June 24, 2009

High-Rise Syndrome: Protect Your Cat from Dangerous Falls

Summer breezes drifting through a city-dweller's apartment may be relaxing to humans, but windows left ajar can often put urban felines in danger. A cat's prey drive may lead him to pounce on moving birds or insects—often through an open window. In fact, cats falling out of unscreened windows is such a frequent problem in big cities that the veterinary profession has a name for it—High-Rise Syndrome.

During the warmer months, veterinarians at the ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital see approximately three to five cases a week, many resulting in shattered jaws, punctured lungs, broken limbs and pelvises—and even death.

The good news is that these falls are 100-percent preventable. Please take heed of the following precautions provided by ASPCA experts:

• Install snug-fitting, sturdy window screens.
• Make sure adjustable screens are tightly wedged into window frames.
• Cats can easily fit through the bars of childproof guards, so use screens as well.
• If your cat falls, assume he has survived and immediately rush him to the nearest animal hospital. There is a 90-percent survival rate for feline high-rise victims who are given immediate medical attention.
• Follow these precautions even if your apartment is on the first or second floor of your building. Shorter falls may prove more dangerous since they don't give cats enough time to adjust their body posture to land correctly.

Visit ASPCA.org for the complete list of facts on High-Rise Syndrome.