The cat's hind limb is articulated by a ball and socket joint to the hip-bone or pelvis (20), which is again firmly united to the three bones forming the sacrum D. The thigh-bone or femur (19) sustains the whole body, and has many powerful muscles attached to it concerned in the springing movements so characteristic of the animal; to its lower end is articulated the principal bone of the lower leg, the tibia (13). At the union of these two bones on the anterior side is the knee-cap, or patella (12). On the outer aspect of the tibia is a slender bone, the fibula (18), its outer end being attached to a prominence on the tibia, the lower end to one of the large bones (the astragalus) which form the tarsus of the foot. The Tarsal bones (14) consist of seven bones, the largest of which is the os calcis (17), or heel-bone, to which powerful muscles are attached. Succeeding the tarsal bones are the four bones forming the metatarsal bones (the fifth or inner toe being absent, though often present in the dog). To these are attached the phalanges of the toes, with the claws, etc., similar to the fore foot.

Fig. VI.A. - Cat's Skull" View From Above

A better idea of the superficial muscles of the cat is obtained from an examination of the plate than by any technical description. It will be seen that for its size the cat's muscles are well developed; its kin, the lion and tiger, are known for their prodigious strength in bearing away young oxen, deer, antelopes, etc., upon which they live, as well as for their leaping powers and agility and courage.

Although the cat's muscles are identical with those of its more powerful relatives, it lives too much in the lap of luxury for them to attain to a proportionate development.

A well-known writer has estimated that there are 500 muscles concerned in the movements of the cat's body.

The cavity of the cat's body is separated into two unequal compartments by a muscular partition called the midriff or diaphragm. In the anterior or foremost cavity are the two lungs, and the heart and its blood-vessels ; in the larger or most posterior compartment is the stomach, intestines, liver, kidneys, etc. Without a considerable number of diagrams it is difficult to convey in a popular manner some peculiarities of these internal organs. The cat's tongue (Fig. x.) is, however, very characteristic of the order, and is easily observed. It is supplied with the usual glands common to all mammals - viz. tonsils (b), flattened soft papillae (c), four circumvallate papilla; (d), conical papillae (e), and the more minute fungiform papillae (f). The peculiarity of the cat's tongue is that the conical papilhe are specialised into horny processes or hooks, as shown in E f, and are of value not only in assisting to clear the flesh from bones, but are of undoubted use in cleaning the animal's fur.

Fig. X. - Surface Of The Cat's Tongue.

A. - Epiglottis or upper cartilage of windpipe. B. - Tonsil.

C. - Flattened or soft papillae.

D. - Circumvallate papillas.

E. - Horny conical papillae.

E.I. - The same enlarged.

F. - Fungiform papillae.

The cat also has the parotid, sublingual, and other glands concerned in the preparation of the food for primary digestion.

Fig. VII. - Superficial Muscles Of A Cat

1. - Maxillaris.

2. - Caninus, or Nasalis.

3. - Orbicularis.

4. - Temporalis.

5. - Mastoideus.

6. - Cephalo-humeral.

7. - Posterior and anterior portions of

8. - Infraspinatus. [Trapezius.

9. - Latissimus dorsi. 10. - Great Oblique. 11. Prominence of Hip-bone. 12. - Gluteus medius.

13. - Prominence of Thigh-bone, or Femur. 14. - Gluteus maximus.

15. - Muscles concerned in the movements of the Tail.

16. - Fascia lata covering deeper muscles.

17. - Biceps femoralis.

18. - Semi-tendinosus.

19. - Gastrocnemius.

20. - External Saphenous Vein.

21. - Point of Heel, or Os Calcis.

22. - Plantar or Flexor Tendons of Sole of Foot.

23. - Extensor Tendons of Toes.

24. - Internal or Inner Saphenous.

25. - Sartorius.

26. - Rectus abdominis.

27. - Serratus magnus.

28. - Pectoralis major.

29. - Elbow, or Olecranon Process of Ulna.

30. - Flexor carpi ulnaris.

31. - Superficial Extensors of Toes.

32. - Annular or Wrist Ligament.

33. - Extensor communis digitorum.

34. - Flexor carpi radialis.

35. - Extensor carpi radialis.

36. - Triceps.

37. - Scapular deltoid.

38. - Acromion deltoid.

39. - Mastoideus.

40. - Sterno-hyoid.

41. - Parotid Gland.

42. - Masseter Muscle.

43. - External Maxillary Vein.

44. - Zigomaticus.

45. - Zigomaticus labialis.

The cat's liver is mainly on its right side ; it is divided into several lobes, which give it a complicated appearance as compared with the simpler livers of other animals. The gallbladder is present in the usual position. The cat's heart is somewhat small for the size of the animal, and is not so pointed at its apex as in other animals; the veins entering the heart, and the branching of the arteries leaving it, are nearly identical with those of closely allied animals. The time required for the complete circulation of the blood throughout the body of the cat is fourteen to sixteen seconds. The pulse, each beat of which corresponds to one contraction of the left ventricle of the heart, may easily be felt on the inner side of the fore-paw, about an inch above the prominence of the radius ; it may also be felt at the same place as the horse's pulse - on the inner side of the lower jaw. There are two other situations on the cat's body where it may be felt, but to find the exact point requires some intimate anatomical knowledge.