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Summer safety for cats

By greenbayvets June 28, 2023 Greenbay Vet News No Comments Like us, most cats will enjoy warm and sunny weather. They will generally seek out shade if they want it. To make sure they can enjoy the sun safely:

Make sure your cat has access to fresh water. Cats like to drink in a separate location to their food bowl, and some prefer running water e.g. a fountain.
Always check sheds, greenhouses and summerhouses before closing them up.
Cats with white, thin or no hair can be at risk of sunburn. You can read more here.

Although cats generally avoid eating things they shouldn’t, some cats do like to nibble on plants/flowers, or lick pollen from themselves, which unfortunately can cause them to become very unwell in the case of certain plants. The most well known plant toxin is lilies, but there are various others to be aware of and this website from Cats Protection is a great resource to check out to ensure your house and garden plants are cat friendly. Other summertime dangers to be aware of include:

Bee and wasp stings – like in humans, these usually only cause minor pain and irritation, but can be more serious if in the mouth/throat, your cat is stung multiple times, or if they have an allergic reaction. If your cat is stung in the mouth/throat, seems unwell in themselves or there is swelling of the area or around the mouth/face contact us for advice.
Slug/snail pellets – those containing metaldehyde can be severely toxic, even in small doses, causing neurological signs such as fitting. Other garden/DIY chemicals can also pose a risk – cats are unlikely to ingest these directly, but will lick themselves clean after walking over treated surfaces. Always check the safety of products you are using in the garden.
Toads – toads secrete venom from glands found on their skin that can be poisonous to pets that bite them, pick them up in their mouth or lick them. Symptoms may include pain, drooling and pawing at the mouth and can progress to more serious issues like collapse

If your cat has eaten something they shouldn’t, call us for advice.

Unfortunately, we do see more road traffic injuries in the summer. Neutered cats are less likely to roam, but for cats with outdoor access sadly roads will always pose a danger. Make sure your cat is microchipped and your details are up to date – that way if the worst does happen the vet can at least contact you.