44. Given that the time it takes for a mouse to run 5 steps is the same as the time it takes for a cat to run 4 steps, and the distance a mouse runs in 9 steps is the same as the distance a cat runs in 7 steps. Now, the mouse and the cat are 2 meters apart. The cat starts to chase the mouse, the cat needs to run $\qquad$ meters to catch the mouse.
Reference answer: 72