I think this must be a bug, one that needs looking at. I did report it the other day, after I'd spent the talent point and noticed my Cat was just as slow as ever. He couldn't even overtake my bf's pet bunny ¬_¬
When I'm running and I turn the camera around to watch him, it's like his animation gets... stuck, every couple of seconds, if not less. This makes him drop behind a bit each time this happens, until eventually I can't even see him. Yeah, great way to waste a talent point. 30% faster? I don't think so.