Autumn is statistically the most dangerous time for cats
As the days become shorter and our roads become more treacherous, our daily commute to and from work is done in semi-darkness, when we’re less able to spot a cat that may be about to cross the road. Autumn is the worst season for road traffic accidents, with young, male and crossbred cats statistically being most at risk.
Once the clocks have gone back, vets start seeing a significant increase in road traffic accidents. Studies have revealed, as we also tend to see a pattern of, that cats are most commonly hit by cars during the evening and early hours. 78% of road accidents involving cats happen at night so we always advise trying to bring outdoor roamers in overnight, but the hours usually referred to as night time become blurred during winter months when daylight hours reduce and the dark nights set in much earlier.
Cats are natural predators and as such will be distracted chasing prey in darkness. In addition, the quiet of an evening makes them more confident roaming - meaning they are more likely to be in places (like roads) they would normally avoid in daylight when traffic is busiest. Autumn also brings with it rain, wind and sometimes fog, all making driving conditions difficult and reducing a drivers vision. These poor conditions also make a cats visibility and reaction times impaired, leaving both cat and driver less likely to be able to avoid a collision. Vigilance and concentration may also lack as drivers rush home to snuggle up in the warmth after a long, cold day out and about, or at work.
In good weather conditions cats misjudge the distance and speed of oncoming vehicles and can be blinded by headlights, so in bad conditions this is made even worse. People also overdrive their headlights, meaning, they are driving too fast to stop in the distance covered by their headlights. Add in blizzards, heavy rain or heavy fog to this making reaction time significantly lower. Lowering the beam could help visibility, especially in poor weather conditions.
Petplan figures reveal 250,000 cats are run over annually in the UK. This equates to 630 cats daily. Although one cat is too many, the percentage of cats who will be involved in a road traffic accident annually is 3.57% of all UK cats. However, at the time PetPlan did their research it was estimated that there were 7 million cats in the UK. The UK cat population is estimated to have since reached 12.2 million in 2020/21, the highest recorded figure since surveys began.
Although figures may differ slightly since RTA data was collected nationally, one thing we can be certain of is the time of year vets report seeing a rise in incidents. There had previously been limited information beyond numbers, but a recent study by the VetCompass programme at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), in partnership with Vets Now, was conducted and found the following patterns:
Younger cats, aged six months to six years, are at the greatest risk of road traffic accidents
Male cats are 1.3 times more at risk of road traffic accidents than female cats
Crossbred cats are 1.9 times more at risk of road traffic accidents compared to purebred cats
Cats are more likely to be involved in a road traffic accident in the autumn. However, they are less at risk in winter as compared to spring
Those cats that present with abdominal or spinal injuries are more likely to die, as are those that present with an increasing count of injuries
Statistically 25% of cats are killed outright in RTAs, with the rest standing a good chance of survival if they are given immediate and appropriate care. There is never a reasonable excuse to leave cats abandoned at the scene and left to die a needlessly slow and painful death.
A cat involved in a RTA needs to be taken straight to a vet, who will give them emergency first aid and pain relief. You will not be charged for this because the vet has a duty of care, and is obliged by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, to stabilise the cat and try to find its owner. However, it is at the vets discretion if they treat beyond general pain relief, which is why it is so important to have your cat microchipped so as you can be contacted immediately in the event of an accident. We have known vets to go above and beyond their obligations and treat cats, but we have also known cats to be euthanized with very treatable injuries, simply due to no owner being found. New compulsory microchipping laws come into force next year but do not wait until the law requires you to microchip. Microchip and ensure the chip is registered and details up to date immediately. It could be the difference between life and death.
For further help and advice on how to safely transport cats to a vets, and give basic roadside first aid, see our blog HERE.
Other Autumn dangers to be aware of
Check under your car for sleeping cats
As the temperature drops, cats have a habit of crawling under car bonnets and wheel arches to soak up the warmth from car engines and tyres. Car engines and tyres can stay warm for hours after a journey and cats will soon find that cosy spot. Even if you don't use your car regularly, cats and kittens may still climb inside seeing it as a safe spot away from predators and the elements. Always check you know where your cat is before going out, especially if your car is parked on your drive. Always glance under your vehicle for any animals hiding, sleeping or sheltering underneath. Many will climb inside and will not be visible by simply glancing underneath so before you set off for work in the morning, have a quick check for sleeping kitties. Bang on your hood and kick the tyres.
Halloween and Bonfire Night
During potentially stressful events like Halloween and Bonfire Night, it’s a good idea to keep your cat indoors where it’s safe and warm.
Cats may run away when they’re startled, which can lead to a road accident or to them going missing. As well as keeping your kitty inside during Halloween and Bonfire Night, you should also have them microchipped – this will increase your chance of being reunited if they do go missing.
Antifreeze poisoning
Symptoms of antifreeze poisoning in cats include:
Vomiting
Depression
Seizures
Laboured breathing
Appearing uncoordinated or lethargic
The best way to prevent antifreeze poisoning is by making sure there are no leaks from your car nor antifreeze containers. If you suspect your cat may have drank antifreeze from a car in the street, get them to a veterinarian immediately. Action is required immediately as vets determine antifreeze poisoning in 3 stages. The consequences of stage 3 is that the cat will sadly will be in the acute and irreversible terminal kidney failure stage. Never wait and see what happens, visit a vet straight away.
Luminous necklaces and glow sticks
Luminous necklaces and glow sticks consist of plastic tubing with luminescent chemicals inside. These appear to be attractive to cats. The chemical mixture is very irritating to the mouth — commonly causing drooling, foaming from the mouth, vomiting and stomach pain. Whilst these signs look dramatic, ingestion is unlikely to cause significant problems, with effects mostly limited to gut and mouth. Contact your vet for further advice.
Rat Poison
The decreasing temperatures in autumn often encourage rodents into our gardens and homes as they seek shelter and warmth from the elements and unfortunately people chose to use poisons to rid their gardens of them. Rodenticides can cause life threatening toxicity in our cats and dogs. A lot of commercially available products contain ingredients that act as anti-coagulants which interfere with the ability of blood to clot. If these poisons are ingested, clinical signs can take anywhere from 1-7 days to develop. Things to watch out for are lethargy, decreased appetite, pale gums, increased breathing rate and/or laboured breathing, bruising, blood in their faeces, or black, tar-like faeces (from digested blood, which may indicate internal bleeding has occurred). See a vet immediately.
Plants & foods
Apples contain cyanide in all parts of the plant except the fruit flesh. Cyanide affects the enzymes responsible for oxygen transport and prevents cells from using the oxygen in the blood stream—making fallen apples a dangerous snack for pets. Signs of cyanide toxicity include dilated pupils, difficulty breathing and bright red gum colour. However, cyanide poisoning is rare in dogs and cats because the whole seeds or pit must be masticated and the leaves must be wilting or stressed for the cyanide to be released. Fruit left on the ground to spoil and ferment can also pose a risk of alcohol toxicity if consumed.
Although rare, exposure to acorns can result in poisoning due to tannic acid. This can cause damage to the kidneys and liver if left untreated. If your pet has been playing with acorns or conkers and suddenly starts vomiting, develops diarrhoea and/or appears uncomfortable, lethargic and goes off their food, speak to your veterinarian.
Of all of the treats on Halloween, chocolate is one of the most toxic for pets. Raisins are also very poisonous for pets and can cause kidney failure in dogs and possibly cats as well. Even a small amount may be enough to cause serious idiosyncratic reactions, so ingesting any amount should be treated as a case of poisoning. Halloween treats are a no no for our pets, and do be careful of the wrapping also. The foil and cellophane wrappers could obstruct the bowels, causing life-threatening issues for your cat or dog.
Trips out
With few exceptions, cats don't usually enjoy travelling as they feel more secure in familiar surroundings. However, from time to time it may be unavoidable and necessary to take them on a car trip for trips to the vet, or perhaps driving them to alternative accommodation, either a relatives or cattery for example, for the holidays. Cat safety in cars is as important as human safety, yet it is often overlooked. Cats are as vulnerable as children in cars as both are completely reliant on the driver prioritising their safety so make sure you keep your precious cargo, and yourself, safe from any harm.
It's not just a safety issue, did you know there are laws on driving with pets? Break them and you could land yourself with a hefty fine and points on your licence. But don’t worry, this informative guide will tell you absolutely everything you need to know about driving safely with dogs, cats and other types of animals.
For that added bit of security, you can equip your pet with a cat tracker and save your four-legged friend from being lost whilst in transit. This goes for outdoor roamers also so you can always see where they are. These collars will allow you to track them in real-time. The pet’s coordinates are tracked using geolocation systems and transmitted to the owner’s smartphone, so your cat will always be in sight.
