How do cats walk so quickly and quietly?

Cats are masters of stealth, moving around almost imperceptibly when they’re on the hunt. Their furry, padded toes help them stay quiet. So does the way they move. Most mammals move their legs in diagonal pairs, first left front and right rear together, then right front and left rear. But cats move their legs laterally, meaning the legs on the same side move together.

With this action, cats can lift the front paw and then place the back paw in exactly the same spot. This cuts down on noise and visible tracks, and provides great balance as well. So it’s no wonder that fashion models, who walk on the balls of their feet, placing one foot directly in front of the other, are said to strut their stuff on the catwalk!

– Dr. Larry McDaniel, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series

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