Cat Survives 26-Story Fall

I once knew a cat who survived a spin in the dryer of my grandmother's basement. Name was Puss n' Boots... good kitty.

Cats actually die from 7 story falls more than from any other height. Up until 7 stories the cat is accelerating and tenses up. But after that the cat hits terminal velocity and it doesn't feel the acceleration anymore and it starts to relax. For a cat there isn't any difference between 32 stories and 50!

the stuff you can learn from physics is crazy!!!!

Can someone please get the folks at Myth Busters on this case?

It's not a question of where he grips it! It's a simple question of weight ratios! A five ounce bird could not carry a one pound coconut.

What if it's an African swallow?

So, even if they land on their feet, 26 stories worth of gravity is too much? What's the terminal velocity of a cat?

32ft/second - flap resistance. Anyone care to guess at the resistance ratio of a cat?

To the lab!

Did you get that off Wolfram Alpha? I love that site.

So, even if they land on their feet, 26 stories worth of gravity is too much? What's the terminal velocity of a cat?

As a toddler I pushed my cat off of our 5-story balcony not once, but twice. She lived to be 22 years old.

Did you move on to humans?

Did I say my cat? I meant my brother.

*laughs psychotically*

I'm sure glad the cat didn't hit the grill. That would've definitely hurt!

I'm glad the cat didn't bounce off the grill. That would have been disaster.

I always shut my windows entirely whenever I feel a cat rain coming on.

I so glad he survived the fall but i wish his owner would be a little responsible and have some window screens, geez.

Can you imagine having a breakfast on your terrace and a cat lands in the omelette?

cats lick the butter.

But not peanut butter, mind you.

Another case of feline high-rise syndrome. It's crazy, but cats have this window of height around 4-6 stories where they are at the greatest risk of injury from a fall. At higher altitudes, they have time to relax into a free-fall position and they are more likely to survive.

I imagine at that "peak" height they reach terminal velocity and have the crucial seconds to turn themselves in an upright position, which probably greatly increases their chance of survival.

That very Wikipedia article debunks that notion. The more likely explanation is that cats that fall long distances usually die and aren't taken to the vet, hence their injuries are vastly underreported. Cats that fall shorter distances often survive so vets report their injuries.

This is why I absolutely make sure my windows have screens firmly attached to them. That, and my hatred for mosquitos, West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis, etc. I don't know why this owner thought six inches was too small for a cat to slip through.

There is actually a mathematical explanation as to how cats can survive such long falls. It has to do with an integral calculus rule of "curl". It has little to do with drag. Instead, the way that a cat rotates and orients its body slows its freefall. This term is quite complicated to fully explain but actually proves this interesting physical phenomenon.

I think that's right. Cats have flaps of skin running from their legs to their body. When they fall, a cat will twist its body upright, and spread its legs almost straight out -- extending the skin and trapping air. Paired with their fairly light-weight bodies, they're able to slow themselves somewhat.

If they don't have time to get into that position, they fall like rocks. If they can get into that position...they fall like rocks with tiny little parachutes attached. (In other words, it's not enough to let Fluffy make a comfortable landing -- but it can sometimes let them survive.)

Mice too. I once found a mouse in an umbrella stand in my apartment and didn't know what to do with it so I dumped it out the window. The mouse stuck out his four legs as wide as he could and just kind of floated like a heavy leaf down 17 stories to some scaffolding and then ran away.

Is that one of those Weber electric outdoor grills? I've been wondering if those are legal for NYC terraces.

Yes, we have one. They're legal (according to our building manager anyway). Not as good as a real grill, but pretty decent for a quick burger.

This happened to a cat of mine many years ago (though only 4 stories). He also lived and seemed to be all right for some time, but he died very young. I still think the poor thing sustained injuries that were never detected.

Now, a video of a person falling 26 stories would not be shown on TV news shows. But it would make it onto Faces of Death.

I think it would if the s/he survived it with minor injuries.

No details on the "minor injuries", but I can imagine it's still a few fractured bones. Is this a record?

Lucky was rushed to a veterinary hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries -- a broken toe and a broken lower jaw.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/AmazingAnimals/Story?id=7712587&page=2

Thanks for that link about Lucky's injuries?I hope the little guy is feeling better.

When I adopted my cats from a rescue organization, the rescue lady insisted on coming to my apartment to make sure the windows didn't open too wide. Also, my great aunt's cat fell out her apartment window in Hong Kong and died (she claimed the cat committed suicide).

Way too depressing for a Monday, Jen!

http://www.amazon.com/Final-Exit-Cats-Feline-Suicide/dp/006096961X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243879705&sr=8-1

gosh, nooooooo

gosh, nooooooo

Oh no!