Paddling pools and inquisitive cats?

[Mumdiva99]

Do I need to worry about the cats and the pool? (I wouldn't let the kids have more than a couple of.inches yesterday jist in case. Lol) To be clear do I need to worry about them falling in and drowning.....I know there is a claws and plastic risk....

I doubt they will drown, they will either scramble to get out or sit in the water quite happily and probably drink it. If your worried you can either sit with them or put something inside for them to climb onto if they dont like it.

I have never known a cat get in a paddling pool ..I don't think you need to worry

Another stealth post boast featuring your gorgeous cats OP :).

PS - fill it with fish for them to catch.

My cat has never even gone anywhere near our pool mind you it’s only tiny, I thought cats hated water!

Cats, foxes, squirrels, even hedgehogs can and do drown in pools. They will jump up out of curiosity, then fall in. If you can leave a piece of wood in there overnight night as a ramp, that will allow a cat to climb out, but a fox might still struggle to pull itself up as they don’t have grippy claws.
There was a thread on here last year about a pool with a dead animal in it, and personally I would always empty a pool unless it had a very good cover.

How deep is it? It looks to me that it will be too deep for the cat to stand up with its head above the water, in which case it would be a drowning hazard. In my imagination a cat/fox/badger gets in at night, swims until exhausted the drowns. I couldn't live with myself if I caused that, but I do catastrophise.

My cars happily sit on the side and drink the water. Usually has a puncture within 24 hours 🤣

@YetAnotherSpartacus maybe....although I was told at the beginning of my cat 🐈 journey it was required on this board.

Bobbi's friend has come to hang out too but I didn't get a picture of her examining the pool.......if all the neighbourhood cats do that we will most probably get a puncture!

Cute cats . I doubt they'd jump in, they're just looking.

Not that we get foxes or badgers but they could definitely stand in it.....but I do remember the thread last year too. Euwwww.

I might leave an upside down bucket in it....just in case...

Make sure you have a puncture repair kit. If they get in they will rip it to shreds trying to climb out...

maybe....although I was told at the beginning of my cat 🐈 journey it was required on this board.

Yes. Lots of photos required! :)

@Eurochick - I already said that to my husband!! I'm pretty sure that if they flex the claws they will stick in great.....we already have some holes repaired by duck tape....and one I just found which I haven't repaired yet.

The rules most certainly say that a picture is a necessity.

Omg that is just what Cheddar does if I'm. In the bath. She has no intention of actually getting in though.

I ovreheard a conversation between two men a couple of years ago where one said that he's had half a dozen of these pools. The cats would jump up to see what it was, go "oh shit, water" and dig their claws in to stop them falling into the water. Of course, the pool would deflate. One of the men said

"So I was doing the washing up when I saw the cat belting across the garden. Followed by a wall of water. At least I didn't have to water the grass....."

Maybe you could find a large piece of board to cover the pool - not cardboard, obv - hardboard or something. Weigh it down and that should keep everything out of the pool, including leaves.

Good stealth boast about the gorgeousness of your cats though.

@toddlerteaplease Bobbi used to jump on the side of the bath and walk around it. Silky less so. There have been a few near misses, and a few slips and dunks....now she tends to sit on the bathmat and wait for cuddles. She is the least cuddly cat ever - unless you are in the bathroom and have no clothes on.....weirdo cat!!!

@TheSecondMrsAshwell the birds have caused a few pools of ours to deflate - well I always assumed birds.....landing on and sticking their feet in to grip.

I had one cat that loved water, he would get in the bath with you given the opportunity. He would definitely climb in that, and it looks like it's a bit deep...