Nordic,
A little of both. My cat's don't go backpacking with us, about the fartherest they can go without getting worn out is 2 miles. But we can walk over several hundred acres in my backyard (we own 66 acres on that side) and a lot of times they come, especially Mr Prissy cause he's more long legged. Kittyangel is too short legged and her toungue starts hanging out and she starts panting after a few hundred yards if it's hot. This time of year she can go the distance though.
Big AKA Mr Prissy will just purr when he's in the woods he must have been a hunter in a former life. It's a shame some B*stard declawed him before we got him.