Cat Survives 26-Story Fall

WABC 7 had this crazy story over the weekend: A cat fell 26 stories from a lower Manhattan building—and survived! And the cat's name is...Lucky! Apparently Lucky's owner had left a window in her apartment open 6 inches wide—which is more than enough for any enterprising cat to wander through. Lucky decided to walk out onto the ledge, but he slipped.

What's also amazing is that a window washing crew across the street took pictures! See them here—WABC 7 describes them, "First of Lucky perched dangerously on the ledge, and then a stomach-turning shot of Lucky midair. Finally, they captured Lucky, after landing, on his feet on a neighbor's balcony 26 stories below." Lucky was hospitalized briefly and seems to be fine and as cute as ever, judging by the video.

If you have any pets, do not leave unscreened windows open more than a inch. Here's the ASPCA on high rise syndrome.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on June 1, 2009 1:15 PM

Comments [rss]

kntau

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

physics dude

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!!!!

charshiu

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

everyAframe

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.

dodgecitydave

What if it's an African swallow?

r1b2

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

the3rdbridge

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

To the lab!

JenChungsBaby

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

r1b2

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

matty

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

Rocknrope

Did you move on to humans?

matty

Did I say my cat? I meant my brother.

*laughs psychotically*

jen480

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

jen480

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

NannyState

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

felixthecat2

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

ed_Extinct

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

hotstepper

cats lick the butter.

Global Wombat

But not peanut butter, mind you.

hashashin

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.