Cat in Danger on Balcony Ledge?

Martha, my 5 year old domestic long hair mix likes to hang out on the
balcony, and specifically perched on the 4 inch ledge. The ledge she
prefers is over concrete, about 12 feet to the ground. She is not calm
while hanging out on the ledge, but restless, looking over the edge like she
is planning to jump (there are many birds in the area).

First, will a cat put itself in danger by jumping from a height like this?
Second, is this dangerously high for a cat, i.e. can the fall kill or
injure her? She is not an athletic cat, but more of a lap cat. For now, I
don't tolerate her jumping up on the ledge, and shoo her off as soon as I
see her jump on it. Am I being paranoid, or is this a real danger?

P.S. sorry for such a noob question, if you've heard it before.


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"Rockinghorse Winner" wrote in message
consulting...
Martha, my 5 year old domestic long hair mix likes to hang out on the
balcony, and specifically perched on the 4 inch ledge. The ledge she
prefers is over concrete, about 12 feet to the ground. She is not calm
while hanging out on the ledge, but restless, looking over the edge like
she
is planning to jump (there are many birds in the area).


If she asleep and rolls off like all cats do she can really hurt herself

First, will a cat put itself in danger by jumping from a height like this?
Second, is this dangerously high for a cat, i.e. can the fall kill or
injure her? She is not an athletic cat, but more of a lap cat. For now,
I
don't tolerate her jumping up on the ledge, and shoo her off as soon as I
see her jump on it. Am I being paranoid, or is this a real danger?


yes a 12 foot drop on concrete can break legs

You may want to secure the ledge or prevent the furball from getting up
there. I tell everyone think of a cat as a 2 year old toddler your attitude
should be will they OF COURSE THEY WILL ;-)

P.S. sorry for such a noob question, if you've heard it before.

Not asking is a noob question ;-)


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"Rockinghorse Winner" wrote

Martha, my 5 year old domestic long hair mix likes to hang out on the
balcony, and specifically perched on the 4 inch ledge. The ledge she
prefers is over concrete, about 12 feet to the ground. She is not calm
while hanging out on the ledge, but restless, looking over the edge like
she
is planning to jump (there are many birds in the area).

She wants to chase them but knows it's too high.

First, will a cat put itself in danger by jumping from a height like this?

Sometimes. After long debate.

Second, is this dangerously high for a cat, i.e. can the fall kill or
injure her? She is not an athletic cat, but more of a lap cat. For now,
I
don't tolerate her jumping up on the ledge, and shoo her off as soon as I
see her jump on it. Am I being paranoid, or is this a real danger?

If she sleeps up there, danger yes. Also if ever icey or wet, she may not
recognize the danger and slip off.

P.S. sorry for such a noob question, if you've heard it before.

Grin, there are no n00b questions. Just ones you aren't sure of the answer
of.

Ok, next part (not asked but implied) is what to do about it. The fix may
be simpler than you think *and* preseve her 'joy of an outside perch to
watch the birds from'. HOA and/or rental rules (if renting) may come into
play here.

Describe the porch best you can (or best if you can, take digital pictures
of all angles and put them on the web at one of those freebie sites then
post the links). Is it wood? Does it have rails all the way to the top and
is covered? The easiest fix then is to screen it and believe it or not, but
that is *much easier* than you think. I have a 44ft x 13foot fully screened
porch with a wood ledge much like you describe. Don, me and Charlotte
helping carry things can rescreen this in under 2 hours. Granted we have
more practice and power tools are no stranger to us.

The easiest route (not same we use here) is a clear plastic netting. It
looks like it's made of fine clear fishing line and in a square or diamond
pattern (openings normally about 1.5 inches). This stuff can't be seen from
20 feet away and isnt exactly noticable from 12 feet. It comes in stronger
versions capable of preventing a child from getting through it (even the
thicker ones are no-seem-um from 40 ft).

Assuming you have a wood ledge and some wood above to attach to, the easiest
and fastest way is to get some long strips of thin molding (be looking for
things about 1/2 inch across and 1/4-1/3 inch deep). Measure your porch
first and have them cut it to fit (one set for bottom, one for top). Wrap
the netting about the top set and nail it up. Take the netting at the
bottom, trim as needed, then wrap it about the bottom set and nail it up.
Done. If you want the wood painted, paint first before putting it up.

Our job is a bit different as we have posts all along (obviously when it's
44feet long) plus one side area. We have to make a frame (similar as to
described) between the posts then tuck a heavier true screen in for bug
proof needs. I like to leave the porch open to the house and don't want
bugs in.

Tell me a bit more and if folks dont mind here, I can give details. If they
mind here, I'll have you meet me in alt.home.repair where the guys have seen
me show folks how to do this many times and always enjoy the exchange.

On Mon, 10 May 2010 12:37:10 -0500, Rockinghorse Winner
wrote:

Martha, my 5 year old domestic long hair mix likes to hang out on the
balcony, and specifically perched on the 4 inch ledge. The ledge she
prefers is over concrete, about 12 feet to the ground. She is not calm
while hanging out on the ledge, but restless, looking over the edge like she
is planning to jump (there are many birds in the area).

Yes, it is EXTREMELY likely that she WILL jump, sooner or later.

First, will a cat put itself in danger by jumping from a height like this?

Yes.

Second, is this dangerously high for a cat, i.e. can the fall kill or
injure her?

Yes, if they jump, and fail to land on their feet. They could do very
serious damage to themselves.


She is not an athletic cat, but more of a lap cat. For now, I
don't tolerate her jumping up on the ledge, and shoo her off as soon as I
see her jump on it. Am I being paranoid, or is this a real danger?

Keep her off the balcony, until you can enclose it with wire mesh, such
as chicken wire, and remove the possibly of danger from a bad fall.


P.S. sorry for such a noob question, if you've heard it before.

It's very wise to ask advice now, rather than how to help her later,
when she's been badly injured



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Rockinghorse Winner wrote:
Martha, my 5 year old domestic long hair mix likes to hang out on the
balcony, and specifically perched on the 4 inch ledge. The ledge she
prefers is over concrete, about 12 feet to the ground. She is not calm
while hanging out on the ledge, but restless, looking over the edge like she
is planning to jump (there are many birds in the area).

First, will a cat put itself in danger by jumping from a height like this?
Second, is this dangerously high for a cat, i.e. can the fall kill or
injure her? She is not an athletic cat, but more of a lap cat. For now, I
don't tolerate her jumping up on the ledge, and shoo her off as soon as I
see her jump on it. Am I being paranoid, or is this a real danger?

P.S. sorry for such a noob question, if you've heard it before.




There was a documentary on TV just recently dealing with dangers around
houses and high rises for pets and companion animals and apparently as I
remember cats have a greater chance of damage from falling from a 1
story building than a 5 story - apparently it has to do with the time
they have to orient themselves before reaching terminal velocity. There
was a story of a cat walking away with a few bruises from 8 story
apartment in NY but another didn't survive from a 1 story. (note my
usage is from Australian perspective where a building is walk in street
level is known as "ground floor" the next floor up is 1st Floor - in the
USA walk in level is 1st floor I believe)

Mon, 10 May 2010 12:37:10 -0500 from Rockinghorse Winner rwinner@
8600.com:

Martha, my 5 year old domestic long hair mix likes to hang out on the
balcony, and specifically perched on the 4 inch ledge. The ledge she
prefers is over concrete, about 12 feet to the ground. She is not calm
while hanging out on the ledge, but restless, looking over the edge like she
is planning to jump (there are many birds in the area).

First, will a cat put itself in danger by jumping from a height like this?

Think of her as a two-year-old toddler. In general she understands
heights, but she is easily distracted and if she sees a bird she may
indeed jump after it forgetting that there's nowhere to land.

Second, is this dangerously high for a cat, i.e. can the fall kill or
injure her?

I think dropping 12 feet onto concrete would quite likely break her
little ankles. Whether she'd also have internal injuries I wouldn't
hazard a guess.

Am I being paranoid, or is this a real danger?

In my opinion, the latter.

--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com
Shikata ga nai...

Mon, 10 May 2010 13:45:27 -0400 from Matthew
:
I tell everyone think of a cat as a 2 year old toddler

That's funny -- before reading your article I just got done posting
the same comment. :-)



--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com
Shikata ga nai...

Thanks Stan and everyone else. The info is invaluable to me. I see now what
I must do! She is such a cute little stray and I would be a wreck if
anything happened to her from my negligence. :-(

Lee

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"cshenk" wrote in message
...
"Rockinghorse Winner" wrote

Martha, my 5 year old domestic long hair mix likes to hang out on the
balcony, and specifically perched on the 4 inch ledge. The ledge she
prefers is over concrete, about 12 feet to the ground. She is not calm
while hanging out on the ledge, but restless, looking over the edge like
she
is planning to jump (there are many birds in the area).

She wants to chase them but knows it's too high.

First, will a cat put itself in danger by jumping from a height like
this?

Sometimes. After long debate.

Second, is this dangerously high for a cat, i.e. can the fall kill or
injure her? She is not an athletic cat, but more of a lap cat. For now,
I
don't tolerate her jumping up on the ledge, and shoo her off as soon as I
see her jump on it. Am I being paranoid, or is this a real danger?

If she sleeps up there, danger yes. Also if ever icey or wet, she may not
recognize the danger and slip off.

P.S. sorry for such a noob question, if you've heard it before.

Grin, there are no n00b questions. Just ones you aren't sure of the
answer of.

Ok, next part (not asked but implied) is what to do about it. The fix may
be simpler than you think *and* preseve her 'joy of an outside perch to
watch the birds from'. HOA and/or rental rules (if renting) may come into
play here.

Describe the porch best you can (or best if you can, take digital pictures
of all angles and put them on the web at one of those freebie sites then
post the links). Is it wood? Does it have rails all the way to the top
and is covered? The easiest fix then is to screen it and believe it or
not, but that is *much easier* than you think. I have a 44ft x 13foot
fully screened porch with a wood ledge much like you describe. Don, me
and Charlotte helping carry things can rescreen this in under 2 hours.
Granted we have more practice and power tools are no stranger to us.

The easiest route (not same we use here) is a clear plastic netting. It
looks like it's made of fine clear fishing line and in a square or diamond
pattern (openings normally about 1.5 inches). This stuff can't be seen
from 20 feet away and isnt exactly noticable from 12 feet. It comes in
stronger versions capable of preventing a child from getting through it
(even the thicker ones are no-seem-um from 40 ft).

Assuming you have a wood ledge and some wood above to attach to, the
easiest and fastest way is to get some long strips of thin molding (be
looking for things about 1/2 inch across and 1/4-1/3 inch deep). Measure
your porch first and have them cut it to fit (one set for bottom, one for
top). Wrap the netting about the top set and nail it up. Take the
netting at the bottom, trim as needed, then wrap it about the bottom set
and nail it up. Done. If you want the wood painted, paint first before
putting it up.

Our job is a bit different as we have posts all along (obviously when it's
44feet long) plus one side area. We have to make a frame (similar as to
described) between the posts then tuck a heavier true screen in for bug
proof needs. I like to leave the porch open to the house and don't want
bugs in.

Tell me a bit more and if folks dont mind here, I can give details. If
they mind here, I'll have you meet me in alt.home.repair where the guys
have seen me show folks how to do this many times and always enjoy the
exchange.

That netting stuff is great. A friend of mine has used it on two separate
balconies, and it's barely visible until you get right up to it. Very few
apartments object to it. Regardless, I agree that a cat shouldn't be left
on a balcony that hasn't been secured where it can't jump. Cats do
misjudge, and the lure of a bird or squirrel could easily make it forget
cats can't fly.

On Mon, 10 May 2010 22:29:07 -0400, Stan Brown
wrote:


Martha, my 5 year old domestic long hair mix likes to hang out on the
balcony, and specifically perched on the 4 inch ledge. The ledge she
prefers is over concrete, about 12 feet to the ground. She is not calm
while hanging out on the ledge, but restless, looking over the edge like she
is planning to jump (there are many birds in the area).

First, will a cat put itself in danger by jumping from a height like this?

Think of her as a two-year-old toddler. In general she understands
heights, but she is easily distracted and if she sees a bird she may
indeed jump after it forgetting that there's nowhere to land.


What is the matter with you letting her out there in the first place
then to have to ask is even more idiotic, If no one else will say it
I will!!