Tire-like paws and extended claws provide superb traction for the cheetah. Its long tail may help the cheetah maintain its balance while making hairpin turns chasing prey. All of these body adaptations enable the cheetah to chase its prey 3.4 miles at an average speed of 45 mph before putting on that final burst of speed lasting anywhere from to 20 seconds to one minute. The other big cats chase their prey for only a few hundred meters before they give up and seek another target. The cheetah's hunting behavior and style of killing prey differ from other big cats.
Most cats are nocturnal predators that ambush their prey.
Cheetahs hunt in the early morning and late afternoon. As it comes within 50 yards of its victim the cheetah quickly accelerates to full speed to surprise its victim in a blinding rush. The cheetah then uses its hind claw to trip its victim. Once the victim stumbles, the cheetah closes its jaws around its victim's windpipe to suffocate it. As a hunter the cheetah is only successful 50 percent of the time.