The build of the body is behind the speed of the cheetah, it all has to do with the fact that the cheetah is built for speed. The cheetahs body is slender and light weight, perfect for sprinting at high speed. Its spine also adds to the speed, the cheetah has a special kind of spine that can bend further which lets the front and back paws overlap when running. This creates a much longer and more powerful stride. Its blunt, semi-retractable claws act as an always ready grip and its long, slender tale helps with balance and sharp turns.