- Who
- Egyptian mau
- What
- 48 kilometre(s) per hour
- Where
- Not Applicable ()
- When
The fastest breed of domestic cat is the Egyptian mau, which can attain speeds of up to 48 km/h and has been referred to as a feline greyhound. It is also extremely proficient at leaping, thanks to its very powerful, muscular hind legs.
Although traditionally claimed to have originated in Egypt (hence its name), the Egyptian mau has been revealed via DNA analysis to be of European and North American origin. In particular, it is closely related genetically to such well known North American cat breeds as the Maine coon and the American Turkish angora.