Keeping your cat safe in the hot summer weather
Cats are clever and fairly good at looking after themselves. However, as summer fast approaches and the weather gets warmer, it’s important to take additional steps to keep your cat well and protected. Overheating can cause dehydration, heatstroke or, in very severe cases, even death. Young, elderly or obese cats may not be so capable of looking after themselves, so make sure that you take extra care to keep them cool and healthy.
Do cats sweat?
Cats do have some sweat glands but, as they’re covered in fur, they’re unable to cool down that much. Cat’s paws have the most sweat glands, but their small surface areas mean that they’re not that effective. Because of this, your cat will look for other ways to cool down in hot weather. Help your cat by taking the following steps during summer:
Shade
Ensure that there is a shaded spot for your cat to lie in. It’s a good idea to purchase a cooling mat for house cats, as this can provide a pleasant space for them to cool down. They will often choose a hard floor, like the kitchen, as tiles are much cooler than carpets.
If your cat is an outdoor cat, make sure there are shaded spots in the garden. It’s vital to ensure that any greenhouses or outdoor sheds and garages are locked at all times so that your cat doesn’t get accidentally locked inside. It can get really hot in greenhouses and sheds, so be careful of broken boards and windows, as your cat may be able to sneak in unknowingly.
Water
Ensure that your cat has access to plenty of water throughout the day – especially if you’re out of the house for an extended period of time. Put ice cubes into your cat’s water bowl to ensure that the water stays cool. You can also leave an additional, frozen bowl of water in a different location so that your cat will have access to cool water as it melts throughout the day.
Bathing
If your cat seems really warm or unsettled, you can take a cool damp cloth and wipe down your cat regularly to help it cool down. Alternatively, purchase a spray bottle and fill it with cool water to spray onto your cat if it seems particularly hot and bothered.
Brushing
Brush your cat on a regular basis to ensure that any matted hair is removed. Well-groomed fur will help keep your cat stay cool during summer.
Sun cream
Make sure that you apply a pet sun cream on your cat, particularly on their ears and nose. These areas can be very sensitive to UV light, which can sometimes cause skin burn or skin cancer. Cats with white or light fur are particularly susceptible, so take extra care with these types.
Ensure you don’t use human sun cream as it may contain chemicals that are harmful to pets.
Overheating
Like humans, cats can also overheat and suffer from heat strokes. If your cat is vomiting, staggering, lethargic, breathing through its mouth for more than a few minutes or has a rapid pulse or bright red tongue, seek urgent vet attention.
Don’t forget to insure your cat with pet insurance. They are there for them throughout their learning and development, helping to make sure they get any treatment they need to keep them happy and healthy. You can find lots of handy advice at www.argospetinsurance.co.uk
Thanks for sharing this is great information.
You are welcome :). Btw if you are missing the reblog button it’s now a WordPress press it button as we are on a different version of WordPress that doesn’t have a reblog out of the box
Ok thanks for that. I decided to do a share hope that is okay.
Of course! You are always welcome to share content. It’s just a technical limitation that it’s not as straight forward as before but WordPress is working on fixing that.
Good advice!
thx for sharing
You are welcome. ^^
My girls don’t go outside so that helps. These ancient stone houses are fairly good at keeping out heat and with the fans and lots of water, they seem comfortable. Now if only I could get Colette not to wrap her fur coat around my neck during summer… 🙂
Haha they like wrapping themselves around us too
Colette demands it and who am I to argue? Exactly! However, it has take Simone a year to even sit briefly on me but only for an emergency scratch as she does have standards…
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Thanks for the great information, Marc. We’re lucky that Gracie and Zoe are indoor only cats, but these are really good tips to know.
Ours are lucky also indoor only! 🙂
I always think that cats are smart and can regulate themselves, but then I see my cats sit in the HOTTEST part of the house and BAKE in the sun. And one of them is black so she gets really HOT!
Ice cubes in the water? No way. No unless I want the water all over the place. Those little floating things in the water are a definite toy!
I have used a wet wash cloth to cool a cat down before. I can’t remember if it was one of them or Spot.
Brushing is a great idea. It makes sense it would remove excess hair.
Is there cat sunscreen?
Thanks for the ideas!
Round ice cubes are a good toy to cool down if you don’t mind a bit of water on the floor
Oh, yeah, I totally mind water on the floor. Our floor is not made for puddles. Teagan (the black cat) used to dip her paw in to drink. I don’t see her doing that any more, but it could be that she does it when no one is looking. That could explain the recent smudges across the kitchen floor. Ha!
Haha. Our floor is not made for puddles either but sometimes in the summer I let them play with round cubes and once done dry it all up LOL
You are a good cat daddy. Today, it was so hot here I did use the wet wash cloth to wipe them down. They didn’t seem to mind, but they didn’t seem to really like it either. They are very good girls!
We do the wet wash cloth treatment sometimes. But our favourite is a cooling matt that is dry and keeps the cats cool without the need of any water / fridge etc – https://katzenworld.co.uk/2017/06/23/oliver-nubia-cooling-mats-just-dogs-us-cats-disagree/
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