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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/cat-highrise-why-fall

Why do most cats fall from high windows and balconies?

They get distracted and slip, not because they jump on purpose.

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  1. They deliberately jump because they do not fear heights
  2. They get distracted, often by a bird, and slip ✔
  3. Their claws cannot grip any high surface

Why: The ASPCA says cats do not deliberately jump from dangerous heights. Most falls are accidents, when a cat focuses on something like a bird and loses its grip on a ledge.

Huh, didn't know that: The ASPCA says window ledges and brick are hard for cat claws to grip, unlike tree bark.

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What did the cat say to the bird outside the window? Let's keep this screen time.
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References

Answer: They get distracted, often by a bird, and slip. The ASPCA says cats do not deliberately jump from dangerous heights. Most falls are accidents, when a cat focuses on something like a bird and loses its grip on a ledge.

  1. ASPCA: High-Rise Syndrome: Lifesaving Tips for Cat Parents www.aspca.org/news/high-rise-syndrome-lifesaving-tips-cat-parents
    These falls can happen when a cat focuses intensely on something nearby, such as a bird or other animal

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