High-rise syndrome in cats results from falls from tall buildings, causing a distinctive pattern of injuries including thoracic trauma and limb fractures, with welfare prevention through window and balcony safety measures.
High-rise falls cause severe welfare trauma regardless of survival. Even surviving cats experience multiple serious injuries requiring intensive veterinary care including thoracic drainage, orthopedic surgery, and prolonged hospitalization. The injuries from impact include pulmonary contusions causing respiratory distress, ruptured bladder, palate fractures causing eating difficulty, and limb fractures causing inability to walk. Recovery from multiple orthopedic injuries is prolonged, painful, and often incomplete. The preventable nature of high-rise falls through window and balcony safety measures makes every fall a welfare tragedy that could have been avoided with simple owner precautions.