Compared with other carnivores, the felids have a relatively short muzzle and a broad, rounded head. The lion is an exception with a relatively longer face and smaller brain case, and the cheetah with a very high skull. With the exception of the lion, the fur is soft and often marked with spots or stripes. Cats are specialized hunters having extremely limber but compact bodies. The whiskers , which are actually specialized hairs, are well developed and the felids have acute sight, hearing and sense of smell.
Most cats are nocturnal and all, except the lion, hunt alone.
The aquisition of prey is a culmination of a series of stereotyped actions including stalking, chasing, and pouncing. The cat's ability to move with ease and to remain motionless for long periods of time, often up to 30 minutes until it can creep closer for the final dash, is a key to successful hunting. Generally it is only after the prey has been siezed with the forepaws that the cat actually bites the prey. The first bite is frequently at the base of the neck, on the shoulder, or positioned to gain control of the prey and better position the claws. The lethal bite is generally at the nape of the neck, where damage to the brain or spinal cord kills the victim quickly.