Kinsey Rankin, first grader
Lee Scott Academy

Dear Kinsey,

Cats do not always land on their feet. These animals are coordinated gymnasts with very flexible muscles and bones. Cats can survive falls from great heights, but they can also fall short distances and still get very hurt. If a cat falls from the window of a two-story house, it can suffer from high-rise syndrome. To keep your cat safe, make sure your house has no high-up open windows without strong, heavy screens. Finally, do not let your cat onto unscreened balconies and upstairs porches by itself.

Cats move their bodies in midair so they usually land on all fours. A cat’s ear contains a vestibular apparatus, a tiny fluid-filled “computer” responsible for balance. This balancing organ contains tiny chambers and tubes lined with sensitive hairs. It is filled with liquid and tiny floating crystals. When your cat moves, the fluid in its ear shifts, transmitting information about its body position. When the cat falls, the vestibular apparatus becomes active and helps the cat know which way is up. Your cat can move itself in midair by simply adjusting its body’s position.

Your cat’s skeleton also helps it adjust. Cats lack a collarbone (the bone that connects the shoulder blade to the chest) but their backbones move faster than the backbones of other animals. Cats easily move their front legs and can twist their bodies into a pretzel.

When your cat falls from your arms, it knows which way is up and rotates its head until it is right side up. The cat then brings its front legs up close to its face, ready to protect it from impact. It twists the upper part of its backbone to bring the front half of its body around in line with its head. The cat then bends its hind legs so that all four limbs are ready for landing. Finally, the cat twists the rear half of its body to catch up with the front. This is how your cat usually lands on its feet.

Remember short falls will usually not hurt your cat, but you should always be gentle with it. Your cat may survive a big fall but, then again, it may not. You never know … and prevention is better than a hurt kitty visiting your veterinarian.
Sincerely,

Aubie and Dr. Hendrix