Size and Proportions:
* Horse: Much larger overall. The legs are significantly longer, with longer, more robust bones. The skull is elongated and the head is proportionally smaller to the body.
* Cat: Smaller and more compact. The legs are shorter, with more delicate bones. The skull is rounder, with a larger head in proportion to the body.
Specific Features:
* Limbs: Horses have a single, large bone in their lower leg (tibia/fibula fused), while cats have two distinct bones (tibia and fibula). Horses have one bone in the lower arm (radius/ulna fused), while cats have two (radius and ulna).
* Feet: Horses have a single hoof, while cats have five toes on each foot (four on the back feet).
* Tail: Horses have a long, strong tail with many vertebrae, while cats have a shorter, more flexible tail.
* Spine: Horses have a longer spine with more vertebrae, especially in the thoracic region (rib cage).
* Skull: The horse skull is elongated and has a prominent crest on the top. The cat skull is rounder with a shorter snout and larger eyes.
Other Considerations:
* Teeth: Horses have teeth adapted for grinding plant material, with large molars and a long, continuous row of teeth. Cats have sharp, pointed teeth for tearing meat.
* Rib Cage: Horses have a deep, barrel-shaped rib cage to accommodate their large lungs and digestive system. Cats have a more narrow rib cage.
A Helpful Tip: If you have access to skeletal diagrams or images, comparing the overall body shape and limb proportions is the most straightforward way to differentiate between a horse and a cat skeleton.
Let me know if you'd like more detail on any specific feature.