do cats have knees

Cats do have knees, but only on their hind legs. Their front legs have elbows instead. The knee joint in cats is also called the stifle and it includes a patella or kneecap, similar to humans. The front legs have elbow joints but no kneecaps. The knee joint on a cat's hind leg functions similarly to human knees, allowing bending and straightening, and it is located closer to the body, unlike the visible "backward-pointing" joint on their lower hind legs, which is actually the ankle (or hock). Cats also have wrists on their front legs and ankles on their hind legs, and their elbow and knee joints differ anatomically in position and function but correspond to human elbow and knee joints respectively. This anatomical structure allows cats their characteristic agility and flexibility.