From the book:

The creature folded his huge wings against his body, adjusting them in increments until they lay flush. He began to groom himself with his long, sharp tongue, smoothing his short golden fur. The action borrowed heavily from cats. Again, I saw how someone might think a gryphon was part cat—part big cat, like a lion. Yet, I could understand, too, how they might see an eagle in the handsome creature. I was most familiar with horses, so I first saw a gryphon's head in those terms. But as I studied this one up close I saw that its long, narrow nose and mouth were almost like a beak. A beak with teeth. The gryphon chewed gently at a troublesome spot with sharp white fangs, then licked it furiously until satisfied with the way it lay.