Pet owners know you can never tell where your pets will want to spend time with you. If you’re in and around the pool your dogs will probably want to be there and your cats, too. Swimming pool cat safety tips are useful to keep your furry friends safe — although not too many cats will willingly jump into the water the way your dogs will!
The swimming pool contractors from Advanced Pools, Inc. regularly talk with their customers about dog safety, but in recent years cat safety has been part of the conversation. We know our pool customers are also cat lovers and that prompted our cat safety tips article.
Swimming pool cat safety tips
Cat pool safety tips aren’t much different than for dogs, but because cats are more curious and aren’t likely to allow their owners to put them in a life vest or other safety device, there are some different ways cat owners need to keep theri cats safe in and around water. Consider too if your cat, or a neighborhood cat, is chasing something something through the yard and is not paying attention he could easily fall into the pool.
Here are cat safety tips for our Memphis, Tennessee swimming pool customers cat and pool owners:
- Outdoor or feral cats without regular access to clean water will be drawn to your pool to drink from it. If that’s the case, please put a bowl of clean water near the pool so they aren’t drinking chemical laden water.
- If your cat falls into the water, quickly scoop him out. You may want to wrap him in a towel to prevent him from scratching you if he’s scared. Once you get the cat out, dry his ears and use cotton balls to get the moisture out as that can lead to infection. Do not use cotton swabs on your cat’s ears.
- Pool owners who have pets in the house should have a pool ramp installed. In the event the pet falls into the water, a ramp could save his life. If you have a dog, you will need to teach him where the ramp is and how to use it. It’s probably best to not put your cat in the water, but if he falls in, try to urge him to the ramp to get out.
- Remember, even with a pool fence, some pets and wildlife are small enough that they can get into the pool area if you’re not watching. there are pool safety devices you can install that will alert you to something falling into the water.
- Try to always use a pool safety cover. A cover that fits snugly will keep out curious wildlife as well as your household pets when you’re not in the pool area.
Talk with us the next time we pay a service visit or when you’re having your pool constructed and ask us about pet safety measures you should put in place.
