How Fast Can Cats Run ? – Fascinating Things About The Running Capability Of Cats

You might have made very humble guesses upon wondering how fast can cats run but get ready for big surprises as your assumptions are going to meet a very different reality. Any cat has the capability of outrunning the fastest human runner on earth and this is a fact proven by multiple studies. Shocking is it?

Coming up are many such interesting facts about how fast can a cat run and how the amazing cat speed is just a part of their natural being.

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Interesting facts about running cats

Speed is a star feature of the skill set of cats and can easily make any human envy them. What we are going to say may blow your mind- The top speed at which cats can run is 30 mph which is roughly 47 km/hr. This speed is faster than 27 mph of the fastest human runner and the average running speed of athletes which is nearly 22 mph.

If you ask ‘how fast can a house cat run’, you will be even surprised to know that even an average cat can attain the speed mentioned above without any workout, warm-up, or training requirements. However, the fact remains that cats share a family with bigger predators like cheetahs and they are already known for their speed which kind of makes it obvious, doesn’t it?

Physical abilities of cat that make them fast

Cats run fast simply because they can and by this, we are referring to the unique anatomy that cats possess. Numerous physiological features of cats allow them to run super fast and here is a list of them:

They have stronger muscles, tendons, and bones which are the major body parts involved during running.
The muscles of the back legs of cats are very strong that allow them to propel faster in the front direction.
Cats have a strong tail that allows them quicker and sharper movement along with maintaining balance.
The spine of cats is very flexible that compresses slightly to help them attain faster acceleration with a springy boost.
The body of cats has an aerodynamic shape that makes them capable of running very fast and efficiently too as they can resist the opposite wind force.
Another unique thing about the cats that helps them run fast is Digitigrade Locomotion. This refers to the capability of walking on toes and that makes the cats able at sprinting into action within seconds and gain speed in no time. This ability comes in handy when they need to chase down or stalk their prey.
Cats use both of their back legs to propel forwards and then the front legs for the same purpose. Their hind legs are such powerful to have inspired the leg designs for human robots.

Factors that affect cats’ running abilities

Cats run fast but not every cat can run with the same speed just like humans can’t run similarly fast. The agility and built of every cat is different and that’s how their running capacities also differ. Here are some of the factors that affect cat speed:

Cat breed

This is the first and obvious factor responsible for differences in the running capabilities of cats. Genes are directly related to the physiological development and abilities of cats and this is why some of the cat breeds are blessed with better athletic bodies as well as running speed while others are not. Progenies of crossed breeds tend to show even better performances.

Age of the cat

The running capacity of cats differs in all phases of their life just like in the case of humans. Cats run at top speed during adulthood which comes one to two years after their birth and their athletic capabilities begin to degrade once they turn four. The reason they run best during adulthood is that their body and body is capable to work in sync perfectly and as a result, they perform all running mechanism perfectly.

Gender of the cat

The difference between the anatomy of male and female cats is another factor that impacts both of their different running abilities. Male cats have better muscular strength, aerobic capacity, and other mechanical differences when compared to females.

The health of the cat

Cats with just healthy bodies can run at ultimate speeds without any training. However, any illness or injury can degrade that capability. Health affects their activity levels and obesity can make them lazy enough to not even want to stroll around causally let alone running.

Motivation for running

Cats’ evolution has been based on a lot of survival requirements and wild experiences that made them such fast running creatures. Motivations like safety, hunting, prey, or any predator in the vicinity can make them run at unimaginable speeds. Similarly, they might not even chase after their favorite toy if they aren’t in the mood or the cause isn’t motivating enough.

Fascinating facts about running cats

We have seen how fast can a domestic cat run and now is the time that we give some more facts about the running abilities of cats that will surely let you not underestimate your cat again:

The sudden run that sometimes cats exhibit which looks like a sudden eruption of their energy volcano propelling them into multiple directions is known as Zoomies. This refers to the situation when your cat starts running suddenly around the house to release the energy that gets pent up in them due to the lack of natural release opportunities like hunting. Thus, Zoomies is a phenomenon mostly seen in domestic or house cats as they have plenty of food available already.
The answer to how fast can cats run involves a comparison with the dogs too which is another set of fast runners in the animal world. Certainly, it differs from breed to breed that there are dog species like the Greyhound who can hit the top speed of 43 mph.
Wild cats can run faster than domestic ones which is a result of their survival instincts in the wild. The example of Cheetah will fit here perfectly that can hit the speed of a whopping 75 mph in sudden-burst sprints.
While male cats are known to be fast runners, the lionesses appear as the only exception to this that run fast due to their role of being the hunter in the family.
The fastest speed of cats is the number derived from their short-run sprints as cats are a natural sprinter. While the domestic cats can sprint at a speed of 20-30 mph, the wild cats can do the same at 20-70 mph. Factors like distance and breed decide the sprinting speed too.
The endurance level of cats is very less and they prefer to run only short distances up to 100 yards. Such fast running for longer distances makes cats vulnerable to cardiac arrests and brain damage. This also means that they can’t win against bigger predators or any animal who can outrun them.
Speed makes them good hunters but it is an ability with limited scope that finally leaves them dependent on surrounding factors for their survival. They can run from their enemies but not too far after which they will need places to hide to remain safe.

Fastest cat breeds in the world

Let us also give you a quick introduction to the top nine athletic cat breeds that are known for their ultimate speeds and each one of them shows different running capacities which is yet faster than the rest. Here are the top 9 cat-athletes:

Egyptian Mau is the fastest cat with supreme agility and an athletic body.
Abyssinian is next who rarely sits stationary.
Somali cats run fast with their slim legs and intelligent moves.
Bengal kitties never settle in one place calmly.
Savannah cats have a great combination of athleticism and intelligence.
Manx breed cats run quickly and make quick stops even without a tail.
Siamese cats are perfect for training into running faster due to their natural keenness.
Ocicat has the most unique built that give them agility and speed.
Oriental cats can entertain themselves by running around all day.

Conclusion

We are sure that you are mesmerized by how fast can cats run and are probably being jealous of your cat right now. Do share your experience of having witnessed your cat outrun the dog in the neighborhood and how you had a good laugh about it.

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Luna Tran

My name is Luna and I am a great cat lover and a cat owner of three lovely cats. I have owned many cats till now and have dedicated many years to nurturing and caring cats. Through this blog, I am here to share my knowledge and experience about cats.