Cat survives 19-story fall

[mechanicx]

The cat fell 150-200ft and walked away with no real injuries http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57402771/sugar-the-miracle-cat-survives-19-story-fall/. I've always got a kick out of how cats could fall from great heights and not get killed or injured.

 

[Cristobal]

That is one lucky kitty.

 

[Cogito]

1 down, and 8 to go.

 

[buickman50401]

Cat's are odd like that.

They're more likely to be injured in a short fall because they don't have enough time to right themselves and prep for the landing. Their skeletal structure is arranged so that they are basically a giant spring.

 

[daves87rs]

Wild...

 

[JHZR2]

I remember reading about this in the 8th grade physics book. They did an analysis in there of how the cat rights itself and aligns for max drag and max "response" to the shock.

The short falls dont work out the same way...

 

[FastEddie]

Now that is crazy for sure.

 

[mechtech2]

I wonder what the terminal velocity was?
In other words, it may have reached maximum speed in 5 stories. Who knows?
Cats can do BETTER in longer falls because they have more time to adjust their bodies properly.

 

[Merkava_4]

CBS News makes no mention of what she landed on; that would have been nice to know...

 

[andyd]

In Boston, the cat is lucky to have hit the ground. The highrises provide a habitat for peregrine falcons and red tail hawks. They have really forced the pigeons to step up their game.

 

[Smokescreen]

I HATE pigeons...go falcons & hawks...

 

[BrownBox88]

"The cats were able to relax, orient themselves in a flying squirrel position with the legs spread out. It slowed their descent down," said rescue manager Brian O'Connor."


Sounds like cats are natural base jumpers.