The cheetah covers about 8 yards in one stride and completes 4 strides per second. That means at its top speed of 71 mph, the cheetah can run the length of a football field in less than 4 seconds!

The cheetah has non-retractable claws that look more like a dog's than a cat's. These claws are like cleats to help maintain footing when running. The cheetah catches its prey not by grabbing it with its claws, but by knocking it to the ground and then biting the throat.