Spring with your cat
Spring is the season to come out of hibernation and enjoy the warming weather. Cats, as well as people enjoy the warmth that Spring brings. The bright sunny days fill us and our cats with energy and mischief. During this time we can see more cats playing and frolicking in the sun. Spring with your cat can be full of fun, but can also be full of unseen dangers that cat owners need to look out for. Things like blooming flowers and extra pollens can be a cause for concern and we talk about the dangerous Spring plants more here. Cats can also suffer from allergic reactions and heat strokes during this season, indoor cats are particularly sensitive to the sun and we need to be careful to limit their exposure to the harsh mid-day sun as their noses are extra sensitive and can get sun-burnt.
Spring cleaning and home improvement:
In many households, spring cleaning is a part of the welcoming of Spring tradition. Make sure chemicals, cleaning supplies and home renovation items are stored away from cats. Unlike with children, putting it on a high shelf doesn’t make it safe. Make sure that the lids are always securely on and any excess is wiped up. The paints, mineral spirits and solvents can cause severe irritation and chemical burns. It’s also important to keep power tools and other renovation tools away from your precious furriends so they don’t accidentally knock them over, step on them or injure themselves. Ideally, you should keep your cat in a pet-friendly room throughout the time of the home improvement projects.
Keep cats away from party foods:
With the weather warming up there will be a lot more get togethers and parties. Whilst this is fun for you and the rest of your guests, in all the confusion your cat is more vulnerable. You need to be aware what kinds of human food are unsafe for your cat and make sure your guests do not feed the food to your pet. Your cat should be specially kept away from desserts (chocolate, grapes) and all alcohol. If you are planning to hold a barbeque party, keep your cat protected from the barbeque hazards (gas and fire). Keep an eye out and watch for strange behaviour changes in your cat as this could be a sign of them having eaten something unsafe.
Garden safety:
Spring is the time of rebirth and gardening is on everyone’s list of activities during this season. If you have an outdoor cat, make sure that your garden is a safe place for your cat. We often use fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides to keep our plants healthy. If your cat consumes the leaves and flowers of those plants, it might prove to be fatal. Read the labels to know that which one will be harmful for your cat or kitten. Ingredients like cocoa shell mulch which has chocolate content in it must not be used. Watch out for symptoms like drooling, twitching, tremors and seizures. Whenever, you see any such symptom in your cat, rush them to your vet. If they get treated at the right time, they have a much higher chance of surviving and it can even avoid having any long term effect.
Poisonous plants:
In the spring season we love to see several types of flowers in our garden. But, some of the spring flowers like, lilies, azaleas and rhododendron are highly toxic for cats. It your cat consumes any of these flowers, it might turn out to be fatal. So, if you notice any sign of poisoning, like, diarrhea, appearing drunk, excessive salivation, etc. consider contacting the vet immediately. A more comprehensive post on flower safety around cats can be found here (insert link).
Dehydration and heat stroke: During the spring season because of the hot weather, cats also need to consume more water to prevent dehydration. If their water bowl is dirty or not regularly changed, they might suffer from dehydration, which often leads to more severe complications. Overheating in the hot weather or increased activity can result in the excessive loss of fluid in the body. Thus, your cat should get access to fresh water all the time in order to stay hydrated. It is also important to make sure they have access to shade areas to get out of the sun to avoid sunburn or heat stroke.
Spring with your cat can be an enjoyable time for us both, so let’s keep it that way!
