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Cats and Summer Time
Tips for Moggys at play

We all know how much cats love to sunbathe and chase flying insects around the garden, so here are a few tips to help keep your cat safe.

Cats get sunburn too!

I know all of our cats love to lie in the garden all day if it's sunny and who can blame them?

Cats who have pale ears and noses are at risk from getting sunburn just as we are; they can even get skin cancer.

To help prevent this try and keep your cats in during the hottest hours of the day (11am – 2pm), if this is not possible you can put sunscreen on their ears and noses.

Ask your vet which type of sunscreen is safe to put on your cat. You need to obtain a non-toxic brand or buy a specialist brand just for pets, since your cat is likely to lick some of it off. Using it is very straightforward, just apply to the ears and nose a few times a day.

Bee & Wasp stings

They fly, so as far as your cat is concerned, it's potential prey, but if your cat is stung in the mouth or throat it could cause swelling and block the airway.

If your cat is stung in the mouth/throat take it to the vets straight away.

Cats are often stung on the paws, which can be treated at home:

• Bee stings are acidic so carefully remove the sting and bathe in Bicarbonate of soda and water.
• Wasp stings are alkaline so bathe the area in vinegar or lemon juice.

Heatstroke

If you suspect your cat has heatstroke you must act quickly, symptoms of heatstroke include:

• Panting
• Drooling
• Anxiety
• Dark red tongue and gums
• Lethargy
• Vomiting

If your cat displays these symptoms get it into a cool area, and wrap it up in a cold wet towel and phone your vet as soon as possible.

Follow these tips and your cat should be able to play happily out in the sunshine for the rest of the summer.