All members of the feline family are excellent sprinters, and one of them, the cheetah, is the fastest land animal in the world, capable of accelerating up to 120 km/h. The fastest breed of domestic cats is the Egyptian Mau, capable of running at speeds of up to 48 km/h. This is made possible by small fold-bags hanging in front of the hind legs, which helps to increase the span of your stride when running.

For comparison, the maximum human running speed is 44.71 km/h. The record was set by the fastest man on Earth — Usain Bolt. In a short-distance race, a domestic cat will outrun the fastest human on the planet, but if the race continues for a long time, the animal will definitely lose.

The thing is, cats are excellent runners only over short distances. Developing high speed for some time, they soon have to stop in order to adjust their body temperature and breathing. A person, thanks to a unique cooling system — perspiration — is able to travel long distances at a stable speed.