Last Updated: 3 months ago
Wondering what cat jumps the highest? Which cat breeds are the strongest, fastest, and best jumpers?
Cats may not be the largest breed of dog, but they’re always guaranteed to beat any larger breeds in a jumping competition.
Most cats have impressive jumping abilities, but some have a bit more spring in their steps.
So, how high can cats jump? We’re going to figure it out!
Which Cat Can Jump the Highest?
You probably already know that, like dogs, cats are often bred for specific purposes and features.
Some, for example, are bred for their athletic capabilities. They tend to have sleek bodies and muscular back legs, with the capacity to both jump high and run fast.
Such athletic feline breeds include:
Any of those breeds will certainly outdo other breeds in a jumping competition.
One particular cat, Waffle the Warrior, was awarded the Guinness World Record for the longest jump.
In 2018, Waffle jumped 7 feet (213.36 cm). What is even more incredible about that feat is that Waffle was past the prime age of 3-6 years, being 10 years old at the time.
Some breeds are also athletic despite being bulkier. Such bigger and bulkier breeds as the Maine Coon and Ragdoll will have a harder time jumping, but they can still outleap most dogs.
What Cat Breed is the Strongest AND Can Jump High?
You might be looking for a cat that’s both playful and strong. If you want the strongest cats, then look at the Egyptian Mau.
A truly magnificent cat breed, this feline has amazing power and strength, but can also be incredibly fast! Its top speed is 30 mph.
Because Egyptian Mau’s can run really fast, they’ll also be able to jump pretty high.
Furthermore, this type of cat is clever enough to understand how to turn a faucet and enjoys observing the surrounding environment while sitting on a high perch.
Egyptian Mau cats can be identified by their spots, green eye color, small body type, and short-to-moderate height.
Even though cats don’t enjoy water, they’re not afraid of it either.
How High Can an Average House Cat Jump?
Knowing which types of cats jump the highest and some fast ones, how do they stack up against an average one?
Domestic kittens can jump up to roughly 5 feet high.
That means dogs will jump up to six to eight feet (two to two and a half meters) high.
Humans have a 2.5-meter (8-foot) vertical jump ability.
You’re right; you can’t jump any higher than your tiny pet can. Luckily, you’ll still be able to jump high with your ordinary cat.
How can Cats Jump so High?
Jumpers’ amazing leaping abilities come from their ancestors having evolved for thousands of generations.
They were small but needed to be quick and agile to avoid predators while also being able to hunt prey for their food.
They were good at climbing and leaping from tall heights because they had to overcome their fear of falling. Their jumping power comes from their rear legs.
The spine and back muscles help strengthen a cat’s powerful back legs. Those long, thin limbs work like springs to catapult the cat’s whole body off the ground.
When flying high in the sky, cats use their flexible spines and strong back musculature to maintain balance.
Understandably, this leaping ability varies from one cat to the next. Factors that can affect jumping ability include: age, breed, sex, health, and status motivation
Your cat must jump high to achieve great things. Can you help with that? Get your cat to be active more often. Use your wiggling toy to play with your dog.
It’s fun for them, and it will give them some much-needed mental and physical enrichment.
At Which Age Can Cats Jump the Highest?
Jumpers tend to be good at athletics because they’re highly motivated by competition.
Cats’ agility increases as they age. Juvenile animals don’t reach full maturity until they’re several years old.
Below is a brief timeline of how that development was made:
- By seven months, kittens begin showing signs of adult movement.
- Cats aged 11–12 can balance themselves, turn their heads from side to side, and perform some basic cat behaviors.
- You need at least two weeks to learn how to properly place your limbs. They develop and grow throughout their first year of life.
- They may not be able to leap as high as cats, but they certainly can move around quite fast. At least they can if they’ve got four strong legs to help them along. A big body helps too. That’s why, although they weigh much less than cats, they can run faster and reach higher speeds. They’re also better at jumping. That’s because they have shorter legs and smaller bodies, so they can twist in mid-flight and make a perfect landing. Their agility means they’ll also be great at climbing trees and getting into trouble.
As for the bigger size of cats compared to the smaller size of their canine counterparts, they definitely win.
Maybe you’re wondering why dogs can’t jump as high despite having stronger legs than cats.
They’re different because they have different body shapes, but their abilities aren’t too different.
To be able to jump just as high as cats, dog muscles would likely require stronger leg muscles than ours.
Because they have a larger body mass than humans, their bones are proportionally thicker.
Jumping isn’t easy. If dogs were able to jump as high as felines, they would likely land awkwardly.
That’s because cats’ bodies are designed to be able to twist in midair and then come down safely, whereas dogs’ bodies aren’t built for that kind of movement.
Your dog may jump onto nearby objects. That’s why, compared to other animals, cats are so good at jumping.
Why are Cats Better at Jumping than Dogs?
Dogs can jump to about 1.40 to 1.54 meters (4.5 to 5 feet). Considering the bigger size of dogs, clearly, cats outdo dogs.
So, maybe you’re wondering why dogs can’t jump as high despite having more powerful limbs. The simple answer is that they have different body shapes and abilities.
To produce the same jumping heroics as felines, dogs would probably need far more powerful back legs.
That’s because dogs have a proportionately bigger body mass. The jumping technique is also an issue.
If dogs could jump as high as cats, they would likely land awkwardly. That’s because cats can twist in the air and land properly, something that dogs can’t do.
Your dog will probably also knock over nearby furniture when jumping. That’s why, unlike dogs, cats are superb at jumping.
What are your thoughts on how high can cats jump? How about the strongest? Share below!
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Ben is an animal lover, blogger, and all around geek. He divides his love equally between his family, his animals, and his video games. In his spare time he is attempting to get a blog off the ground. Boy, are they heavy!
