topic Re: Cat owners - advice on cats jumping? in Pet Lovers

Cat owners - advice on cats jumping?

FindingMyJoy — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 18:04:36 GMT

I hope someone may be able to offer some advice on my issue. I have a very curious 1.5 year old cat who has become a great jumper! She has found ways to leap up into windows that are 5-6 feet up so she can watch leaves and critters go by. (She has plenty of other windows and a large door she can look out but she's just super interested in these high up windows). I don't mind that she's so curious but I fear she will injure herself when she leaps down. Has anyone experienced this and has found a way to curb the jumping from high heights? I've already moved the table that she used as a springboard so now she's just using brute strength to get to the window and clawing up the wall if she doesn't make it. Any help or advice would be appreciated!

Re: Cat owners - advice on cats jumping?

MoonieBaby — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 18:06:12 GMT

Put a few pennies in an empty alluminum can...shake it the minute kitty leaps - the sound should work on her associations with jumping as being a negative experience.

Try it and lemme know if you have any luck.

Re: Cat owners - advice on cats jumping?

Kachina624 — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 18:08:06 GMT

Jumping is what cats do. She knows her limits and is unlikely to hurt herself. You ought to make it easier, not harder, for her.

Re: Cat owners - advice on cats jumping?

NickNack — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 18:10:33 GMT

I would put the table back. She's going to jump anyway, and it would be easier for her and on her with the table.

Re: Cat owners - advice on cats jumping?

Sammycat1 — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 18:14:03 GMT

I agree with @NickNack -- put the table back and create "step stools" to help your cat jump up and down. As @Kachina624 said, jumping is what they do!

Re: Cat owners - advice on cats jumping?

LindaSal — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 18:17:03 GMT

For pete's sake, why would you move the table? She has a much higher risk of injury without something to assist in her jumping up or landing.

Re: Cat owners - advice on cats jumping?

Pagan — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 18:18:52 GMT

You could try cat deterrent mats (eg Vitervi sold on Amazon).

I have two kittens and I’m using these.

If she has very small paws, you can overlay them to make the gaps smaller.

I would then make a temporary step so that she can paw at the mat and learn it’s a no-go zone before trying to jump up to it.

Re: Cat owners - advice on cats jumping?

Sphaera — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 18:26:18 GMT

Cats love to jump up high and look out windows. Your cat is young and needs to experience everything she can. Please put table back, or something under window so kitty has an easier time getting to her favorite place.

Re: Cat owners - advice on cats jumping?

newagain888888 — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 18:32:58 GMT

Some cats prefer higher perches. I know mine does. The higher the view, the better. Cat's are sure-footed and agile. 6 ft. is not a challenge for them unless they are elderly or infirmed. I'd be hesitant to use negative reinforcement to prevent a cat from jumping-since you never know where that will go. It could transfer to a phobia of windows or to jumping up in general. If the height is a worry to you, you might set up a tall, carpeted cat tree or other options in front of the window-or even think of alternatives for creating new excitement and adventure.

Re: Cat owners - advice on cats jumping?

Mz iMac — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 18:31:37 GMT

Cats always land on their feet. Even jumping from great heights. Rarely if ever get injured. Cats like snakes have very flexable spines.

When my cat was a kitten to keep him from jumping on my table & counters, I did what the op "Ko" suggested.......

"Put a few pennies in an empty alluminum can...shake it the minute kitty leaps - the sound should work on her associations with jumping as being a negative experience."

I left the cans on the edge of the table & counter. Cats HATE the sound it makes when the cans landed on the floor.

You may want to try the above for your high windowsill if so concerned but leave the table alone. Put some penny soda cans on the table edges.

Re: Cat owners - advice on cats jumping?

Still Raining — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 19:00:29 GMT

A girl got to do what a girl got to do. Let her have her fun. Help her with the table. Remind her to deal with the cobwebs for you.

Someday when her joints can hardly bend down to her bowl you can tell her how good it was.

Re: Cat owners - advice on cats jumping?

gjv — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 19:11:23 GMT

I hightly recommend investing in a cat tree with levels so she can easily make her way up and down that you can put in front of the window. I have multiple trees in my house of all different heights. Many people don't like the look of them, but to me it's part of life with cats. Ditto for scratching posts (which cat trees also double as).

Re: Cat owners - advice on cats jumping?

KKWA — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 19:16:42 GMT

You are a cat mom now. Enjoy her and let her do her thing. It is natural for them to climb high in the trees. The happier she is the more love she will bring to you.

Re: Cat owners - advice on cats jumping?

Kujo — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 19:24:45 GMT

When you are a cat caretaker, it is her world. We are only allowed to live in it. Enjoy her graceful, beautiful moves.

Re: Cat owners - advice on cats jumping?

Marceil — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 20:36:15 GMT

I agree with everyone here. I might add she may just get bored with it and not jump up there again. I love cats, but they are unpredictable at times. Enjoy your kitty.

Re: Cat owners - advice on cats jumping?

happycat — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 22:27:44 GMT

Mine cats jump too. I don't know how you could really keep one from it. If its any consolation, my 3 have been jumpers for as long as I can remember, even jumping on top of our fireplace mantel, and they have never been hurt. We havne't turned the fireplace on in years, its never been on when they were jumping up there.

Re: Cat owners - advice on cats jumping?

Venezia — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 23:02:46 GMT

Every cat I've ever had has jumped up onto high perches; it's what they do. It's a natural instinct to be higher up than predators (perceived or real; think of cats in the wild).

We have a cat tower in pretty much every room in the house. And an average cat can jump to five times its own length, so that will give you an idea of distance.

Your cat won't hurt itself jumping up onto a windowsill unless you obstruct it in some way and it gets hurt falling on or against it.

Re: Cat owners - advice on cats jumping?

noodleann — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 01:14:04 GMT

There are tree cats and there are bush cats; you have a tree cat.

I hope you heed the advice to put the table back and add some stable levels to assist the cat in getting down. They should be several inches wide or deep so the cat feels confident of them.

One of the most common causes of broken jaws in cats is falling from heights.

Re: Cat owners - advice on cats jumping?

candys mine — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 01:20:04 GMT

Cats ALWAYS land on theri feet. DON"T YOU BELIEVE IT.

Cats fall and if They DON"T have the time to twist their bodies around they WILL hit the ground HARD. if they DO land on their feet from a great hight they stil can have chest trauma and other injuries because their feet and legs can't absorb All the energy from the impact and the chest is the next thing that hits.

Re: Cat owners - advice on cats jumping?

Dra — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 03:03:00 GMT

Agree that is an old myth that cats always land on their feet. Please do what others have suggested and make it easier for her not harder. She does this because she is young it will be the blink of an eye before she will be unable to jump so high.