September 1, 2024, 4:04 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
Cats easily leap from a standing position in the middle of the dining table to steal a piece of sausage in an unnoticed second. Nothing seems to be safe from these animal acrobats. But that’s by no means all there is to our pets. PETBOOK reveals the leaps cats are capable of.
Cats love to explore their world from above. There is a good reason for this: even the ancestors of our modern domestic cats liked to stay on elevated terrain such as trees or rocks because most of their predators were not good climbers, so the animals felt safer in higher regions. A cat could often save itself from attackers or dangerous situations with a courageous leap. They still benefit from this today. You may have observed your pet dozing or sleeping in a deeply relaxed state, only to suddenly perform a peak physical feat by leaping from its basket onto the windowsill. If you want to make your balcony or garden safe for your cat, you should know what jumps the animals are capable of. Therefore, PETBOOK delves into how high cats can actually jump.
Overview
Which physical characteristics enable cats to jump high?
Upon closer examination of a cat’s physique, one will notice that its hind legs are not straight like ours but slightly bent instead. They are also slightly longer than the front legs, and the muscles are directly connected to the pelvis. Like rabbits and hares, which use their hind legs to jump, cats have more pronounced hind leg muscles. When the animals start to jump, the muscles and tendons act like the rubber band on a catapult: they effectively launch the cat upwards with considerable force and speed.
Their agility ensures that they land with pinpoint accuracy. The bones of the cat’s skeleton are not as firmly connected as in humans. This allows the animals more flexibility during the jump. The flexible spine, which they can contract like a spring before jumping, also contributes to this. 1
For a perfect landing, cats use their tail like a rudder. Of course, the weight and age of the animal also play an important role in the height of the jump. An overweight indoor cat may be unable to leap onto the dining table in a single bound unless it possesses exceptionally strong muscles in its hind legs. Arthritis can also develop with age, and the cat may shy away from the risk or the pain that can occur.
How high and far can cats jump?
A healthy and fit cat has impressive jumping power. They can reach about five to six times their body height, i.e., around two meters – from a standing start! Big cats such as the puma or the snow leopard also make impressive leaps, with the puma taking first place in the cat high jump with five meters, while the snow leopard is the record holder in the long jump with 15 meters. 2
If we compare this performance with us humans, we have to be humble: since 1993, Javier Sotomayor, who is 1.93 m tall, has held the world high jump record at 2.45 m. Thus, he managed to clear a height just 52 cm greater than his own stature..3
Which cat breed jumps the highest?
The smaller and lighter the cat, the further and higher its jumps. All cat breeds with a petite build and long legs have an advantage here. These are the following breeds:
- Abyssinian
- Bengal
- Cornish Rex
- Japanese Bobtail
- Somali
With its stocky build and extremely short legs, the Munchkin cat ranks at the bottom in terms of jumping power.
When the jump goes wrong
Before a cat starts to jump, it seems to make a precise calculation: Is the angle exactly right for the distance? It wiggles its rump to distribute its weight and achieve the perfect balance. This instinctive calculation is usually perfect, but numerous videos have shown some cats falling. Did they miscalculate, or was the surface simply slippery?
This can actually have various causes. Young cats, in particular, cannot yet judge distances and jumping heights correctly and often miscalculate at the beginning. However, older cats can also miss the mark more often due to health problems such as arthritis, deteriorating eyesight, or a weakening sense of balance.
How high should the fence, mesh, or net be?
Are you planning a fence around the garden, or would you like to secure the balcony with a cat net? Cats not only jump, but they are also excellent climbers. Therefore, the protection should not have a mesh that is too large, preventing them from climbing it. The fence should be at least two meters high and equipped with an anti-climb guard for safety. This can consist of an angled cat net or specially cut pieces of Plexiglas. The cat net must also be installed on the balcony at a height of two meters so that the cat cannot jump over it.4
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Conclusion
Thus, the phrase “just a stone’s throw away” doesn’t quite apply, as it typically describes something very close by. However, we now know cats can jump exceptionally far and high in relation to their body size if necessary.