The answer to whether a cheetah is a cat is yes. It is a member of the cat family, known formally as Felidae. Although its physical appearance and incredible speed often make people question its lineage, it shares a deep evolutionary history with all other cats. Its unique traits are a testament to millions of years of adaptation for explosive speed on the African savanna.
The Definitive Classification
The cheetah belongs to the order Carnivora and the family Felidae. This family is further divided into subfamilies, and the cheetah falls into the Felinae subfamily, often referred to as the “small cats,” which includes domestic cats, pumas, and lynx.
The cheetah is the sole living species within its own genus, Acinonyx (Acinonyx jubatus). This genus distinction separates it from the “big cats” like lions, tigers, and leopards, which belong to the genus Panthera. The primary anatomical difference between these two genera relates to the hyoid bone structure in the throat, which dictates vocalizations.
Shared Characteristics with Other Felines
The cheetah exhibits several defining characteristics common to all felids. The cheetah is an obligate carnivore, and this specialized diet is reflected in its dental structure, which is designed for slicing rather than chewing.
It possesses specialized carnassial teeth—the fourth upper premolar and the lower molar—that work like scissors to shear flesh from bone. Its tongue is also covered in tiny, backward-facing spines called papillae, which are used to rasp meat off prey and aid in self-grooming, a behavior shared by all cats. Female cheetahs are generally solitary hunters, which is the typical behavior pattern for most small cat species outside of mating or cub-rearing.
Unique Adaptations of the Cheetah
The traits that make the cheetah the fastest land animal are also the ones that make it appear so different from other cats. Unlike nearly all other felids, the cheetah has semi-retractable claws that are always partially exposed. These blunt claws function like the cleats on a track shoe, providing high-traction grip on the ground during high-speed pursuits. This constant exposure is necessary because the cheetah relies on a chase strategy rather than the ambush style of most other cats.
The cheetah’s slender, dog-like body is built for speed, contrasting sharply with the bulkier build of Panthera species. Its flexible spine acts like a spring, extending and contracting to propel the cat forward, allowing a single stride to cover up to 23 feet. The long, heavy tail is used as a rudder to counteract body roll and maintain balance during the sharp, high-speed turns necessary to follow fleeing prey.