Never leave cats alone outdoors. If you do supervise their outdoor activity, the ASPCA offers these tips to avoid bites from poisonous animals. |
Plenty of outdoor activities abound during the summer months, and if you allow your cats outdoors or take them with you on camping trips, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) offers tips to keep them safe from poisonous animals.
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Keep cats on a leash. Allowing pets to roam free increases their odds of coming in contact with a snake, and owners can take control with an animal on a leash if contact is made with a poisonous animal.
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Don’t let cats investigate rock piles, debris, holes in the ground or in trees. These locations provide hiding spots for poisonous animals.
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Avoid evening walks and hikes where poisonous animals are known to live. Several species of poisonous animals are more active at night.
If you suspect your cat has been bitten, get veterinary attention immediately and keep your pet as relaxed and immobile as possible while help is sought. Common symptoms of a poisonous bite include generalized weakness, difficulty breathing, seizures, tremors and an abnormal heart rate.