A Keilor resident is urging neighbours to take extra precautions to keep pets safe from snakes this summer after his cat was bitten.
Local Jim Clancy spotted a dead brown snake in his backyard and his cat frothing at the mouth, staggering.
“[The cat] probably started playing with this thing and got bitten,” Mr Clancy said.
“I yelled out to my wife and we didn’t know how long since [the snake had] been there.”
Mr Clancy and his wife rushed the cat to the vet and eventually made the difficult decision to put their beloved pet of ten years down.
“My wife was devastated. She had a really close bond,” Mr Clancy said.
“I’ve been warning people with pups and little kids around the area.”
RSPCA Victoria director of veterinary services Dr Melissa Meehan said if pets have been bitten, owners should try to keep them as calm and quiet as possible, and take them to a vet immediately.
“Not all vet clinics will stock anti-venom so call ahead to double check and if in doubt, head straight to an animal emergency centre,” she said.
“Anti-venom is expensive and can result in a large vet bill.
“If your vet is some distance away you can apply a firm bandage over and around the bite site to apply pressure and help slow the venom spreading to the heart, however don’t wash the wound or apply a tourniquet.”
Dr Meehan said locals can make their backyards less appealing to snakes by keeping grass cut low and the property clear of rubbish piles and other objects where snakes might hide.
“Snakes are attracted to food and water sources and safe, quiet places to hide,” she said.
Dr Meehan encouraged pet owners to keep cats indoors with access to a snake-proof outdoor enclosure, and said dog owners should avoid grassy areas and keep dogs on a lead when walking close to bushland, especially near water.
“Do not try to catch, chase, or kill [a snake],” she said.
A Brimbank council spokesperson said residents should call 03 9249 4000 to arrange for a professional snake catcher to remove snakes from their homes.
