Danger for Indoor Cats - Window Fall Season Begins Now

The number is alarming: From the beginning of spring, around 15 cats in Vienna need medical treatment every day due to falls from windows. Accidents at windows and balconies can be easily prevented - and must be: The installation of suitable protective devices is legally required. Failure to comply will be costly for the owners. In Vienna, there are around 200,000 cats, most of them indoor cats. As it gets warmer, open windows and balcony doors become hazards for the furry friends. Unfortunately, the danger of a window fall is often underestimated. 'Unfortunately, the danger of a window fall is often underestimated,' says Eva Persy, head of the Vienna Animal Welfare Ombudsman's Office. 'Often, the animals are not taken to veterinarians after such an accident because no external injuries are visible. Internal bleeding, however, is not visible to pet owners and can be fatal for the animals,' Persy says.