We’ve all seen those videos of incredible cats joining their humans on outdoor adventures – hiking, boating, skiing, and even a day at the beach. Watching these daring creatures living large, you might glance over at your lounging feline and wonder if you ought to be expanding their horizons as well; turn their couch-surfing into actual surfing perhaps. It might sound like a good idea on paper, but it’s important to remember that these videos go viral for a reason – their feline subjects are doing things that would make the vast majority of their species run a mile.
If your cat loves their creature comforts, and is content to doze in a sunny corner and watch the world go by from the safety of your bedroom window, then it’s probably not the best idea to drag them along to your next beach day. For cats that like to get out and feel the sand between their toe beans, here are some steps you need to take to ensure their seaside adventure is enjoyable and safe.
The 10 Tips to Take Care of Your Cat at the Beach
1. Don’t
We hate to be a killjoy, but if you’re thinking about taking your cat to the beach, it’s important to think about why you’re doing it. You rarely see cats at the beach for good reason – it can be an extremely stressful and dangerous place for them, with few places to hide but lots of space to run away. Cats thrive on predictability and familiarity, so you shouldn’t feel guilty about leaving them behind on your seaside adventures. Of course, there will always be felines that love being the exception, not the rule, so the rest of our tips will help keep your curious kitty safe.
2. Make Sure They Are Comfortable in a Harness
The best way to keep your cat close by so you can watch over it is by using a harness and leash, and most cats take time to adjust to wearing one – you don’t want their first fitting to be on the sand! Make sure the harness fits well, and it’s a good idea to attach the leash to a bag or backpack so there’s less risk of your cat running if the leash is accidentally dropped. Be sure to also bring a secure pet carrier so you have somewhere safe to hide your kitty away if they get scared or something unexpected happens.
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3. Short Trips First
If your cat is up for a seaside adventure, don’t plan on making a day of it until you get an idea of how they’ll react. The last thing you want is to have a stressed out kitty locked in a pet carrier while you make the most of your outing. Introducing your cat to the beach should be the sole purpose of the trip in the beginning. Take it slowly, allowing your kitty to explore at their own pace, and be prepared to cut your trip short if your cat is not having a good time.
4. Constant Vigilance!
Dogs are more used to new places and experiences than our feline friends, and though you need to supervise your dogs at the beach, you need to keep an even closer eye on your cat while there. It only takes a minute for something to happen that could result in negative consequences—a dog approaching, people that want to pet your cat, your kitty stepping on glass in the sand—so keep your cat as close as possible while at the beach.
5. Stick to Secluded Spots
Finding a quiet spot for you and your cat to hang on the beach will help you keep your kitty safe, as it’s easier to keep an eye on them when you aren’t surrounded by sunbathers, ball-chasers, and kids crying over melting ice-cream. Plus, since the beach may be a new experience for your feline, a quieter area lets them get used to the beach with fewer stressors around. And if your cat isn’t a fan of water, you might want to set up that quiet spot further away from the water instead of right next to it.
6. Watch for signs of stress
As we said above, the beach can be stressful for our feline friends, especially at first. So, while you’re keeping a close eye on your cat to ensure it doesn’t get hurt or approached by too many people or other animals, watch for it as well. If you see your cat breathing heavily, making tense movements, or hear it meowing often, your pet is likely not having the best time. And if that’s the case, you’ll want to cut your beach time short to get the cat back to a place where it feels safe.
7. Hydration in Key
Even on a cooler day, the salty air, sunshine, and excitement are a fast track to dehydration, so make sure you have a good supply of fresh, cool water – for you and your cat! If your cat isn’t overly fond of water, pack some wet food and add some water to this to make sure they are drinking.
8. Keep Cool and Be Sun Safe
While you’ll likely be slathering on some sunscreen and popping on a hat, these aren’t necessarily going to work for your cat. Although their furry coat will protect much of their body from harmful UV rays, areas with thin or no fur coverage are at risk of sun damage, particularly white and pink areas. There are pet friendly sunscreens available, and be sure to limit sun exposure and set up a shady spot to chill out in.
Speaking of chilling out, cats and dogs are at MUCH HIGHER risk of heat stroke than humans, even if conditions don’t seem all that hot. Being unable to sweat, cats can only actively cool down by panting, seeking shade, drinking, and redirecting blood flow to the extremities to lose heat. In humid conditions with no breeze, their ability to cool down is severely impaired, and they can overheat very quickly. The best solution is to keep warm sunny beach days to yourself, and only bring your cat on cooler, cloudy days.
9. Practice water safety
Chances are good your cat won’t want anything to do with the ocean, but if your kitty is a water baby, it might want to explore. In that case, be sure to let your pet only go into the shallowest parts of the water, and don’t let it get too far away (you’ll probably want to keep your cat on its leash even in the water). Ocean currents can be dangerous, especially for small animals, and you don’t want your pet to be swept away. Also, keep an eye on the waves coming to shore to make sure they aren’t becoming large enough to knock your cat over.
If your cat does enjoy a paddle, we recommend investing in a buoyancy vest or life jacket. Yes, although cats can swim, it’s not an activity their bodies are used to, they may tire quickly, and if they are caught by an unexpected wave or current, it is better to be safe than sorry! But don’t leave them on all the time as they can lead to overheating.
10. Do a rinse-off BEFORE leaving the beach
Although beaches don’t tend to be overly dirty, your cat’s fur will no doubt be covered in sand, salt, and anything else they may have rolled in. Whilst you can usually wait until you get home to give your dog a post-beach clean, your cat will have done most of the work on the car journey home, ingesting a load of salt and sand in the process, so it’s best to give their coat and toe beans a rinse, wipe, or brush before you head home. Grooming wipes are a great item to keep with you for exactly this purpose. Once you’re back home, a more thorough cleaning session may be in order, depending on how much of the beach your kitty has brought home with them, as sand can cause skin irritation and itching (not to mention sandy bedsheets!).
Conclusion
In the vast majority of cases, your cat is going to be much happier staying at home when you head out to enjoy a day at the beach. Although there are some confident and adventurous felines out there that enjoy spending time in the great outdoors, most of them prefer the safety, security, and predictability of their home territory. If, however, yours is one of those cats that would enjoy soaking up the sun on the beach as much as on the bed, the tips above will hopefully help you feel prepared.
Be sure to keep a close eye on your feline friend at all times, allowing them plenty of time to get used to a harness, and all the new sights and smells they will encounter. Be prepared to cut your trip short if your cat is feeling stressed, hot, or overwhelmed, and plan your beach visit for cooler days – it will be less crowded, and much safer for your kitty.
Remember that most cats prefer the safety and familiarity of home, so don’t feel bad about leaving them behind – they’ll probably prefer sniffing your sandy toes and salty skin when you get home!
- See also: Can You Take Your Cat to the Beach
Featured Image Credit: AleksaKras, Pixabay
The 10 Tips to Take Care of Your Cat at the Beach
