As the clocks turn back and the nights grow longer, PDSA is sharing the story of the beckoning cat to raise awareness of the dangers dark nights pose to our feline friends.
The charity’s warning comes at a time of year when cats are most at risk of being involved in road accidents.
PDSA veterinarian Nina Downing explains: “As the needle moves back this weekend (Sunday 27 October 2024) and we prepare for a dark winter night, we want owners to be aware that the risk to their cats increases as the night approaches.
“Our team treats over 2,400 suspected road accident-related injuries each year. It can cost up to £2,000 to treat a cat and £2,800 to treat a dog. This equates to potentially over £1 million being spent saving the lives of precious pets injured on the road.
“Cats are most at risk for road accidents in the fall, but thankfully there are some things you can do to reduce the risk for your cat.”
PDSA Advice on keeping cats safe on the road
“Some people keep their cats indoors to protect them from busy roads,” Nina continued. “While this may be a solution for some cats, some cats like to go outdoors or may find living indoors stressful for others, which could have an impact on their health and welfare. However, there are things you can do to keep your outdoor cat safe around the road.
- Get your cat neutered. They are much less likely to wander around looking for a mate or get into fights with other cats.
- Keep cats indoors at night and let them outside during the day. Try feeding your cat when it starts to get dark. They will quickly get used to this schedule and return home for the night.
- Reflective collars help drivers find cats in the dark and low-light conditions. It’s important to choose a breakaway collar that opens if your cat gets caught on a fence, branch, or other object while exploring.
- If you live in a busy downtown area with a lot of traffic, consider letting your cat only go outside in a secure yard or safe outdoor area to prevent your cat from wandering onto the street. You can use a professional fence or a large cat aviary.
- consider pet insurance. If the worst happens and your cat is involved in a car accident, you could be seriously injured. Pet insurance covers veterinary costs, so you can focus on your cat’s recovery without worrying about money.
- Cats will also be legally required to be microchipped from June 2024. You have a better chance of reuniting your cat if it goes missing or finding out what happened if it was in a car accident.
charlie’s story
Charlie, a one-year-old cat who suffered severe injuries to his face and jaw in a suspected road accident, has been rescued thanks to leading veterinary charity PDSA.
Charlie’s owner, Conway Loveridge, said: “One morning we found Charlie on our front porch, covered in blood and his jaw hanging.” “My 8-year-old daughter Emily was beside herself and crying.”
Ms Conway rushed Charlie to a local veterinarian who provided emergency treatment and pain medication before transporting him to Portsmouth PDSA Pet Hospital, where the team acted quickly to save Charlie’s life.
PDSA veterinarian Nina said, “When Charlie came to the pet hospital, he had a fractured lower jaw and facial injuries.”After Mr. Conway recognized that he was eligible for PDSA assistance, a civilian veterinarian… The team continued to relieve Charlie’s pain and started hydration to keep him hydrated and supported.
“The next day, once Charlie was stable, the team repaired Charlie’s broken jaw under general anesthesia and fixed the broken jaw with wire to allow it to heal.
“He made a good recovery and was sent home the same day with painkillers and antibiotics and instructions to eat soft foods until his jaw healed. He then had the wire removed from his jaw and He has recovered well.”
Without PDSA, Conway, an air conditioning and refrigerator engineer, is scared to think what would have happened to Charlie.
He said: “We were all completely devastated. We hadn’t seen him in a long time when this happened. It was only in this moment that we realized he wasn’t just a cat, he was part of the family. You can see that.
“His favorite thing to do is play with Emily. He sits there and waits for her to come home from school. She is an only child and he helped her a lot. To her, Charlie is more than just a cat, he’s a friend and a companion. They are an inseparable pair.”
Charlie’s treatment at PDSA cost nearly £850 and Mr Conway said he caught him at the “worst time”.
“I’m currently between work contracts,” he explained. “Everything is going up, but the income is not. We had to make sacrifices. If it wasn’t for PDSA, Charlie wouldn’t be here. We gave what we could. We took some cakes to the pet hospital and a card made by Emily to say thank you to our amazing team.”
Every day at our 48 pet hospitals, PDSA protects the special bond between owners and their four-legged friends. The team provides veterinary care to sick or injured pets whose owners cannot afford to pay the full cost of treatment. The charity has been connecting people and pets for over 100 years. Learn more: pdsa.org.uk/learn-why-were-special
charity insurance partnersPDSA Pet InsuranceWe offer a variety of insurance policies to cover accident and illness for dogs and cats, as well as access to a 24/7 veterinary helpline. Every policy sold raises funds for the charity’s lifesaving veterinary work. If you want to know more, please visit here www.pdsa.org.uk/pdsa-petinsurance
