Cat's miracle escape after surviving fall from fifth-floor balcony 50ft up

A miracle moggy used up one of its nine lives after amazingly surviving a 50ft (15m) plunge from the fifth floor of a block of flats. Four-year-old Ivy got away with just a dislocated jaw despite the enormous drop from a balcony at the flats in Sheffield on June 23.

Owner Emily Redfern, 26, had been enjoying dinner with a friend during one of the recent heatwaves when she noticed her beloved cat had vanished. The door to the balcony had been left open to cool the flat as temperatures soared to 30C and Emily feared that Ivy had wriggled through a gap.

After scouring the apartment, Emily dreaded the worst had occurred and dashed downstairs to discover Ivy curled up on the ground, fortunately still breathing. Marketing executive Emily said: "I couldn't drive, I was too panicked, so a friend took us straight to an emergency vet."

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The next day, Ivy was moved to Vets for Pets Sheffield Drakehouse, where an X-ray showed Ivy had sustained a dislocated jaw but, astonishingly, no other harm.

Practice owner and head vet Dr Alexandra Dontu said: "This was the first time in my career I'd treated a patient who had fallen from such a height. We repositioned the jaw, taped her face to keep it stable, and fitted a feeding tube to support her recovery."

Over the following weeks, Ivy was brought back to the vet's office every couple of days for check-ups and bandage changes. Emily took on the task of feeding Ivy with a syringe every two hours, even waking up in the middle of the night, all while juggling her full-time job.

Dr Dontu said: "Our profession can swing from seeing a new puppy to dealing with serious injuries in a matter of minutes. Ivy's case was traumatic for Emily, but she did an amazing job at home. It was a real team effort from everyone here."

Ivy is now nearly back to her old self, having almost fully recovered. To prevent any future mishaps, Emily has put up netting on her balcony. Vets are now urging pet owners who live in high-rise flats to take precautions during warm weather.

Dr Dontu warned: "Cats are naturally inquisitive creatures, especially during the summer months, so even small gaps or the thin ledge of a balcony railing can be dangerous. If you're unsure, speak to your vet. Prevention is key, and we're always here to help."

Emily expressed her gratitude, saying: "I can't thank the team at Drakehouse enough. They were a constant support during Ivy's recovery; it was such a scary time but the care we received made the whole ordeal a lot easier."