Actually, however, it seems in some respects to be little changed from the primitive stock that gave rise to all other cats. The color varies from gray to reddish and yellowish brown, and there are often stripes, spots, or rosettes. The pelage is soft and woolly. Its beautiful, glossy appearance is maintained by frequent cleaning with the tongue and paws. The tail is well haired but not bushy, and the whiskers are well developed.
Cats have a lithe, muscular, compact, and deep-chested body.
The limbs range from short to long and sinewy. The forefoot has five digits and the hind foot has four. Except for the naked pads, the feet are well haired to assist in the silent stalking of prey. The baculum is vestigial or absent. Females have two to four pairs of mammae.