Who, What, Why: How do cats survive falls from great heights?

A cat in the US city of Boston survived a fall from a 19-storey window and only bruised her chest. How do cats survive falls from such great heights?

The cat’s owner Brittney Kirk, a nurse, left the window open a crack on Wednesday morning to give Sugar some air. Sugar got out and either fell or leapt off the ledge and hit a patch of grass and mulch.

An animal rescue service found her and traced her back to Ms Kirk through a microchip embedded in her skin.

«She’s a tough little kitty,» Ms Kirk told the Boston Globe newspaper.

Cats’ remarkable ability to survive falls from great heights is a simple and predictable matter of physics, evolutionary biology, and physiology, veterinarians and biologists say.

«This recent story isn’t much of a surprise,» says Jake Socha, a biomechanist at Virginia Tech university.

«We do know that animals exhibit this behaviour, and there have been lots of records of these cats surviving.»

With scientists unwilling to toss cats off buildings for experimental observation, science has been unable systematically to study the rate at which they live after crashing to the ground.

In a 1987 study of 132 cats brought to a New York City emergency veterinary clinic after falls from high-rise buildings, 90% of treated cats survived and only 37% needed emergency treatment to keep them alive. One that fell 32 stories onto concrete suffered only a chipped tooth and a collapsed lung and was released after 48 hours.

From the moment they’re in the air to the instant after they hit the ground, cats’ bodies are built to survive high falls, scientists say.

They have a relatively large surface area in proportion to their weight, thus reducing the force at which they hit the pavement.

Cats reach terminal velocity, the speed at which the downward tug of gravity is matched by the upward push of wind resistance, at a slow speed compared to large animals like humans and horses.

For instance, an average-sized cat with its limbs extended achieves a terminal velocity of about 60mph (97km/h), while an average-sized man reaches a terminal velocity of about 120mph (193km/h), according to the 1987 study by veterinarians Wayne Whitney and Cheryl Mehlhaff.

Cats are essentially arboreal animals: when they’re not living in homes or in urban alleys, they tend to live in trees.

Sooner or later, they’re going to fall, biologists say. Cats, monkeys, reptiles and other creatures will jump for prey and miss, a tree limb will break, or the wind will knock them over, so evolution has rendered them supremely capable of surviving falls.

«Being able to survive falls is a critical thing for animals that live in trees, and cats are one of them,» says Dr Socha. «The domestic cat still contains whatever suite of adaptations they have that have enable cats to be good up in trees.»

Through natural selection, cats have developed a keen instinct for sensing which way is down, analogous to the mechanism humans use for balance, biologists say.

Then — if given enough time — they are able to twist their bodies like a gymnast, astronaut or skydiver and spin their tails in order to position their feet under their bodies and land on them.

«Everything that lives in trees has what we call an aerial righting reflex,» says Robert Dudley, a biologist at the animal flight laboratory at the University of California — Berkeley.

Cats can also spread their legs out to create a sort of parachute effect, says Andrew Biewener, a professor of organismal and evolutionary biology at Harvard University, although it is unclear how much this slows the rate of descent.

«They splay out their legs, which is going to expand their surface area of the body, and that increases the drag resistance,» he says.

When they do land, cats’ muscular legs — made for climbing trees — act as shock absorbers.

«Cats have long, compliant legs,» says Jim Usherwood of the structure and motion lab at the Royal Veterinary College. «They’ve got decent muscles. In that they’re able to jump quite well, the same muscles divert energy into decelerating rather than breaking bones.»

The springy legs increase the distance over which the force of the collision with the ground dissipates, says Dr Biewener.

«The impact forces are much higher in stiff collisions,» he says. «If they can increase the collision time over a longer period, that reduces the impact force.»

And a cat’s legs are angled under the body rather than extended downward, like human or horse legs.

«You’re not transmitting the forces really directly,» says Dr Socha.

«If the cat were to land with its legs directly under him in a column and hold him stiff, those bones would all break. But they go off to the side and the joints then bend, and you’re now taking that energy and putting it into the joints and you’re getting less of a force at the bone itself.»

However, house cats in urban or suburban areas tend to be overweight and in less than peak physical condition, warns Steve Dale, a cat behaviour consultant who is on the board of the Winn Feline Foundation, which supports cat health research.

That detracts from their ability to right themselves in midair, he says.

«This cat was lucky,» he says. «But many, if not most, would have severe lung damage, would have a broken leg or two or three or four, maybe have damage to the tail, and maybe more likely than any of that a broken jaw or dental damage.

«The lessons learned: screens, please, on the windows.»

Reporting by Daniel Nasaw in Washington

The Windows: Cat Fell in Love Walkthrough

The Windows: Cat Fell in Love

14 comments:

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Cat fell from window on his side

As the title suggests, my cat fell from a window on his side.

It’s two stories high and there’re decorative pebbles beneath with a few plants. His behaviour hasn’t changed besides that when he lies he either repositions his left leg (He fell on his left, I think) or just rises to his feet and walk away. I checked his gums, and they don’t appear abnormal.

I’m afraid he may have some internal damage. What should I do?

1 Answer 1

We have the existing question Should I take my cat to the vet after a big fall/jump? as indicated in one of the answers there, cats mostly land on their feet automatically.

If you cat fell and landed on it’s side, there is very possibly something going on prior to the fall. In other words you should be concerned that he fell and landed on his side instead of his feet, you should be more concerned about what caused him to not land on his feet.

Tomorrow is Saturday, if an emergency vet visit on Saturday is an option, check to see if there is 24 hour vet in your area, and go now.

Not the answer you’re looking for? Browse other questions tagged cats health injury or ask your own question.

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6 Ways To Keep Your Cat Safe From Falling Out Of Open Windows

(Picture Credit: Getty Images)

I’ve always lived on the first or ground floor, but about a year ago, I moved into a new place on a building’s third floor. My cat Pookie loves looking out windows, something I never thought twice about in the past. Now, as I leave my screened windows open, I can’t help but get nervous if she inches too close to the edge.

My building is old and the screens are flimsy. One wrong push with her paws, and Pooks could tumble out of the window to serious harm.

I began my search on how to cat-proof my windows, and it turned out to be a lot harder than you’d think. There’s a term, “high rise syndrome,” specifically coined for when cats fall out of windows in tall buildings. High rise syndrome is especially prevalent in summer months when people keep windows open to let fresh air in.

So how do you go about keeping your cat safe without keeping all of your windows shut and roasting in your own home? Here are a few tips and ideas.

1. Use Child-Proofing Tools

(Picture Credit: Maggie Clancy)

There are a myriad of window safety tools available online that aim to keep small children from falling out of windows.

While there are a lot options that place bars over the windows, it would be wiser to opt for a strong netting or screen for your cat; they could wiggle through the bars.

KidCo has a guard mesh that can hold up to 60 pounds of pressure. That should be more than enough to hold back the average house cat.

2. DIY Window Screens

Unfortunately, most pre-made window guards aren’t helpful if you have windows that don’t slide up.

My place has large, French windows that open in, leaving a tiny ledge and a flimsy screen between my cat and a three story fall. I can’t go outside to put on any stronger screens because I live in an apartment building, and there isn’t a balcony or floor underneath my windows.

I measured my windows and ordered a PetScreen to install in my windows. There are other screens that are made specifically for pets, as well, or you can opt for another heavy-duty screen. Just make sure it’s strong enough to hold, even if your cat lunges at the window towards a bird outside.

Home improvement stores also have all the necessary equipment to make your own screens. Using video tutorials like the one above, you can make your new window screens in an hour or less.

3. Reinforce Screens From The Outside

(Picture Credit: Getty Images)

If your window screens are relatively new and rip-free, try to reinforce your screens from the outside if possible.

Use duct tape, screws, or nails to insure the the screen stays in place and is not easily knocked out of the window.

4. Hire A Professional

(Picture Credit: Getty Images)

If your wallet allows it, and you own your home, consider hiring a professional to create custom window treatments to keep your cat safe.

For many people, the idea of getting handy and making window screens can be daunting, and it’s perfectly okay to hire someone if that’s what you’re more comfortable with.

The most important thing is keeping your cat safe.

5. Give Your Cat A Perch

(Picture Credit: Getty Images)

If your cat loves looking out the window, consider getting them a cat tree or condo that can be close to the window, but not so close that they can hop through it.

By giving your cat a safe view of the outdoors, you’ll cut down the chance of them jumping up on a small ledge and pushing through the window screen.

6. Always Close The Windows When You’re Not Home

(Picture Credit: Getty Images)

As tempting as it can be to leave just one window open to let a breeze through while you’re out, resist the urge and close all windows when you leave the house.

Even if you have secured and reinforced your windows, it’s always safer to keep them closed while you’re not home. I even go as far as to shut my windows while I’m in the shower, or even if I’m simply running downstairs to get the mail.

You can never be too safe.

Has your cat ever managed to break a window screen and get out? How did you kitty-proof your windows? Share your tips and tricks in the comments below!

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