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How Fast Can a Domestic Cat Run?

February 1, 2018 By Elise Xavier | Updated: May 3, 2018 - 23 Comments

I’ve spoken about just how high house cats can jump in an article before. Spoiler alert: It’s really stinkin’ high, and if you compare a cat’s jump ability to a human’s, it puts into perspective just how athletic our little domestic kitties are.

But how about their running ability? Yes, cats certainly may be some of the most lazy creatures you could ever lay your eyes on, but have you ever seen even the laziest house cat run? Like lightening! Speed is certainly one of a cat’s abilities I envy most. Imagine being able to run like a feline for just one sprint!

How fast exactly do domestic cats run? And how do they compare to human speed? Can they run faster than the fastest human on earth? And what about dogs – can cats outrun them? These questions are exactly what I’ll be answering today.

feline-running-speed-how-fast-can-a-domestic-cat-run

Facts About Cats’ Running Speed

How Fast Can House Cats Run?

Hitting top speeds, the fastest house cats can run up to 30 mph. That’s approximately 47 km/hr.

In case you’re wondering how fast that feels:

  • It’s double the maximum speed limit you’re usually allowed to drive in a parking lot (15 mph / 24 kph).
  • It’s about as fast as the maximum speed limit on the average country road (30 mph / 50 km/hr).

So that means the average house cat can outrun any car driving at the speed limit in a parking lot, and for a short time, can almost keep up with a car driving at the maximum speed limit on a country road. Pretty impressive!

Does the maximum speed a house cat can run depend on breed?

Yes. As with most biology facts about cats – breed definitely plays a part in how fast a cat can run as well.

Dr. Becker mentions that the 9 fastest breeds of house cat are also the 9 most athletic and energetic in general. These breeds include: Egyptian Maus, Abyssinians, Somalis, Bengals, Savannahs, Manxs, Siamese cats, Ocicats, & Orientals.

how-safe-is-catnip-for-cats-to-eat

Cat Speed VS Human Speed

Are house cats faster than humans?

In case you were wondering about averages: yes, certainly the average house cat is faster and can outrun the average human. What’s more interesting however is how quick house cats compare to Usain Bolt – the record breaker for the spot of the fastest man on Earth…

Are house cats faster than Usain Bolt (the world’s fastest human to date)?

Usain Bolt, the fastest human to date, hit the current world record back in August 16, 2009 during the World Championships in Berlin. His record high speed was 27.8 mph (44.72 km/h). His average speed over the course of this 100 m race was 23.35 mph (37.58 km/h).

What’s that mean? At his top speed Usain Bolt hit nearly the same top speed as a house cat.

Could super fast house cats outrun Usain Bolt at a 100 m sprint? Probably, but the fact that Usain Bolt would come in pretty close – a ridiculous feat considering how agile domestic cats are.

Cat Speed VS Dog Speed

Are cats or dogs faster?

You’ve probably guessed this yourself, but it really depends on the breed of cat or dog you’re talking about!

Greyhound dogs, with their long legs, can hit speeds of up to a whopping 43 miles per hour (69 km/hr)! So yes, they certainly do outrun all house cats, even the most athletic ones.

At the other end of the spectrum, you have small stout dogs like the English Bulldog, which only hit around 15 mph (24 kph). Needless to say, your average house cat can definitely outrun these dogs.

If you want to throw all cats into the mix, and aren’t just talking about the house cat variety – the fastest cat (an animal!) on earth is the cheetah, while the fastest dog is the greyhound. Cheetahs can hit speeds up to 75 mph (120 km/hr), while greyhounds, as previously stated, can hit around 43 mph (69 kph). That 43 mph is no small feat, but it’s still no contest when compared to the top speed of the #1 fastest animal on earth, the cheetah.

Of course, it’s not like you can have a cheetah living in your home, so talking purely about domesticated animals – yup, the fastest domesticated dog breeds can certainly beat any ol’ house cat.

speed-of-a-house-cat-how-fast-can-felines-run

Your Thoughts on Cat Running Speeds?

Ever been impressed by how fast the average house cat can run? They sure do pack a huge punch for speed considering their overall laziness, don’t they?

Ever wondered whether a house cat could outrun a dog? Do you feel it’s fair to include cheetahs in the mix when you’re talking about cat vs dog speed? Do you feel it’s more fair to consider averages for only domesticated breeds?

How awesome do you think it’d feel to be able to run as fast as a house cat for just one sprint? I’d certainly love to feel that sensation – my own legs being able to carry me that fast! I guess only Usain Bolt and a handful of other crazy fast Olympic sprint runners will ever come close to knowing how that feels firsthand!

Filed Under: Biology, Cat Facts

Elise Xavier

Have two pet cats, Avery & Bjorn, whom I love to bits.
Obsessed with cats. Figured I might as well blog about 'em.

Fond of my fluffies? See more of this duo on my personal blog, E&T.
Dig KittyClysm? Check out all the other blogs I pen & photograph.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Bishop Levi says

    August 8, 2019 at 9:07 pm

    Pronghorn Fastest animal in North America. 55- 60 MPH for short bursts (a few hundred yards) and 30-40+ MPH maintainable for several miles..

    Reply
  2. Jimmy says

    March 26, 2019 at 8:14 am

    For another perspective on how fast cats are compared to humans, consider a four minute mile. That’s no longer the amazing feat it once was but even today, you’ve got to be in good shape to run that fast: 15 miles per hour.
    So, cats probably run twice as fast as people.

    Reply
    • Elise Xavier says

      April 1, 2019 at 5:14 am

      Great point, Jimmy!

      Reply
  3. Christina H Carlee says

    March 4, 2019 at 11:29 am

    We have urban coyotes roaming around our neighborhood occasionally. I don’t find this to be a problem, but the neighbors are all having hissy fits about it. One neighbor recently posted a stat saying that a coyote can run at speeds up to 50 MPH. I had previously wondered about whether my cat could outrun a coyote. Guess not. (However, my little furry friend sure can sprint up that oak tree like lightning!) Nevertheless, I wondered about whether that 50 MPH stat for coyotes was really true. Do you know the answer?

    Reply
    • Elise Xavier says

      March 11, 2019 at 5:38 am

      Supposedly coyotes can run up to 43 miles per hour (according to this website), but I see where your neighbours are coming from even if a cat can *technically* outrun a coyote (which is unlikely) – all it takes is a cat to be cornered, back to the wall, with no means of escape, and there’s no hope for a domestic cat in a face off like that, sadly 🙁

      Reply
    • Heather says

      November 1, 2019 at 4:50 am

      Your neighbor may have exaggerated a bit, but they are right to be concerned. You won’t dismiss it as a hissy fit when your cat is killed by coyotes and you have to “put her back together again” to bury her after fighting them for her body. That’s what happened to me. I live in a big city but near a creek. We have urban coyotes around here too. A cat who is not caught off guard will certainly try to escape by climbing a tree or a fence. But the coyotes around here hunt in groups. They work together to corner the animal and block any possible escape route. My cat got halfway up a wooden fence before they pulled her back down by her tail. I can never forget the sound of her claws dragging down the wood. I ran outside as soon as I heard something but it was already too late. I had to chase off two coyotes who kept coming back every few minutes for her body. I had another cat who survived an attack from multiple coyotes by climbing under a neighbor’s deck and managed to limp home covered in blood, but after 3 days of intensive care in the cat hospital, still didn’t make it. Better safe than sorry. When it happens to you, it’s nothing to scoff at.

      According to the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service, coyotes can easily reach 48 km/h (30 mph), and can sprint at 65 km/h (40 mph) when hunting. Even when lacking a front foot, a coyote can still run at around 32 km/h (20 MPG). Really pretty crazy when you think about it. They’re fast, but they’re also bold and strategic pack hunters, and that’s what I’d worry about.

      Reply
  4. Tim says

    December 6, 2018 at 8:33 am

    I raced what I think was a border collie on a bicycle (me not the dog), and got to 27 mph and it kept up for around half a minute. When the road started sloping up a bit it was a wash as me and the dog were slowing at the same rate. The dog seemed to have a weird running style where the back end was almost on the ground. So it seems the top speed is around 27 mph. I’d be surprised if a cat could run faster than that (though I’m surprised how fast our old cat could climb a tree trunk), although I once opened a door in my parent’s built in studio room and it was barely open 6″ when this ginger blur of a wild cat came flying out making a hissing sound.

    Reply
    • Elise Xavier says

      December 14, 2018 at 9:30 am

      That is really fast. I don’t think a cat could’ve kept up for that long even if he or she could sprint out for a few seconds a little faster. 27 mph – dang.

      Reply
  5. Fred Rolfes says

    November 24, 2018 at 8:16 pm

    Disagree that the average dog can outrun the average housecat. Not sure that is explained. Otherwise a great article.

    Reply
    • Elise Xavier says

      December 14, 2018 at 8:57 am

      I didn’t say the average dog could outrun the average cat, only that it depends on the breeds of dog you’re comparing to the average house cat. I don’t think it’s fair to group fast and slow dogs together, but certainly cats can outrun the average small dog.

      Reply
  6. Barney says

    May 1, 2018 at 6:36 pm

    Nice article but the greyhound is NOT the second fastest land animal. Heck I don’t think it makes the top 10.

    Various anitlopes are quicker. Ostriches are quicker and race horses can go faster too.

    Reply
    • Elise Xavier says

      May 3, 2018 at 6:46 am

      I guess my source (Popular Science) is wrong then? Going to edit out that part of the article just in case. Don’t want to be spreading misinformation if I can help it.

      Reply
  7. Adam says

    April 28, 2018 at 10:39 am

    What about endurance. If an English bull dog is running 15mph could it beat the cat running 30 mph in like a 1km run? Or do cats also have a higher endurance

    Reply
    • Elise Xavier says

      May 3, 2018 at 6:40 am

      I feel like for endurance, the English bull dog would win. I don’t think cats have a higher endurance.

      Reply
    • Tim says

      December 6, 2018 at 8:35 am

      Well something running its top speed is bound to tire out sooner than something running only half its top speed/

      Reply
      • Elise Xavier says

        December 14, 2018 at 9:31 am

        Absolutely

        Reply
  8. Mary Bragg says

    February 3, 2018 at 4:03 am

    Or open a can of tuna. Mine has to come look every time she hears the can opener. Then she’s at my feet crying the whole time I’m draining it. BTW I get it packed in water so it’s fine for an occasional treat.

    Reply
    • Elise Xavier says

      February 6, 2018 at 8:54 am

      Oh such a good point! Avery goes crazy over tuna as well, and we get it in water so he’ll have a bit of it whenever we have tuna salad for lunch. His favourite by far!

      Reply
    • Fred Rolfes says

      November 24, 2018 at 8:15 pm

      Don’t drain the water! They love that best!

      Reply
  9. Brian Frum says

    February 1, 2018 at 7:06 pm

    Dang, it seems like Brother Simon goes faster than that at times!

    Reply
    • Elise Xavier says

      February 2, 2018 at 3:20 pm

      Oh my! He must be on the high end of the speed spectrum!

      Reply
  10. Eastside Cats says

    February 1, 2018 at 4:10 pm

    Rustle a bag in the kitchen, and a cat is bound to be at your feet begging, having run from the farthest reaches of the house in milliseconds!

    Reply
    • Elise Xavier says

      February 2, 2018 at 3:18 pm

      Haha so very true!

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Elise! Welcome to KittyClysm - a blog for cat lovers & kitty keepers. Join me & my furries - Avery, Bjorn, & Cleo - in our own little corner of the feline-obsessed world. Facts about cats, training tips, stories, pet care advice - I talk as much as I can about it all here!

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