Summer cat safety and travel tips

Vacation. Fireworks. Heat. Summer has a lot going on, and it isn’t all cat-friendly. But there are things you can do to make this season — and every season — easier for your cat kid. 
Looking for ways to keep your cat safe during summer celebrations or heat waves? Traveling with a cat? Boarding your cat kid or hiring a cat sitter? Read on for safety hacks and cat travel tips.

cat safety during summer celebrations

While cat parents may revel in 4th of July fireworks, backyard BBQs, and even summer thunderstorms, cat kids usually do the opposite. A few tweaks in your summer routine can help your cat kid feel better about the season.

• Keep your cat kid inside during particularly rowdy events that may include fireworks, firecrackers, or other loud noises, and make sure they’re microchipped or wearing an ID collar just in case they escape.
• Set up a soothing space in your home where they can retreat for some relaxation, and include a cat door safety gate and up-to-date pheromone plug-ins for added calm. 
• If they sneak out to attend your backyard cookout, ensure they don’t have access to harmful human foods like garlic, onions, and grapes. 
• Stormy weather? Consider an anti-anxiety vest like a ThunderShirt, which applies gentle pressure for a calming effect. 

Traveling with a cat

Headed out of town and want to take your cat kid along? If you’re wondering how to travel with a cat, consider the following tips.

• First, make sure your cat kid has the right disposition to travel. Some cats love adventure and are completely at home on the road. Others may hiss at the sight of their cat travel bag and retreat under the couch instead. If it’s the latter, it may be best to hire a cat sitter instead.
• If your cat kid is up for the journey, make sure they’re outfitted in a travel cat harness, which doubles as a cat safety vest complete with reflective material and an escape-proof design.
• Stock up on cat travel essentials, including cat food and fresh water, a cat travel carrier, a travel cat litter box, Naturally Fresh litter, and a natural cat sedative for travel in case of anxiety (just check with your vet to make sure it’s safe for your cat kid).
• Traveling by car? Avoid dangerous temperatures for cats by keeping it cool and never leaving your cat kid alone in a hot vehicle.
• Traveling by air? Find a cat airline travel carrier that meets air travel requirements and keeps your cat secure and comfy. 

Hiring a cat sitter or boarder

Sometimes traveling with a cat can cause unnecessary stress for pet parents and cat kids. If that’s the case, hiring a pet sitter or boarding your cat kid can alleviate anxiety for everyone. 

• Is your cat kid a homebody? Pet sitters visit or stay overnight in client homes, adapting to set routines to reduce pet stress.
• Looking for a pet sitter? Pet Sitters International provides pet parents with educational resources, including a Pet Sitter Interview Checklist.
• If you’re traveling extensively and prefer to board your cat kid, look for reputable, insured boarders that will treat your cat kid like their own. Your vet clinic may even offer boarding, meaning your cat kid would be in a familiar place with professional caretakers you trust.  

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