But there are several things that link them all together as cats. These two genera share many attributes, but also differ in many ways. The major difference between the Big cats and the Lesser cats is the ability to roar. The Big cats' larynx is much more flexible, with much of the bony structure replaced by cartilage, but the lesser cats have a more rigid larynx structure, making roaring impossible. However, contrary to popular belief, all cats purr.
Lets start with the cats' appearance.
All cats also posses very lethal weapons in their mouth - their canine teeth, which are very large and sensitive to pressure. The canine teeth of cats are the most highly developed of all carnivores. And they also have the least number of teeth in their skull, due to the shortening of the skull. Some cats have even less. Cats need less teeth than other carnivores since they do not eat as much vegetation and thus do not have the need for the grinding teeth known as molars.