How to keep your pet safe in the dark

Our pets are more vulnerable in the dark - and the nights are starting to draw in.

If you have a dog, you might walk them on dark sections of road. This means it's difficult for drivers to see you. Plus, when your dog's off-lead, you might find it hard to see them if they run away from you.

Visibility is also low for drivers at night. So if your cat is free-roaming and out at night, there is more chance of them getting injured or killed by a car.

But we can help. There are some simple ways you can keep your pet (and yourself) safe when you're out and about at night. 

Microchipping your dog or cat

One of the best ways to keep track of your pet is a microchip. It's also a legal requirement for both dogs and cats. It means vets or the authorities can track you down if your pet goes walkabout.

Once you've got a microchip, make sure it's kept up to date all year round with your current details.

Keeping your dog safe at night

Here are some ways to keep you and your dog safe when you're out and about at night.

General night time safety for walkers

If you have a fellow dog walker or just a general dog enthusiast, then why not bring them along on your walk? Having someone with you decreases your chances of being approached by a stranger.

It also helps to have an extra pair of eyes on your dog while they're exploring - and someone to hold the poo bags!

This also applies if you're walking without a dog - there's safety in numbers.

Reflective gear for you and your dog

The key here is visibility. If you can, get you and your dog a fluorescent outfit. The louder, the better. This is particularly important if you're walking on roads where there aren't many streetlights or little to no pavement.

You can find harnesses that are reflective or have reflective attachments. You can even buy light-up collars. Just make sure they're comfortable for your dog by fitting them correctly and making sure they're secure.

Always bring a torch or headlamp too.

Keep your dog on a lead

Always keep your dog on a lead on the road. You might think they walk perfectly off the lead, but dogs are unpredictable. Keep them on the lead until you reach a safe space like the park or the secure field where you can let them off safely.

If you're not confident to let your dog off the lead, you could try using a long line. These give your dog a bit more freedom to roam while still being secure on a lead.

Some safety tips on this, though: always use a long line on a harness, if you use it on a collar and your dog runs off at speed, it could damage their neck and throat.

Pick a long line that's a manageable length too. Too long, and it could get tangled and possibly be a trip hazard, particularly in the dark.

GPS tags for dogs

You should keep track of your dog at all times during your walk, but accidents happen. That's where a GPS tracker can come in handy. These fit on your dog's collar and connect to an app.

You can track your dog's whereabouts in the app as long as it's connected to your phone.

Make sure the tag fits your dog's collar and isn't big and cumbersome around their neck. Check the reviews for the best one to choose.

Keeping your cat safe at night

Cats are a different story. They're not as routine focused as dogs, particularly if they come and go as they please.

But there are things you can do to keep them safe at night. 

Establish a feeding routine

If you feed your cat at a similar time each day, you might find they start coming in around that time when they start to get hungry. At this point, you could shut them in so they're not wandering around at night.

Just find plenty of things for them to do if they get bored, like cat toys or puzzles. These'll be useful in the deep winter months when the nights are at their longest.

Call them in before it gets dark

If your cat has good recall, try getting them in before it gets dark. Make sure you give them a nice treat or have a play with them when they come in so they associate coming inside with something fun.

If you've got an older cat, they might be more likely to be in anyway. If this is the case for you, you might not need to create this routine. 

If they live out, create a check in

If you don't want to bring them in at night, you could try creating a check-in. This means bringing them in to check they're ok and then sending them back out again (if they don't want to stay).

It's the same process as calling them in for their dinner, you'd just give them a treat or a cuddle, then let them head back out. It's almost like just saying "hi" to your cat to see if they're ok.

Regularly check your cat flap

Check your cat flap regularly so your cat always has somewhere safe to go. Make sure they can go through it comfortably and that the 'flap' is in good working order.

If you've got a cat flap that only works for your cat, check it still syncs up with their collar. It's important to do this all year round, not just during the darker nights.

GPS tags for cats

You can fit a GPS tracking device to your cat's quick-release collar. All cat collars should be quick release in case they get caught on a branch or something else.

Because safe collars for cats are designed to come off if they're caught, you're more likely to lose the tracker too. But as long as you're prepared for this, they can be useful for tracking down your cat.

 

*Prices based on Confused.com data taken between June 2024 - August 2024. Costs shown are based on the average monthly price paid for one pet with no pre-existing conditions. "Accident Only" cover across cats and dogs of all ages, breeds and in all locations. Correct as of October 2024.

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