I know it doesn't have anything at all to do with cats, but I still thought this article about how a type of giant rat in Africa defends itself against predators was fascinating.
Simple enough: chew on poisonous plant, coat hairs along your back with your poisonous saliva, stand back and wait for anybody who tries to grab you along your back to get the unpleasant surprise of their lives. It's apparently not enough toxin to kill, yet enough to give the predator a memorably bad experience so as to deter further predation.
