Will Cats Die if They Fall from High Buildings?

One of the most renowned studies in this field is the "HighRise Syndrome in Cats" published in the 1987 Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. This groundbreaking article, which tracked the feline patients admitted to a New York City pet emergency hospital over a fivemonth period following falls, first highlighted a counterintuitive observation: cats that fell from lower floors (below the sixth) sustained more severe injuries than those that fell from higher floors. Building on this phenomenon, two veterinarians, Wayne Whitney and Cheryl Melhaf, conducted a comprehensive study of 132 cats that had fallen from heights at the same hospital. Their findings were astonishing: the survival rate for these cats was a remarkable 90%, and interestingly, this rate increased with the height from which they fell.

But is this really the case? There is a significant flaw in this study. The 132 cats included in the research were all those that were brought to the hospital for treatment. Cats that died immediately upon impact or those that were found too late to save were not accounted for, nor were those that were overlooked in the shadows. This means that the 90% survival rate is not entirely accurate and cannot be used to conclusively prove that cats are indestructible.

This is where the concept of "survivor bias" comes into play.

Cats are indeed highly adept at movement and balance, and they have the remarkable ability to right themselves in midair, a phenomenon known as the "righting reflex." This means that the higher a cat falls, the more time it has to right itself, increasing the likelihood of landing on all fours and thus being safer. However, this does not mean that cats are invincible. Over the years, there have been numerous news reports of cats falling from great heights, which can be easily verified by a quick online search.

Therefore, it is indeed possible for cats to die from falls. While there are instances where cats have survived falls from great heights without injury, these are exceptions rather than the rule and cannot be used as evidence that cats are indestructible. So, how did the myth of the cat having nine lives come about?

The story of the cat having nine lives is a legend: in ancient times, a cat was accused of stealing food from the imperial kitchen, and when the emperor learned of this, he became extremely angry and mistakenly believed that the chef was at fault. He ordered the execution of nine chefs. Thus, the saying "a cat has nine lives" was born. The phrase "nine lives" is actually a praise for the cat's strong survival instincts. Cats have a nervous system with selfrepair capabilities, and they are generally not easily killed. Even if they are severely injured, they often have a chance to recover if they can rest. This is a testament to the cat's incredible vitality, which is why the saying "a cat has nine lives" has become popular in folklore.

In our daily lives, we should take appropriate precautions to prevent our feline companions from falling or encountering other dangers.

Conceal electrical wires and outlets to prevent cats from biting and risking electrocution.

Secure balconies to prevent accidental falls during play.

Remove hazardous items to prevent ingestion.

Use insecticides cautiously, as cats often eat small insects or cockroaches and may ingest the insecticides.

Protect gas stove burners to prevent cats from jumping up and accidentally causing injury.

Keep garbage bins covered to prevent cats from rummaging through and ingesting harmful substances.

Avoid storing water in deep containers, as cats might accidentally drown while trying to drink.

Cats, like humans, have only one life. Since we choose to care for them, we should treat them as our own children.