The tiger's large, cup- shaped ears focus sounds, making its hearing very sensitive. A tiger's long, stiff whiskers are used as feelers to help it maneuver through twigs and branches in the dark. The tiger's sense of smell is also excellent. Like housecats, tigers have retractable claws. They can pull their claws into a protective sheath to prevent them from becoming worn down while walking on rocks or hard ground, keeping them very sharp.
Tigers are primarily nocturnal, meaning they hunt at night.
But they may continue to hunt during the day if they are not successful. They may travel 10 to 20 miles in a single night searching for a meal. Tigers rely on surprise and great strength to overcome their prey. They may stalk their prey, or lie in ambush at a watering hole or a well-used path. If an animal eludes them, they seldom continue to chase it.