Many of the cat's bones are in its tail, which is an indicator of a cat's mood. A cat carrying its tail high is usually displaying pride and contentment. An extended tail generally tells you the cat is stalking. A tail being thrust from side to side may warn you that the cat is angry.
A cat's hind legs are longer and stronger than the front legs, enabling him to jump with skill. Observe a cat and you will notice it calculates distance before jumping.
Another observation will show you that the cat walks or runs by moving the front and back legs on one side, and then the front and back legs on the other side. The camel and the giraffe are the only other animals that move in this way. Other four-legged animals move the left front leg at the same time as the right hind leg, and their right front leg with the left hind leg.
The cat can move silently on the thick pads that insulate its feet. Its claws are retractable they can stretch out beyond the pads or disappear again simply by the contraction of certain muscles.
The cat's paw pads are extremely sensitive and are used to investigate the texture, size and shape of an unfamiliar object. A cat extends one paw to touch the object at first, gently, then more firmly ad then uses its nose for closer inspection. The sensitivity of the cat's paw pads may be the reason why so many cats dislike having them stroked.
