Always Underfoot: Cats and Dogs Cause 86,000 Falls a Year

After my 14 1/2-pound cat Jojo climbed onto my head last night in a pre-feeding purring frenzy, my wife wondered if one day I'd have to go see a chiropractor from his throwing his weight around. It appears, though, from a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the real danger of cat (and dog) ownership is closer to the ground.

Indeed, if you find yourself muttering occasionally that your pet is always underfoot, you may be right. Based on data collected for 2001 through 2006 by emergency departments in 66 hospitals in the U.S., the CDC estimates that more than 86,000 fall injuries a year are associated with cats or dogs. That amounts to close to 30 cases of pet-related fall injuries each year per 100,000 people.

You rarely see "Beware of the cat" signs, and that may actually  be for good reason. Although rates of dog ownership in the U.S. are only slighter higher than those for cats, dogs had a paw in 88 percent of pet-related injuries. In many cases, the exact cause of the fall was not specified, but it seems that dog owners need to be especially alert when walking their dog. In falls involving dogs, 31 percent of injured owners fell or tripped while walking their dog, while 21 percent fell because they were pushed or pulled by the dog. Another 9 percent tripped over a stray item on the floor, like a toy or food bowl.

As few people walk their cats (if you've tried, you know why), most falls involving felines occur at home. In two-thirds of cases, the injured person fell or tripped over a cat. Disturbingly, close to 12 percent of injuries occurred while chasing a cat through the house. Sounds all too familiar.

Women, children under 14, and seniors over 65 are especially at risk. The highest rate of injuries occurred among people older than 75, who most frequently suffered a fracture. With older people, hip fractures are especially a concern as they can result in disability, nursing home admission, and increased mortality.

If you're a dog owner, obedience training could help reduce the likelihood you'll trip over Fido. If you own a cat—well, you're on your own.

(As a pet owner, I feel obliged to mention that in many ways owning a pet has health benefits, too. Animal companionship has been shown, for instance, to reduce anxiety and decrease symptoms of depression. Click here to read How Pets Keep Us Healthy.)

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