Cats and cars – Vet Darren Partridge has vital winter safety advice
January 7, 2023
Winter can be a dangerous time for cats, especially when it comes to cars. Head Vet Darren Partridge, has some vital advice for cat owners on how to keep their cats safe this season.
To help you and your cat further, we’ve got a handy image you can share on your social media pages below, or you can download here:
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Car winter warmers
When it’s cold outside, cats will instinctively find somewhere warm to take shelter. If that’s outside, your cat may head for a car.
According to Darren, cats are often attracted to the warmth of a car’s engine and may crawl up under the bonnet to take shelter from the cold. This can be a major problem, as the car’s engine can become very hot when it is running and can cause serious injury (or worse) to your cat.
To prevent this from happening, Darren advises that it is important to check your car’s engine before starting it, especially on cold winter days. Make sure to look under the bonnet and around the front of the car and tap on the bonnet to alert any cats that may be hiding there. You should also make sure to keep your car’s bonnet secured, as cats may be able to open it if it’s not properly latched.
To help you spread this important message, you can share our winter cat safety advice for drivers image on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter – remember to tag Molesey Vets!
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Car accidents
Another winter danger for cats in relation to cars is the risk of being hit by a vehicle. Cats are often drawn to roads (and driveways) where they may be at risk of being struck by a passing car. To prevent this from happening, it is important to encourage your cat indoors more during the winter months, especially at night, and try to supervise them when they are outside.
Darren advises all cats owners in Surrey to get their cat microchipped as soon as possible. If your cat is microchipped already, are your contact details up to date? It can be upsetting to think about, but the reality is that a microchip may be the only way for our team at Molesey Vets, or another vet practice, to contact you if your cat is brought in after an accident.
Contact us to book a cat microchipping appointment.
If you have persuaded your cat to wear a collar, you should keep their identification tags up to date too, in case they do get lost or injured. Overall, winter can be a dangerous time for cats, especially when it comes to cars. To protect your cat, Darren’s advice is to check your car’s engine before starting it, keep the bonnet secured, and encourage your cat indoors more or supervise them when they are outside. By taking these precautions, you can help to keep your cat safe and warm during the cold winter months in Surrey.
