Cats Herd You

Laugh. Learn. Love cats.

  • Home
  • Safety
  • Wellness
  • Rescue
  • Reviews
  • Life With Cats
  • About
  • Media Friendly
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Archives for Safety

Cat Safety for Halloween

How can you keep your cat safe this Halloween? Depending on how much trick-or-treating happens in your neighborhood and how much you love to decorate for the holiday, these tips can help:

Keep your indoor-outdoor cat inside, at least for the evening

If you have lots of scary strangers walking up the front walk in costumes over and over, it increases the likelihood of your outdoor cat being frightened and going missing or having an accident happen.

Make a quiet spot away from the front door’s constant ringing and opening

You may want to play some soothing music in the room to help cover the doorbell noises for the anxious cat. Some cats are calmer when they have a place to hide, so try providing a box or other hiding spot. If your cat is really anxious about the doorbell and door, consider sitting on your porch to hand out candy so that the bell isn’t causing such agitation.

gray tabby cat in cardboard box

Make sure your cat has ID

Since your kitty won’t carry an ID card, both a collar and microchip are suggested to make sure that if trick-or-treaters or Halloween revelers spook your cat and she ends up lost, someone can help her get home safely.

Be careful with Halloween decor

It’s not manufactured to be a safe cat toy and may have unhealthy components or pieces that are easily torn off by a playful cat, such as gauzy fake spiderwebs, which can cause blockages if ingested. Don’t forget that a candle inside a jack-o-lantern is still an open flame and can be dangerous if knocked down. Consider using a battery-powered, artificial candle instead.

black and white tuxedo kitten and pumpkin with C on it

Watch out for Halloween toys that weren’t meant for cats and might be a hazard

Glow sticks, enjoyed by children instead of flashlights while trick-or-treating, can be toxic.

If you’re going to dress kitty up in a costume, even just for photos, do it safely

If your cat isn’t used to wearing clothes, watch for signs of distress and don’t overdo it if your kitty gets upset. Be sure that the costume isn’t too tight for your cat to draw a deep breath and doesn’t obscure your cat’s vision.

black and white tuxedo kitten wears green Starbucks apron

Don’t share Halloween candy with your cat

If you have a cat like Ashton who will eat almost anything, whether it’s species-appropriate or not, make sure that candy is stored out of reach or in a sealed container.

Keeping your cat safe on Halloween. #cats #catsafety #halloweensafety
Share Email this to someone
email
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Share on Tumblr
Tumblr
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

October 31, 2018 Filed Under: Safety 13 Comments

This is Only a Drill

This time of year, when you live in Florida, it’s important to keep an eye on the hurricane map and be prepared. And there has been a lot going on there on the map!

orange tabby cat looks at national hurricane canter map with three Atlantic storms

We live in the center of Florida, which is where the people from the coast evacuate to during big storms, so our chances of having to evacuate for a hurricane aren’t high. We are more likely to need to be prepared for brush fire season in the winter. Either way, it’s important to be prepared.

I recently repacked all of the travel/evacuation necessities into a big, plastic bin, and that got me to thinking: can I fit this, all the cats, and two humans in my  car? I have a small car because I don’t like driving a big one, but this is one time it could be more of a liability. I needed to do a drill to be sure the bin and carriers would all fit in my car.

the catmobile

The carriers we use most often for vet trips are the Sleepypod mobile pet beds, which are bulky. I can’t put three of them in the back seat. I’m not sure you could fit them in a larger car or SUV that way, either. But the cats treat them as beds around the house, so they would be the fastest thing to grab in an evacuation. I had to figure out how to fit them in the car.

Cupcake usually rides on her outings in a smaller, more traditionally-shaped carrier, so I needed to include one of those in the packing plans, too. Without a passenger, I could fit one Sleepypod in the front seat and secure two secure in the back seat with Cupcake’s carrier nestled between them. But I needed to keep the passenger space clear for this simulation.

With that in mind, I put down all the seats in the catmobile, which reminded me that my tiny car has more space than it looks like inside. This might just work, I thought.

I started putting the bin and empty carriers into the car.

Sleepypods in the back of car in evacuation configuration

The front carrier is partially sticking off the end of the cargo area in the photo above, but there was enough space to shuffle them around and get it safely supported.

Behind the carriers, I was able to easily fit the bin of cat evacuation necessities, a small cooler, and a piece of luggage. In an actual evacuation, we would be taking a lot more than a small piece of luggage, and I mentally reserved space for important things like computers I wasn’t going to bring out into the driveway during this drill.

Sleepypods in the back of car in evacuation configuration

The exercise successfully proved I would have plenty of space without needing to bring the old, plastic carriers down out of my attic.

If you have never taken all of your cats in the car at once, it’s worth taking a few minutes to ensure that you can fit them all in somehow in case of emergency. I’ll sleep better knowing I don’t have to rely on someone with a bigger vehicle help me evacuate in case of emergency.

orange tabby cats sit in Sleepyod mobile pet bed

Share Email this to someone
email
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Share on Tumblr
Tumblr
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

September 10, 2018 Filed Under: Safety 10 Comments

Printable Cat Hurricane Kit Checklist

June 1 is the official beginning of hurricane season, and that means it’s time to make sure both humans and cats are prepared. We created a printable version of our cat hurricane kit checklist to help you assemble your own emergency kit so you don’t forget anything at the last minute.

Food

When you are gathering food supplies for the upcoming storm season, don’t forget your cats. Gather two week’s supply of food for your cats, whether it’s kibble or canned food. Canned food is great because it contains moisture already, and hurricanes can leave you without power and air conditioning, making hydration even more important.

Some moist food comes packaged in pouches instead of cans. These are great for your cat hurricane kit because they don’t weigh as much, and when you need to carry a lot of them, the weight of the cans themselves can start to add up!

gray tabby cat checks out the contents of evacuation bag

If your cat’s moist food doesn’t come in pouches, don’t forget a way to open and serve your canned food. A can opener and spoon can save you a lot of frustration.

For cats who usually eat a raw diet, you have the option to continue feeding raw during emergencies with freeze-dried raw food that you reconstitute with water. Keep in mind that most freeze-dried raw food suggests using warm water, something that isn’t readily available from the tap or microwave oven if the power is unavailable. Also, make sure you include extra water in your supply for your cat if you plan to reconstitute freeze-dried raw food so your cat has a fresh supply to drink, too.

It’s a good idea to write down feeding instructions for your cat and keep them in your cat hurricane kit. These are useful if you have to board your cat during an evacuation.

Cat Litter

Something your cats can’t do without is a place to take care of litter box business. Including disposable litter pans and litter in your emergency kit ensure you are prepared in case you have to evacuate to a location where neither is handy.

You can buy disposable litter trays at most pet supply stores. Another option is a roasting pan like you would use for cooking a turkey. These can often be found on clearance sale after the holidays, so that’s a good chance to stock up for cat hurricane kit.

Disaster peparedness kit

Don’t forget to include basics for cleanup. Plastic garbage bags for disposal are a minimum requirement, since it’s unlikely you will find a large enough bag handy in a motel or other evacuation location. If you can include a small broom and dustpan set in your kit, that will help you clean up the cat litter that tends to track beyond the box.

Safety

Having enough carriers for each of your cats is important in case of evacuation. Include identification on the carrier that includes a way to contact you when you aren’t at home, like your mobile phone.

That same number should be on the ID attached to your cat’s collar. If your cat doesn’t regularly wear a collar, you may still want to include one in your emergency kit for an extra measure of security in case your cat slips away from you during an emergency. If your cat uses a harness and leash, include one of those in your emergency kit, too.

Ashton wears a collar

You probably have a flashlight in the hurricane kit you prepared for humans, but it’s a good idea to have one for your cat, too. A small flashlight can clip onto your cat’s carrier and help you check on her during an evacuation or be used to give her some light if she has to eat in a dark location during an electrical outage.

Medications

Keep a two week supply of your cat’s medications on hand in your emergency kit so you can evacuate with them, if necessary. You will need to rotate these every couple months for freshness, so go ahead and set a calendar reminder in your phone now so you don’t forget.

Speaking of forgetting, if your cat uses insulin or another medication that has to be refrigerated, make a note to yourself and attach it to your cat hurricane kit. If you have to evacuate, you will be in a hurry and under a lot of stress, so it’s easy to forget things you can’t store with the rest of your supplies.

one-eyed brown tabby cat with pharmaceutical drugs

If your cat uses flea and tick preventative, include a month’s worth of that in your kit, too.

Take time now to write out a list of medication instructions. These are useful if your cat must be boarded during an evacuation.

Documents

Bring a written description of your cat as well as a recent photo. A photo that includes both you and your cat is a good idea, too, since it is a quick way to show someone this really is your cat. Printed copies are great, but you can also keep these on your phone.

Another thing that often helps you show ownership of a cat is your cat’s microchip. If your cat is microchipped, be sure to include a record of the chip number as well as the company where you registered the chip so you can call them if your cat is misplaced during an emergency.

Take time before an emergency to get copies of vital vet records, especially your cat’s rabies certificate and recent vaccination records. Without proof of vaccinations, your cat may not be allowed into a hurricane shelter or boarding facility.

If your cat has a health condition, include more records and even a written prescription for any medications in your cat hurricane kit so an unfamiliar veterinarian can get up to speed quickly on your cat’s condition if you need to make an unexpected visit.

Comfort Items

Cats are creatures of routine, and having to leave home for an evacuation is disruptive and frightening to the most mellow house cat. Make sure you include some of your cat’s favorite toys in your hurricane kit, even if you think they may not play with them when they’re stressed out.

gray tabby cat hides under cloudpuff blankie

If you have to evacuate, bring along a blanket or other comfort item that smells like home. That can be like a small spot of comfort in a big, unfamiliar world for a cat suddenly in a new place. This is something you probably can’t include in your hurricane kit, so add it to your list of “don’t forget” items the way you would refrigerated medications.

Your Cat Hurricane Kit

Download a printable version of our cat hurricane kit checklist and customize it as needed.

Cat Hurricane Kit Checklist

You can gather your cat hurricane kit into a piece of luggage, a bag, or a plastic bin. Either way, keep it handy, and hopefully you won’t need to use it this hurricane season.

A Hurricane Kit Checklist for your Cat. Be sure you have all the food, medication, safety items, and documents you need.
Share Email this to someone
email
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Share on Tumblr
Tumblr
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

June 1, 2018 Filed Under: Safety 13 Comments

Take Back Leftover Veterinary Drugs this Saturday

During spring cleaning, I think I discovered that I am a veterinary prescription drug hoarder.

Pierre was prescribed an appetite stimulant and then started eating before they were all used. Ashton was prescribed liquid meds and I have to get pills instead. And so on. Pretty soon, we end up with all kinds of leftover medications.

one-eyed brown tabby cat with pharmaceutical drugs

The next logical question is how to get rid of them. Flushing unused medications down the toilet or drain is a bad idea. Water treatment plants are really meant for treating human waste, not for eliminating pharmaceuticals. That means medications flushed down the toilet are going into the environment, where they can sicken or kill wildlife. Drugs thrown into the trash end up in landfills, and those can seep into the environment, too.

The US Geological Survey has already found levels of drugs like antibiotics, hormones, and contraceptives in 80% of the rivers and streams tested in part of a nationwide study.Other studies have shown that fish and other wildlife can be adversely affected by pharmaceuticals, even after the medications are expired.

Drugs were found in 80% of US rivers and streams

This Saturday, April 29th, there are drug take-back events across the US to allow you to safely dispose of your medications without endangering the water supply. You can locate an event near you on the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s web site US Drug Enforcement Administration’s web site.

If you need to dispose of medications other times of year, you can:

  • Call your city or county government’s household trash and recycling service to ask whether a drug take-back program is available in your community. Some counties hold periodic household hazardous waste collection days, where over-the-counter and prescription drugs are accepted at a set location.
    Ask your pharmacist whether he or she knows of any medicine disposal programs in your area.
  • Find a local, independent pharmacy in your area who participates in drug disposal through the disposemymeds.com.
  • Locate another site in your area accepting drug disposals through the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy drug disposal locator.
  • Ask your veterinarian. Only vets with state or federal authorization to collect medications for disposal can take back medication, but your vet might know of one.

If there aren’t any drug take-back events in your area, you can purchase special postage-paid packages from your local pharmacy that send medications back to a medical waste company. Some medications are ineligible for this program, so read the fine print before you purchase.

You can use most of these same resources for disposing of human medications, too, except your veterinarian is not likely to be able to help with unused human medications.

Let’s keep things that don’t belong in the trash out of it, including medications.

gray tabby cat in trash basket


Reference and further reading

US Environmental Protection Agency, Contaminants of Concern Including Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care ProductsContaminants of Concern Including Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products
US Geological Survey, Pharmaceuticals, Hormones, and Other Organic Wastewater Contaminants in U.S. Streams
US Department of Justice, National Take-Back Initiative

Share Email this to someone
email
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Share on Tumblr
Tumblr
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

April 28, 2017 Filed Under: Safety Tagged With: Ashton, Pierre 16 Comments

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 13
  • Next Page »

Read Ashton’s Story in Rescued, Volume 2

These pawtographed books support Candy's Cats, who work tirelessly to find homes for cats in Florida.

Rescued, Volume 2: The Healing Stories of 12 Cats, Through Their Eyes. Proceeds from authographed copies benefit Candy's Cats.


Outside the US, contact us for shipping to your location.

Read Us by Email

Don't miss a thing! Cats delivered to your email.

Privacy Policy












Archives

All Rights Reserved

Articles and images on this site may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. Please contact me if you are interested in reprinting or in having me write something unique for you.

Disclaimer

There are no veterinarians here. All health-related posts are the result of research and observation, but educational information is not a substitute for visiting your veterinarian. Do not self-diagnose your cat. For more information, see our disclaimer.

Policies

Disclosure Statement
Privacy Policy
Commenting Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Sometimes Cats Herd You · All Rights Reserved