There are approximately 35 species of cats in the world. They are all very graceful and endowed by nature with a hunting instinct; they feed on game, which they kill with their powerful teeth and claws.

An important common feature of cats is the structure of their paws. Except for cheetahs, whose paws are more like those of dogs, all cats retract their claws into protective sheaths on their paws when they run or rest, so their claws always remain sharp. They have two long lateral incisors on the upper and lower jaws. The cat family is usually divided into three groups: small felids, which also include the clouded leopard, large lions and tigers, and cheetahs, of which the cheetah is the only representative. Size is not the only decisive feature by which small and large cats are distinguished. The puma is the same size as the leopard, but is classified as a small cat, while the leopard is classified as a large cat. How else do small cats differ from big cats? The structure of the hyoid apparatus and vocal cords. Therefore, small cats cannot roar like lions. Instead, they purr as they inhale and exhale. Big cats purr only when exhaling. Small cats eat while sitting, holding food tightly with their paws; big cats eat lying down and do not hold their prey. A domestic cat licks its entire body, running its paws over its eyes and ears. This is a characteristic feature of all small cats. Big cats only wash their faces and paws. Small cats curl their tail around their body when they sleep, while large cats leave it extended.

The leopard is the most widespread of the spotted cats. It is found throughout Africa and southern Asia. The leopard prefers to live in or near the forest, although it hunts on grassy plains. It goes hunting at night and is able to kill its prey so silently that nearby animals will not hear anything. The leopard usually hunts antelope, monkeys, birds and lizards, but can sometimes attack dogs. It rarely attacks humans.

Jaguars, which live in the forests of South and Central America, are much stronger than leopards. They also have reddish-yellow spotted fur, but the spots are arranged in large circles, like snow leopards. Jaguars cannot climb trees well, but they are good swimmers. They hunt deer, birds, tapirs, and catch slaves and caimans. Sometimes even horses are bullied.

<> the lion belongs to the only species of cat that lives in prides. Lions have a uniform yellow color; only lion cubs have spots. They hunt antelopes, baby hippos, zebras, and elephant calves. Sometimes they attack snakes and crocodiles. Mainly females go hunting, while males guard the territory at this time.

Cheetahs are often called "dogs with cat heads." The fur has a beautiful color and is a good camouflage in open areas; they are the fastest animals on earth, they can reach speeds of up to one hundred kilometers per hour. Previously, cheetahs lived in Africa, Asia and Arabia, right up to the borders of India.

The lynx is a beautiful spotted cat found in Europe, Asia and North America. The lynx differs from most other cats in that it has a short tail and fluffy tufts at the tips of its ears. Lynx hunt at night, moving silently through the underbrush in search of rodents and other small mammals.

Cats have been living next to humans for many hundreds of years, and during this time, many different breeds have been bred through careful selection. They are very different, although they do not differ from each other as much as dogs of different breeds. In addition, most domestic cats do not belong to any specific breed, but are the result of crossbreeding.

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