Posts Tagged: "cats fall"

Did Your Know This About Your Cat?

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When cats are off balance, their inner ear lets them know.  They start righting themselves with their heads then their front feet and body follow behind.

It’s not uncommon for cats to accidentally fall from high rises.  Amazingly, research shows that in some cases, cats that fell from a height of more that six stories may fare better that those that fall from lower heights.  Why?  The longer distance offers more time to right themselves.  They they arch their back, stretch out their fee, and puff up like parachutes to help slow down. (DON’T TRY THIS!)

Even with their great balance, cats’ natural curiosity can spell trouble with open second story or height rise apartment windows.  A fall from even the height of a single story can be fatal, especially if the cat is distracted by chatty birds or other other noises.

In 2009, a 3 year old cat named Lucky squeezed through a cracked window and fell 26 stories from a lower Manhattan, NY., apartment.  Window washers caught the cat’s fall on camera.  Lucky lived, and he was treated for a broken lower jaw and a broken toes.  Who knew?

Cats enjoy a flexible back and lack a true collarbone.  This helps them turn so they’re usually in position to land on their feet.

When a cat doesn’t land on its feet, what’s the cause?  It’s often because they didn’t have time to right themselves.  If they fall from a shorter distance, they may not have time to use their flexibility and turn around to land on their feet.

What role do cats’ tails and claws play in their balance?  Tails help cat counterbalance when they’re walking on fences or shelves.  But cats born without tails often adapt well and can still walk a thin line.  Cats that climb trees use their claws to scale limbs and grip braces as they balance.

Are smaller, lighter cats more graceful?  It depends.  Cats meant to be large, like Maine Coons, balance fine.  But overweight cats will probably have more trouble balancing.  However, some individual cats are just more graceful that others?

Does poor balance mean health issues?  In can.  Many cats with inner ear disease will have a head tilt and some will circle because they can’t balance when walking in a straight line.  They also may struggle to jump on and off of objects. All cats are not created equal.  

Do Cats Land on Their Feet?

Cats have a legendary ability to land on their feet after a fall.  But is it true that cats always land on their feet?  That depends, interestingly enough, on the height from which they fall. 

When cats fall, they rely on two organs to bring them down safely: their eyes, which help cats position themselves; and their vestibular apparatus, located in the inner ear, which controls balance and orientation.  An automatic  sequence of motions goes into play when a cat topples.  First, the cat rights her head.  Then he/she rotates the front half of their body 180 degrees.  Once the front legs are facing down, the cat rotates the rear half of her body and flattens out so as to help spread the area of impact.  The tail acts as a counterbalance. The tail acts as a counterbalance. As the cat hits the ground, she arches her back in an attempt to help cushion the impact. 

Why does the height from which a cat falls make a difference?  Falling from a great height allows more time for their sequence fall from high places?  Mainly, it’s because their dept perception isn’t very good.  Apparently, they don’t realize they’re about to jump eight stories instead of eight feet.

Just because a cat survives a long distance fall doesn’t mean he/she is not injured.  Broken legs are a common result of falls, so kids, don’t try this at home.  Your cat will thank you!