Research overview: the killing bite and prey neurology in cats

The feline killing bite is precisely targeted to the nape, where the canines wedge between cervical vertebrae to sever or crush the spinal cord. This overview surveys research on how cats achieve this accuracy, drawing on the spacing between canine teeth, tactile feedback from whiskers and lips, and the orientation of prey during handling. It discusses how the bite is calibrated to prey size and how the behaviour develops through play and experience. The topic links dental and sensory morphology to a stereotyped yet finely adjusted motor act that defines felid predation and distinguishes cats from canids in killing style.