Laughter as Cat Discovers New Way to Run Faster: 'I Am Speed'

A Bengal cat called Tamarindo has left internet users in stitches after a video of him trying out a new way to run faster went viral on social media.

In the viral clip, shared on TikTok on Thursday by his owner, under the username @stamaraunz, the feline can be seen positioning his hind legs up against the glass door in the living room. Tamarindo then pushes his body back to gather more speed as he charges his launch.

Ready in position, the cat can then be observed shooting across the room, reaching the opposite wall in a matter of seconds, as his owner moves the camera accordingly, filming the entire scene. The hilarious clip comes with a caption that reads: "My cat learned a new way to run faster." It is followed by: "Speed I am speed."

The poster told Newsweek: "We are a couple and we got him six months ago (he's nine months old now). He's crazy like all the Bengal cats and he always wants to play with us, he follows us everywhere and he loves to play with water!"

If you're a cat owner, you probably watch your pet hurtle during the zoomies, but have you ever wondered how fast domestic cats can run? The pet-wellness experts at PetKeen say that our felines can reach up to 30 miles per hour when they run at full speed. That is faster than a tiger, which can only run up to 24 miles per hour. The fastest feline in the world is the cheetah, which can reach speeds of 75 miles per hour, followed by lions and mountain lions, which can run up to 50 miles per hour.

The aerodynamic shape of their body allows cats to run faster. Four main factors determine a domestic cat's speed. One is age, as cats reach their physical peak between the ages of 2 and 4, and this is around the time that they can reach top speed.

Motivation is also a big factor, as hungry cats and those in danger tend to run faster. Cats in better health conditions also tend to be quicker than those with illnesses.

Your cat's breed is also a key factor in determining their speed. Bengal, Egyptian Mau, and Abyssian are among the fastest breeds of domesticated cats, while American shorthair, ragdoll, and Scottish folds fall among the slowest breeds.

The video of Tamarindo quickly went viral on social media, getting viewers from across TikTok. It has so far received over 2.8 million views and nearly 400,000 likes on the platform.

One user, Adelaide, commented: "Imagine the tiny paw prints on the window." And Caitlyn posted: "She was def a track star in a previous life." A problem wrote: "She really said jump start."

Another user, SebaruBRZ, commented: "Bro learned about launch control." And Mishoo and Lychee added: "You can see him charging his launch."

Update 11/14/23 6:16 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comments from the OP, and new pictures.

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