you should use either netting or some form of chicken wire, and staple/attach it all around the base of the patio. then you can potentially add supports beams above the railing so you can cover that too.
I absolutely would not let a sphynx on a balcony. They do not have whiskers and are much more clumsy and less coordinated than a regular cat, which would still be questionable to let onto a balcony.
If the balconies can't be kitty proofed the neighbors are risking their cats succumbing to high-rise syndrome. Even if the cats are usually smart enough to realize they shouldn't attempt a 9-story jump, they might fixate on something in the distance that triggers their pounce instinct and makes them forget.
So many of us have had our pets pass away š please a moment of silence for the ones who loved us when we didnāt love ourselves or have love for others.
Retired vet here - in cities it happens often enough there is a name for the outcome of a long fall by a cat off a tall building it is called āhigh rise syndromeā. Many years ago someone even published a paper on the terminal velocity of a falling cat. Donāt let them out on a balcony.
I used to live in a high rise apartment on the 6th floor and my dipshit found a way around/under the netting, jumped to the next balcony over and walked ON THE OUTSIDE. He had zero sense of fear, and was trying to get to the next balcony, two over from mine. The high blood pressure was not worth it. He was never allowed outside again until we moved to our house.
[photo of my rude ass cat being fearless](https://imgur.com/a/9NzI7Xr)
I have never been so scared in my life! Heās soooo dumpy too for a cat š this boy canāt even jump on the dining room window ledge without a chair to help, so Iām still shocked he made it over.
Omg. I would be soooooo scared if that was my baby especially a Sphynx. They are too precious and fearless and they Seam so friendly and like they would have zero survival instincts.
I'm soooooooo glad you're baby's ok. God was looking out for your baby. šš»
Omg omg omgā¦.my stomach turned just looking at your picture! ššš I canāt believe your cat was on the opposite side of the railing. š³š³
I think just seeing that picture took a few years off my life! Heās lucky he made it out of that alive. By which I mean heās lucky you didnāt cook his ass for dinner when he got back inside.
Oh my GOODNESS. I read the link name but I was just expecting a picture of your cat being rude and fearless in another scenario lmfao. What a little daredevil rude boy
Thanx everyone for the input. Iāve been overly cautious about not letting them out. Rosie has a blu sister who is completely uninterested in outside. Iāll keep the leash thing
[outdoor cat enclosure](https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/CC00179A-F45C-4E96-9661-A43CD6C0A427?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_ast_store_K4G42728XJR9FGJJXZ6A)
Can you try one of these? I use them camping and in the backyard to protect from large birds and coyotes in my area.
The pawed babies I care for feel very comfortable in these.
Edited to add; the domed one is tall enough for a 1ā cat tree (to get them off the floor), and still has enough room for a litter box, water food and still room to move. The tall one has space for a litter box underneath the āshelvesā. My cat loves them both because it means she can come outside with me or without
Edit #2; adding one cat I sit for has the tube. Crio will roll herself to whatever point in the yard she wants. If you got several and connected them your baby could have a long run. If just one tube then they can roll it along the balcony to where they want to be.
First of all that's a beautiful friend you've got there.
I would not suggest allowing this to happen. Mine, when he was young, used to routinely fall off a 2nd story balcony into the garden. It was a regular occurrence and we disabled his access to any such area in order to avoid this. Such falls can be fatal.
What an angel! It would be helpful if you added a picture of what the balcony looks like. Ideally youād need to secure it with nets, as sphynx are very curious and clever, but also clumsy. Mine go onto the terrace, but itās nowhere near as high up. I suppose if you have space, you could also build a catio (see Jackson Galaxy for advice)
I had a cat try and jump from my balcony to the next door neighbor's at a 90Ā° and miss. Five stories on to concrete. She survived with some bruising and a couple of broken teeth.
Personally, I'd never risk it without getting a cat net to enclose the patio. If you can get dimensions you can find an enclosure/net suitable for her.
Jeesh! I guess I would completely enclose it and then have her on a harness and teether. That's pretty far up and don't anticipate her surviving if she fell.
As a vet student and a cat owner myself, I wouldn't advise it. Even if you install a Catio or use some other kind of enclosure, I would only allow her onto the balcony when you are there there supervise her. I know it's hard to see them upset but it only takes a second for something bad to happen and I guarantee you your kitty will be a lot happier inside the house or in a little playpen with a roof on it than ending up the victim of an accident.
Our balcony is only on the second floor. I have 3 2 year old cats and they've never tried to jump. I have heard horror stories though. If there is anyway you can cat proof I would.
I don't even like seeing my sphynxes walking across the upstairs bannister railing (max fall would be straight to bottom of stair case). No chance in hell I'm risking a multi floor fall.
I would second the notion of getting or building a large rectangular catio. If your balcony has a sliding door, you might even be able to connect the catio entrance to just one side of the door, whereas the other direction of slide leads out to full balcony access.
She is so gorgeous!
If you can't proof it, I wouldn't let her out there. I've heard of too many cats falling from balconies. I can't proof mine, but we have a mosquito net door, so our cat can enjoy the sun and the breeze without going outside, maybe that's an option?
I'm not too experienced as I've never lived anywhere with a balcony but I sometimes babysit my uncle and aunt's cat while they're away and they have an apartment with a balcony. Their cat just sits there and watches the birds and has only ever jumped off once, thankfully only from the second floor and was not injured. He learned his lesson after that. Could you try picking her up and carrying her outside to start with so that she still gets the enjoyment of being outside?
I also forgot to add your balcony should be cat proofed as much as possible before letting her go out. Even with a huge balcony, there are different things you can get that will give that extra protection in case anything happens.
Not unsupervised or you can cat-proof it. I live in the 7th floor and our landlord had installed a mesh to prevent our cat from getting between the rungs and into the ledge and neighbors side, but she is only allowed out there unless I am around.
Not unsupervised or you can cat-proof it. I live in the 7th floor and our landlord had installed a mesh to prevent our cat from getting between the rungs and into the ledge and neighbors side, but she is only allowed out there unless I am around.
i would kitty proof your balcony with floor to ceiling netting, reinforcing the railing, blocking the gaps, etc, or even adding room dividers in front of the netting so your little one can BE outside but not SEE outside. even with all this, i would never leave her unattended for long out there. cats are too curious for their own good!
If you have a big enough balcony, maybe a cat enclosure/tent. They have zippers to seal the tent and that way your cat can get fresh air and sun and still be in a contained environment.
My exās dad used to let his cat on his apartment balcony, thinking his cat wouldnāt attempt to jump down (it was quite a few floors up), he didnāt cat proof it. The cat jumped off on 2 different occasions and each time was lost for several days. He assumed it landed in one of the large willow trees below, as the cat was miraculously fine when checked at the vet. He turned the balcony it into a catio and installed netting and such after that to make sure the cat could not jump off again. My advice would be not to risk it and catify/ cat proof the balcony first. Your sphinx is beautiful btw ā¤ļø.
Well, one of my cats jumped out of my 8th floor apartment at the time (her litter box was in the balcony and she was too small to jump off.. well in hindsight she was in fact too curious for her own good and we think jumped on a nearby stool and maybe chased a bird down or something)ā¦ came home to her cold body at 3 AM and dug a little grave for her all after a night outā¦ needless to say, it was an EXTREMELY uneasy and quite unpleasant experienceā¦ either supervise or just donātā¦ walks are just as great! Rip toast ššš
NEVER let the cat on the balcony without supervision unless it is wrapped by net. End of story. But itās cheap to do that and itās easily removable if you rent as well.
Wow, she's gorgeous!! Our Sphynx only goes outside if me or my husband are there to supervise. We live in a house with a front and backyard, but she's a little chicken (a roasted one, obviously) and will try to run back inside at any loud noise.
As someone who worked in animal shelters, not worth the risk unless it's completely sealed and safe. You do not want to scrape your cat off the pavement below
I would say no. A couple of weeks ago I saw a sad post about someone whose cat was spooked off a high rise and died from the fall. I think they believe a predatory bird could have tried to snatch the cat. The cat wasn't supposed to be on the balcony though, a guest did not close the balcony door.
Maybe you can set up a catio.
I wouldnāt unless you can completely screen it in. My brotherās (very unathletic) cat jumped from a second floor balcony and hurt himself. Heās ok now - just sprained his back - but if he had jumped from higher it could have been a different story.
I let my cat on a significantly shorter balcony, and I either put her harness on her and hold on to it at all times so she doesn't get too close to the edge enough to drop off, and I keep a very close eye on her. Depends on how much you trust your cat
Depends on the balcony but probably not without taking some preventative measures. She might not fall but she could end up in someone elseās balcony. Also cat do fall sometimes and they do get hurt
All cats are special, but... A sphinx is often a huge investment. I have a 15 year old rescue cat who is a biter š¤£ and we only take her out in a screened in stroller. Her safety is paramount, and my responsibility. I would NEVER risk my kitty on a patio, and I truly hope you don't risk that gorgeous kitty on one, either. I know it's hard to say no to those beautiful eyes, but this is a safety issue, not a kindness issue. ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø
She's beautiful and too precious to let out on the balcony from the videos I've seen Sphynx's jump really high and are fearless and sweet and don't have the survival instincts other breeds do. Please keep her strictly indoors I didn't want anything bad to happen to your precious baby. šš»
Reading comments and my own gut feeling, No please do not let her out there. You need a cadio for her.
[Something like this...](https://catiospaces.com/catios-cat-enclosures/)
i saw a pic somewhere on the internet where the owner bought a cat sweater and modified it with like pool floaties or something to make it too big to pass through the bars of her balcony. if she jumps on the railing tho the width sweater would only be solving half the problem.
Only if it's cat proofed, you don't want her jumping or slipping. Since it's a Sphynx id definitely not in my opinion. Not sure if you bought her from a breeder but if you did I wouldn't risk it since they are quite expensive. š¤·š¼āāļø
I know my cat is not the smartest, but I really didnāt expect her to jump off the 4th story balcony. Well she did. Sheās okay, thank god, but it scared the hell out of me. Needless to say I wonāt let her on the balcony unsupervised again. (Unsupervised meaning I walked away for ONE MINUTE š„²)
Not unless itās completely enclosed and cat proof. Iāve heard terrible stories from cats going off balconies much, much lower. No way would I let my baby out there. OMG
Only with properly installed netting! My kitty after 6 years of āporch timeā the first 3 being monitored he jumped and or fell from the third story balcony (heās ok) but important to take preventative measures
I would put chicken wire all along it (has bigger gaps so bugs can still come ināmy cat loves bugs) but the cat canāt accidentally fall. Iām on the ground floor and rescued a cat that had come down from a 4th floor balcony. Seems like cats would be smart enough to be safe but apparently not.
One of my cats fell out of our 26th floor window. It was heartbreaking.
I'd make sure there's exactly zero way for her to get to any unprotected place.
Personally I let my cat have balcony access but she's old and very relaxed, and she only has supervised access - as in there's no cat door and so she's only allowed out with someone there to let her out and watch her until she comes in.
Some things you need to consider-
Are there any gaps under the balcony siding that she could get stuck in or wiggle under. If so, you need to cover these.
Is there anything she could climb up on that would allow her to see over the railing or potentially jump over the railing? If so that needs to be removed.
Is the railing high enough that they can't just leap straight over it in one go (ie. before you can stop them). If it's not, it may not be appropriate for you without significant modifications.
Is your cat prone to silly behaviour like falling off things or climbing into dangerous situations? If so, it might not be right for your cat.
I would not ever let them out at night because they are often more confident to do silly things in the dark.
If you aren't 100% about any of those questions, I'd strongly suggest setting up a catio instead. Personally my girl just lays on the stones and enjoys the sun, and the railing is about the height of my head so there's no chance of her getting over it especially with me supervising. If I had a kitten or a cat I knew was more adventurous, I absolutely wouldn't let them out there.
Cats absolutely do get hurt as a result of balconies so you need to really consider your situation in detail and make sure you aren't putting your kitty in danger, but it sometimes can be done.
hi, i just got an apartment with a balcony that my cat wants to go on! i have installed netting along the bottom where the railing is so he canāt fall through :) i am also adding mosquito netting that will go top to bottom
My cat jumped off a 2 story roof, 4th floor balcony, and into the garbage shoot of a 17th floor highrise. He was ok each time but good grief you should prolly cat proof it ( mine was a bengal and he lived to 14)
You have a beautiful baby. As the others have mentioned here, I would never take a chance on some kind of freak accident happening. These babies already have the odds stacked against them. A harness or something is best.
Invest in some big curtains, try not to let the cat see it as much maybe the desire will pass? Saying this as an owner of 2 indoor kitties myself āŗļø
Don't do it... There was a story that still sticks with me on our local FB page about a lady missing her Himalayan and the only way she could have gotten out was off the balcony... She searched for days and we were all hoping for the best especially since it was only like 3 stories up...Well unfortunately she updated that a lady had reached out to her that she found her in the alley after having fallen and she put her in her lap and sat with her as she passed, it was obvious she wasn't going to make it, she was an older girl š„¹šthe lady had thought she was a stray and took her home with her to bury her šš„¹š story has stuck with me for years šš„¹
I wouldn't unless you had an outdoor cat space. She could be very elegant and well-balanced, but accidents do happen. Building a cat place on the balcony would help.
My cat loved being on the balcony in our first apartment on the 18th floor. My then girlfriend was coming out of the shower while I was at work and saw him hanging off the railing like Gandalf (think 'fly you fools!'). She ran out and grabbed him before his strength gave out and lost her towel along the way. Flashed all the other appts but got him safely.
We then got him a harness. One day she found him hanging off the balcony, swinging in the harness.
I wouldn't take any chances is what I'm saying. Cats are curious and you never really know what they might try and pull.
Can you somehow block balcony so she can't fall or jump off? Chicken wire or trellis maybe... Or use a harness and lead you can hold or secure indoors? Or take out for walks as I do with mine. (at 4am and 10pm cos no humans or traffic which terrifies her!) mine became indoor as I moved to 19th floor no balcony but she stood at the open window to enjoy fresh air n the smells. Only you know if she wants to just be outside or wants to roam. Mine fell from 4th floor and was fine as she landed in grass after sneaking out but I think that's probably the safest height at or below tree level.
Just saw a post about someone letting their cat on the balcony. I would do everything you can to make sure your cat is safe and cannot fall. Iāve even seen people put tennis balls on harnesses so they canāt get through the bars.
https://www.reddit.com/r/cats/s/FrT6pCI3PP
She could use the harness and leash, says he gets tangled, but seems like the best option still. Have to make sure the harness is snug fit though so he doesn't escape it when excited/distracted/scared
Id sphynx/idiot proofed ut before id let her out. ive installed a safetynet top to bottom for my boy, since hes a curious idiotš
I canāt seem to add a picture?? Itās huge.
maybe build a catio
you should use either netting or some form of chicken wire, and staple/attach it all around the base of the patio. then you can potentially add supports beams above the railing so you can cover that too. I absolutely would not let a sphynx on a balcony. They do not have whiskers and are much more clumsy and less coordinated than a regular cat, which would still be questionable to let onto a balcony.
You just made me realize sphynx donāt have whiskers
mine is the klutziest kitty ever lol
Yeah. They sell cheap mesh that you can put up to keep them from falling. Hopefully she doesnāt like to jump on railings.
If the balconies can't be kitty proofed the neighbors are risking their cats succumbing to high-rise syndrome. Even if the cats are usually smart enough to realize they shouldn't attempt a 9-story jump, they might fixate on something in the distance that triggers their pounce instinct and makes them forget.
Omg. This made my insides twitch. Thanks for this comment.
A vet told me she sees loads of cat injuries/deaths from balconies. I wouldnāt risk it. Maybe if sheād tolerate a leash?
Friends cat hung itself with just a collar š¢
So many of us have had our pets pass away š please a moment of silence for the ones who loved us when we didnāt love ourselves or have love for others.
I see leashes normally used with harnesses with cats. Still too risky to let the cat out though.
Retired vet here - in cities it happens often enough there is a name for the outcome of a long fall by a cat off a tall building it is called āhigh rise syndromeā. Many years ago someone even published a paper on the terminal velocity of a falling cat. Donāt let them out on a balcony.
Unless you can fully cat proof it with nets/chicken wire etc I would not risk it at all.
This is the right way. Iād never let out without ant netting.
My partner is convinced cats can float like flying squirrels but Iām not š I wouldnāt be able to chill at all.
Your partner is a big dum dum.
Oh I told him as much š¤£
I used to live in a high rise apartment on the 6th floor and my dipshit found a way around/under the netting, jumped to the next balcony over and walked ON THE OUTSIDE. He had zero sense of fear, and was trying to get to the next balcony, two over from mine. The high blood pressure was not worth it. He was never allowed outside again until we moved to our house. [photo of my rude ass cat being fearless](https://imgur.com/a/9NzI7Xr)
My soul would leave my body if my little dumbass pulled something like that š±
Oh my god that picture made me so nervous!!!
I have never been so scared in my life! Heās soooo dumpy too for a cat š this boy canāt even jump on the dining room window ledge without a chair to help, so Iām still shocked he made it over.
i would actually pass away š i once accidentally shut my orange boy in the garage for a few minutes and i was absolutely frantic looking for him
That is terrifying. My condolences you had to go through that
absolute goblin behavior
Goblin Demon sent from Caves of Anxiety, under Heart-attack Mountain
goblin temporarily became a gargoyle
I would have literally diedā¦ the second I noticed him lol
I damn near FAINTED. I was trying to stay calm and not panic so I wouldnāt startle him or make him try to come back. I swear I died that day š
FOR REAL. He would NEVER be allowed out there again. You know heād do it again lol
Omg. I would be soooooo scared if that was my baby especially a Sphynx. They are too precious and fearless and they Seam so friendly and like they would have zero survival instincts. I'm soooooooo glad you're baby's ok. God was looking out for your baby. šš»
Omg this made me physically sick, you are superhuman to have been able to handle that.
I would have died. Scared shitless. Iām so glad heās ok
š±š±š±my pet rat did that onceāescaped to the outside of the balcony Nearly fell off trying to scoop him back up to safety. Never again.
My heart is beating so fast even reading this. š±
Omg omg omgā¦.my stomach turned just looking at your picture! ššš I canāt believe your cat was on the opposite side of the railing. š³š³
My legs just went weak from looking at that photo. Thatās terrifying!
Holy shit !!!!
I think just seeing that picture took a few years off my life! Heās lucky he made it out of that alive. By which I mean heās lucky you didnāt cook his ass for dinner when he got back inside.
Oh my GOODNESS. I read the link name but I was just expecting a picture of your cat being rude and fearless in another scenario lmfao. What a little daredevil rude boy
I've never seen such snowy pale sphynx but she looks amazing š
She has a cover of short white fur and whiskers! A full furry tail. But itās also a lighting effect
Thanx everyone for the input. Iāve been overly cautious about not letting them out. Rosie has a blu sister who is completely uninterested in outside. Iāll keep the leash thing
Unrelated but Rosie is GORGEOUS!!! Iām looking for a sphynx with her exact looks. Could you comment on what breeder you went through to find her?:)
[outdoor cat enclosure](https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/CC00179A-F45C-4E96-9661-A43CD6C0A427?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_ast_store_K4G42728XJR9FGJJXZ6A) Can you try one of these? I use them camping and in the backyard to protect from large birds and coyotes in my area. The pawed babies I care for feel very comfortable in these. Edited to add; the domed one is tall enough for a 1ā cat tree (to get them off the floor), and still has enough room for a litter box, water food and still room to move. The tall one has space for a litter box underneath the āshelvesā. My cat loves them both because it means she can come outside with me or without Edit #2; adding one cat I sit for has the tube. Crio will roll herself to whatever point in the yard she wants. If you got several and connected them your baby could have a long run. If just one tube then they can roll it along the balcony to where they want to be.
I donāt have any advice but that is a pretty cat
Donāt risk it
First of all that's a beautiful friend you've got there. I would not suggest allowing this to happen. Mine, when he was young, used to routinely fall off a 2nd story balcony into the garden. It was a regular occurrence and we disabled his access to any such area in order to avoid this. Such falls can be fatal.
What an angel! It would be helpful if you added a picture of what the balcony looks like. Ideally youād need to secure it with nets, as sphynx are very curious and clever, but also clumsy. Mine go onto the terrace, but itās nowhere near as high up. I suppose if you have space, you could also build a catio (see Jackson Galaxy for advice)
I had a cat try and jump from my balcony to the next door neighbor's at a 90Ā° and miss. Five stories on to concrete. She survived with some bruising and a couple of broken teeth.
Do the wiffle ball sewn to a harness trick I saw on Instagram
Link?
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.tiktok.com/%40socaljack.music/video/7149713815511272746%3Flang%3Den&ved=2ahUKEwjW1cDa29iGAxWQJ0QIHQOnBd0QwqsBegQIFBAF&usg=AOvVaw3W11Z0sQ0HusY3a2vrNt6S
NO!
Personally, I'd never risk it without getting a cat net to enclose the patio. If you can get dimensions you can find an enclosure/net suitable for her.
Jeesh! I guess I would completely enclose it and then have her on a harness and teether. That's pretty far up and don't anticipate her surviving if she fell.
As a vet student and a cat owner myself, I wouldn't advise it. Even if you install a Catio or use some other kind of enclosure, I would only allow her onto the balcony when you are there there supervise her. I know it's hard to see them upset but it only takes a second for something bad to happen and I guarantee you your kitty will be a lot happier inside the house or in a little playpen with a roof on it than ending up the victim of an accident.
I do have a harness and leash
That's excellent :) I would still get some kind of netting and have her supervised on the leash :)
Btw your baby is gorgeous!
Not worth it. Keep her inside.
Our balcony is only on the second floor. I have 3 2 year old cats and they've never tried to jump. I have heard horror stories though. If there is anyway you can cat proof I would.
i take my cat on the balcony with her harness/leash on, so iād suggest doing that or using a cat net/tent. too much risk otherwise
i let my cats out in my yard on a harness and lead. maybe try that with a leash short enough that the kitty canāt get past the fencing?
No.
No
NO
I don't even like seeing my sphynxes walking across the upstairs bannister railing (max fall would be straight to bottom of stair case). No chance in hell I'm risking a multi floor fall. I would second the notion of getting or building a large rectangular catio. If your balcony has a sliding door, you might even be able to connect the catio entrance to just one side of the door, whereas the other direction of slide leads out to full balcony access.
She is so gorgeous! If you can't proof it, I wouldn't let her out there. I've heard of too many cats falling from balconies. I can't proof mine, but we have a mosquito net door, so our cat can enjoy the sun and the breeze without going outside, maybe that's an option?
Have you really heard of cats falling from balconies? Yikes
Yes. My bf had a cat die like this, so we are very careful now. They are just too curious and will jump trying to catch a bird or an insect.
I have nothing to add except that that is one beautiful kitty. She looks like she belongs in a fairytale or something
ABSOLUTELY NOT
Sheās beautiful š±
you better not let that sweet little beautiful angel anywhere near the outdoors!!!š»š»
No
No way! Mine is a clutz Iād be so scared
My kitty fell off the stairs before, luckily into laundry. Would absolutely not trust her on a balcony.
Thanks all! That seals the dilemma!! Harness it is
I'm not too experienced as I've never lived anywhere with a balcony but I sometimes babysit my uncle and aunt's cat while they're away and they have an apartment with a balcony. Their cat just sits there and watches the birds and has only ever jumped off once, thankfully only from the second floor and was not injured. He learned his lesson after that. Could you try picking her up and carrying her outside to start with so that she still gets the enjoyment of being outside?
I also forgot to add your balcony should be cat proofed as much as possible before letting her go out. Even with a huge balcony, there are different things you can get that will give that extra protection in case anything happens.
shes magnificent whatt
She is soooo cute and white!
Not unsupervised or you can cat-proof it. I live in the 7th floor and our landlord had installed a mesh to prevent our cat from getting between the rungs and into the ledge and neighbors side, but she is only allowed out there unless I am around.
Not unsupervised or you can cat-proof it. I live in the 7th floor and our landlord had installed a mesh to prevent our cat from getting between the rungs and into the ledge and neighbors side, but she is only allowed out there unless I am around.
I canāt have any structure for the cats (Rosie has a blue sister very uninterested in outside) on my condo patio because of all the rules
i would kitty proof your balcony with floor to ceiling netting, reinforcing the railing, blocking the gaps, etc, or even adding room dividers in front of the netting so your little one can BE outside but not SEE outside. even with all this, i would never leave her unattended for long out there. cats are too curious for their own good!
Yup canāt do that here per condo rules
I would consider a catio since your balcony is large and may be difficult to cover in some kind of netting. I've been considering getting one for my cats. Been looking on Amazon and they are not highly priced. Also, your cat is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. š©µ
We are not allowed catios on the balcony
Her coloring is gorgeous
No. Absolutely not. You need to send her over to me because she's adorable.
What a cutie ā¤
If you have a big enough balcony, maybe a cat enclosure/tent. They have zippers to seal the tent and that way your cat can get fresh air and sun and still be in a contained environment.
No. And she is gorgeous
My exās dad used to let his cat on his apartment balcony, thinking his cat wouldnāt attempt to jump down (it was quite a few floors up), he didnāt cat proof it. The cat jumped off on 2 different occasions and each time was lost for several days. He assumed it landed in one of the large willow trees below, as the cat was miraculously fine when checked at the vet. He turned the balcony it into a catio and installed netting and such after that to make sure the cat could not jump off again. My advice would be not to risk it and catify/ cat proof the balcony first. Your sphinx is beautiful btw ā¤ļø.
Check out catnamedpawl on Instagram. His dad has a wiffle ball vest made for him that you might be able to work into your arsenal of cat proofing.
I had a cat die from a fourth floor balcony fall. I wouldnāt risk it.
Oh so sad
fk no
Not even a cat owner but thatās a beautiful cat
https://www.reddit.com/r/cats/s/9i3EaNE3W1
Well, one of my cats jumped out of my 8th floor apartment at the time (her litter box was in the balcony and she was too small to jump off.. well in hindsight she was in fact too curious for her own good and we think jumped on a nearby stool and maybe chased a bird down or something)ā¦ came home to her cold body at 3 AM and dug a little grave for her all after a night outā¦ needless to say, it was an EXTREMELY uneasy and quite unpleasant experienceā¦ either supervise or just donātā¦ walks are just as great! Rip toast ššš
š¢
NEVER let the cat on the balcony without supervision unless it is wrapped by net. End of story. But itās cheap to do that and itās easily removable if you rent as well.
Prettiest sphynx cat ever.
No please no
Wow, she's gorgeous!! Our Sphynx only goes outside if me or my husband are there to supervise. We live in a house with a front and backyard, but she's a little chicken (a roasted one, obviously) and will try to run back inside at any loud noise.
As someone who worked in animal shelters, not worth the risk unless it's completely sealed and safe. You do not want to scrape your cat off the pavement below
I thought she was sitting on a pillow until I saw the concrete grippers š
Sheās n my bed
I would say no. A couple of weeks ago I saw a sad post about someone whose cat was spooked off a high rise and died from the fall. I think they believe a predatory bird could have tried to snatch the cat. The cat wasn't supposed to be on the balcony though, a guest did not close the balcony door. Maybe you can set up a catio.
I wouldnāt unless you can completely screen it in. My brotherās (very unathletic) cat jumped from a second floor balcony and hurt himself. Heās ok now - just sprained his back - but if he had jumped from higher it could have been a different story.
If you have to ask, itās probably a no
I let my cat on a significantly shorter balcony, and I either put her harness on her and hold on to it at all times so she doesn't get too close to the edge enough to drop off, and I keep a very close eye on her. Depends on how much you trust your cat
Depends on the balcony but probably not without taking some preventative measures. She might not fall but she could end up in someone elseās balcony. Also cat do fall sometimes and they do get hurt
Hell no!
9th floor will be higher than 35ft and likely a fatal fall, I wouldnt
If you canāt cat-proof it, buy a catio from Amazon that kitty can access through the door to the balcony and then it can get fresh air safely.
not unless you cage it in or want to live in stress that kitty may jump in the wrong direction.
Is there any way you can put up a screen or something that would keep her from being able to jump/roll off?
Nooo. She is too beautiful, I wouldnāt take the risk. Her curiosity could lead to an accident.
Only if it's screened in
All cats are special, but... A sphinx is often a huge investment. I have a 15 year old rescue cat who is a biter š¤£ and we only take her out in a screened in stroller. Her safety is paramount, and my responsibility. I would NEVER risk my kitty on a patio, and I truly hope you don't risk that gorgeous kitty on one, either. I know it's hard to say no to those beautiful eyes, but this is a safety issue, not a kindness issue. ā¤ļøā¤ļøā¤ļø
She's beautiful and too precious to let out on the balcony from the videos I've seen Sphynx's jump really high and are fearless and sweet and don't have the survival instincts other breeds do. Please keep her strictly indoors I didn't want anything bad to happen to your precious baby. šš»
Please donāt let her on your balcony, if she doesnāt fall, a bird or owl could grab her.
Reading comments and my own gut feeling, No please do not let her out there. You need a cadio for her. [Something like this...](https://catiospaces.com/catios-cat-enclosures/)
Nooo it's dangerous. Keep your baby safe. Accidents happen.
i saw a pic somewhere on the internet where the owner bought a cat sweater and modified it with like pool floaties or something to make it too big to pass through the bars of her balcony. if she jumps on the railing tho the width sweater would only be solving half the problem.
Only if it's cat proofed, you don't want her jumping or slipping. Since it's a Sphynx id definitely not in my opinion. Not sure if you bought her from a breeder but if you did I wouldn't risk it since they are quite expensive. š¤·š¼āāļø
Donāt let Rosie on the balcony. Donāt risk it. She could fall and die otherwise. Leave her inside
Sheās gorgeous! I would put a sheer or acrylic panel going around the inside of the balcony.
hecks no
My brother lost two cats that way š
My cousins cat died from falling off of a balcony, so my opinion is absolutely not unless it can be closed in/cat-proofed with 100% certainty
No
shes gorgeous!!! where did you get her from? o\_o
From my daughter and son in law in Maryland. They have one (the aunt) almost identical. Rosie has a blue sister very uninterested in the balcony
r/sneakybackgroundfeet
God bless you and your sphinx
I know my cat is not the smartest, but I really didnāt expect her to jump off the 4th story balcony. Well she did. Sheās okay, thank god, but it scared the hell out of me. Needless to say I wonāt let her on the balcony unsupervised again. (Unsupervised meaning I walked away for ONE MINUTE š„²)
Not unless itās completely enclosed and cat proof. Iāve heard terrible stories from cats going off balconies much, much lower. No way would I let my baby out there. OMG
I let a cat out on a 5th floor balcony - walked away for a second and came back and he was hanging on the outside of the railing. Never again.
No it could be the end of her life. There was one on here a few days ago fell seven stories...
š
Only with properly installed netting! My kitty after 6 years of āporch timeā the first 3 being monitored he jumped and or fell from the third story balcony (heās ok) but important to take preventative measures
I would put chicken wire all along it (has bigger gaps so bugs can still come ināmy cat loves bugs) but the cat canāt accidentally fall. Iām on the ground floor and rescued a cat that had come down from a 4th floor balcony. Seems like cats would be smart enough to be safe but apparently not.
One of my cats fell out of our 26th floor window. It was heartbreaking. I'd make sure there's exactly zero way for her to get to any unprotected place.
Omg Iām so sorry
It was a while ago, the pain has mostly passed, but the lesson remains. :D Thank you for your condolences.
Personally I let my cat have balcony access but she's old and very relaxed, and she only has supervised access - as in there's no cat door and so she's only allowed out with someone there to let her out and watch her until she comes in. Some things you need to consider- Are there any gaps under the balcony siding that she could get stuck in or wiggle under. If so, you need to cover these. Is there anything she could climb up on that would allow her to see over the railing or potentially jump over the railing? If so that needs to be removed. Is the railing high enough that they can't just leap straight over it in one go (ie. before you can stop them). If it's not, it may not be appropriate for you without significant modifications. Is your cat prone to silly behaviour like falling off things or climbing into dangerous situations? If so, it might not be right for your cat. I would not ever let them out at night because they are often more confident to do silly things in the dark. If you aren't 100% about any of those questions, I'd strongly suggest setting up a catio instead. Personally my girl just lays on the stones and enjoys the sun, and the railing is about the height of my head so there's no chance of her getting over it especially with me supervising. If I had a kitten or a cat I knew was more adventurous, I absolutely wouldn't let them out there. Cats absolutely do get hurt as a result of balconies so you need to really consider your situation in detail and make sure you aren't putting your kitty in danger, but it sometimes can be done.
Both Rosie and Emmy can wiggle themselves under my convection oven! Itās about 3 inches high. She can wiggle under the balcony railing easily
hi, i just got an apartment with a balcony that my cat wants to go on! i have installed netting along the bottom where the railing is so he canāt fall through :) i am also adding mosquito netting that will go top to bottom
Sounds great but Iām not allowed to do the same at my condo
My cat jumped off a 2 story roof, 4th floor balcony, and into the garbage shoot of a 17th floor highrise. He was ok each time but good grief you should prolly cat proof it ( mine was a bengal and he lived to 14)
You have a beautiful baby. As the others have mentioned here, I would never take a chance on some kind of freak accident happening. These babies already have the odds stacked against them. A harness or something is best.
I lived on the top floor of an apt building and hawks would land on my balcony cause they saw my cat in the window. I wouldnāt.
Ouch
Iād definitely cat-proof it first. Especially since youāre so high up. Sheās so pretty
no!
holy heck her colouring is GORGEOUS! š¤© definitely would need to cat proof and sun proof! mine will find whatever sliver of sun there is and burn his bits without realizing
No
No. š
No get a small cattio for your balcony or build a screened window box that she can crawl into your enjoy outside
On a harness only
I wouldnāt
cat proof it then you should be good!!!!!!
I used to put my cat in a dog crate so he could join me on a balcony for 30 minutes or so. He seemed to enjoy it.
She looks like she needs sunscreen
Invest in some big curtains, try not to let the cat see it as much maybe the desire will pass? Saying this as an owner of 2 indoor kitties myself āŗļø
no
No, especially with her coloring, she is highly prone to malignant skin cancer. Protect her from the sun.
Don't do it... There was a story that still sticks with me on our local FB page about a lady missing her Himalayan and the only way she could have gotten out was off the balcony... She searched for days and we were all hoping for the best especially since it was only like 3 stories up...Well unfortunately she updated that a lady had reached out to her that she found her in the alley after having fallen and she put her in her lap and sat with her as she passed, it was obvious she wasn't going to make it, she was an older girl š„¹šthe lady had thought she was a stray and took her home with her to bury her šš„¹š story has stuck with me for years šš„¹
I would screen it in first
I wouldn't unless you had an outdoor cat space. She could be very elegant and well-balanced, but accidents do happen. Building a cat place on the balcony would help.
No.
God, no.
My cat loved being on the balcony in our first apartment on the 18th floor. My then girlfriend was coming out of the shower while I was at work and saw him hanging off the railing like Gandalf (think 'fly you fools!'). She ran out and grabbed him before his strength gave out and lost her towel along the way. Flashed all the other appts but got him safely. We then got him a harness. One day she found him hanging off the balcony, swinging in the harness. I wouldn't take any chances is what I'm saying. Cats are curious and you never really know what they might try and pull.
Team "No"
Can you somehow block balcony so she can't fall or jump off? Chicken wire or trellis maybe... Or use a harness and lead you can hold or secure indoors? Or take out for walks as I do with mine. (at 4am and 10pm cos no humans or traffic which terrifies her!) mine became indoor as I moved to 19th floor no balcony but she stood at the open window to enjoy fresh air n the smells. Only you know if she wants to just be outside or wants to roam. Mine fell from 4th floor and was fine as she landed in grass after sneaking out but I think that's probably the safest height at or below tree level.
My friend had a cat die from a balcony fall. I don't recommend it, at least not without supervision.
I wouldn't risk it for a second, personally! Asymmetric Risk/Reward imo
not without baby/cat proofing it. just saw a post a few scrolls back about someoneās cat falling and breaking bones
Yea, the 9th floor should be way above the dead zone.
Yes if you want a cat pancake in a few minutes... Like what kind of question is this??
Just saw a post about someone letting their cat on the balcony. I would do everything you can to make sure your cat is safe and cannot fall. Iāve even seen people put tennis balls on harnesses so they canāt get through the bars. https://www.reddit.com/r/cats/s/FrT6pCI3PP
Not till you kitty proof it with a mesh of some kind. And then kitty proof that mesh just in case.
Im restricted in what I can have on the balcony. Canāt have a cat house/structure not nets.
Thenā¦you donāt have a dilemma. The answer is very clear.
She could use the harness and leash, says he gets tangled, but seems like the best option still. Have to make sure the harness is snug fit though so he doesn't escape it when excited/distracted/scared
nah, lets roll the dice on the cats life because i wanna hang out with it outside. lol.
If the balcony is large enough you could get a mesh pet tent.