We all love it when the sun comes out but it’s important to keep your cat cool and safe.

Here's a few useful tips to keep your cat cool and hydrated. 

1. Provide some shade 

Cat's love to bask in the sunshine but can become affected by heatstroke over a prolonged period so ensure there are cooler, shady areas in your garden that your cat can enjoy. 

2. Never leave your cat in a car

As with dogs, cats can quickly overheat so never leave your cat in a car. If you have to make an unavoidable car journey, ensure you choose a carrier that has plenty of ventilation and doesn't attract the heat.  

3. Staying hydrated

Fresh clean water should always be available at home. We recommend ceramic or non-spill bowls to ensure they don’t accidentally knock their bowl over. Water should always be easily accessible in outside areas as well as indoor areas. 

 4. Food for thought

The digestion process can generate a surprising amount of body heat so it’s best to feed your cat during cooler periods, early in the morning or evening. If your cat is fed on wet food, avoid leaving their meals down during hot weather as it will attract flies. 

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Although it’s not a form of crime that many people often think about, pet theft is one of the cruellest and heart-breaking types of theft that can occur. Here in the UK, it’s been reported that 5 dogs are stolen daily on average with just one of these being safely recovered. It’s a sobering figure for any animal lover, so here’s a quick list of things you can do to stop your pet becoming a similar statistic.

Health awareness

Neutering your pet is a sensible decision to make if you want to prevent unwanted litters. The process can also reduce the distance that your cat will roam away from your home in search of a mate, Without this procedure, they are more likely to head further afield, expanding their territory. By venturing further from home, your pet becomes more prone to accident, injury and theft, as they may have more difficulty finding their way back home.

Always check ID and references

If you are heading off on holiday or you work long hours, you’re likely to need the services of a dog sitter or walking service. Before you leave your dog with anyone, do a thorough check of their ID and ideally ask to see references from other clients.

Always look for a company or individual with the correct industry accreditation and qualifications to ensure your pet is in safe hands whilst you’re away from them.

Home security

A significant proportion of pet thefts occur at your own home. Thieves are interested in any item of high-value, whether that is cash, jewellery and technology, or your pedigree pet. Investing in sufficient home security devices such as CCTV and security lighting can be an effective deterrent for thieves. Although no security system is 100 percent secure, the presence of a security device at your home is often enough to discourage criminals from targeting you.

Be careful what you say

As much as we all like to show off our furry accomplices to anyone that will listen, doing so in great detail isn’t always the best idea. As overly suspicious as it sounds, anyone you meet could be a potentially shady character, so beware of what information you divulge especially if your pet is a high-value breed.

Ensure your pet is microchipped

Since April 2016, the law has stated that dogs in particular have to be microchipped so that they can be identified if found separate from their owner.

Once implanted, any pet found alone or potentially seized by the authorities from criminals can then be scanned, identified and reunited with their owner. This method will also prevent someone else from claiming ownership of your pet as a quick check can settle the issue in an instant.

This article was contributed on behalf of Wheldon Law criminal solicitors firm with a speciality in defending dogs accused in court.

We all love it when the sun comes out but it’s important to keep your dog cool and safe to avoid heat stroke. Here's 5 useful tips to keep your dog cool and hydrated. 

 1. Stay out of the heat

Avoid spending unnecessary time in the sun and if you and your dog are spending time outside then ensure there is a cooler, shady area that your dog can enjoy.

 2. Never leave your dog in a car

On warm days it’s important that you never leave your dog in a car or caravan, even for a few minutes. Temperatures can soar very quickly even with the windows open.

 3. Staying hydrated

Fresh clean water should always be available at home. We recommend ceramic or non-spill bowls to ensure they don’t accidentally knock their bowl over. Keeping your dogs hydrated on the move has never been easier, there are so many different travel bowls and bottles available now.

 4. Food for thought
The digestion process can generate a surprising amount of body heat so it’s best to feed your dog during cooler periods, early in the morning or evening. Some boredom buster toys such a kongs can be stuffed with treats and the frozen, this is a fun way to help keep them cool.*

 5. Exercise wisely
Walk early in the morning or later in the evening when the pavements are cool. It’s always best to walk on the grass where possible. Ensure you take a bottle of water with you on your walks allowing for regular water breaks with a travel dog bowl. Try not to let your dog drink from puddles or lakes as these can lead to infection.

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