9781422276341

Cat Senses Cats have exceptionally good eyesight. Their eyes are set fairly close together at the front of the head, which gives them good for- ward binocular vision, a prominent feature for all predators, allowing them to judge dis- tances accurately during a hunt. Daylight vision is very good, and most cats also see very well at night. Behind the retina is a spe- cial reflecting layer called the tapetum, which reflects light back onto the sensitive cells of the retina. This is what gives cats’ eyes the sinister glow when caught at night in a flash- light beam or car headlights. The prominent external ears of cats are partly directional, giving all cats a good all-

Many big cats kill their prey by biting it firmly around the neck; if this does not kill it directly, the animal will soon die from suffo- cation as it will not be released from the grip until it is dead. While gripped in the jaws and held firmly by the sharply clawed front paws, the cat’s hind feet—with their more blunt claws—will be brought up with strong kicking movements to tear into the prey animal’s belly, often ripping it open in the process. Once dead the prey will be dragged away to a safe place for a more leisurely meal. Here the great strength of the big cats, such as the leopard, may be exhibited; even quite large antelopes can be carried high up into trees for the purpose.

The snarl of a Bengal tiger reveals its canine teeth, the weapons used to bite the neck of prey and suffocate it. A danger signal in all big cats, snarling is a way of showing that it is prepared to attack.

A tiger advances menacingly, the lower lip curling into a snarl as a warning. The ears are turned back and the head is lowered, both signs of aggression that are used to signal to an intruding tiger that this animal means business.

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