We thought it was about time that we wrote an article on how to keep your cat safer. There are a few things you can do to make sure your furry family member is safe.
1. Neuter your cat:
Neutering your cat not only reduces the population of cats on the street, it also can lessen the chance of your cat getting into fights, contracting diseases through fighting and also reduces the risk of them wandering off to find a mate.
2. Microchip your cat:
Getting your cat chipped is very helpful for us to help get your cat home quickly and safely but also helps with your legal status on keepership.
3. Feed routinely:
We believe that most cats are creatures of habit and like to do the same things every day. Getting your cat into a strict feeding routine will help you a lot more than you think. You will be able to spot any problems with your cat and be able to pinpoint if your cat has gone missing if they don’t show up for their meal.
4. Collars:
Some cats refuse to wear a collar and that’s fine, but if you can get a collar, get a snap release collar as they will break if your cat get snagged on anything. (Reflective snap release collars are available on many online retail shops including Ebay). Our advice is to bulk buy them as they do come off regularly. If you feel someone is feeding your cat you can also get a collar that states ‘Do Not Feed’, or ‘On Medication’. When buying name tags please only place your phone number on them with a postcode rather than your cats name and your full address. You can also use a permanent marker to inscribe your telephone number on the inside of the collar. There are also barrels available that you can attach to your cats collar that you write on that are waterproof.
5. Beds:
Try getting your cat different kinds of beds. Some cats like to spread out in a bed and others like to hide away inside a cosy teepee. Try different beds to see which beds they like. Beds in your garden is also a good idea as cats like a place in the summer to hide away and having a secluded bed will reduce the risk of them seeking shelter in other people’s gardens.
6. Toys:
To make sure your cat doesn’t get bored at home, try lots of different toys to keep your cats mind active. You can Google the range of toys available for cats and some are quite cheap to buy too.
7. Enclosed Garden:
You can enclose your garden with specialised fencing or you can buy a Catio to allow your cat to be outside but secure in an outdoor pen.
8. Report:
Always trust your gut instinct if you feel something isn’t right with your cat. If they have been gone longer than usual then report as soon as you can. The quicker you report the quicker people in your area will be looking. Leaving a few days before reporting your cat might have gone further than your local area.
9. Moving Home.
If you are moving home then please keep your cat in 1-2 weeks BEFORE you move. Their routine will be disturbed and they are likely to run off. Also when you have moved into your new property please keep your cat in for at least 3-4 weeks, this will ensure that you can get step 3 (Feeding routine) set up. This will ensure that when your cat is allowed to go back outside that he/she doesn’t try and go back to their old house. When you do let your cat back out, let them out before their meal time, they will then come back in for their strict feeding routine that you have set up.
10. Security.
Setting up cctv around your property can also deter thieves from stealing your cat or causing damage to your cat. You can buy cctv quite cheaply nowadays online.
11. Indoor/Outdoor.
If you can keep your cat in at night that would be great. Cats often wander further away from home at night as it’s quieter. We know by experience that some cats refuse to stay indoors.
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