PET OHANA
HAWAIIAN HUMANE SOCIETY
Gabby thinks of windows as "cat TV." Making sure that any open windows have snug screens will keep your cat safe.
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‘High-rise syndrome’ has cure in owner safeguards
Hawaiian Humane Society
Cats are instinctive predators, possessing sharper-than-human senses, exceptional balance and agility, and a need to stalk prey. Thanks to thousands of years of evolution, most cats are drawn to open windows, ideal perches for scouting potential game. But despite their uncanny abilities, our feline friends are fallible and -- in the case of those who live in multistory buildings -- "fallable," as well.
$5 microchips
Your pet can be fitted with a Pet Microchip ID for $5 in August from 24 Oahu veterinary clinics. Microchips can be scanned to provide information identifying your pets should they roam. View the list of participating clinics at www.hawaiianhumane.org.
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Any un-screened or unsecured window above the first floor is a hazard to cats. Would-be feline acrobats fall so often that the veterinary profession has a name for these daredevil actions, high-rise syndrome.
Cats do not fear heights and in many ways do not even acknowledge their potential danger. They can be injured when they misjudge a leap, land on a slippery surface or when they're so focused on their prey that they leap without considering how far it is to the ground.
Cats can also take a leap inadvertently if they fall asleep on a ledge and twitch while dreaming, or if they are frightened and leap through a window.
The Web site of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, www.aspca.org, estimates an overall survival rate of a surprising 90 percent for cats that have fallen from two to 32 stories, but many sustain serious injuries and face months of healing. Ironically, cats that fall from two to five stories often sustain the most serious injuries.
A falling cat reflexively turns in midair to right itself, aided by a flexible spine and superior coordination. This instinct works best in shorter falls of about 24 inches. Don't allow this capability to give you a false sense of security. Landing feet-first after plummeting several stories can result in broken limbs, shattered jaws and pelvises, punctured lungs and sometimes death.
When cats fall from a great height, they instinctively relax, distributing the force of impact. They might also stretch out their limbs like a parachute and "slow" to about 60 mph. This allows some cats to survive plunges from 20-plus floors, although most still require medical treatment.
Cats that fall unnoticed can be further hurt when they land dazed, lost and confused near busy streets and parking lots.
The cure for high-rise syndrome is prevention. Install snug, sturdy screens in all windows. Childproof bars are no barrier to cats; most can easily squeeze through. Never assume that your cat will stay inside when an opening beckons access to the outdoors.
Should your cat fall, locate it as soon as possible. Bring along a thick towel and carefully wrap the feline inside, without pressing or bending the animal. Go to your veterinarian immediately (in fact, take a moment now to look up the hours of your veterinary clinic and others nearby, and make sure their numbers are by the phone).