Can jumping hurt cats?
Jumping down from heights is second nature to cats. With their athletic build, innate agility, and special landing strategies, cats are able to leap and climb to incredible heights without injury. But just how high can cats jump without getting hurt? What precautions can cat owners take to protect their feline friends? This article explores the amazing jumping abilities of cats, the potential risks of injury, and tips for keeping cats safe when they’re leaping from up high.
Anatomy of Cats
Cats have a unique skeletal structure that allows them to be extremely agile and flexible. Their bones are lightweight and their vertebrae are connected by elastic cartilage disks that provide cushioning and allow for greater flexibility and range of motion 1. Cats have 30 vertebrae compared to humans’ 24 vertebrae, giving them a longer and more flexible spine. Their vertebrae can twist and flex to allow cats to fit into tight spaces and make sharp turns while running and jumping with ease 2. Cats also have loose shoulder blades that are not firmly attached to their skeleton, enabling them to freely move their shoulders and front legs in different directions. Overall, cats’ lightweight yet flexible skeletal structure enables their incredible agility and acrobatic abilities.
Cats’ landing strategies
Cats have an incredible ability to right themselves and land on their feet due to their flexible spine and sense of balance. According to Purina, cats use a reflex called the righting reflex to twist their body and align their feet underneath them as they fall. They accomplish this by flexing and extending their back in order to control the speed of their fall and adjust their body position.
Specifically, when cats begin to fall, they first twist their spine to turn their front half in the direction they want to land while keeping their back legs stationary with bent knees. This acts like an axis or hinge to reorient their body. At the same time, they extend their front legs forward and outward to increase drag and slow the fall. Then they stretch out their hind legs, which speeds up rotation of their lower body to align with their front legs. This coordinated twisting and stretching allows them to land on all four feet.
According to a Scientific American article, physics principles like conservation of angular momentum and moment of inertia also explain how cats can reorient themselves so quickly in the air.
Height and injury risks
Cats have a remarkable ability to survive falls from great heights. According to a study referenced in What is the maximum height a cat can fall from and survive?, cats can reach terminal velocity after falling about 7 stories or 21 meters. This means they stop accelerating and reach their maximum falling speed. The study found cats had a 90% survival rate from falls around this height.
For lower heights up to around 2 stories high, cats generally do not sustain serious injuries from falls. Their lightweight, flexible bodies allow them to right themselves and land on their feet. However, accidents can still happen, so cat owners should take precautions to prevent falls from balconies, windows, and furniture.
Preventing injuries
To prevent injuries from high falls, it is important to discourage cats from leaping down from high places. According to the ASPCA article, you can take the following precautions:
- Install screens on windows that don’t have them already. Cats can fall through loose screens, so make sure they are secure.
- Keep windows closed or only open them a few inches so cats cannot fit through.
- Place cushions or cardboard boxes on fire escapes and other high platforms in case your cat does jump down.
- Block or limit access to balconies, railings, atriums and other raised areas.
- Provide a cat tree or shelves mounted on walls around window areas to give your cat an acceptable high perch.
- Consider a leash or enclosure when taking cats out on balconies.
With some simple precautions, you can help prevent injuries and keep your cats safe in high-rise homes.
Signs of injury
Cats that have fallen and been injured typically exhibit some common signs. Three key signs to look for are limping, crying, and lack of appetite.
Limping or favoring a leg shows your cat is likely experiencing pain and discomfort in that limb or paw from the impact of the fall. They may refuse to bear weight on the injured leg or have noticeable difficulty walking. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, limping right after a fall indicates possible fractures, dislocations, or soft tissue trauma like sprains or bruises.1
Crying or vocalizing more than normal demonstrates your cat is feeling pain or distress. Meowing, howling or crying can start immediately or begin later after the initial shock has worn off. This vocalization alerts you to discomfort and can help locate where your cat is injured.
Lack of appetite after a fall also warrants attention. If your cat refuses food or water or vomits after eating, this points to nausea from body trauma. Internal injuries like organ damage or internal bleeding can also suppress appetite according to Gallant.2 Monitor eating and drinking closely as this indicates overall health.
Treating injuries
If your cat has suffered injuries from a fall, the main treatments will focus on allowing them to rest and recover with proper support. According to VCA Hospitals, you should allow an injured cat to rest in a quiet, confined space like a crate or small room during initial recovery. This helps limit their activity and prevents further injury. Be sure to provide easy access to food, water, and litter.
Your vet may prescribe pain medications or anti-inflammatories to help an injured cat remain comfortable during recovery. These can help reduce swelling and allow them to rest more easily. According to ASPCA Pet Insurance, these medications “keep cats immobilized during recovery.” Follow dosage instructions carefully.
Restricting movement with crates or harnesses can also help support cats recovering from fall injuries, especially if there is damage to legs or paws. Your vet may recommend activity restriction for several weeks following the injury to allow proper healing. Provide affection and stimulation within those limits.
Overall, focus recovery efforts on allowing an injured cat ample rest and reducing pain or inflammation. This helps speed their natural healing process. Monitor them closely and follow up with a vet if any concerns arise. With proper home treatment, many cats recover well from fall injuries when given sufficient time.
When to see a vet
If your cat is displaying symptoms of pain, limping, or other abnormal behavior after a fall, it’s a good idea to have them seen by a veterinarian, even if the symptoms seem minor at first. Cats are notorious for hiding injuries and illness, so subtle signs of a problem after a fall should not be ignored.
In particular, contact your vet right away if your cat is showing signs of internal injuries, bleeding, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, seizures, or shock. These require urgent veterinary care. Even if your cat seems to recover after a fall, if limping, decreased appetite, lethargy, or other concerning symptoms persist or get worse over the next 24 hours, take them to the vet.
A veterinarian can check for fractures, internal bleeding, organ damage, and other injuries through a physical exam, x-rays, bloodwork, and other diagnostic tests. Early treatment greatly improves the chances of a full recovery. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to potential injuries from falls in cats.
Long term impacts
Falling from heights can have lasting effects on a cat, even after initial injuries have healed. Cats that experience high-rise syndrome may develop chronic pain and arthritis later in life. According to the ASPCA, “High-Rise Syndrome in Cats”, injuries like pelvic fractures lead to osteoarthritis and stiffness as the cat ages.
Arthritis causes inflammation and deterioration of the joints. This can make everyday activities like jumping, climbing, and walking increasingly painful. Cats that developed arthritis from high-rise syndrome may have noticeable difficulty moving around. They may hesitate before jumping up or down from furniture. Stairs and ledges become challenging to navigate. The cat may show signs of lameness or limping as well. As the arthritis worsens over time, the cat loses mobility and flexibility.
In addition to arthritis, falls from high heights frequently result in nerve damage and chronic back or limb pain for cats. Nerve injuries can disrupt normal functioning, leading to limb weakness or loss of sensation. Managing chronic pain often requires long-term medication. While medication can help alleviate symptoms, it doesn’t reverse the underlying joint degeneration and reduced mobility caused by high-rise syndrome. Proper treatment after the initial fall can help mitigate some of these long term effects. However, high falls pose risks for cats at any age.
Conclusion
Cats are equipped with amazing abilities that allow them to jump down from heights safely. Their flexible spine, muscular legs, and protruding claws give them stability and control when landing. However, as height increases, so does risk of injury. Signs like limping or vocalizing pain after a jump indicate potential damage. While most cats can handle reasonable heights, it’s wise to avoid encouraging jumps from above refrigerators or counters. Place steps or cat trees to create gradual descents. Ultimately, a cat’s safety is in our hands. By understanding their abilities, providing proper environments, and watching for injuries, we can keep our feline friends landing on their feet.
