Spotted hyena From young hippos to fish, the spotted hyena hunts everything. (more) Are Hyenas Cats or Dogs? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/Are-Hyenas-Cats-or-Dogs Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Sep 2, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Hyenas are neither cats nor dogs. While they possess features that lead to this common confusion and share more recent ancestry with cats, hyenas are classified in their own distinct family, Hyaenidae. The family Hyaenidae diverged from the cat group about 30 million years ago. This divergence led to the development of unique characteristics that are not found in either cats or dogs. For instance, hyenas have powerful jaws and broad molars that allow them to crush bones, a trait that is not as pronounced in either cats or dogs. They have long forelegs and a powerful neck and shoulders, ...(100 of 108 words)

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