Cat people-- likelihood of a cat jumping from a 2nd floor window and not being injured?

[Black]

Is this like, an easy one for them . . .?

[Speedy]

Yes. But if you throw them really, really hard you'll have better luck. Or try a higher floor.

[Racer X]

My neighbor's cat vaults off our 2nd story deck and rebounds off the garbage can lid 10 feet away like its a game to her. It has a little give and she gets another 6 or 8 feet of travel before she becomes earthbound again.

[testcase]

I'm guessing that the drop would be 12' ~ 15' (depending on window design). What kitty is landing on can play a big part as does the condition of the cat. Concrete, not so good; grass less harmful. If the cat jumped on it's own, I'd expect a better outcome than if it got pushed, thrown, startled etc. Strangely enough, if you go very high (I believe it was four stories or higher), the likelihood of survival actually increases as does the likelihood of injury.

[Black]

Interesting, thanks. Not sure what it landed on. Probably a hair higher than 15'. It walked away without any obvious sign of injury, but it was kind of a blind jump and there were a lot of potential obstructions.

[$tevie]

My friend had a cat who jumped out of the window of a third floor apt in Baltimore city and was okay. The 3rd floor is probably better rhan the 2nd floor, oddly enough. But yes, it is possible that it is fine.

[OWC Jamie]

One of my brother's cats will look for and if found, jump out a second story bedroom open window rather than use the community kitty litter box. He tends to sleep with the window open, so the cat doesn't meow to go out too many times.

[Dennis S]

I saw a headline that said a cat can survive a fall at terminal velocity, so the sky's the limit if that's true.

[cbelt3]

I've seen a cat leap from a 15 foot high roof, catch a bird in mid-flight, and land on her feet, while happily nomming the bird.

[Filliam H. Muffman]

I have seen a cat jump UP to a 2nd floor window, granted the first floor ceiling was only 5' above the ground in that corner of the building, but it was still +8' straight up.