Thursday, June 15, 2017

Heatstroke in Cats: 6 Tips to Keep Kitty Cool on Hot Summer Days


A Guest Blog by Gary Le Mon

Your cat's favorite pastime may be curling up in a pool of sunshine, but she is as susceptible to heatstroke as a dog or human during hot days. Check out these six easy tips to learn how to keep your cat cool in summer:

Give a cooling wipe down. Many cats will not mind if you wipe them down with a damp paper towel or facecloth. The moisture on their fur cools them off. Do this in front of a box fan or open window for added comfort.

Have a supply of fresh water. Do not be the owner with the dusty water bowl. Change the water several times a day to keep it fresh in the heat. You can also place several containers around your property so that kitty does not have to look for one when she is feeling the heat. If you are out for the day, you can add some ice to the water before leaving.

Create air flow. You can use a box fan or open window to let a draft cool down your furry friend if he needs some relief on a hot day. Place a frozen water bottle in front of the air source if you do not have air conditioning. However, frozen gel packs could be toxic for your pet. Do not leave them lying around.

Raise the pet bed. If you elevate your cat's bed, air will circulate and cause a cooling effect to keep body temperature down. Placing it in a drafty room or near a box fan will double the effect.

Provide shade. Make sure there are lots of shady areas for your cat to stretch out. Many cats will seek out cool places like basements and rooms with heat-resistant hard flooring. If it is safe, let your pet have access to these rooms in hot weather. Closing the blinds will also create a dark, cool environment.

Avoid car trips. Cats are just as vulnerable as dogs to the heat trapped inside a car. Never leave your pet in a vehicle on a hot day, even with the windows cracked. It is not safe.

Use these tips to create comfort for your cat during hot days. This will provide a better environment to keep your pet safe and healthy.

Symptoms of Heatstroke

If you suspect your cat has become overheated, check for the following symptoms of heatstroke:

  • excessive panting
  • lethargy
  • drooling
  • fever
  • vomiting
  • collapse

If your pet has any alarming symptoms, contact your veterinarian right away for assistance. Remember the six simple steps above to help you avoid a dangerous situation.

How do you keep kitty cool during the dog days of summer?

Bio: Gary Le Mon is a Board Certified Master Herbalist specializing in natural home remedies for dogs and cats. He is certified by the American Naturopathic Medical Certification Board, a member of the American Herbalists Guild and the American Botanical Council. Founder and chief formulator of Natural Wonder Products, Gary, now retired, dedicated himself to caring for animals and the formulation, testing and distribution of Earth-friendly, 100% natural veterinary-naturopathic medicine.

Photo Credit: flickr creative commons/KeithJustKeith

12 comments:

Summer at sparklecat.com said...

These are good to know - not only do we live somewhere where it gets very hot - we are going to be in Phoenix this weekend for a cat show and it's supposed to get up to 117 degrees! We will only be outside briefly to get in and out of cars while we are there.

The Menagerie Mom said...

These are great tips, and given at the perfect time. We have been having nearly 100-degree days all week, with heat indexes well above that. Thank you for sharing these life-saving tips with us!

Unknown said...

Great tips! Our cats are indoor only, but they do like to lie in sun puddles in the warm sunroom, and sometimes I worry that they'll get too hot.

The Island Cats said...

It's been really hot here already...and it's technically not even summer yet. So thanks for this information.

Anonymous said...

Important tips. Thanks, Melissa and Mudpie!

Laila and Angel Minchie said...

Great tips! Thank you!

Eastside Cats said...

We worry about The 'O' Cats, because they have no inside to go to, but they slide under the big hosta leaves and lay on the cool, shady ground and nap the day away. And I refresh their water bowl twice a day, and squirrels and birds (and some insects!) use that bowl too. The Inside Cats have box and rotating fans...and The Hubby...to monitor their every need!

da tabbies o trout towne said...

mudpie...manee thanx for postin thiz two day

Mr Le Mon...manee thanx for sharin thiz with uz, we appurreciates all theeze help ful tipz

we keep drapez closed N therz all wayz 4 water bowlz out at all timez ♥♥

pilch92 said...

Great tips . MY kitties are lucky to live in a house with central air.

Hairballsandhissyfits.com said...

very good info--especially now that it is finally turning hot!

Cathy Keisha said...

I'm glad I have a/c. That said dunno what we'd do if it failed like it did a few years ago when the freon ran out. Some of those tips wouldn't really work since in this day and age people wouldn't go to work and leave windows open I don't think. If you draw all the shades and blinds, it tends to keep the house cooler. Also fans tend to just blow the hot air around. Maybe a fan blowing the air out rather than in. A ceiling fan works pretty well. I still like my tips.

Three Chatty Cats said...

Great tips! We could use them around here. Going to be in the 90s for several days.