# How high could I jump if my legs were as powerful as a house cat's hind legs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 22, 2003, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421 "2003-12-22T06:24:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421/101 "2003-12-23T00:28:46Z")
> [@](#): > > Sorry, Blake, I didn’t know that YOUR Google hits were good, but the Google hits everyone else has provided aren’t good. I’m glad you can tell immediately which sites are accurate and which are mumbo jumbo. It’s really too bad that the rest of us can’t do that. OH FFS, I already explained this. Haven’t you realised yet that simply finding something o a website somewhere isn’t an indication of accuracy? Just one hit from a reputable source will give us something to discuss. A university webpage would be favourite. Or a peer-reviewed science journal. A government agency specialising in measuring animal movement would also be acceptable. Anything that is reputable. In case you haven’t realised ther is a lot of misinformation on the net. Studies show that around 60% is porn and around 70% of what is left contains erroneous information. The odds are strongly against finding accurate information on a web-page. You can find ‘evidence’ supporting anything on the net. I don’t know where this idea that a Google count constitutes evidence comes from, but I’ve seen it twice already today. The last instance was someone saying that Google had 5000 sites of eyewitness accounts of ghosts. Lots of websites saying there are ghosts is not evidence, nor are lots of websites saying that pumas can jump 6 metres. You need to give us something reputable, not just a webpage. > [@](#): > > You have yet to provide ONE CITE proving that mountain lions (cougars, pumas…same animal), cats and the like can NOT jump that high. Stop telling lies. I have provided no less than 4 stating exactly that. > [@](#): > > Indeed, I’ve read the thread. Humans do it by pivoting their centre of gravity, as you say. Kangaroos don’t, which is why I picked them. Kangaroos do indeed pivot their centre of gravity when leaping obstacles. The animal leaps with the body more vertical and then pivots so the body becomes almost horizontal while the legs are tucked under. I don’t know where you got the idea that roos don’t pivot. Kangaroos don’t pivot much during normal hopping, but then the centre of gravity hardly moves during normal hopping. > [@](#): > > Did the guys who postulate the 2’ theory take into account that animals are built differently? For the third time, yes they did. I took pains to point this out. > [@](#): > > Blake has tried to make a distinction about running starts and standing jumps. I think he wants to argue that a running start will achieve a higher jump? Do I? And here was me thinking that I was arguing the rather unarguable point that running starts allow animals to clear higher obstacles. There is a good reason why human high jumpers and equestrian jumpers take a run up. > [@](#): > > You haven’t consulted "every univesity (sic) physiology and physics department And I don’t intend to. When every one I do find agrees with me it ‘s pointless looking for more sources that take more work. If there was some disagreement on the point it might be woth it, but there isn’t. > [@](#): > > How can you claim these few findings are representative? I didn’t make such a claim. > [@](#): > > the problem here is Blakes definition of “jump”… It is not my defintion. It is the defintion use dby universities. \*\* thewiz\*\*do you really believe that those figures refer to a standing start? Does anyone rally think it’s credible that a serval can leap 10 feet vertically from a feet planted position? To me such an impressive height suggests the animal must have been running. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421/102 "2003-12-23T00:37:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Blake your stance is completely ludicrous. Virtually anyone that owns a cat knows it. I love a good argumentum ad numerum. They do such a great job of fighting ignorance. :rolleyes: > [@](#): > > Also you said humans can’t jump over a meter? The actual quote was “about a metre” 26 inches is 1.15 metres. That would be about 1 metre wouldn’t it? > [@](#): > > I’d hate to think that someone can be so devoid of logic. The only ‘logic’ you have displayed is a logical fallacy known as an argumentum an numerum coupled with an argumentum ad populum.The fact that everybody knows something does not make it true. For many years everybody knew t sun revolved around the Erath. You have shown a complete failure to grasp logic. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421/103 "2003-12-23T00:46:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blake \* > **The actual quote was “about a metre” 26 inches is 1.15 metres. That would be about 1 metre wouldn’t it?** 26 inches is actually quite a bit less than a metre. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421/104 "2003-12-23T00:55:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blake \* > \*\*The fact that everybody knows something does not make it true. For many years everybody knew t sun revolved around the Erath. You have shown a complete failure to grasp logic. \*\* Although this kind of comparison is quite a convenient one for you, I don’t believe it is a particularly fair one; the roundness of the Earth and its motion around the sun is not a trivial thing to directly observe, whereas a cat jumping up from a crouching stance onto a fencepost _is_. As I said before, your cites don’t seem to _prove_ anything or even make absolute statements; they seem to talk in general terms about what is _most often_ the case. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421/105 "2003-12-23T00:56:55Z")
> [@](#): > > 26 inches is actually quite a bit less than a metre. D’oh. Of course I meant the 46 inches quoted in that article. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421/106 "2003-12-23T00:59:55Z")
Fair enough; I didn’t notice the original figure until after I commented. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421/107 "2003-12-23T01:03:45Z")
Since we are debating about all animals, and the ‘meter’ rule. Check out this site. [http://www.staytitefence.com/fences/fence/deer-fence.htm](http://www.staytitefence.com/fences/fence/deer-fence.htm) Deer fences regularly run over 6’. The standard seems to be 8’. So this suggests they can’t clear 8’. They wouldn’t build 8’ deer fences if a deer can only clear a meter. A meter is nothing for a deer. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421/108 "2003-12-23T01:04:07Z")
> [@](#): > > ; the roundness of the Earth and its motion around the sun is not a trivial thing to directly observe, whereas a cat jumping up from a crouching stance onto a fencepost is. Those observation certainly seemed open to direct observation to the people who believed them. Or are you suggesting that people who believed in the Earth centric system didn’t base their beliefs on direct observations? It just so happened that direct observations were not telling the whole story. Just as the cat leaping also seems open to direct observation. That doesn’t mean that either is validly open to direct observation. I have provided one reference which suggests that it isn’t open to dircet observation because the hindlegs of the cat move so fast that it is difficult to see unless you know exactly what you are looking for. > [@](#): > > I said before, your cites don’t seem to prove anything or even make absolute statements; they seem to talk in general terms about what is most often the case. Whereas there is only anecdotal evidence in opposition, unless you believe that a serval really can leap 10 feet vertically form a feet planted position. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421/109 "2003-12-23T01:09:03Z")
> [@](#): > > They wouldn’t build 8’ deer fences if a deer can only clear a meter. A meter is nothing for a deer. Read the thread. No one has ever suggested that a deer, humans or any other animals can only clear a metre. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421/110 "2003-12-23T01:11:51Z")
Currently, I have three cats. One, is a 7-8lb black Bombay, and she can jump onto the fridge. That’s 5’8’’. She’s not the only cat I’ve had that could do this, but is the only one of the three I currently have. Fortunately for her, neither the dog or the 3 year old boy can equal that feat. Anyway, here’s a neat site - [Natural History Museum of LA County](http://www.lam.mus.ca.us/cats/) [Animated cat jump](http://www.lam.mus.ca.us/cats/catjump/index.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421/111 "2003-12-23T01:16:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blake \* > \*\*Those observation certainly seemed open to direct observation to the people who believed them. Or are you suggesting that people who believed in the Earth centric system didn’t base their beliefs on direct observations? It just so happened that direct observations were not telling the whole story. Just as the cat leaping also seems open to direct observation. That doesn’t mean that either is validly open to direct observation. \*\*Hmmm, but the Earth and solar system are, by their very nature, too large to be wholly and directly observed by a single human on the planet’s surface - I see where you’re going, but it really isn’t the same class of phenomenon. > [@](#): > > \*\*I have provided one reference which suggests that it isn’t open to dircet observation because the hindlegs of the cat move so fast that it is difficult to see unless you know exactly what you are looking for. \*\*The hind legs can move as fast as they like; the observations that people are talking about here include open jumps where there is nothing but air for the hind legs to gain purchase upon. > [@](#): > > \*\*Whereas there is only anecdotal evidence in opposition, unless you believe that a serval really can leap 10 feet vertically form a feet planted position. \*\* I’m not going to make any claims about a serval as I have not seen one jump. Domestic cats, on the other hand, are quite commonplace and I have observed them quite a lot. It isn’t really all that surprising that a cite is hard to find - as someone said earlier - try to find a reputable source to back up the assertion that cats like to sit on tables. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goofballz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@Mr.Goofballz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goofballz)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421/112 "2003-12-23T01:18:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blake \* > The only ‘logic’ you have displayed is a logical fallacy known as an argumentum an numerum coupled with an argumentum ad populum.The fact that everybody knows something does not make it true. For many years everybody knew t sun revolved around the Erath. You have shown a complete failure to grasp logic. \*\* While I admire your use of big words you make no sense. Your equating this to people believing the sun rotates around the earth? When something is so common and witnessed everyday it tends to be true. I can watch a cat jump onto my fridge. I can watch a deer jump over a 6 foot fence without a care. It’s something so basic and true that its unbelievable to have to argue it. How many links have people included that show animals can and do jump quite high? You just babble on and ignore any evidencel For you to say someone grasps logic is highly laughable. Take care buddy! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421/113 "2003-12-23T01:23:25Z")
From Blake - > [@](#): > > I doubt that. There is an upper limit on how far **any** animal can jump, **and it’s about 2 feet IIRC**. Any ability to clear higher objects involves scrambling or, as in the case of human high jumpers, shifting the centre of gravity. Bolding mine. You later amended that to 1 meter. A deer does not scramble over a wire fence, nore does it use any special flips or twists. ---
**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421/114 "2003-12-23T01:23:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blake \* > \*\* > > In case you haven’t realised ther is a lot of misinformation on the net. Studies show that around 60% is porn and around 70% of what is left contains erroneous information. The odds are strongly against finding accurate information on a web-page. \*\* Cite? ---
**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421/115 "2003-12-23T01:28:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by thewiz \* > \*\*[Walker’s Mammals of the World-Felidae](http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/walkers_mammals_of_the_world/carnivora/carnivora.felidae.felis.html) > > Felis Serval (serval) > > and > > Felis concolor (cougar, puma, panther, or mountain lion) \*\* So then this settles it. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421/116 "2003-12-23T01:36:50Z")
> [@](#): > > but the Earth and solar system are, by their very nature, too large to be wholly and directly observed by a single human on the planet’s surface - I see where you’re going, but it really isn’t the same class of phenomenon. Of course it isn’t. In on case the phenomenon is too large to allow direct observation, in the other it may be too fast. Does that make it any more open to direct observation? The point is that many things that are known to everybody who owns a cat or who watched the sunrise are, in fact, not true. Do you believe that an argumentum ad numerum is a valid argument if the observation seems easily observable? > [@](#): > > The hind legs can move as fast as they like; the observations that people are talking about here include open jumps where there is nothing but air for the hind legs to gain purchase upon How is it possible for a cat to jump “up from a crouching stance onto a fencepost” and yet there be nothing but air for the hind legs to gain purchase upon? Why couldn’t a cat gain purchase on a fence post? And we were specifically discussing “a cat jumping up from a crouching stance onto a fencepost” > [@](#): > > I’m not going to make any claims about a serval as I have not seen one jump. Domestic cats, on the other hand, are quite commonplace and I have observed them quite a lot. But that isn’t the issue. The only reputable references about how high cats can hum say that servals jump 10 feet. Either you believe that they can do this form a standing start, or the reference is referring to a running leap. > [@](#): > > try to find a reputable source to back up the assertion that cats like to sit on tables. That is difficult to find a source for because ‘like’ is a subjective term. Height is an objective term. There can be no comparison unless you are claiming it is as hard to objectively measure height as it is to objectively measure preference. > [@](#): > > How many links have people included that show animals can and do jump quite high?. Reputable references referring to a standing start? None at all. ---
**Author:** ![Sqube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Sqube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sqube)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421/117 "2003-12-23T01:39:48Z")
I’m sorry if this question has already been answered, but I’m going crazy reading this thread: **How high could one jump if their legs were as powerful as a house cat’s hind legs!?** I mean, is anyone going to answer the original question? ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421/118 "2003-12-23T01:42:24Z")
\*\* enipla\*\* I can only suggest that you read that whole thread, and the post you quoted form in context. You will notice that we are discussing “from standing still (no running jumps).” Taking quotes out of context is a bit rude. > [@](#): > > So then this settles it. Only if you believe that a serval can leap 10 feet vertically form a standing start. If you don’t believe that then it seems that the reference is referring to a running leap/. _Do_ you believe that a serval can leap 10 feet vertically form a standing start? ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421/119 "2003-12-23T01:45:16Z")
> [@](#): > > How high could one jump if their legs were as powerful as a house cat’s hind legs!? > > I mean, is anyone going to answer the original question?. The answer is about 1 metre from a standing start. The same as a house cat and the same as human can leap with human muscles. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_B.Phart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Capt\_B.Phart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_B.Phart)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421/120 "2003-12-23T01:45:57Z")
Trouble is, there just isn’t the data, pro or con to argue with - nobody seems to have done the research (and why would they?) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Blake \* > \*\*There is an upper limit on how far any animal can jump, and it’s about 2 feet IIRC. Any ability to clear higher objects involves scrambling or, as in the case of human high jumpers, shifting the centre of gravity. Your cat might be able to clear 4 feet from a standing start by lifting 2 feet, stretching up to 4 and then pivoting around the obstacle, but they can’t really ‘jump’ 4 feet. > \*\* The word “about” turns up a lot - the margin for error is pretty big, a fit human can jump “about” 46 inches - a cat (an animal evolved to jump efficiently - unlike man and using more muscle groups in a jump) can presumably jump a bit higher (given the idea of rough equivalence **Blake** introduced), so “about” 4 foot doesn’t seem unrealistic I’d be interested to Know how far a house cat _can_ jump, from personal experience I’d bet good money it’s way over 2’ - but they play all kinds of tricks to conserve energy (the " frosby flop" idea is quite sound - I’ve seen cats “swap ends” in mid air when jumping from a crouch to catch a bird - it’s hard to tell the CG) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-high-could-i-jump-if-my-legs-were-as-powerful-as-a-house-cats-hind-legs/220421.md?page=7)