Whiskers are thick, long hairs on each side of a cat's face. Cats use their whiskers to feel around in the dark, fit through small spaces and get around objects. Cat whiskers are so sensitive that they can feel slight changes in the air. All cats walk around on four feet called paws. Walking quietly is important to big cats who must hunt for food.
Cats use their paws to clean their faces, too.
On their feet, cats have sharp claws that they use to scratch, grip and tear things. Big cats like lions use their long, sharp claws for hunting and marking territory. All members of the cat family, except the cheetah, have retractable claws that they can stick out and pull back into their paws. All cats have sensitive ears that can hear many sounds. Cats hear better than people do.