowStuffWorks.com for tips.
 
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