About 30 miles per hour, occasionally up to 35. This is the average running speed of most members of the cat family. The cheetah of course is much faster, up to 70 miles per hour in some individuals, but it is an exceptional species designed for speed. The fastest cat after the cheetah is the lion, which can sometimes reach 40mph. Pumas certainly cannot reach 50mph!
The cougar's top running speed ranges between 64 and 80 km/h (40 and 50 mph) in short sprints but is typically below 30 mph and here is why:
Cougars have large paws and proportionally the largest hind legs in the cat family. This physique allows it great leaping and short-sprint ability. The cougar is able to leap as high as 5.5 m (18 ft) in one bound, and as far as 40 to 45 ft (12 to 13.5 m) horizontally. The cougar's top running speed ranges between 64 and 80 km/h (40 and 50 mph), but is best adapted for short, powerful sprints rather than long chases. It is adept at climbing, which allows it to evade canine competitors. Although it is not strongly associated with water, it can swim.
