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Why Cats Can Jump So High: Interesting Facts
14.02.2024 06:10
Cats are real jumping experts.
The slightly bent shape of the hind legs, pronounced leg muscles, and high flexibility of the spine allow cats to jump high and far.
But not every cat can jump equally well. There are breeds of cats that are not very good at jumping.
What Affects a Cat's Jumping Ability
Jumping is a matter of practice. The more experience a cat has in jumping and especially in judging distances, the better it will jump.
Physique
The breed of the cat also plays a role. The more people try to create a certain type of cat, the more the physical capabilities are usually minimized.
Cats with large bodies but short legs (such as Munchkins) cannot jump as high as cats with long legs and a slender body (such as Bengals).
Age
Of course, age also plays a big role when it comes to jumping power. Older cats may suffer from joint diseases, such as arthrosis. In this case, cats can no longer jump as well as before. It is better to avoid this, so as not to put unnecessary strain on the joints.
Cats also have a very flexible spine. This allows cats to contract strongly before jumping and then extend again after jumping. This extension is transferred to the hind legs as jumping energy and allows cats to jump so far and so high.
How high can cats jump
Small pets can jump up to 1.80 m. In terms of length, this distance is 5 times further than their body length.
Despite all this, you should not overdo it. Just because they can jump high does not mean they will always land safely.
Especially when jumping from a height, it often happens that cats land incorrectly and injure themselves.
Which cat breeds jump the highest?
Every cat can jump high, but there are differences here too. Depending on the breed, age and weight, one cat can jump a little higher than another.
The cats that jump the highest and farthest are those that have a naturally small frame and long legs.
These include:
- bengal cats
- Abyssinian cats
- somali cats
- Cornish Rex cats
- Japanese Bobtail and others.
What all these cat breeds have in common is that they are very gracefully built and have long legs in relation to their build. This allows for optimal distribution of force on the hind legs, which is why these cats jump up very well.
The most important muscles for a long jump are the hind legs; the more developed they are, the better the cat jumps.
Let's take a bow and arrow as an example. The better the bow is drawn, the further the arrow will fly. The weight of the arrow comes second.
If the bow cannot be drawn tight enough, then no matter how light or heavy the arrow is, it will not fly.
The same is true for overweight cats. The cause of excess weight is usually insufficient physical activity. Metabolic diseases or medications can also lead to unwanted excess weight in a cat quite quickly.
If there is enough muscle in the hind legs, even well-fed cats can jump without problems.
How high should garden fencing be for cats?
Since cats are super climbers and very good jumpers, garden fences should be adapted accordingly. Cat fencing in the garden should be at least 2 m high.
In addition, there should be no climbing devices on or near the fence. It is good if the upper end of the fence is inclined inward. Trees and boards should also not be in the immediate vicinity of the fence.
Remember that cats can jump a long distance. Therefore, it may happen that the cat tries to jump from the tree to the fence. This can lead to serious injury to your pet.
Previously, we wrote about which dog breeds are suitable for families with children.
