Cats and Heights

Posted by: Cat Diaries on 19 Nov 2008
  • At heights, cats enjoy a higher observation point, from which to see possible predators.
  • Tall trees, fences and rooftops provide a high viewpoint for hunting, from which a cat can jump and kill its prey.
  • Cats have a skill called “righting reflex”, where they are able to turn their body to prepare for hitting the ground so that they are not hurt. This applies to any fall over about 90 centimetres.
  • When using the “righting reflex”, cats use their tails and their flexible bodies to swivel in the air. However, cats without tails are still able to do this. When landing, the cat arches its back to absorb the shock.
  • A falling cat’s velocity is around 100 kilometres per hour, whereas a human’s is closer to 210 kilometres per hour.
  • A study conducted in 1987 determined that injuries to the cats increased up to seven stories and then decreased for higher floors. This is thought to be because the cat spreads itself out and uses drag.
  • The highest recorded cat fall was from the 46th of a building. The cat reportedly bounced off a canopy and into a planter.
  • There is a story that claims that in the 1950s, 14 000 cats were parachuted into Borneo by the World Health Organisation to deal with a caterpillar plague brought on by DDT spraying. However, there are no clear sources on whether this really occurred or not.

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