Can I Parachute Jump with My Cat?

parachute jump with cat


Some people wonder if you can parachute with your cat. But is this safe to do? If you are going to parachute as a human, there are risks. But if you take your cat with you, you have even more risks together. There are so many activities that people do together with their cats. Can not another activity be added to it? In this blog post, you can read all about it.

What Is Parachute Jumping?

The defense in America developed parachutes to save pilots onboard balloons and aircraft in emergencies. In 1797 Andre Jacques Garnerin made a parachute jump from a hot-air balloon. It was the first rescue device for pilots of planes that had been destroyed. When the pilot left the plane, the parachute braked the fall sufficiently through the air resistance. The pilot could then come down as safely as possible. After an extended period, parachute jumping became a way to bring soldiers quickly to the battlefield. Leslie Irvin was the first to make a free fall in 1919 with a consecutive parachute jump. It was the beginning of parachuting as a sport. In 1951 it became an international sport.

Parachute Jump

Skydiving is performing a jump from a balloon, plane, from a tall building or mountain point. Then the jump is followed by a flight with a parachute. The parachute folds open in the air, and after the flight, you can make a safe landing. Parachuting is also called skydiving.

Parachuting can be performed as a recreational activity but also as a sport. A parachute is a tool with which a person can slow down his speed in the gravity field of a celestial body by friction with the atmosphere. After a free fall, the jumper will open his parachute at approximately 3000 to 5000 ft (1000-1700 meters). Just before landing, the parachute jumper brakes with the steering lines. It creates an upward force. The parachute then goes even slower. If the wind is right, the parachutist can quietly land on the ground. In general, there is always landing through the wind.

A parachute jumper always has a reserve parachute with him. In a case when the parachute does not open or does not fully open. In almost every parachute system nowadays, there is an automatic opener, which works on air pressure. The automatic opener intervenes if the parachutist continues to fall for too long. The reserve parachute opened at the height of approximately 230 meters.

parachute jump cat

Is Parachute Jumping Safe?

In the Netherlands, some 85,000 jumps a year are made, and on average, one person dies due to a fatal landing in a year. The insurance companies consider parachuting as a risk sport.
Because it is a risk sport and the jumper ultimately has his destiny, much attention goes to the safety aspect.

To begin, you must be checking whether you are physically able to practice this extreme sport. A medical examination is therefore necessary and must repeat every two years. Then you get training that lasts two days. The most significant part of this is spending on safety. All details to solve problems and save yourself from precarious situations are repeating, so you perform them automatically.

Most of the type Cessna aircraft have to meet the strictest safety criteria and are driven by experienced pilots. The parachute itself must also meet the most stringent safety requirements. Twice a year, it is checked on its reserve parachute and once a year in its totality. For the jump to take place as safely as possible, every jumper, even the most experienced, must be checked thoroughly by an instructor before the jump. The altimeter, the automatic opener, and all parts of the parachute were tested for perfect functioning.

What Supplies Are Needed?

A parachutist uses parachute equipment during the jump. The material used for jumping consists mainly of four parts. These include the harness in which the parachutist sits, an automatic opener (AAD, Automatic Activation Device), the main parachute, and the reserve parachute. Also, an altimeter is included, and usually a pair of glasses (to protect the eyes) and a helmet.

Can a Cat Have a Fear of Heights?

Did you think your favorite cat is not afraid to fall from a tree? You’ve probably seen a firefighter save a cat from a tree. It is true; even cats can have high fear. Most cats are very agile in climbing and scrambling. But not all cats like it. Cats are afraid of heights. Most cats are also scared of great heights and have trouble and are scared to jump down.

Cats climb, walk, jump, and yes, even fall. Most cats are purebred climbers, but they are anxious in descending. Correct descending can they learn the best when the kittens are young. That is the best learning method for climbing and go down.

How Do Cats Survive Falls from Great Heights?

A cat falls six meters high out of the window. It ends up on its feet and runs away. You wonder then, how is that possible? How can a cat survive such a high fall?

Cats have the habit of reflexively turning around during their fall. They often land neatly on their legs. The equilibrium organ of a falling cat gives the signal that something is not right and gives the position in which way the cat must turn. The body makes a rotational movement in two steps. First, the cat quickly straightens the front of his body, followed by the back. The cats have an exceptionally flexible backbone.

When cats fall, they always land on their paws. In any case, most cats. The organ of balance in the inner ear of the cat helps to land safely. When falling from a great height, the cat uses the tail to keep the balance. With a long fall, the cat has enough time to relax his muscles after the fast spin. In a relaxed state, the landing is softer.
Moreover, their fall is slowed down by the air resistance of, among other things, their fluffy coat. The head provides a horizontal position, and the legs ensure a safe landing. Does it not hurt if they fall hard on the floor? No, the footpads catch the fall.

Parachute Jump/Skydiving with Your Cat

In Russia, there was a man who went skydiving with his cat. He loved his cat. The man loved parachute jumping and thought his cat would like it too. They dropped from a height of 1200m. The cat was in the jacket/armor of his owner. The cat had socks/gloves around his paws. Probably to protect it from the cold air. They recorded the flight on the plane. If you are looking for cat skydiving, you will not find much more than this information. However, that is not surprising, of course.

Parachute Jump with Your Cat

It is not advisable to go parachute jump with your cat. A cat does not like heights and does not know what to expect. You can never fasten your cat so well in your armor that you are sure that your cat will not fall out in the air. You can never ask your cat what it thinks of it. Once in the air, your cat can not say that it does not want to.
If you want to try if your cat likes jumping from a higher altitude, you can practice it in the house’s garden. You can then put your cat on a roof, fence, shelf, or windowsill. Stay there so you can help your cat if it is scared or jumps away.

If you want to try if your cat likes jumping from a higher altitude, you can practice it in the house’s garden. You can then put your cat on a roof, fence, shelf, or windowsill. Stay there so you can help your cat if it is scared or jumps away.

Do you want to make the parachute jump look more real? Then buy a parachute doll. It is a parachute of fabric with a plastic male attached to it. Detach the parachute from the doll, and you have a parachute for your cat. Now you can connect the small parachute to the harness of your cat. Your cat is ready to go skydiving.

Cat Sitting on a Plane

Conclusion

Can I parachute jump with my cat? It may sound like a weird question, and it might still be for some people. It is not something that happens daily and is not recommended. Do you want to go skydiving, but do you not dare to go alone? Then ask your friend, family member, colleague, or someone else. However, leave your cat at home. Or in any case, leave your cat on the floor with both paws;)

Maybe if your cat likes to ride a bike, I have some tips and helpful ideas in this post.

I hope your cat is not afraid of great heights and has no fear of heights. Also, if you know someone who wants to go skydiving with a cat, feel free to share this post.

By Marleen

Marleen is a truly madly deeply cat lover and founder of That Is for My Cat. She wants to share her knowledge about cats with other people who like to know more about cats.