【VMC Vets Tips! | Heading outdoors with Cats? Why not!】
Have you ever seen your cat wandering by the window? Cats may not seem as excited as dogs when talking about outdoor activities but venturing outdoor does stimulate and revitalizes your cat! Before heading out on an adventure, here are some tips to make sure you and your beloved cat are safe and prepared.
Safety First!
- Don’t be pushy: Let your cat get ready in their own time. Some cats will find wearing a harness stressful at first and need further training.
- Identification: let your cat wear a quick release safety collar with an ID tag containing your details. In case your cat is injured or missing, people can contact you immediately.
- Vaccination: Cat can pick up diseases through contact or fighting with other animals. You can get prepared and check with your vet for any vaccination needed.
- Beware of sunburnt and heat stress: prolonged sun exposure can predispose your cat to skin cancer and heat stroke. Do keep your cat indoor during noontime and provide shade in your garden. You can ask your vet for advice for sunscreen that is suitable for cat.
Some cats are able to walk on cat leash, however, it takes some training before they can master it but beware not all cats tolerate harnesses or leashes. It is a good idea to start training them indoor first, in a step-by-step approach.
Here are some tips:
- Start indoor: you can purchase a harness and let you cat play with it. Then, let your cat try on the harness and wear it around the house.
- Type of the harness: You can choose a well-fitted walking vest or an H-harness.
- Walking with the leash: try walking around the house with your cat on a loose leash then try to gradually add some tension on the leash while moving and walking around in the house. Reward your cat with snacks when they respond to your move.
- Once you are confident that your cat is comfortable with the leash and not too nervous going out, you can try to practice just outside of your main door. Try to let your cat explore in the vicinity of your house while you are holding onto the leash.
Getting Ready for the outing!
- Initially, try to bring your cat to an area with less people, traffic, and noises. Observe any signs of distress while being out of the house, signs such as open-mouth breathing, excessive panting, appearance of nervousness, shivering, and hiding. If your cat seems too stressed while being out, then he or she may not be suitable for an outdoor life!
- Before heading out, make sure you bring some treats for your cat
- Keep the first outing short and sweet – it could even be just a few minutes. It is best to end the time with a positive experience. When you think your cat is up for the challenging outdoor lifestyle, gradually increase the length of time spent outside.
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Address: G-2/F, Trinity Towers, 339 Lai Chi Kok Road, Sham Shui Po
Online booking for revisit with primary care veterinarians or vaccination: https://www.cityuvmc.com.hk/en/online-booking