The idea that cats have 9 lives may be a superstition but the ability for cats to survive high jumps is not. Cats have an extraordinary sense of balance which allows them to land on their padded feet. Jungle cats can jump from trees onto their prey. 

One cat survived a fall from the 20th floor of an apartment building. Another story or possibly a tall tale about a high jump is the cat that fell from the Washington Monument. Workers reported frightening a cat and it jumping from 500 feet and surviving.