Mary Allen
Rude awakening: falls are one of the most common accidents in summer
Crash in cats
Does your cat also like to lie on the window sill or the balcony during the day and watch the area? Many cats do this and thus take an interest in their surroundings. Even an open window does not tempt them to flee. Some cats stroll elegantly over the balcony railing and are interested in what is happening below them. – But there is a downside to all of this: Hundreds of cats die every year because they fall or get trapped in bottom-hung windows. A bird flying past in front of the cat, a door slamming behind it, or some other unfamiliar noise – and the animal jumps off into an uncertain depth. Only some of these cats end up on the operating table because many die immediately. However, such an accident does not have to happen, because there are effective and inexpensive safeguards!
Cat lovers are always amazed at how innocent cats can be: a cat running on the roof rarely falls. On the other hand, falls from window openings and balconies are very common. The most important difference between these situations is the animal’s awareness of danger: the cat walking on the roof is aware of the danger and masters the risk. The cat lying in the window, on the other hand, is relaxed, enjoying the view, and is surprised by an unexpected event (fright, noise, “quick prey”). By the time she correctly assesses the danger in this situation, she is already flying. The further course of events then depends on the height, the subsoil, and the planting. Serious injuries occur regularly, both to internal organs and in the form of broken bones.
How crashes can be prevented
With a little thought, the risk can be significantly reduced without much effort: windows, balconies, and terraces can be easily secured with cat nets. These nets are available in different designs and dimensions. They are also suitable for securing garden outlets. They are stable – and depending on the design – only visible on closer inspection. They can be set up in just a few simple steps and take up very little space when folded.
Tilt windows are a special topic. They also cost the lives of many cats every year. The animals want to jump through the window, slip off, and get caught in the window by the neck or waist. Many animals cannot free themselves only after hours. Severe damage to muscles, the spine, or kidneys leads to the death of the animal. Here, too, there is a simple remedy. Either the window opening is completely closed with a net or it is only secured as shown in the picture: The cat can still get through the upper horizontal section of the opening through the window hole. However, you should at least put a cushion, made of board or even just some cardboard in the narrow part of the window gap below, so that the cat cannot get trapped.
Dogs fall too!
In dogs, falls follow a completely different pattern. Nevertheless, the accidents are the same: dogs like to jump from and over obstacles of all kinds. If they jump from balconies or windows, they often misjudge the height. But they also do this on excursions in unfamiliar territory. Especially on viewing platforms, on-mountain tours, or castle and palace ruins, many dogs have already jumped over low walls without suspecting that there is depth on the other side.
This causes serious injuries to the carpal joints, which can only be treated with great effort. In many cases, it is not possible to successfully treat such injuries while preserving the joint. The wrist joint must then be surgically stiffened.
A dog should also be supervised accordingly. Leashing is recommended when walking in unfamiliar terrain.