A grey tabby cat sitting on a white windowsill in front of a window fitted with a fine mesh screen, with apartment buildings beyond

October 6, 2026 Jessica Northrup

Feline High Rise Syndrome: Why Cats Fall From High Places

Feline high-rise syndrome is the name for the injuries a cat gets after falling from a building, most often out of a window or off a balcony. Window screens are the fix that the Animal Medical Center (AMC) in New York City, the ASPCA, and International Cat Care (ICC) name, and ICC and Cats Protection add netting for balconies.

What feline high-rise syndrome is

The name is a term coined by the Animal Medical Center in New York City. In its own words: “In the early 1980s, The AMC was the first to report on what was dubbed ‘high rise syndrome’ in cats. Over a five month period, we treated 132 cats that had fallen out of a building and 90% of these cats survived.”

A 1987 paper in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, by Whitney and Mehlhaff, also counts 132 cats: “High-rise syndrome was diagnosed in 132 cats over a 5-month period. The mean age of the cats was 2.7 years.” The paper lists the serious injuries in those cats. “Ninety percent of the cats had some form of thoracic trauma. Of these, 68% had pulmonary contusions and 63% had pneumothorax.” It adds that “Other common clinical findings included facial trauma (57%), limb fractures (39%), shock (24%), traumatic luxations (18%), hard palate fractures (17%), hypothermia (17%), and dental fractures (17%).”

The same abstract reports that “Emergency (life-sustaining) treatment, primarily because of thoracic trauma and shock, was required in 37% of the cats” and that “Ninety percent of the treated cats survived.”

Why cats fall

The ASPCA says cats “have strong survival instincts, so they don’t deliberately ‘jump’ from high places that would be dangerous. Instead, most high-rise syndrome victims fall accidentally from windows, terraces, and fire escapes.” It describes how: “These falls can happen when a cat focuses intensely on something nearby, such as a bird or other animal, which can be distracting enough for them to lose their balance.” The ASPCA also says that although cats typically enjoy perching from high places, “it can be difficult for them to find a secure grip on window ledges and brick surfaces.”

ICC says pet parents often report that their cat or kitten was playing with another cat, walking along the window or balcony ledge, or chasing birds and butterflies when it fell. ICC also says “the majority of injured cats are young cats (many under the age of one), presumably due to inexperience and a more playful and curious nature.” The AMC describes a study of Croatian cats that “found most cats who fell were less than a year old and those who fell more than five stories had more serious injuries.”

Dr. Louise Murray, vice president of the ASPCA Animal Hospital, said: “Cats who never leave their residence may not realize how high up they are,” and she called high-rise syndrome “100 percent preventable.”

The righting reflex

ICC addresses the saying that cats always land on their feet. It says cats “do have a ‘righting’ reflex that naturally kicks in as they fall and allows them to manoeuvre themselves to land on their feet. However, the fall needs to be high enough to allow a cat to twist, but not so high that it causes serious injury.” It adds that “Older or less agile cats may also be unable to right themselves in time.”

The ASPCA says cats in one-story and two-story buildings are still at risk. It says they “may be at greater risk of injury because falling shorter distances do not give them enough time to adjust their body posture to land correctly. Even cats who adjust their posture in time often land with their feet slightly splayed, which can cause severe head and pelvis injuries.”

Injuries after a fall

The AMC says: “High rise cats seen at The AMC suffer from a common triad of injuries: chest trauma, head/facial injuries and limb fractures.” It describes two of its patients. Prince Michael, a 12 week old kitten, fell four stories. He fractured an upper fang, abraded his chin and suffered lung bruises. Sox, a four year old cat, fell five stories. The AMC says the force of the fall tore his lungs, so air leaked into the space between his lungs and ribs, and that he also had a fractured roof of the mouth and a fractured back leg.

ICC lists the injuries that follow a fall: “broken bones (legs and joints, as well as facial injuries such as jaw fractures), ligament injuries, and internal injuries such as trauma to the bladder or lungs.” It also says “the greater the height of your cat’s fall, the worse the injuries tend to be.”

What to do after a fall

ICC says: “Falls from a height usually require emergency treatment, and even if your cat seems to be unhurt, you should always contact your veterinary team for further advice.” The ASPCA says “a fallen cat should be immediately located and taken to the nearest animal hospital or family veterinarian.”

The AMC explains how a fall hurts the lungs: “the impact from a fall can bruise the lungs, the same way you can bruise your elbow if you fall off your bike. When lungs become bruised, they cannot exchange oxygen well.” Its patient Tyra, a six month old kitten who fell 17 stories, “required oxygen cage therapy until the lung bruises resolved” and was discharged three days after her fall.

Changes in how a cat acts

Look out for signs showing your cat may be in pain. ICC says “Becoming withdrawn and hiding is a typical feline response to pain,” and that affected cats may avoid interacting with people or other animals in the home. After a fall, a cat that normally head bumps you and then starts hiding is a cat to bring to your veterinary team.

How to prevent falls

Take these steps to keep your cat safe while it is perched on any elevated surfaces in your home.

A grey cat lying on a windowsill behind a wire mesh screen over the open window, looking up

The AMC lists three steps: “Keep window screens tightly in place,” “Close windows if you don’t have screens,” and “Prevent falls by keeping your pet off open terraces and balconies.”

The ASPCA says to “Install snug and sturdy screens in all your windows” and, for adjustable screens, to “make sure that they are tightly wedged into window frames.” It also warns: “Do not rely on childproof window guards to protect your pets! Cats can slip through them.”

ICC suggests moving “any furniture that would allow your cat to access higher-level open windows,” and using “mesh or barriers to cover open windows. These allow the window to fully open and remain safe.” It also says window limiters, such as those made to keep children safe, can be used, and that cats, “particularly kittens, can squeeze through very small spaces or get stuck trying.”

Balconies

A grey and white cat sitting on an apartment balcony floor, looking out through dark netting that runs from the floor to the ceiling

ICC says: “A balcony can provide valuable extra space and stimulation for an indoor cat, but it must be completely cat-proof too. Use balcony safety nets and meshes, and remember the small gaps that cats can squeeze through.”

Cats Protection says “An open balcony or window may entice your cat to go and explore, but there is also a risk of them falling and severely injuring themselves.” It suggests “installing a wire mesh or netting across the balcony from the ceiling to the floor or installing a sturdy window screen designed for cats,” and warns of “your cat becoming entangled in the netting, or escaping through the gaps if it hasn’t been secured properly.” It also says: “It’s important to always supervise your cat when they’re on the balcony.”

For the rest of the house, see these tips on cat-proofing your home.

FAQs

Is a fall from a low floor safe for a cat?

The ASPCA says cats in one-story and two-story buildings are still at risk of high-rise syndrome. A cat that falls from any height should go to a veterinarian: ICC says “even if your cat seems to be unhurt, you should always contact your veterinary team for further advice.”

Are dogs affected by high-rise syndrome?

Yes. Research suggests it can affect dogs as well. A 1993 paper in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, by Gordon, Thacher, and Kapatkin, says: “We evaluated 81 dogs with high-rise syndrome. Dogs fell from 1 to 6 stories.” The AMC says “Dogs also fall from apartment windows or terraces, but not as often as cats.”

At what height can a cat survive a fall?

So far in the 2014 high rise season, the highest fall the AMC had seen was 17 stories. Tyra, the six month old kitten who fell that far, had a fractured hip socket and lung bruising. The AMC also says “not all high rise cats survive.”

Cats can survive a fall from an average height of 5 stories. However, this doesn't mean you can carelessly allow your cat to climb and leap off windows and elevated areas.

Do cats jump out of windows on purpose?

The ASPCA says cats “don’t deliberately ‘jump’ from high places that would be dangerous,” and that most high-rise syndrome victims “fall accidentally from windows, terraces, and fire escapes.”

Are cats afraid of heights?

The ASPCA says cats “have little fear of heights and enjoy perching in high places.”

Sources

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