Cat Welfare in High-Rise Buildings

Cats living in high-rise apartments face specific welfare challenges including falling risk (high-rise syndrome), lack of outdoor access, and insufficient exercise and enrichment opportunities.

Key Facts

High-rise syndrome in cats refers to injuries sustained from falls from multi-storey buildings
Counter-intuitively, falls from medium heights (2-6 stories) can cause more severe injuries than greater heights due to terminal velocity dynamics
Screen windows and balcony netting are highly effective at preventing high-rise syndrome falls
Indoor cats in small apartments are at high risk of obesity, boredom, and stress-related conditions
Some countries have regulations requiring cat-safe balconies in high-density housing
High-rise cats can thrive with adequate enrichment, window perches, catios, and interactive play

Welfare Considerations

High-rise living is not inherently welfare-compromising for cats, but requires proactive environmental management. Safety measures to prevent falls, enrichment to compensate for absent outdoor access, and appropriate social and environmental stimulation are essential. The responsibility to provide for a cat's welfare needs increases in direct proportion to the constraints the living environment imposes.

What You Can Do

Install secure screen windows and balcony netting before bringing a cat into a high-rise home
Provide window perches overlooking interesting outdoor scenes to stimulate indoor cats
Create vertical space with cat trees and shelving for climbing and exercise
Install a window bird feeder to provide visual enrichment for apartment cats
Consider whether a high-rise apartment is appropriate for a cat before adopting