The saying ‘cats always lands on their feet’ is commonly
said and believed by many. Cats do have a rather impressive righting reflex
that does indeed mean that when cats fall, they will twist themselves to land
on their feet, but it’s not guaranteed.
Injuries to Cats When Falling from Height
Firstly, cats need to have enough space between the height
and the land for the reflex to have time to work. However, if they fall from
too greater height there is a very real risk of injury as the legs are unable
to cope with the shock of the fall. Furthermore, older and less agile cats find
it difficult to position themselves correctly in time, leading to injuries and even
death. Even when cats fall from height and manage to land on their feet, they
will often sustain injuries. The most common injuries are breaking the jaw when
it hits the ground. Other injuries include broken bones and internal injuries to
lungs and the bladder.
High Rise Syndrome
These days there is less stigma attached to indoor cats in
the UK than there once was. In fact, indoor cats and cats with enclosed gardens
are growing in popularity. As this trend continues to grow, people in
apartments are becoming the proud owners of cats as they feel they can provide
a happy healthy home to cats. Many cats now live in flats and high-rise
apartments and while they are indeed safe from road accidents, loss and theft,
they face the hazard known as high rise syndrome.
High rise syndrome is when cats fall out of windows and off
balconies. Cats have a natural hunting behaviour and we all know how curious
they are, so it’s only natural that when given the chance, a cat will walk
along balconies and window frames and potentially fall when chasing birds, butterflies
or leaves. Any open window or balcony door is a risk.
How to Prevent Falling from Height
High rise syndrome can be avoiding by using the actions
below:
- 1.Make it as difficult as possible for cats to
have access to any windows/balcony doors that may be opened.
- 2.Use limiters that prevent windows and doors from
being opened beyond a safe amount.
- 3.If you have a balcony you light to sit out on
make it cat friendly using cat balcony meshes and fencing. These allow both you
and your cat to use the outdoor space and get fresh air but stop cats from
being able to fall.
Being aware of the risk of injury and death caused by falls
and high-rise syndrome is the first preventative step. The next is to put into
action methods that will ensure the safety of your cat. Cats can certainly
thrive in high rise apartments and flats providing the environment is safe and
enriched to satisfy their natural behaviours.
