You typically hear about dog safety tips for pool owners, but today we want to offer pool safety tips for cat owners. Whether your own cats are arund the pool or whether the neighbor’s cats sneak into the pool area, the swimming pool contractors from Advanced Pools, Inc. in Memphis, Tennessee offer these cat safety tips.
Swimming pool contractors share swimming pool safety tips regularly with our new pool customers — usually about how to keep children and adults safe — but we know many of our pool owners have pets that need to stay safe around the pool.
Pool safety tips for cat owners
Know that when you have a large body of water in your backyard, your home may become a watering hole for feral cats or other critters seeking clean water. The chemicals in the water are not safe, so please use a cover to keep them out of the pool. Set out fresh bowls of water to keep them away from the swimming pool.
- If your cats start acting oddly, it could be the signs of heatstroke. The signs include restlessness, lethargy, excessive drooling and difficulty breathing. Keep track of your cats when your family is in the swimming pool to assure he’s not sitting out in direct sunlight for too many hours. A cat, who is not in a crate, will instinctively move out of the sun.
- If your cat falls into the water or jumps in (some cats do like to swim), clean her ears once she is out of the water. Water in their ears could lead to infection. Clean her ears with a cotton ball — no cotton swabs.
- Install a ramp in the pool and teach pets where the ramp is and how to use it. A swimming pool fence may not keep a curious cat out of the pool so he needs to be taught how to get out. Ask about pet safety devices we offer.
- Some cats and dogs will sink like a rock or be so panicked they will have a hard time staying afloat. Not all pets can swim and truly not all cats (not many cats) will take a risk of falling into the swimming pool.
- Use a pool safety cover. Tighten the cover snugly so a pet can’t slip under it. Talk with us about the best type of swimming pool safety cover to use.
If you want more pet safety tips, ask us when we pay our next service visit.
