None of the Felid teeth are flattened for grinding as typically found in humans and other species that eat an omnivorous diet. Little is known about the cats' sense of smell or taste. They apparently rely little on olfaction to locate prey, as do other carnivores, but smell seems to be important when big cats communicate with other members of its own species. It is believed that receptor sites take on odors, with each discernable odor having a unique receptor. The olfactory system receives odorous information through the nostrils, but cats also have a vomeronasal olfactory system in which smells travel to the brain through two tiny openings in the roof of the mouth.
Cats have a highly developed sense of hearing which is important for survival and locating prey.
Some species, such as the large-eared servil, rely on sound almost exclusively for locating and capturing prey. The cheetah, whose daytime hunting habits depend primairly on sight, rely little on sound in locating prey. The elongate oval shape of the external ears help intensify and funnel sound into the inner ears for processing. The inner ear also serves as a center for orientation and balance during jumps and leaps. Along with sensory information from the ears and eyes, a supurb involuntary reflex helps a falling cat to right itself.