Summertime Cat Safety

Article by Nestle Purina

Summer is officially underway – and for many of us, that means barbecues, parties, picnics in the park and large family gatherings. But some fun activities for humans can present dangers to our feline friends, so before you start planning your next big backyard barbie, add these pet-safety pointers to your pre-party checklist.

How to keep your cat cool
A cat that becomes overheated in summer can suffer from dehydration, heatstroke, and shock. Unlike people, cats don’t sweat and therefore it can be a struggle for them to keep cool when summer temperatures start to climb. The best methods to keep your cat cool includes keeping them out of the sun, let them enjoy lazy days inside and provide plenty of clean fresh water. If your cat is stuck in a roasting house or car without a means of escape, they will become overheated and at risk of heat stroke. But there are several things that you can do to help your cat cool down in the summer so that he or she will be healthy and happy.

Run the air conditioning. If you have air conditioning, keeping your cat indoors will ensure that she or he stays cool too. Many of the things you do to keep the house cool for yourself will also benefit your cat, such as keeping the blinds, windows, and doors closed. Use fans to improve the air flow in your home. If you do not have an air conditioner, fans and open windows are another good option to cool off your home and your cat.

Provide fresh drinking water at all times. Cats need access to water in order to stay hydrated. In addition, when your cat’s blood temperature rises, sensors in the brain tell him or her to drink water in order to cool down and dilute the blood. Therefore, it is essential to make sure that your cat always has access to clean, fresh water. 

Picnic & barbecue special treats
While these foods are relatively harmless for humans, they can be extremely dangerous for cats so it’s especially important to keep little snouts away from these summertime luxuries. Human foods often aren’t suitable for cats at any time but the greasy, spicy, fatty foods often served at barbecues can all cause vomiting and diarrhoea, and that’s not much fun for anyone the morning after the night before.

Post-party
Your post-barbecue rubbish will likely contain bones, which are very harmful to cats, particularly cooked bones that splinter more easily. Bone fragments can pierce your cat’s palate and other soft internal tissues like his stomach or intestines. Garbage may also contain left over alcohol, Styrofoam plates, pointy plastic utensils, and human food that’s started to turn rancid. Keep your cat away from barbecue rubbish and ensure the rubbish bin lid is on tight.

Fire, fire-starters and fuel
Anything you use to get the barbecue going such as matches, lighters, lighter fluid – should be kelp far out of reach of pets. Matches contain phosphorus, which can be poisonous if ingested; the tiny amount on the end of a match may not harm your pet, but better safe than sorry. Lighter fluid is dangerous across the board: eating it, inhaling its fumes, even getting it on the skin or fur can all cause injury and illness.

Barbecue watch-out’s
We all know that cats are quite nimble on their feet however this can sometimes get them into trouble when it comes to hot surfaces. Cats are heat seekers so a warm barbecue on a cold night may seem pretty enticing but extremely dangerous. There’s also the possibility of kitty deciding to be athletic and leap onto the hotplate. We recommend keeping your cat indoors when using the barbecue to make sure that accidents can’t happen. It’s also a good rule of thumb to keep pets safely indoors for any party with an open flame, whether it’s tiki torches, gas heater, candles in paper bags, or a simple fire pit in the back yard. Most pets understand fire, but accidents can happen; if you won’t be able to keep any eye on your cat throughout the event, keep them inside for safety.

Your extra barbecue visitors can also cause stress for some cats who become anxious around visitors. It’s a good idea to keep your cat in the same room as your guests, giving her a box or a high shelf to retreat to. Here she can see, hear and smell your visitors, learning their behaviour, without having to interact. You can read more about scaredy cats here.

Insect prevention
Citronella candles, mozzie coils, bug zappers, insect spray, insect oils. All these things can burn, harm, or poison your pet.

If your pet is bothered by insects, ask your vet or local Pet Specialty store about specifically formulated insect repellent for pets. Human formulations should live in a secure cabinet and only used on humans.