Companion animals in high-rise urban settings face distinct welfare challenges including limited outdoor access, balcony fall risks, and elevator stress that require specific management.
High-rise companion animal welfare requires attention to risks unique to elevated living. Balcony and window fall risks require physical barriers that are often neglected. Elevator stress in dogs can be significant — enclosed spaces, unpredictable movement, and unfamiliar people create chronic stress for many animals. Cats denied outdoor access in high-rise settings need significant indoor enrichment to meet behavioral needs. Emergency evacuation planning is more complex for animals in high-rise buildings. With appropriate precautions — secure balconies, elevator desensitization, enriched indoor environments — companion animals can have good welfare in high-rise settings.