JSPCA
PRESS RELEASE
August 2005
TRAFFIC HAZARDS TO CATS
Long summer days and warm nights are enjoyed by many people in these summer months. Unfortunately, they also frequently tempt many pet cats to roam and venture further afield than perhaps they would normally do in the cooler autumn and winter months. For that reason, this time of year can be particularly perilous for many domestic cats, with an increase seen in the number of cats injured, often fatally, in road traffic accidents in the summer time in comparison to the winter.
Therefore to try to help protect pet cats from traffic and hence reduce the number of animals injured by cars, the following are a few useful pointers:
Always ensure that your cat can be reliably identified:
o Fit your cat with a collar, ideally reflective, and an identity disc. A collar that will open should your cat snag the collar on anything is preferable.
o Micro-chipping is the ideal way of identifying cats, as they can often loose their collars. When a cat is micro-chipped, the microchip acts a permanent means of identification. Each microchip is individually registered with a central database and the owner’s contact details are recorded, meaning that the owner of the cat can be contacted as quickly as possible if the cat is found.
Neutering cats can decrease their territorial urges and can help to decrease the far-ranging wandering tendencies commonly seen in entire male cats.
If possible, try to encourage your cat to stay in at night – this is the most common time that cats are involved in road traffic accidents.
When driving in vehicles through built up areas and on country roads, please drive slowly and carefully.
For further information about micro-chipping, please contact your veterinary surgery or the JSPCA Animals’ Shelter.
ENDS