120ft high rise plunge cat cheats death by a whisker

A curious young cat has used up one of its nine lives by surviving a 120ft fall from a Glasgow tower block. The plunge, from the window of a flat on the 12th floor of a Helenvale Street high rise in Parkhead, would have meant the end for most cats … but eight-month-old Garfield escaped with a collapsed lung and a broken leg. The mischievous moggie enjoys living life on the edge but this time it almost led to his downfall, according to his owner Andrea Murray.

Andrea explained: “He likes to have a wee curious look out the window. Usually he just sniffs around and is content with that, but something outside must have caught his attention this time. Unfortunately, my window was slightly open just enough to let fresh air in but Garfield must have squeezed through the gap. The next thing I knew, our concierge phoned me to say he saw a cat fall and that I should check if Garfield was around my home. When I realised he wasn’t, I knew it must have been him.”



Andrea, 24, then went downstairs, fearing the worst but was stunned and relieved to find him alive. She said: “I couldn’t believe that Garfield had survived … it’s a huge drop. The concierge phoned the RSPCA who came to take him to the PDSA animal hospital at Charing Cross. The staff there were amazed that he had survived such a plunge, though he was badly injured. I didn’t think he would battle back but he proved me wrong. I got a call later that night saying I could take him home soon.”

The following morning, Garfield, who had a pin inserted in his leg in an operation, was transferred to the PDSA Care Centre in Tollcross, near Andrea’s East End home. Andrea said there was no doubt that the PDSA had saved his life. She continued: “None of Garfield’s treatment would have been possible if it had not been for work of the PDSA which is a charitable organisation. His medical bills, in total, would have come to more than £700 but the PDSA covered this cost.” A grateful Jennifer, along with her pals plan to organise a sponsored walk to raise cash for the PDSA.