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Fearless. (imgur.com)

submitted ago by SanFranPsycho

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[–]tiffany43 51 points52 points ago

i wouldn't be able to take that pic i'd be too busy trying to get my cat down without knocking it off the side in a panic

[–]FamineLord 15 points16 points ago

Info Time!

[–]n0rs 12 points13 points ago

More Info Time!

[–]dont_knockit 4 points5 points ago

cats can still break bones or die from extreme falls.

It's not OK to think this is OK. It's better to keep kitty off the balcony.

[–]wild-tangent 2 points3 points ago

Technically, it'd be off the balcony when falling. May wanna re-think that phrasing.

[–]tfcommanderbob 0 points1 point ago

I honestly thought it said "rightning", aka make-fun-of-Asians lightning...

[–]LiteralPhilosopher 88 points89 points ago

You'd probably be fearless, too, if you had nine lives and your 'terminal' velocity wasn't terminal for you.

[–]dont_knockit 21 points22 points ago

Sorry... in case anyone thinks that bit about terminal velocity is true, I have to mention a friend's cat fell from the 7th story balcony and died. :(

[–]Mackinstyle 26 points27 points ago

It's fun to joke about but people really ought to know that cats can't survive high falls all the time. I got a kitten recently and the vet gave a "so you've become a servant" talk. She said how cats can and do get hurt and can die falling from any height and not to always rely on their uncanny ability to right themselves and land gracefully. This idea that people here are suggesting that so long as the cat has enough time to right themselves, they'll survive isn't really true. If you don't believe me, meet me at the Empire State Building in about 40 minutes. Bring a cat.

[–]rhineholt 13 points14 points ago

Reaaallly hope you're serious man... I went outside for this. OUTSIDE

[–]Mackinstyle 9 points10 points ago

I'm the guy dressed as a cop. Just walk up and hand me your cat.

[–]rhineholt 5 points6 points ago

Dude, you bailed. You're not even here. You're just sitting at your computer masturbating.

[–]Mackinstyle 1 point2 points ago

Don't look at me that way with your judging eyes. We talked about cats too much for me not to be. It's only natural.

[–]ewic -1 points0 points ago

But not a cat you like

[–]negative_discourse 7 points8 points ago

I read that it takes them a certain amount of time to orient themselves in a way that they will land without being killed, so there is a lethal height for a cat to fall from.

I think it just has to be high enough to kill them from impact but low enough for them to not have time to properly position themselves to land.

[–]fedges 0 points1 point ago

You are correct. If a cat falls from a low enough or high enough height they won't die. However there is a height range where it will be high enough to be fatal but not give the cat enough time to properly right itself.

[–]kmaphoenix 6 points7 points ago

I was going to say we could do a study, but someones already done it.

[–]LiteralPhilosopher 0 points1 point ago

Yeah, I'd read that article (or something like it) before. Fascinating stuff.

[–]Cyberboss_JHCB 1 point2 points ago

I believe I read somewhere that it WAS the seventh storey

[–]baer89 2 points3 points ago

That's why I don't allow my cat on the balcony. Even if he did survive the fall then he is outside and will undoubtedly get lost.

[–]gr3nade 0 points1 point ago

I believe 6-8th floors were the worst, it's high enough to be really dangerous and low enough that they don't have time to get their bearings, anything below or above that and they have a much better chance of getting by uninjured but I heard this on some podcast or something so I don't know how accurate it is. But you also have to take into account the cats weight, health, breed and luck.

[–]LiteralPhilosopher -2 points-1 points ago

I'm sorry to hear about your friend's cat, but that is the very crux of the difference between anecdote and data. Individual cats may die from that height; according to the study posted by kmaphoenix downthread, fatality rate is only about 5% across cats in high-fall cases.

[–]dont_knockit 0 points1 point ago

"only about 5%"? WTF, really? Just cut your losses with those 5% that fall and die, right? Or, how about keep your cats off the balcony so 5% of those who fall don't die? If you care about your pet, any unnecessary situation risking death should be avoided. You're ignoring those that survive with injuries, too. If you don't care for the cat's welfare, you shouldn't have one.

HERE is the crux of difference between anecdote and data: That was somebody's real pet that died. His name was Taz and he was short-haired, white with large black splotches and a black tail. He was an affectionate cat who would follow you from room to room and snuggle up like a warm sack of potatoes. He liked American cheese, which his family gave him sometimes as a treat. He was loved by a 12-year-old boy named Jeff very much. One day he presumably went for a pigeon and fell 7 stories from the balcony of a highrise apartment building in Brooklyn. Jeff didn't have a lot growing up; the love of a pet meant a lot to him. That cat's horrible death was absolutely devastating. Maybe there was only a small risk of falling, and the risk of death was only 5% of that. That's what happened. There's your 5%. If that's OK with you, then fuck off, you shouldn't even have a pet.

[–]LiteralPhilosopher -1 points0 points ago

Sweet jeebus, settle down, you're only making my point. THAT cat was important to you and a friend, that's what makes it an anecdote. I'm sure he was a wonderful animal, and I did say that I was sorry about his death. I'm not a horrible person. I have a pet, but he wouldn't die from that fall either, because he's a bird. None of this changes my original (rather off-the-cuff) assertion that such a fall would not be terminal—in most cases, that would still be true. Nor did I suggest that owners should happily let their pets do whatever they want. Of course it's a good idea to watch after them. I was only talking about the pet's attitude, because that's what the OP was talking about.

But thank you very much for the sensible and mature conclusion that I should fuck off.

[–]dont_knockit 1 point2 points ago

It's not clear what your point was, then. MY point was that people shouldn't be letting their cats on the balcony. Your reply paraphrased was "well, that was only one cat; the data say that doesn't happen very often." And you phrased it as as if the data somehow contradict or negate the point I was making, which it doesn't. My response is: screw needless death of pets. You poo-poo anecdote, but it still makes the point better than your statistic: people shouldn't be letting their cats on the balcony. That's the bottom line. Terminal velocity is terminal enough for some, and for people who care about their pets, that's enough. That's enough that people should stop leaving stupid comments and upvoting stupid comments that perpetuate this idea that cats are fine to fall from any height. More cats are likely to die when these misconceptions are promoted. That's why it upsets me, and that's what prompted me to comment in the first place.

[–]NorthAve 6 points7 points ago

While their terminal velocity won't kill them, it'll still seriously mess them up. Broken legs and ribs would be very likely from this height.

[–]tbunreal68 0 points1 point ago

False, cats terminal velocity is 100km/h they can't survive that. Once cats reach their terminal velocity they orient themselves which causes drag and slows them down to a safe/safer speed.

[–]LiteralPhilosopher 1 point2 points ago

... which represents their new terminal velocity. I don't believe there are two separate words/phrases for "conscious and controlled terminal velocity" and "witless freefall terminal velocity".

Also, they don't have to wait until reaching terminal to orient themselves. They'll start right away, it just takes them a few stories to get their glide on.

[–]tbunreal68 -1 points0 points ago

Cats reach terminal velocity around 5 stories, it takes longer than that to orient themselves.

[–]LiteralPhilosopher 0 points1 point ago

We're talking semantics here. You said "once cats reach their terminal velocity they orient themselves," as though it were an instantaneous event. I'm just pointing out that they start as soon as the fall initiates. It may or may not take longer than five stories, depending on their original positioning.

[–]tbunreal68 -1 points0 points ago

Ya, sorry, didn't mean it like that even though it is written that way.

[–]blooddiamond97 14 points15 points ago

Monocat is fearless as he is a train.

[–]wesman212 1 point2 points ago

All aboard the Stone Balls Express.

[–]plasticblue 13 points14 points ago

This picture always makes me so nervousseuseshhssfsa

[–]I_hate_whales 1 point2 points ago

I spent way too much time thinking that was a string of words put together.

[–]opposing_critter 5 points6 points ago

So pretty but after losing a cat from a 5 story fall, this really scares me.

[–]Robby5566 19 points20 points ago

I could get on your case about reposting, since I know this was here recently, but what really bugs me is that none of you
show
any
originality
in
naming
your
threads

[–]Buy_More_Stuff -4 points-3 points ago

You mentioned my post. It was a year ago, so yeah.

[–]Wimmer23 5 points6 points ago

wallpaper material

[–]gizadog 1 point2 points ago

New Reddit user....pro reposter!

[–]Time_Loop 0 points1 point ago

Or alt account?

[–]remembername 2 points3 points ago

R.I.P. kitty.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]TidalPotential 12 points13 points ago

They can still die from terminal velocity falls.

And they aren't "designed" for it. They evolved into it - and being fat (like an overfed housecat) will ruin it.

They'll also often break legs from a terminal velocity fall.

Sometimes not fatal. But not always by any means.

[–]remembername 1 point2 points ago

It also looks like kitty is in the city. So, high winds between buildings and high traffic, down below. I didn't want to rip on the other comment guy. However, it kitty falls..... Then hopefully kitty has been bitten by a radioactive spider.

[–]remembername 0 points1 point ago

The more you know.

[–]bestjare 1 point2 points ago

jump

[–]riverwalker 3 points4 points ago

Hey man this is a repo... Fuck it, it's a cool picture. Have an upvote.

[–]itsjustmitch 1 point2 points ago

hi im a cat, long hair dont care

[–]dennycraner 0 points1 point ago

And if just out of this carefully placed photograph, there was a ledge.

[–]fleckspeck 0 points1 point ago

Monorail cat IRL?

[–]panders2reddit -1 points0 points ago

Soon to be hover cat. Or ceiling cat if he lands on plaster.

[–]julio26pt2 0 points1 point ago

"Ah, don't worry. Dragon's got me...."

[–]DashInt24HM 0 points1 point ago

That cat has bigger balls than me even if it might be female.

[–]spahn711 1 point2 points ago

Not fearless, just stupid :P

[–]kingassburger 0 points1 point ago

Fear cuts deeper that swords.

[–]Hold3n 0 points1 point ago

TIL The terminal velocity for a cat is 60mph

[–]CocksOnMyWaffles 0 points1 point ago

Cats be crazy.

[–]Majax2 1 point2 points ago

This makes me nauseous

[–]fishriot 1 point2 points ago

Just looking at that was making me so nervous, I had to close it.

[–]mischabrt 1 point2 points ago

Nope nope nope

[–]deadphishcheez4 1 point2 points ago

Stupid.

[–]IhateToronto 1 point2 points ago

GET DOWN

[–]SmokeBreakNinja 0 points1 point ago

Repost

[–]Baracuda7711 1 point2 points ago

They're not fearless, just stupid.

[–]onca51 0 points1 point ago

Why would you put your cat up on the rail just for karma?

[–]popshopadop 1 point2 points ago

darwinism at its best

[–]CubanMissileCrisis 0 points1 point ago

I wouldn't have much fear either if I had 9 lives.

[–]MileHighBarfly 0 points1 point ago

Repost x 400

[–]mingamongo 0 points1 point ago

Too stupid to realise the danger more like it.

[–]Traiteur 0 points1 point ago

Holy shit. Yesterday I had to have a picture of a cat for a power point I was doing, so I searched "9 lives cat" on Google Images and this image popped up, but I couldn't use it because any higher-res versions were inaccessible due to being on a blocked website at school. Crazy.

[–]willlin87 1 point2 points ago

Did somebody mention the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon?

[–]speedy_slowzales 0 points1 point ago

I wouldn't let my cat do that.

[–]ThisGuyOnEarth 0 points1 point ago

The tail is hanging on the other side so that it won't fall off the side that is deadly. Balance

[–]UberBeth 0 points1 point ago

This terrifies me and makes me sad. I lived in my 4th apartment for over two years with my kitty, and she one day got it into herself she wanted to sit on the railing. She was klutzy and immediately fell, and died 3 days later from her injuries.

[–]felloutthevault -1 points0 points ago

Nah, even if he/she falls (I'm thinking this is a she) her terminal velocity ends up ~65 m/hr due to cats instincts and ability to orient their center of gravity. While this seems horrible, cats that don't die from a heart attack will almost certainly live from any height.

[–]soyabstemio 0 points1 point ago

It should still fear Jaime Lannister.

[–]Hellothereawesome 0 points1 point ago

Cats are so epic. God catwoman ruined to epicness of cats for me until just now when I saw this. I watched that movie years ago.

[–]Carsonbizotica 0 points1 point ago

With as often as my cats fall off of shit, they would be dead within a week there.

[–]cyberbullet 0 points1 point ago

If your cat ever goes missing you will need to print copies of smashed water mellon or something. "have you seen my cat?"

[–]geoffleonard 0 points1 point ago

CATMAN.

[–]Stthads 0 points1 point ago

He's counterbalanced with his tail. He's not going anywhere

[–]Dante897 0 points1 point ago

As a guy that had his cat fall off the balcony of the 4th floor trying to explore the appartment next to mine, OMG GET DOWN FROM THERE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!!! Likely, he only broke one of his back legs and had his other almost broken, he has fully recovered from it.

[–]sfdmfcssfd 0 points1 point ago

Oooooollllldddd!!!!

I really have to get into this Save Pictures for Later Karma Whoring game...

[–]QuestionAnything 0 points1 point ago

Stupid. I have 3 cats, this isn't bravery it's stupidity. It's also cute :)

[–]Italian_Barrel_Roll 0 points1 point ago

Damn...I can't even look at this picture without having a visceral fear reaction.

[–]CrazyEve 0 points1 point ago

This photograph was shot by me, here is the original source

[–]kiwimonster21 -2 points-1 points ago

False, cats have been found to be able to survive terminal velocity falls, so heights would be irrelevant.

[–]dont_knockit 5 points6 points ago

"to be able to" does not mean they will. Please stop promoting this idea; cats might die from people being flippant about it (or worse).

[–]kiwimonster21 0 points1 point ago

i threw a cat out of a plane once mother fucker was sitting on my porch when i got home.

[–]Maika7 -1 points0 points ago

So beautiful. Did you take that picture? Or you found it somewhere?

[–]SanFranPsycho[S] 1 point2 points ago

I found it on one of my old hard drives. I have no idea where I originally got it or who took it...Amazing stuff.

[–]BluesSecret 10 points11 points ago

Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/crazy-ivory/5098888565/

[–]GreyFoxMe 1 point2 points ago

Probably from reddit

[–]onelli 1 point2 points ago

I remember it from reddit, because it was also posted with the same title. Such is cat pics.

[–]Maika7 0 points1 point ago

Amazing indeed.

[–]CrazyEve 0 points1 point ago

It took this photo, here is the original source

[–]VAGINA_BLADES 1 point2 points ago

The internet's gotten a lot weirder since they started giving cats cameras.

[–]Flincher14 1 point2 points ago

Most cats that hit the ground from a terminal velocity fall usually survive but have significant injury and need to immediately see a vet. Broken ribs and collapsed lungs are the most common injury.

[–]Jeremiahlee -1 points0 points ago

Just not given two thirds of a fuck. love it.

[–]erkose 0 points1 point ago

Fearless? This is fearless http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g85wBkhFhjo

[–]cpnHindsight 0 points1 point ago

Sam!

[–]chillzatl 0 points1 point ago

That video gave me uncontrollable fits of laughter for a solid 10 minutes. I watched it several times and the way the cat stiffens up when it realizes it wasn't going to make it, just hilarious. I'm having a hard time typing this out from thinking about it and laughing.

[–]erkose 0 points1 point ago

i know, i've been laughing for years.

[–]jordywankenobi -2 points-1 points ago

This seriously gets posted about once a week.

[–]Villain_of_Brandon -2 points-1 points ago

hard to be afraid of falling when you have a non-fatal terminal velocity.

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