Clinical and etiologically evaluation of cats with high-rise syndrome: assessment of 72 cases (A retrospective study)

Abstract

Surgical problems observed in cats after falling from balconies or windows of buildings are significant, and this phenomenon of falling from a height is known as high-rise syndrome (HRS). The purpose of this study was to clinically evaluate frequently encountered cases of cats falling from a height. Overall, 72 cats of different breeds, ages and sexes brought to XXX University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Surgery, with complaints of falls from a height in 2019 were included. Falls from a height are more common during summer. Orthopaedic problems are common (58.33%), and femoral fractures (23.61%) constitute an important part of them. The affected cats were aged mostly under the 1 year. Furthermore, the survival rate of these cats was found to be 95.8%. In conclusion, the main purpose for the treatment of cats with HRS should be to stabilise their general condition and subsequently correct orthopaedic and/or soft tissue damage.