Window, screen and balcony safety for cats

Why windows and balconies need a plan

An open window on a warm day feels harmless, and many cats love to sit beside one. The ASPCA’s article High-Rise Syndrome: Lifesaving Tips for Cat Parents explains that veterinarians use the name “high-rise syndrome” for injuries from falls, and that most cats who fall do so accidentally, from windows, terraces and fire escapes. The ASPCA says falls can happen when a cat focuses hard on something nearby, such as a bird, and that window ledges can be hard to grip.

International Cat Care adds that owners often report their cat was playing with another cat, walking along a window or balcony ledge, or chasing birds and butterflies when it fell. It notes that the problem is more common in warmer climates where windows are left open, and that on a hot day it is easy to leave a window or balcony door open without thinking.

• Low floors count. The ASPCA says cats in one- or two-story buildings are still at risk. The Animal Medical Center in New York notes that cats may also be injured falling from a second floor landing.
• Young and older cats. International Cat Care says most injured cats are young, many under a year old. Both it and the Animal Medical Center note that older or less agile cats may not be able to right themselves in time.
• Any season. The Animal Medical Center says falls are seen more often in warmer weather but can happen any time a window or balcony door is left open.

Our indoor cat enrichment guide covers window perches and giving a cat a good view. This guide is about the opening itself.

Check that every screen is snug and sturdy

The ASPCA’s main advice is to install snug and sturdy screens in all your windows. If you have adjustable screens, it says to make sure they are tightly wedged into the window frames. The Animal Medical Center also advises keeping window screens tightly in place, and closing windows that do not have screens.

One point surprises many households. The ASPCA warns against relying on childproof window guards to protect pets, because cats can slip through them. A guard that keeps a toddler safe may still leave a gap a cat can use.

Look at each screen when the windows first open in spring, since screens get taken out for cleaning and put back in a hurry. If one looks loose, torn or does not sit flush, keep that window closed until it is fixed.

Open each window only as far as is safe

Sometimes the safest screen is a window that does not open very far. International Cat Care suggests making open windows safer with limiters that let the window open only a certain amount. It also warns that cats, and kittens in particular, can squeeze through very small spaces or get stuck trying, so the gap matters more than the device.

• Move the climbing route. International Cat Care suggests moving any furniture that would let your cat reach higher open windows. A bookcase or sofa back can turn a high window into a reachable one.
• Cover the opening. It also suggests mesh or barriers over open windows, which allow the window to open fully and stay safe.
• Decide in advance. Agree as a household which windows may open, and how far, so nobody has to judge it on a hot afternoon.

Keep the balcony closed unless it is cat-proofed

The Animal Medical Center’s advice is direct: keep pets off open balconies and keep balcony doors tightly shut at all times. It also suggests not feeding birds on your balcony, since birds draw a cat’s attention toward the edge, and mentions a screened enclosure, sometimes called a catio, as a safe place for a cat to spend time outdoors.

International Cat Care agrees that a balcony can give an indoor cat valuable extra space and stimulation, but says it must be completely cat-proof too. It suggests balcony safety nets and meshes, and reminds owners about the small gaps cats can squeeze through.

A simple household rule follows from both sources. The balcony is off-limits to the cat unless it has been fully cat-proofed, and even then the cat goes out only while someone is at home and paying attention. The rest of the time, the balcony door stays shut.

Make a window-by-window check record

This is an original Housemates exercise. It takes about twenty minutes with a notebook, and it is worth repeating each spring and whenever you move home.

1. List every opening. Walk room by room and write down each window, balcony door and any other opening a cat could reach, including bathrooms and closets with windows.
2. Note what covers it. Beside each one, write screen, mesh, limiter, nothing, or does not open.
3. Check the fit. For each screen, note whether it sits snugly in its frame, using the ASPCA’s snug-and-sturdy test as your guide. Write loose, torn or snug.
4. Write the household rule. For example, open fully, open to the limiter only, or keep closed. Mark balcony doors closed unless the balcony is enclosed.
5. Find the climbing routes. Note any furniture that lets the cat reach a window it could not reach from the floor.
6. Circle the follow-ups. Anything loose, torn, uncovered or reachable gets a circle and stays closed until it is sorted.

Keep the record somewhere a pet sitter can find it. It is a note about your home, not a safety rating or a check that any screen or fixture is strong enough.

If your cat falls

The ASPCA says a fallen cat should be found immediately and taken to the nearest animal hospital or family veterinarian. It reports that high-rise victims who receive immediate and proper medical attention have a 90% survival rate, and notes that a cat that lands somewhere unfamiliar may be anxious and fearful.

International Cat Care says falls from a height usually need emergency treatment, and that even if your cat seems unhurt, you should always contact your veterinary team for advice. The Animal Medical Center explains why: a cat that has fallen from any significant height may have serious injuries that are not obvious to you, and it advises taking her to a veterinary emergency room immediately.

Keep your vet’s number and the nearest emergency clinic on your check record. Our household emergency plan guide has a page for those contacts.

What this guide does not do

This guide is a household planning aid. It does not approve any screen, mesh, limiter, net or installation, and Housemates has not tested or certified any product. If you are unsure whether a fixture will hold, ask the manufacturer, your landlord or a qualified installer, and keep the window closed in the meantime. For any question about an injured cat, call your veterinarian.