# How Fast Is a Cat?

> Domestic cats sprint about 48 km/h (30 mph) in short bursts. Compare climb and jump agility vs endurance, cats vs dogs, and indoor enrichment for hunting energy.

- **Species:** Cat (*Felis catus*)
- **Conservation status:** Domesticated
- **Diet:** Carnivore
- **Habitat:** Domesticated, worldwide alongside people
- **Lifespan:** 12–18 years
- **Top speed:** 48 km/h (30 mph) in short bursts
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/cat/how-fast-is-a-cat/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/cat/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The domestic cat is a small carnivorous mammal and one of the most popular pets in the world, descended from the African wildcat. Cats are agile night hunters with excellent low-light vision, retractable claws, and a strong independent streak, and they typically live 12 to 18 years. There are around 70 recognized breeds.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need the full biology — use the [Cat profile](https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/cat/) instead.

## Behavior and the hunt

Even well-fed house cats keep the instincts of a solitary ambush predator. They stalk, pounce, and play out the full hunting sequence, which is why toys that move trigger such intense focus. Cats are most active at dawn and dusk and can sleep 12 to 16 hours a day to conserve energy between hunts.

## Help protect the Cat

Stray and community cats face hunger and disease, and in some regions the cruelty of the meat trade.

[Donate to end the meat trade](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/appeals/dog-cat-meat/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/cat/how-fast-is-a-cat/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.