Summer safety tips for cats from Rouken Glen Vets
June 21, 2020
Cats are big sun worshippers but if they’re allowed too many rays it can be detrimental to their health, so follow these cool for cats tips from the team at Rouken Glen Vets and make sure your pet enjoys a safe summer.
Whether you’ve got an indoor or an outdoor cat, the heat can get to them and it’s important to take steps to avoid heatstroke, which can be fatal. If you have questions after reading this, or want to book your cat in to ensure its flea prevention treatment is up to date at this time when parasites are most active, simply contact us to make an appointment with our head vet Richard Black.
It’s natural for cats to want to sunbathe, but they’re not always good at recognising when they’ve had too much, so a helping hand may be needed.
Here are a few basic measures you can take to make sure your cat doesn’t get sunburned or overheat:
- Provide plenty of water so your cat doesn’t run any risk of dehydration. It’s also important to set up some shady areas where your cat likes to lay. Even if your cat lives indoors the heat can get too much, so get into the habit of pulling down the blinds or drawing the curtains against the midday sun.
- If your cat is lighter in colour it may be prone to sunburn, so apply sunscreen to delicate areas such as paws and noses.
- Cats’ paws are especially sensitive so be aware of the temperature of the pavements before letting them outside in hot sun – and check for signs of blisters when they come in.
- Heat leads to cats tiring out more quickly, so avoid letting your pet play too much in the heat or it might lead to exhaustion.
- Be wary around paddling and swimming pools. While they’re not known for jumping into water voluntarily accidents happen and cats aren’t great swimmers.
There’s no reason not to enjoy more time with your cat in the summer but being aware of these basic facts will help keep it safe. If you’d like to discuss any concerns you have about the hazards of summer, our head vet Richard Black will be happy to see you when you book an appointment.