Paying attention to the care of a cat during the summer is extremely important, because at this time of year the high presence of parasites and the heat contribute to our feline getting sick, especially if we talk about cats newborns or puppies. It should also be noted that during the summer our cats are more predisposed to sunbathing, which increases their vitamin D levels and provides them with greater well-being.
In this article on our site we will review with you care for a cat in summer and we will explain what measures you must take to avoid any problem and how we can help them suffer less heat. Discover below everything you need to know about cats in summer, you can't miss it!
1. Make sure it stays hydrated
The summer heat makes our cats dehydrate easily and precisely for this reason, any owner should be able to identify dehydration in a cat. You just have to gently pinch the skin on the nape of your neck and see if it returns to its place in a few seconds or if it stays where we left it. The elasticity of the skin is directly related to hydration. To prevent our cat from becoming dehydrated, we will have fresh, clean water at your disposal at all times. In addition, renewing it regularly will encourage the cat to drink and also find it pleasant.
Another important aspect that directly influences hydration is the cat's diet. Dry feed (also known as croquettes) tend to cause more thirst, on the contrary, canned wet foods contain a high percentage of water, which helps them to hydrate. Another option may be to bet on homemade diets, which by not going through a drying process also provide extra water.
Here are some extra tricks to keep a cat hydrated:
- Add some ice to the bowl of water: this little trick will make the water stay fresher for longer and thanks to it, we won't need to renew it so regularly.
- Get a water fountain: more and more people decide to buy a water fountain for cats, since it not only refreshes them, but directly influences their enrichment and game behaviors.
two. Take care of his fur
The coat of our cats is a natural protection barrier that insulates them from the cold in winter and keeps them cool in summer, for this reason, taking care of the cat's fur should be one of our priorities. A regular brushing routine will remove dead hair and dirt, helping you feel fresher. Ideally, a short-haired cat should receive two to three brushings a week and a long-haired cat every two to three days at most. Discover on our site some recommendations so you know how to brush a kitten correctly.
Persian cats in summer, as well as other breeds of long-haired cats, tend to suffer much more from the heat and it is at this point that owners wonder if it is advisable to cut the hair of cats in summer. The truth is that, as we have explained to you, the coat helps the cat to feel fresher, as long as it is well brushed and free of knots and dead hair, for that reason, it is not advisable to cut the hair to a cat in summer In fact, cutting it excessively can cause our feline to be hotter and even predispose him to sunburn.
A curious detail is that many people wonder if cats lose weight in summer. In reality it is only about our perception. Cats do not lose weight, but shed their fur constantly (although more exaggeratedly in spring and autumn) to adapt it to the ambient temperature, which causes that we see you thinner.
3. Watch the hours of sunshine
It is a fact that cats love to sunbathe: they enjoy the warmth and relaxation provided by sunlight. However, we must make sure that during the hottest hours our cat is not directly exposed, as this can cause heat stroke.
If our cat has access to the outside, it is preferable that we limit his departure times to dawn and dusk and that he stays indoors during the day. If he seems a little bored or restless to go out, we can stimulate him with play sessions, petting or brushing.
But if locking him in the house is not an option for you, we advise you to purchase a cooling mat for cats, which will help him to be fresh when he needs it. You can place it on top of your cat's bed in summer or in a shady place outside.
4. Visit your vet
As we have told you in the introduction, summer is a time of year in which external parasites and internal parasites abound, for this reason, one of the first measures that we recommend to ensure your good he alth will mean going to the vet to get external and internaldewormers. Even if your cat does not leave the house, it can still be infested through vectors (such as mosquitoes) or through dirt that you can carry on your shoes. Likewise, following the cat's vaccination schedule will also be especially important, since it will depend on whether or not it may suffer from serious viral diseases.
5. If you go on vacation…
It is totally normal that during this time of the year you plan to have some vacation days, however, do you really know how many days a cat can be home alone? And more specifically in summer? None! Cats need regular supervision, as they are very curious animals that, in their eagerness to play and discover, could knock over their water bowls, even if it is a behavior that you have never observed before and that you consider unlikely. They could also dry out from the heat itself.
If you go on vacation make sure you contact someone who can visit your home once a day to make sure everything is going well. Explain how to cool your cat, how to protect your cat from the heat and many other tips to consider, such as the availability of plenty of water in summer.
If, on the other hand, you are considering traveling by car with a cat, make sure to provide it with water from time to time and never leave it alone inside the car, since a vehicle in the sun increases its indoor temperature, predisposing your cat to suffer from the aforementioned heat stroke.
