Cats are known for many of their extraordinary abilities, with one of them being how high they can jump. Whether it’s a high shelf in your home or leaping onto a backyard fence, these graceful creatures often seem to defy physics.
But exactly how high can they jump? The exact answer will depend on a wide variety of factors, but it may be higher than you think. Let’s take a closer look at this incredible feline feat.
The Average Cat Jump Height
A healthy adult cat can usually jump anywhere between 6 to 8 feet (roughly 1.8 to 2.4 meters). This often corresponds to five to six times their body length. For most cats, this equates to jumping onto the top of a refrigerator, bookshelf, or backyard fence. If a 6-foot human could jump six times their height, they could jump all the way up to a telephone pole.
The exact height they can jump will depend on a wide variety of factors, with age being the most obvious. Kittens don’t yet quite have their peak power, and senior cats will have declining muscle strength. Added to this, some breeds are slightly better at jumping than others.
Other factors that affect their jumping height are the same that affect humans. They won’t be able to jump as high if pouncing off a loose surface, have limited grip, or if your cat is overweight. Cats also need to gain confidence to jump that high, which is usually found by first excelling in smaller jumps.
How Do Cats Jump So High?
Cats have a few key features that allow them to jump remarkably high. The first is an obvious one, they have incredibly strong leg muscles. Their thighs and calves give them explosive power to take off. Their flexible joints also allow them to crouch deeply, pulled back into a launching position.
Cats are also relatively light for their size. This means their muscles have a lot of power to lift not a lot of weight. When you add in a flexible spine that can act like a spring, they can beautifully use the laws of physics in their favor.
The anatomy of a cat’s hind legs also plays a role. Their hind toes are almost as long as their lower legs. It’s worth remembering cats constantly walk around on their tip toes. These toes act like a huge spring for their impressive leaps.
They combine this with other features to make jumps effortless. A cat’s soft paw pads also help them land silently and their grace and flexibility allow them to immediately balance once they’ve reached their destination.
Vertical vs. Horizontal Jumping
In the Olympics we have both the high jump and long jump. Curiously for humans, someone great at jumping vertically may not be great horizontally, and vice versa. Cats, unsurprisingly, are brilliant at both.
Cats can leap more or less as far sideways as they can vertically. This is because they can generate a huge amount of forward momentum from only a short distance. Due to those powerful back legs, they don’t require much of a run up.
Cats will demonstrate this skill constantly throughout the day, jumping from the likes of a couch to a tabletop. Sadly, cats don’t perform for our entertainment. It’s rare to see their maximum leaps unless they perceive a threat.
Breed Differences in Jumping Ability
Not all cats are equal jumpers. Some breeds are naturally more athletic than others. As we mentioned, a part of their ability comes from their low body to weight ratio. More slender cats will often have the advantage here.
Good examples of pure breeds that fit this description are Abyssinians, Oriental breeds, and Bengal’s. Mixed-breed cats usually are brilliant jumpers as they have the all-around abilities of the cats they are bred from.
On the other end are cats that tend to be a bit heavier. Maine Coons and British Shorthairs are good examples. These cats have a high level of strength and are often excellent climbers instead of being elite jumpers.
The Role of Motivation
As we mentioned, cats don’t jump for show. Their jumping is usually purposeful and far within the limits of their ability. For example, they will effortlessly leap to window perches or on top of our beds.
They are rarely motivated to jump as high as they can. Due to this, we rarely get to see them at their majestic best in this regard. However, you get to see this ability sometimes during play during enrichment activities.
Indoor environments can often dull their motivation to make the most of their abilities. This is which they need to be encouraged to play, hunt (fake animals or otherwise), and explore. This not only keeps them happy but also their skills sharp.
Age and Health Considerations
A cat’s age will have a direct impact on its jumping ability. Kittens are often playful and energetic, but don’t have fully developed muscles or coordination for those giant leaps. It’s around about the one year point they start to reach their peak.
That peak of muscle strength depends on a wide range of factors, but it’s usually from 1 to 7 years old. After this point, there will be a gradual decline in muscle mass, joint flexibility, and bone density.
Arthritis is common in cats and can begin to play a role in their reluctance to make large leaps. Exactly how high they can jump here can vary but hesitation before jumping, choosing lower perches to sleep, and needing an intermediate step are key indicators their jumping abilities are on the wane.
Jumping Safety in the Home
Cats love to jump, which can be fascinating and frustrating in equal measures. It’s important to give them space to jump. They love perching out of windows, for example, so make sure there is space for them as they’ll either make space or become unhappy.
However, you need to be careful. They can fall from extraordinary heights and survive, but we never want to test this, as cats don’t actually have those nine lives! Make sure the likes of balconies are secured, and windows aren’t open far enough for them to escape.
Some cats are also clumsier than others. Don’t leave things that can get smashed easily on the edges of tables and desks etc. Keep jumping areas tidy to avoid any potential injury to your cat, or the potential for them to leave a mess.
