Cat Falls 17 Storeys In Mississauga And Lives

Cat Falls 17 Storeys In Mississauga And Lives
Thursday November 6, 2008
CityNews.ca Staff

The Ontario SPCA is probing a case that's both a tragedy and a triumph. It involves a cat that took a very strange trip and lived to tell the tale.

It happened on Tuesday when the animal experts arrived at a building at Dixie and Orchard Hill Roads in Mississauga to find a feline badly injured but still alive. The animal had broken teeth, needed surgery to repair them and was bruised in a number of places.

That's the tragedy.

But here's the triumph: officials think the furry friend fell 17 storeys, and somehow survived. Cats are famous for plunging from great heights and landing on their feet. But 17 floors up is almost always fatal even for the most fleet footed of creatures.

How did it happen?

The OSPCA only knows that the people they think were the owners moved out of the building and for some reason, left their pet behind. The society tells CityNews.ca that they did leave it a few days worth of food but it worked its way out of an open window and took the sudden and unexpected drop.

It was still alive when the building super found it minutes later. He called authorities.

"Bleeding was coming and she was not moving," Daniel Ambaye recalled. "She was in bad, bad shape."

Even veteran animal lovers are astounded by the outcome. "This is a very unusual story and a remarkable cat," Ontario SPCA Chief Inspector Hugh Coghill notes in a statement. "In my 30 years of service I have never heard of a cat falling this far and surviving."

The animal is currently in the custody of the OSPCA and is said to be "recovering well," and eating again. It underwent dental surgery Friday.

"The shelter staff here named her Prima Bella," said the OSPCA's Sara Munoz. "It has to do with the fact that cats have nine lives and she's already used one of hers here."

But those in charge have a lot more questions than answers. Officials are looking for the owners. They know their names but not where they went. But they're not prepared to identify them publicly just yet.

And despite what they seem to have done, the SPCA confirms if they come back for the cat, they'll still be considered the legal owners and will have every right to take it back with them.

The OSPCA tells CityNews if they are found, officials still aren't sure if they'll be made to pay for the feline's medical bills. A lot depends on why the cat was left behind and what their intentions were.

If you can fill in the blanks in this cat caper, call 1-888-668-7722 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).