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Soaring Temperatures Bring Danger to Cats and Kittens Falling out of Windows

– Blue Cross ask owners to take steps and save their cats –

As nice as the hot summer weather has been it’s sure has meant that some of us have been suffering from extreme heat in our flats and houses. Sadly aircon units are not that wide spread on this side of the big pond as they are in the US.

Amidst this heat many of us will attempt to reduce heat by opening windows which can sadly pose an extreme health hazard to our feline friends! In addition to the sad story from BlueCross below and their own tips we’d also suggest to get window screens such as the ones offered by Cataire in the UK.

National pet charity Blue Cross is sending out a warning to cat owners about the dangers of balconies and open windows during warm weather. Owners are encouraged to put up screens or netting to save beloved pets from falling out after a four-month-old kitten is treated for broken bones at the charity’s Victoria hospital.

Every summer, the Blue Cross animal hospitals see a shocking number of cats being brought in with serious and sometimes fatal injuries after they’ve fallen foul of open windows and balconies.

Currently, the charity’s Victoria animal hospital is caring for Zana, a four-month-old kitten, following a fall from a second-story window this week. The tiny kitten badly fractured her rear leg and required surgery and an external fixator (metal rods to support the bone) to repair it. Zana now faces several weeks of rehabilitation and rest in foster care before she is able to find a new home.

Sadly, Zana’s original owners could not afford her treatment and future care so they decided that it would be best for the kitten to go to a new home where her needs can be met. Zana will be going to the charity’s rehoming centre in Lewknor where she’ll be seeking a new home once she’s better.

Alison Thomas, Senior Veterinary Surgeon at Victoria animal hospital said: “Every year we remind owners about the dangers of cats falling from windows and balconies. Like Zana, fall victims are often very young, experiencing their first summer and are curious to see a window or door open for the first time.”

Alison added: “Young cats often lose their footing and fall which can lead to devastating injuries, and older cats often fall when sleeping on a window ledge or balcony. Tiny Zana faces weeks of cage rest during such important and playful time of her life, it’s very sad to see. We really hope more owners will take heed and make their windows safe for their pets.”

To keep your cats safe and still enjoy a cooling breeze during the summer months, Blue Cross advises either installing tip and tilt windows which allow air into the room without offering access outside to curious cats or using netting or a screen across windows or balconies when they are open to prevent the cats getting out.

For more advice on keeping cats safe in summer, visit: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/keeping-cats-safe-summer

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