Cat Health - Keeping your Cat in at Night and Other Potentially Hazardous Times - Cat Health

KEEPING YOUR CAT IN AT NIGHT AND OTHER POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS TIMES

As soon as it gets dark your cat should be indoors, even if it’s only 4 o’clock in the afternoon.

The hazards of cats being outside during the dark doesn’t bear thinking about.  Most cats get injured or killed during the night when there’s an increased risk of road accidents, thefts and physical attacks.  More and more we are hearing about urban foxes roaming gardens at night and attacking cats.

If your cat doesn’t naturally come in at night, as many don’t, then serving something tasty to eat will encourage him.

Bonfire Night – your cat should NEVER be out on Bonfire Night or the few days before or after if it falls during the week.  Ask your neighbours if and when they’re having fireworks or a bonfire and keep you cat in.  Even though we have new legislation banning fireworks after 11pm at night and restricting sale to over 18s there is still plenty of reasons to keep your cat in.

I was caught out one year when a neighbour decided to have his family bonfire party 2 weeks after  the 5^th November.  As soon as I heard the commotion I went out to get Ambrose, my cat, in and was confronted by a terrified cat tearing around the garden, not knowing which way to go first.  Wild eyes and ears back, he saw me and ran at me as fast as he could, straight up my body and into my arms.  I, too, was pretty relieved to have him safe.  A normal, very sedate, very calm and cool, very laid back cat was turned into a wild, hunted beast.

New Year – more and more people are having fireworks at New Year, so keep your cat in.

Furniture and workmans vans and lorries – this has always been a bit of a bug-bear with me.  If I hear delivery lorries or see tradesman vans parked in our turning with their back or side doors open I always go and see where my cats are.  If they’re in sight and awake then I call them in.  If they’re in sight and asleep then I usually leave them and keep an eye on them.  If I can’t see them, I call them and get them in.

Some of my friends think I’m crazy, but I had a cat lost once (fortunately found after 10 days) and I don’t want to go through that again.