Things to keep in mind for your cat this summer

Regularly Provide Fresh Water

An obvious tip, but still an important one. Dehydration is a common problem amongst all pets throughout the summer season, so it’s important to keep your cat hydrated. So make sure you regularly provide your cat with cool fresh water to prevent them from getting dehydrated and give them a refreshing drink. You can also put one or two ice cubes in their bowl to help make the water just a little bit cooler.

Parasite Prevention

Your cat will most likely be spending a lot of their time outside during summer, which means they’re more open to the risk of flea and tick infestation. Once an infestation starts, it can become very irritable and painful, so it’s best to take steps to prevent your cat from catching an infestation as soon as possible. First, find out as much as you can about parasite prevention from your vet. Next, you’ll need to keep an eye out for any signs of fleas or ticks on your cat. This can include your cat seeming more restless than usual, as well as more scratching and chewing on certain parts of the body. Excessive licking of their coat is another potential sign of infestation, as many cats will groom the fleas/ticks out of their coats before you’ve had a chance to see them. If you notice any of these signs, take your cat to the vet immediately.

Poison Protection

As well as being more open to fleas and ticks with more time outside, your cat will also have more chance to come into contact with things they might not usually have before. With more wildlife out and about in the summer weather, there will be a higher volume of insecticides and rodent poisons on the ground in your local area, including your own. This leaves your cat open to the risk of ingesting these poisons, which are severely harmful to them. So if you plan on taking your cat outside, pay close attention to the ground to the area to be sure nothing poisonous has been sprayed there.

Pool Safety

As many kitty owners will tell you, cats are not natural water-babies. So if you’ve decided to bust out the paddling pool to provide the kids with some fun, you should always keep an eye on your cat around deep water. It’s very easy for cats to jump onto the pool’s side and slip in, so make sure you’re always aware of where your cat is around the paddling pool. You should also research any pools in your local area. Cats are well known for leaving the house on their own adventures. So you’ll want to be secure in the knowledge that any local pools are safe from cats finding their way inside and slipping into the pool.

Party Precautions

As soon as the summer sun makes its first appearance, you and your friends will be planning on getting the BBQ out and partying all day. But your cat is on a stricter diet than you, so you should always be wary of your cat’s surroundings. If you feel that your cat is very likely to have a nibble on something while no one is looking, you can keep him indoors while you’re outside. However, if you’d prefer to let them outside, make sure to let your friends know to properly dispose of their leftovers so that the cat can’t get to them. Also, you’re very likely to have alcohol at your summer party. Alcohol is very poisonous to cats, so it’s important that you keep an eye out for any spills or abandoned drinks. You should also ask your friends to be extra vigilant about making sure they don’t spill anything and properly dispose of their empty bottles/left drinks.