Feline Teeth-chattering

Have you ever observed your cat staring at a bird through the window, then hearing a strange stuttering sound as its jaws judder in a frustrated chatter? This bazaar behaviour is an exaggerated version of its killing-bite, and in the cat's mind it has the bird already in its jaws.

After a cats initial pounce the prey is held fast by the very strong front claws, the cat quickly bites the nape of the neck with its long canine teeth. Using a rapid juddering movement of the jaws, it slips them between the vertebrae to sever the spinal cord, thus incapacitating the prey...The killing-bite! 

Studies have shown that it is this unusual jaw movement that brings about almost instantaneous death, as it is vital for the cat to reduce any risk of injury to itself . So unable to control itself at the site of a tasty bird outside, the cat will sometimes involuntarily enact this special jaw movement.

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