Summer safety tips for cats

Owners are being urged to ensure their cats remain safe this summer with experts releasing a list of tips to keep felines happy in the warmer weather. The list has been compiled by Stourbridge Cats Protection.

The group cares for and rehomes unwanted cats in the area.

Experts say while most cats will be perfectly safe outdoors, there are a host of potential garden hazards for owners to look out for to keep their pets safe.

Lilies, barbecues and too much sun exposure are among the things which can prove harmful to felines during the summer.

The tips include reading the label on pest control products – slug pellets which contain metaldehyde can prove fatal to cats, so make sure any pest control products are safe for felines – and making sure barbecue coals are properly cooled with water as a cat can suffer nasty burns if he or she jumps onto them once the equipment has been used.

Other tips are:

* Check plants and flow-ers are feline friendly. Cer-tain plants and flowers can be toxic to cats, particularly lilies, even if a cat brushes against them before licking the pollen from its fur.

* Protect your cats from the sun. Like humans, cats can develop skin cancer from too much sun exposure.

* Keep the doors of sheds and greenhouses shut. Be careful not to accidentally trap cats inside outbuildings during hot weather.

* Ensure your cat has appropriate flea treatment. Fleas thrive in hot weather, so make sure your cat is protected against them. Your vet will be able to advise on the best treatment.