The next publish first appeared on iCatCare on the thirtieth of July 2018 right here.

As everyone knows, the Climate may be extraordinarily unpredictable – one second it’s sizzling and sunny, the subsequent there may be torrential flooding. Regardless of the climate, it is very important be sure that cats are secure and cared for.
Cats are superb at caring for themselves, however generally they want somewhat assist. If you’re nervous about how the climate may have an effect on your cat, please check out the ideas beneath that cowl heatwaves, floods and winter climate.

Heatwaves

Many people love the nice and cozy and sunny climate, as do nearly all of cats. Nonetheless, if the temperature turns into excessive, be certain your cat has loads of recent water. Changing the water just a few instances a day can encourage the cat to drink, and inserting a number of bowls round the home and backyard will be sure that water is in simple attain the place ever your cat could also be residing.

Most cats will get pleasure from a sleep within the sunshine after which retire to a shady spot once they get too sizzling – in any case, they’ve developed from desert animals. Guarantee your cat has just a few cool and shady spots to retreat to dotted round the home and backyard – cats will usually discover these themselves however serving to to supply the spots might help. Merely opening the home windows to let in a breeze also can assist present a cool space to relaxation. Additionally don’t be stunned in the event you discover your cat mendacity on the tiles on the kitchen ground or within the bathtub – tiles and supplies corresponding to porcelain preserve cool and so cats can gravitate in direction of them when they’re somewhat too sizzling.

Some extra suggestions for serving to preserve cats cool in sizzling climate may be summarised within the infographic beneath:

Click on right here to obtain

Though most cats can take care of themselves, they could be confined to a room or conservatory which will get very popular and heatstroke can generally happen. Being conscious of the signs of heatstroke is all the time worthwhile, as then you are ready for any eventuality. These signs embrace:

• extreme panting
• lethargy
• drooling
• fever
• vomiting
• collapse or unconsciousness.

If you’re nervous about your cat or suspect they’re affected by heatstroke, please seek the advice of your veterinarian.

All the time test sheds, greenhouses and summerhouses earlier than closing them up. Cats can discover their manner inside if they’re searching for a shady spot to chill down in, and it’s best to keep away from trapping them inside as they may turn into dehydrated. This may even assist forestall the variety of cats that fear their homeowners by going lacking for a few nights – or till the shed is reopened once more. The identical goes for checking vehicles – in the event you depart your home windows open to let the automobile quiet down, all the time test {that a} cat hasn’t snuck inside earlier than you drive away.

Be certain that your cat is microchipped in order that if it finally ends up locked in another person’s shed or wanders off one night on a hunt, you can each be reunited as shortly as doable. In case you discover a cat in your personal shed/summerhouse and it doesn’t have a collar and tag that you should use to ring the proprietor, take the cat to your native vet. If the cat has a microchip, the vet will be capable to detect this and phone the cat’s homeowners.

Floods

Floods can hit at any time of 12 months, whatever the season, and might have an effect on tons of of houses and households. If you’re a cat proprietor in a flood-affected space or an space that’s liable to flooding, we recommend you think about the next:

• Maintain your cat indoors, ideally upstairs, till the chance of flooding has subsided.
• Maintain a provide of recent water, meals, bedding, litter trays and medicine someplace secure, dry and simply accessible.
• Maintain your cat service at hand in case you have to vacate your house quickly.
• Maintain your cat’s important paperwork (microchip particulars; vaccination information) in a sealed bag or different waterproof container in an simply accessible location.

If you need to depart your house, take your cat securely in its service, ensuring to take meals, bedding, water, bowls and documentation with you, in case it’s a while earlier than you’ll be able to return residence.

Snow and colder temperatures

Getting into winter sometimes means a mess of issues – the nights get darker, the temperature will get colder and the climate will get worse. These modifications not solely have an effect on us but additionally have an effect on our cats. Beneath are some sensible suggestions that homeowners can use to maintain their cats secure through the chilly winter months.

Litter trays

When you’ve got an older or unwell cat, or the climate turns into very excessive, and your cat is unable to enterprise exterior, it might be helpful to supply litter trays in the home. These must be stuffed with the cat’s most well-liked litter and positioned in quiet areas to encourage the cat to make use of them. When you’ve got a multi-cat family, a number of trays must be supplied at completely different places round the home (to keep away from competitors and battle over territory). Cats are clear animals and so spoiled litter must be eliminated and changed as quickly as doable. Click on right here for extra recommendation on litter trays and their use.

Meals and water

Over the winter your cat might eat extra which can assist it with temperature regulation and insulation, nevertheless, monitoring weight and physique dimension are nonetheless necessary. Many cats choose to remain indoors through the chilly and moist climate, that means they could eat extra and do much less train. Offering enrichment and monitoring their weight will be sure that they keep wholesome.

Whether or not your cat is ready to enterprise exterior or is saved indoors, offering recent clear water for it’s important. In case you preserve a bowl exterior, frequently test it to make sure that it hasn’t frozen over and be sure that it’s clear. Keep away from placing chemical compounds in ponds and water options the place doable as cats will typically drink from these, which may be dangerous and in some instances, deadly (as with antifreeze). Be certain that any spills are cleaned totally as contamination of the fur and paws will also be dangerous.

Outdoor or indoors?

Holding a cat inside when it’s used to going out might not all the time be doable, so in case your cat is allowed out then guarantee it’s microchipped. If cats do get misplaced or into any bother and are taken to a shelter/vets, they are going to be scanned for a microchip that may include proprietor particulars, ensuing of their secure return residence. If there are roads and pavements close to you which are gritted/salted and your cat is more likely to wander over them, it’s advisable to wipe its toes with a humid towel to take away extra rock salt or different chemical compounds that might be groomed off and ingested (this might be dangerous). Moreover, test their paws frequently for indicators of damage, frostbite or dermatitis (sore and irritated paws attributable to contact with rock salt and many others). Most pet cats sleep in our houses, however when you’ve got a road or feral cat which you feed and which sleeps within the storage/shed moderately than the home, make it possible for it has a heat mattress that’s free from drafts, and blankets to maintain it heat in a single day. When temperatures get very low, it’s advisable to convey cats indoors to sleep.

Within the case of snow/ice storms or very low temperatures, cats ought to be saved inside to maintain them secure. Storms may be very disorientating, and your cat might lose its manner or get injured, whereas freezing temperatures also can end in damage. Holding cats inside implies that you need to present them with enrichment. This may be within the type of a cat tower, scratching publish, puzzle ball or toy, which can preserve them stimulated (and assist them get somewhat train) – see our cat pleasant residence web page for some concepts on enriching their setting. Some home items could also be hazardous to cats, so make your self conscious of those. Cats may additionally discover some leisure from taking part in with family vegetation, however once more a few of these may be hazardous – see our full checklist right here.

Hotspots

Cats get pleasure from being heat and so will search for ‘hotspots’. Heat engines in parked vehicles appeal to cats, who might preserve themselves toasty by curling up in wheel arches, between the wheels or underneath the hood. When you’ve got a neighborhood cat which does this, earlier than beginning your automobile, all the time faucet on the hood and test between the tyres to make sure that a cat isn’t hiding there. As they get pleasure from being heat, cats may additionally gravitate in direction of radiators and fireplaces. Stop potential burns by defending your cat from open fireplaces, wooden stoves and house heaters. You may also place blankets over radiators to maintain your cat glad and secure.

Aged or sick cats

Cats that are inactive, have misplaced muscle tone/weight or have bother sustaining their physique temperature will want some additional care through the winter. Guarantee they’ve enough heat, draft-free locations to sleep and loosen up – an arthritic cat will particularly respect a bit of additional heat. Cats which want somewhat additional assist getting round might discover regular duties like getting by means of the cat flap more durable when the ground is icy and the cat flap is somewhat more durable to push open so be aware of this and assist them the place doable. Holding older and sick cats inside through the chilly will assist preserve them wholesome and secure.