With spring in the air, many vets are reminding us that the great outdoors holds a lot of potential dangers to our cats . Dr. James Brousse, a Georgia vet, discusses the main outdoor threats to your cat, which he puts in five categories: fleas, bacterial and viral diseases, ticks, mosquitoes, and allergies. We would add a few to that list: the danger of traffic, poisons from lawn and garden treatments, and predator animals such as coyotes and foxes.
Many vets suggest that the best way to keep your cat healthy is to keep your cat indoors. The Humane Society is a great proponent of safe cats (pdf), pointing out that indoor cats are healthier and live longer. They offer great advice on transforming a free-roaming cat into a safe indoor cat.
But if you are going to let your cat explore the great outdoors, here are some suggested seasonal tips for keeping your cat healthy:
- Visit the veterinarian once or twice a year for tests and evaluations
- Administer preventive medicine for heart worm and flea prevention
- Check for flea dirt regularly
- Check your pet daily for ticks
- Clean your house and your pet often – vacuuming is the No. 1 weapon against fleas and allergies
