Content
- What is parachute cat syndrome?
- Are there cats more likely than others?
- With acting and first aid
- Prevention for parachutist cat syndrome
We have always seen cats as great tightrope walkers, agile, fast and very cunning, so much so that we say they have 7 lives. But the truth is that their strategies do not always go well, they make calculation errors, impulses that are difficult to control, among other factors, and sometimes the escape, the chase or the jokes end up wrong and in accidents.
Did you know that there is a syndrome in felines known as parachute cat syndrome? At first they may sound funny, but it is a problem that should worry domestic cat owners, especially if they live in tall buildings, precisely because of these natural mistakes they can make.
Keep reading this new PeritoAnimal article to find out what it's about the parachute cat syndrome and how to act if this happens.
What is parachute cat syndrome?
This syndrome, also known as the flying cat syndrome, is the domestic accident that most happens to cats, and yes, falls from great heights happen much more than we might think.
It could be that our cat chases another, an insect or a bird and decides to jump out the window to go after its objective and at that moment our cat is acting like what we know as flying cat syndrome or parachutist.
We often see how they fall with grace, as if it didn't cost them the slightest effort, because it's a low height, or else, in cases of greater height, they leave us with their mouths open when they make a spin in the air that allows them to fall from Proper way to break the fall and run away. It is precisely at an intermediate height, that is, a height that is too high to fall smoothly with a simple heel, and too low to be able to turn and fall with the paws down, or when it is an extremely high height and for a long time. that can get into position the impact is too strong when our cat is in danger.
This syndrome occurs when the feline jumps decisively, but in a way that ignores the set of real variables, a jump from an inappropriate height to be able to do it correctly and the result varies depending on this height and the physical state of the animal.
Are there cats more likely than others?
One fact that is known for sure not to affect parachute cat syndrome propensity is the fact of the cat's gender. On the other hand, can affect whether the cat is neutered or not, since if not, it is very common that it costs them to control the sexual impulse that always leads them to run away from home and an option is the window or balcony.
Another fact is age, since the younger the more curiosity and inexperience I fear cats. Also, in the middle of adolescence is when the sex drive mentioned above is highest.
In the case of kittens of a few months there is also a clear propensity, as the inexperience is very high and they are still learning and getting to know the world. A part of a kitten's learning process is learning to measure distances, hence the funny videos floating around the internet of gangly little felines that fall trying to reach places that are farther away than they seemed. Precisely, as they are not aware of the distance from their window or balcony to the ground or nearest surface, they trust and jump, sometimes falling badly.
In addition, it is possible that a kitten that does not have a normal learning process will not learn many things about being a cat and in these cases, although the cat is older, it will never act in a feline manner and if one of the things affected in its learning distances, this cat will be more likely to fall from the balcony or window.
The good thing about all this is that there are several ways to prevent this from happening, regardless of how our cat is. Later in this article we will comment on the most effective forms of prevention.
With acting and first aid
When we detect that a cat has had an ostentatious fall, we should move closer to assess the possible damage. It is essential that if the animal does not stand up by itself, do not pick it up or move immediately afterwards, you must call the veterinary emergency room to indicate the best thing to do, depending on the state of the animal, how to handle it in order to transport it or what will be the best option.
If the fall was from an intermediate height, it is quite likely that no external wounds will be seen and that the cat will even stand up on its own. Still, the most recommendable will always be go to the veterinarian immediately, as it is very easy for internal wounds to exist and these can range from mild to very severe. You may only notice a slight limp, but you should pick it up and take it for a complete overhaul, as it may have broken one or have internal wounds that must be treated immediately.
If the fall has caused external injuries, it will depend on their severity and the general condition of the cat whether or not we need to do something ourselves. It should be noted that in cats with parachutist syndrome falls, the wounds are usually internal, especially the rupture of the jaw and forelegs, followed by tears in the thorax and abdomen.
Another result in these cases is death, which usually happens when the fall happens from a height of very high floors, either instantaneous or after some time due to internal wounds.
Due to the variety of possible results, the first aid we can offer ourselves is very limited., the most relevant being immediate observation, calling the emergency room and following in their footsteps, and taking the injured or apparently unharmed cat to the nearest veterinarian.
The life of our faithful feline friend will often depend on whether or not we are able to follow these simple steps as quickly as possible.
Read our article that explains in more detail what to do if the cat falls out of the window.
Prevention for parachutist cat syndrome
As mentioned before, there are many ways to avoid these accidents. For example, starting with neuter our cat or cat and thus greatly lessening the likelihood that he will feel the need to run away from home.
Another very simple and logical way is to avoid access to windows and balconies, but if you can't or want to, you can at least avoid leaving through these parts of the house. We must correctly place the grids and mosquito nets and so our cats cannot go around, but they can look and kill curiosity as they like so much.
Another idea is to make sure you sufficiently enrich your surroundings at home so that you don't try to run away from home in search of food or entertainment. It can provide you with interactive games for cats, search for food in various parts of the house, if possible there is one more cat so that they always feel accompanied, scratchers at different levels and various toys with circuits, shelves, etc.
