Cats are at their happiest when they’re allowed to roam outdoors - especially out in nature. Cats are the ultimate outdoor ‘survivalists’. They’re very good at looking after themselves, but there are still some hazards in the outdoors that your cat may need to be protected from.
1. Cars.
You won’t be able to hold your cat’s paw every time it crosses a road, and given that cats are most likely to roam at night time when it is most difficult for drivers them, some protective measures can include:
- Keeping your kitty indoors at night
- Giving your cat a reflective collar to wear
- Desexing your kitty to prevent him/her from getting the urge to wander around the neighborhood to find a mate.
- Watch out for your old cat on the driveway – they might not be able to move out of the way as quickly as in their younger days!
2. Fleas and ticks.
Both fleas and ticks can be picked up when cats wander through long grass, leaf litter, under houses, or when interacting with other animals.
Fleas are much easier to prevent than ticks as there are many effective flea treatments on the market - some of them are much safer than others!
Ticks are much harder to prevent, because the chemicals that are effective against ticks also tend to make cats sick. Luckily, cats are excellent groomers and in general will remove ticks from anywhere on their body that they can reach – which means you should especially check the head, chin, ears and neck (under the collar!) for any ticks that could not be reached.
3. Worms.
Cats can get worms from other cats, from fleas and mosquitoes, from eating grass, and from eating things like lizards, frogs, snails etc. Cats should be regularly dewormed with products that kill or prevent intestinal worms (including tapeworm), heartworm and lungworms.
4. Skin cancer.
Cats with white fur around their ears, eyes and noses will be especially prone to developing skin cancer from sun exposure. These cats should be kept indoors between 10 am and 3 pm. Applying sunscreen regularly is really not a great or easy option for cats.
5. Rabies.
Cats are most at risk from getting rabies because they might hunt animals, or at least be at risk of exposure to animals, that are known to carry rabies – these include bats, skunks and foxes. Vaccination is important to prevent Rabies.
6. Dogs.
Most cats can out-run and out-jump dogs, unless they get cornered, and even then they will put up quite a fight with some fierce weapons. Old cats, deaf cats and physically impaired cats are at risk of dog attack. Protect these cats by keeping them indoors, or in a yard that is protected from dogs.
7. Snakes.
If you live in an area with venomous snakes or pythons (Florida!) be aware that cats can be bitten when trying to play with a venomous snake, preyed upon by larger snakes such as pythons if you live in the South. Again, keep your cats in at night.
Ideally, cats should be kept indoors at nighttime – this protects both the cat and the local wildlife. During the day, cats are much lazier and sleepier, so they can get some quality outdoors time without the hazards that occur more often at night. Talk to your veterinarian about vaccinations, worming products, steps to prevent fleas and ticks, and the sterilization options that are best suited to your cat and its lifestyle.
