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Entry 416Filed under Breeding

What to Do If Your Cat Falls From a Balcony

A cat can be seriously injured after a balcony fall without showing obvious signs. Call a vet immediately, minimize movement, and transport your cat for assessment.
3-minute read By Animalso Team
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Call a veterinarian or emergency veterinary hospital immediately if your cat falls from a balcony—even if the cat seems fine. Serious injuries may not be visible at first. If your cat is having trouble breathing, go to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital now.

What to do right after the fall

  1. Make the area safe and approach calmly. A frightened or injured cat may hide or struggle. Avoid chasing or startling them.
  2. Call your regular veterinarian or the nearest emergency clinic. Tell them that your cat fell, the approximate height if you know it, how the cat is breathing, and whether they can stand. Ask for transport instructions.
  3. Keep your cat quiet, warm, and as still as possible. Do not try to straighten a limb or conduct an examination that causes extra movement.
  4. Transport your cat promptly for veterinary assessment. Gently place them in a carrier if you can do so without forcing movement. If your cat cannot get up or a back injury is possible, keep them still and use a firm, flat support surface, such as a rigid board or baking sheet, to move them. Follow the clinic’s guidance.

Do not wait for symptoms to appear, and do not use the apparent height of the fall to decide that veterinary care is unnecessary. Blue Cross advises contacting a vet after a fall even when a cat appears unhurt because internal injuries may not be immediately obvious (Blue Cross: Emergencies in Cats).

When a fall is an emergency

Difficulty breathing—including open-mouth panting—needs immediate emergency veterinary care. Other concerning signs include:

  • Inability or reluctance to stand or walk
  • Limping, stiffness, or signs of pain
  • Unusual sleepiness, weakness, or collapse
  • Bleeding, or blood around the eyes, nose, or mouth
  • Vocalizing, difficulty eating, or a change in normal movement

Call ahead if you can do so without delaying emergency transport. A clinic can advise you how to move your cat and prepare for arrival.

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Why a cat who seems fine still needs a vet

Cats can have injuries that are difficult to spot at home. A fall may cause sprains, fractures, head trauma, or injuries to the chest or abdomen. Problems such as breathing difficulty or a hernia may also become apparent hours or days later. A cat that walks, plays, or settles down after the fall is not necessarily uninjured.

Only a veterinary team can assess what happened and decide whether examination, imaging, ultrasound, or blood tests are appropriate. These tests are not automatically needed for every cat; the clinician determines the workup based on the animal’s condition.

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What to watch for after veterinary assessment

Follow the clinic’s instructions and keep a close eye on your cat over the next several days. Contact the vet promptly if breathing, energy, appetite, movement, or elimination changes, or if new signs of pain or illness appear. If breathing becomes difficult, seek emergency care immediately. VCA notes that some fall-related problems can be delayed and recommends close monitoring (VCA: First Aid for Falls in Cats).

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How to prevent another fall

Use properly fitted, securely installed cat-safe screens on upper-floor windows, and do not let your cat onto an unprotected balcony unsupervised. Balcony netting may offer a physical barrier, but no screen or mesh is a universal guarantee. Before choosing or installing one, check that it fits the opening, is secure and durable, cannot be pushed through or easily climbed, and complies with building or lease rules. Blue Cross advises screening upper-floor windows and supervising balcony access (Blue Cross: Emergencies in Cats); Vet Emergency in London also recommends balcony protection (Vet Emergency in London: My cat has fallen from the balcony).

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