Cats are among the fastest and most agile predators in nature, and no snake could ever outrun them. While snakes are famous for their quick strikes, their overall movement speed is far slower. A house cat can sprint up to 30 mph (48 km/h) in short bursts, while even the fastest snakes, like the black mamba, rarely exceed 12 mph (19 km/h). Cats also have reaction times as short as 0.02 seconds, allowing them to dodge attacks and counter almost instantly, compared to a snake’s strike speed of around 0.3 seconds. Their ability to leap several times their body length and move in three dimensions gives them an overwhelming advantage over ground-bound snakes. Combined with sharp hunting instincts and explosive acceleration, cats are simply unmatched in speed and agility. In a direct chase, the snake has no chance—nature has built the cat to win.