How High Can Kittens Jump – 6 Factors To Know! – FAQcats.com (2024)

Bringing home a new kitten is an exciting and fun time for a lot of pet owners. There’s just one problem. Many cat owners aren’t prepared for how excitable and curious a new kitten can be. Add into that not knowing what to expect your kitten to be able to do when you first bring them home, and you have a recipe for trouble.

So, if you’re preparing to bring a kitten home, you should know how high kittens can jump and other details about their physical abilities. So, how high can kittens jump?

Most kittens can jump about 1ft when you bring them home. A kittens jumping height and distance will rapidly increase. Factors such as age, breed, weight, and vision can affect your kittens jumping ability.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re preparing to bring your little furry ball of energy home soon.

How High Can Kittens Jump – 6 Factors To Know! – FAQcats.com (1)

Factors That Affect How High Your Kitten Can Jump

These are some of the factors that play into how far your kitten can jump and some of their other physical abilities as well. Remember that your kitten’s abilities will grow and change with them, so you should prepare for your kitten to develop new abilities every day.

Your Kitten’s Age

Your kitten’s age can tell you a lot about their development. While most kittens start getting a little more independent and start exploring at only a couple of weeks old, their bodies aren’t fully developed for a year or more. So the older your cat gets, the better their jumping running, and climbing skills will all be.

The Breed Of Your Kitten

Some kinds of cat are more athletic or have more physical skills than other. For instance, Bengal cats are well known for being highly energetic and athletic animals that need a lot of exercise and can jump well. On the other hand, Munchin cats have shorter legs and aren’t quite as physically active, so they aren’t able to jump as far.

Your Kittens Weight

Your kitten’s weight also matters for how far they’re able to travel in a jump. It’s common for weight fluctuations as a kitten to change your cat’s jumping ability. When they’re a little heavier right before a growth spurt, for instance, they may not be able to jump quite as far as when they’re a little skinnier.

Their Leg Length

As your kitten’s legs get longer, their jumping ability will improve a lot. That means that when your kitten is in that teenage leggy period, they will probably be able to jump and run well, assuming their tendons and ligaments can keep up with their growth. But while your kitten is still in a stubby-legged phase, they won’t be able to jump as easily or as far.

How Brave Your Kitten Is

Your kitten may also be limited by factors other than its physical size and ability when it comes to jumping. If your kitten is more naturally cautious, they may be less likely to jump and more likely to climb, for instance. But a brave kitten might try to take on heights they aren’t quite ready for, no matter their development.

How Far Your Kitten Can See

Sight is incredibly important for cats when it comes to jumping, and your kitten is no different. A kitten wants to see where they will land before they jump, and not jumping very much can sometimes be a sign that your kitten can’t see very well.

Don’t worry too much at first; unless there are other signs that your kitten can’t see, it might just be that they are very cautious.

Can An 8-Week-Old Kitten Jump?

At 8 weeks old most kittens can jump pretty well for their size. The most athletic kittens can probably jump about a foot at this age, while smaller or less athletic breeds might only manage half-foot jumps.

A good rule of thumb is that most 8-week-old kittens can safely jump up to 2-3 times their body length.

Cat owners beware; safety isn’t always essential to your kitten. The most daring kittens might well decide to jump farther than they can reach safely.

How High Can A 12-Week-Old Kitten Jump

At 12 weeks, many kittens are starting to get their more adult bodies and learn how to move more effectively. That means that their jumping abilities can increase rapidly from about 10-14 weeks old.

This can be an exciting time in your kitten’s life, and you should expect them to be able to jump about 2-4 times their body lengthforward. For height, some 12-week-old kittens can only jump about a foot high, while others have figured out how to get more height and can jump 3-4 feet high with ease.

The height your cat can jump probably also depends on how high you’ve been asking them to jump. For instance, if your kitten is learning how to get on and off of a tall bed, they’ll probably learn to jump faster.

Can A Kitten Jump From High Places

It’s hard to answer this question without knowing the kitten’s age and how high we’re talking. Kittens are pretty tough and can often handle accidental high jumps and tumbles without any real problem. However, the younger your kitten is, the harder it will be for them to land gracefully, leading to some severe injuries.

For most kittens, you can assume that they are safe to jump from about 1ft in height for every month they are old, up until their six months old. After that, it depends on your cat’s breed, weight, and comfort level.

Heavier or less athletic kittens should generally stick closer to the ground than their leaner or very athletic friends. That’s because the extra weight can be hard on their growing joints, especially when jumping or falling from a high place.

Why Is My Kitten Not Jumping

A kitten that isn’t jumping isn’t always a reason for concern, but it can be.

First, consider whether your kitten has many opportunities or reasons to jump. If all of their toys are on the floor and you pick them up as soon as they ask, your kitten might not see a reason to start jumping yet.

If your kitten is a Munchin cat or a different short-legged breed, they might not be jumping because it’s not the best way for them to move or navigate a space.

But, not jumping can also be a sign that your kitten can’t see very far, is struggling to judge distances, or that they are dealing with some anxiety about jumping. All those things can be a good reason to take your kitten to the vet and see if there are any ways to help their development.

Things To Consider

It’s important to remember that all kittens learn and develop at different rates. Just because your kitten is hitting certain size milestones doesn’t mean that behavior is sure to follow. Some kittens may also prefer to be on the ground without needing any reason.

That being said, not jumping, jumping too much, or not seeming to judge heights well can all be good reasons to take your kitten to the vet for a checkup.

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How High Can Kittens Jump – 6 Factors To Know! – FAQcats.com (2024)

FAQs

How high can a kitten jump? ›

How High or Far Can Cats Jump? Your average housecat can easily jump between 5 and 6 times their own height, routinely jumping vertically 6-8 feet – without a running start.

Can a kitten jump a 6 foot fence? ›

A healthy cat can leap over a fence that is between 6 feet and under. This implies that if you want to keep them safe inside your yard, you'll need a cat fence barrier. Keep in mind that cats' paws and claws have been developed to allow them to climb with ease.

What cat breed jumps the highest? ›

Meanwhile, Savannah cats are said to be able to jump over ten feet, and if you're wondering how high a Bengal cat can jump, they can leap as high as 8 feet.

How many inches can cats jump? ›

As a rule of thumb, it's thought that a cat can jump five to six times their height, but of course, a lot of this information remains anecdotal. With the average house cat, this means that, in theory, cats should be able to jump up around 50-70 inches or 130-180 centimeters.

How high is too high for a kitten? ›

Your cat's normal body temperature should be within 100.4º to 102.5º Fahrenheit. A fever in cats is characterized by a temperature of more than 102.5º F. If your cat's fever goes higher than 106º F your kitty is at serious risk of damage to their vital organs.

Is it okay for kittens to jump from high places? ›

Finally, cats can and are often injured in falls from high places, but not permanently. If a cat receives immediate, appropriate medical attention, most cases of high-rise syndrome have a 90% chance of survival.

What height is safe for kittens? ›

What is a safe height for an 8-week old kitten to fall from? Kittens like human babies tolerate falls better than adults. The surface they land on is as important as the height. As a general rule of thumb 3 to 5 times their height is safe.

What material can cats not climb? ›

The only fence types that challenge most cats are vinyl privacy fences since a cat's claws do not sink into them for climbing. Also, tall estate-type fences with metal pickets spaced only two inches apart tend to deter some climbing.

What is a female cat called? ›

A male cat is called a tom or tomcat (or a gib, if neutered). A female is called a queen (or sometimes a molly, if spayed). A juvenile cat is referred to as a kitten. In Early Modern English, the word kitten was interchangeable with the now-obsolete word catling.

What is the most feisty cat breed? ›

Siamese. The Siamese cat is known to be the most aggressive of all cat breeds, likely due to the breed's tendency to get very jealous of other pets. Siamese cats are needy and clingy, becoming very attached to their favorite human. And they don't want to share!

What is a cat lover called? ›

🐱 Cat lovers are called ailurophiles derived from the Greek word ailouros, which means "cat," and the suffix -phile, meaning "lover”.

Who jumps higher, cats or dogs? ›

The highest jump ever recorded for a dog was made by a greyhound, and it measured to be 1.9 meters or 6.3 feet. Now an average domestic cat can jump around 5 feet. And the stronger ones can jump higher than that. So, it's safe to say that cats are higher jumpers than dogs.

How high can cats fall without getting hurt? ›

Cats can survive falls from anywhere between 2-20 stories and even upwards. However, they can still sustain fractures and chest injuries from such falls. It isn't known exactly how far they can fall and survive, but their survival rate is over 90% when they fall from a height due to their amazing righting reflex.

How high can a kitten safely fall from? ›

Kittens like human babies tolerate falls better than adults. The surface they land on is as important as the height. As a general rule of thumb 3 to 5 times their height is safe. Beyond that it gets dicey.

Can a kitten survive a 2 story fall? ›

A cat usually survives a fall of up to three stories without serious injury. In a fall from a greater height, the tendency to land on all four feet usually holds true and leg fractures are common. As the cat hits the ground, the head is thrust downward and the chin hits first.

Can kittens get hurt from falling? ›

Even though cats usually land on their feet, they can still sustain injuries when they fall.

How do I know if my kitten is ok after a fall? ›

Tell-tale signs include limping or bleeding. The cat may cry out in pain. If you observe your cat to limp, make it lie still, and examine the injury, If the cat cries in pain when you touch it, take the animal to the veterinarian immediately. The injury would be just related to the impact if the bleeding stops.

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