Keeping your cat cool this summer

We can’t be the only ones begging for air con to be installed in the office and asking for extra ice in all of our drinks? We long for summer during winter, yet crave that icy breeze during the hottest summer days! No pleasing some people, eh?!

As the sun stays out for longer, so do cats. Our household mogs can spend much longer in the heat than is good for them and, like other pets, they are sadly susceptible to sunburn – and in extreme cases skin cancer.

Cats with pale colouring, particularly white cats and cats with pale patches on their noses and ears are at a much higher risk of sun damage. To avoid risk, get your kitten checked regularly. If you ever notice any pink area on your cat, or swelling of the skin it’s best to consult your vet as any real issues are best managed in early stages.

Use sunscreens on your pet’s nose and ears, but check that it’s sensitive and non-toxic as - we’ve learnt from experience! – that they have a tendency to lick it off!

Something you may not have considered before is that your cat could be affected by harmful rays whilst still indoors. Sunbathing on windowsills can be just as risky as lying on an outside patio with the sun beating down!

Sunny days can also lead to cats suffering from heat exhaustion, so it is important that you make sure they are not confined into very hot environments, such as a shed, or conservatory. Try to provide shady areas if you can – get creative; just a cardboard box will provide adequate shade! Even being extra careful to open a few more windows than usual.

It’s pretty important to keep a check on all of your furry friends – if they seem to be panting a lot and constantly restless, it may be a tell-tale sign of heat exhaustion. If you suspect that your cat is experiencing this, wrap a soaked, cool – but not freezing cold – towel around her. You should contact your vet as soon as this happens to avoid the situation worsening – with Petwise’ 24 hour helpline, contacting a vet quickly has never been easier..

Pet hay fever; is my pet suffering?

Yep, it’s that time of year again. We may have all rejoiced when the longest day of the year meant summer was officially here, but it was a bitter sweet situation for many of us. Hay fever season has arrived once more and as the temperatures soar, so does the dreaded pollen count!

Sadly, it’s not only humans who are affected by the allergy; our furry friends suffer too.

What are pet hay fever symptoms?

Perhaps your pet is combating pet hay fever without you realising just yet – it can be difficult to tell if it’s just the heat making your pup uncomfortable or whether there are real signs pointing to an allergy that need to be picked up on.

Many tell-tale signs include constant paw licking and eye rubbing. If they seem a little under the weather and not themselves, perhaps pet hay fever is the culprit and a trip to the vet should be considered.

Fighting the symptoms of pet hay fever:

If you suspect your pet is suffering, it may be an idea to consider changing their bedding often. You can also attempt to alleviate the pain by wiping their paws and fur to remove any clinging pollen that is left upon them. We’d recommend sensitive baby wipes – these are gentle and hopefully won’t cause extra irritation. Do check there isn’t anything within these your pets are allergic to.

If your pet has long hair, summer is a time to really keep them groomed with regular trims and brushing. Weekly baths can help rid any pollen sticking to their fur and there’s an abundance of specialised pet hay fever shampoos and products on the market that can help keep them extra clean. If your pet does need medicine to combat pet hay fever, your pet insurance may be affected.

All that’s left is to enjoy the sunshine with your pets!

TV's Top 10 Lovable Cats

You’ve already heard the premiums that we’d give our favourite fictional dogs, now it’s time for TV’s sassiest cats to steal the limelight! Here’s Petwise’ list of Top 10 fictional felines and the premium that their owners could expect! 

1. Salem

World domination and money making attempts are just a few characteristics of this American shorthair cat. Making a name for himself in sitcom, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Salem is portrayed to have a liking for Lizard flakes; a high cholesterol, fattening cat snack. 

Sorry Salem, those fatty snacks & evil plans are paving the way for a high premium!

Image: adventureswithcupcake.blogspot.com

 2. Garfield

We have SO much in common with this popular kitten; we hate Mondays too! Not sure we are quite as partial to flower eating mind... Garfield is quite the prankster and is often in the centre of harassment claims.

Sorry Garfield, we don’t think we could handle the pet insurance you’d hold, you cheeky chappy!

Image:www.bluelight.org

3.Snowbell

Persian puss Snowball is a cat with a split personality; the Little family think of him as a shy and retiring house cat; in contrast, during their first meeting, Snowball attempts to eat Stuart. Despite this, he is fiercely protective of his clan and let’s no harm come to them.

The lovable coward seems to escape trouble and always finds his way out of tricky situations. We think Snowbell could roam the streets of New York with a low premium under his collar (complete with bell!).

Image: pixshark.com

 4. Crookshanks

Her`mione’s ginger pet cat is actually only half cat! The other half of him is ‘Kneazle’ – a mystical creature introduced in the Harry Potter series.

His ability to problem solve without aid and the fact he can sniff out a baddie a mile off  means Petwise would be pretty confident to let Crookshanks enter the Muggle world with a low premium! Hoorah!

Image:alohamora.mugglenet.com

5. Puss in Boots

Shrek’s BMFL, Puss in Boots (Sorry Donkey), is the self-confessed hero of the 2001 film. Forget puppy dog eyes, he takes kitten eyes to a whole new level – attacking guards when they, naturally, fall for his cute ways! 

We think Puss in Boots knows how to handle himself. Definitely the tough cookie of the group – low premium! 

Image: shrek.wikia.com

6. Cheshire Cat

Smile! It’s the Cheshire cat! Even Petwise aren’t quite familiar with the breed of this mog; we think it’s the pink and purple stripes that have us stumped! What we do know is that the mischievous cat from Alice in Wonderland is completely bonkers, admitting “you may have noticed, I’m not all there myself!”

We’d be worried that he’d snap at any time and do something silly – we think we’d have to give him a high premium! 

Image: www.monologuedb.com

7. Sylvester 

Sylvester James Pussycat Senior is a male Tuxedo cat who’s known for his persistence and perseverance… and his lisp. He also appears to die and then be reborn in a new Loony Tunes series.. 

I mean “Sufferin’ Succotash!” Petwise can’t argue with the ability to be reborn… low premium!

Image: www.picgifs.com

8. Tom 

Thomas cat is part of lovable Duo Tom & Jerry. The domestic short-haired cat was appears as a bit of a mute throughout the cartoons, however always seems to be in the midst of fights and arguments – usually leaving him sadly defeated. 

We’re sorry, Tom, your feisty persona would leave you with a high premium! 

Image: degrassi.wikia.com

9. Mr Jinx

Beloved Himalayan house cat, Mr Jinx has a tough old time in Meet the Parents. He is pivotal to many of the strange occurrences in the Focker household; most poignantly, when Greg loses him and later attempts to pass another cat off as the family pet…by painting his tail.

Being the pride and joy of the family, Mr Jinx can flush the toilet himself and waves. He’s clearly pretty capable of looking after himself so we’re happy to report a low premium!

Image: www.pinterest.com

10. Snowball II

Snowball II was named after the first Simpsons cat, Snowball…obviously. The family give the pet the same name to save money on the first-hand food bowl that already has ‘Snowball’ engraved upon it!

The black cat’s starring role in the show comes as she ironically saves Homer from a burning treehouse during the 14th season – we think her heroic nature earns her a low premium!

Image: www.sodahead.com