Whether from the top of the icebox or a tree in the backyard , your kitty is course plan to view life sentence from great heights .
sure enough , cats love to laze in the glowing of a sunbeam . But in an instant , they can resile into legal action — and their reach is staggering . Just how high can cats jump ? As much as 8 foot in a exclusive bandage ! Here ’s how they do it .
How Cats Jump So Well
Rowyn C. Rose is a scientific discipline communication specialist atBasepaws , a Zoetis company andcat DNA testbrand . She enjoin all domesticated cats are descended from the North African / Near Eastern wildcat , which was a tree diagram - dwelling metal money .
" These wildcat ask to be capable to fleetly jump to high perch for safety , observation , and respite . They also needed the power to jump , twist , and change state — both to quest for prey and to evade predators , " she order . " The domesticated CT of today have hold back many of the same anatomic features of their wildcat ancestors . "
Rose says the physiology of today ’s domestic khat is utterly tailored to make them accomplished leapers :
Photo: Akimasa Harada / Getty
How Far and High Can Cats Jump?
A goodish adult cat can jump approximately five to six multiplication his body duration ( about 8 feet ! ) vertically and nearly as far horizontally . In fact , the Guinness World Book track record holder for the long jump by a quat isWaffle the Warrior Cat , a handsome black tie who can bound 7 feet . So if you consider that bag of kitty treats is safe on top of your refrigerator , you may take the air into your kitchen one day to find your cat facilitate himself to a buffet .
Granted , this springboard ability might vary for short - legged cat likeMunchkins , whose itty - bitty leg might not incite them as far . Rose says the following cat breeds are know for their jump prowess :
Why Do Cats Jump?
Most kat are jumping up luxuriously to find the best rod and will scale counters , drapes , and evenChristmas treesto line up it . Rose says this is part of our modern kitties ' natural inherent aptitude passed down by their wildcat ascendant — and probably for standardised reason . " [ Cats jump for ] a tone of safety , the ability to gain a unspoilt advantage point , or even just wonder about the surrounding environment , " she adds .
She encourages cat lovers to supply their pets with secure direction to reach , and comfortably relax in , high places . " Ways to do this could include havinga cat treethat they can rise up with different levels of perch , a windowsill seat , or even ' cozy - fying ' an already survive shelf space that ’s stable and out of harm ’s way . "
Making Sure Your Cat Jumps Safely
So should you have your kitty use your home as a jungle gym ? Not needs . Rose says cats do n’t know when kitchen stove are on or off , so reserve them to leap up onto counters near these and other heated appliances intend there ’s potential for them to get burned .
For her own cats , she also has to keep both safety and age - appropriate accessibility in mind . " My 14 - year - old cat has dissimilar need when it comes to jumping or climbing than my 5 - yr - quondam cat does , " she say . " I have cat-o'-nine-tails trees in a safe spot and acatio that provides stabilityand entree to different levels of height . I also allow supportive props , such aspet step , so that my elderly cat can more easily hand higher arena and make out back down in fashion that are kind to his joints . "
She sum up that cats reply well topositive reinforcement clicker training . So if there are sure domain within the house that are off - limits for leap and edge , try out teach your kitty to regain more suited in high spirits spot .
