Are hyenas cats or dogs?

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, which are adaptations for dismembering and carrying prey.