The carnassials, which cut the food, are large and well developed. The upper molar is small. The dentition of the Felidae, with emphasis on the teeth used for seizing and cutting rather than on those used for grinding, reflects the highly predatory lifestyle of the family. Cats prey on almost any mammal or bird they can overpower and occasionally on fish and reptiles. They stalk their prey, or lie in wait, and then seize the quarry with a short rush.
Cats walk or trot on their digits, often placing the hind foot in the track of the forefoot.
They are agile climbers and good swimmers and have acute hearing and sight. Many are nocturnal, but some are active mainly during daylight. They shelter in trees, hollow logs, caves, crevices, abandoned burrows of other animals, or dense vegetation. They defend themselves with fang and claw, or flee, sometimes seeking refuge in trees. Cats usually are solitary but sometimes are found in pairs or larger groups.