How Can Cats Jump So High?

Felines are remarkably athletic creatures, and nothing shows their motor skills better than jumping. Most domestic cats have shocked their owner by jumping on top of a bookshelf and landing gracefully on top of an open door. Due to their impressive jumping skills, it’s reasonable to ask, how can cats jump so high?

Well, the main reason why your cat can jump so high is its hind legs. Cats are quite flexible. They can use their spinal column and limb length to maximize their jumping height. If you want to learn more about why cats can jump from a high building and survive, keep on reading…

How Can Cats Jump So High?

Cats are known for their jumping skills. They are agile and can jump 6 times higher than their actual length. There are several factors that affect a cat’s jumping ability, such as:

Muscles in the Back Legs

The muscles of the hind legs give your cat enough power to jump at any place. Whenever a cat wants to jump real high, he/she will go into the preliminary mode where the muscles of its back legs loop to prepare for release. You may have noticed that your feline bent over and waited for a few moments before jumping really high.

During this phase, your feline is actually attaining stability, calculating the distance and estimating the force that they will need to land without any error.

General Physique

Your feline’s body is a result of thousands of years of evolution. Their body has gone through a lot of changes. As your feline is a hunter by nature, he/she has the perfect physique to jump on their prey without compromising their position. 

Motor Skills

Most people think cats are not smart like dogs. However, this couldn’t be any far from the truth. Your little furball matures from an adorable kitten to a full-grown cat. During this journey, they learn a lot of essential abilities and develop stronger motor skills that allow them to do amazing things, including jumping really high.

Tail

For a perfect jump, balance is one of the most important things to consider. Without a proper balance, your feline will lose control during the jump and can get severely injured. However, cats use their tails to attain a perfect balance to eliminate this risk. Their tail stops them from tipping over to one side. 

How High Can Cats Jump?

The answer to this question will certainly shock most cat owners. According to an estimate, an adult feline can jump more than 180cm, which is 5-6 times their actual height. 

Conclusion

How can cats jump so high? On average, cats can jump more than 6 times their height. There are several factors that help your feline achieve that kind of result, including their muscles, tail, motor skills, and general physique. The muscles of their back legs offer enough power to jump any height, while their tail provides balance to stop them from tripping over to one side.