Would you ever leave your cat in a hot car?
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
United States
June 9, 2007 1:50pm CST
Assume for a minute that you had to take your cat out some place like the vets office. But, you had to drop into a store first for something.
Would you roll up the windows and leave your cat in the hot car till you got back? Or, roll down the window just a bit and hope for the best.
This is a tough one for most pet owners. Because, unlike a dog, most cats wouldn't think twice about squeezing through a small crack in the car window.
But, then again, you can't just leave your cat in a hot car, while you go about your daily business.
So, what would you do?
2 people like this
15 responses
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
9 Jun 07
There is no way, no how, under no circumstances would I every leave my cats in a car. The stop at the store will have to wait. In my whole entire life, every time I have ever taken one of my cats to the vet, I went straight from the house to the vet then straight home after that. That will always be the way I do it. It's just too risky. Make sure you take care of your cat first, without any stops, and then, after returning your cat home, you can go about your daily business.
@xbrendax (2662)
• United States
10 Jun 07
Thumbs up to you! I have 30 cats and feel the same way as you do. The only times I stopped off at a store from the vets was when my mother was with me and when I went into the store she'd take the carrier and leave the hot car and go and sit under some shaded tree till I came out, and she'd never let the cat out of the carrier either till we got home because you never know, some noise might scare the cat and he'd take off running!
@loujac3 (1188)
• United States
10 Jun 07
First, anytime that a petowner takes a cat out to travel in a vehicle the cat should be placed into a pet carrier. Cats are naturally inquisitive and will get into trouble faster than one might think. Secondly, cats cannot get out the window if we use a carrier. So, if we must take the cat in the vehicle, we can safely leave the windows part way down without worrying that kitty will get out.
Now, I have reflectix velcroed so that I can place it into my back window and I use a reflectix in the front window also. I have pieces cut with suction cups in them so that I can shield the inside of my vehicle from the rays of the hot sun. I leave icewater in the dog or cat dish for the animal. I also have gel packs that I can freeze and then place under a towel in the carrier. Works great and I have peace of mind.
Now, if the question had been, Would I leave my ex in a hot car? The answer would be most definitely! He had a mean streak a mile long and would take it out on my dog or me. Soooooooo, yes, I would leave him in a hot car! LOL
@tdbrower1969 (1242)
• United States
10 Jun 07
I always plan my vet appointments to where I do not have anything else to do but that. I do not think that it is right to leave an animal in a hot car for any reason. I see people do this a lot and I can not stand that they do it. I don't think it is right at all, even if it is just for a minute. Anything could happen in just a split second.
@wildthing365 (4)
• Canada
10 Jun 07
i would never, ever even think of leaving my cat in a car on a hot day. if i had to drop into the store, i would take my cat to the vet's first, than take him back home. i would than go about doing what ever i had to do. nothing is more important enough to harm an animal by leaving them in a hot car. leaving any animal in a hot car is cruel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@natrlvr2 (383)
• United States
9 Jun 07
Anyone who would leave any animal in a hot car for even 2 mins. should go to jail.That so exactly how I feel. It only takes minutes for an animal to even get brain damage from being in a hot car. One thing,sure a person might think,oh it will only take me 3 mins. in a store but something might happen and the 3 mins. might take 5,that most likely will be too long.I have called the police on many ignorant people for leaving their petys(mostly dogs) in a car when it is hot,an open window does NOTHING.JMO.
@elisa812 (3026)
• United States
10 Jun 07
Well, if I was taking my cat somewhere with me, I would have it in a carrier, so I wouldn't worry about it getting out of the window, but I still wouldn't want it to be in the hot car for very long just for health reasons. If I was going to be really really fast, then I would put the windows down a bit and just run in and back out and leave the cat in the car, but if I thought it might take awhile, then I would just take the cat inside with me.
@golfproo (1839)
• Canada
10 Jun 07
I think I would have to postpone the trip until later. I would take the cat to the vet then come home, then go back out and do whatever I had to dod at the store. It just gets too unbearably hot in a car when. It would not take long for the cat to perish.
cheers,
@ninja_billy (35)
• Trinidad And Tobago
10 Jun 07
I would not bring my cat with me, its just not part of the nature of cats to be smuthered, dont get me wrong they go love to be loved, but they are independant creatures and as a cat lover i would not force my cat to those circumstances
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
9 Jun 07
I would take the cat in with me - carrier in all. People do it with their small dogs, why not with a cat.
Otherwise, I would wait until I had time to go home and drop the cat of before going to the store.
Hopefully, no one would ever leave an animal or child - even for a few minutes - in a hot car.
