Today my neighbor informed me that they recently lost their cat who died as a result of getting caught in a tilting window. I have read about these accidents before. Here is a link to an article (sorry, German only) about one such occurence.
http://www.tierrettung.ch/main.php?p...pfensterkatzen

Tilt windows are very dangerous for cats. This article (German only) offers tips on what to do if you have tilt windows.
http://vegi-tierfutterversand.vegeta.../tips/tips.htm

One suggestion is to close the windows before you go out or close the door to the room where the tilt window is located. That makes sense. But the other suggestion is to fold a thick bath towel and place it into the opening where the tilt is. What is the point in opening the window?

If you have tilt windows, please make sure your cats cannot get to them or just close the window. My neighbour spent the day installing a cat door so their other cat can go outside safely.

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Wow I had not read about this! Thanks!
We have tilt windows in our house in NL, usually closed. The one time we left it open my mother in law found kitty outside while we were on holidays . We believe they pushed the door open and then got into the room (attic) where the window was open.
Thanks for posting!


Cheers!

Angela

They also sell a wire mesh thing that fits into the opening to prevent cats from getting in there (or out).

I'm not sure what it is called in German, but I found an English website with info and a picture.

I've seen a product similar to that at QualiPet.

I think this is it:
http://www.qualipet.ch/?seite=online...rtikel_anzahl=

In German, it is called Kippfensterschutz.
You can purchase them at Meiko.
www.meiko.ch

This has happened to 2 people we know, 1 of which was discovered by the neighbour who was checking up on the cat whilst the owners were on vacation. He 1st thought it was a teddy bear stuck in the window....

I wanted to revive this thread because of something that happened to one of our cats this past weekend. The in-laws came and were staying in a room that has a door to the terrace/balcony. They left and closed the door to the room but forgot to check and one of our kitties was inside, they had also left the tilt door semi-opened.
We woke up a bit late and went outside the balcony up until 12ish noon and did not see her there, neither did we hear her crying, the other cats were acting normal and we decided to go shopping until around 2:30 or 3:00, I took a nap and husband woke me up at around 5:00 to tell me he had heard the cat crying and found her stuck waist down in the tilt door, when he took her out (carefully) and put her on the floor, she was not moving half her body...to make a long story short we took her to the ER where she had to stay overnight, she has hypothermic and dehydrated and in cardiovascular shock...she is now back home and recuperating but it could have been a lot worse...
Please be careful with these type of door and window, they are very dangerous to our furry friends

Oh my - poor kitty! Thank heavens she's getting better...

This happened to me too when I was looking after a friend's cats while the were on holiday. It was horrible and when I lifted her out her rib cage was crushed. The poor thing was only four months old. I saw her and was stupidly talking to her ('you silly cat what are you doing there' kind of stuff) before I realised how serious it was.
Worst part of it was that my 10 year old son had also gone with me to feed them on that occasion.

Oh my gosh I'm so very sorry...

Sorry, I must be very thick at this hour of the night, I have cats and tilt windows that I use often so they don't scape... What are you saying, that they may jump and get caught on the window?. I have seen so many times my cats mesmerized by the noises on the other size of the window, and I live in a 3rd floor Please I need clarification, no pictures with hurt cats or other animals are needed.

Angela, I am so very sorry, hope your cat will recover very soon. Poor little thing.

Paws crossed that your kitty makes a full recovery, Angela.

Cris, look at the second link that Mrs Doolittle posted. There is a cartoon type (i.e. not real, no goryness) picture there of the problem

When the window or door is tilted ope, the cat climbs via the rubber that surrounds the door or window and then tries to go out, depending on how wide the space where she tries to go out is, they can get stuck.
Mine was lucky enough we were home and that she got stuck at the waist and not the neck

I am sorry to hear about your cat and hope she makes a full recovery.

I completely forgot I posted this.....it was 3 years ago! My neighbours have a new cat.