As the warmer months come around, everyone is opening their windows and enjoying time on their balconies.  This puts pets (cats in particular) at a risk; cats love high places. In the wild, they can stalk prey or take a nap high up in a tree.  If they fall, they can easily grab on to a branch and save themselves. Unfortunately, the high rise buildings they fall out of in urban environments, aren’t designed with felines in mind and they fall (sometimes several stories) only to land on the sidewalk, in the road, or if they’re lucky, in a garden.

 Below are Five Facts about High Rise Syndrome in cats:

1. The most common injuries cats sustain from falling from high levels include: Broken bones – most likely the jawbone as the chin hits the ground. Thoracic injuries (chest, lungs and diaphragm), limb fractures, pelvic fractures, bladder trauma and other internal organ damage.
2. Most often, cats don’t “jump” from high places. They fall accidentally, either slipping off while walking on a railing, losing their balance on the windowsill, or being startled off their perch.
3. When cats fall from high places they don’t land squarely on their feet. They actually land with the feet slightly splayed out which can lead to severe head and pelvis injuries.
4. Treatment for high rise syndrome is expensive: often ranging from $2000-$5000 as they are typically hospitalized for several days receiving intensive care. 
5. There is a 90% survival rate for cats falling from balconies in this area if they receive immediate and professional medical attention.

The good news? High rise falls in cats are 100% preventable! Things you can do to prevent high rise syndrome:

• Screen in all balconies and windows and ensure the screens fit appropriately.
• Open the top portion of the windows instead of the bottom.
• Don’t let cats out on the balcony, especially unattended.

If your cat does fall from a high level, please get them to the vet ASAP.

I live on the 19^th floor with a wonderful balcony and I’d love to enjoy it with my cats but the risk is simply not worth it. I’d like to think my cats have nine lives but I’m not one to test it, I mean look at that face!