Here they come, a whole flood of wild floofs! The horde of kittens shall not be stopped, not even by a baby gate. (If you've ever cared for kittens, you will know from experience that baby gates hold them for maybe about a day, until they figure that leaping ability stuff out.) I hope their food bowls are full… those kittens look ready to nosh.
Cats are born leapers and a marvel of evolution. Your typical domestic housecat (they are all special, but I mean “typical” in the sort of general physical sense) can jump five to six time its height. For an average sized cat, that amounts to leaps of up to 6 feet! Cats are equipped with strong hind legs and a high muscle-to-body-size ratio. These back legs are situated at an angle so that the cat can crouch down before a leap, giving them a powerful spring-like force as they launch themselves forwards or upwards. They stretch their front legs out in the direction of movement so as to provide stability and extra reach, while their tails give them balance at the back end. Their claws help give them traction as they land and scramble forward.
A cat’s spinal column is quite flexible with extra cushioning and stretch between vertebrae. Its pelvis is only loosely connected to the spine, giving even more range of motion and ability to cushion landings. A cat will use its paws and whiskers to sense when it is close to surfaces, and their well-developed inner ear system allows them to right themselves quickly mid-leap.
All this innate ability makes safety-proofing your house for kittens a particular challenge. While kittens are still learning their physical skills and aren’t quite as adept as adults at jumping, they are keen to practice. Focusing their energies on purpose-based toys and cat furniture helps providers a safe outlet for their instincts. They will be attracted to shelves and surfaces at heights, so take care to put breakable or dangerous objects away and secure furniture like bookcases to walls as necessary to prevent tipping and injury.
Today’s video comes via Viral Hog, linked below.
Baby gates don't stop cats, but they stop Golden Retrievers as well as babies. My daughter and SIL have used a baby gate for years, to keep Ruby and Opal (the Goldens) out of the area where Luna's (the kitty) water, food, and litter box are. Don't worry, the litter box isn't near the food and water. Now that they have a baby, my granddaughter Lucy, they have another baby gate to keep her safe. Plus, it has aided her in pulling herself up from seated to standing!
Oooh, goldarn! 😃