How High Can a House Cat Jump?

Pet cats are incredibly talented.

House cats are carnivorous hunters that have been domesticated for the past several thousand years and kept as pets. Domesticated cats are able to jump extremely high for their body size and weight.

History

Domestic house cats are popular pets around the world and have been kept for a multiple of reasons in many cultures. As many as 4,000 years ago, the Egyptians domesticated and worshipped cats, and would mummify and bury them with their owners. Other cultures, such as those in Europe during the Middle Ages, believed that cats were a sign of "bad luck."

Cat Facts

Cats have 230 bones with almost 10% of the bones in the cat's tail, which helps with balance and stability. This balance and stability allows cats to jump or balance well on ledges and almost always land on their feet.

Jumping

Domestic house cats can jump up to five times its own height. This is accomplished by the specialized muscles and bones in the cats hind legs.

References

• National Geographic: Domestic Cats
• Xmission: Cat Facts and Trivia
• Lookd: The Cat in History