Of Cats, Cattle, and Craters
There is a worrying epidemic called “high-rise syndrome” that affects many New York families. Cases are more prevalent in the summer months. One New York City hospital reported three to five new cases a week in the summer. The sad part is that, according to experts, it is almost entirely preventable. The good news is that the survival rate for high-rise syndrome can be as great as 90 percent. What exactly is this malady? It is the phenomenon of cats falling out of windows that are more than two stories high.
What leads to the high survival rate for high-rise syndrome? For starters, whereas the so-called terminal velocity (maximum falling speed) of a man in free-fall is about 130 mph, that of a falling cat is about 60 mph. This is due in part to their small size, light bone structure, and thick fur. Further, a cat may spread out its body mid-fall to increase drag and slow its descent. Another trick in the cat’s arsenal is the ability to right itself while it is falling. A cat can orient itself to land on its feet, preventing cat-astrophe.