So, let’s start with the simplest – the myths and history. Everyone has heard that “a cat has 9 lives.” This legend, of course, originated in ancient Egypt.

The Egyptians believed that cats were the earthly embodiment of the goddess Bastet. She was depicted as a cat or a woman with a cat’s head and symbolized fertility. According to the legend of the cat Bastet, she dies and is resurrected nine times.

 

Why 9 and not 10?
 

The number 9 was considered sacred – it always completed a cycle of counting, representing “three trinities.” People have long been amazed by cats’ ability to survive, their flexibility, their foresight of natural disasters, their self-recovery, and even their ability to heal certain human ailments. All of this reinforced the legend of the divine origin of cats and formed the basis for the belief in their 9 lives.

Many superstitions remain strong even in modern society. Technology and progress continue to advance. We consider ourselves the most developed and highly intellectual beings.

So why do many of us watch a cat fall from the 5th floor and do nothing, hoping for its magical self-healing? Thinking in such ridiculous superstitions today is akin to “ignorance” and the mindset of the “Stone Age.” In the age of information, this is now a conscious choice.

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The Phenomenon of Survivorship Bias

 

Many cat owners, whose cats were lucky enough to survive a fall or escape with minor injuries, often take pride in it: “Our cat’s a paratrooper,” “He’s already fallen a couple of times—he’ll be fine, still has 7 lives left,” and other similar statements. These can be attributed to the theory of “survivorship bias” because owners base their conclusions solely on personal experience or on acquaintances who have had 1 or 2 cats in their lifetime. Without full data, without considering the experience of veterinarians, research, statistics, or the extensive experience of shelters and volunteers, these owners may convince others that their cat will be fine after a fall and that window protection isn’t necessary. In doing so, they harm not only other people but also their cats.

Without a doubt, cats are unique creatures. Thanks to their purring, they can indeed recover faster than humans and other animals. Purring has a healing frequency and creates vibrations in the body that stimulate regenerative processes, healing minor problems.

But from a biological standpoint, cats are no different from other living beings. They have the same organs, blood, spine, and nervous system. And there’s nothing unusual about that – the laws of nature and physics apply equally.

A cat, like all of us, has ONE life. But their life is short—on average, only 15–18 years. Is it worth shortening it with irresponsible window safety, hoping for luck and testing fate? Or should we extend these years of warm companionship as long as possible by ensuring the cat’s safety? In our opinion, the answer is obvious.